The lancet oncology
-
The lancet oncology · Oct 2009
Controlled Clinical TrialDexamethasone-based therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: results of the prospective Dutch Childhood Oncology Group (DCOG) protocol ALL-9 (1997-2004).
A population-based cohort of children aged 1-18 years with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) was treated with a dexamethasone-based protocol (Dutch Childhood Oncology Group [DCOG] ALL-9). We aimed to confirm the results of the most effective DCOG ALL protocol for non-high-risk (NHR) patients to date (ALL-6), compare results with ALL-7 and ALL-8, and study prognostic factors in a non-randomised setting. ⋯ Dutch Health Insurers.
-
At least 15% of human malignant diseases are attributable to the consequences of persistent viral or bacterial infection. Chronic infection with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types is a necessary, but insufficient, cause in the development of more cancers than any other virus. ⋯ However, because a proportion of intraepithelial HPV-associated disease undergoes immune-mediated regression, the development of immunotherapeutic strategies is an opportunity to determine proof-of-principle for therapeutic vaccines. In this Review, we discuss recent progress in this field and priorities for future clinical investigations.
-
The lancet oncology · Oct 2009
Anti-androgens and androgen-depleting therapies in prostate cancer: new agents for an established target.
Activation of the androgen receptor is crucial for prostate cancer growth at all points of the illness. Current therapies targeting the androgen receptor, including androgen-depletion approaches and anti-androgens, do not completely inhibit the receptor activity. Prostate cancer cells develop resistance to castration by acquiring changes that include androgen-receptor overexpression and overexpression of enzymes involved in androgen biosynthesis, which result in reactivation of the receptor. ⋯ Notably, promising activity has been shown in early phase trials by MDV3100, a new anti-androgen designed for activity in prostate cancer model systems with overexpressed androgen receptor, and by abiraterone acetate, a CYP17A inhibitor that blocks steroid biosynthesis in the adrenal gland and possibly within the tumour. Both agents are undergoing phase 3 testing. Here, we review the basic science and clinical development of these and other agents.