Vectorized gene therapy of liver tumors: proof-of-concept of TG4023 (MVA-FCU1) in combination with flucytosine.

Background: TG4023 is a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) containing the yeast-originated transgene FCU1, expressing cytosine deaminase and uracil phosphoribosyltransferase enzymes that transform the prodrug flucytosine (5-FC) into cytotoxic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and 5-fluorouridine-5′-monophosphate, respectively. This first-in-human study aimed to assess the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of intratumoral (IT) TG4023 and the safety, feasibility, and proof-of-concept (PoC) of TG4023/5-FC combination to deliver high 5-FU concentrations in tumors.

Patients And Methods: Cancer patients without further therapeutic option and with at least one injectable primary or metastatic liver tumor underwent on day 1 a percutaneous IT injection of TG4023 at doses of 107, 108, or 4.

Open-label uncontrolled pilot study to evaluate complementary therapy with Ruta graveolens 9c in patients with advanced cancer.

Background: Patients with advanced metastatic disease are often treated aggressively with multiple lines of chemotherapy, even in the last month of life. The benefit of such an approach remains uncertain. The objective of the study was to investigate whether Ruta graveolens 9c homeopathic medicine can improve quality of life (QoL) and tumour progression in patients with advanced cancer.

Depression assessment by oncologists and palliative care physicians.

Objective: Depression is a frequent problem in cancer patients, which is known to reduce quality of life; however, many cancer patients with depression are not treated because of the difficulties in assessing depression in this population. Our aim was to evaluate and improve the depression assessment strategies of palliative care (PC) physicians and oncologists.

Method: We invited all medical oncologists and PC physicians from three cancer centers to participate in this multicenter prospective study.

Treatment of metastatic breast cancer: a large observational study on adherence to French prescribing guidelines and financial cost of the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab.

Objective: This observational study aimed at analyzing adherence to prescribing guidelines of anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody trastuzumab treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Efficacy and costs were also evaluated.

Methods: The adherence to the trastuzumab treatment plan was analyzed according to both the French postlicensing guidelines published in 2001 and clinical guidelines from the regional cancer network in a cohort of 131 consecutive patients.

[Targeted therapies in oncology].

The development of anticancer targeted therapies is the result of a knowledge transfer from biology research to clinical practice. Indeed these drugs act on proliferation signal pathways involved in oncogenesis. Monoclonal antibodies (antiHER1 or cetuximab, antiHER2 or trastuzimab, antiVEGF or bevacizumab.