Can pharmacogenomics help to improve therapy in patients with high-grade osteosarcoma?

Current standard treatment of patients with high-grade osteosarcoma (HGOS) includes complete surgical resection of the tumor and chemotherapy, most often with high-dose methotrexate, doxorubicin and cisplatin. With this approach > 60% of patients can be cured. However, conventional anticancer drugs have a narrow therapeutic index, and efficacy and toxicity vary considerably among patients.

Multiple relapses in high-grade osteosarcoma: when to stop aggressive therapy?

The prognosis after relapse of high-grade osteosarcoma is poor and complete resection of all tumors is essential for survival. A 6-year old was diagnosed with high-grade osteosarcoma and treated according to the COSS-96 protocol. Within 5 years from initial diagnosis, five osteosarcoma relapses occurred and every time it was possible to achieve complete surgical remission.

Lessons learned from a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study with a iota-carrageenan nasal spray as medical device in children with acute symptoms of common cold.

Background: Common cold is caused by a variety of respiratory viruses. The prevalence in children is high, and it potentially contributes to significant morbidity. Iota-carragenan, a polymer derived from red seaweed, has reduced viral load in nasal secretions and alleviated symptoms in adults with common cold.

Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia (TRMA) in an Austrian boy with compound heterozygous SLC19A2 mutations.

Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia (TRMA) is a rare disorder typically characterized by megaloblastic anemia, non-type I diabetes and sensorineural deafness. It is caused by various mutations in the SLC19A2 gene that impair the encoded thiamine transporter. So far, only 70 affected individuals mainly from consanguineous families of Middle and Far Eastern origin with a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms, variable onset of disease, and primarily homozygote mutations in SLC19A2 have been reported.