Gemcitabine-induced haemolytic uremic syndrome, although infrequent, can it be prevented: A case report and review of literature.

Gemcitabine is an antineoplastic used to treat several malignancies including pancreatic cancer. Its toxicity profile is well known with myelotoxicity, increased vascular permeability and peripheral oedema as most frequent adverse events. However, several cases of acute renal failure have been reported and haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) seems to be the underlying process.

Chemotherapy induced oral mucositis: prevention is possible.

Background: Oral mucositis (OM) is an inflammation of the oral mucosa which occurs in 20-40% of patients receiving conventional chemotherapy (CM). Many different substances have been used separately to treat or prevent OM but no standard procedure has been settled as definitive. We conducted a prospective study to examine whether rinses with a mixture of soluble prednisolone, nystatin and salt water applied before the expected OM appears, would reduce the incidence of grade 2-3 OM in subsequent cycles of CM.

Systemic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: Past, present and future.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common neoplasia which represents the second leading cause of cancer related death. Most cases occur in developing countries, but its incidence is rising in Western countries due to hepatitis C. Although hepatitis therapies have evolved and the HCC screening has increased in several areas, 40% present with advanced disease which is only amenable for palliative systemic treatment.

New therapeutic approaches to metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: A glimpse into the future.

Neuroendocrine (NE) gastroenteropancreatic tumors are a heterogeneous group of neoplasias arising from neuroendocrine cells of the embryological gut. Their incidence have increased significantly over the past 3 decades probably due to the improvements in imaging and diagnosis. The recent advances in molecular biology have translated into an expansion of therapeutic approaches to these patients.

Resectable Cholangiocarcinoma: Reviewing the Role of Adjuvant Strategies.

Cholangiocarcinoma is a very heterogeneous and rare group of neoplasms originating from the perihilar, intra-, or extrahepatic bile duct epithelium. It represents only 3% of gastrointestinal cancers, although their incidence is increasing as its mortality increases. Surgical resection is the only potentially curative option, but unfortunately the resectability rate is low.

Markers of Response to Antiangiogenic Therapies in Colorectal Cancer: Where Are We Now and What Should Be Next?

Despite advances in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), it remains the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the Western world. Angiogenesis is a complex process that involves the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting vessels. It is essential for promoting cancer survival, growth, and dissemination.

A midline for oxaliplatin infusion: the myth of safety devices.

Oxaliplatin is a platinum compound mainly used in the treatment of colorectal cancer. According to its manufacturer it is not considered vesicant agent though it has been shown to cause severe tissue damage if extravasation occurs in large doses. Several cases of extravasation have been reported; most of them from incorrectly placed peripheral cannula or incorrect use of central venous access devices.

Molecular targeted agents for gastric cancer: a step forward towards personalized therapy.

Gastric cancer (GC) represents a major cancer burden worldwide, and remains the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Due to its insidious nature, presentation is usually late and often carries a poor prognosis. Despite having improved treatment modalities over the last decade, for most patients only modest improvements have been seen in overall survival.

HER-2 Evaluation in a Specific Gastric Cancer Population with the Highest Rate of Mortality in Spain.

Gastric cancer (GC) still represents the second cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Radical resection is the mainstay of early stages treatment with little impact on overall survival (OS) in the advanced ones. HER-2 is the most relevant biological factor involved.

Life after breast cancer: dealing with lymphoedema.

Background: In recent years, breast cancer (BC) mortality rates have declined, reflecting advances in early detection. Prevention and management of treatment sequelae that could impair function or quality of life have increased in relevance. Lymphoedema after BC treatment is one of these sequelae.

The challenge of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a very common disease with a high rate of mortality around the world, representing the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death. As the majority of patients are diagnosed with advanced cancer with a subsequent low five-year survival rate (10%), it is imperative to develop new strategies to treat this challenging patient population. Traditionally, patients received successive lines of chemotherapy and discontinued the treatment or switched to a different one in the event of disease progression.

Gastric cancer: tumor markers as predictive factors for preoperative staging.

Introduction: CEA, CA 19-9, and CA 72-4 are tumor markers commonly used for gastric neoplasms. The clinical importance of the preoperative serum levels of these tumor markers in gastric cancer (GC) is not well known. Even less is known about the predictive value of the preoperative serum levels of the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCGβ).

Nutritional Status After Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the most frequent causes of death secondary to cancer in the world. Surgery is the only potentially curative treatment but its clinical consequences are significant. The objective of this study is to evaluate the nutritional state of patients with a total gastrectomy secondary to gastric adenocarcinoma.

Gastric cancer and the search for a good prognostic classification: a challenge.

Introduction: Gastric cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide. The standard treatment is radical surgical resection, but 60% of patients will present recurrence. TNM classification (6th edition, American Joint Committee on Cancer) recommends the removal of at least 15 regional lymph nodes to carry out an adequate pathological staging.

Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Is Computed Tomography (CT) Useful in Preoperative Staging?

Background And Purpose: Although multiple studies testing the accuracy of CT in the preoperative staging of gastric adenocarcinoma have been carried out, their results are controversial. Whilst some authors claim that CT is an accurate method for preoperatively staging gastric cancer, others have advocated the contrary. Because of this discrepancy we have retrospectively reviewed preoperative CT findings compared with histopathological results in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

A commentary on "risk factors for renal cell cancer in a Japanese population".

The well-written and researched article reported in Clinical Medicine: Oncology by Dr. Washio and Dr. Mori entitled "Risk factors for renal cell cancer in a Japanese population"1 makes evident the differences in incidence and mortality rates from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) between different populations and highlights the relevance of carrying out epidemiological studies, investigating additional risk factors which may explain the differences.