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.