Pilot study of the implementation of G8 screening tool, Cognitive screening assessment and Chemotherapy Toxicity assessment in older adults with cancer in a Tertiary University Hospital in Ireland.

Background: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is recommended by international guidelines prior to initiation of systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT). In practice, CGA is limited by time constraints, lack of resources and expert interpretation.

Aims: The primary objective of this pilot study was to establish the prevalence of frailty (assessed by G8), cognitive impairment (assessed by Mini-Cog), and risk of chemotherapy toxicity (assessed by CARG Chemo-Toxicity Calculator) among patients (pts) ≥65 years commencing SACT.

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Non-Receptor 11 (/Shp2) as a Driver Oncogene and a Novel Therapeutic Target in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

encodes the SHP2 protein tyrosine phosphatase that activates the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway upstream of and MEK. /Shp2 somatic mutations occur frequently in Juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML); however, the role of mutated in lung cancer tumourigenesis and its utility as a therapeutic target has not been fully addressed. We applied mass-spectrometry-based genotyping to DNA extracted from the tumour and matched the normal tissue of 356 NSCLC patients (98 adenocarcinomas (LUAD) and 258 squamous cell carcinomas (LUSC)).

Early detection of recurrent lung cancer: Enhancing-nodule in post-radiation fibrosis.

Early detection of lung cancer recurrence on imaging is critical for better clinical prognosis. The 'enhancing nodule in post-radiation fibrosis sign' is an important sign which helps detect recurrent lung cancer early on CT chest.

The HGF/c-MET Pathway Is a Driver and Biomarker of VEGFR-inhibitor Resistance and Vascular Remodeling in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Resistance to VEGFR inhibitors is a major obstacle in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We investigated the cellular mechanisms mediating resistance of NSCLCs to VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We generated murine models of human NSCLC and performed targeted inhibition studies with the VEGFR TKIs cediranib and vandetanib.

Erlotinib and bevacizumab in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer and activating EGFR mutations (BELIEF): an international, multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 trial.

Background: The tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib improves the outcomes of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) harbouring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. The coexistence of the T790M resistance mutation with another EGFR mutation in treatment-naive patients has been associated with a shorter progression-free survival to EGFR inhibition than in the absence of the T790M mutation. To test this hypothesis clinically, we developed a proof-of-concept study, in which patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC were treated with the combination of erlotinib and bevacizumab, stratified by the presence of the pretreatment T790M mutation.

Rapid needle-out patient-rollover time after percutaneous CT-guided transthoracic biopsy of lung nodules: effect on pneumothorax rate.

Purpose: To assess the effect of a rapid needle-out patient-rollover time approach on the rate of pneumothorax after computed tomography (CT)-guided transthoracic needle biopsy of pulmonary nodules.

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board approved the study, and all patients gave written informed consent. Between January 2008 and December 2009, percutaneous CT-guided lung biopsy was performed in 201 patients.

Age and associated fibrocystic changes are prognostically significant in patients with small node-negative (T1a,bN0) invasive breast cancer.

Some patients with small (≤1.0 cm) node-negative (T1a,bN0) invasive breast cancer (IBC) who undergo only local therapy experience recurrences. There is limited information on prognostic factors in these patients.

Distinct patterns of cytokine and angiogenic factor modulation and markers of benefit for vandetanib and/or chemotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: There is an unmet need for biomarkers for identifying patients likely to benefit from anticancer treatments, selecting dose, and understanding mechanisms of resistance. Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble VEGF receptor 2 (sVEGFR-2) are known to be modulated by VEGF pathway inhibitors. It is unknown whether chemotherapy or VEGFR inhibitor/chemotherapy combinations induce changes in these or other cytokines and angiogenic factors (CAFs) and whether such changes could be markers of benefit.

High risk of recurrence for patients with breast cancer who have human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive, node-negative tumors 1 cm or smaller.

Purpose: To evaluate the risk of recurrence in women diagnosed with T1a and T1b, node-negative, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -positive breast cancer.

Methods: We reviewed 965 T1a,bN0M0 breast cancers diagnosed at our institution between 1990 and 2002. Dedicated breast pathologists confirmed HER2 positivity if 3+ by immunohistochemistry or if it had a ratio of 2.

Baseline vascular endothelial growth factor concentration as a potential predictive marker of benefit from vandetanib in non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Vandetanib [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor/epidermal growth factor receptor/RET inhibitor] has shown improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer in three randomized phase II studies: vandetanib versus gefitinib (study 3), docetaxel +/- vandetanib (study 6), and carboplatin-paclitaxel and/or vandetanib (study 7). In study 7, vandetanib monotherapy was inferior to carboplatin-paclitaxel. We performed an exploratory retrospective analysis of the relationship between baseline circulating VEGF concentrations and PFS.

A phase II study of Lonafarnib (SCH66336) in patients with chemorefractory, advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Objective: Treatment options for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) following platinum-based therapy are limited. Lonafarnib is a potent, specific inhibitor of farnesyl transferase that demonstrated marked antitumor activity as monotherapy in treatment-naive SCCHN in a phase Ib study. A phase II study of lonafarnib was conducted to determine its efficacy and safety in patients with recurrent, platinum-refractory SCCHN.

Overall survival and cause-specific mortality of patients with stage T1a,bN0M0 breast carcinoma.

Purpose: With mammographic screening, the frequency of diagnosis of stage T1a,bN0M0 breast cancer has increased. Prognosis after locoregional therapy and benefit from adjuvant systemic therapy are poorly defined. We reviewed T1a,bN0M0 breast cancer cases registered in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program to investigate the impact of prognostic factors on breast cancer-specific (BCSM) and non-breast cancer-related mortality.

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors vandetanib (ZD6474) and AZD2171 in lung cancer.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a rational target for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a hypothesis validated by the recent Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group E4599 trial showing that the addition of the VEGF monoclonal antibody bevacizumab to chemotherapy prolongs overall survival. Several new tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting the VEGF pathway are currently in advanced clinical development for NSCLC and offer several possible advantages compared with monoclonal antibodies, including oral administration, more flexible dosing, a broader spectrum of target inhibition, and different toxicity profiles. Among these agents, vandetanib (ZD6474), an inhibitor of the VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase, has been the most extensively studied.

Prognosis and management of patients with node-negative invasive breast carcinoma that is 1 cm or smaller in size (stage 1; T1a,bN0M0): a review of the literature.

Purpose: Mammographic screening has led to an increase in the number of small, node-negative breast cancers being diagnosed. Node-negative breast cancers that are < or = 1 cm are stage T1a,bN0M0. Controversy surrounds the prognosis of these patients with locoregional therapy only and the need for adjuvant systemic therapy.

Randomized trial of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell support for high-risk primary breast carcinoma: follow-up at 12 years.

Background: The authors previously reported results from a randomized trial of standard-dose chemotherapy with combined 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2 per cycle), doxorubicin (50 mg/m2 per cycle), and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2 per cycle) (FAC) versus FAC followed by high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous stem cell support (ASCS) for patients with high-risk primary breast carcinoma. After a median follow-up of 6.5 years, no significant differences were observed in recurrence-free survival (RFS) or overall survival (OS) between the 2 arms.

Neoadjuvant systemic therapy for breast cancer: an overview and review of recent clinical trials.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is long established as part of the multi-modality management of locally advanced breast cancer or inflammatory breast cancer, leading to significantly improved outcome. Numerous recent studies have compared the use of anthracycline-based NAC with adjuvant chemotherapy in earlier-stage disease, and have shown equivalent disease-free and overall survival rates with increased breast conservation rates. These studies have also shown that a pathological complete response after NAC is associated with improved long-term outcome.

Combined-modality treatment for isolated recurrences of breast carcinoma: update on 30 years of experience at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and assessment of prognostic factors.

Background: In three prospective, single-arm studies, the authors previously showed an improved outcome for anthracycline-naïve patients with isolated sites of recurrent breast carcinoma (BC) who were treated with doxorubicin-based chemotherapy after local therapy (surgery and/or radiotherapy). In the current report, the initial results are presented from a Phase II trial of docetaxel (100 mg/m(2) every 21 days for 6 cycles) given after local therapy for recurrent BC (Stage IV BC with no evidence of clinically measurable disease) in patients who received prior adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy, and the authors provide an update of the 3 previous studies. An analysis of prognostic factors for these patients also is presented.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: an update.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) causes many deaths worldwide, and its incidence is increasing. Although some cases are associated with immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, or viral infections, in most cases the causes of NHL are not understood. However, there have been some important advances in our understanding of the development of healthy lymphocytes and the pathogenesis of NHL over the past 10 years.