Salvage stereotactic radiosurgery for breast cancer brain metastases: outcomes and prognostic factors.

Background: Salvage stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is often considered in breast cancer patients previously treated for brain metastases. The goal of this study was to analyze clinical outcomes and prognostic factors for survival in the salvage setting.

Methods: The authors retrospectively examined 79 consecutive breast cancer patients who received salvage SRS (interval of >3 months after initial therapy), 76 of whom (96%) received prior whole-brain radiation therapy.

Safety of concurrent bevacizumab therapy and anticoagulation in glioma patients.

Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) are common in glioma patients and are typically treated with anticoagulant medications. The anti-angiogenic agent bevacizumab (BVZ) increases the risks of both VTE and hemorrhagic complications. Little is known about the hemorrhagic risk of anticoagulation in glioma patients receiving BVZ.

Response assessment in neuro-oncology.

Accuracy and reproducibility in determining response to therapy and tumor progression can be difficult to achieve for nervous system tumors. Current response criteria vary depending on the pathology and have several limitations. Until recently, the most widely used criteria for gliomas were "Macdonald criteria," based on two-dimensional tumor measurements on neuroimaging studies.

Recurrent high-grade glioma.

Opinions vary on the best treatment options for recurrent high-grade glioma. Some argue that bevacizumab should become standard of care for patients with recurrent glioblastoma, especially in light of recent FDA approval for this indication. However, this opinion is not uniformly accepted.

Novel medical therapeutics in glioblastomas, including targeted molecular therapies, current and future clinical trials.

The prognosis for glioblastoma is poor despite optimal therapy with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. New therapies that improve survival and quality of life are needed. Research has increased our understanding of the molecular pathways important for gliomagenesis and disease progression.

Bevacizumab salvage therapy following progression in high-grade glioma patients treated with VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Agents targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway are being used with increasing frequency in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma. The effect of more than one antiangiogenic therapy given in succession has not been established. We reviewed the efficacy of bevacizumab, a VEGF-A monoclonal antibody, in patients who progressed following prior therapy with VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (R-TKi).

The benefits of steroids versus steroids plus antivirals for treatment of Bell's palsy: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine whether steroids plus antivirals provide a better degree of facial muscle recovery in patients with Bell's palsy than steroids alone.

Design: Meta-analysis.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for studies published in all languages from 1984 to January 2009.

Role of a second chemotherapy in recurrent malignant glioma patients who progress on bevacizumab.

Bevacizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that has efficacy in recurrent malignant gliomas, particularly in combination with irinotecan. However, responses are rarely durable. Continuation of bevacizumab in combination with another chemotherapeutic agent may demonstrate some activity.