Recommended testing algorithms for NTRK gene fusions in pediatric and selected adult cancers: Consensus of a Singapore Task Force.

The occurrence of neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions in a wide range of tumor types presents an attractive opportunity for using a tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitor as cancer therapy. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated highly efficacious outcomes associated with the use of TRK inhibitors, such as larotrectinib and entrectinib in NTRK fusion-bearing cancers, in both adult and pediatric populations. While NTRK gene fusions are commonly found in some uncommon adult and pediatric malignancies, they are also found, albeit rarely, in a wide range of more common malignancies.

Clinical genetic testing outcome with multi-gene panel in Asian patients with multiple primary cancers.

Background: Developing multiple cancers is an indicator of underlying hereditary cancer predisposition, but there is a paucity of data regarding the clinical genetic testing outcomes of these patients.

Methods: We compared cancer index patients with ≥2 primary malignancies versus 1 primary cancer who underwent clinical evaluation and testing with multi-gene panels comprising up to 49 genes from 1998-2016.

Results: Among 1191 cancer index patients, 80.

Tumour genetics and genomics to personalise cancer treatment.

Personalising cancer treatment to optimise therapeutic efficacy while minimising exposure to the toxicities of ineffective drugs is the holy grail of medical oncology. Clinical parameters and conventional histopathological characterisations of cancers are no longer adequate to guide the practising oncologists in treatment planning. The explosion of knowledge in cancer molecular biology has led to the availability of tumour-specific molecules that serve as predictive and prognostic markers.

Multi-centre phase II trial of Thalidomide in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a hypervascular tumour, which overexpresses vascular endothelial growth factor. Thalidomide is an antiangiogenic agent with activity in refractory multiple myeloma. The purpose of this multi-centre phase II study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of thalidomide in patients with advanced HCC.

Combined endostatin/sFlt-1 antiangiogenic gene therapy is highly effective in a rat model of HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is regarded as a suitable target for antiangiogenic strategies. However, antiangiogenic agents aimed at single targets can be neutralized by upregulation of other proangiogenic factors. Therefore, combined approaches addressing at least two angiogenic targets should be more effective.

Oxaliplatin/fluorouracil/leucovorin in advanced colorectal carcinoma: an asian experience.

Background: Oxaliplatin/fluorouracil/leucovorin (FOLFOX4) is an effective and generally well-tolerated regimen in Western studies of metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate the objective tumor responses and toxicities of the FOLFOX4 regimen in a predominantly Chinese population with advanced colorectal carcinoma in Singapore.

Methods: Forty-seven consecutive patients were enrolled in a retrospective study between March 1998 and December 2001.