Combined Effect of Moringa oleifera and Ionizing Radiation on Survival and Metastatic Activity of Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

Background: Radiotherapy is one of the main treatments for malignancies. Radioresistance is a major obstacle in this treatment, calling for new treatments to improve radiotherapy outcome. Herbal medicine has low toxicity and could be a source for new radio-enhancing agents.

Modified Citrus Pectin as a Potential Sensitizer for Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer.

Background: Radiotherapy is one of the primary therapies for localized prostatic carcinoma. Therefore, there is an emerging need to sensitize prostatic cancer cells to chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Modified citrus pectin (MCP) is an effective inhibitor of galectin-3 (Gal-3), which is correlated with tumor progression, proliferation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis.

Immune Monitoring of Patients Treated With a Whole-Cell Melanoma Vaccine Engineered to Express 4-1BBL.

CD8 lymphocytes are mandatory mediators of tumor regression. To enhance their specific antitumor activity, we aimed to improve a melanoma cell-based vaccine by transfecting it with 4-1BB ligand, a costimulatory and immune modulatory molecule. Thirty-four American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage IIB-IV patients were vaccinated with a melanoma antigen-rich cell line engineered to express HLA-A2 and 4-1BBL (M20/A2/BBL).

Adjuvant Autologous Melanoma Vaccine for Macroscopic Stage III Disease: Survival, Biomarkers, and Improved Response to CTLA-4 Blockade.

Background. There is not yet an agreed adjuvant treatment for melanoma patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer stages III B and C. We report administration of an autologous melanoma vaccine to prevent disease recurrence.

Curcumin induces apoptosis and inhibits growth of orthotopic human non-small cell lung cancer xenografts.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Curcumin is involved in various biological pathways leading to inhibition of NSCLC growth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of curcumin on expression of nuclear factor κB-related proteins in vitro and in vivo and on growth and metastasis in an intralung tumor mouse model.

Moringa Oleifera aqueous leaf extract down-regulates nuclear factor-kappaB and increases cytotoxic effect of chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer cells.

Background: Fewer than 6% patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas live up to five years after diagnosis. Chemotherapy is currently the standard treatment, however, these tumors often develop drug resistance over time. Agents for increasing the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy or reducing the cancer cells' chemo-resistance to the drugs are required to improve treatment outcome.

[The role of medicinal herbs with anti-inflammatory properties in prevention and treatment of cancer].

The association between chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis, as well as neoplastic progression, has been researched and is well-established. Being a central coordinator of immune responses, nuclear factor-kappa B (NFkappaB) signaling plays a critical role in cancer development and progression. The activation of the NFkappaB signaling pathway is highly monitored under normal conditions, and is mainly known as a key pathway in activation of immune responses.

Ipilimumab in treatment-naive and previously treated patients with metastatic melanoma: retrospective analysis of efficacy and safety data from a phase II trial.

Ipilimumab is a fully human, monoclonal antibody that blocks cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 to potentiate antitumor T-cell responses. In a phase III trial, ipilimumab monotherapy at 3 mg/kg demonstrated an improvement in overall survival (OS) in patients with previously treated, metastatic melanoma. Here, we conducted a retrospective analysis of efficacy and safety data from a phase II clinical trial in which treatment-naive and previously treated patients with metastatic melanoma received ipilimumab at an investigational dose of 10 mg/kg.

A prospective, controlled study of the botanical compound mixture LCS101 for chemotherapy-induced hematological complications in breast cancer.

Background: This prospective, controlled study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of the mixture of botanical compounds known as LCS101 in preventing chemotherapy-induced hematological toxicity in breast cancer patients.

Methods: Female patients diagnosed with localized breast cancer were randomly allocated to receive treatment with either LCS101 or placebo capsules, in addition to conventional chemotherapy. The study intervention was initiated 2 weeks prior to the initiation of chemotherapy and continued until chemotherapy was completed, with participants receiving 2 g of LCS101 capsules thrice daily.

Improved treatment of the breast and supraclavicular fossa based on a simple geometrical principle.

In breast cancer, nodal irradiation has become routine, but adds time and creates concerns for field overlap if the "match" is not accurate. We developed a technique to address these issues by using only one isocenter for both areas. Tangents are designed at simulation.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II study comparing the tolerability and efficacy of ipilimumab administered with or without prophylactic budesonide in patients with unresectable stage III or IV melanoma.

Purpose: Diarrhea (with or without colitis) is an immune-related adverse event (irAE) associated with ipilimumab. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, multinational phase II trial was conducted to determine whether prophylactic budesonide (Entocort EC), a nonabsorbed oral steroid, reduced the rate of grade >or=2 diarrhea in ipilimumab-treated patients with advanced melanoma.

Experimental Design: Previously treated and treatment-naïve patients (N = 115) with unresectable stage III or IV melanoma received open-label ipilimumab (10 mg/kg every 3 weeks for four doses) with daily blinded budesonide (group A) or placebo (group B) through week 16.

Invasive breast cancer treated with taxol and epirubicin neo-adjuvant chemotherapy: the role in the outcome of the "crosstalk" between Erb receptors and p53.

Purpose: To correlate p53 and ErbB receptors status with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in locally advanced breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: Sixty patients were included in a single-center, open-label, phase II trial (1998-2003). Analysis of Erb receptors and p53 status and estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor data were available for 33 patients.

Fulvestrant in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer: is it still effective as a very advanced line of treatment?

Background: Over 75% of postmenopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer have hormone receptor-positive tumors. Endocrine therapy, with its more favorable toxicity profile than chemotherapy, is the preferred treatment modality for these patients.

Objectives: To assess our experience with fulvestrant, an antiestrogen, in an advanced phase of treatment, after progression on the classical anti-estrogen (tamoxifen) and aromatase inhibitors

Methods: The study group comprised 46 patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with fulvestrant during the years 2002-2006.

Neoadjuvant treatment with paclitaxel and epirubicin in invasive breast cancer: a phase II study.

Background And Objectives: The modern management of locally advanced breast cancer includes a multimodal approach consisting of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (usually given as initial treatment), surgery, radiotherapy and adjuvant hormone therapy. This therapeutic approach converts many patients with initially unresectable disease to reasonable surgical candidates, with acceptable rates of loco-regional disease control. Induction of a pathological complete response (pCR) with modern chemotherapy agents or combined with immunotherapy, when applicable, should be one of the primary goals of neoadjuvant therapy in order to achieve better disease-free and overall survival in this subset of patients.

Heavily pretreated ovarian cancer patients treated by single-agent gemcitabine. A retrospective outcome comparison between platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant patients.

To assess activity and toxicity of gemcitabine treatment in heavily pretreated epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients and compare the outcome between platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant patients. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 43 women with EOC treated with gemcitabine on Days 1, 8 and 15 every 28 days. Response was evaluated by physical examination and serial CA 125 measurements.

One year maintenance of carboplatin in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer--a phase II study.

Background: The 5 year survival rate in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer is 25-40% and treatment is mainly palliative once the disease recurs.

Objectives: To determine the time to progression, overall survival and toxicity of 1 year maintenance treatment with carboplatin in women with advanced EOC after achieving complete remission with platinum-based combination chemotherapy.

Methods: Twenty-two women with epithelial ovarian cancer stage III-IV previously treated with platinum-based combinations who had achieved complete remission evidenced by symptoms, pelvic examination, computerized tomography and serum CA-125, were assigned to the study protocol consisting of: carboplatin of AUC=6, three cycles every 2 months, followed by two cycles once every 3 months for a total of five courses over 1 year.

A biochemotherapy regimen with concurrent administration of cisplatin, vinblastine, temozolomide (Temodal), interferon-alfa and interleukin-2 for metastatic melanoma: a phase II study.

Our objective was to evaluate the toxicity and antitumor efficacy of concurrent biochemotherapy in metastatic melanoma patients and the effectiveness of adding temozolomide to protect the brain from metastases. Twenty-three patients with advanced inoperable melanoma were hospitalized for 5-6 days for the following treatment: cisplatin 20 mg/m daily for 4 days, vinblastine 1.6 mg/m daily for 4 days and oral temozolomide 250 mg/m daily for 5 days, with 18 x 10 IU/m intravenous interleukin-2 by continuous infusion for 4 days (the dose was cut daily by 50%) and 5 x 10 U/m interferon-alfa subcutaneously daily for 5 days, repeated at 28-day intervals for a maximum of nine courses.

[Hormone replacement therapy in breast cancer survivors: the Israeli Society for Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapy policy letter].

The Israeli Society for Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapy appointed experts in breast cancer therapy to assess the Society's policy regarding hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in breast cancer survivors with menopausal symptoms. The first policy letter was published in November 2002, and referred to available literature at that time which included retrospective data alone. The professional literature suggested no increased risk in breast cancer recurrence or cancer specific mortality, and no effect on overall survival with the use of HRT for a limited period (up to 3 years).

Cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of rectal cancer.

The occurrence of cutaneous metastatic disease from colorectal cancer is uncommon and typically signifies widespread disease with poor prognosis. Colorectal metastases usually occur within the first 3 years of follow up, and the median survival of patients after the appearance of cutaneous metastatic lesions is 18 to 20 months. We describe an unusual case of a 60-year-old woman with a metachronous skin lesion as the sole site of metastatic disease, and a relatively long interval between the appearance of skin metastases and death.

Assessment of malignant skeletal disease: initial experience with 18F-fluoride PET/CT and comparison between 18F-fluoride PET and 18F-fluoride PET/CT.

Unlabelled: 18F-fluoride PET/CT was performed on 44 oncologic patients to evaluate its diagnostic accuracy in assessing malignant osseous involvement and in differentiating malignant from benign bone lesions.

Methods: (18)F-fluoride PET and (18)F-fluoride PET/CT were interpreted separately. Lesions showing increased (18)F-fluoride uptake were categorized as malignant, benign, or inconclusive.

Fused functional-anatomic images of metastatic cancer of cervix obtained by a combined gamma camera and an X-ray tube hybrid system with an illustrative case and review of the 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose literature.

Background: 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) assessments have provided clinically important information in cervical cancer. FDG studies can now be performed by both dedicated PET systems and by new-generation gamma cameras. Hybrid systems which consist of positron emission tomography (PET) or a gamma camera with X-ray for fusion of functional-anatomic data without changing the patient's position are now available.

[Hormone replacement therapy in breast cancer survivors: the Israeli Society for Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapy policy letter].

The Israeli Society for Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapy requested that experts in breast cancer therapy assess the Society's policy regarding the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in breast cancer survivors. The following recommendations are based on updated literature, which is limited since it summarizes only retrospective data. There is currently no evidence of an increased risk of breast cancer recurrence, death attributable to cancer, or overall mortality among breast cancer survivors who use HRT.

CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) versus CNF (cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, 5-fluorouracil) as adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II lymph-node positive breast cancer: results by demographic and clinical subgroups.

A multicenter phase III randomized study comparing the efficacies of two adjuvant polychemotherapeutic regimens in 145 patients with stage II node-positive breast cancer: the standard chemotherapy combination, CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil), and an experimental protocol, CNF (cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone [Novantrone], 5-fluorouracil) in which mitoxantrone replaced methotrexate. The finding of a significant advantage ( p= 0.04) in the disease-free survival for those receiving mitoxantrone (mean survival 4.

Long-term follow-up in managing anaplastic astrocytoma by multimodality approach with surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy and PCV-chemotherapy: phase II trial.

Overall survival and progression-free survival after 5 and 10 years of 31 patients with malignant glioma treated by a combination of surgery, postoperative radiotherapy, and chemotherapy with a PCV regimen (procarbazine, CCNU [lomustine] and vincristine) is described. Parameters were evaluated by age at diagnosis, gender, ethnic origin, pre- and postsurgery Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score, limit and amount of surgical resection, histopathologic type, number of chemotherapy courses, time between surgery and radiotherapy, response to combined therapy, and dosage and type of radiotherapy. Progression-free survival was 29% at 24 months and 22% at 60 and 120 months.