Implications of tumor-positive sentinel lymph nodes in single vs multiple nodal basins in melanoma.

Background: Melanoma patients' prognosis is based on the primary tumor characteristics and the tumor status of the regional lymph nodes. The advent of lymphoscintigraphy with SLN biopsy (SLNB) has shown that melanoma can drain to multiple nodal basins but the significance of multiple basins (vs. one basin) with tumor-positive sentinel lymph node(s) (+SLN) of similar tumor burden has not been shown.

The role of LAT1 in (18)F-DOPA uptake in malignant gliomas.

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with the amino acid tracer 6-(18)F-fluoro-L-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylalanine ((18)F-DOPA) may provide better spatial and functional information in human gliomas than CT or MRI alone. The L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) is responsible for membrane transport of large neutral amino acids in normal cells. This study assessed the relationship between LAT1 expression and (18)F-DOPA uptake in human astrocytomas.

Nasal septal perforation from bevacizumab: a discussion of outcomes, management, and pharmacovigilance.

To date, the published literature describes 18 reports of nasal septal perforation in cancer patients with the administration of bevacizumab. This complication was detected during post-marketing surveillance of bevacizumab. How should patients who develop this complication be managed? This discussion summarizes suggestions for management of bevacizumab-associated nasal septal perforation and, as relevant to healthcare providers, discusses some of the practical aspects of post-marketing pharmacovigilance.

Bevacizumab-induced nasal septal perforation: incidence of symptomatic, confirmed event(s) in colorectal cancer patients.

Purpose: In breast cancer patients, Mailliez and others described that 5 of 70 patients (7%) developed a bevacizumab-induced nasal septal perforation. However, to date, no studies have reported such rates in colorectal cancer patients, who derive a survival advantage with this drug.

Methods: This study examined the incidence of bevacizumab-induced, clinically symptomatic, otolaryngology specialist-confirmed nasal septal perforation among 100 patients who had been consecutively-treated for metastatic colorectal cancer.