Cutaneous melanoma with nodal metastases in elderly people.

Background: The impact of age on melanoma patient outcomes is uncertain.

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics and treatment outcomes in cutaneous melanoma patients ≥ 65 years of age with lymph node metastases.

Methods: We analyzed data from 849 consecutive patients with stage III cutaneous melanoma who were treated between 1994 and 2007 at one institution.

Developments in targeted therapy of advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) comprise a recently defined entity of the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of GIST pathogenesis have resulted in the development of a treatment approach which has become a model of targeted therapy in oncology. The introduction of imatinib mesylate (inhibiting KIT/PDGFRA (platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha) and their downstream signaling cascade) has revolutionized the therapy of advanced (inoperable and/or metastatic) GISTs.