A Case Report on Solitary Extramedullary Plasmacytoma of the Pleura.

Solitary plasmacytoma is an extremely rare form of plasma cell malignancy that presents as a single mass of monoclonal plasma cells located either intraosseous or extramedullary (extraosseous). Extramedullary plasmacytoma can affect any part of the body, but the most common sites of origin are the head and neck region. The involvement of pleura is very rare.

Single-Cell Immune Mapping of Melanoma Sentinel Lymph Nodes Reveals an Actionable Immunotolerant Microenvironment.

Purpose: Improving our understanding of the immunologic response to cancer cells within the sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) of primary tumors is expected to identify new approaches to stimulate clinically meaningful cancer immunity.

Experimental Design: We used mass cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF), flow cytometry, and T-cell receptor immunosequencing to conduct simultaneous single-cell analyses of immune cells in the SLNs of patients with melanoma.

Results: We found increased effector-memory αβ T cells, TCR clonality, and γδ T cells selectively in the melanoma-bearing SLNs relative to non-melanoma-bearing SLNs, consistent with possible activation of an antitumor immune response.

Incidence and Survival Outcomes in Patients with Lung Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in the United States.

Background: The incidence and prevalence of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are rapidly rising. Epidemiologic trends have been reported for common NENs, but specific data for lung NENs are lacking.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

5-(3,3-Dimethyle-1-Triazeno) Imidazole-4-Carboxamide and Interleukin-2 Adjuvant Therapy in Resected High-Risk Primary and Regionally Metastatic Melanoma.

Background: In the precheckpoint inhibitor era, high-dose interferon was the only approved adjuvant therapy for high-risk melanoma. In this manuscript, we analyze the recurrence-free survival, overall survival and toxicity profile of adjuvant treatment with interleukin-2 (IL-2) and 5-(3,3-dimethyle-1-triazeno) imidazole-4-carboxamide (DTIC) for resected high-risk melanoma patients.

Methods: All patients with stage IIB, IIC or stage III melanoma who were treated with DTIC/IL-2 combination therapy at a single institution from 2000 to 2010 were identified from the University of Louisville Hospital medical record.

Treatment and outcomes of non-small-cell lung cancer patients with high comorbidity.

Background: The life expectancy of untreated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is dismal, while treatment for NSCLC improves survival. The presence of comorbidities is thought to play a significant role in the decision to treat or not treat a given patient. We aim to evaluate the association of comorbidities with the survival of patients treated for NSCLC.

Gemcitabine and carfilzomib induced thrombotic microangiopathy: eculizumab as a life-saving treatment.

Drug-induced aHUS is rare; however, early diagnosis is vital to reduce morbidity and mortality. With confirmation of the diagnosis, eculizumab appears to be a viable treatment option to suppress the pro-inflammatory surge. Furthermore, adverse side effects of medications such as carfilzomib and gemcitabine should be considered in the appropriate settings.

"Lost to Follow-up" Among Adult Cancer Survivors.

Background: Follow-up cancer care is important for patients who have received IV chemotherapy but some patients discontinue their care and are lost to follow-up (LFU) at the cancer center where they were treated. The purpose of this study was to determine what proportion of cancer survivors are LFU at 5 years after treatment, the timing of LFU, and the characteristics of those who do not continue survivorship care.

Methods: Adult patients with cancer who were treated with chemotherapy at a large community teaching hospital in 2006 and 2007 were identified and linked with State tumor registry data.

High-dose versus weekly cisplatin definitive chemoradiotherapy for HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Objectives: To compare the outcomes and toxicity of high-dose cisplatin (HDC) versus weekly cisplatin (WC) definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCCOPx).

Methods: All patients with p16 positive SCCOPx treated with definitive CRT with cisplatin between 2010 and 2014 at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. CTCAE v 4.

Age-related Disparity: Breast Cancer in the Elderly.

Aging poses an unique opportunity to study cancer biology and treatment in older adults. Breast cancer is often studied in young women; however, much investigation remains to be done on breast cancer in our expanding elderly population. Diagnostic and management strategies applicable to younger patients cannot be empirically used to manage older breast cancer patients.

Symptoms and symptom management in long-term cancer survivors.

It is estimated that there are 13 million cancer survivors in the United States, and more than 65% of them are 5 or more years beyond their diagnosis. The majority are "cancer-free and free of cancer," although some survivors have late or long-term effects of treatment or develop second or secondary cancers. Late and long-term effects for survivors of childhood cancers have been well studied, but less is known about the "seasons of survivorship" for adult cancer survivors.