Phase I study of veliparib in combination with gemcitabine.

Background: Veliparib (ABT-888) is an oral PARP inhibitor expected to increase gemcitabine activity. This phase I determined the maximal tolerable dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicities (DLT), antitumor activity, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of veliparib combined with gemcitabine.

Methods: Patients with advanced solid tumors received veliparib (10-40-mg PO BID) on chemotherapy weeks with gemcitabine 500-750-mg/m IV on days 1, 8, and 15 (28-day cycle), or on days 1 and 8 (21-day cycle).

Long-term recurrence-free survival after an unplanned reduction in radiotherapy for HPV-positive oropharyngeal SCC: Two cases and a review of the literature.

There is currently no clear distinction between the treatment of HPV-positive and HPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). HPV-positive OPSCC has been demonstrated to be more radiosensitive than its HPV-negative counterpart. Despite this, patients with HPV-positive OPSCC continue to receive a full dose of radiation (70 Gy) outside clinical trials.

Progress in Immunotherapy of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the mucosal surfaces of the head and neck area exhibits a complex interaction with the host immune system that plays an important part in the evolution of the malignant process, in the resistance to different therapeutic modalities, and the ability of tumor cells to metastasize to distant organs. The recent advances in tumor immunology have transformed the field in onco-immunology from using non-specific immune-stimulant agents such as interferon and interleukins to the area of rationally targeted immunotherapy such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, which have shown promising results in early phase clinical trials.

A week in the life of lung cancer survivors: Daily reports of stress, worry, mood, and symptoms.

This study examined the day-to-day lives of early stage lung cancer survivors who were discharged from treatment between 2 and 24 months prior to the study. Lung cancer survivors were called on eight consecutive nights and completed an interview about their daily experiences. Repeated measures, multilevel analysis of the phone interview data was conducted.

Impact of genetic markers on treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer represents a group of heterogeneous diseases. The last decade witnessed significant progress in improving our understanding of the biology of non-small cell lung cancer, which led to the identification of several genetic targets. Those genetic targets were utilized to explain clinical phenomena, such as the occurrence of non-small cell lung cancer in never-smokers, to predict response to conventional chemotherapy and biological agents, and to explain and predict resistance to therapy.

Volociximab in cancer.

Introduction: Volociximab is a first-in-class chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets α5β1 integrin. Preclinical studies have shown the ability of volociximab to inhibit tumor neoangiogenesis by blocking the interaction between α5β1 and fibronectin. Volociximab's safety profile, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics have been established.