European journal of clinical & medical oncology最新文献

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive neoplasm that is largely resistant to traditional anti-cancer therapies. For years it has been considered a terminal condition and once diagnosed, patients generally survived less than a year despite aggressive treatment. Although rare, the worldwide incidence of MPM continues to rise, in part due to its association with asbestos exposure. Patients usually present with non-specific symptoms of abdominal distension and pain making the diagnosis challenging. In recent years, aggressive cytoreductive surgery with the administration of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has improved survival in patients with MPM treated at multiple centers worldwide. This review article briefly highlights the presentation, diagnosis, and natural history of MPM. We then explore the available treatment options with primary focus on cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Families with multiple individuals affected with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and other related B-cell tumors have been described in the literature. Familial CLL does not appear to differ from sporadic CLL in terms of prognostic markers and clinical outcome. While some environmental factors (such as farming related exposures and occupational chemicals) may increase risk of CLL, results of epidemiological studies have been generally inconsistent inconsistent and well-defined extrinsic risk factors are unknown. Large, population-based case-control and cohort studies have also shown significant familial aggregation of CLL and related conditions including non-Hodgkin lymphomas, especially other indolent lymphomas. The precursor condition, monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL) also aggregates in CLL families. However because the baseline population risks for CLL and other indolent lymphomas are low, the absolute risk to a first-degree relative for developing CLL or a related disease is also low. Linkage studies have been conducted in high-risk CLL families to screen the whole genome for loci that contribute to susceptibility but no gene mutations have yet been identified by this method. Association studies of candidate genes have implicated several genes as being important in CLL but more studies are needed to verify these findings. Results from whole genome association are promising. The ability to conduct large scale genomic studies will play an important role in detecting susceptibility genes for CLL over the next few years and thereby help to delineate etiologic pathways.

Functional imaging by (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) is being increasingly incorporated into the evaluation of patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Its use for the initial staging in combination with computed tomography has now become standard. PET has recently been included in consensus criteria for response after therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma and aggressive NHL. At the end of therapy, PET has a high positive and negative predictive value (PPV, NPV) for relapse in the pre-rituximab era. However, in the rituximab era, there appears to be a higher rate of false-positive PET scans, making the PPV lower, while the NPV remains high. Interim PET scans are an attractive concept for early evaluation of response, and possibly to guide intensification or de-escalation of therapy. Similar to the end-of-therapy scans, the PPV for mid-therapy scans appears to be low in the rituximab era. Trials testing the modification of therapy based on an interim PET scan are ongoing. For surveillance of patients in remission from aggressive NHL, there is as yet no convincing data that monitoring with PET is superior to traditional surveillance. The evidence to date suggests that a positive PET scan during or after rituximab-based therapy for aggressive NHL should be confirmed by a biopsy if major treatment decisions will be made using the results.