Cancer Treatment Today

The history of stem cell research includes work with both animal and human stem cells. Stem cells can be classified into three broad categories, based on their ability to differentiate. Totipotent stem cells are found only in early embryos. Each cell can form a complete organism (e.g., identical twins). Pluripotent stem cells exist in the undifferentiated inner cell mass of the blastocyst and can form any of the over 200 different cell types found

Diffuse large-cell lymphoma is the most common form of NHL, and autologous stem cell transplantation has been shown to be beneficial in some subsets with this illness. For patients with diffuse large-cell lymphoma who relapse from a CR but remain chemotherapy-responsive, autologous transplantation is the treatment of choice. At the present time, high-risk patients who achieve a CR after a full course of standard-dose chemotherapy and have a high

Athough alemtuzumab is an anti-B antibody, several phase II studies suggest that it is effective for Tcell lymphoma, particularly, CTCL , and Mycosis Fungoides but also peripheral T-cell lymphoma. NCCN Mycosis Fungoides Guideline refers one to the T0cell guideline and it lists alemtuzumab with a notes that says that "activity has been demonstrated in small clinical trials and additional larger clinical trials are necessary". Lundin J, Hagberg H,

Inravascular lymphoma is a fairly new entity that is only recently described. It is is a rare form of diffuse LBCL characterized by preferential intravascular growth of malignant lymphocytes, aggressive behavior, and an often fatal course. IVLBCL usually affects elderly patients with poor performance status, elevated lactic dehydrogenase serum levels, anemia, and B symptoms. There is no standard therapy and most information about therapy comes from

"Double - hit (DH) lymphomas are a recently discovered subtype of lymphoma that is defined by a chromosomal breakpoint affecting the MYC/8q24 locus in combination with another recurrent breakpoint, for instance a t(14;18)(q32;q21), involving BCL2. In the 2008 WHO classification, they are classified as "B cell lymphoma unclassifiable with features intermediate between DLBCL and BL". In some ways it is similar to Burkitt's; however, while the diagnosis

Small cell lung cancer that progresses after first line chemotherapy has a poor prognosis. A variety of treatments are available, among them single agent Taxol.The literature contains studies in various schedules, including weekly and dose-dense, as well as various combination therapies. Single agent Taxol is also listed for sequential use by NCCN. However, combination regimesn with Taxol have some phase II data, but are not supported by guidelines,

ResponseDX Lung is actually a panel of predictive markers. They include markers that are generally accepted, for examlpl KRAS and EGFR as well as markers that are still considered experimental for decision making, such as TS, ERCC1, BRAF, EML4-ALK, RRM1. A little clinical information about these tests based on the information from the ResponseGenetics website: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR; ErbB-1; HER1) is a critical part of the signal

Sunitinib (marketed as Sutent by Pfizer, and previously known as SU11248) is an oral, small-molecule, multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor that was approved by the FDA for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and imatinib-resistant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). After activity was found in cell cultures, a Phase II study of refractory non-small-cell lung cancer found that “Sunitinib has provocative

Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) is an albumin-bound, 130-nm particle form of paclitaxel that was developed to avoid cremophor/ethanol-associated toxicities associated with the parent compound. Abraxane is FDA-approved for the treatment of breast cancer after the failure of combination chemotherapy for metastatic disease or relapse within 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Abraxane has been evaluated as a single agent and in combinations, including with

Although Navelbine is an older drug for lung cancer, it remains an effective option. Vinorelbine, a semi-synthetic vinca-alkaloid has been extensively tested alone and in combination with other cytotoxic or targeted agents in the treatment of NSCLC. Its safety has been well established with neutropenia, anemia, nausea, and vomiting being the most frequently encountered toxicities. A 2000 study by Julien demonstrated that about 15% of inoperable patients