Volume 18, Issue 2, February 2013

The role of MET in the pathophysiology of non‐small cell lung cancer and in acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors is summarized. An update on progress in the clinical development of inhibitors of MET for treatment of non‐small cell lung cancer is provided.

Triple‐negative breast cancer is a broad and diverse category for which additional subclassifications are needed. Therefore, future clinical trials should stratify patients based on a tumor′s basal‐like versus non‐basal‐like gene expression profile, which appears to be the main biological difference seen within triple‐negative breast cancer.

This study measured the time taken for setting up the different facets of an international phase III study being conducted in 44 participating countries.

The impact of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) on locoregional recurrence–free survival (LRFS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) outcomes was investigated in patients with triple‐negative breast cancer. PMRT was associated with longer LRFS and DFS times in high‐risk TNBC patients and a longer DFS time in intermediate‐risk TNBC patients.

This systematic review and meta‐analysis examined the effect of thiazolidinediones on overall cancer risk, as well as bladder and other site‐specific tumors, in patients with type 2 diabetes. Overall, there was no association between TZD and cancer risk. A modestly increased risk of bladder cancer was found, particularly with use of pioglitazone.

This study aims to determine how the lymph node ratio may be used to predict the likelihood of recurrence for patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

A noncomparative, randomized, phase II study evaluating the antitumor efficacy of two doses of oral itraconazole was conducted in men with metastatic prostate cancer.

Pelvic lymphadenectomy is associated with a significant risk of lower‐limb lymphedema. This proof‐of‐concept study evaluates the feasibility of identifying the lower‐limb drainage nodes during pelvic lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)‐16 is an independent risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). This article is intended to be a reference for physicians to effectively manage psychosocial outcomes and ensure optimum health promotion when diagnosing patients with HPV‐associated OPC.

The efficacy of rituximab monotherapy versus splenectomy was compared in a large series of patients with splenic marginal zone lymphoma. Rituximab was very effective and well tolerated and may be substituted for splenectomy as the first‐line treatment of choice.

The proportion of high‐grade glioma patients dying with dignity as perceived by their relatives is assessed and disease‐ and care‐related factors correlated with dying with dignity in high‐grade glioma patients are identified.

This review examines evidence to support various strategies to protect pediatric oncology patients from influenza‐related morbidity. Influenza vaccination should be considered standard. Additional evidence‐supported measures include antiviral treatment, antiviral prophylaxis, cohorting of patients, and hospital infection control measures.

This study determined the frequency, indications, outcomes, and predictors of successful opioid rotation in outpatients with cancer who were receiving strong opioids.

This article reviews the molecular signaling of antiangiogenic and HER2‐directed therapies that may underpin cardiac toxicity and the hypothesized cardioprotective properties of aerobic exercise.

Publicly sponsored trials, conducted primarily by cooperative groups sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, seek to optimize therapy for a particular disease, create new knowledge, and improve public health; these trials can also result in label extension of a drug and even in initial drug approval. This lecture examines the contributions to cancer care of the cooperative groups, the ongoing reorganization of the cooperative groups to form a national clinical trials network, as well as opportunities for developing and refining new cancer treatments and disseminating results to the medical community and the general public.