Current Opinion in Oncology

Our medical research library holds 6 studies published in Current Opinion in Oncology (1990–2021). Each entry links to the study's record on PubMed and, where there is one, to the publisher's page and a free full text. 5 have an abstract, the authors' own summary as PubMed records it: open "Abstract" to read it.

About the journal

• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Published: 1989 to the present, United States
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1040-8746 (print), 1531-703X (electronic)
• Its record in the NLM Catalog

2020s

• Malignant pleural mesothelioma: recent developments. K. Sinn, B. Mosleh, M.A. Hoda. 2021;33(1):80-86. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Purpose Of Review: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare, but aggressive tumor with still poor prognosis. In this article, we focus on recent developments in the management of MPM including diagnosis, staging, biomarkers, and treatment strategies.

  Recent Findings: Molecular markers such as programmed death-ligand 1 (PDL-1), Breast Cancer gene 1-associated protein gene, and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) have prognostic impact and should be considered for assessment in patient samples. In addition to histological subtype and tumor pattern, tumor volumetry plays an increasing important role in staging, assessment of treatment response, and prediction of survival. Several new blood-based biomarkers have been recently reported including peripheral blood DNA methylation, microRNAs, fibulin, and high-mobility group box 1, but have not been established in clinical routine use yet. Regarding treatment, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and vaccination are considered as new promising strategies. Moreover, extended pleurectomy/decortication is favored over extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy represents a possible approach in combination with EPP and pleurectomy/decortication. Intracavitary treatment options are promising and deserve further investigations.

  Summary: Overall, there has not been a real breakthrough in the treatment of MPM. Further research and clinical trials are needed to evaluate outcome and to identify new potential treatment candidates.

2010s

• Systemic treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma: new agents in clinical trials raise hope of relevant improvements. D.C. Christoph, W.E. Eberhardt. 2014;26(2):171-81. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Purpose Of Review: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare malignancy with limited therapeutic options and its incidence is still increasing in both Europe and the developing nations. Prognosis of MPM patients is poor even if the median survival durations have been slightly improved after the introduction of the up-to-date chemotherapy combination with pemetrexed and cisplatin. There is a continuing unmet need to develop better systemic treatment for this disease, but the rarity of the tumor type creates formidable challenges in clinical trial research.

  Recent Findings: Better understanding of the molecular machinery of MPM leads to the design and synthesis of novel compounds targeted against pathways identified as crucial for MPM cell proliferation and metastasis. Most efforts aim at improving standard first-line therapy, or developing effective second-line treatments. Several classes of drugs are currently being explored either in combination with cisplatin and pemetrexed or as single agent for relapsed or progressive MPM.

  Summary: This review focuses on several ongoing or recently completed clinical trials investigating novel, promising agents as first-line or second-line therapy for advanced MPM.

1990s

• Renal cell carcinoma. P.A. Godley, M.A. Escobar. 1998;10(3):261-5. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) continues to be a frustrating tumor for clinicians to manage and treat. Progress has been made in the identification of risk factors, particularly dietary risk factors. An increased risk has been seen with frequent consumption of fried meat and poultry. Citrus fruits, vitamin C, beta-carotene, and alpha-tocopherol have demonstrated a protective effect against RCC. Other factors that have been associated with the risk of RCC are smoking (which doubles the risk), obesity, hypertension, and exposure to asbestos and petroleum products. Response rates for systemic treatment of RCC continue to hover at about 20%; however, some nonchemotherapy treatments may provide palliation with few side effects. In addition, lower dose combinations of interleukin-2 and interferon alfa may be as beneficial as higher dose regimens, but with less toxicity. Molecular prognostic factors, including proliferation markers, karyometric analyses, oncogenes, and cell adhesion molecules and proteases are areas of intense investigation and may provide mechanisms for identifying patients who require more (or less) aggressive treatment.

• Pleural mesothelioma. P. Ruffie. 1992;4(2):334-41. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Diffuse pleural malignant mesothelioma (DMM) is an uncommon tumor in the general population, but its incidence can be very high in persons exposed to asbestos. There has been controversy about the role of the different fiber types and their responsibility for causing DMM, particularly with chrysotile. Distinguishing between DMM and peripheral adenocarcinoma with pleural involvement is a frequent diagnostic problem. Immunohistochemical markers (positive for vimentin and negative for carcinoembryonic antigen and Leu M1) and electronmicroscopy aid in the diagnosis. Therapeutic results remain poor, and cure of DMM is rare. Local treatments such as surgery or radiation therapy are technically difficult because of the extent of disease. DMM continues to be a chemoresistant tumor. Because DMM is rare, study of this tumor has been hampered by the limited number of available patients in any given institution. Therefore, animal models or representative human malignant mesothelioma cell lines are needed for a dual investigation: first of the basic biology of this disease and second for a preclinical evaluation of chemotherapeutic agents and recombinant anticancer cytokines alone or in combination. Ongoing trials confirm that DMM is resistant to standard forms of therapy, but mesothelial cells are susceptible to immune effector cells and cytokines in in vitro and in vivo models. Thus, recombinant interferon-alpha, -beta, and -gamma have been used for both local and systemic treatment, as has interleukin-2 with and without autologous lymphokine-activated killer cells. In addition, substantial experimental evidence suggests synergy between cytotoxic drugs and cytokines.

• Pleural mesothelioma. P.A. Ruffie. 1991;3(2):328-34. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Pleural mesotheliomas are uncommon tumors that can be classified as localized or diffuse. Diffuse pleural mesotheliomas are invariably malignant. Although the frequency is low in the general population, it is more common in persons with a heavy occupational exposure to asbestos, and is considered as a signal tumor to asbestos exposure with medicolegal consequences. Mesothelioma incidence has been steadily rising during the past two decades, reflecting the increase in asbestos exposure during and following World War II. Clinical features include initial complaints of nonpleuritic chest pain and dyspnea. Distinguishing malignant mesothelioma from metastatic adenocarcinoma can be difficult, and can require large tissue biopsy with special stains and electron microscopy. The median survival of about 9 to 12 months confirms the poor outcome of pleural mesothelioma. The clinical deterioration is primarily attributable to locoregional spread of tumors, but metastasis is not rare. Several factors seem to have a prognostic value: performance status, stage, platelet count, age, histologic subtype, and asbestos exposure. In spite of the different therapeutic modalities such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy used alone or in combination, the median survival is fairly different from survival among untreated patients. Because of the uncommon occurrence of this tumor and the existence of several different prognostic categories, a cooperative effort will be necessary for future therapeutic trials. If these active new therapies are identified, it would be useful to compare them to a best supportive care regimen in order to demonstrate an advantage of the treatment.

• Pleural mesothelioma. E.G. Butchart, A.R. Gibbs. 1990;2(2):352-8. Review PubMed · Publisher

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