Oncology

Our medical research library holds 7 studies published in Oncology (1999–2012). 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. 6 have an abstract, the authors' own summary as PubMed records it: open "Abstract" to read it.

About the journal

• Publisher: MultiMedia Healthcare
• Published: 1987 to the present, United States
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0890-9091 (print)
• Its record in the NLM Catalog

2010s

• Clinical and pathological features are still the best determinants of prognosis in mesothelioma. A.C. Miller, R. Hassan. 2012;26(12):1176, 1178, 1180. Comment PubMed · Free full text

• Malignant pleural mesothelioma: factors influencing the prognosis. T.C. Mineo, V. Ambrogi. 2012;26(12):1164-75. Review PubMed

  Abstract

  Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly severe primary tumor of the pleura mainly related to exposure to asbestos fibers. The median survival after symptom onset is less than 12 months. Conventional medical and surgical therapies--either as single lines or combined--are not wholly effective. No universally accepted guidelines have yet been established for patient selection and the use of therapeutic strategies. In addition, retrospective staging systems have proved inadequate at improving therapeutic outcomes. Therapy is currently guided by gross tumor characteristics and patient features; however, these seem less accurate than the biological fingerprint of the tumor. A number of clinical prognostic factors have been considered in large multicenter series and independently validated. A series of novel biomarkers can predict the evolution of the disease. Here we summarize the principal and novel factors that influence prognosis and are thus potentially useful for selecting patients for targeted therapy.

• Chronic inflammation and cancer: the role of the mitochondria. D.W. Kamp, E. Shacter, S.A. Weitzman. 2011;25(5):400-10, 413. Review PubMed

  Abstract

  Accumulating evidence shows that chronic inflammation can promote all stages of tumorigenesis, including DNA damage, limitless replication, apoptosis evasion, sustained angiogenesis, self-sufficiency in growth signaling, insensitivity to anti-growth signaling, and tissue invasion/metastasis. Chronic inflammation is triggered by environmental (extrinsic) factors (eg, infection, tobacco, asbestos) and host mutations (intrinsic) factors (eg, Ras, Myc, p53). Extensive investigations over the past decade have uncovered many of the important mechanistic pathways underlying cancer-related inflammation. However, the precise molecular mechanisms involved and the interconnecting crosstalk between pathways remain incompletely understood. We review the evidence implicating a strong association between chronic inflammation and cancer, with an emphasis on colorectal and lung cancer. We summarize the current knowledge of the important molecular and cellular pathways linking chronic inflammation to tumorigenesis. Specifically, we focus on the role of the mitochondria in coordinating life- and death-signaling pathways crucial in cancer-related inflammation. Activation of Ras, Myc, and p53 cause mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and downstream signaling (eg, NFkappaB, STAT3, etc.) that promote inflammation-associated cancer. A recent murine transgenic study established that mitochondrial metabolism and ROS production are necessary for K-Ras-induced tumorigenicity. Collectively, inflammation-associated cancers resulting from signaling pathways coordinated at the mitochondrial level are being identified that may prove useful for developing innovative strategies for both cancer prevention and cancer treatment.

2000s

• Update on malignant mesothelioma. K. Antman, R. Hassan, M. Eisner, et al. 2005;19(10):1301-9; discussion 1309-10, 1313-6. PubMed

  Abstract

  Mesotheliomas are uncommon in the United States, with an incidence of about 3,000 new cases per year (or a risk of about 11 per million Americans per year). Incidence and mortality, however, are probably underestimated. Most are associated with asbestos, although some have arisen in ports of prior radiation, and a reported association with simian virus (SV)40 remains controversial. About 85% of mesotheliomas arise in the pleura, about 91% in the peritoneum, and a small percentage in the pericardium or tunica vaginalis testis. The histology of about half of mesotheliomas is epithelial (tubular papillary), with the remainder sarcomatous or mixed. Multicystic mesotheliomas and well-differentiated papillary mesotheliomas are associated with long survival in the absence of treatment and should be excluded from clinical trials intended for the usual rapidly lethal histologic variants of the disease. The median survival is under a year, although longer median survivals for selected patients, particularly those with epithelial histology, have been reported in some combined-modality studies. Recent randomized trials have shown significant improvement in time to progression and survival for the addition of new antifolates to platinum-based chemotherapy.

• The emerging role of pemetrexed for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. H.L. Kindler. 2004;18(8 Suppl 5):49-53. Review PubMed

  Abstract

  Malignant mesothelioma is a devastating disease with an onset 20 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos. Although most cytotoxic agents have been evaluated for the treatment of mesothelioma, few single agents have consistently yielded response rates above 20%. Antimetabolites are the most active drugs against mesothelioma, and of these, the antifolate group is the most widely studied and effective. Pemetrexed (Alimta), a new antifolate, may be more active because of its different mechanism of action. Several clinical trials have evaluated pemetrexed alone and in combination with a platinum agent for patients with malignant mesothelioma. A pivotal phase III trial has demonstrated that combination chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin improves survival, response rate, pulmonary function, and quality of life compared with single-agent cisplatin. Additional trials are evaluating pemetrexed in the neoadjuvant setting and in combination with other cytotoxic and targeted agents.

• Diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the pleural space and its management. L.S. Zellos, D.J. Sugarbaker. 2002;16(7):907-13; discussion 916-7, 919-20, 925. Review PubMed

  Abstract

  Diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive malignancy of the pleura that is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Between 2,000 and 3,000 new cases are expected to be diagnosed annually in the United States. Difficulties in diagnosis, staging, and treatment set this disease apartfrom other malignancies. The variable clinical presentation and problems in establishing a definite histopathologic diagnosis result in significant delays in treatment. Three histologic subtypes of the disease are described in this review: epithelial, sarcomatous, and mixed histologies. The Butchart, International Mesothelioma Interest Group, and Brigham staging systems are the most commonly used staging systems. The disease's natural history involves aggressive local growth, invasion of vital mediastinal structures, and death within 4 to 12 months without treatment. Single-modality therapy of any kind has failed to substantially alter this natural history. Aggressive, multimodality regimens that include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy have resulted in improved survival in properly selected patients. However, innovative therapies are still needed to prolong survival in patients with early and advanced disease.

1990s

• Malignant mesothelioma of the pleural space. S.C. Grondin, D.J. Sugarbaker. 1999;13(7):919-26; discussion 926, 931-2. Review PubMed

  Abstract

  Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive tumor associated with exposure to asbestos. Although this disease is rare, with an annual incidence in the United States of 2,000 to 3,000 cases, a steady rise in cases has been reported. Malignant pleural mesothelioma has a variable clinical presentation and may be difficult to diagnose. Pathologically, the disease is subdivided into three microscopic subtypes: epithelial, sarcomatous, and mixed histologies. Although there is no widely accepted staging system for mesothelioma, the Butchart, TNM, and Brigham staging systems have been used most commonly. Diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma is resistant to standard modes of therapy and, if untreated, results in death 4 to 12 months from the time of diagnosis. For selected patients, an aggressive approach combining radical surgery with chemotherapy and radiotherapy has demonstrated a long-term survival advantage. New and innovative therapeutic modalities are presently being investigated in an attempt to provide viable alternatives for patients with early and advanced disease.

Browse every journal in the library or the library by type of article, or return to medical research.