Seminars in Oncology

Our medical research library holds 14 studies published in Seminars in Oncology (2001–2019). 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. 14 have an abstract, the authors' own summary as PubMed records it: open "Abstract" to read it.

About the journal

• Publisher: W.B. Saunders
• Published: 1974 to the present, United States
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0093-7754 (print), 1532-8708 (electronic)
• Its record in the NLM Catalog

2010s

• Targeting angiogenesis for patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. A. Tsao, T. Nakano, A.K. Nowak, et al. 2019;46(2):145-154. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a global health issue, the principal cause of which is exposure to asbestos. The prevalence is anticipated to rise over the next 2 decades, particularly in developing countries, due to the 30-50-year latency period between exposure to asbestos and carcinogenic development. Unresectable MPM has a poor prognosis and limited treatment options and, as such, there is a broad range of therapeutic targets of interest, including angiogenesis, immune checkpoints, mesothelin, as well as chemotherapeutic agents. Recently, the results of several randomized trials in the first-line setting combining antiangiogenic agents with chemotherapy have been reported. This review examines the scientific rationale for targeting angiogenesis in the treatment of unresectable MPM and analyzes recent clinical results with antiangiogenic agents in development (bevacizumab, nintedanib, and cediranib) for the management of MPM.

  Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.

• Immune checkpoint blockade in malignant mesothelioma. L. Calabrò, M. Maio. 2015;42(3):418-22. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive malignancy with a very dismal prognosis. Current treatment for unresectable MM is largely unsatisfactory; therefore, new therapeutic approaches are eagerly awaited. A better understanding of the complex mechanisms of immune escape operated by neoplastic cells and the ability to unleash an efficient anti-tumor immune response by targeting regulatory immune checkpoint(s) with immunomodulatory monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), is leading to very promising clinical results in different tumor types. Herein, we highlight the clinical impact so far identified for these new immunomodulatory agents in MM patients and discuss their prospective use to design novel clinical trials.

  Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

• Photodynamic therapy for lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma. C.B. Simone, K.A. Cengel. 2014;41(6):820-30. Review PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

  Abstract

  Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a form of non-ionizing radiation therapy that uses a drug, called a photosensitizer, combined with light to produce singlet oxygen ((1)O2) that can exert anti-cancer activity through apoptotic, necrotic, or autophagic tumor cell death. PDT is increasingly being used to treat thoracic malignancies. For early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), PDT is primarily employed as an endobronchial therapy to definitively treat endobronchial or roentgenographically occult tumors. Similarly, patients with multiple primary lung cancers may be definitively treated with PDT. For advanced or metastatic NSCLC and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), PDT is primarily employed to palliate symptoms from obstructing endobronchial lesions causing airway compromise or hemoptysis. PDT can be used in advanced NSCLC to attempt to increase operability or to reduce the extent of operation intervention required, and selectively to treat pleural dissemination intraoperatively following macroscopically complete surgical resection. Intraoperative PDT can be safely combined with macroscopically complete surgical resection and other treatment modalities for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) to improve local control and prolong survival. This report reviews the mechanism of and rationale for using PDT to treat thoracic malignancies, details prospective and major retrospectives studies of PDT to treat NSCLC, SCLC, and MPM, and describes improvements in and future roles and directions of PDT.

  Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

• Clinical studies with anti-CTLA-4 antibodies in non-melanoma indications. L. Calabrò, R. Danielli, L. Sigalotti, et al. 2010;37(5):460-7. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Available medical treatments have limited impact on the survival of patients with advanced cancer; therefore, new therapeutic strategies able to generate more effective host's immune responses against neoplastic cells are being actively pursued. Among these, a recent approach involves targeting of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), a key immune checkpoint molecule, by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Ipilimumab and tremelimumab represent the prototypes of this new class of immunomodulating mAb and have been extensively tested in metastatic melanoma with highly promising results. The clinical activity observed in melanoma has served as a model to exploit the therapeutic potential of CTLA-4 blockade in a variety of human malignancies. Along this line, early-phase trials with anti-CTLA-4 mAbs have been completed or are ongoing in tumors of different histotype. Results are demonstrating the feasibility, safety, and activity of these agents, thus suggesting a promising therapeutic role to be further investigated in phase II/III trials in a wide range of tumors. This review summarizes the main trials with ipilimumab and tremelimumab in tumors of different histotypes, excluding cutaneous melanoma, which is extensively described in other chapters of this issue of Seminars in Oncology.

  Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

2000s

• Chemotherapy for malignant mesothelioma: from doxorubicin to vinorelbine. P. Baas. 2002;29(1):62-9. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  It has been a challenge to find effective chemotherapeutic treatments for malignant mesothelioma. Over the last several decades numerous single-drug and combination regimens have been examined, but no standard treatment with chemotherapy alone has emerged. Possible explanations for this lack of success are the heterogeneity between the different subclasses of mesothelioma and the difficulties experienced in determining responses on computed tomographic (CT) scan. This review will present the results of most chemotherapy trials. An attempt is also been made to overcome the problem of identifying the overall response rate by presenting the median survival time. Other types of response evaluation and guidelines for patient selection are warranted to properly compare chemotherapeutic treatments.

  Copyright 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company.

• Emerging insights into the biology and therapy of malignant mesothelioma. N.J. Vogelzang. 2002;29(6 Suppl 18):35-42. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive malignancy that may be caused by environmental carcinogens (asbestos and erionite), viruses (SV40), and genetic predisposition. Pleural malignant mesotheliomas are far more common than the peritoneal variants. Diagnosis relies on radiographic studies as well as histology and molecular biologic analyses. The prognostic scoring systems of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer are the most useful of those currently available. These systems rate performance status, age, histology, and hematologic parameters as the best prognostic factors for mesothelioma. Most patients with mesothelioma are not candidates for surgical or radiotherapy treatment, and cytotoxic agents are the only options. Historically, no classes or combinations of agents consistently yielded response rates over 20%. Recently, pemetrexed has been evaluated in phase I, II, and III clinical trials with promising results. The phase II trial showed an overall response rate of 14.1% with a 1-year survival rate of 47.8%. A phase III trial of cisplatin versus cisplatin and pemetrexed closed in February 2002 and a final analysis was presented in May 2002. Novel targeted agents are also being tested in clinical trials among mesothelioma patients and include drugs inhibiting the vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor, the epidermal growth factor receptor, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor.

  Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

• Multicenter randomized controlled trial of the management of unresectable malignant mesothelioma proposed by the British Thoracic Society and the British Medical Research Council. D.J. Girling, M.F. Muers, W. Qian, et al. 2002;29(1):97-101. Randomized trial · Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Malignant mesothelioma is almost invariably fatal. The incidence of the disease is rising rapidly in many countries, and there is no generally accepted standard treatment for patients with unresectable disease. According to current British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines, patients should be treated with active symptom control (ASC), involving (1) regular follow-up in a specialist clinic; (2) structured assessments of physical, psychological and social problems with appropriate action; (3) rapid involvement of additional specialists; and (4) parallel nursing support. Although many nonrandomized studies have reported tumor responses to anticancer chemotherapy, few have studied palliation and it is not known whether chemotherapy prolongs survival or provides clinically worthwhile palliation with acceptable toxicity when given in addition to ASC. We therefore plan to conduct a multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing (1) ASC alone, (2) ASC plus mitomycin vinblastine and cisplatin (MVP), and (3) ASC plus vinorelbine (N; Navelbine, Pierre Fabre Oncology, Winchester, UK). We chose these chemotherapy regimens because they have been shown in nonrandomized studies to provide good symptom control as recorded by patients. The outcome measures are overall survival, palliation of symptoms, performance status, analgesic usage, toxicity, quality of life, tumor response, and recurrence/progression-free survival. In a preliminary feasibility study, we are assessing the acceptability of the trial design to patients and the suitability of two standard quality-of-life instruments in mesothelioma. Data will help us to decide the final details of the large multicenter trial.

  Copyright 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company.

• Multimodality treatment of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma. L.S. Zellos, D.J. Sugarbaker. 2002;29(1):41-50. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma (DMPM) is a challenging disease in all of its aspects, from presentation and diagnosis to staging and treatment. Single-modality therapy was the initial approach to this disease. It generally has not been effective in changing the natural history of DMPM. As a result, multimodality regimens involving surgery with radiation, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy delivered regionally or systemically have been evaluated. Randomized controlled studies comparing various strategies are lacking and, thus, the debate continues regarding the effectiveness of different treatment approaches.

  Copyright 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company.

• New approaches for mesothelioma: biologics, vaccines, gene therapy, and other novel agents. A.K. Nowak, R.A. Lake, H.L. Kindler, et al. 2002;29(1):82-96. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Although malignant mesothelioma is not a classically immunogenic cancer, there is abundant evidence for immune recognition. The relative ease of obtaining tumor tissue makes mesothelioma ideal for studying surrogate biomarkers such as lymphocytic infiltration or expression of transduced genes. There is evidence that malignant mesothelioma patients as well as asbestos-exposed persons without mesothelioma have impaired immune responsiveness. Substantial progress has been made in animal models using several biological and immunological techniques, but clinical application has been problematic. Systems studied have included lysis by interleukin-2 (IL-2)-activated lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a p16-expressing adenovirus vector, suicide gene therapy using the herpes simplex virus-tyrosine kinase (HSV-tk) followed by ganciclovir, and immunomodulatory gene therapy with IL-2, IL-4, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IFN-alpha, TNF-alpha, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-6, and IL-1beta transfected into tumors. Vaccinia virus has been studied as a vector for cytokine gene transfer. Suicide gene therapy has been combined with a tumor vaccine. The University of Western Australia is initiating a pilot study of autologous vaccination in malignant mesothelioma. Novel agents under study include the angiogenesis inhibitors SU5416, bevacizumab, and thalidomide. ZD1839, an orally administered, highly selective inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase, is being tested in a phase II trial. Since platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is thought to be an autocrine growth factor for mesothelioma STI-571 (Gleevec; Novartis, Basel, Switzerland), a highly selective inhibitor of the PDGF receptor tyrosine kinase, is being tested in a phase II trial. The development of more active cytotoxic combinations in this disease should facilitate further studies of chemoimmunotherapy. It seems likely that no single treatment modality will be effective by itself.

  Copyright 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company.

• The epidemiology of mesothelioma. M. Britton. 2002;29(1):18-25. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  It has been more than 40 years since occupational crocidolite exposure in South African miners was found to be associated with development of malignant mesothelial tumors 30 to 40 years later. Similar cases were not seen in the amosite and chrysotile miners. Since then, epidemiological and toxicological knowledge have increased enormously, but mortality continues to rise steeply (5% to 10% per year) in most industrialized countries. Even with widespread asbestos abatement efforts, this increase is likely to continue in Western Europe and the United State well into the next century, at least until 2020. Unregulated use of asbestos in less industrialized countries may cause the epidemic to continue throughout the next century in those regions. Asbestos abatement seems to be successful as evidenced by a decline in the proportion of patients with peritoneal tumors, which are the most common malignancies in heavily exposed individuals. Whereas in the 1960s peritoneal tumors comprised up to 30% of the total, in recent years the proportion has fallen to about 10%, This changing ratio could also be due to the steady increase in pleural tumors. The difficulty in formulating the connection as to the etiology of mesothelioma resulted from an unforeseeable difference in the carcinogenicity of various asbestos and mineral fiber types and was compounded by the very long latency of the disease. Unfortunately, the use of a single term, "asbestos," to describe at least five fibrous silicate minerals, each with unique physical, chemical, and biological properties and not infrequently and naturally admixed, severely hampered scientific investigation into the occupational health risks. The field became confused and filled with debate. At the heart of the fiber type controversy lies a fundamentally differing view of the importance of biopersistence of various asbestos fibers in carcinogenesis. This review will deal with the epidemiology of mesothelioma with particular attention to the studies that elucidate the impact of various asbestos fiber types on the etiology of the disease.

  Copyright 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company.

• The pathogenesis of mesothelioma. M. Carbone, R.A. Kratzke, J.R. Testa. 2002;29(1):2-17. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  About 80% of malignant mesotheliomas (MM) in the Western World develop in individuals with higher than background exposure to asbestos. Only a fraction of those exposed to asbestos develop mesothelioma, indicating that additional factors play a role. Simian virus 40 (SV40), a DNA tumor virus that preferentially causes mesothelioma in hamsters, has been detected in several human mesotheliomas. The expression of the SV40 large tumor antigen in mesothelioma cells, and not in nearby stromal cells, and the capacity of antisense T-antigen treatment to arrest mesothelioma cell growth in vitro suggest that SV40 contributes to tumor development. The capacity of T-antigen to bind and inhibit cellular p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb)-family proteins in mesothelioma, together with the very high susceptibility of human mesothelial cells to SV40-mediated transformation in vitro, supports a causative role of SV40 in the pathogenesis of mesothelioma. Asbestos appears to increase SV40-mediated transformation of human mesothelial cells in vitro, suggesting that asbestos and SV40 may be cocarcinogens. p53 mutations are rarely found in mesothelioma; p16, p14ARF, and NF2 mutations/losses are frequent. Recent studies revealed the existence of a genetic factor that predisposes affected individuals to mesothelioma in the villages of Karain and Tuzkoy, in Anatolia, Turkey. Erionite, a type of zeolite, may be a cofactor in these same villages, where 50% of deaths are caused by mesothelioma. Mesothelioma appears to have a complex etiology in which environmental carcinogens (asbestos and erionite), ionizing radiation, viruses, and genetic factors act alone or in concert to cause malignancy.

  Copyright 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company.

• The role of gemcitabine in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. H.L. Kindler, J.P. van Meerbeeck. 2002;29(1):70-6. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Gemcitabine is broadly active in a variety of solid tumors, including malignant mesothelioma. In vitro, gemcitabine demonstrates activity against mesothelioma cell lines. The role of single-agent gemcitabine in patients with mesothelioma is unclear, since three phase II trials treated a total of 60 patients and achieved response rates of 0%, 7%, and 31%. The combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin is synergistic against mesothelioma cell lines in vitro. Gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin shows definite activity in phase II trials. The trial by Byrne and colleagues that demonstrated a response rate of 48% established the combination of gemcitabine plus cisplatin as a standard therapy for this disease in the United States. Subsequent multicenter trials have achieved lower response rates of 26% and 16% for this combination. Gemcitabine plus carboplatin also has activity. Future roles for gemcitabine in malignant mesothelioma patients include incorporating a gemcitabine/platinum regimen for neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy, combining it with other cytotoxic chemotherapy agents such as pemetrexed or vinorelbine, or adding novel cytostatic agents such as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, bevacizumab, to the gemcitabine and platinating agent combination.

  Copyright 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company.

• The role of imaging in malignant pleural mesothelioma. E.M. Marom, J.J. Erasmus, H.I. Pass, et al. 2002;29(1):26-35. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Imaging plays an essential role in the diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The diagnosis is often suggested by a unilateral pleural mass with a moderate to large pleural effusion seen on chest radiographs, but computerized tomography (CT) is the most frequently used technique for evaluation of the lungs in patients with MPM. CT not only suggests pulmonary metastases typically manifested as nodules or masses, but also can demonstrate underlying lung disease often caused by prior asbestos exposure. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may be helpful in selected patients with potentially resectable disease to further examine the local extent of tumor. Imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) using the radionuclide imaging agent (18)F fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) takes advantage of a basic property of tumor cells, increased glucose metabolism to identify malignant lesions. PET provides not only anatomic information, especially regarding mediastinal node metastasis, but also biochemical information about the lesion. These imaging modalities help triage patients to the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment options. Following patients after therapy usually relies on chest radiographs, although CT can more accurately describe response to therapy. This review will focus on radiologic evaluation in diagnosing, staging, and follow-up patients with MPM.

  Copyright 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company.

• Lung cancer in Brazil. E. Algranti, A.M. Menezes, A.C. Achutti. 2001;28(2):143-52. Review PubMed · Publisher

  Abstract

  Lung cancer is the second leading cause of death in Brazil, after exclusion of external causes. Registries in the country are not reliable because of under-registration and limited coverage. Incidence rates for Brazil are less then half those for selected areas with good registries. Crude and adjusted incidence and mortality rates for lung cancer are rising, particularly among women. The main reason is the acceleration in tobacco consumption and the spread of smoking among women. At present, approximately 40% of men and 25% of women, 15 years of age or older, are current smokers. In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, where registries are reliable, incidence and mortality for males are similar to US data and the figures for women are rapidly approaching those for men. Occupations associated with risks of exposure to respiratory carcinogens show a rise in the incidence of lung cancer in the industrialized area of São Paulo. The main occupational risk in Brazil is exposure to mineral dusts, silica, or asbestos. Although about 15 million Brazilians are exposed to pesticides, agricultural workers were not a risk group for lung cancer in a case-control study. Pesticides containing arsenic and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) are banned. In recent years, a trend towards a decrease in male smoking has been noted, but there is still a high tobacco exposure burden in both males and females, with a forecast of a further increase in rates of lung cancer incidence and deaths. Control of respiratory carcinogens at work continues to be a problem, particularly in the present scenario of economic and political pressures on Brazil and other developing nations. Semin Oncol 28:143-152.

  Copyright 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.

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