Physical approaches to treat glioblastoma
Purpose of review
Glioblastoma (GBM) patients have a poor prognosis despite the use of modern synergistic multimodal treatment strategies, with a progression-free survival estimated at 7–8 months, a median survival of 14–16 months and 5-year overall survival of 9.8%.
Recent findings
Physical methods hold the promise to act synergistically with classical treatments to improve the outcome of GBM patients. Fluorescent guided surgery with 5-aminolevulinic acid and tumor-treating fields therapy have already shown positive results in randomized phase III trials and have been incorporated in the standard management. Othe...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 17, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM: Edited by Marc Sanson Source Type: research
Mechanisms of invasion in glioblastoma
Purpose of review
This review provides an overview of recent updates in understanding the mechanisms by which glioblastoma cells interact with their cellular and molecular partners within the microenvironment.
Recent findings
We have now a better knowledge of the cell populations involved in Glioblastoma (GBM) invasion. Recent works discovered the role of new molecular players in GBM invasion, and, most importantly, better models are emerging which better recapitulate GBM invasion.
Summary
Invasive properties of glioblastoma make complete surgical resection impossible and highly invasive cells are responsible for t...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 17, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM: Edited by Marc Sanson Source Type: research
Embryonal tumors of the central nervous system
Purpose of review
This review aims to give an update on histopathological, molecular and clinical features of central nervous system (CNS) ‘embryonal’ tumors.
Recent findings
The taxonomy of previously called ‘CNS primitive neuroectodermal tumor’ (CNS PNET) has been deeply modified since the discovery of specific molecular profiles for each various sub-entity of these rare, mainly pediatric, tumors. The term ‘embryonal tumors’ now refers to medulloblastomas, atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT) and other rare entities, defined by their specific histopathological features together with expression-based...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 17, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM: Edited by Marc Sanson Source Type: research
Molecular alterations in meningioma: prognostic and therapeutic perspectives
Purpose of review
To discuss recent advances in the meningioma biology and their clinical implications.
Recent findings
Meningioma is the most common primary intracranial tumor. Mostly benign, 20% of cases display an aggressive behavior despite best standard of care. The genetic landscape of meningiomas is divided according to NF2 mutational status. Although about 60% of meningiomas display NF2 mutations, the other share is more heterogenous. Mutations in TRAF7, SMO, v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT1), PI3KCA and KLF4 are seen mostly in WHO grade 1 meningiomas. In higher grade meningiomas, mutations ...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 17, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM: Edited by Marc Sanson Source Type: research
Neurological complications of chimeric antigen receptor T cells and immune-checkpoint inhibitors: ongoing challenges in daily practice
Purpose of review
The aim of this review is to summarize the most recent advances in the management of neurological toxicities associated with immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells.
Recent findings
The advent of cancer immunotherapies has dramatically improved the prognosis of several refractory and advanced neoplasms. Owing to their mechanism of action, cancer immunotherapies have been associated with a variety of immune-related adverse events (irAE). Neurological irAE are uncommon compared with other irAE, but they are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Des...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 17, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM: Edited by Marc Sanson Source Type: research
Adjuvant treatment of early male breast cancer
Purpose of review
Male breast cancer (MaBC) is a rare disease, and some challenges exist in its management because current treatment recommendations are extrapolated from trials that mostly excluded men. This review will revise all available data that could improve the treatment of MaBC, with a special focus on adjuvant systemic treatments.
Recent findings
To date, men with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, who are candidates for adjuvant endocrine therapy, should be offered tamoxifen (TAM) for five years. Additional five years are possible, according to tolerance and recurrence risk. If TAM is contraindicated,...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 17, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BREAST CANCER: Edited by Giuseppe Curigliano Source Type: research
Combining poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors in breast cancer: rationale and preliminary clinical results
Purpose of review
Recently, both immune checkpoint inhibitors and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors have demonstrated clinical benefit in some subsets of HER2-negative breast cancer patients. A biological rationale exists supporting a potential synergism between these compounds, which may further increase their antitumor activity in the clinic.
Recent findings
PARP inhibitors were shown to activate type I interferon pathway, thus eliciting local and general immune response, while inducing programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) up-regulation. In addition, the DNA damages created by PARP inhibition may increase tum...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 17, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BREAST CANCER: Edited by Giuseppe Curigliano Source Type: research
Integrating immunotherapy in the (neo)adjuvant setting of early breast cancer
Purpose of review
Breast cancer is a relative latecomer in the success story of immuno-oncology. In this review, we focus on the preclinical and clinical lines of evidence to justify the evaluation of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) for the curative-intent treatment of breast cancer, the latest and ongoing trials of (neo)adjuvant immunotherapy, and practical considerations in clinical practice associated with this new treatment paradigm.
Recent findings
Insights from the immunobiology of breast cancer have paved the way for the new frontier of immunotherapy in this malignancy, starting from advanced stages and movi...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 17, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BREAST CANCER: Edited by Giuseppe Curigliano Source Type: research
Can we cure oligometastatic disease? A practical point of view
Purpose of review
To critically analyze the available evidence on oligometastatic breast cancer and to suggest therapeutic approaches for optimal management of these patients.
Recent findings
Unlike metastatic breast cancer, which remains incurable, patients with a limited number and extent of metastatic lesions, that is, oligometastatic disease, might achieve disease control and long-term survival when radical therapy of the primary tumor, if present, and metastatic disease is added to standard systemic therapy. However, the lack of a clear definition, variety of presentations, and the absence of biomarkers makes oli...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 17, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BREAST CANCER: Edited by Giuseppe Curigliano Source Type: research
How to treat lobular cancer in the adjuvant setting?
Purpose of review
The aim of this review is to understand the clinical decision- making process for the management of patients with early invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC), thereby orienting clinicians across large areas of uncertainties and extrapolations.
Recent findings
The analysis of the principal evidence on the management of ILC, assessing the role and benefit of systemic treatments in the curative setting, have shed the light on the opportunity to escalate and de-escalate systemic therapies for ILC patients, based on the risk of recurrence and the intrinsic value of the treatments. To refine the selection o...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 17, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BREAST CANCER: Edited by Giuseppe Curigliano Source Type: research
Prevention of brain metastases in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer
Purpose of review
For patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, treatments that could prevent or delay occurrence of brain metastases would improve outcome.
Recent findings
Few studies were specifically designed to assess brain metastasis prevention. Most evidence derives from subgroup analyses of randomized trials. In the first-line metastatic setting, lapatinib, was not superior to trastuzumab to prevent CNS metastases as first site of relapse. Pertuzumab when added to trastuzumab and taxane significantly delay occurrence of brain metastases. In the second line setting, tr...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 17, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BREAST CANCER: Edited by Giuseppe Curigliano Source Type: research
Targeting HER2 heterogeneity in early-stage breast cancer
Purpose of review
HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer is clinically and biologically a heterogenous disease and not all patients benefit to the same extent from current anti-HER2 therapies.
Recent findings
Among HER2+ breast cancer, molecular intrinsic subtypes, PIK3CA mutation status, levels of HER2 gene/protein, immune infiltration, or intratumor heterogeneity modulate HER2-treatment sensitivity. HER2-enriched carcinomas, with high levels of HER2 and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are highly sensitive to anti-HER2 therapies, regardless of chemotherapy. Luminal A/B tumors are more estrogen receptor-dependent t...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 17, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: BREAST CANCER: Edited by Giuseppe Curigliano Source Type: research
Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Oncology)
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - October 17, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research
Targeting microRNA in hematologic malignancies
Purpose of review
MiRNAs are critical regulators for gene expression. Numerous studies have revealed how miRNAs contribute to the pathogenesis of hematologic malignancies.
Recent findings
The identification of novel miRNA regulatory factors and pathways crucial for miRNA dysregulation has been linked to hematologic malignancies. miRNA expression profiling has shown their potential to predict outcomes and treatment responses. Recently, targeting miRNA biogenesis or pathways has become a promising therapeutic strategy with recent miRNA-therapeutics being developed.
Summary
We provide a comprehensive overview of the r...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - August 18, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: INNOVATIVE AGENTS AND TREATMENT MODALITIES: Edited by Ahmad Awada and Steven T. Rosen Source Type: research
Fundamentals of liquid biopsies in metastatic prostate cancer: from characterization to stratification
Purpose of review
In this review, we provide an overview of the recent developments and prospects on the applications of blood-based liquid biopsies, including circulating tumor DNA and circulating tumor cells, in metastatic prostate cancer.
Recent findings
Guidelines and consensus statements have been formulated to standardize preanalytical conditions that affect liquid biopsy analysis. Currently, there are four FDA approved assays for the analysis of liquid biopsies and many quantitative and qualitative assays are being developed. Comprehensive analyses of cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTC...
Source: Current Opinion in Oncology - August 18, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: INNOVATIVE AGENTS AND TREATMENT MODALITIES: Edited by Ahmad Awada and Steven T. Rosen Source Type: research
