Cancer treatment has been revolutionized by the advent of new molecular targeted and immunotherapeutic agents. Identification of the role of tumor angiogenesis changed the understanding of many tumors. After the unsuc...Cancer treatment has been revolutionized by the advent of new molecular targeted and immunotherapeutic agents. Identification of the role of tumor angiogenesis changed the understanding of many tumors. After the unsuccessful results with chemotherapy, sorafenib, by interfering with angiogenic pathways, has become pivotal in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Sorafenib is the only systemic treatment to show a modest but statistically significant survival benefit. All novel drugs and strategies for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma must be compared with the results obtained with sorafenib, but no new drug or drug combination has yet achieved better results. In our opinion, the efforts to impact the natural history of the disease will be directed not only to drug development but also to understanding the underlying liver disease(usually hepatitis B virus- or hepatitis C virus-related) and to interrupting the progression of cirrhosis. It will be important to define the role and amount of mutations in the complex pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma and to better integrate locoregional and systemic therapies. It will be important also to optimize the therapeutic strategies with existing chemotherapeutic drugs and new targeted agents.展开更多
BACKGROUND Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck(SCCHN)accounts for 3%of all malignant tumors in Italy.Immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy is first-line treatment for SCCHN;however,second-li...BACKGROUND Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck(SCCHN)accounts for 3%of all malignant tumors in Italy.Immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy is first-line treatment for SCCHN;however,second-line treatment options are limited.Taxanes are widely used for combination therapy of SCCHN,as clinical trials have shown their efficacy in patients with this disease,partic ularly in patients with prior therapy.AIM To perform a multicenter retrospective study on the efficacy and safety of weekly paclitaxel for SCCHN.METHODS All patients were previously treated with at least one systemic therapy regimen,which included platinum-based therapy in the vast majority.No patient received prior immunotherapy.RESULTS Median progression-free survival(mPFS)was 3.4 months and median overall survival(mOS)was 6.5 months.Subgroup analysis was performed according to three principal prognostic factors:Smoking,alcohol consumption,and body mass index.Analysis demonstrated reduced survival,both mOS and mPFS,in the unfavorable prognostic groups,with the biggest deltas observed in mOS.CONCLUSION Weekly paclitaxel provided favorable survival and disease control rates,with low severe adverse events.Paclitaxel is a safe and valid therapeutic option for patients with SCCHN who received prior therapy.展开更多
文摘Cancer treatment has been revolutionized by the advent of new molecular targeted and immunotherapeutic agents. Identification of the role of tumor angiogenesis changed the understanding of many tumors. After the unsuccessful results with chemotherapy, sorafenib, by interfering with angiogenic pathways, has become pivotal in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Sorafenib is the only systemic treatment to show a modest but statistically significant survival benefit. All novel drugs and strategies for treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma must be compared with the results obtained with sorafenib, but no new drug or drug combination has yet achieved better results. In our opinion, the efforts to impact the natural history of the disease will be directed not only to drug development but also to understanding the underlying liver disease(usually hepatitis B virus- or hepatitis C virus-related) and to interrupting the progression of cirrhosis. It will be important to define the role and amount of mutations in the complex pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma and to better integrate locoregional and systemic therapies. It will be important also to optimize the therapeutic strategies with existing chemotherapeutic drugs and new targeted agents.
文摘BACKGROUND Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck(SCCHN)accounts for 3%of all malignant tumors in Italy.Immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with chemotherapy is first-line treatment for SCCHN;however,second-line treatment options are limited.Taxanes are widely used for combination therapy of SCCHN,as clinical trials have shown their efficacy in patients with this disease,partic ularly in patients with prior therapy.AIM To perform a multicenter retrospective study on the efficacy and safety of weekly paclitaxel for SCCHN.METHODS All patients were previously treated with at least one systemic therapy regimen,which included platinum-based therapy in the vast majority.No patient received prior immunotherapy.RESULTS Median progression-free survival(mPFS)was 3.4 months and median overall survival(mOS)was 6.5 months.Subgroup analysis was performed according to three principal prognostic factors:Smoking,alcohol consumption,and body mass index.Analysis demonstrated reduced survival,both mOS and mPFS,in the unfavorable prognostic groups,with the biggest deltas observed in mOS.CONCLUSION Weekly paclitaxel provided favorable survival and disease control rates,with low severe adverse events.Paclitaxel is a safe and valid therapeutic option for patients with SCCHN who received prior therapy.
