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    Lung adenocarcinoma biomarkers—differences between smokers and never-smokers
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 Lung adenocarcinoma biomarkers...
 Effects of trastuzumab on...
 Darbepoetin-alfa in...
 Parent-adolescent communication...
 Quote
 
Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) arising in never-smokers is usually of adenocarcinoma subtype, but the oncogenesis of such tumors is poorly understood. Tumors from never-smokers often arise in a focal manner and are less frequently associated with gene mutations, loss of heterozygosity, chromosomal abnormalities and DNA methylation than tobacco-related lung tumors. Despite these differences that could signify specific genetic alterations, the treatment of NSCLC has not generally taken the tobacco status of patients into consideration. One major change might, however, arise from the use of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine-kinase inhibitors, which have higher response rates in NSCLC from never-smokers. In this issue, Dutu et al. present the results of a study that aimed to better define the biological characteristics of lung adenocarcinomas by comparing the expression of a panel of EGFR-related biomarkers in lung adenocarcinomas from smokers and never-smokers. These authors report that lung adenocarcinomas from smokers express high levels of EGFR and Ki-67, while those from never-smokers are characterized by high levels of pAKT and p27.


    Effects of trastuzumab on ovarian cancer
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 Lung adenocarcinoma biomarkers...
 Effects of trastuzumab on...
 Darbepoetin-alfa in...
 Parent-adolescent communication...
 Quote
 
Although first-line chemotherapy induces complete clinical remission in many patients with this cancer, relapse usually occurs 18–28 months from diagnosis. Several radiotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic techniques have been developed to treat the micrometastatic disease remaining after chemotherapy, but their unfavorable therapeutic indices make them incompatible with long-term use. Trastuzumab targets the HER2 receptor and has shown efficacy in clinical studies of HER2-positive breast cancer and activity in HER2-positive preclinical models of ovarian carcinoma. However, as a cytostatic rather than cytotoxic agent it may have only modest effects in advanced metastatic disease. Potentially greater efficacy might be achieved in micrometastatic disease. In this issue, Delord et al. report a study that aimed to evaluate the effect of trastuzumab on disease-free and overall survival in a specially designed murine model of ovarian cancer (OVCAR-3), which mimics the natural history of human micrometastatic disease. These authors report that trastuzumab cured the mice if started soon after induction chemotherapy, and it modestly inhibited proliferation through mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction and inhibited AKT phosphorylation, involved in the survival pathway.


    Darbepoetin-alfa in myelodysplatic syndromes
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 Lung adenocarcinoma biomarkers...
 Effects of trastuzumab on...
 Darbepoetin-alfa in...
 Parent-adolescent communication...
 Quote
 
In patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) the generally advanced age of patients and attendant non-hematological comorbidities often limit therapeutic options, with many patients receiving supportive care only irrespective of their International Prognostic Scoring System risk group. In low- and intermediate-1-risk MDS, anemia is often the major or only clinical problem. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has been consistently used to relieve anemia and reduce transfusion requirements in these patients. Darbepoetin-alfa is a novel erythropoietic agent with greater sialic acid content, an approximately three-fold longer terminal half-life and greater biological activity than rhEPO, allowing less frequent administration with a similar efficacy and safety profile and increased biological activity. In this issue, Stasi et al. report the results of a phase II study that aimed to evaluate the impact of darbepoetin-alfa therapy on hemoglobin levels, transfusion requirements and changes in quality of life in anemic patients with previously untreated low- and intermediate-1-risk MDS. These authors report that in this patient group darbepoetin-alfa is active, safe and well tolerated in a substantial proportion of patients, and has a positive impact on the patients' quality of life.


    Parent–adolescent communication in the case of parental cancer
 Top
 Lung adenocarcinoma biomarkers...
 Effects of trastuzumab on...
 Darbepoetin-alfa in...
 Parent-adolescent communication...
 Quote
 
Little is known about the effect of a stressful event such as cancer on communication patterns in families. Moreover, results of studies among families confronted with parental cancer are mainly based on small samples, qualitative data and have a descriptive nature. Although open communication between parents and children is often advocated, in particular when a parent has cancer, there is little evidence that adolescents who perceive more open communication with ill and healthy parents actually function better. In this issue, Huizinga et al. report a study of 212 adolescent children from 139 families in which a parent had received a diagnosis of cancer with the aims of assessing (i) parent–adolescent communication (PAC) in families of cancer patients, (ii) relationships between PAC and posttraumatic stress symptoms in adolescent children and (iii) associations between parents' illness characteristics and PAC. These authors report that PAC in families of cancer patients differs little from that in families not confronted with parental cancer. However, problems with communication outweighed lack of openness with respect to the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms.


    Quote
 Top
 Lung adenocarcinoma biomarkers...
 Effects of trastuzumab on...
 Darbepoetin-alfa in...
 Parent-adolescent communication...
 Quote
 
"I knew a very clever physician, of large dispensary and hospital practice, who invariably began his examination of each patient with ‘Put your finger where you be bad.’ That man would never waste his time with collecting inaccurate information from nurse or patient. Leading questions always collect inaccurate information."

Florence Nightingale considers the obtaining of inaccurate information in Notes On Nursing: What It Is, And What It Is Not.





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