Cancer-related Infections Research Articles

Tumorigenesis related to retroviral infections

Retroviral infections are considered important risk factors for cancer development in humans since approximately 15-20% of cancer worldwide is caused by an infectious agent. This report discusses the most established oncogenic retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1 and -2), Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV), Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV), murine mammary tumor virus (MMTV), bovine leukemia virus, (BLV), Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV), and Friend spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV). The role of retroviruses as inducers of carcinogenesis, the mechanisms underlying oncogenic transformation, and the routes of transmission of several cancer-related retroviral infections are also described. Finally, the impact of cancer-related retroviral infections in the developing world is addressed. This review is an update of carcinogenesis caused by retroviral infections.

Scientific evidence underlying the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines for Supportive Care.

e19506 Background: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has published guidelines for supportive care of cancer patients. However, the level of scientific evidence on which these guidelines are based has not been systematically investigated. We performed this study to describe the distribution of categories of evidence and consensus (EC) among the 10 supportive care guidelines with regards to screening, treatment, and follow-up. Methods: We obtained the latest versions (January 18, 2011) of relevant supportive care guidelines from the NCCN website. The definitions for various categories of EC used by NCCN panel members were as follows: category 1 (high level evidence such as randomized controlled trials with uniform consensus), category 2A (lower level of evidence with uniform consensus), category 2B (lower level of evidence without a uniform consensus but with no major disagreement) and category 3 (any level of evidence but with major disagreement). Results: Amongst the 680 recommendations, 21%, 58%, and 21% were for screening, treatment, and follow-up respectively. Overall, the proportions of category I, IIA, IIB, and III EC were 5%, 92%, 3%, and 0% respectively. Category I EC were available for myeloid growth factors (16%), prevention and treatment of cancer-related infection (14%), cancer-related fatigue (12%), antiemesis (7%), venous thromboembolism (4%) and distress management (2%) but absent for palliative care, senior adult oncology, cancer and chemotherapy-induced anemia, and adult cancer pain. Amongst therapeutic recommendations, 9% were category I EC and were found in myeloid growth factors (33%), prevention and treatment of cancer-related infections (20%), cancer-related fatigue (18%), antiemesis (11%), venous thromboembolism (7%), and distress management (4%). There was no category I EC for screening or follow-up. Conclusions: NCCN supportive care guidelines are based predominantly on lower level of evidence but with uniform expert consensus. A huge opportunity exists for research to make the guidelines more evidence-based.

Prevention and Treatment of Cancer-Related Infections

Infectious diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. In certain instances, the malignancy itself can predispose patients to severe or recurrent infections. Neutropenia has been recognized for many decades as a major risk factor, and effective strategies to anticipate, prevent, and manage infectious complications in patients with cancer experiencing neutropenia have led to improved outcomes. Reflecting the heterogeneity of immunocompromised conditions in patients with cancer and the spectrum of pathogens to which they are susceptible, NCCN expanded the scope of the Fever and Neutropenia Panel in 2007 to create guidelines on Prevention and Treatment of Cancer-Related Infections. These guidelines, newly updated for 2008, characterize major categories of immunologic deficits in persons with cancer and the major pathogens to which they are susceptible. For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org

Cancer-Related Fungal Infections on the Rise, But New Drugs Transforming Treatment

Researchers are excited by the new antifungals—both those recently approved and others still in clinical development—which are safer, have a different mechanism of action, and can be dosed less frequently due to a longer half life.