Development Of Chemotherapy Regimens Research Articles

Changing trends in gastric cancer incidence and mortality: the role of upper endoscopy in low-risk countries.

Gastric cancer, which is diagnosed in approximately one million new patients annually, is a significant contributor to global cancer burden and cancer-related mortality [1]. East Asia, eastern Europe, and Latin America have the highest incidences, while North America and most of western Europe have relatively low incidences [2]. This geographical variation is thought to be associated with several different predisposing and etiologic factors among the countries, such as tumor biology, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection rate, cigarette smoking, and a high sodium diet with salt-preserved foods. Global age-standardized gastric cancer incidence has steadily declined over the past century, particularly in high-risk countries such as Korea and Japan. This trend has been linked to a decline in noncardia cancer because of the eradication of H. pylori [2]. Contrarily, in countries with low gastric cancer incidence, such as those in western Europe and the USA, the decline in gastric cancer has reduced, especially in the middle-aged population [1] [2]. This phenomenon may also be related to changes in H. pylori infection patterns or the increased proportion of cardia cancer related to epidemic obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease [1]. As with incidence, global gastric cancer mortality has also decreased [2]. Improvements in surgical techniques and the development of chemotherapy regimens have led to better survival outcomes. Above all, early detection of cancer is a crucial factor contributing to the decline in mortality.

Bezafibrate and medroxyprogesterone acetate target resting and CD40L-stimulated primary marginal zone lymphoma and show promise in indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas

B cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHLs) are the most common adult hematological cancers and many remain incurable. Development of chemotherapy regimens is confounded by the prevalence of B-NHL in older, frailer patients and the chemo-protective tumor microenvironment. Although biological therapies such as rituximab have significantly improved outcomes and selective kinase inhibitors are showing promise, the rate of new drug discovery remains disappointing, the treatments expensive and long-term benefits uncertain. An alternative strategy is redeployment of available, inexpensive and non-toxic drugs. Here, we demonstrate the antiproliferative and mitochondrial superoxide (MSO) driven pro-apoptotic activities of bezafibrate (BEZ) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) against B-NHL cells, with a bias toward MZL, in the presence and absence of the microenvironmental signal CD40L. Our study is the first to confirm the presence of CD40L within the lymph node of B-NHL and its capacity to drive B-NHL proliferation. These findings implicate BEZ + MPA as a potential therapeutic strategy in B-NHL.

The time factor in oncology: does the overall treatment time in chemotherapy have a role?

The treatment of malignant tumors consists in the optimal combination of the 4 modalities surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. An important goal of clinical research is the development of the optimal application of each of these modalities. This review of the literature focuses on the importance of the total treatment duration and dose intensity in the development of chemotherapy regimens. Three important malignant diseases will be examined as to the optimal application of systemic chemotherapy. Tumor models with the resulting hypotheses and well-designed clinical trials will lead to progress in the treatment of malignant tumors.

PROTEASES AND INVASION BY METASTATIC TUMOR-CELLS - CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR PROSTATE-CANCER

Proteases have been widely implicated in tumor invasion and metastases. Likewise, receptors for MMP-2, alpha(2)M, UA and tPA may play a critical regulatory role in modulation protease activity and invasion. These studies have been largely based on in vitro assays with various tumor lines. More recently in situ studies have indicated that metalloproteinases (e.g. MMP-2, UA, tPA) may serve as useful diagnostic or prognostic indicators of tumor progression and metastatic potential. The development of in vitro diagnostic procedures utilizing primary epithelial prostate cultures is considered. Also the potential role of growth factors (PDGF, EGF, TGFB) in the regulation of metalloprotease production is considered. Finally, approaches to drug design and development of chemotherapy regimens are considered which selectively block invasive behavior of metastatically aggressive tumors.