1,721,020 research outputs found

    Panitumumab for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: A review

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    In recent years, the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has evolved significantly with the increase of new therapeutic options, leading to an improved median survival for these patients. In particular, the identification of molecular targets in tumor cells has led to the introduction of biological drugs for the treatment of mCRC. Panitumumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds the EGF receptor of tumor cells and inhibits downstream cell signaling with antitumor effect on inhibition of tumor growth. Its use has been approved by randomized clinical trials as monotherapy in chemorefractory patients or combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of RAS wild-type mCRC, where it demonstrated a significant improvement in survival and response rate. The purpose of this review is to analyze the use and efficacy profile of panitumumab, particularly focusing on recently reported data on its use, and future perspectives in patients with mCRC

    Beyond RAS: the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its network in the prediction of clinical outcome during anti-EGFR treatment in colorectal cancer patients

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    Although the extended RAS analysis allows a better identification of patients potentially candidates to anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies, a significant proportion of tumours may still reveals refractory to such a treatment approach. In these latter cases patients are then exposed to unnecessary toxicities without clinical benefit. Among many further biological factors that may have a role in determining resistance/sensitivity to EGFR-inhibitors, the EGFR itself, other members of the HER family (i.e. HER-2 and HER-3) as well as other surface receptors such as the IGF-1 receptor seem of particular interest. Preclinical models have shown that these receptors are biologically connected to each other and able to directly or indirectly influence the downstream molecular pathways. In the presence of abnormal expression of these biological determinants, intracellular pathways may become independent from the receptor-targeting treatment thus making therapies directed against the receptor ineffective. Clinical observations and translational studies seem to confirm these findings. The Authors have reviewed the literature and have selected recent clinical reports focusing on translational research on the EGFR itself or on other molecules that may interfere with this pathway. We also discuss potential future developments in this area

    Selected gastrointestinal cancer presentations from the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting 2013 in review: it is not about the destination, it is about the journey

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    Introduction: In the GI tumors area, key findings from the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2013 annual meeting were long awaited, particularly in colorectal, gastric and pancreatic cancer. Areas covered: The following pages briefly present and comment on a selection of those studies considered most relevant for clinical practice and future research planning. The following trials were then reviewed: the FIRE-3, Triplet + beva (TRIBE), new EPOC, CAIRO-3 and SAKK in colorectal cancer, the TRIO-013/LOGIC and COUGAR-02 in gastric cancer and the metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (MPACT) and LAP07 in pancreatic cancer. Expert opinion: Although the proportion of clinical questions that these trials were able to answer was almost exactly paralleled by the introduction of new questions to be responded in the next (hopefully) few years, globally they represented a significant improvement in our knowledge about colorectal cancer and pancreatic tumors

    Trattamento del carcinoma del pancreas. Attualità e prospettive

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    Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is still one of the deadliest solid malignancies, with an extremely poor prognosis, with a 1-year survival rate of approximately 20%. Low survival rates of PDAC mainly derive from late diagnosis, with only a minority of patients amenable to surgery, as well as high rates of relapse and lack of effective treatments for advanced disease stages. As a result, there is an urgent need for the development of new effective therapies. At present, the greatest step towards an improvement of treatment has been made with the introduction of two combination chemotherapy regimens, namely FOLFIRINOX (folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan and oxaliplatin) and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel. However, current research is also taking a multidirectional approach aiming at developing new treatment options, such as the use of agents targeting the oncogenic network signaling of KRAS or the extracellular matrix, as well as immune therapies

    Insulin resistance and acne: a new risk factor for men?

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    The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between acne and insulin resistance as well as other metabolic impairment in young males. Acne is a skin disease that can be influenced by endocrine abnormalities. In females, it is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome, with peripheral insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, whereas few data are available in males. For investigating this, 22 young males with acne have been compared to 22 controls of comparable age and gender. Acne was scored using the global acne grading system score. Clinical as well as biochemical parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism, circulating levels of androgens, and IGF-1 were evaluated. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was calculated. The results thus obtained are as follows, patients had higher BMI (p = 0.003), WC (p = 0.002), WHR (p = 0.02), SBP (p = 0.0001), DBP (p = 0.001), basal (p = 0.01) and 120 min. oGTT serum insulin concentrations (p = 0.002), basal glucose concentrations (p = 0.03), HOMA-IR (p = 0.016), and lower HDL-cholesterol than controls (p = 0.001). Among the subgroup of subjects with BMI <24.9, HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.05) and 120 min. oGTT serum insulin concentrations (p = 0.009) resulted to be independent predictors of acne at multivariate analysis. In conclusion, these findings highlight a metabolic imbalance in young males affected with acne. Insulin resistance seems to play the main role for the development of acne in these subjects. Insulin resistance could represent an effective target for therapy in male acne

    The "angiogenetic ladder", step-wise angiogenesis inhibition in metastatic colorectal cancer

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    The number of anti-angiogenic drugs who demonstrated activity in metastatic colorectal cancer patients is arising but there is still much debate on which is the optimal use of this class of agents, with particular emphasis given on when (meant as in which line of treatment) and how (meant as in duration of treatment). We sampled the data of randomised phase II-III trials employing this type of drugs, with particular emphasis on trying to "highlight" situations where anti-angiogenetic treatment could provide most benefit. The review displays all relevant clinical data regarding the use of anti-angiogenic drugs in metastatic colorectal cancer and comments on potential implications of these trials in everyday clinical practice
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