719 research outputs found
Critical Issues in Head and Neck Oncology: Key Concepts from the Seventh THNO Meeting
No full textThis open access book discusses the most current issues in head and neck cancer with a focus on current trends such as biomarkers, precision medicine and immunotherapy. New approaches in the diagnosis such as liquid biopsies and imaging biomarkers to predict radiotherapy toxicity as well as approaches in the surgical management of head and neck cancers are discussed. The book discusses medical and surgical approaches in both primary, recurrent and metastatic disease and also covers approaches for rare head neck cancers. Readers will learn about the latest drug developments and epidemiological aspects in cancers ranging from head and neck squamous cell cancer to nasopharynx cancer. Edited by a team of world leaders in head and neck cancer, this volume serves as an easy reference to the head and neck oncology practitioner and provides a contemporary overview for specialists the field. The chapters are based on the latest data presented at the 7th Trends in Head and Neck Oncology Conference and reflect the most up-to-date information in the field
Induction Chemotherapy: Does It Have a Place in Oral Cavity Cancer?
No full textThe treatment of choice for locally advanced resectable oral cavity cancer is surgery followed by (chemo)radiation. Two randomized phase III trials investigated induction chemotherapy followed by surgery in patients with squamous cell oral cavity cancers. These two trials did not demonstrate the superiority of the induction arms. However, patients with a clinical response or favorable pathologic response had a better outcome compared with patients with no or limited response to induction. A meta-analysis of these two trials suggested that induction chemotherapy could be useful for patients with clinical N2 disease. No randomized trials have properly investigated if induction chemotherapy before the loco-regional treatment in case of unresectable oral cavity cancer could be beneficial. Further clinical trials are needed to better define the role of induction chemotherapy in unresectable and resectable oral cavity cancer
Characterization of Preoperative, Postsurgical, Acute and Chronic Pain in High Risk Breast Cancer Patients
No full textFunding: The Ketorolac in Breast Cancer trial has been supported by the Anticancer Fund, the Belgian Society of Anaesthesia and Resuscitation, the Fondation Saint-Luc, and the Commission du Patrimoine of the Université catholique de Louvain, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc. Acknowledgments: Membership of the KBCt Group, Aline van Maanen, Gauthier Bouche, Alain Dekleermaker, Francois P Duhoux, Marc De Kock, Martine Berliere, Pierre Coulie, Jan Decloedt, Jean-Edouard Guillaume, Marc Ledent, Jean-Pascal Machiels, Véronique Mustin, Walter Swinnen, Lionel Vander Essen, and Jean-Christophe Verougstraete.Peer reviewe
Du sordide au mythe
No full textÀ la fin du XIXe siècle, Bruxelles est secouée par un scandale révélant la présence de mineures anglaises dans les maisons closes de la capitale. En cascade, les répercussions de l’« affaire de la traite des blanches » sont immédiates (campagnes médiatiques, enquêtes, séries de procès). À bien des égards, l’histoire des « petites anglaises » fait aussi l’effet d’un véritable détonateur : elle déliera les imaginaires et déchaînera les passions sur la fameuse question de la « traite des blanches », en Belgique et ailleurs, pendant de longues décennies. Issues d’un projet collectif de longue haleine, les contributions de cet ouvrage portent sur l’anatomie du scandale et ses suites. En premier lieu, à partir des dossiers issus de l’enquête judiciaire, on propose ici d’éclairer le rôle des protagonistes de l’affaire. La seconde partie est consacrée aux grands débats que le scandale a contribué à alimenter après la Première Guerre mondiale. Fruit d’une recherche menée en sociohistoire, cette publication invite à suivre, du sordide au mythe, l’histoire et le souvenir d’une des plus célèbres affaires de « traite des blanches »
Les auteurs
No full textJean-Michel Chaumont Chercheur qualifié du Fonds national de la recherche scientifique belge (F.R.S-F.N.R.S.), professeur à l'Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) où il est membre permanent de la Chaire Hoover d'éthique économique et sociale. Il a publié récemment Le mythe de la traite des blanches. Enquête sur la fabrication d'un fléau (Paris, La Découverte, 2009). Nathalie Fally Après une licence en histoire contemporaine et un Master en sciences politiques (UCL), Nathalie Fally a étudié ..
Molecular biology of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck : relevance and therapeutic implications
No full textMore than 90% of all head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinoma. Despite advances in the management of patients with this disease, the survival rate has not been significantly improved. Several mechanisms of carcinogenesis have been elucidated and molecular targeted agents seem to be promising therapeutic tools. Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody inhibitor of the EGF receptor, improves survival rates in association with radiotherapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) or in palliative disease, and is nowadays the only targeted agent approved in this indication. Other targeted agents are also clinically relevant to the treatment of different malignancies, including SCCHN. This article focuses on the major molecular pathways implicated in SCCHN carcinogenesis and provides an overview of their therapeutic implications
Molecular-targeted therapy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma : beyond cetuximab-based therapy
No full textPURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cetuximab improves the overall survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), in combination either with radiation therapy or with chemotherapy. However, only a minority of patients seem to benefit from cetuximab. This paper will review the different strategies developed either to overcome epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) resistance or to inhibit the other relevant activated molecular pathways.
RECENT FINDINGS: Recent trials have investigated the possibility of including anti-EGFR therapies in the multimodal curative treatment of SCCHN in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, concomitant chemoradiation or as maintenance therapy. Second-generation compounds (pan-HER or dual EGFR/HER-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors) have been designed in an attempt to overcome the postulated resistance to anti-EGFR treatments in SCCHN. Alternative targeted therapies have also been developed to inhibit the other activated molecular pathways. Some of these new treatments have shown either promising activity in preclinical models or interesting preliminary activity in early phase II trials. Phase III trials are now required to validate the findings.
SUMMARY: Despite an aggressive multimodal approach, more than 50% of patients with SCCHN will relapse. It is therefore essential that targeted agents continue to be evaluated in this disease in the hope of improving outcome
Systemic Treatments: Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapies
No full textIntroduction Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) affl icts an estimated 600,000 patients annually worldwide and is the seventh most common cancer. Less than 50 % of the patients with locoregional advanced disease (American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stages III, IV) remain free of disease at 3 years despite aggressive multimodal local therapy with surgery and/or chemoradiation [ 1 – 3 ]. Cancer that recurs after multimodal local treatment and not amenable to salvage surgery (Chap. 12 ) or radiation (Chap. 13 ) is considered incurable (median survival around 10 months) [ 4 , 5 ]. Different prognosis factors for patients with palliative SCCHN have been identifi ed. In two phase III trials from the Eastern Oncology Cooperative Group (E1393 and E1395) that investigated platinum-based chemotherapy, the following parameters were associated with a poor survival in the multivariate analysis: weight loss more than 5 %, Eastern Oncology Cooperative Group performance status (ECOG PS) >0, well and moderate differentiated tumor, primary tumor localized in the oropharynx and oral cavity, and prior radiation therapy [ 6 ]. Patients with ≥3 of these parameters had a median survival of 6 months compared with patients with ≤2 of these parameters who had a median overall survival of 2 years. Alcohol and tobacco are still responsible for the majority of SCCHN. Another cause of oropharyngeal cancer that increases in incidence is the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV-positive and negative tumors are different entities based on differences in their clinical and molecular behaviors [ 7 ]. The prognosis of HPV-positive SCCHN is better than HPV-negative tumor even in case of relapsing disease [ 8 ]
Management and palliative chemotherapy for metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
No full textSquamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with distant metastases or locoregional relapse not amenable to radical surgery or radiation therapy are incurable. Median overall survival is approximately 10 months and the site of relapse, frequently in the head and neck area, is responsible for important local and regional complications that significantly impact quality of life. This article will focus on the general management and treatment of these recurrent and/or metastatic patients. We will discuss the challenges faced by the clinician when diagnosing tumor recurrence, as well as the indications and the limitations of the locoregional and systemic treatments available to treat this population
Is there a Role for Neoadjuvant Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy?
No full textNeoadjuvant chemotherapy in head and neck cancer is the subject of much debate. Multiple trials have shown that the concomitant addition of targeted therapies, such as cetuximab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (docetaxel, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil), results in increased toxicity. Furthermore, no apparent significant benefit has been demonstrated in small randomized studies. Additional trials are currently being conducted to investigate the role of neoadjuvant immunotherapy, such as anti-PD-(L)1 inhibitors. On the other hand, window of opportunity studies are trials in which patients receive one investigational compound in the period between their cancer diagnosis and the start of standard therapy. The evaluation of new compounds using this approach enables translational research and provides information on molecular and clinical activity as well as predictive biomarkers
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