scholarly journals Thoracic Complications of Precision Cancer Therapies: A Practical Guide for Radiologists in the New Era of Cancer Care

Radiographics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 1371-1387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mizuki Nishino ◽  
Hiroto Hatabu ◽  
Lynette M. Sholl ◽  
Nikhil H. Ramaiya
Author(s):  
Alessandro Tubita ◽  
Ignazia Tusa ◽  
Elisabetta Rovida

Molecularly tailored therapies have opened a new era, chronic myeloid leukemia being the ideal example, in the treatment of cancer. However, available therapeutic options are still unsatisfactory in many types of cancer, and often fail due to the occurrence of resistance mechanisms. With regard to small-molecule compounds targeting the components of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) cascade RAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2, these drugs may result ineffective as a consequence of the activation of compensatory pro-survival/proliferative signals, including receptor tyrosine kinases, PI3K, as well as other components of the MAPK family such as TPL2/COT. The MAPK ERK5 has been identified as a key signaling molecule in the biology of several types of cancer. In this review, we report pieces of evidence regarding the activation of the MEK5-ERK5 pathway as a resistance mechanism to RAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 inhibitors. We also highlight the known and possible mechanisms underlying the cross-talks between the ERK1/2 and the ERK5 pathways, the characterization of which is of great importance to maximize, in the future, the impact of RAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 targeting. Finally, we emphasize the need of developing additional therapeutically relevant MEK5-ERK5 inhibitors to be used for combined treatments, thus preventing the onset of resistance to cancer therapies relying on RAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 inhibitors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 538-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Leopold ◽  
Rebecca L. Haffajee ◽  
Christine Y. Lu ◽  
Anita K. Wagner

Over the past decades, anti-cancer treatments have evolved rapidly from cytotoxic chemotherapies to targeted therapies including oral targeted medications and injectable immunooncology and cell therapies. New anti-cancer medications come to markets at increasingly high prices, and health insurance coverage is crucial for patient access to these therapies. State laws are intended to facilitate insurance coverage of anti-cancer therapies.Using Massachusetts as a case study, we identified five current cancer coverage state laws and interviewed experts on their perceptions of the relevance of the laws and how well they meet the current needs of cancer care given rapid changes in therapies. Interviewees emphasized that cancer therapies, as compared to many other therapeutic areas, are unique because insurance legislation targets their coverage. They identified the oral chemotherapy parity law as contributing to increasing treatment costs in commercial insurance. For commercial insurers, coverage mandates combined with the realities of new cancer medications — including high prices and often limited evidence of efficacy at approval — compound a difficult situation. Respondents recommended policy approaches to address this challenging coverage environment, including the implementation of closed formularies, the use of cost-effectiveness studies to guide coverage decisions, and the application of value-based pricing concepts. Given the evolution of cancer therapeutics, it may be time to evaluate the benefits and challenges of cancer coverage mandates.


Author(s):  
Antonella Surbone

Personalized medicine is revolutionizing cancer care and creating new expectations among oncologists and patients. At present the benefit is still marginal, however, and must be understood as incremental. In addition, cultural and resource disparities limit the sustainability of new cancer therapies on a global scale. Adequate instruments are needed to enable our exercise of sound and honest judgment in distinguishing breakthrough treatments from those that yield only marginal or doubtful improvements, and to develop strategies for formulation and correct application of balanced guidelines for sustainable cancer care. Professionalism requires that the acquisition of knowledge and skills go hand in hand with moral education in the intellectual virtues of humility, perseverance, adaptability, communicativeness, and commitment to resist self-deception or conflicts of interest. Hidden curricula undermine the moral values of medicine: these must be understood and uncovered. We should possess a special body of knowledge, skills, and values that allow us to change our practices when appropriate and to be stewards of society's limited resources through proper communication with our patients and families. In the era of personalized oncology and global issues of sustainability, professional authenticity and integrity in cancer clinical practice are key to bridging the gaps between true and false expectations of patients and the public.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dik-Lung Ma ◽  
Chun Wu ◽  
Sha-Sha Cheng ◽  
Fu-Wa Lee ◽  
Quan-Bin Han ◽  
...  

Platinum-based drugs have revolutionized cancer care, but are unfortunately associated with various adverse effects. Meanwhile, natural product scaffolds exhibit multifarious bioactivities and serve as an attractive resource for cancer therapy development. Thus, the conjugation of natural product scaffolds to metal complexes becomes an attractive strategy to reduce the severe side effects arising from the use of metal bearing drugs. This review aims to highlight the recent examples of natural product-conjugated metal complexes as cancer therapies with enhanced selectivity and efficacy. We discuss the mechanisms and features of different conjugate complexes and present an outlook and perspective for the future of this field.


Author(s):  
Brian Hazlehurst ◽  
Gurvaneet Randhawa ◽  
Paul N. Gorman ◽  
Yan Xiao

Our health care system uses sophisticated cancer therapies, treatment technologies and facilities, and has dedicated and talented cancer specialists. Effective use of these innovations requires coordination of many diffuse components. For example, transitions between steps of care involve multiple actors and institutions, with distinct sets of information, procedures, policies, practices and knowledge. As Taplin and Rodgers note (2010:108), “[i]t takes the entire care process to achieve optimal cancer care. Screening is of no value without a diagnosis, and diagnosis does not improve outcome without access to comprehensive and effective treatment. This seems obvious but the care process is not studied that way.” In cancer care, coordinating across the many providers and with the patient and family members, is challenging. A human factors and systems-based approach to improving that coordination has potential to improve patient outcomes.


2021 ◽  
pp. 2-2
Author(s):  
Mariia Pavlushenko ◽  
Roman Liubota ◽  
Roman Vereshchako ◽  
Nikolay Anikusko ◽  
Irina Liubota

The biggest challenge for the World Health Organization today is the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The current situation prompted major adjustments in the system of cancer care. In this review, we investigate the aspects of cancer treatment and care during the pandemic, since in this setting oncological services face challenges in determining the feasibility of anticancer treatments while minimizing the risk of infection. Cancer patients are at a higher risk from COVID-19 disease. Therefore, oncological community is discussing on the priorities for providing cancer therapies and care and at the same time minimizing the risk of infection.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessy Abraham ◽  
Sunita Singh ◽  
Shalaka Joshi

Author(s):  
Carey K. Anders ◽  
Nicole R. LeBoeuf ◽  
Lara Bashoura ◽  
Saadia A. Faiz ◽  
Afreen I. Shariff ◽  
...  

Agents with mechanisms novel to breast cancer care have been approved to treat breast cancer. These agents include drugs that target cyclin-dependent kinases, phosphoinositide 3-kinase PI3KCA gene mutations, PARP, checkpoint regulation, and novel antibody-drug conjugates. However, these novel approaches bring a risk of toxicities quite different from those of conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. Here, we review these agents and discuss related adverse events, with particular attention to endocrine, pulmonary, and dermatologic toxicities. Endocrine toxicities associated with novel cancer therapies for breast cancer are distinct and often present with symptoms related to the specific hormonal deficiencies and rarely hormonal excess. Given the complex and sometimes irreversible nature of these toxicities, once recognized, transdisciplinary management with an endocrinologist experienced with managing drug-related toxicities is encouraged. Drug-related pneumonitis is a serious concern with new targeted therapies. Presentation may not be easily distinguished, and a multidisciplinary team approach can optimize patient care. Heightened awareness is crucial for early detection and treatment. Management should follow recommendations provided by the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and agent-specific guidelines. Cutaneous toxicities from anticancer therapies represent a common and often poorly characterized challenge for patients with breast cancer. Although our understanding of dermatologic effects from novel therapies continues to improve, the breadth of toxicities spans all dermatologic conditions. Targeted therapies offer effective and often novel therapeutic strategies for patients with breast cancer but also bring new adverse event profiles. In this era, it will be important both to closely follow monitoring recommendations and to remain vigilant for emerging toxicities.


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