Authors


Matthew P. Boente, MD

Latest:

The Management of Early Ovarian Cancer

Approximately one third of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer present with localized or early-stage disease. Prognostic features identify certain subsets of patients with good risk characteristics who do not require adjuvant



Matthew R. Callstrom, MD, PhD

Latest:

Percutaneous Ablation: Safe, Effective Treatment of Bone Tumors

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of osteoid osteomashas replaced surgical excision as the preferred method for treatment ofthese benign lesions, due to high effectiveness and low morbidity. BothRFA and cryoablation are safe and effective for palliation of pain dueto metastatic disease in patients who have failed conventional therapies.These image-guided treatments can be performed precisely, allowingsafe treatment of complex metastatic tumors. A single ablationtreatment is effective in most patients, is well tolerated, and provides along duration of pain relief.


Matthew R. Cooperberg, MD, MPH

Latest:

Prostate Cancer 2004: Insights From National Disease Registries

In 2004, the large majority of prostate cancers are detected via prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening. Most are diagnosed at an earlystage and are amenable to aggressive local treatment. However, thenatural history of the disease may be prolonged, and all available activetreatments exert a potential negative effect on patients’ HRQOL.Management options for localized prostate cancer have become increasinglycomplex in recent years, and rigorous trials are frequently difficultto perform due to the extended follow-up required to reach meaningfuloutcomes. In this context, the advent of the national prostatecancer disease registries-Prostate Cancer Outcomes Study (PCOS),Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR), Cancer of the ProstateStrategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE), and Shared EqualAccess Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH)-has greatly facilitatedclinical research in prostate cancer. This review summarizes key findingsfrom the registries in the areas of risk migration, practice patterns,outcome prediction, and quality-of-life outcomes. The availabilityof these large databases of patients will be a tremendous asset asprostate cancer management continues to evolve in the coming years.


Matthew R. Smith, MD, PhD

Latest:

Complications of Androgen Deprivation Therapy: Prevention and Treatment

Androgen deprivation therapy(ADT) with a gonadotropinreleasinghormone agonist isthe cornerstone of treatment for metastaticprostate cancer. Patterns of carehave changed dramatically over thepast decade, and gonadotropin-releasinghormone agonists are now routinelyadministered to men withoutradiographic evidence of metastases.These agents account for about onethirdof Medicare expenditures for thetreatment of prostate cancer[1]; in1999, that portion exceeded $800 million.The routine use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists in menwith nonmetastatic prostate cancer increasesthe importance of understandingand preventing treatment-relatedadverse effects. In this issue ofONCOLOGY, Dr. Holzbeierlein andcolleagues provide a timely summaryof the adverse effects of ADT.


Matthew T. Ballo, MD

Latest:

Radiotherapy for Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma: Rationale and Indications

The use of radiation as adjuvant therapy for patients with cutaneousmalignant melanoma has been hindered by the unsubstantiatedbelief that melanoma cells are radioresistant. An abundance of literaturehas now demonstrated that locoregional relapse of melanoma iscommon after surgery alone when certain clinicopathologic featuresare present. Features associated with a high risk of primary tumor recurrenceinclude desmoplastic subtype, positive microscopic margins,recurrent disease, and thick primary lesions with ulceration or satellitosis.Features associated with a high risk of nodal relapse include extracapsularextension, involvement of four or more lymph nodes, lymphnodes measuring at least 3 cm, cervical lymph node location, and recurrentdisease. Numerous studies support the efficacy of adjuvant irradiationin these clinical situations. Although data in the literatureremain sparse, evidence also indicates that elective irradiation is effectivein eradicating subclinical nodal metastases after removal of theprimary melanoma. Consequently, there may be an opportunity to integrateradiotherapy into the multimodality treatment of patients at highrisk of subclinical nodal disease, particularly those with an involvedsentinel lymph node. Such patients are known to have a low rate ofadditional lymph node involvement, and thus in this group, a shortcourse of radiotherapy may be an adequate substitute for regional lymphnode dissection. This will be the topic of future research.


Matthew T. Drake, MD, PhD

Latest:

Bone Disease in Multiple Myeloma

Despite the significant progress that has occurred in recent decades in the treatment of many advanced malignancies, skeletal morbidity remains a major problem for patients affected by cancers that metastasize to or grow primarily within bone.[1] Thus as patients with a variety of malignancies survive longer, therapies to limit cancer-associated as well as treatment-associated skeletal complications have become increasingly important for the provision of optimal patient care.


Matthew Tan, MD

Latest:

Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin: Antitumor Activity in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer or Cancers of Peritoneal Origin

After pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PEG-LD) (Doxil) was shown to be active in ovarian tumors, several trials were developed at the University of Southern California to determine its safety and efficacy in a variety of gynecologic and peritoneal malignancies. Completed phase I and phase II trials have found PEG-LD to be safe and effective in the treatment of platinum- and paclitaxel-refractory epithelial ovarian carcinoma. A new phase II trial is currently underway in similarly refractory patients with ovarian and other related cancers and various degrees of pretreatment. In addition, the efficacy of PEG-LD is being explored in combination with paclitaxel (Taxol), with cisplatin, and with hyperthermia. [ONCOLOGY 11(Suppl 11):38-44, 1997]


Matthew Volm, MD

Latest:

Nonsteroidal and Steroidal Aromatase Inhibitors in Breast Cancer

Anastrozole (Arimidex), letrozole (Femara), and exemestane (Aromasin) are members of the third generation of aromatase inhibitors that has now replaced aminoglutethimide (Cytadren), the progestins, and tamoxifen


Matthew Zibelman, MD

Latest:

Checkpoint Inhibitors and Urothelial Carcinoma: The Translational Paradigm

The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors as effective cancer immunotherapy has effectively built a new “highway” connecting the promise of oncologic translational research to progress in treating advanced malignancies.


Matthias Holdhoff, MD, PhD

Latest:

Chemotherapy for Treatment of Grade II Gliomas

In this article, we provide a brief overview of the management of grade II astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and mixed oligoastrocytomas-the three most heavily encountered and studied of the low-grade gliomas.


Matti S. Aapro, MD

Latest:

Pharmacology of Antineoplastic Agents in Older Cancer Patients

Drs. Lichtman and Skirvin have written an excellent review on the pharmacology of antineoplastic agents in older cancer patients. However, as in any text (often due to space limitations), one can find shortcomings, some of which will be covered in this commentary.


Matvey Tsivian, MD

Latest:

Evolution of the Concept of Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer

In this review we focus on the recent evolution of the concept of focal therapy and the potential applications of this management approach within an array of options currently available for patients with localized prostate cancer.


Maude Becker, RN

Latest:

The Absent-Minded Professor: An Unusual Complication of Melanoma

The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center holds weekly second opinion conferences focusing on cancer cases that represent most major cancer sites. Patients seen for second opinions are evaluated by an oncologist.


Maura N. Dickler

Latest:

Aromatase Inhibitors and Arthralgia: A Growing Pain?

In the current issue of ONCOLOGY, Henry et al comprehensively review the current state of knowledge regarding the incidence and pathogenesis of aromatase inhibitor (AI)-associated arthralgia, and its potential implications in terms of delivering adequate, effective adjuvant therapy.


Maureen E. O'rourke, RN, PhD

Latest:

Addressing Bone Loss in the Cancer Survivor

Osteoporosis, the most common late effect of cancer treatment in the US, occurs with greater frequency among cancer survivors than the general population. Survivors of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and childhood leukemia are at particularly high risk for changes in bone mineral density (BMD) / osteoporosis that can lead to fractures.[1] In breast and prostate cancer patients, bone effects are often the result of endocrine therapy–induced alterations in bone microarchitecture. They also can be caused by other types of cancer therapy, vitamin D deficiency, and other physiological changes that may or may not be related to cancer or its treatment. In childhood leukemia patients, bone effects can be caused by a variety of factors, including corticosteroid therapy, radiation therapy to the brain, and the disease itself.


Maureen E. Trudeau, MD

Latest:

Optimizing Adjuvant Breast Cancer Chemotherapy: Rationale for the MA.21 Study

Recently initiated is a phase III randomized trial (MA.21 trial) of adjuvant chemotherapy for node-positive and high-risk node-negative, premenopausal and postmenopausal (£ 60 years) women with breast cancer who have


Maureen R. Hewitt, MD

Latest:

Commentary (Hewitt/Haller): Adjuvant Therapy for Colorectal Cancer

During the 1980s, the only drug routinely used to treat colorectal carcinoma was single-agent fluorouracil (5-FU), a drug that had shown no proven benefit in the adjuvant setting. Since then, significant improvements in the overall management of colorectal cancer have been made. This review will compare today's standard of care for adjuvant colorectal carcinoma to that practiced 20 years ago. The authors examine key questions asked about adjuvant therapy and the answers that ultimately changed clinical practice standards and improved overall survival for patients diagnosed with this disease. In addition, this review explores whether 5-FU should be given as part of a multidrug regimen and which route of administration is best when this drug is given. Further, the authors delve into both the use of locally directed therapies to the liver or peritoneum to improve outcomes and the selection of patients to receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Finally, a look to the future shows monoclonal antibodies to be an avenue of great promise in fighting colorectal cancer.


Maurice Pérol, MD

Latest:

Gemcitabine Maintenance in Lung Cancer Could Be Low Cost Alternative

This video highlights a study that tested an alternative maintenance strategy determined by response to induction chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-squamous non–small-cell lung cancer.


Mauricio Mora

Latest:

Man With Locally Advanced, High-Risk Prostate Cancer Asks About Adding Chemotherapy to His Treatment

A 55-year-old Hispanic male presents with a family history of gastric cancer in one sibling and prostate cancer in an older brother. CT performed in March 2015 for IMT surveillance showed a heterogeneous prostate with local invasion involving the bladder, seminal vesicles, and perirectal fat.


Maurie Markman, MD

Latest:

Medical World News®: CancerNetwork Discusses mRNA Vaccines With Maurie Markman, MD

During a Deep Dive segment of Medical World News®, CancerNetwork® sat down with Maurie Markman, MD, to discuss how lessons learned from the development of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 can translate to cancer research.


Maurits J. Wiersema, MD

Latest:

Endoscopic Ultrasound in the Diagnosis and Staging of Pancreatic Cancer

Patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of a pancreatic neoplasm typically undergo initial imaging with transabdominal ultrasound or computed tomography. This evaluation often reveals the presence of a pancreatic mass or fullness.


Maurizio Buscarini, MD

Latest:

Molecular Markers for Diagnosis, Staging, and Prognosis of Bladder Cancer

Conventional histopathologic evaluation of bladder cancer, encompassing tumor grade and stage, is inadequate to accurately predict the behavior of most bladder tumors. Intense research efforts are under way to identify and


Maurizio Mansutti, MD

Latest:

Gemcitabine/Epirubicin/Paclitaxel Trials in Advanced Breast Cancer

Numerous trials have shown that the pharmacokinetic interferences of epirubicin (Ellence)/paclitaxel (Taxol) combinations produce less pharmacodynamic effect than doxorubicin/paclitaxel regimens. Paclitaxel is more easily


Mauro Cives, MD

Latest:

An Update on Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

In this review, we summarize biologic, pathologic, and clinical aspects of gastroenteropancreatic-neuroendocrine tumors, focusing on recent advances in their treatment.


Mauro Risio, MD

Latest:

HER2 Testing and Correlation With Efficacy of Trastuzumab Therapy

The need for accurate detection of HER2 status is becoming more apparent, as therapeutic decisions are influenced by this information in both the adjuvant and advanced-stage setting. Since the US Food and Drug


Maury M. Rosenstein, MD, PhD

Latest:

Commentary (Kirkwood et al): Radiotherapy for Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma: Rationale and Indications

The rigorous assessment of thebenefits of radiotherapy formelanoma has been confoundedby superstition on one hand, andreligious fervor on the other. In thisissue, Ballo and Ang have reviewedthe use of radiotherapy for melanoma,focusing primarily on the controversialtopic of adjuvant postoperativeradiotherapy to the primary tumor bedand regional lymphatics.


Maxim Shulimovich, MD

Latest:

Management of Locally Advanced or Unresectable Head and Neck Cancer

In the following sections, we will first review the radiotherapy techniques that have been investigated. We will then review the progressive advances achieved with the addition of chemotherapeutic strategies to RT in an attempt to achieve better outcomes.


Maximilian F. Reiser, MD

Latest:

Phase II Study of Rituximab in Combination With Fludarabine in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

This phase II trial investigated the safety and efficacy of a combined-modality treatment with rituximab (Rituxan) and fludarabine (Fludara) in patients with fludarabine- and anthracycline-naive chronic lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL).


Maximiliano Martos, MD

Latest:

Biweekly Gemcitabine, Doxorubicin, and Paclitaxel as First-Line Treatment in Metastatic Breast Cancer

In a single-center, open, phase II trial, we assessed the toxicity and activity of a triple combination therapy-doxorubicin at 30 mg/m2 (day 1), paclitaxel (Taxol) at 135 mg/m2 (day 2), and gemcitabine (Gemzar) at 2,500 mg/m2