Sarcoma

The management of pediatric soft-tissue sarcomas has improved drastically through the use of multimodal therapy. These tumors include rhabdomyosarcomas and nonrhabdomyosarcomas. Both are staged using

The management of pediatric soft-tissue sarcomas has improved drastically through the use of multimodal therapy. These tumors include rhabdomyosarcomas and nonrhabdomyosarcomas. Both are staged using

In his excellent review, Dr. Mitsuyasu correctly highlights the three most important ingredients that play a role in the pathogenesis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS)-Kaposi’s sarcoma herpesvirus/human herpesvirus type 8 (KSHV/HHV-8); altered expression and response to cytokines; and stimulation of KS growth by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 trans-activating protein, Tat. Recent studies have provided tremendous insight into the process whereby KSHV/HHV-8 creates the inflammatory-angiogenic state that characterizes KS.

Dr. Mitsuyasu has been doing clinical research in patients with AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, and his review reflects this breadth of experience. It provides a well-rounded and up-to-date assessment of the pathophysiology, evaluation, and treatment of AIDS-related KS that should be a useful guide for practicing physicians.

In his article, Dr. Mitsuyasu concisely reviews a large body of data concerning the etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, and treatment of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) in the setting of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. As he correctly points out, effective highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), with its consequent improvements in immune function and decrease in production of viral and cytokine cofactors that promote KS growth, has been partly responsible for the decline of KS incidence in areas with ready access to HIV therapy.

The criteria for successfully resecting pulmonary metastasis have not changed since they were originally described by Ehrenhaft in 1958.[1] They are (1) that the primary tumor site has been removed without evidence of local recurrence, (2) that no extrathoracic organ metastasis exists, and (3) that pulmonary disease has been completely removed without compromising pulmonary function.

In their literature survey, Drs. Chao and Goldberg reach the conclusion that surgical metastasectomy is the clear treatment of choice and should be the standard of care for patients with pulmonary recurrences of soft-tissue sarcoma. It is assumed that survival without this operation is negligible, even while there are no survival statistics for sarcoma patients who are eligible for metastasectomy and who choose to forgo this option.

The lung is the most frequent site of metastasis from soft-tissue sarcomas. Due to the relative resistance of sarcoma to either chemotherapy or radiotherapy, compared to other solid tumors, surgical management of

In their article, Chao and Goldberg provide a concise overview of the literature on pulmonary metastasectomy for sarcoma, including a brief history of the procedure, guidelines for preoperative evaluation, conduct of the operation, and probable outcomes achieved. Several points that they review deserve further discussion.

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is the most common malignancy associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Recent years have witnessed a decline in the overall incidence of AIDS-related KS, as well as a greater

SAN FRANCISCO-Because Kaposi’s sarcoma is a highly vascular tumor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may be a possible regulator for the edema and angiogenesis often seen in the disease, Parkash Gill, MD, of the Norris Cancer Center, University of Southern California, said at the 39th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC).

BUFFALO, NY-There are too many questions and not enough new answers about soft tissue sarcomas, Raphael E. Pollock, MD, PhD, said at the Surgical Oncology Symposium, hosted by Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

ROCKVILLE, Md-Doxil (doxorubicin HCl liposome injection, ALZA Corporation) has won accelerated FDA approval of its supplemental New Drug Application for the treatment of metastatic ovarian cancer refractory to both paclitaxel (Taxol)- and platinum-based chemotherapy regimens. Accelerated approval requires the company to conduct additional research to demonstrate that the drug is associated with clinical benefit. Doxil, a liposomal formulation of doxorubicin, is currently approved for use in AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma.

ASCO-In a phase II trial, more than one-third of patients with AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma responded to self-administration of a nasal solution containing the small antiangiogenic peptide IM862, Parkash Gill, MD, of the University of Southern California, reported at the ASCO annual meeting.

SAN FRANCISCO-“Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) conforms very poorly to conventional notions about cancer,” Donald Ganem, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco, said at a conference on globally emerging viral infections. “It’s properly classified as in the gray zone between proliferative hyperplasia and frank neoplasm.”

Dr. Nag and colleagues provide an overview of brachytherapy, describe its application in pediatric oncology, and review the clinical experience in childhood solid tumors. The limited number of publications includes Dr. Nag’s own important, innovative clinical research using remote afterloading high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy with twice-daily fractions in children with sarcoma.[1]

Pediatric soft-tissue sarcomas are managed with a multimodality treatment program that includes surgery, chemotherapy, and external-beam radiotherapy (teletherapy). The use of teletherapy in young children can

SILVER SPRING, Md-The Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) has recommended that the FDA approve Ligand Pharmaceuticals’ Panretin gel 0.1% (alitretinoin) for the treatment of cutaneous lesions in patients with AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS).

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is the most common malignancy associated with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection and can result in significant morbidity. The clinical course of KS is quite variable, although for the

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is the most common malignancy associated with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection and can result in significant morbidity. The clinical course of KS is quite variable, although for the

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is the most common malignancy associated with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection and can result in significant morbidity. The clinical course of KS is quite variable, although for the

GENEVA--Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and cervical dysplasia are common problems in HIV-infected patients. Research presented at the 12th World AIDS Conference shows that strong suppression of HIV replication with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) also leads to recovery from these two neoplastic conditions.

BETHESDA, Md--In theory, highly active antiretroviral therapies, or HAART, should reduce the incidence of AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) by improving the immune functioning of HIV-infected individuals. Theory appears to be working out, at least with regard to lowering the risk of KS, according to several papers presented at the NCI’s 2nd National AIDS Malignancy Conference.

The need for an article such as the one by Little et al is a clear sign that progress is occurring in the treatment of AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). Without such progress, there would be no urgent need to refine the tools currently used to evaluate the activity of KS treatment.

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Several characteristics of KS pose challenges for the conduct of clinical trials. Kaposi’s

Single-agent Doxil, a formulation of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin HCl, produces a higher response rate in patients with severe AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) than does the combination of bleomycin and vincristine (BV), according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Since the first cases of AIDS-associated Kaposi’s sarcoma (AIDS/KS) were described in the medical literature in 1981,[1] various local and systemic therapies have been used in efforts to control this most common HIV-associated neoplasm. Many reviews have been published about the treatment of AIDS/KS, but almost all of them have been written by authors representing a single medical specialty, whether it be medical oncology, dermatology, or radiation oncology.

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is an AIDS-defining neoplasm characterized by the development of lesions that histologically consist of proliferating spindle cells, vascular channels, and inflammatory cells.[1] The typical early presentation consists of painless pink, red, or purple macules or nodules on the skin surface or in the oral cavity. Although the presence of a few skin lesions is not life-threatening, even limited cutaneous KS can have an enormous psychosocial impact, particularly when the lesions occur on exposed areas.

Uterine sarcomas arise from the uterine muscle (leiomyosarcoma) or endometrial glands and stroma (endometrial stromal sarcoma and carcinosarcoma). They account for about 3% of all uterine malignancies and less than 1% of all gynecologic malignancies. Uterine sarcomas have differing etiologies, clinical courses, and pathologic features, which give rise to variable treatment regimens and clinical outcomes. The leiomyosarcomas and (malignant) mixed mullerian tumors (M/MMT or carcinosarcomas) have a higher rate of occurrence in black than in white females. Carcinosarcomas are unusual before the age of 40 and have rising incidence with advancing age, while leiomyosarcomas have peak incidence between ages 35 and 55 for blacks and ages 40 and 50 for whites. The development of sarcomas also appears to be increased by previous pelvic radiation, especially the carcinosarcomas and adenosarcomas.

Anthracycline antibiotic use is limited by cardiac toxicity. The risk factors are cumulative dose, radiation to the chest and mediastinum, age, and preexisting myocardial impairment. Dexrazoxane (Zinecard) can prevent