Authors
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Current Challenges of Gene Therapy for Prostate CancerGene therapy for prostate cancer faces hurdles similar to those being encountered for other cancers and nonmalignant processes. The greatest obstacle is the identification of efficient delivery systems, since numerous animal models and cell culture systems have shown potential efficacy when most cells express the introduced genetic material. Early prostate cancers are easily accessible to gene vector introduction, and the predictable metastatic patterns of this cancer may offer additional advantages for gene therapy. This article reviews gene vectors and gene products, as well as ongoing trials of gene therapy that have recently begun in prostate cancer. [ONCOLOGY 11(6):845-856, 1997]
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Vaccine Therapy for Patients With MelanomaInvestigation into the therapeutic use of vaccines in patients with metastatic melanoma is critically important because of the lack of effective conventional modalities. The most extensively studied melanoma vaccines in clinical trials are whole-cell preparations or cell lysates that contain multiple antigens capable of stimulating an immune response. Unfortunately, in the majority of studies, immune responses to these vaccines have not translated into a survival advantage. Advances in tumor cell immunology have led to the identification of candidate tumor cell antigens that can stimulate an immune response; this, in turn, has allowed for refinements in vaccine design. However, the exact tumor antigens that should be targeted with a specific vaccine are unknown. The univalent antigen vaccines, which have greater purity, ease of manufacturing, and reproducibility compared with polyvalent vaccines, may suffer from poorer efficacy due to immunoselection and appearance of antigen-negative clones within the tumor. Novel approaches to vaccine design using gene transfection with cytokines and dendritic cells are all promising. However, the induction of immune responses does not necessarily confer a therapeutic benefit. Therefore, these elegant newer strategies need to be studied in carefully designed clinical trials so that outcomes can be compared objectively with standard therapy. If survival is improved with these vaccine approaches, their ease of administration and lack of toxicity will firmly entrench active specific vaccine immunotherapy as a standard modality in the treatment of the melanoma patient.[ONCOLOGY 13(11):1561-1574, 1999].
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Vaccine Therapy for Patients With MelanomaInvestigation into the therapeutic use of vaccines in patients with metastatic melanoma is critically important because of the lack of effective conventional modalities. The most extensively studied melanoma vaccines in clinical trials are whole-cell preparations or cell lysates that contain multiple antigens capable of stimulating an immune response. Unfortunately, in the majority of studies, immune responses to these vaccines have not translated into a survival advantage. Advances in tumor cell immunology have led to the identification of candidate tumor cell antigens that can stimulate an immune response; this, in turn, has allowed for refinements in vaccine design. However, the exact tumor antigens that should be targeted with a specific vaccine are unknown. The univalent antigen vaccines, which have greater purity, ease of manufacturing, and reproducibility compared with polyvalent vaccines, may suffer from poorer efficacy due to immunoselection and appearance of antigen-negative clones within the tumor. Novel approaches to vaccine design using gene transfection with cytokines and dendritic cells are all promising. However, the induction of immune responses does not necessarily confer a therapeutic benefit. Therefore, these elegant newer strategies need to be studied in carefully designed clinical trials so that outcomes can be compared objectively with standard therapy. If survival is improved with these vaccine approaches, their ease of administration and lack of toxicity will firmly entrench active specific vaccine immunotherapy as a standard modality in the treatment of the melanoma patient.[ONCOLOGY 13(11):1561-1574, 1999].
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CYP2D6 Testing for Breast Cancer Patients: Is There More to the Story?The promise of pharmacogenetics is personalization of therapy for individuals through refinement of the risk/benefit profile of pharmaceuticals based on inherited gene mutations. Classic examples of the impact of pharmacogenetics in clinical practice include variants in dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase and treatment with fluorouracil.
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CYP2D6 Testing for Breast Cancer Patients: Is There More to the Story?The promise of pharmacogenetics is personalization of therapy for individuals through refinement of the risk/benefit profile of pharmaceuticals based on inherited gene mutations. Classic examples of the impact of pharmacogenetics in clinical practice include variants in dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase and treatment with fluorouracil.
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HDAC Inhibitors in Cancer CareThe epigenetic control of gene expression has been shown to play an important role in cancer initiation, progression, and resistance. Thus, agents that modify the epigenetic environment of tumors will likely be an important addition to the anticancer arsenal. Specifically, there is much interest in modulating histone acetylation using a new class of drugs, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. Preclinical data have demonstrated the efficacy of various HDAC inhibitors as anticancer agents, with the greatest effects shown when HDAC inhibitors are used in combination with other therapies. As a result of encouraging preclinical data, numerous HDAC inhibitors are being investigated in clinical trials either as monotherapies or in conjunction with other treatments such as chemotherapy, biologic therapy, or radiation therapy. In fact, vorinostat and depsipeptide, two actively studied HDAC inhibitors, were recently approved for the treatment of refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Although the use of HDAC inhibitors has generated great enthusiasm, a significant amount of work still needs to be done in order to understand their mechanisms of action, as well as to determine the appropriate patient characteristics and subsets of cancer for which HDAC inhibitors hold the most potential for effective treatment.
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Identification and Treatment of Aggressive Thyroid Cancers (Part 2)In part 2, we address risk assessment and staging, findings that suggest the presence of aggressive tumors, recurrent/metastatic disease, and treatment with chemotherapy and external-beam radiotherapy. Experimental treatments utilizing molecular targets, redifferentiation agents, and gene therapy are covered briefly as well.
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Identification and Treatment of Aggressive Thyroid Cancers (Part 2)In part 2, we address risk assessment and staging, findings that suggest the presence of aggressive tumors, recurrent/metastatic disease, and treatment with chemotherapy and external-beam radiotherapy. Experimental treatments utilizing molecular targets, redifferentiation agents, and gene therapy are covered briefly as well.
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Treatment of Aggressive Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: A North American PerspectiveThe most common subtype of aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphomais diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Diffuse large B-cell lymphomarepresents a heterogeneous entity, with 5-year overall survivalrates ranging from 26% to 73%. Microarray gene expression studieshave confirmed that biologically distinct subgroups exist within DLBCL,and can be correlated with outcome. Initial management is usuallyguided by stage of disease at presentation. Approximately 25% of patientswith DLBCL present with limited-stage disease and are treatedwith combined-modality therapy (brief chemotherapy and involved-fieldradiation). Most patients present with advanced-stage disease and requiretreatment with an extended course of chemotherapy. The CHOP(cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin HCl, vincristine [Oncovin], prednisone)chemotherapy regimen has been the mainstay of therapy sinceits development in the 1970s, as more intensive chemotherapy regimensfailed to show additional benefit. The era of monoclonal antibodieshas transformed treatment practices for aggressive lymphoma andhas led to a significant improvement in outcome. A randomized trialcomparing the use of rituximab (Rituxan), a chimeric anti-CD20 IgG1monoclonal antibody, combined with CHOP chemotherapy vs CHOPchemotherapy alone for elderly patients with advanced-stage DLBCLdemonstrated a significant benefit for the combination approach. Thisfinding has now been confirmed in two additional randomized, controlledtrials and a population-based analysis, making CHOP andrituximab the standard of care for all newly diagnosed patients withDLBCL. Despite this advance, newer therapies are needed and manyare under active investigation. The insights gained from molecular techniquessuch as gene expression profiling should permit identificationof additional lymphoma-specific therapeutic targets and the developmentof novel agents that take into account underlying biology andallow for greater tailoring of therapy.
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New Directions in the Treatment of Advanced Colorectal CancerAs the chemotherapy horizons have expanded in colorectal cancer with development of oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) and irinotecan (CPT-11, Camptosar), so too have our approaches to therapy. Numerous immunotherapy and gene
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The Promise of Pharmacogenomics: Gemcitabine and PemetrexedAlthough no overall differences in survival have been observed betweenthe many chemotherapy combinations in non–small-cell lungcancer, the clinical application of mRNA expression levels of amplifiedgenes may disclose many genetic influences on cytotoxic drug sensitivityand enable clinicians to tailor chemotherapy according to eachindividual’s gene profile. Specifically, the assessment of ribonucleotidereductase subunit M1 and thymidylate synthase mRNA expression levelsmight select patients who benefit from gemcitabine (Gemzar) orpemetrexed (Alimta) combinations. Until recently, clinical prognosticfactors such as performance status, weight loss, and lactate dehydrogenasewere the only parameters used to predict chemotherapy responseand survival. However, accumulated data indicate that overexpressionof genes involved in cancer glycolysis pathways plays an important role,and might be an independent mechanism of chemoresistance. Thedysregulation of glycolytic genes is affected by growth signals involvingthe PI3K/Akt pathway and downstream genes such as hypoxiainduciblefactor-1-alpha. One can thus envision that substantial improvementsin therapeutic outcome could benefit from the integrationof tailored ribonucleotide reductase-dependent chemotherapy, ribonucleotidereductase antisense therapy, and targeted therapy.
Latest:
The Promise of Pharmacogenomics: Gemcitabine and PemetrexedAlthough no overall differences in survival have been observed betweenthe many chemotherapy combinations in non–small-cell lungcancer, the clinical application of mRNA expression levels of amplifiedgenes may disclose many genetic influences on cytotoxic drug sensitivityand enable clinicians to tailor chemotherapy according to eachindividual’s gene profile. Specifically, the assessment of ribonucleotidereductase subunit M1 and thymidylate synthase mRNA expression levelsmight select patients who benefit from gemcitabine (Gemzar) orpemetrexed (Alimta) combinations. Until recently, clinical prognosticfactors such as performance status, weight loss, and lactate dehydrogenasewere the only parameters used to predict chemotherapy responseand survival. However, accumulated data indicate that overexpressionof genes involved in cancer glycolysis pathways plays an important role,and might be an independent mechanism of chemoresistance. Thedysregulation of glycolytic genes is affected by growth signals involvingthe PI3K/Akt pathway and downstream genes such as hypoxiainduciblefactor-1-alpha. One can thus envision that substantial improvementsin therapeutic outcome could benefit from the integrationof tailored ribonucleotide reductase-dependent chemotherapy, ribonucleotidereductase antisense therapy, and targeted therapy.
Latest:
The Promise of Pharmacogenomics: Gemcitabine and PemetrexedAlthough no overall differences in survival have been observed betweenthe many chemotherapy combinations in non–small-cell lungcancer, the clinical application of mRNA expression levels of amplifiedgenes may disclose many genetic influences on cytotoxic drug sensitivityand enable clinicians to tailor chemotherapy according to eachindividual’s gene profile. Specifically, the assessment of ribonucleotidereductase subunit M1 and thymidylate synthase mRNA expression levelsmight select patients who benefit from gemcitabine (Gemzar) orpemetrexed (Alimta) combinations. Until recently, clinical prognosticfactors such as performance status, weight loss, and lactate dehydrogenasewere the only parameters used to predict chemotherapy responseand survival. However, accumulated data indicate that overexpressionof genes involved in cancer glycolysis pathways plays an important role,and might be an independent mechanism of chemoresistance. Thedysregulation of glycolytic genes is affected by growth signals involvingthe PI3K/Akt pathway and downstream genes such as hypoxiainduciblefactor-1-alpha. One can thus envision that substantial improvementsin therapeutic outcome could benefit from the integrationof tailored ribonucleotide reductase-dependent chemotherapy, ribonucleotidereductase antisense therapy, and targeted therapy.
Latest:
The Promise of Pharmacogenomics: Gemcitabine and PemetrexedAlthough no overall differences in survival have been observed betweenthe many chemotherapy combinations in non–small-cell lungcancer, the clinical application of mRNA expression levels of amplifiedgenes may disclose many genetic influences on cytotoxic drug sensitivityand enable clinicians to tailor chemotherapy according to eachindividual’s gene profile. Specifically, the assessment of ribonucleotidereductase subunit M1 and thymidylate synthase mRNA expression levelsmight select patients who benefit from gemcitabine (Gemzar) orpemetrexed (Alimta) combinations. Until recently, clinical prognosticfactors such as performance status, weight loss, and lactate dehydrogenasewere the only parameters used to predict chemotherapy responseand survival. However, accumulated data indicate that overexpressionof genes involved in cancer glycolysis pathways plays an important role,and might be an independent mechanism of chemoresistance. Thedysregulation of glycolytic genes is affected by growth signals involvingthe PI3K/Akt pathway and downstream genes such as hypoxiainduciblefactor-1-alpha. One can thus envision that substantial improvementsin therapeutic outcome could benefit from the integrationof tailored ribonucleotide reductase-dependent chemotherapy, ribonucleotidereductase antisense therapy, and targeted therapy.
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Investigating CAR T-Cell Signals May Lead to New ApproachesRecent studies on CAR T-cell immunotherapy, and the recent approval of a new agent, add to evidence supporting the efficacy of these therapies.
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Gene Editing Leads to Successful Outcome for Pediatric ALL PatientWaseem Qasim, MBBS, PhD, and his team began researching a novel strategy to enable “off-the-shelf”’ therapy with mismatched donor chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)19 T cells.
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Bristol Myers Squibb Withdraws Nivolumab Indication for Treatment of SCLCNivolumab was previously granted accelerated approval by the FDA for the treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) whose disease had progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least 1 other line of therapy, but phase 3 trial results led to a decision to withdraw the indication.
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The Promise of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell TherapyIn this review, we will describe the mechanism of action of CAR T cells, discuss outcomes of current clinical trials, and highlight emerging directions for this exciting approach to cancer treatment.
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David Porter, MD, on Researching CAR-T to Bring to Autoimmune Disease and BeyondThe director of Cell Therapy and Transplant at Penn Medicine discussed his outlook on CAR T-cell therapy research and the future.
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FDA Approves Brentuximab Vedotin for Cutaneous LymphomaThe FDA has approved brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) for the treatment of primary cutaneous anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and CD30-expressing mycosis fungoides in patients who have received prior systemic therapy.
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CAR T-Cell Therapy in ALL: Formidible Challenges RemainAt the NCCN Annual Conference, Dr. Bijal Shah of Tampa’s Moffitt Cancer Center highlighted ongoing challenges in administration of CAR T-cell therapy.
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Managing CAR T-Cell Therapy in Patients With Hematologic MalignanciesStephanie Jackson, MSN, RN speaks with Cancer Network about the role oncology nurses play in managing patients with hematologic malignancies who are undergoing CAR T-cell therapy.
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CAR T-Cell Therapy in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma PatientsDr. Copelan discusses the use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients and how these therapies might improve upon the current standard of care.
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Managing Cytokine Release Syndrome in Patients on CAR T-Cell TherapyAhead of the ASCO Annual Meeting, we discuss the assessment and management of cytokine release syndrome in patients with cancer with Elizabeth Shpall, MD.
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Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic LeukemiaONCOLOGY discussed therapy options, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapies for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), with Susan R. Rheingold, MD, Medical Director of the Oncology Outpatient Clinic and attending physician with the Cancer Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
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Dylan Essner on Documentation Tools for CAR T-Cell TherapyDylan Essner discussed the implementation of documentation tools and CRS, ICANS and ICE flow sheets within CAR T-cell therapy.
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Stem Cell Therapy Studies in TBI and Stroke: Bijan Nejadnik, MDThe chief medical officer at SanBio discussed how the investigational agent SB623 is being studied in TBI and stroke, with future planned studies in Alzheimer disease.
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Stem Cell vs Gene Therapy Processes in Sickle Cell DiseaseA discussion of the course of gene therapy compared with stem cell therapy.
