Welcome to the spring edition of Oncology & Hematology Review, which features a wide range of articles covering a variety of therapeutic areas. This edition begins with two topical expert interviews. In the first I discuss recent advances in the management of multiple myeloma, including the role of minimal residual disease testing, while Editorial Board member, Ulka Vaishampayan, describes new developments in the therapeutic landscape of renal cancer, with a focus on the recent pivotal clinical trials involving niovolumab and cabozantinb.
Recent advances in screening have led to a decrease in lung cancer mortality. In an editorial, Ambrose, Copeland, and King, of the Lung Cancer Alliance, discuss the role of patient advocacy organizations in influencing policy decisions. Conversely, pancreatic cancer remains a huge clinical challenge with few significant developments in recent years. Sharlene Gill discusses the inconsistent data from clinical trials of second-line treatments and suggests that developments in first-line therapies might improve outcomes with post-progression treatment strategies.
The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing, and while fine needle aspiration cytology is the standard diagnostic technique, it has limitations including false negative and false positive results. Combining the technique with ultrasound examination can enhance both clinical assessment and confidence in appropriate cytological sampling. Shaaban, Metry, and Aspinall review the use of this strategy in a low-volume thyroid centre.
Sarcomas are a rare and heterogeneous group of bone and soft tissue cancers, which have a high incidence of recurrence and metastases. Therapeutic options are limited, and the use of immunotherapy in these malignancies is less advanced than in other cancers. Munhoz, Tap, and D’Angelo discuss the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors for sarcoma patients. Immunotherapy, in particular the use of next generation CD20 antibodies, is also emerging as a valuable treatment for chemo-refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Sethi and Reddy review the latest developments in this field. Also on the subject of blood cancers, Betcherman and Punnett describe the poorly understood phenomenon of paraneoplastic syndromes in children with Hodgkin lymphoma.
Two fascinating articles describe novel aspects of cancer therapy. Fakih presents a discussion on the impact of primary tumor location on the response of metastatic colorectal cancer to anti-epidermal growth factor receptors and bevacizumab. In addition, Amey and Karnoub discuss the use of cancer stem cells as therapeutic targets.
We finish with two interesting case reports. Mendoza, Sepúlveda, and Ayres describe a case of monophasic synovial sarcoma of the infratemporal fossa, together with a review of the literature describing this rare condition. Finally, Kuiper, Babikian, and Delacruz present an unusual case of cavernous sinus syndrome arising from metastatic prostate cancer.
Oncology & Hematology Review would like to thank all authors who contributed their expertise towards this edition. We are grateful to our Editorial Board for their ongoing support and guidance. We hope that you find these articles useful and thought provoking.
