Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology RSS feed: Current Issue. Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology publishes scholarly, critical reviews in all fields of oncology and hematology. Most of the reviews are written on invitation. All review articles are subject to peer review before final acceptance. Elsevier and the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) are delighted to announce the launch of the Journal of Geriatric Oncology . The journal will become the official publication of SIOG in place of Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology . Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology will continue to publish authoritative, critical reviews in all fields of oncology and hematology. However, due to the launch of the Journal of Geriatric Oncology , the journal will no longer accept new submissions of original research articles in the field of geriatric oncology. Authors who wish to submit reviews to the journal are requested to submit a short synopsis of their chosen subject to the Editor, and to indicate the deadline by which they expect to submit their final manuscript. Further information regarding the submission of manuscripts and guidelines for the preparation of the manuscripts can be found in the Guidelines for Authors.http://www.croh-online.com/?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2010 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology1040-8428752August 2010 © 2010 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.croh-online.com/article/PIIS1040842810001587/abstract?rss=yesEditorial Board10.1016/S1040-8428(10)00158-7Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology 75, 2 (2010)2010-08-01Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology2010-08-01752S1040-8428(10)X0008-7CO2CO2http://www.croh-online.com/article/PIIS1040842809002467/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) is considered as an immune-mediated bone marrow failure syndrome, characterized by hypoplasia and pancytopenia with fatty bone marrow. Abnormal immunity is the major factor mediating the pathogenesis of acquired AA. Activated DCs might promote the polarization to Th1 cells, and activate CD8+ T cells. A variety of immune molecules including IFN-γ, TNF-α, MIP-1α and IL-2, 8, 12, 15, 17, 23, produced by them and stromal cells, compose a cytokine network to destruct stem/progenitor cells as well as hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and angioblasts/endothelial progenitor cells. Inversely, deficient MSCs, CD4+CD25+ T cells, NK cells, NKT cells and early hematopoietic growth factors diminish the capacity of immune regulation and the support of hematopoiesis. As a result, stem/progenitor cells are significantly impaired to be disabled cells with markedly deficient proliferation, differentiation, induced apoptosis and dysfunctional response to growth factor stimuli, together with rare normal ones. Although some patients can be ameliorated by stem-cell transplantation or immunosuppressive therapy, more effective and convenient therapies such as patient-specific pluripotent iPS cells based on definite pathogenesis are expected.Abnormal immunity and stem/progenitor cells in acquired aplastic anemiaJian Ping Li, Cui Ling Zheng, Zhong Chao Han10.1016/j.critrevonc.2009.12.001Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology 75, 2 (2010)2010-01-04Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology2010-01-04752S1040-8428(10)X0008-77993http://www.croh-online.com/article/PIIS1040842809002005/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Lung carcinogenesis is considered to be the result of composite environmental, genetic and epigenetic changes. Despite the fact that many of the genetic alterations, including loss of heterozygocity in the 3p chromosome locus and point mutations in the tumor-suppressor genes TP53 and retinoblastoma (RB1), occur in nearly all histopathologic types of lung cancer, the frequency and the “timing” of their occurrence seems to differ between small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells, that are characterized by neuroendocrine differentiation, and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Although loss of cell-cycle control is the crucial molecular event in both types, the mechanism by which it provokes oncogenesis differs significantly between SCLC and NSCLC. Importantly, some of these molecular events, including DNA-damage response and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are valuable in predicting response to conventional chemotherapy or molecular-targeted agents as well as in the prognosis of patients that harbor these alterations. In the current review we report on the best characterized histopathologic and genetic changes in NSCLC and SCLC in relation to each histological subtype and we discuss their predictive and prognostic implications.Histopathologic and genetic alterations as predictors of response to treatment and survival in lung cancer: A review of published dataGiannis Mountzios, Meletios-Athanassios Dimopoulos, Jean-Charles Soria, Despina Sanoudou, Christos A. Papadimitriou10.1016/j.critrevonc.2009.10.002Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology 75, 2 (2010)2009-11-16Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology2009-11-16752S1040-8428(10)X0008-794109http://www.croh-online.com/article/PIIS1040842809002273/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Due to improvements in diagnosis and systemic therapy, brain metastases are an increasingly common cause of morbidity and mortality for patients with advanced breast cancer. The incidence of symptomatic brain metastases among women with metastatic breast cancer ranges from 10% to 16%. The HER2 receptor, which is overexpressed in approximately 25% of all breast cancers, is an important risk factor for the development of central nervous system metastases. Surgery and radiation therapy are the primary approaches to the treatment of brain metastases but new chemotherapy and biological agents promise to play an important role in the future management of central nervous system disease. This article reviews the epidemiology, current treatment options and recent advances in the field, with a focus on HER2-positive disease and the emerging role of lapatinib for the treatment and prevention of brain metastases.Brain metastases in HER2-positive breast cancer: The evolving role of lapatinibGianluca Tomasello, Philippe L. Bedard, Evandro de Azambuja, Dominique Lossignol, Daniel Devriendt, Martine J. Piccart-Gebhart10.1016/j.critrevonc.2009.11.003Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology 75, 2 (2010)2009-12-10Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology2009-12-10752S1040-8428(10)X0008-7110121http://www.croh-online.com/article/PIIS1040842809001231/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: This meta-analysis integrates results of 87 studies on the associations of perceived social support, network size, and marital status with cancer survival. In controlled studies, having high levels of perceived social support, larger social network, and being married were associated with decreases in relative risk for mortality of 25%, 20%, and 12%, respectively. Moderator analyses revealed that never married patients had higher mortality rates than widowed and divorced/separated patients. Associations of social network with mortality were stronger in younger patients, and associations of marital status with mortality were stronger in studies with shorter time intervals, and in early-stage cancer. Relationships varied by cancer site, with stronger associations of social support observed in studies of patients with leukemia and lymphomas and stronger associations of network size observed in studies of breast cancer. Further randomized intervention studies are needed to test causal hypotheses about the role of social support and social network for cancer mortality.Associations of social networks with cancer mortality: A meta-analysisMartin Pinquart, Paul R. Duberstein10.1016/j.critrevonc.2009.06.003Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology 75, 2 (2010)2009-07-15Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology2009-07-15752S1040-8428(10)X0008-7Geriatric oncology122137http://www.croh-online.com/article/PIIS1040842809001978/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Advancing age is often associated with co-morbidities. Patients’ chronological and physiological ages do not always correspond. Elderly patients are often excluded from clinical trials and given sub-optimum treatment. In this context, the question of equity in access to health care arises.A specially designed questionnaire was mailed to French oncologists to determine what factors influenced them and to elicit their medical practice using four clinical cases.Significant differences in treatment choice depending only on patient's age were observed. The likelihood of an elderly breast cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy was found to depend on physician specialty and gender, kind of care structure, physician's perception of the age at which patients become elderly, and their knowledge about geriatric assessments. Some physicians did not always prescribe potentially beneficial treatments when dealing with elderly patients. Given the multidimensional nature of the care process, patients’ preferences should be taken into account in medical decision-making.Prescribers’ attitudes toward elderly breast cancer patients. Discrimination or empathy?Christel Protière, Patrice Viens, Frédérique Rousseau, Jean Paul Moatti10.1016/j.critrevonc.2009.09.007Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology 75, 2 (2010)2009-10-26Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology2009-10-26752S1040-8428(10)X0008-7Geriatric oncology138150http://www.croh-online.com/article/PIIS1040842810001538/abstract?rss=yesPublisher's Note10.1016/j.critrevonc.2010.06.010Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology 75, 2 (2010)2010-08-01Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology2010-08-01752S1040-8428(10)X0008-7Geriatric oncology151151http://www.croh-online.com/article/PIIS1040842810001526/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Objective: To determine the baseline prevalence of cognitive impairment in older men treated with ADT and to assess changes in cognitive performance over time.Methods and results: Thirty-two patients (median age of 71 years, range 51–87) were administrated an extensive neuropsychological testing battery prior to ADT initiation, with 21 (65%) completing post-treatment evaluations 6 months later. At baseline, 45% scored >1.5 standard deviations below the mean on ≥2 neuropsychological measures. Using standardized inferential statistics, no change in cognition was documented following treatment. The Reliable Change Index revealed that, on a case-by-case basis, 38% demonstrated a decline in measures of executive functioning and 48% showed improvement on measures of visuospatial abilities. Within exploratory analyses, patients who scored below expectation at baseline displayed no change in cognition, while patients with average or better scores at baseline displayed improvements in visuospatial planning and timed tests of phonemic fluency.Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of lower than expected cognitive performance among a sample of patients just starting ADT for prostate cancer. Assessment of baseline cognitive function should be taken into account for future research and to inform clinical management.Cognitive effects of androgen deprivation therapy in an older cohort of men with prostate cancerSupriya Gupta Mohile, Maureen Lacy, Miriam Rodin, Kathryn Bylow, William Dale, Michael R. Meager, Walter M. Stadler10.1016/j.critrevonc.2010.06.009Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology 75, 2 (2010)2010-08-01Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology2010-08-01752S1040-8428(10)X0008-7Geriatric oncology152159http://www.croh-online.com/article/PIIS104084281000154X/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: An increasing number of nonagenarians are treated for cancer. However, very few data are available to guide treatment choices in this often frail population. The charts of all patients registered at Moffitt Cancer Center between 1993 and 2006 who were aged 90 or older at the time of treatment/evaluation were reviewed, and those treated for an active cancer (n=177) were included in the analysis. For 23.5% of patients, the index cancer was a second malignancy. Initial treatments were: surgery 41%, chemotherapy 9%, radiation therapy 15%, concomitant chemo-radiation therapy 2%, hormonal therapy 12%, targeted therapy 8%, photodynamic therapy 1%, observation/supportive care 3%, hospice 9%. The median survival was 1.69 years [95% CI=1.34, 2.17, range 0.1–6.21]. For early stage cancer it was 2.02 years [95% CI=1.56, 2.87], and for advanced stage cancer, 1.06 years [95% CI=0.58, 1.63] (p=0.02 by log-rank). Treatment related mortality was low (1.1%). In conclusion, our nonagenarians underwent a broad range of treatments with low treatment related mortality. Advanced cancer still limits the survival of nonagenarians. Second cancers are frequent in older cancer survivors.Cancer in nonagenarians: Profile, treatments and outcomesMartine Extermann, Edward J. Crane, David Boulware10.1016/j.critrevonc.2010.06.011Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology 75, 2 (2010)2010-08-01Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology2010-08-01752S1040-8428(10)X0008-7Geriatric oncology160164http://www.croh-online.com/article/PIIS1040842810001551/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Age is a major risk factor for many cancers. Although this is usually viewed in the context of the cell biology, we argue here that age-associated changes to immunity may also contribute to the age-associated increasing incidence of most cancers. This is because cancers are immunogenic (at least initially), and the immune system can and does protect against tumourigenesis. However, immune competence tends to decrease with age, a phenomenon loosely termed “immunosenescence”, implying that decreased immunosurveillance against cancer could also contribute to increased disease in the elderly. This review weighs some of the evidence for and against this possibility.Immunosenescence and cancerGraham Pawelec, Evelyna Derhovanessian, Anis Larbi10.1016/j.critrevonc.2010.06.012Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology 75, 2 (2010)2010-08-01Critical Reviews in Oncology / Hematology2010-08-01752S1040-8428(10)X0008-7Geriatric oncology165172