European Journal of Cancer: Highlights of Issue 40:12

EGFR inhibitors - exercising their potential?

Potential of EGFR inhibitors

EGFR inhibitors offer great promise for the treatment of cancer, but mechanistic data must be considered to realise this potential, according to Xu and colleagues reporting in this issue. Advances in cancer biology have led to the development of targeted treatments for cancer such as EGFR inhibitors. Studies are now combining these targeted agents with chemotherapy regimens. "Sequential EGFR inhibition after chemotherapy administration could enhance or maintain cell damage", they said.

Dacarbazine use in metastatic melanoma- a Review

Single administrations of dacarbazine are as effective, easier to administer and better tolerated than multiple dose schedules in advanced melanoma patients, according to authors reporting in this issue. Eggermont and Kirkwood provide an evidence-based Review of the literature for the use of dacarbazine in treating metastatic melanoma. "Single-administration dacarbazine (850-1000 mg/m²), once every 3 weeks, is currently the standard reference therapy in patients with advanced melanoma. New effective therapies are urgently needed for this treatment-refractory disease".

Role of Isolated Hepatic Perfusion in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases

"The promising results of Isolated Hepatic Perfusion (IHP) studies in the past 5 years cannot be disregarded" say Rothbarth and colleagues. Reporting in this issue, they review the current status, recent developments and future perspectives of IHP in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases. Results of the most recent trials have been promising and have mainly used IHP with melphalan (with or without tumour necrosis factor-alpha) and mild hyperthermia. IHP as a regional treatment has resulted in median survival rates of up to 29 months. The authors acknowledge that the patient groups are often selected making comparisons with other studies difficult. More studies are needed, they said.

Back . . .