bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Lymph Node Dissection in Primary Surgery for Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Grubbs Elizabeth G. , Evans Douglas B.
Published: April 2017

The preoperative evaluation of the clinically N0 neck and the operative management of cervical lymph nodes in patients with papillary and medullary thyroid cancer remains controversial. The appreciation that even patients with low-risk disease have a significant risk for recurrence has generated interest in a more comprehensive preoperative evaluation of the neck and has renewed debate on the extent of lymphadenectomy at the time of thyroidectomy. The authors recommend using preoperative ultrasound before thyroidectomy for all patients with thyroid cancer and before any subsequent surgeries for recurrent disease to identify the extent of lymph node metastases and thereby facilitate complete surgical removal of all gross disease in the neck. The optimal surgical procedure for removing cervical lymphadenopathy is compartment-oriented neck dissection based on the findings from preoperative ultrasound.
Point: Active Surveillance for Favorable Risk Prostate Cancer
Authors: Klotz Laurence
Published: April 2017

Active surveillance for favorable risk prostate cancer has become increasingly popular in populations where prostate cancer screening is widespread, because of evidence that prostate cancer screening results in the detection of disease that is not clinically significant in many patients (i.e., untreated, would not pose a threat to health). This approach is supported by data showing that patients who fall into the category of clinically insignificant disease can be identified with reasonable accuracy, and that patients who are initially classified as low-risk who reclassify over time as higher-risk and are treated radically are still cured in most cases. Active surveillance means 1) identifying patients who have a low likelihood of disease progression during their lifetime, based on clinical and pathologic features of the disease, and patient age and comorbidity; 2) close monitoring over time; 3) developing reasonable criteria for intervention, which will identify more aggressive disease in a timely fashion and not result in excessive treatment; and 4) meeting the communication challenge to reduce the psychological burden of living with untreated cancer. This article reviews the results of active surveillance, the criteria for patient selection, and the appropriate triggers for intervention.
Counterpoint: The Case for Immediate Active Treatment
Authors: Loeb Stacy , Catalona William J.
Published: April 2017

Active monitoring strategies recently have received attention as possible treatment options for men with low-risk prostate cancer who have a life expectancy of more than 10 years. However, no current criteria sufficiently predict outcomes for individuals with clinically localized disease and an otherwise long life expectancy who undergo either immediate or delayed treatment, or no treatment. This article describes the available evidence regarding treatment outcomes in men with low-risk prostate cancer and presents the case for immediate active treatment.
Prostate Cancer Early Detection
Authors: _ _
Published: April 2017

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. However, the decision whether to pursue early detection of prostate cancer is complex; because not all men with prostate cancer will die of this disease, treatment is not necessary for some. These guidelines are intended to help men and clinicians choose a program for early detection of prostate cancer and make decisions about the need for prostate biopsy.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org
Diet and Breast Cancer Risk Reduction
Authors: Linos Eleni , Willett Walter C.
Published: April 2017

The association between diet and breast cancer risk has been investigated extensively and has led to some recommendations for prevention. Research suggests that maintaining a healthy weight may reduce the risk for breast cancer after menopause. Additionally, alcohol increases the risk for breast cancer even at moderate levels of intake, and women who drink alcohol also should take sufficient folate, which can mitigate this excess risk. Interesting questions for future research include the role of soy products, red meat, energy balance, and vitamin D, with particular attention to timing of exposure in early life. Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, and dietary factors may differentially affect certain breast cancer subtypes; future studies should therefore attempt to characterize associations according to tumor characteristics.
Adult Cancer Pain
Authors: _ _
Published: April 2017

Pain is one of the most common symptoms associated with cancer and one of the symptoms patients fear most; unrelieved pain denies them comfort and greatly affects their activities, motivation, interactions with family and friends, and overall quality of life. The importance of relieving pain and availability of effective therapies make it imperative that clinicians caring for cancer patients to be adept at assessing and treating cancer pain. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network Adult Cancer Pain Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology acknowledge the range of complex decisions faced in caring for these patients. As a result, they provide dosing guidelines for NSAIDs, opioids, and adjuvant analgesics. They also provide specific suggestions for escalating opioid dosage, managing opioid toxicity, and when and how to proceed to other techniques to manage cancer pain.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org
Rectal Cancer
Authors: _ _
Published: April 2017

In 2007, an estimated 41,420 new cases of rectal cancer will occur in the United States (23,840 cases in men; 17,580 cases in women). The guidelines for rectal cancer overlap considerably with those for colon cancer, and the panel unanimously endorses patient participation in a clinical trial over standard or accepted therapy in both. This is especially true for cases of advanced disease and for patients with locally aggressive colorectal cancer who are receiving combined modality treatment.

The latest updates of the NCCN Anal Carcinoma Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology are available online at www.nccn.org.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org
Early Detection and Biomarkers in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Misek David E. , Patwa Tasneem H. , Lubman David M. , Simeone Diane M.
Published: April 2017

Major advances in cancer control will be greatly aided by early detection for diagnosing and treating cancer in its preinvasive state before metastasis. Unfortunately, for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, effective early detection and screening are currently not available and tumors are typically diagnosed at a late stage, frequently after metastasis. Partly because of low sensitivity/specificity, existing biomarkers such as CA19-9 are not adequate as early detection markers of pancreatic cancer. Thus, a great need exists for new biomarkers for pancreatic cancer. This article focuses on recent developments in the identification of new serum protein biomarkers that are useful in the early detection of PDAC.
Cancer-Related Fatigue
Authors: _ _
Published: April 2017

Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with cancer and is nearly universal in those undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy, radiation therapy, bone marrow transplantation, or treatment with biologic response modifiers. The problem, which affects 70% to 100% of cancer patients, has been exacerbated by the increased use of fatigue-inducing multimodal treatments and dose-dense, dose-intense protocols. In patients with metastatic disease, the prevalence of cancer-related fatigue exceeds 75%, and cancer survivors report that fatigue is a disruptive symptom months or even years after treatment ends. Patients perceive fatigue to be the most distressing symptom associated with cancer and its treatment, more distressing even than pain or nausea and vomiting, which, for most patients, can generally be managed with medications.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org
Update on Psychotropic Medications for Cancer-Related Fatigue
Authors: Breitbart William , Alici-Evcimen Yesne
Published: April 2017

Fatigue is a common and highly distressing symptom of cancer associated with reduced quality of life and considerable psychological and functional morbidity. The reported prevalence of cancer-related fatigue ranges from 4% to 91%, depending on the specific cancer population studied and the methods of assessment. Cancer-related fatigue has typically been underreported, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. Fatigue and depression may coexist in cancer patients, and considerable overlap of symptoms occurs. This is partly the reason for the interest in examining the role of psychotropic medications in treating fatigue. Clarifying the relationship between depression and fatigue is necessary to effectively evaluate and treat cancer-related fatigue. Even with International Classification of Diseases criteria, differentiating cancer-related fatigue is difficult. Psychotropic drugs that have been studied for cancer-related fatigue include psychostimulants, wakefulness-promoting agents, and anti-depressants. Methylphenidate has been studied most and seems to be effective and well tolerated despite common side effects. Some preliminary data support using modafinil in cancer-related fatigue with less concern about tolerance or dependence. Antidepressant studies have shown mixed results. Paroxetine seems to show benefit for fatigue primarily when it is a symptom of clinical depression. Bupropion, a norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake inhibitor, may have psychostimulant-like effects, and therefore may be more beneficial for treating fatigue. However, studies are currently limited. Randomized, placebo-controlled trials with specific agents are needed to further assess the efficacy and tolerability of psychotropic medications in the treatment of cancer-related fatigue.
PET in Cervical Cancer — Implications for `Staging,' Treatment Planning, Assessment of Prognosis, and Prediction of Response
Authors: Gold Michael A.
Published: April 2017

The use of functional imaging techniques such as fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography and positron emission tomography–computed tomography to manage patients with cervical cancer is constantly increasing. Current roles include pretreatment staging and diagnosis of recurrent disease. Reports have also shown its ability to predict survival based on pre- and posttherapy scans. These techniques are not fool-proof, however, and reports of both false-negative and false-positive scans document some limitations. Future studies must further elucidate their exact roles in the management of this disease process.
Cervical Cancer Screening
Authors: _ _
Published: April 2017

Cervical carcinoma remains a health issue for women worldwide. Cervical cytology screening is the current method for early detection, and the NCCN Cervical Cancer Screening Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology provide direction for evaluating and managing this process, including clarified and revised recommendations on screening techniques and intervals and follow-up of abnormal screening results, including colposcopy. Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing for primary cervical cancer has been approved by the FDA, and HPV DNA testing for high-risk virus types can also be used as a component of both primary screening and workup of abnormal cytology results. Colposcopy, along with colposcopically directed biopsies, has become the primary method for evaluating women with abnormal cervical cytologies. Special considerations for colposcopy performed during pregnancy are also discussed.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org
Risk and Timing of Neutropenic Events in Adult Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: The Results of a Prospective Nationwide Study of Oncology Practice
Authors: Crawford Jeffrey , Dale David C. , Kuderer Nicole M. , Culakova Eva , Poniewierski Marek S. , Wolff Debra , Lyman Gary H.
Published: April 2017

This study was undertaken to describe the relationship between the occurrence and timing of neutropenic events and chemotherapy treatment in a community-based population of patients with cancer. The study included 2962 patients with breast, lung, colorectal, lymphoma, and ovarian cancers from a prospective U.S. registry of patients initiating a new chemotherapy regimen. Detailed patient-, disease-, and treatment-related data, including toxicities, were captured at baseline, the beginning of each cycle, and each midcycle blood draw for up to 4 cycles of treatment. Primary outcomes included febrile neutropenia (FN), severe neutropenia without fever/infection, and relative dose intensity (RDI). Thirty-seven percent of patients were aged 65 years or older, 43.5% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 1 or greater, and 27% had 1 or more comorbidities. Reductions in RDI to less than 85% of standard in the first cycle were planned in 23.6% of patients, whereas primary colony-stimulating factor prophylaxis was used in 18.2%. In the first 3 cycles of treatment, 10.7% of patients experienced FN, with most of these events (58.9%) occurring in the first cycle. This first-cycle pattern was consistently observed despite wide variations in event rates by tumor type, disease stage, chemotherapy regimen and dose, and patient characteristics. Despite frequent planned reductions from standard RDI, the incidence of FN remains high in community oncology practice in the United States. Improved methods of pretreatment assessment of patient risk factors for neutropenia are needed.
Broad-Spectrum Antifungal Prophylaxis in Patients With Cancer at High Risk for Invasive Mold Infections: Point
Authors: Gonzalez Antonio V. , Ullmann Andrew J. , Almyroudis Nikolaos G. , Segal Brahm H.
Published: April 2017

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are a leading cause of infection-related mortality in patients with acute leukemia and prolonged neutropenia and in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Although invasive candidiasis was the principal IFI predating fluconazole prophylaxis, invasive aspergillosis and other mold infections now cause most deaths from fungal infection in this patient population. The availability of broad-spectrum antifungal agents that can be safely administered over prolonged periods has stimulated interest in using mold-active prophylactic agents early as prophylaxis rather than later as therapy for suspected or documented IFIs. Two recent, prospective, randomized trials have shown a clear benefit of posaconazole prophylaxis in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and acute mye-logenous leukemia with prolonged neutropenia and in allogeneic HSCT recipients with severe GVHD. In contrast, the peer-reviewed published database on the strategy of preemptive antifungal therapy, in which yeast-active prophylaxis (fluconazole) or no antifungal prophylaxis is used initially and modifications are triggered by a combination of laboratory markers and chest CT scans, is currently limited to an open-label feasibility study. Does sufficient evidence currently exist that the net benefit of the preemptive approach is at least on a par with posaconazole prophylaxis in the specific patient groups that were studied? The authors believe not and that more research is needed before the pre-emptive strategy can be recommended.
Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: _ _
Published: April 2017

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15% of lung cancers. Nearly all cases of SCLC are attributable to cigarette smoking, and the remaining cases are presumably caused by environmental or genetic factors. Compared with non-small cell lung cancer, SCLC generally has a more rapid doubling time, a higher growth fraction, and earlier development of widespread metastases. SCLC is highly sensitive to initial chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but most patients eventually die from recurrent disease. These guidelines detail the management of SCLC from initial diagnosis and staging through treatment, and include information on supportive and palliative care. Important updates to the 2008 version include refined categories for performance status and the addition of topotecan as an option for patients who experience relapse.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org
Management of Recurrent Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Schneider Bryan J.
Published: April 2017

Small cell lung cancer remains one of the more frustrating malignancies for oncologists to treat. Although responses to initial platinum-based chemotherapy are high, most are not durable, and many patients are candidates for further palliative chemotherapy. Therapeutic options include reinduction or single-agent chemotherapy, depending on the duration of response to front-line treatment. Topotecan is the only approved agent for patients with relapsed disease. Several phase II studies have shown a modest benefit with other agents used today, although combination chemotherapy should be avoided because of increased toxicity. Palliative care should always be the focus, especially in patients with recurrent or chemorefractory small cell lung cancer and a poor performance status.
Small Cell Lung Cancer in Elderly Patients: A Review
Authors: Owonikoko Taofeek K. , Ramalingam Suresh
Published: April 2017

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for approximately 13% of all lung cancer cases. Approximately 40% of those cases are diagnosed in patients older than 70 years, and this proportion continues to rise in contrast to the continued decline in incidence of SCLC among the general population. The optimal strategy to manage limited-stage SCLC involves a combined modality approach with platinum-based chemotherapy and external-beam thoracic radiation therapy. For extensive-stage disease, platinum-based combination chemotherapy is a mainstay of therapy. Elderly patients present unique challenges in terms of drug metabolism and organ reserve, which impact the outcome of therapeutic interventions. However, limited data are available to guide management decisions for SCLC in elderly patients, and therefore this article discusses recommendations for treatment.
Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents in Oncology
Authors: Glaspy John A.
Published: April 2017

Patients who have cancer, particularly those undergoing chemotherapy, frequently become anemic. Therapy with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) is associated with an increase in hemoglobin levels, a reduction in transfusion requirements, and, according to many clinical trialists and experienced clinicians, an improvement in functional status, productivity, and quality of life. Several randomized trials of ESAs in patients who have cancer have recently reported inferior outcomes in tumor progression or survival, raising appropriate concerns about the safety of ESAs in oncology. However, 3 important caveats to these reports exist. First, these clinical trials did not reflect the common use of ESAs in oncology practice (i.e., to treat, rather than prevent, anemia in patients undergoing chemotherapy). Second, the trials were seriously flawed and did not meet reasonable standards for cancer progression or survival trials. Third, during the same period, randomized trials were presented or published that showed no negative impact on tumor progression or survival; these trials have approximately the same shortcomings as trials that suggest a safety issue exists. The lack of definitive answers about the safety of ESAs for treating chemotherapy-related anemia has placed physicians, regulators, and most importantly patients in a difficult position that can only be addressed with additional data. This article reviews relevant preclinical and clinical available data to help improve understanding and guide decision making.
Role of PET/CT Scanning in Initial and Post-Treatment Assessment of Hodgkin Disease
Authors: Erturk Sukru Mehmet , Van den Abbeele Annick D.
Published: April 2017

The add-on value of F18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET, particularly when combined with CT, to the conventional workup in managing patients with Hodgkin disease has now been well documented. This article reviews the use of these imaging modalities in the initial staging and post-treatment assessment of Hodgkin disease.
Treating Superficial Venous Thrombophlebitis
Authors: Lee Jason T. , Kalani Maziyar A.
Published: April 2017

Superficial venous thrombophlebitis (SVT) is characterized as a localized inflammatory condition of the venous vessels underlying the skin. It arises from thrombosis of a superficial vein, and clinical presentation usually involves pain, erythema, and tenderness at the sites of inflammation. Although the condition is usually self-limited and not serious or fatal, symptomatic superficial thrombophlebitis can be debilitating, limit movement and certain capabilities, or progress to involve the deep venous system and cause pulmonary embolism. SVT is typically associated with venous valvular insufficiency, pregnancy, infection, and prothrombotic conditions, including malignancy. Currently, medical therapies comprising bedrest, elastic stockings, compression bandages, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and low molecular weight heparins are used to reduce the extension of inflammation and recurrence of thrombotic events in patients experiencing SVT. In patients refractory to conservative measures, surgical interventions such as phlebectomy, sclerotherapy, saphenous junction ligation, or saphenous vein stripping are potential treatments.
Esophageal Cancer
Authors: _ _
Published: April 2017

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract cancers originating in the esophagus, gastroesophageal (GE) junctions, and stomach constitute a major health problem worldwide; esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer worldwide. An estimated 16,470 new cases of and 14,280 deaths from esophageal cancer will occur in the United States in 2008. Risk factors associated with development of esophageal cancer include age, male gender, Caucasian race, high body mass index, Barrett's esophagus, and history of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Important updates for the 2009 guidelines include a new page on “Principles of Best Supportive Care” that gives specific recommendations for esophageal cancer best supportive care throughout the guidelines.

To view the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology on Gastric Cancers, please visit the NCCN Web site at www.nccn.org.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org
Combined Modality Therapy of Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Juergens Rosalyn A. , Forastiere Arlene
Published: April 2017

Esophageal cancer is a deadly disease. Only one third of patients with localized disease experience long-term survival. Over the past 20 years, investigators have evaluated neoadjuvant strategies to improve the outcomes of surgical management. Chemotherapy and radiation have been evaluated individually and in combination for preoperative management of patients with localized esophageal cancer. This article provides a critical review of the data on multimodality approaches to the management of esophageal cancer.
Principles and Techniques of Radiation Therapy for Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Junction Cancers
Authors: Hazard Lisa , Yang Gary , McAleer Mary Frances , Hayman James , Willett Christopher
Published: April 2017

Radiation therapy serves an integral role in the primary and adjuvant treatment of esophagus cancer. Radiation techniques continue to improve, providing more accurate localization of the tumor while limiting dose to normal structures. This article reviews current practices and recommendations for radiation therapy technique for esophageal and gastroesophageal malignancies.
Modern Surgical Considerations for Gastric Cancer
Authors: Ly Quan P. , Sasson Aaron R.
Published: April 2017

Surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment for localized gastric adenocarcinoma. The type and extent of resection depends on tumor location. Although the incidence of gastric cancer has been declining, a shift has occurred to more tumors involving the proximal compared with the distal stomach. Appropriate treatment depends on a thorough staging process to exclude the presence of distant metastatic disease. Current staging modalities include high-quality CT scan, endoscopic ultrasound, PET, and laparoscopy. The value of peritoneal lavage to detect occult peritoneal disease is under investigation. The principles of surgical resection have always included negative resection margins and adequate lymph node examination. Controversial topics requiring further study include laparoscopic resections and hepatic metastasectomy. This review highlights the salient points of current surgical management of gastric adenocarcinoma.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Authors: _ _
Published: April 2017

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent myeloid clonal hemopathies with relatively heterogeneous spectrums of presentation. The major clinical problems in these disorders are morbidities caused by patients' cytopenias and the potential for MDS to evolve into acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Managing MDS is complicated by the generally advanced age of patients, attendant non-hematologic comorbidities, and older patients' relative inability to tolerate some therapies. In addition, when the illness progresses into AML, these patients experience lower response rates to standard therapy than patients with de novo AML. Important changes from the 2008 version of the guidelines include the addition of lenalidomide as a possible treatment for symptomatically anemic non-del(5q) patients whose anemia does not respond to initial therapy.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org
The Role of Flow Cytometry in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Authors: Loken Michael R. , Wells Denise A.
Published: April 2017

Flow cytometry quantifies the gene product expression on hematopoietic cells, permitting the identification of all cells within a bone marrow aspirate and classifying them according to lineage and maturational stage. The relationships in the expression of multiple markers on myeloblasts, maturing monocytes, and myeloid cells suggests that development of these cells is a stepwise process in which genes are not only turned on or off, but are up- and down-regulated at the junctions between stages. In neoplastic processes, a loss of coordination of these steps is seen, resulting in the abnormal relationships identified by flow cytometry. In myelodysplastic syndromes, the abnormal patterns can be identified on both the immature myeloblasts and maturing myeloid cells and monocytes. The detection of these abnormalities is useful in diagnosing myelodysplasia but requires a detailed understanding of the expression of these gene products to discriminate neoplastic transformation from a stressed marrow. Although the patterns of antigen expression for normal hematopoiesis are precisely defined, each patient with a neoplastic transformation has a unique repertoire of abnormalities that may evolve as the disease progresses. Therefore, scoring systems, in which the abnormalities are counted, provide a means for determining the extent of dysregulation at all the maturational steps, thereby determining a “distance from normal” for a patient at a specific time in the disease course. This is useful, not only to facilitate diagnosis, but to provide prognostic information that may be complementary to the conventional classification schemes and scoring systems.
The Costs of Drugs Used to Treat Myelodysplastic Syndromes Following National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines
Authors: Greenberg Peter L. , Cosler Leon E. , Ferro Salvatore A. , Lyman Gary H.
Published: April 2017

Guidelines for management of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have been generated by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Myelodysplastic Syndromes Panel. Because MDS is a heterogeneous spectrum of disorders, these patients have been categorized into prognostic subgroups, predominantly using the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS). Several drugs have been used to treat these patients, and their selection and sequential recommended use by the panel depend on disease characteristics and responses to treatment. Recombinant erythropoietin alfa and darbepoetin alfa have been the mainstay of therapy for treating anemia associated with MDS. The FDA has recently approved several other drugs for treating MDS, including azacytidine and decitabine for all stages of disease, lenalidomide for low-risk anemic patients with del(5q) chromosomal abnormality, and deferasirox for treating iron overload. For iron chelation, deferoxamine is also used occasionally. Treatment with immunosuppressive therapy (antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporin) has been therapeutically beneficial for a subset of younger patients with MDS. Because the financial cost of these therapies are substantial and have received only limited attention, this article evaluates the costs of specific drugs and their sequential use in the lower-risk IPSS (low and intermediate-1) subgroups based on the NCCN guidelines. Results estimate an average annual cost for potentially anemia-altering drugs of $63,577 per patient, ranging from $26,000 to $95,000, depending on the specific therapies. In patients for whom the therapies fail, annual costs for iron chelation plus red blood cell transfusions are estimated to average $41,412. The economic impact of drug therapy should be weighed against the patient's potential for improvement in clinical outcomes, quality of life, and transfusion requirements.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: _ _
Published: April 2017

Approximately 13,290 people will be diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2008, and 8820 patients will die of the disease. As the population ages, the incidence of AML, along with myelodysplasia, appears to be rising. Clinical trials have led to significant treatment improvements in some areas, primarily acute promyelocytic leukemia. However, recent large clinical trials have highlighted the need for new, innovative strategies, because outcomes for AML patients have not substantially changed in the past 3 decades. The NCCN AML Panel has focused on outlining reasonable treatment options based on recent clinical trials and data from basic science, which may identify new risk factors and treatment approaches. These guidelines attempt to provide a rationale for including several treatment options in some categories, as divergent opinions about the relative risks and benefits of various treatment options have surfaced. Updates for 2009 include new clarifications of some treatment recommendations as well as for defining polymerase chain reaction positivity.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org
Therapy for Older AML Patients: The Role of Novel Agents and Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant
Authors: Lancet Jeffrey E. , Giralt Sergio
Published: April 2017

The development of novel therapeutics in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is driven by the need to improve efficacy and reduce toxicity. Clearly, elderly patients with AML represent a highly heterogeneous group, based on a wide array of disease- and patient-specific characteristics. Therefore, novel treatment strategies aimed at overcoming specific biologic modifiers of disease resistance will be paramount to successful therapy for some, whereas in others, the ability to administer a low-toxicity regimen on a chronic basis to achieve disease control may prove beneficial, perhaps even in the absence of complete responses. In addition, identifying genomic and proteomic expression patterns using an individual's unique neoplastic clone will likely optimize the ability to predict responders to novel therapies and identify new and relevant therapeutic targets. The development of reduced-intensity preparative regimens for allogeneic transplants has allowed physicians and patients to explore the option of long-term disease control. The risk–benefit ratio for this procedure will depend on the disease state, patient performance status, and comorbidities. However, current results underscore that age alone should no longer be a contraindication for allogeneic transplant with curative intent in these patients, and long-term disease control with good quality of life is possible and can be expected. Future trials combining the novel therapies described in this article and novel transplant technologies should allow more elderly patients with AML or myelodysplastic syndromes to experience long and productive lives.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Review of Current Advances
Authors: Zhan Frank Qian , Packianathan Vathani Sharon , Zeitouni Nathalie Charlotte
Published: April 2017

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive cutaneous malignancy of neuroendocrine origin. Its incidence has tripled over the past 15 years. This article reviews the recent advancement in diagnosis, discoveries in pathogenesis, and updates in management. The acronym, AEIOU, has been proposed to aid in clinical identification. In addition to cytokeratin 20, newer immunohistochemical stains (in particular thyroid transcription factor-1 and neurofilament protein) have proven to be essential in pathologic diagnosis. Although immune suppression and ultraviolet radiation have long been associated with the MCC oncogenesis, recent studies also show involvement of a new polyomavirus and bcl-2. Several tumor classifications have been published in the literature, with the 4-tiered system from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center the most widely used. A similar classification with additional distinctions among nodal disease is being constructed. A multidisciplinary treatment algorithm is recommended for MCC. Surgical excision with adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is indicated for localized tumors. RT is favored over complete lymph node dissection and chemotherapy for regional lymph node involvement. For distant metastasis, management should be individualized with a combination of palliative surgery, RT, and chemotherapy.
A Communication Approach for Oncologists: Understanding Patient Coping and Communicating About Bad News, Palliative Care, and Hospice
Authors: Jacobsen Juliet , Jackson Vicki A.
Published: April 2017

Oncologists frequently approach patients to discuss difficult topics, such as bad news about cancer progression and referrals to palliative care and hospice. To communicate effectively in these difficult situations, it is helpful to assess what the patient knows and wants to know about their disease in general and, specifically, their prognosis. Although some patients fully accept the diagnosis of cancer and cope well, most patients struggle with how best to cope. This struggle often manifests itself with the patient vacillating between unrealistic hopes for longevity while also indicating prognostic awareness by talking about funeral plans. Although this coping is normal, it is difficult for most clinicians to interpret. This article presents a framework for understanding normal patient coping and gives specific examples of how to talk with these patients during difficult transitions, such as times of disease progression, and about referral to hospice and palliative care.
Obstacles to the Implementation of Antiemetic Guidelines
Authors: Grunberg Steven M.
Published: April 2017

Although guidelines help physicians deliver high quality clinical care, they will have minimal impact unless familiarity and adherence are achieved. Although nausea and vomiting are highly feared toxicities of chemotherapy that markedly decrease patient quality of life, modifications in physician behavior and improvements in standards of care, particularly in terms of preventing delayed emesis, have been slow. Variations in format, goals, physician education, and institutional education may all affect guideline implementation and state-of-the-art care. The relationship between these factors and the scientific basis of antiemetic guidelines must be considered to achieve optimal results and compliance.
Non–Clear Cell Renal Cancer: Features and Medical Management
Authors: Heng Daniel Y. C. , Choueiri Toni K.
Published: April 2017

The treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has changed dramatically with the introduction of targeted therapies against vascular endothelial growth factor and the mammalian target of rapamycin. Because patients with clear cell histology account for more than 80% of patients with RCC, little evidence is available on treating patients with non–clear cell histologies. Most clinical trials have excluded them from enrollment, except for a randomized study investigating temsirolimus. Many retrospective studies on the use of sunitinib, sorafenib, and temsirolimus in patients with non–clear cell histology have shown response rates ranging from 3.7% to 16%. Prospective studies in non–clear cell histologies are ongoing. Although response rates may not be as high as those in patients with clear cell histologies, targeted therapy may provide a clinically meaningful response. New investigational therapies are on the horizon for papillary RCC—the most-common non–clear cell RCC histology—targeting pathways specific to this histology, such as the c-MET pathway.
The Role of MRI in Breast Cancer Screening
Authors: Lehman Constance D. , Smith Robert A.
Published: April 2017

The 2009 NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis include significant updates for the role of MRI in screening women at increased risk for breast cancer. The NCCN now recommends considering breast MRI as an adjunct to annual mammography and clinical breast examination for women who have a BRCA1 or -2 mutation or who have a first-degree relative who has a BRCA1 or -2 mutation but who have not undergone genetic testing themselves; those who are determined to have a lifetime risk greater than 20% based on models that are highly dependent on family history; and those with a history of lobular carcinoma in situ. MRI is also recommended for patients who underwent radiation treatment to the chest between 10 and 30 years of age, and in those who carry or have a first-degree relative who carries a genetic mutation in the TP53 or PTEN genes (Li-Fraumeni, Cowden, and Bannahyan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndromes). MRI is specifically not recommended for screening women at average risk for breast cancer. This article describes the peer-reviewed, published clinical research trials evaluating breast MRI in high-risk patients, on which the NCCN guidelines were based, and provides suggestions for future research.
NCCN Task Force Report: Management of Dermatologic and Other Toxicities Associated With EGFR Inhibition in Patients With Cancer
Authors: Burtness Barbara , Anadkat Milan , Basti Surendra , Hughes Miranda , Lacouture Mario E. , McClure Joan S. , Myskowski Patricia L. , Paul Jennifer , Perlis Clifford S. , Saltz Leonard , Spencer Sharon
Published: April 2017

This NCCN Task Force Report describes the management of dermatologic and ocular toxicities that occur in patients treated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. Task force members are from NCCN member institutions and include oncologists, dermatologists, an ophthalmologist, and a mid-level oncology provider. This report describes commonly used therapies that the task force agreed are appropriate standards of care for dermatologic and ophthalmologic toxicities associated with EGFR inhibitors, which generally are supported only by anecdotal evidence. Few recommendations are evidence based; however, some commonly used therapies have data supporting their use. Conclusions from completed clinical trials are generally limited by the small numbers of patients enrolled. The information in this report is based on available published data on treating toxicities associated with EGFR inhibitors, data from treatment of clinically similar toxicities from different etiologies, and expert opinion among the NCCN Task Force members.
NCCN Task Force Report: Estrogen Receptor and Progesterone Receptor Testing in Breast Cancer by Immunohistochemistry
Authors: Allred D. Craig , Carlson Robert W. , Berry Donald A. , Burstein Harold J. , Edge Stephen B. , Goldstein Lori J. , Gown Allen , Hammond M. Elizabeth , Iglehart James Dirk , Moench Susan , Pierce Lori J. , Ravdin Peter , Schnitt Stuart J. , Wolff Antonio C.
Published: April 2017

The NCCN Task Force on Estrogen Receptor and Progesterone Receptor Testing in Breast Cancer by Immunohistochemistry was convened to critically evaluate the extent to which the presence of the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) biomarkers in breast cancer serve as prognostic and predictive factors in the adjuvant and metastatic settings, and the ability of immunohistochemical (IHC) detection of ER and PgR to provide an accurate assessment of the expression of these biomarkers in breast cancer tumor tissue. The task force is a multidisciplinary panel of 13 experts in breast cancer who are affiliated with NCCN member institutions and represent the disciplines of pathology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, and biostatistics. The main overall conclusions of the task force are ER is a strong predictor of response to endocrine therapy; ER status of all samples of invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) should be evaluated by IHC; IHC measurements of PgR, although not as important clinically as ER, can provide useful information and should also be performed on all samples of invasive breast cancer or DCIS; IHC is the main testing strategy for evaluating ER and PgR in breast cancer and priority should be given to improve the quality of IHC testing methodologies; all laboratories performing IHC assays of ER and PgR should undertake formal validation studies to show both technical and clinical validation of the assay in use; and all laboratories performing IHC assays of hormone receptors in breast cancer should follow additional quality control and assurance measures as outlined in the upcoming guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and College of American Pathologists.
A Method for Using Life Tables to Estimate Lifetime Risk for Prostate Cancer Death
Authors: Kim Hyung L. , Puymon Marvin R. , Qin Maochun , Guru Khurshid , Mohler James L.
Published: April 2017

Prostate cancer can have a long and indolent course, and management without curative therapy should be considered in select patients. When counseling patients, a useful way to convey the risk for death from competing causes is to estimate their lifetime risk for dying from prostate cancer. Double-decrement life tables were constructed to calculate age-specific death rates using the death probabilities from the Social Security Administration life tables and Gleason score–specific mortality rates reported from pre-PSA cohort study. The lifetime risk for prostate cancer death was calculated. Life tables provided life expectancy and risk for prostate cancer death based on age at diagnosis. For example, 60-year-old patient with a Gleason score 6, 7, or 8 tumor had an overall life expectancy of 14.4, 10.2, or 6.6 years, respectively. The risk for prostate cancer death during the expected years of life was 33%, 49%, or 57%, respectively. If a 10-year lead-time bias was assumed for PSA detection, the risks for death from prostate cancer decreased to 16%, 26%, or 37%, respectively. If the patient was in the bottom quartile for overall health and disease was detected by prostate examination, the risk for death from prostate cancer was 21%, 32%, or 40%, respectively. A Web-based tool for performing these calculations is available at http://www.roswellpark.org/Patient_Care/Specialized_Services/Prostate_Cancer_Estimator.html. Life tables can be created to estimate overall life expectancy and risk for prostate cancer death, and to assist with decision-making when considering management without curative therapy.
Appropriate Use of Nomograms to Guide Prostate Cancer Treatment Selection
Authors: Lee Andrew K. , Amling Christopher L.
Published: April 2017

For decades physicians have attempted to accurately predict post-treatment outcomes before performing prostate cancer interventions. Use of basic clinical factors, such as clinical T-stage, biopsy Gleason sum, and pretreatment prostate specific antigen, has allowed some level of prediction of pathologic and clinical outcomes. However, these basic tables and risk stratification schema provide a broad range of potential outcomes. The rapid growth of retrospective research in prostate cancer has yielded an abundance of additional potential prognostic factors that may influence outcomes of interest; however, incorporating and understanding the significance of these ever-expanding factors is difficult for even the most experienced physicians. Nomograms incorporate these factors (including treatment-specific) and assign them relative weights to provide a probability of the outcome of interest on a graphical scale. They distill large numbers of data into a manageable format and provide the probability of outcomes on a continuous scale rather than in categoric groups. However, because they require a computation to generate a probability, they are not amenable to memorization, which decreases ease of use. Furthermore, these numbers still have associated confidence intervals and the models are largely derived from retrospective data, which have inherent drawbacks. Clinicians and patients should still exercise due diligence when interpreting the results of these nomograms, and these prediction tools should not serve as a stand-alone substitute for clinical decision-making.
Adverse Effects of Androgen Deprivation Therapy: Defining the Problem and Promoting Health Among Men with Prostate Cancer
Authors: Saylor Philip J. , Smith Matthew R.
Published: April 2017

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) plays a central role in the management of men with locally advanced, recurrent, and metastatic prostate cancer. Because most men diagnosed with prostate cancer will die of something other than their cancer, treatment-related adverse effects are highly relevant to their long-term health. Benefits of ADT in each clinical setting must be weighed against ADT-related adverse effects. ADT is detrimental to several metabolic end points and to bone health. ADT has been prospectively shown to cause decreased lean muscle mass, increased fat mass, weight gain, increased cholesterol and triglycerides, insulin resistance, and loss of bone mineral density. In population-based analyses it has been associated with an increased incidence of diabetes, clinical fractures, and cardiovascular disease. Data-driven recommendations for managing these adverse effects are needed. Currently the authors advocate the use of adapted practice guidelines developed to prevent diabetes, fractures, and coronary heart disease in the general population.