Researchers have documented diverse genetic changes in different parts of the same primary tumor, suggesting that individual tumors harbor a complexity of genetic changes that has not been well appreciated (Gerlinger M, Rowan AJ, Horswell S, et al. N Engl J Med. 2012;366:883-892). This discovery has implications for personalized medicine directed at genetic changes identified in 1 biopsy of a primary tumor.
According to 2 large breast cancer trials, CYP2D6 genotyping was not predictive of the effectiveness of tamoxifen in postmenopausal women. Thus, the results of these studies are not generalizable to premenopausal women.
The term “chemo brain” was coined to describe mild cognitive problems in cancer patients attributed to chemotherapy. Although minor chemotherapy-induced memory and cognitive impairments have been described previously, a case-cohort study suggests that these effects can persist more than 20 years posttherapy.
The authors state that chemo brain effects are subtle compared with women who never had chemotherapy, but it’s possible that these effects place people at greater risk for cognitive decline associated with aging.
Primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) sited outside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract carries a poorer prognosis than primary GIST within the GI tract, according to a study presented at the recent ASCO GI Symposium in January 2012.
The Ohio State University (OSU) Wexner Medical Center, located in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest medical centers in the country. As the only academic medical center in central Ohio, it includes the College of Medicine, more than a dozen research centers, and 20 core laboratories, as well as 6 hospitals.
With this issue, we introduce the 4 finalists for the second annual Oncology Nurse Excellence award. The 4 finalists—Darcie Deaver, MSN, NP-C; Wendy Miano, RN, MSN, DNP, DN; Patricia (Patti) Palmer, RN, MS, AOCN; and Deborah Thompson, BSN, ONC—were selected from among the many nominations we received. Given the caliber of all the nominees, it was very difficult to narrow it down to just 4 finalists. Read More ›
Because skin is the largest organ in the body, is it not surprising that skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Melanoma, the most deadly skin cancer, is caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. So with spring in the air and summer right around the corner, let us dig deeper into the statistics surrounding this fatal disease.
Melanoma accounts for about 4% of all skin cancer cases but 79% of all skin cancer deaths.
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