Current available treatment options for erectile dysfunction （ED） are effective but not without failure and/or side effects. Although the development of phosphodiesterase type 5 （PDE5） inhibitors （i.e. sildenafil...Current available treatment options for erectile dysfunction （ED） are effective but not without failure and/or side effects. Although the development of phosphodiesterase type 5 （PDE5） inhibitors （i.e. sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil） has revolutionized the treatment of ED, these oral medications require on-demand access and are not as effective in treating ED related to diabetic, post-prostatectomy and severe veno-occlusive disease states. Improvement in the treatment of ED is dependent on understanding the regulation of human corporal smooth muscle tone and on the identification of relevant molecular targets. Future ED therapies might consider the application of molecular technologies such as gene therapy. As a potential therapeutic tool, gene therapy might provide an effective and specific means for altering intracavernous pressure ＂on demand＂ without affecting resting penile function. However, the safety of gene therapy remains a major hurdle to overcome before being accepted as a mainstream treatment for ED. Gene therapy aims to cure the underlying conditions in ED, including fibrosis. Furthermore, gene therapy might help prolong the efficacy of the PDE5 inhibitors by improving penile nitric oxide bioactivity. It is feasible to apply gene therapy to the penis because of its location and accessibility, low penile circulatory flow in the flaccid state and the presence of endothelial lined （lacunar） spaces. This review provides a brief insight of the current role of gene therapy in the management of ED.展开更多
To investigate the impact of histology on outcome in advanced oesophageal cancer treated with first-line fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. METHODSIndividual patient data were pooled from three randomised phase III ...To investigate the impact of histology on outcome in advanced oesophageal cancer treated with first-line fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. METHODSIndividual patient data were pooled from three randomised phase III trials of fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy ± platinum/anthracycline in patients with advanced, untreated gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) randomised between 1994 and 2005. The primary endpoint was overall survival of oesophageal cancer patients according to histology. Secondary endpoints were response rates and a toxicity composite endpoint. RESULTSOf the total 1836 randomised patients, 973 patients (53%) were eligible (707 patients with gastric cancer were excluded), 841 (86%) had adenocarcinoma and 132 (14%) had SCC. There was no significant difference in survival between patients with adenocarcinoma and SCC, with median overall survivals of 9.5 mo vs 7.6 mo (HR = 0.85, 95%CI: 0.70-1.03, P = 0.09) and one-year survivals of 38.8% vs 28.2% respectively. The overall response rate to chemotherapy was 44% for adenocarcinoma vs 33% for SCC (P = 0.01). There was no difference in the frequency of the toxicity composite endpoint between the two groups. CONCLUSIONThere was no significant difference in survival between adenocarcinoma and SCC in patients with advanced oesophageal cancer treated with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy despite a trend for worse survival and less chemo-sensitivity in SCC. Tolerance to treatment was similar in both groups. This analysis highlights the unmet need for SCC-specific studies in advanced oesophageal cancer and will aid in the design of future trials of targeted agents.展开更多
Gastrointestinal(GI)cancers represent the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.Antibody drug conjugates(ADCs)are a rapidly growing new class of anti-cancer agents which may improve GI cancer patient sur...Gastrointestinal(GI)cancers represent the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.Antibody drug conjugates(ADCs)are a rapidly growing new class of anti-cancer agents which may improve GI cancer patient survival.ADCs combine tumour-antigen specific antibodies with cytotoxic drugs to deliver tumour cell specific chemotherapy.Currently,only two ADCs[brentuximab vedotin and trastuzumab emtansine(T-DM1)]have been Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of lymphoma and metastatic breast cancer,respectively.Clinical research evaluating ADCs in GI cancers has shown limited success.In this review,we will retrace the relevant clinical trials investigating ADCs in GI cancers,especially ADCs targeting human epidermal growth receptor 2,mesothelin,guanylyl cyclase C,carcinogenic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5(also known as CEACAM5)and other GI malignancy specific targets.We will review potential hurdles for their success and provide new perspective for future treatment.展开更多
文摘Current available treatment options for erectile dysfunction （ED） are effective but not without failure and/or side effects. Although the development of phosphodiesterase type 5 （PDE5） inhibitors （i.e. sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil） has revolutionized the treatment of ED, these oral medications require on-demand access and are not as effective in treating ED related to diabetic, post-prostatectomy and severe veno-occlusive disease states. Improvement in the treatment of ED is dependent on understanding the regulation of human corporal smooth muscle tone and on the identification of relevant molecular targets. Future ED therapies might consider the application of molecular technologies such as gene therapy. As a potential therapeutic tool, gene therapy might provide an effective and specific means for altering intracavernous pressure ＂on demand＂ without affecting resting penile function. However, the safety of gene therapy remains a major hurdle to overcome before being accepted as a mainstream treatment for ED. Gene therapy aims to cure the underlying conditions in ED, including fibrosis. Furthermore, gene therapy might help prolong the efficacy of the PDE5 inhibitors by improving penile nitric oxide bioactivity. It is feasible to apply gene therapy to the penis because of its location and accessibility, low penile circulatory flow in the flaccid state and the presence of endothelial lined （lacunar） spaces. This review provides a brief insight of the current role of gene therapy in the management of ED.
文摘To investigate the impact of histology on outcome in advanced oesophageal cancer treated with first-line fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. METHODSIndividual patient data were pooled from three randomised phase III trials of fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy ± platinum/anthracycline in patients with advanced, untreated gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) randomised between 1994 and 2005. The primary endpoint was overall survival of oesophageal cancer patients according to histology. Secondary endpoints were response rates and a toxicity composite endpoint. RESULTSOf the total 1836 randomised patients, 973 patients (53%) were eligible (707 patients with gastric cancer were excluded), 841 (86%) had adenocarcinoma and 132 (14%) had SCC. There was no significant difference in survival between patients with adenocarcinoma and SCC, with median overall survivals of 9.5 mo vs 7.6 mo (HR = 0.85, 95%CI: 0.70-1.03, P = 0.09) and one-year survivals of 38.8% vs 28.2% respectively. The overall response rate to chemotherapy was 44% for adenocarcinoma vs 33% for SCC (P = 0.01). There was no difference in the frequency of the toxicity composite endpoint between the two groups. CONCLUSIONThere was no significant difference in survival between adenocarcinoma and SCC in patients with advanced oesophageal cancer treated with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy despite a trend for worse survival and less chemo-sensitivity in SCC. Tolerance to treatment was similar in both groups. This analysis highlights the unmet need for SCC-specific studies in advanced oesophageal cancer and will aid in the design of future trials of targeted agents.
文摘Gastrointestinal(GI)cancers represent the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.Antibody drug conjugates(ADCs)are a rapidly growing new class of anti-cancer agents which may improve GI cancer patient survival.ADCs combine tumour-antigen specific antibodies with cytotoxic drugs to deliver tumour cell specific chemotherapy.Currently,only two ADCs[brentuximab vedotin and trastuzumab emtansine(T-DM1)]have been Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of lymphoma and metastatic breast cancer,respectively.Clinical research evaluating ADCs in GI cancers has shown limited success.In this review,we will retrace the relevant clinical trials investigating ADCs in GI cancers,especially ADCs targeting human epidermal growth receptor 2,mesothelin,guanylyl cyclase C,carcinogenic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5(also known as CEACAM5)and other GI malignancy specific targets.We will review potential hurdles for their success and provide new perspective for future treatment.
