Abstract: Brain metastases are a common occurrence and a major cause of mortality in non-small-cell lung cancer, with few systemic treatment options. Although targeting epidermal growth factor receptor-associated tyrosine kinase with erlotinib and gefitinib results in durable responses in some patients, the activity of these drugs against brain metastases has been poorly documented. In particular, few reports have so far reported the activity of erlotinib in this setting. Here we report the case of a male Italian smoker with an adeno-carcinoma of the lung whose lung cancer and brain metastases have both responded to erlotinib.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Despite natural killer (NK) cells being originally identified and named because of their ability to kill tumor cells in vitro, only limited information is available on NK cells infiltrating malignant tumors, especially in humans. METHODS: NK cells infiltrating human nonsmall cell lung cancers (NSCLC) were analyzed with the aim of identifying their potential protective role in an antitumor immune response. Both relevant molecule expression and functions of NK cells infiltrating NSCLC were analyzed in comparison with autologous NK cells isolated from either peritumoral normal lung tissues or peripheral blood. RESULTS: The CD56 bright CD16(-) NK cell subset was consistently observed as being highly enriched in tumor infiltrate and displayed activation markers, including NKp44, CD69, and HLA-DR. Remarkably, the cytolytic potential of NK cells isolated from cancer tissues was lower than that of NK cells from peripheral blood or normal lung tissue, whereas no difference was observed regarding their capability of producing cytokines. With regard to their localization within tumor, NK cells were found in tumor stroma, whereas they were not in direct contact with cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time NK cells infiltrating NSCLC have been characterized and it is shown that they are mainly capable of producing relevant cytokines rather than exerting direct cancer cell killing.
Abstract: Pituitary adenomas are the most common etiology of sellar masses. Intra-sellar plasmacytomas are rare causes of sellar tumors of non-pituitary origin and may mimic non-functional pituitary adenomas clinically and radiologically. We report an uncommon case of an intrasellar plasmacytoma presenting as the only manifestation of multiple myeloma.
Abstract: Aggressive initial treatment of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL) has achieved prolonged survival and occasional cures. However, some patients do not respond to initial therapy and others relapse after an initial remission. The optimal salvage regimen is not known and many different strategies have been proposed. In this report we describe the efficacy of a combination of (90)Y-Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin) and Temozolamide as a maintenance therapy for recurrent PCNS Lymphoma in two patients that are both alive and in complete remission after 9 and 10 months respectively. This combination merits further study and provides a reasonable therapeutic alternative for older patients with progressive PCNSL.
