Cancer invasion and metastases

Article Abstract:

The case of a 62-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer is discussed as an example of the process of cancer metastasis (the spread of cancer cells from one part of the body to another). Initially the patient had a modified radical mastectomy to remove a malignant breast tumor; at that time the cancer had not spread to the nearby lymph nodes. She was well for eight years, after which she developed shortness of breath, a dry cough and a feeling of heaviness in her chest. Upon examination, numerous nodules were found in the left lung and the medication tamoxifen citrate was prescribed for her to take at home. Five months later many of the lung nodules had disappeared, but cancer had spread to the liver, bones and brain. Chemotherapy and hormonal treatments were instituted. Seven months later she died. This case exemplifies the difficulty in treating cancer; treatment often fails because the disease spreads undetected to organs distant from the original tumor. Fifty to 60 percent of the organ distribution of metastases can be predicted by the anatomic route followed by the spreading tumor cells; these malignancies metastasize by lymphatic and vascular routes. In about 40 percent of malignancies the site of metastasis can not be predicted by the anatomic location of the original tumor; a homing mechanism seems to cause the malignant tumor cells to metastasize to specific organs. A review of the latest discoveries concerning the process of metastasis and their clinical applications is presented. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Case studies, Cancer, Metastasis, Cancer invasiveness

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Strontium 89 therapy for the palliation of pain due to osseous metastases

Article Abstract:

The radiopharmaceutical, strontium 89, appears to relieve bone pain caused by metastases from prostate or breast cancer. Extensive clinical trials reveal that strontium 89 improves pain symptoms in 75% to 89% of breast and prostate cancer patients with bone metastases. At least 10% of patients become pain-free after treatment. Strontium 89 also appears to slow metastatic progression, to reduce the level of tumor markers in the blood, and to improve the patient's overall quality of life. Before doctors order strontium 89 therapy, a bone scan must identify metastatic bone disease. Mild, reversible blood toxicity may occur in some patients and follow-up care is essential during treatment. Pain control lasts between three and six months and patients may receive repeated doses of strontium 89. Strontium 89 reduces the direct lifetime cancer treatment costs by several thousand dollars compared with a placebo.

Evaluation, Drug therapy, Prostate cancer, Breast cancer, Cancer pain, Isotopes, Bone cancer, Strontium, Radiopharmaceuticals

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Stereotactic radiosurgery plus whole-brain radiation therapy vs stereotactic radiosurgery alone for treatment of brain metastases

Article Abstract:

A study examines whether whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) combined with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) results in improvements in survival, brain tumor control, functional preservation rate, and frequency of neurologic death. Findings indicate that, compared with SRS alone, the use of WBRT plus SRS does not improve survival for patients with 1 to 4 brain metastases, but intracranial relapse occurred considerably more frequently in patients who did not receive WBRT.

Care and treatment, Patient outcomes, Diagnosis, Brain cancer, Radiosurgery, Disease/Disorder overview

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