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Despite surgery with curative intent, approximately 50% of patients with muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder will develop distant metastases and succumb to their disease. Attempts to improve outcomes have focused on refining surgical techniques and integrating perioperative chemotherapy. This review summarizes the available literature addressing the role of pelvic lymphadenectomy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy in the management of patients with muscle-invasive transitional cell carcinoma of bladder.

In the year 2005, an estimated 18,500 new cases of primary brain and nervous system neoplasms will be diagnosed in the United States. These tumors will be responsible for approximately 12,760 deaths. The incidence of primary malignant brain tumors has been increasing over the past 25 years, especially in elderly persons (rates are increasing at about 1.2% each year). Metastatic disease to the central nervous system (CNS) occurs much more frequently, with an incidence about 10 times that of primary brain tumors. It is estimated between 20% and 40% of patients with systemic cancer will develop brain metastases.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org

An estimated 38,890 Americans will be diagnosed with kidney cancer and 12,840 will die of this disease in the United States in 2006. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) constitutes approximately 2% of all malignancies, with a median age at diagnosis of 65 years. Smoking and obesity are among the risk factors for RCC development, and tumor grade, local extent of the tumor, presence of regional nodal metastases, and evidence of metastatic disease at presentation are the most important prognostic determinants of 5-year survival. These guidelines discuss evaluation, staging, treatment, and management after treatment.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15% to 25% of all lung cancers. About 98% of SCLC is attributed to cigarette smoking, whereas the remaining cases are presumably caused by environmental or genetic factors. In 2003, an estimated 34,000 new cases of SCLC will have been diagnosed in the United States. SCLC is distinguished from non-small cell lung cancer by its rapid doubling time, high growth fraction, and early development of widespread metastases.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org

The NCCN Guidelines for Central Nervous System (CNS) Cancers focus on management of the following adult CNS cancers: glioma (WHO grade 1, WHO grade 2–3 oligodendroglioma [1p19q codeleted, IDH-mutant], WHO grade 2–4 IDH-mutant astrocytoma, WHO grade 4 glioblastoma), intracranial and spinal ependymomas, medulloblastoma, limited and extensive brain metastases, leptomeningeal metastases, non–AIDS-related primary CNS lymphomas, metastatic spine tumors, meningiomas, and primary spinal cord tumors. The information contained in the algorithms and principles of management sections in the NCCN Guidelines for CNS Cancers are designed to help clinicians navigate through the complex management of patients with CNS tumors. Several important principles guide surgical management and treatment with radiotherapy and systemic therapy for adults with brain tumors. The NCCN CNS Cancers Panel meets at least annually to review comments from reviewers within their institutions, examine relevant new data from publications and abstracts, and reevaluate and update their recommendations. These NCCN Guidelines Insights summarize the panel’s most recent recommendations regarding molecular profiling of gliomas.

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

The incidence of primary malignant brain tumors is increasing, especially in the elderly, and metastatic disease to the central nervous system (CNS) occurs even more frequently (an incidence about 10 times that of primary brain tumors). In fact, estimates are that 20% to 40% of patients with systemic cancer will develop brain metastases. Primary and metastatic brain tumors are heterogeneous, with varied outcomes and management strategies. This marked heterogeneity means that prognostic features and treatment options must be carefully reviewed for each patient. As these guidelines note, the involvement of an interdisciplinary team is key in the appropriate management of these patients. Important updates to the guidelines include the addition of systemic chemotherapy as a salvage therapy treatment option for local recurrence and limited metastatic lesions and its deletion as an option for multiple metastatic lesions.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a low-grade malignancy of the skin and subcutaneous tissues that only rarely forms distant metastases. More than 90% of cases are associated with a chromosomal translocation involving the COL1A1 gene on chromosome 17 and the platelet-derived growth factor B gene on chromosome 22. Management of this disease is primarily surgical with excellent rates of local control obtained using either wide local excision or Mohs micrographic surgery. Data have recently shown that inhibiting platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFR) with imatinib can induce high rates of clinical response in patients with unresectable or metastatic DFSP. These data have led to approval of imatinib by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating uresectable DFSP. Although wide surgical excision remains standard care, patients with locally advanced disease not suitable for surgical excision can be treated with the PDGFR-inhibitor imatinib, which sometimes allows residual DFSP to be surgically excised.

In 2005, approximately 26,000 new cases of small cell lung cancer were diagnosed in the United States. When 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. Treatment with chemotherapy plus chest radiotherapy can be curative for some patients with limited-stage SCLC, whereas most patients with extensive-stage disease who undergo chemotherapy alone experience palliated symptoms and prolonged survival. The updated 2006 NCCN guidelines include new principles of surgical resection as well as chemotherapy and radiation dosage changes.

For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org