A tale of two approaches: complementary mechanisms of cytotoxic and targeted therapy resistance may inform next-generation cancer treatments.

Chemotherapy and molecularly targeted approaches represent two very different modes of cancer treatment and each is associated with unique benefits and limitations. Both types of therapy share the overarching limitation of the emergence of drug resistance, which prevents these drugs from eliciting lasting clinical benefit. This review will provide an overview of the various mechanisms of resistance to each of these classes of drugs and examples of drug combinations that have been tested clinically. This analysis supports the contention that understanding modes of resistance to both chemotherapy and molecularly targeted therapies may be very useful in selecting those drugs of each class that will have complementing mechanisms of sensitivity and thereby represent reasonable combination therapies.

Large hypothalamic hamartoma with calcification and cystic components in an adult--case report.

A 24-year-old female presented with an unusual case of hypothalamic hamartoma manifesting as seizure. Neuroimaging findings were atypical, showing the large tumor (maximum diameter, 50 mm) with a cystic component and calcification. Surgery was performed and histological examination demonstrated heterotopia. Hamartoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a suprasellar, non-enhanced mass attached to the hypothalamus. Excessive unnecessary surgery should be avoided, and intraoperative pathological examination may lead to enhanced assessment and better outcomes.