Barriers and challenges to global clinical cancer research.

BACKGROUND: There are concerns about growing barriers to cancer research. We explored the characteristics of and barriers to global clinical cancer research. METHODS: The American Society of Clinical Oncology International Affairs Committee invited 300 selected oncologists with research experience from 25 countries to complete a Web-based survey. Fisher's exact test was used to compare answers between participants from high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Barriers to clinical cancer research were ranked from 1 (most important) to 8 (least important). Mann-Whitney's nonparametric test was used to compare the ranks describing the importance of investigated obstacles. RESULTS: Eighty oncologists responded, 41 from HICs and 39 from LMICs. Most responders were medical oncologists (62%) at academic hospitals (90%). Researchers from HICs were more involved with academic and industry-driven research than were researchers from LMICs. Significantly higher proportions of those who considered their ability to conduct academic research and industry-driven research over the past 5 years more difficult were from HICs (73% vs. 27% and 70% vs. 30%, respectively). Concerning academic clinical cancer research, a lack of funding was ranked the most important (score: 3.16) barrier, without significant differences observed between HICs and LMICs. Lack of time or competing priorities and procedures from competent authorities were the second most important barriers to conducting academic clinical research in HICs and LMICs, respectively. CONCLUSION: Lack of funding, lack of time and competing priorities, and procedures from competent authorities might be the main global barriers to academic clinical cancer research.

Metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary with complete metabolic response following sorafenib-based chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of carcinoma of unknown primary based on histopathology and immunohistochemistry is generally chemotherapy. The use of molecular markers, genetic profiling platforms, and personalized medicine is under active investigation. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 56-year-old patient who presented to medical attention with palpable axillary adenopathy. Biopsy confirmed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Formal staging revealed extensive metastatic disease to bone and liver. Initial chemotherapy proved ineffective. We describe the diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and achievement of durable remission using a novel sorafenib-based drug combination that was chosen through the application of a functional analytic laboratory platform. CONCLUSION: The clinical management of patients with carcinoma of unknown primary continues to present a considerable challenge for practicing oncologists. Laboratory platforms capable of examining cellular response to injury, growth factor withdrawal, and cytotoxic insult at the level of cellular function may provide insights for drug selection in this patient population.

Percutaneous CT-Guided Cryoablation as an Alternative Treatment for an Extensive Pelvic Bone Giant Cell Tumor.

A giant cell tumor (GCT) is an intermediate grade, locally aggressive neoplasia. Despite advances in surgical and clinical treatments, cases located on the spine and pelvic bones remain a significant challenge. Failure of clinical treatment with denosumab and patient refusal of surgical procedures (hemipelvectomy) led to the use of cryoablation. We report the use of percutaneous CT-guided cryoablation as an alternative treatment, shown to be a minimally invasive, safe, and effective option for a GCT with extensive involvement of the pelvic bones and allowed structural and functional preservation of the involved bones.