Current Management Strategy for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma and Future Directions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Major strides have been made in the treatment of kidney cancer in the last several years with checkpoint immunotherapies and novel targeted agents. This manuscript will review current treatment strategies for metastatic renal cell carcinoma and will discuss future directions. RECENT FINDINGS: Most recently, several new drugs including nivolumab, cabozantinib, and a combination of lenvatinib and everolimus have demonstrated acceptable toxicity and significantly improved overall survival, but evidence-based guidelines for sequencing of the approved treatment options and treatment selection based on biomarkers are still missing. Despite the significant progress, many questions still remain unanswered. Several ongoing clinical trials are evaluating sequencing, timing of cytoreductive nephrectomy, combinations of immunotherapies and targeted therapies as well as selection of the best systemic treatment. Personalized treatment based on tumor profiling is one of the brightest spots on the horizon.

Solitary extraosseous plasmacytoma.

Plasma cell neoplasms are characterized by a neoplastic plasma cell lineage which produces a monoclonal immunoglobulin. These neoplasms can present as a single lesion (solitary plasmacytoma) or as multiple lesions (multiple myeloma). Solitary plasmacytomas most frequently occur in bone (plasmacytomas of bone), but can also be found outside bone in soft tissues (extramedullary plasmacytomas).

Idiopathic hyperzincemia with associated copper deficiency anemia: a diagnostic dilemma.

Prompt serum copper and zinc in addition to vitamin B12 levels should be measured in patients suffering from refractory anemia with neurological symptoms. A timely copper supplementation can help revert the hematological and possibly the neurological manifestations.