Journal of Integrative Oncology

Positron emission tomography (PET)  scanning, a functional imaging technique, is playing a more and more important role in modern medical science compared to the conventional anatomy imaging technologies such as X-ray and computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Though with the help of modern computer technology, the CT, MRI, and ultrasound have begun to be used for functional imaging, the PET scan still has advantages over other imaging modalities.

Introduction: The incidence of Meningiomas, indicating of the population-based studies, is approximately 13-26% of all primary intracranial tumors.
Methods: We searched PubMed for studies related to meningiomas published over the last 6 years (from May 2009) and retrieved 2104.
Results: Surgery remains the main choice of treatment at meningiomas and the combination with the endovascular treatment and/or Stereotactic radiosurgery provide a better and safer therapeutic strategy. In atypical and subtotal excised or recurrent meningiomas, conventional radiotherapy should be performed. Chemotherapeutic agents also, should be used in specific cases, because of questionable effectiveness and considerably side effects.
Conclusion: Even the recent technological developments, which give rise to better therapeutic options, the "gold standard" of meningiomas treatment, still remain challenging.

Objective: The study aimed at evaluating and comparing healthcare-related costs for metastatic colorectal cancer treatment among patients receiving systemic (chemotherapy or biotherapy) therapy, considering both costs per treatment cycle and total costs per patient.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional, econometric study conducted in a public, tertiary referral hospital in Brazil, which is supported by national and state level funding. Data were collected between January 01, 2009 and October 31, 2013. Micro-costing method was employed to estimate costs related to medication, laboratory tests, imaging tests, drug preparation and administration.
Results: The XELOX plus bevacizumab therapy presented the highest average cost per cycle, 7,701 Brazilian reals, followed by FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab, with an average cost of 6,927 Brazilian reals. Costs of treatment regimens containing capecitabine and/or monoclonal antibody (capecitabine monotherapy, cetuximab, cetuximab plus irinotecan, FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab, XELIRI, XELIRI plus bevacizumab, XELOX and XELOX plus bevacizumab) had a greater impact on total cost of therapy. In the mFOLFOX6 and FOLFIRI regimens, the total cost of therapy was mostly influenced by the cost per cycle (51%) and the cost related to drug administration (50%).
Conclusions: the Brazilian universal healthcare system does not cover monoclonal antibody therapies and the chemotherapy regimens FOLFIRI and mFOLFOX6 for colorectal cancer, since they surpass the monthly reimbursement amounts provided by the system. On the other hand, XELOX regimen fits within the budget established by the system, representing a promising alternative for colorectal cancer treatment, especially taking into account current economic limitations.

The incidence of cancer is increasing in the United Kingdom. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the UK with an age standardised rate of 124 per 100000 women. It accounts for almost one-third of all female cases of cancer in the UK and it is the most common form of cancer among women in both developing and developed countries. There are many management options for cancer such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surgery has been the main treatment option for many solid tumours for several decades. However, research has shown that attacking specific targets within tumours such as receptors, intracellular proteins and genes could result in better clinical outcome. Promising therapeutic targets that have been identified include Raf kinase, Src, HER2, epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor.
After several decades of intensive research, it appears that we are finally hitting cancer where it hurts. It is very likely that in the near future, more targets for potential therapies would be identified and ultimately, there would be significant reduction in morbidity and mortality from cancers, including breast cancer.