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Breakthroughs in Cancer Research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, U.S., have made significant discoveries in the field of cancer treatment. Studies conducted by the center's scientists have shed light on new approaches to understanding and combating various types of cancer.

Key Takeaways:

  • Serum interleukin-12:interleukin-6 ratio distinguishes infectious from noninfectious causes of fever during stem cell transplantation, reducing the need for unnecessary diagnostic testing and empiric treatment.
  • Involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT) can effectively control and palliate mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), with an overall local response rate of 100% and complete response obtained in 64% of the sites treated.
  • A combination of vinorelbine and a protracted course of temozolomide (TMZ) showed promise in treating recurrent brain metastases, warranting a phase II trial using a dose of 30 mg/m^2 of vinorelbine.
  • The IL-12:IL-6 ratio effectively discriminates infectious from noninfectious causes of fever during autologous stem cell transplantation, with a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 75%, as determined by the area under the ROC curve.
  • Radiation doses required for most lesions in MCL patients were relatively low, and responses were noticed early in the course of treatment, making radiation therapy a viable option for this disease.
  • The combination of TMZ and vinorelbine was well-tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicity observed and a median survival of 27 weeks for patients with recurrent brain metastases.

Statistics:

  • 72 febrile episodes occurred in 54 of 65 enrolled patients during stem cell transplantation.
  • 28% of the neutropenic febrile episodes were caused by infection, while 24% of the postengraftment febrile episodes were caused by infection.
  • The IL-12:IL-6 ratio had an area under the ROC curve of 0.88 (95% CI 0.79-0.97) in distinguishing infectious from noninfectious causes of fever.
  • Of the 38 sites treated with IFRT for MCL, 100% showed a local response, with 64% achieving complete response and 36% achieving partial response.
  • The median response duration for MCL patients treated with IFRT was 9 months, with 10% of the sites showing local progression.

Sources:

  • Tuma R.A. et al. "The serum IL-12: IL-6 ratio reliably distinguishes infectious from noninfectious causes of fever during autologous stem cell transplantation." Cytotherapy, 2006;8(4):327-334.
  • Rosenbluth B.D. et al. "Highly effective local control and palliation of mantle cell lymphoma with involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT)." Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 2006;65(4):1185-1191.
  • Omuro A.M. et al. "Vinorelbine combined with a protracted course of temozolomide for recurrent brain metastases: a phase I trial." J Neurooncol, 2006;78(3):277-280.

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