Molecular imaging for personalized cancer care
Molecular imaging and its ability to accurately define real-time biological activity will change the way we practice medicine. It will revolutionize early cancer detection, will allow more focused therapies—where treatment regimes are given to patients most likely to respond, and provide more precise biological endpoints in drug development—which will then lead to more refined clinical trials and improved patient care. Continuing our Cancer Review series, McDermott and colleagues from Massachusetts General provide a highly topical overview of this exciting technology in cancer. Molecular imaging will allow for a more precise assessment of key biological events associated with cancer growth and spread, including angiogenesis, hypoxia, apoptosis and specific receptor imaging.
Mesenchymal stem cells and emphysema
The QJM has recently published a review series on stem cells and their significant regenerative capacity in disease.1–6 Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known to have significant immunosuppressive, anti-apoptotic, angiogenic and growth-potentiating effects. In animal models of emphysema, administration of MSCs has been shown to have significant pulmonary regenerative capacity.
In the current issue of the journal, we publish work on the administration of MSCs in patients with severe emphysema. This was an initial phase 1 safety study that revealed no adverse effects from this treatment. In addition, staining of lung tissue post-MSC administration revealed enhanced staining for markers of enhanced endothelial cell activity. While the study involves a limited number of patients, it does provide evidence to justify a larger prospective study with a longer follow-up.
‘Classical’ clinical cases, postgraduate education and QJM
An important remit of QJM is in undergraduate and postgraduate education. We wish to make a call for ‘Classical’ clinical cases—to be submitted either as a case report or clinical picture. We will shortly launch a special section of the journal highlighting these ‘classical’ clinical cases, which will be aimed initially at candidates sitting their membership in the UK or Board examinations in the United States.
References
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