The results from this trial reflect a long-term survival advantage with the use of chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery in the treatment of esophageal cancer, and support trimodality therapy as a standard of care for patients with this disease.

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. In 2009, an estimated 106,100 new cases of colon and 40,870 cases of rectal cancer will occur. During the same year, it is estimated that 49,920 people will die from colon and rectal cancer. 1 Despite these statistics, mortality from colon cancer has decreased slightly over the past 30 years, possibly due to earlier diagnosis through screening and better treatment modalities. This manuscript summarizes the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for managing colon cancer. The guidelines begin with clinical presentation to the primary care physician or gastroenterologist and address diagnosis, patho-The NCCN

BACKGROUND Among women presenting with de novo stage IV breast cancer, 35% to 60% undergo local therapy, presumably to avoid uncontrolled chest wall disease. Several studies suggest that resection of the primary tumor may prolong survival, but chest wall outcome data are notably lacking. The authors reviewed chest wall status, time to first progression (TTFP), and overall survival (OS) in this group of women. METHODS Women presenting at the Lynn Sage Breast Center (1995‐2005) with an intact primary tumor and stage IV breast cancer or postoperative diagnosis of distant metastases were identified. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for relevant covariates, were used to examine associations between surgical treatment and chest wall status, TTFP, and OS. RESULTS Of 111 eligible women, 47 (42%) underwent early resection of the primary tumor. Chest wall status was available for 103 women. Local control was maintained in 36 of 44 (82%) patients in the surgical group versus 20 of 59 (34%) patients without surgery (P = .001). TTFP was prolonged in the surgical group (adjusted hazards ratio [HR], 0.493; P = .015). The adjusted HR for OS in the surgical group was 0.798 (P = .520). Chest wall control was associated with improved OS regardless of whether surgical resection of the tumor was performed (HR, 0.415; P < .0002). CONCLUSIONS These data support the notion that improved local control may play a role in improving outcomes in women with stage IV breast cancer, and resection of in‐breast tumors can help to achieve this. A randomized trial is needed to rule out selection bias as an explanation for these findings. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.

Twenty‐five patients with aggressive fibromatoses (desmoid tumors) have been treated or followed in the Department of Radiation Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital between 1972 and 1982. Seventeen patients were treated by radiation, 4 for primary and 13 for recurrent disease. Seven patients were treated in conjunction with surgery. Partial or complete regression was achieved in 76%, and 59% are without evidence of disease (NED) at 9 to 94 months follow‐up. Eight of ten patients treated primarily with radiation have achieved complete response without an attempt at resection (five) or have achieved stabilization (three) of their disease after some regression. Consistent complete control was seen with doses above 60 Gy. Periods to 27 months were required to observe complete responses. Only three failures within the radiation field were observed, two after low doses (22 and 24 Gy, respectively). Eight patients were seen after resection but with uncertain or histologically minimum positive margins, and were followed regularly and not treated. One patient has failed to date and is NED after resection. Radiation therapy is recommended in those situations where wide‐field resection without significant morbidity is not possible for gross local disease. If minimally positive margins exist after resection in a patient who may be followed carefully, frequent follow‐up and prompt treatment at recurrence may be an effective alternative to immediate radiation therapy.

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In 2009 an estimated 40,870 new cases of rectal cancer will occur in the United States (23,580 cases in men; 17,290 cases in women). During the same year, an estimated 49,920 people will die from rectal and colon cancers. 1 Although colorectal cancer is ranked as the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, mortality from colorectal cancer has decreased during the past 30 years. This decrease may be due to earlier diagnosis through screening and better treatment modalities. The recommendations in these clinical practice guidelines are classified as category 2A except where noted, meaning that there is uniform NCCN consensus, based on lower-level evidence (including The NCCN

The use of positron emission tomography (PET) is increasing rapidly in the United States, with the most common use of PET scanning related to oncology. It is especially useful in the staging and management of lymphoma, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer, according to a panel of expert radiologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, medical oncologists, and general internists convened in November 2006 by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The Task Force was charged with reviewing existing data and developing clinical recommendations for the use of PET scans in the evaluation and management of breast cancer, colon cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and lymphoma. This report summarizes the proceedings of this meeting, including discussions of the background of PET, possible future developments, and the role of PET in oncology. (JNCCN 2007;5(Suppl 1):S1–S22)