Biologic and clinical characteristics of adolescent and young adult cancers: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, and sarcoma

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer have not attained the same improvements in overall survival as either younger children or older adults. One possible reason for this disparity may be that the AYA cancers exhibit unique biologic characteristics, resulting in differences in clinic...

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Published inCancer Vol. 122; no. 7; pp. 1017 - 1028
Main Authors Tricoli, James V., Blair, Donald G., Anders, Carey K., Bleyer, W. Archie, Boardman, Lisa A., Khan, Javed, Kummar, Shivaani, Hayes‐Lattin, Brandon, Hunger, Stephen P., Merchant, Melinda, Seibel, Nita L., Thurin, Magdalena, Willman, Cheryl L.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.04.2016
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Summary:Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer have not attained the same improvements in overall survival as either younger children or older adults. One possible reason for this disparity may be that the AYA cancers exhibit unique biologic characteristics, resulting in differences in clinical and treatment resistance behaviors. This report from the biologic component of the jointly sponsored National Cancer Institute and LiveStrong Foundation workshop entitled “Next Steps in Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology” summarizes the current status of biologic and translational research progress for 5 AYA cancers; colorectal cancer breast cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, melanoma, and sarcoma. Conclusions from this meeting included the need for basic biologic, genomic, and model development for AYA cancers as well as translational research studies to elucidate any fundamental differences between pediatric, AYA, and adult cancers. The biologic questions for future research are whether there are mutational or signaling pathway differences (for example, between adult and AYA colorectal cancer) that can be clinically exploited to develop novel therapies for treating AYA cancers and to develop companion diagnostics. Cancer 2016;122:1017–1028. © 2016 American Cancer Society There is a need for basic biologic, genomic, and model development for cancers in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) as well as translational research studies to elucidate any fundamental differences between pediatric, AYA, and adult cancers. If these differences can be elucidated, then the information can be used to start the development of novel therapies for treating AYA cancers and companion diagnostics to accompany these treatments.
Bibliography:1009–16
988–99
This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not represent the official position of the National Cancer Institute.
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ISSN:0008-543X
1097-0142
DOI:10.1002/cncr.29871