Macrolide therapy was recently suggested as an alternative approach in some patients and considered in those who remain corticosteroid-dependent [9]. Immunosuppressive agents are generally reserved for refractory cases. As there are few cases reported, experience in treatment options in children is scarce, so we believe our report may be important in establishing a therapeutic plan in cases similar to ours. Prognosis in unclear, but generally described as favorable, although progressive disease is recognized when it presents in young ages [5], [7] and [9]. Ângela Dias

– conception and design of the manuscript, drafting of the article. Joana Jardim – conception of the manuscript, data collection. Teresa Nunes – manuscript revision. Conceição Souto Moura – manuscript www.selleckchem.com/products/MK-1775.html revision. Luísa Vaz – manuscript revision and final approval of version to be published. The authors report no biomedical financial interests or other potential conflicts of interest in this manuscript. There were no sponsors in this study. ”
“In

Europe, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85–90% of malignant lung neoplasms and this type of cancer is more prevalent in Selleck AT13387 males [1] but is increasing significantly in women [2]. According to an European forecast study for 2012, lung cancer will be the first cause of death among women in Poland and the United Kingdom [3]. Until 2009, platinum-based doublets chemotherapy was the accepted standard of care for first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC. The response rate was 30% with a median progression-free survival (PFS) and

an overall survival (OS) of 6.4 and 10–12 months, respectively Methamphetamine [4] and [5]. Since 2004, several studies have shown that patients with Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are the best predictor of response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as erlotinib and gefitinib [5], fact that has changed dramatically the paradigm of advanced NSCLC treatment. EGFR is a transmembranal glycoprotein detectable in 80–85% of NSCLC which has a cytoplasmatic domain with TK activity [2] and [6]. Multiple ligands bind this receptor to initiate signal transduction cascade leading to cell proliferation, antiapoptosis, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis [7]. Certain somatic mutations in the TK domain of EGFR gene, mostly in exon 19 and 21 are “activating”, meaning that binding of erlotinib or gefitinib to this domain prevents cancer progression [5], [6] and [8]. Such mutations are more frequent among women, patients with adenocarcinoma, non-smokers and East Asians individuals [5], [9] and [10].