[Reflections on the limits of specific treatments in thoracic oncology]. / Réflexions sur la limitation des soins spécifiques en oncologie thoracique.

The modest impact of specific treatments is a major problem in oncology and particularly for metastatic lung cancer patients. Therapeutic progress achieved by some targeted therapies is, in fact, only relevant for a small proportion of patients. The vast majority of people with this condition are rapidly confronted by the limits of specific therapies and management is or becomes entirely palliative. This article addresses therapeutic limitations in the management of metastatic lung cancer, as well as legislative aspects and guidelines for practitioners when discussing these issues with patients, together with a discussion of the psychological consequences for patients.

[Bevacizumab in thoracic oncology: results and practical aspects]. / Bévacizumab en oncologie thoracique: résultats et aspects pratiques.

Bevacizumab (Avastin(®)) is the first antiangiogenic therapy approved in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is also currently the only agent in this family approved in NSCLC. This review focuses on results of clinical trials assessing bevacizumab in thoracic oncology. It also provides to clinicians practical advices for its prescription.

[Pneumocystis pneumonia in two breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel: an unusual adverse event of chemotherapy]. / Deux observations de pneumocystose chez des patientes traitées par docétaxel pour un cancer du sein : une complication inhabituelle de la chimiothérapie.

We report two cases of pneumocystis pneumonia in patients receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. These case series emphasize the frailty of the patients as the causative role for occurrence of this uncommon complication of chemotherapy in breast cancer. We remind the importance of screening for unusual adverse events in frail patients receiving chemotherapy.