Cancer via MedWorm.com

Erratum

Cancer — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

No abstract. (Source: Cancer)

Does MC1R genotype convey information about melanoma risk beyond risk phenotypes?

Cancer — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A study was carried out to describe associations of MC1R variants and melanoma in a US population and to investigate whether genetic risk is modified by pigmentation characteristics and sun exposure measures.Melanoma patients (n = 960) and controls (n = 396) self-reported phenotypic characteristics and sun exposure via structured questionnaire and underwent a skin examination. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations of high- and low-risk MC1R variants and melanoma, overall and within phenotypic and sun exposure strata. A meta-analysis of results from published studies was undertaken.Carriage of 2 low-risk or any high-risk MC1R variants was associated with increased risk of melanoma (odds ratio [OR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-2.8; and OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.5-3.0, res...

Human mesenchymal stem cells and their use in cell-based therapies

Cancer — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The human population is increasingly facing various diseases, including types of cancer, that cannot be cured with conventional drugs. Advanced drug targeting of tumor cells is also often impossible when treating highly invasive and infiltrative tumors such as glioblastoma or pulmonary cancer, because of tumor cells' high migration and invasiveness. Pluripotent human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been extensively studied, and strategies are being proposed for treating "incurable" cancers and injury/disease-affected organs. Because of their own intrinsic properties, involving homing and immunomodulatory potency, hMSCs could be used as an excellent cell/drug delivery vehicle in those cell-based therapies. Their unprecedented use has been shadowed, however, by their spontaneous transfor...

Impact of chemotherapy on quality of life in patients with metastatic esophagogastric cancer

Cancer — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The objective of the current review was to evaluate the effects of chemotherapy on the HRQoL of patients with metastatic or locally advanced, inoperable esophagogastric cancer.A systematic MEDLINE search was performed to address a predefined question list: Does chemotherapy improve or maintain HRQoL? Do available data favor a particular chemotherapy? What relation exists between HRQoL and the efficacy and tolerability of therapy?The majority of studies, including large randomized studies, indicated no significant improvements in mean HRQoL scores versus baseline after chemotherapy. However, scores were maintained and symptomatic relief or improved performance status was observed in many patients. HRQoL was maintained in approximately 50% of patients for up to 6 months but deteriorated in t...

Durable responses with the metronomic rituximab and thalidomide plus prednisone, etoposide, procarbazine, and cyclophosphamide regimen in elderly patients with recurrent mantle cell lymphoma

Cancer — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Targeting the tumor microenvironment and angiogenesis is a novel lymphoma therapeutic strategy. The authors report safety, activity, and angiogenic profiling results with the rituximab and thalidomide plus prednisone, etoposide, procarbazine, and cyclophosphamide (RT-PEPC) regimen in patients with recurrent mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).RT-PEPC included induction (Months 1-3) of rituximab 4 times weekly, daily thalidomide (50 mg), and PEPC followed by maintenance thalidomide (100 mg), oral PEPC titrated to the neutrophil count, and rituximab every 4 months. Endpoints included safety, efficacy, quality of life (QoL), and translational studies, including tumor angiogenic phenotyping, plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and circulating endothelial cells.Twenty-five patients were en...

Risk factors for fatigue severity in primary brain tumor patients

Cancer — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In addition to neurologic symptoms, fatigue is commonly reported in patients with primary brain tumors during radiation therapy and in long-term survivors of low-grade brain tumors. Other factors have not been explored. The aim of this study was to identify demographic and clinical factors that predict fatigue severity and to evaluate the association of fatigue with other symptoms throughout the disease trajectory.Two hundred one patients with primary brain tumors completed the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory-Brain Tumor Module and a demographic checklist. Clinical data, including treatment, tumor grade, and performance status, were also collected. Correlations among fatigue and other recorded symptoms were evaluated. Logistic regression modeling was performed to evaluate factors associat...

Reply to Liver-intestine cadherin predicts microvascular invasion and poor prognosis of hepatitis B virus-positive hepatocellular carcinoma

Cancer — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

No abstract. (Source: Cancer)

Retraction: Tumor Necrosis Factor Enhances SN38-Mediated Apoptosis in Mesothelioma Cells: The Role of Nuclear Factor-[kappa]B Pathway Activation. Patrizia Russo, Alessia Catassi, Davide Malacarne, Stefano Margaritora, Alfredo Cesario, Luigi Festi, Antonino Mulé, Luigi Ferri, Pierluigi Granone. Cancer. 2005;103: 1503-1518.

Cancer — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

No abstract. (Source: Cancer)

Erratum

Cancer — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

No abstract. (Source: Cancer)

Trends in renal tumor surgery delivery within the United States

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, the authors identified the most recent trends in kidney surgery for small renal tumors and determined which factors were associated with the use of PN versus RN within the United States.A population-based patient cohort was analyzed using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results cancer registry (SEER 1999-2006). The authors identified 18,330 patients ages 40 to 90 years who underwent surgery for kidney tumors [le]4 cm in the United States between 1999 and 2006.In total, 11,870 patients (65%) underwent RN, and 6460 patients (35%) underwent PN. The ratio of PN to RN increased yearly (P < .001), representing 45% of kidney surgeries in 2006 for small tumors. There were significant differences in the cohort of patients who underwent PN versus RN, including age, sex, tumor l...

Long-term neurologic and peripheral vascular toxicity after chemotherapy treatment of testicular cancer

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Testicular cancer is curable in the majority of men, and persisting treatment toxicity is a concern. The authors report a cross-sectional study of the long-term effects of chemotherapy (C) on neurologic function and development of Raynaud phenomenon.Seven hundred thirty-nine patients who were treated between 1982 and 1992 gave consent to enter the study. Patients were classified according to the receipt of C (n = 384) or no C (n = 355). Patients completed a general health questionnaire and a quality-of-life form (the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life C30 questionnaire with testicular module). Symptom scores of 3 or 4 were considered clinically significant. Patients were assessed in the clinic, and clinical history was used to diagnose Raynaud phenom...

High-dose proton therapy and carbon-ion therapy for stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical outcome of particle therapy for stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).From April 2003 to April 2007, 80 patients with stage I NSCLC were treated with proton therapy or carbon-ion therapy (57 with proton therapy and 23 with carbon-ion therapy) using 3 treatment protocols. In the first protocol, 80 gray equivalents (GyE) of proton therapy was given in 20 fractions, and the second proton therapy protocol used 60 GyE in 10 fractions. For carbon-ion therapy, 52.8 GyE was given in 4 fractions. After achieving promising preliminary results for the first protocol, the authors started to use the second proton therapy protocol to shorten the overall treatment time. Carbon-ion therapy was started in 2005, and thereafter, both proton and carbon-ion t...

A note from history

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Antonio Benivieni, an Italian physician, Theophilus Boneti, a Swiss physician, and Giovanni Battista Mogagni, an Italian physician, pioneered postmortem examination for finding hidden causes of diseases. By correlating the results of their clinical and postmortem examinations, they established the foundation of anatomic pathology, clinical medicine, and oncology. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society. (Source: Cancer)

Pretreatment assessment of tumor enhancement on contrast-enhanced computed tomography as a potential predictor of treatment outcome in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients receiving antiangiogenic therapy

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, the authors investigated whether tumor enhancement in contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) is useful for predicting outcomes in patients with mRCC who are receiving antiangiogenic therapy.Attenuation values were reviewed retrospectively on CECT images of all metastatic lesions in 66 patients from February 2007 to November 2008. All patients received a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (either sunitinib or sorafenib). Tumor response was evaluated on CECT studies every 12 weeks. The authors analyzed the association between contrast enhancement and treatment outcomes, including objective response, tumor size reduction rate, time to response, and time to progression.In 46 patients, 198 metastatic lesions were assessed. Tumor size was reduced in 140 lesions (70.7%) and was increased in 58 lesions...

A phase 2 study of a fixed combination of uracil and ftorafur and leucovorin given orally in a twice-daily regimen to treat patients with recurrent metastatic breast cancer

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

UFT, a combination of uracil and ftorafur, was developed to combine the cytotoxic effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with convenient oral dosing. Leucovorin is combined with UFT to further potentiate the effect of 5-FU on tumor cells. Orally administered UFT and leucovorin provide higher peak plasma concentrations of 5-FU and prolonged therapeutic 5-FU concentrations compared with continuous infusion of 5-FU.Ninety-four patients with metastatic breast cancer who had been previously treated with anthracyclines and/or taxanes were treated with UFT and leucovorin, given orally, for the first 28 days of a 35-day cycle. The total daily dose of UFT was 300 mg/m2, which was given in 2 divided doses every 12 hours. The primary endpoint was time to disease progression (TTP). Secondary objectives incl...

Erratum

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

No abstract. (Source: Cancer)

Alemtuzumab by continuous intravenous infusion followed by subcutaneous injection plus rituximab in the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia recurrence

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Monoclonal antibodies may be used more effectively in combination. A previous study of intravenous (iv) bolus alemtuzumab plus rituximab in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) recurrence produced a response rate of 54% after a 4-week treatment period.To optimize dose, schedule, and route of alemtuzumab, a study was designed exploring continuous intravenous infusion (civ) followed by subcutaneous (sc) alemtuzumab together with weekly iv rituximab in patients with previously treated CLL.Data from 40 patients with a median age of 59 years, and a median of 3 prior regimens (range, 1-8 regimens) were evaluable. Approximately 64% of patients were fludarabine-refractory. Seven patients (18%) achieved a complete response (CR), 4 (10%) a nodular partial response (nPR), and 10 (25%) a p...

Divergent cancer pathways for early onset and late onset cutaneous malignant melanoma

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Men and women with trunk melanoma have different age distributions. Age-specific rates in women suggest a possible role of female hormones in this location. (Source: Cancer)

Reply to Divergent cancer pathways for early-onset and late-onset cutaneous malignant melanoma

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

No abstract. (Source: Cancer)

Phase 2 study of carboplatin, docetaxel, and bevacizumab as frontline treatment for advanced nonsmall-cell lung cancer

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Bevacizumab has recently been demonstrated to prolong overall survival when added to carboplatin and paclitaxel for chemotherapy-naïve patients with nonsquamous nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the effects of combining bevacizumab with other standard, front-line, platinum-based doublets have not been extensively explored. We designed this single treatment arm, phase 2 trial to determine whether the combination of carboplatin, docetaxel, and bevacizumab is tolerable and prolongs progression-free survival of chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced, nonsquamous NSCLC.Forty patients were treated with up to 6 cycles of carboplatin (AUC 6), docetaxel (75 mg/m2), and bevacizumab (15 mg/kg) on Day 1 every 21 days. Patients with an objective response or stable disease received mainte...

A novel therapeutic combination for neuroblastoma

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

High-risk cases of neuroblastoma have poor survival rates, and novel therapies are needed. Vandetanib (ZD6474, Zactima) is an inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, and rearranged during transfection (RET) tyrosine kinases, which have each been implicated in neuroblastoma pathogenesis. The authors hypothesized that vandetanib combined with 13-cis-retinoic acid (CRA), a differentiating agent used in most current neuroblastoma treatment regimens, would be effective against neuroblastoma tumor models.The authors evaluated the effects of vandetanib with and without CRA on RET phosphorylation and on the proliferation and survival of human neuroblastoma cell lines in vitro. Using a subcutaneous mouse xenograft model of human neuroblastoma,...

Medication errors involving oral chemotherapy

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Given the expanding use of oral chemotherapies, the authors set out to examine errors in the prescribing, dispensing, administration, and monitoring of these drugs.Reports were collected of oral chemotherapy-associated medication errors from a medical literature and Internet search and review of reports to the Medication Errors Reporting Program and MEDMARX. The authors solicited incident reports from 14 comprehensive cancer centers, and also collected incident reports, pharmacy interventions, and prompted clinician reports from their own center. They classified the type of incident, severity, stage in the medication use process, and type of medication error. They examined the yield of the various reporting methods to identify oral chemotherapy-related medication errors.The authors identif...

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy outcomes for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients stratified by p16 status

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) were stratified by p16 status, neck dissection, and chemotherapy to correlate these factors with outcomes.A total of 112 patients with OPSCC treated with IMRT from 2002 to 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received RT to 66-70 Gray. Forty-five of the tumors were p16 positive (p16+), 27 were p16 negative (p16-), and 41 had unknown p16 status. Sixty-two patients had postradiation neck dissections. Nine patients with p16- tumors and 28 patients with p16+ tumors received chemotherapy. The distribution of T, N, and stage grouping among the p16+ and p16- patients was not significantly different, and 87.5% patients had stage III/IV disease.The median follow-up was 26.3 m...

Varying recurrence rates and risk factors associated with different definitions of local recurrence in patients with surgically resected, stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of different definitions of local recurrence on the reported patterns of failure and associated risk factors in patients who undergo potentially curative resection for stage I nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).The study included 306 consecutive patients who were treated from 2000 to 2005 without radiotherapy. Local recurrence was defined either as "radiation" (r-LR) (according to previously defined postoperative radiotherapy fields), including the bronchial stump, staple line, ipsilateral hilum, and ipsilateral mediastinum; or as "comprehensive" (c-LR), including the same sites plus the ipsilateral lung and contralateral mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes. All recurrences that were not classified as "local" were considered to be distal....

Efficacy of radiotherapy for painful bone metastases during the last 12 weeks of life

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study analyzed the effect of radiotherapy for painful bone metastases in patients with a survival [le]12 weeks.In the Dutch Bone Metastasis Study, 1157 patients with painful bone metastases were randomized to single fraction (1 × 8 grays [Gy]) or multiple fraction (6 × 4 Gy) radiotherapy. Patients who died within 12 weeks after randomization were included in this analysis. Patients were classified as responders or nonresponders, based on their pain response to radiotherapy. This response was calculated considering changes in pain intensity (measured with an 11-point numeric rating scale) and analgesic usage. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze pain response and survival.Two hundred seventy-4 patients were included in this analysis. At randomization, the mean pain in...

Association of p53 codon 72 polymorphism with risk of second primary malignancy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

p53 plays a critical role in cellular anticancer mechanisms, and has been correlated with second primary malignancy (SPM) development. A common polymorphism in codon 72 of p53 results in an amino acid substitution and could influence p53 function. The authors hypothesized that p53 codon 72 polymorphism may be associated with risk of SPMs and SPM-free survival among patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).A total of 1271 patients, who were diagnosed with incident SCCHN between May 1995 and January 2007, were genotyped and observed for SPM development. Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare SPM-free survival and SPM risk between the different genotype groups.The authors found significantly reduced SPM-free survival for patients with v...

Weekly alternating therapy with irinotecan plus cisplatin and etoposide plus cisplatin in the treatment of patients with extensive small cell lung carcinoma

Cancer — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Irinotecan has significant activity in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). The authors' previous phase 1 study of alternating weekly therapy with irinotecan/cisplatin (IP), etoposide/cisplatin (EP), and granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support was well tolerated and active in patients with SCLC. A phase 2 trial was conducted to estimate the efficacy of this regimen in previously untreated patients with extensive SCLC.A total of 33 patients were treated between June 2002 and July 2007. Patients received 12 weeks of therapy with cisplatin (20 mg/m2) on Day 1 and irinotecan (100 mg/m2) on Day 1 and G-CSF on Days 2 to 5 (Weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11) followed by cisplatin (20 mg/m2) on Day 1 and etoposide (60 mg/m2) on Days 1 to 3 with G-CSF on Days 4 to 7 (Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12)...

Women's experiences with genomic testing for breast cancer recurrence risk

Cancer — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study examined how women receive and incorporate results of Oncotype DX, a genomic test that offers recurrence risk estimates, into decisions about adjuvant treatment for early stage breast cancer.Participants in the cross-sectional study were 77 women with early stage, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer with 0 to 3 positive lymph nodes who received Oncotype DX between 2004 and 2009. Mailed surveys, supplemented by medical chart review, assessed how women received and understood recurrence risk information based on the test.The most common test results were low (50%, 34 of 68) or intermediate (37%, 25 of 68) breast cancer recurrence risk. Most women accurately recalled their recurrence risk based on the test (71%) and felt they understood much of what they were told about it (67...

Occupational sunlight exposure and risk of renal cell carcinoma

Cancer — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Recent findings indicate that vitamin D obtained from ultraviolet (UV) exposure may reduce the risk of several different cancers. Vitamin D is metabolized to its active form within the kidney, which is the major organ for vitamin D metabolism and activity. Because both the incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency have increased over the past few decades, in the current study, the authors explored whether occupational UV exposure was associated with RCC risk.A hospital-based, case-control study of 1097 patients with RCC (cases) and 1476 controls was conducted in 4 Central and Eastern European countries. Demographic and occupational information was collected to examine the association between occupational UV exposure and RCC risk.A significant reduct...

Evaluation of the prognostic significance of Eosinophilia and Basophilia in a larger cohort of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes

Cancer — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Lineage involvement and maturation arrest are considered to have prognostic significance in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, although the prognostic value of neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and monocytosis have been documented, little is known about the impact of eosinophils and basophils.The authors examined the prognostic significance of eosinophils and basophils in 1008 patients with de novo MDS. Patients were enrolled from 3 centers of the Austrian-German MDS Working Group and were analyzed retrospectively. Blood eosinophils and basophils were quantified by light microscopy, and their impact on survival and leukemia-free survival was calculated by using Cox regression.Eosinophilia (eosinophils >350/[mu]L) and basophilia (basophils >250/[mu]L) predicted a significa...

Excellent outcomes with adjuvant toremifene or tamoxifen in early stage breast cancer

Cancer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Fareston (toremifene) and tamoxifen, both selective estrogen receptor modulators, are therapeutically equivalent treatments for metastatic breast cancer. We hypothesized that toremifene as compared with tamoxifen given as adjuvant therapy for early stage breast cancer would result in equivalent survival with an improved side effect profile, therefore, providing superior therapeutic efficacy.The North American Fareston versus Tamoxifen Adjuvant trial assigned 1813 perimenopausal or postmenopausal women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive invasive breast cancer to adjuvant treatment with either tamoxifen or toremifene. The primary outcomes evaluated were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).Median follow-up was 59 months. The baseline characteristics of the 2 treatment group...

Invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix associated with pregnancy

Cancer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study is a representation of 90 years of experience with carcinoma of the uterine cervix in pregnancy. The objective was to retrospectively study changes in the distribution of cervical carcinoma (CC) by age, disease stage, histopathology, survival, and the development of second primary cancers.Altogether, 18,474 women with newly diagnosed CC were examined and treated at the Radiumhemmet between 1914 and 2004, including 9247 women who were of a childbearing age ( (Source: Cancer)

Do racial or socioeconomic disparities exist in lung cancer treatment?

Cancer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Determine the effects of race, socioeconomic status, and treatment on outcomes for patients diagnosed with lung cancer.The Florida cancer registry and inpatient and ambulatory data were queried for patients diagnosed from 1998-2002.A total 76,086 of lung cancer patients were identified. Overall, 55.6% were male and 44.4% were female. The demographic distribution of patients was 92.7% Caucasian, 6.7% African American, and 5.7% Hispanic. The mean age of diagnosis was 70 years old. African American patients presented at a younger age, with more advanced disease, and were less likely to undergo surgical therapy than their Caucasian counterparts. Median survival time (MST) for the entire cohort was 8.7 months, while MST for African American patients was 7.5 months. Patients who received surgery...

Radiosurgical decompression of metastatic epidural compression

Cancer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study demonstrated a radiosurgical decompression of epidural tumor. Although neurosurgical decompression and radiotherapy is the standard treatment in patients with good performance, radiosurgical decompression can be a viable noninvasive treatment option for malignant epidural compression. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society. (Source: Cancer)

Intratumoral forkhead box P3-positive regulatory T cells predict poor survival in cyclooxygenase-2-positive uveal melanoma

Cancer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The objective of the current study was to investigate whether Tregs infiltrate uveal melanomas (UMs) and whether their prevalence is linked to COX-2 expression and the prediction of overall survival (OS).One hundred patients who underwent enucleation after they were diagnosed with UM were included in the study. Immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal anti-FOXP3, anti-CD4, and anti-COX-2 antibodies was performed, and immunoreactivity was assessed. Correlations of COX-2 expression with the presence of Tregs, established clinicopathologic parameters, and OS were evaluated in univariate and multivariate analyses.High expression of COX-2 was predictive of shortened OS. FOXP3-positive Tregs were detectable in 24% of UMs and were restricted to malignant tissue. The extent of COX-2 expression...

Central nervous system prophylaxis in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Cancer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Central nervous system (CNS) recurrence continues to be a significant complication in the treatment of adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Preventing CNS recurrence has been a therapeutic challenge and has not been addressed critically in many clinical trials. Adult studies modeled on childhood ALL studies have used multiple treatment modalities, including radiation therapy, systemic therapy, intrathecal therapy, and combinations thereof. Cranial irradiation is effective but is offset by substantial toxicity, including neurologic sequelae. Systemic chemotherapy, especially with cytarabine (AraC) and methotrexate, has demonstrated promise in decreasing CNS recurrence, but therapeutic levels of drugs in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are not maintained. Intrathecal chemoth...

Histology-specific nomogram for primary retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma

Cancer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study was conducted to develop a histology-specific nomogram to predict postoperative overall survival (OS) at 5 and 10 years in primary retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (STS).Data registered at a single institution (National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy) prospective sarcoma database were used. In the present analysis, patients with primary localized retroperitoneal STS resected with curative intent between 1985 and 2007 were included. A parametric piecewise exponential survival multivariate model was used for nomogram development, and internal validation was performed with standard methodologies. Known prognostic variables, such as age, tumor burden, histologic variant (as reviewed by a sarcoma pathologist), grade, and surgical margins were considered as putative predictors.Amon...

Pelvic radiotherapy and the risk of secondary leukemia and multiple myeloma

Cancer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Although several studies had examined secondary malignancies in patients with specific primary tumor types, to the authors' knowledge there are very few data examining the long-term sequelae of pelvic radiation as a whole. The goal of the current study was to examine the risk of treatment-associated leukemia and multiple myeloma in patients treated with pelvic radiotherapy.Patients with invasive tumors of the vulva, cervix, uterus, anus, and rectosigmoid treated from 1973 to 2005 and recorded in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were analyzed. Patients were stratified based on receipt of pelvic radiotherapy. The incidence of secondary leukemia (except chronic lymphocytic leukemia) and multiple myeloma were examined. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models...

Liver-intestine cadherin predicts microvascular invasion and poor prognosis of hepatitis B virus-positive hepatocellular carcinoma

Cancer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

No abstract. (Source: Cancer)

Oxaliplatin and capecitabine in the treatment of patients with recurrent or refractory carcinoma of unknown primary site

Cancer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Despite the widespread use of oxaliplatin-based regimens for colorectal and other gastrointestinal cancers, there is surprisingly little information regarding their empiric use for the treatment of carcinoma of unknown primary site (CUP). In the current study, the combination of oxaliplatin and capecitabine in patients with recurrent and refractory CUP was examined.Patients with CUP who had received at least 1 previous chemotherapy regimen were treated with oxaliplatin (130 mg/m2 intravenously on Day 1) and capecitabine (1000 mg/m2 orally twice daily on Days 1-14). Treatment cycles were repeated every 21 days. Patients with objective response or stable disease after 2 cycles continued treatment for 6 cycles or until disease progression.Nine of 48 patients (19%) had objective responses to t...

Phase 2 trial of pemetrexed disodium and carboplatin in previously untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, N0423

Cancer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the combination of pemetrexed plus carboplatin has shown activity and appeared to be well-tolerated. We conducted a trial to confirm the efficacy and to assess the tolerability of this chemotherapy combination.Patients with untreated extensive-stage SCLC were enrolled in this phase 2 open-labeled study. They receive pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 and carboplatin (area under the curve of 5) every 21 days for a maximum 6 cycles. The primary endpoint for this trial was the confirmed response rate and the accrual goal was 70 patients.Forty-six eligible patients (29 aged (Source: Cancer)

Characteristics of pericardial effusions in patients with leukemia

Cancer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Little information exists regarding the prevalence and natural history of pericardial disease in patients with leukemia. Recently, it has been reported that the use of histone deacetylase inhibitors is associated with an increased incidence of pericardial effusions (PEs). To study the characteristics and treatment relationships of PEs in patients with leukemia, the authors retrospectively analyzed a cohort of patients with leukemia evaluated at a single center.The authors reviewed 2592 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML, n = 1282, 49%), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL, n = 336, 13%), or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS, n = 974, 38%), who were evaluated from August 2003 to July 2008. Electronic medical records were reviewed to select patients who had undergone at least 1 echocardiograp...

Erratum

Cancer — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

No abstract. (Source: Cancer)

Beta-2-microglobulin is an independent predictor of progression in asymptomatic multiple myeloma

Cancer — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study was bases on a consecutive series of 148 patients with asymptomatic MM and explored the cumulative probability of progression to symptomatic MM as the primary endpoint.In univariate analysis, a serum B2M level >2.5 mg/L was associated with an increased probability of disease progression (5-year risk, 64.5%; P < .001) along with serum monoclonal component (sMC) (P < .001), urinary monoclonal component (uMC) (P < .001), and bone marrow plasma cells (BMPCs) (P < .001). In multivariate analysis, serum B2M was selected as an independent predictor of progression (hazard ratio, 3.30; P = .002). Serum B2M was combined with sMC, uMC, and BMPC to create a risk-stratification model based on 4 groups with different risk of progression: very low (5-year risk, 0%), low-intermediate (5-year ri...

Mucosal melanoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses, a contemporary experience from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Cancer — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Sinonasal mucosal melanoma is a rare disease associated with a very poor prognosis. Because most of the series extend retrospectively several decades, we sought to determine prognostic factors and outcomes with recent treatment modalities.A retrospective chart review of 58 patients treated for sinonasal melanoma at a tertiary cancer center between 1993 and 2004. The patients were retrospectively staged according to the sinonasal American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. Demographic, clinical and pathological parameters were identified and correlated with outcomes.There were 35 males and 23 females with a median age of 63 years; 56 patients were treated surgically and 33 received radiation therapy. According to Ballantyne's clinical staging system, 88% of the patients presen...

American Society of Clinical Oncology-recommended surveillance and physician specialty among long-term breast cancer survivors

Cancer — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

It is unclear whether it is appropriate to transfer the follow-up care of breast cancer (BrCa) survivors from cancer specialists to primary care physicians (PCPs). This contemporary study compared physician specialty and documented the long-term surveillance of survivors who underwent surgery at an American academic center.Women in this institutional review board-approved study underwent breast surgery between 1996 and 2006. Data were collected for 270 patients with stage I to III BrCa (mean follow-up, 6 years). Charts were reviewed based on American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines for recommended surveillance frequency and care.The majority of patients (90%; n = 242) were followed by specialists with 10% (n = 28) followed by PCPs. Patients with advanced disease and a greate...

Quality of end-of-life care in low-income, uninsured men dying of prostate cancer

Cancer — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The quality of end-of-life care was assessed in disadvantaged men prospectively enrolled in a public assistance program. That end-of-life care would be aggressive, moreso than recommended by quality-of-care guidelines, was hypothesized.Included in the study were all 60 low-income, uninsured men in a state-funded public assistance program who had died since its inception in 2001. To measure quality of end-of-life care, information was collected regarding timing of the institution of new chemotherapeutic regimens, time from administration of last chemotherapy dose to death, the number of inpatient admissions and intensive care unit stays made in the 3 months preceding death, and the number of emergency room visits made in the 12 months before dying. Also noted were hospice use and the timing...

Erratum

Cancer — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

No abstract. (Source: Cancer)

Intra-arterial versus intravenous chemoradiation for advanced head and neck cancer: Results of a randomized phase 3 trial

Cancer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Chemoradiation is the preferred treatment for advanced stage IV head and neck cancer. Higher doses of chemotherapy yielded promising results in vitro and vivo, confirmed by intra-arterial (IA) cisplatin-based chemoradiation in phase 2 studies.Two hundred and thirty-nine patients with (functionally) unresectable head and neck cancer were included, from 2000 to 2004, in a multicenter, randomized phase 3 trial, comparing IA and intravenous chemoradiation. Intravenous chemoradiation comprised 3×100 mg/m2 cisplatin infusion on Days 1, 22, 43 combined with 70 Gy in 35 daily fractions. The IA chemoradiation treatment arm comprised 4x150 mg/m2 cisplatin administered in the tumor-feeding artery on Days 1, 8, 15, 22, immediately followed by systemic rescue with sodium thiosulfate with the same radi...

Anxiety disorders in advanced cancer patients

Cancer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The authors explored associations between anxiety disorders and advanced cancer patients' physical performance status, physician-patient relationships, end-of-life (EOL) treatment preferences and outcomes, and quality of death.The Coping with Cancer study was a National Cancer Institute/National Institute of Mental Health-sponsored, prospective, longitudinal, multicenter cohort study of patients with advanced cancer. Six hundred thirty-five patients completed the anxiety disorders module of the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic Statistical Manual IV. The results were compared with patients' baseline physical performance status, treatment preferences, perceptions of the physician-patient relationship, and advance care planning (ACP).Approximately 7.6% of patients met criteria...

Conditional survival estimates improve over time for patients with advanced melanoma

Cancer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The objective of this analysis was to provide melanoma-specific CS estimates to help clinicians promote more informed patient decision making.Patients with melanoma and at least 5 years of follow-up were identified from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results registry (1988-2000). By using the methods of Kaplan and Meier, stage-specific, 5-year CS estimates were independently calculated for survivors for each year after diagnosis. Stage-specific multivariate Cox regression models including baseline survivor functions were used to calculate adjusted melanoma-specific CS for different subgroups of patients further stratified by age, gender, race, marital status, anatomic tumor location, and tumor histology.Five-year CS estimates for patients with stage I disease remained constant at 97...

The cisplatin, epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine (PEFG) regimen in advanced biliary tract adenocarcinoma

Cancer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study, the authors assessed the activity and safety of this combination regimen in patients with advanced BTA.PEFG (cisplatin 40 mg/m2 and epirubicin 40 mg/m2 on Day 1; gemcitabine 600 mg/m2 on Days 1 and 8; and 5-fluorouracil [FU] 200 mg/m2 daily as a continuous infusion) was administered to chemotherapy-naive patients who had a cytologic or histologic diagnosis of locally advanced or metastatic BTA, aged [le]75 years, and a performance status (PS) >60 either until they had evidence progressive disease or for a maximum of 6 months. Tumor size was assessed every 2 months during treatment.Between May 1999 and December 2005, 37 patients (62% metastatic) who had a median age of 62 years and a median PS of 90 received the PEFG regimen at the authors' institution. Primary tumor sites we...

A new era in anticancer peptide vaccines

Cancer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The use of synthetic peptides as vaccines aimed at the induction of therapeutic CD8-positive T-cell responses against tumor cells initially experienced great enthusiasm, mostly because of advances in vaccine technology, including design, synthesis, and delivery. However, despite impressive results in animal models, the application of such vaccines in humans has met with only limited success. The therapeutic activity of vaccine-stimulated, tumor-specific, CD8-positive T cells can be hampered through the physical burden of the tumor, tolerance mechanisms, and local factors within the tumor microenvironment. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that combining a peptide-based therapeutic vaccination with conventional chemotherapy can uncover the full potential of the antitumor immune ...

Glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms are associated with survival in anaplastic glioma patients

Cancer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are polymorphic enzymes that are responsible for glutathione conjugation of alkylators and scavenging of free radicals created by radiation. GST polymorphisms may result in altered or absent enzyme activity and have been associated with survival in patients with cancer. The authors of this report hypothesized that patients with anaplastic glioma (AG) who have GST genotypes that encode for lower activity enzymes will have longer survival than similar patients who have higher activity genotypes. The current study was performed to investigate the role of GST enzyme polymorphisms in predicting the survival of patients with AG.The medical records of 207 patients with AG from a single cancer center were reviewed retrospectively. Polymorphisms for the GST [mu]1 (...

hsa-miR-210 is a marker of tumor hypoxia and a prognostic factor in head and neck cancer

Cancer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Hypoxia is an important mechanism of treatment resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). MicroRNAs are short noncoding RNAs that regulate multiple mRNAs and are frequently dysregulated in cancer. The authors have investigated the role of 3 microRNAs, including the hypoxia-induced hsa-miR-210, as potential markers of hypoxia or prognosis.Three hypoxia-related microRNAs, hsa-miR-210, hsa-miR-21, and hsa-miR-10b, were measured in 46 samples from patients with HNSCC. Expression levels were correlated with clinicopathological variables and other markers of hypoxia: a published 99-gene hypoxia metagene, individual hypoxia-related genes such as TWIST1, and immunohistochemical expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and its target gene carbonic anhydrase 9. We then performed su...

Pentostatin and rituximab therapy for previously untreated patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Cancer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The combination of pentostatin (P), cyclophosphamide (C), and rituximab (R) achieved an overall response (OR) rate >90%, with >40% complete responses (CRs) in patients with untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).To evaluate whether the tolerability of this regimen could be enhanced without sacrificing efficacy, a phase 2 trial was conducted of P and R without C, using a higher P dose (4 mg/m2). Among the 33 patients enrolled, 82% were male, the median age was 65 years (9 patients were aged [ge]70 years), and 64% were classified as having Rai stage III to IV disease.The OR rate was 76%, with 9 CRs (27%), 5 nodular partial responses, and 11 partial responses (PRs) reported. At the time of last follow-up, 29 of 33 patients were still alive at a median follow-up of 14 months (range, 1-34...

Changes in markers of ovarian reserve and endocrine function in young women with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy

Cancer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The objective of the current study was to assess levels of mullerian inhibitory substance (MIS), estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and menstrual status, in women undergoing chemotherapy.A nested prospective cohort study was conducted in women aged .05). Serum MIS decreased significantly at 6 weeks and remained suppressed for 52 weeks. E2 levels decreased, and FSH levels increased during chemotherapy; however, at 52 weeks, the levels returned to baseline. At 52 weeks, only 1 patient had MIS above the lower normal range, 15 had return of menstrual function, 11 had premenopausal levels of FSH, and 13 had follicular phase levels of E2. In women aged 35 years, 50% were amenorrheic. Amenorrheic and menstruating women were found to have similar MIS values at baseline and follow-...

Predictors of weight loss during radiotherapy in patients with stage I or II head and neck cancer

Cancer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study was conducted as part of a phase 3 chemoprevention trial. A total of 540 patients were randomized. The patients were weighed before and after RT. Their baseline characteristics, including lifestyle habits, diet, and quality of life, were assessed as potential predictors. Predictors were identified using multiple linear regressions. The reliability of the model was assessed by bootstrap resampling. A receiver operating characteristics curve was generated to estimate the model's accuracy in predicting critical weight loss ([ge]5%).The mean weight loss was 2.2 kg (standard deviation, 3.4). Five factors were associated with a greater weight loss: all HN cancer sites other than the glottic larynx (P (Source: Cancer)

Clinical outcomes of systemic therapy for patients with deep fibromatosis (desmoid tumor)

Cancer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In the current study, the authors examined the outcomes of patients with desmoid tumors who received systemic therapy at a single institution to provide a basis for the examination of newer agents.Records of patients with desmoid tumors who were treated with chemotherapy at the study institution were reviewed. The activity of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was not addressed. Patients without measurable disease and those receiving therapy could not be documented, and those receiving prophylactic therapy were excluded.A total of 68 patients received 157 lines of therapy. At the time of last follow-up, 9 patients had died, 7 of progressive disease. The cohort was 62% female, with a median age of 32.5 years. Approximately 32% of the patients had Gardner syndrome. The median follow-up was...

Comparison of human papillomavirus in situ hybridization and p16 immunohistochemistry in the detection of human papillomavirus-associated head and neck cancer based on a prospective clinical experience

Cancer — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a causative agent in a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). These HPV-related cancers have a clinicopathologic profile that diverges from HPV-negative HNSCCs. Accordingly, HPV testing may soon become integrated into standard pathologic assessment of HNSCCs.Data were prospectively collected for all patients with head and neck carcinomas who had undergone HPV testing at the Johns Hopkins Hospital as part of clinical care during a 57-month period. HPV testing consisted of concurrent HPV16 in situ hybridization (ISH) and p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC). Wide spectrum HPV ISH was reserved for p16-positive cases that were HPV-16 negative.HPV analysis was performed on 256 head and neck carcinomas in an effort to predict clinical outcomes (56%), l...

The association of menstrual and reproductive factors with upper gastrointestinal tract cancers in the NIH-AARP cohort

Cancer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In most populations, incidence rates of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract cancers (head and neck, esophagus, and stomach) are higher among men than among women. Established risk factors do not appear to explain these differences, suggesting a possible role for sex hormones.201,506 women of the NIH-AARP Diet and Health cohort completed a questionnaire in 1995-1996. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated from Cox proportional hazards models.During follow-up through 2003, 162 incident adenocarcinomas (ACs; esophagus, N = 25, and stomach, N = 137) and 353 incident squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs; head and neck, n = 297, and esophagus, N = 56) occurred. Among examined exposures, older age at menopause was associated inversely with SCC (Ptrend across categories = .013) but not...

Immunoglobulin G is present in a wide variety of soft tissue tumors and correlates well with proliferation markers and tumor grades

Cancer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The traditional view that immunoglobulin (Ig) is produced only by B lymphocytes has been challenged, because it has been demonstrated that Ig genes and proteins are expressed in epithelial cancer cells. However, whether Ig expression in nonlymphoid cells is limited to epithelial cells is unclear. Because sarcomas differ distinctly from carcinomas in their biologic and clinical features, the authors investigated the question of nonlymphoid IgG expression in soft tissue lesions.Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to demonstrate IgG expression in 80 soft tissue lesions. The correlation between Ig expression and proliferation markers (proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA], Ki-67, and cyclin D1) in sarcomas was investigated by immunohis...

Pulmonary dysfunction in survivors of childhood hematologic malignancies after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Cancer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The number of long-term survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is increasing; however, few studies have addressed their long-term pulmonary function.The authors examined 660 baseline and follow-up pulmonary function tests in 89 long-term survivors of pediatric hematologic malignancies and allo-HSCT.At least 1 abnormal lung parameter was seen in 40.4% of baseline tests and developed in 64% of post-allo-HSCT tests (median follow-up: 8.9 years). Abnormal baseline values in ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), FEV1, residual volume (RV), functional residual capacity (FRC), and FVC were associated with abnormal post-allo-HSCT values. The following pulmonary function values declined significantly with time: FEV1/...

Quality of life, self-esteem, fatigue, and sexual function in young men after cancer

Cancer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Androgen deficiency is increasingly recognized in young male cancer survivors; however, its impact on quality of life (QOL) is not established. The authors investigated the relationship between androgen levels, QOL, self-esteem, fatigue, and sexual function in young male cancer survivors compared with control subjects.A cross-sectional, observational study of 176 male cancer survivors and 213 male controls aged 25 to 45 years was performed. Subjects completed 3 QOL scales (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey version 2, the 12-item General Health Questionnaire [GHQ-12], and Aging Male Scale), and measures of self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), fatigue (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue), and sexual function (Derogatis Interview for Sexual Fu...

Model-based prediction of defective DNA mismatch repair using clinicopathological variables in sporadic colon cancer patients

Cancer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Colon cancers with defective DNA mismatch repair (MMR) have a favorable prognosis and may lack benefit from 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy. The authors developed models to predict MMR deficiency in sporadic colon cancer patients using routine clinical and pathological data.TNM stage II and III colon carcinomas (n = 982) from 6 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant therapy trials were analyzed for microsatellite instability and/or MMR protein expression. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were quantified (n = 326). Logistic regression and a recursive partitioning and amalgamation analysis were used to identify predictive factors for MMR status.Defective MMR was detected in 147 (15%) cancers. Tumor site and histologic grade were the most important predictors of MMR status. Distal tumo...

Effects by daily long term provision of ghrelin to unselected weight-losing cancer patients

Cancer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The short-term provision of ghrelin to patients with cancer indicates that there may be benefits from long-term provision of ghrelin for the palliative treatment of weight-losing cancer patients. This hypothesis was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, phase 2 study.Weight-losing cancer patients with solid gastrointestinal tumors were randomized to receive either high-dose ghrelin treatment (13 [mu]g/kg daily; n = 17 patients) or low-dose ghrelin treatment (0.7 [mu]g/kg daily; n = 14 patients) for 8 weeks as a once-daily, subcutaneous injections. Appetite was scored on a visual analog scale; and food intake, resting energy expenditure, and body composition (dual x-ray absorpitometry) were measured before the start of treatment and during follow-up. Serum levels of ghrelin, insulin, ins...

Racial differences in the perception of lung cancer

Cancer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Racial disparities in lung cancer have been described well in the literature; however, little is known about perceptions of lung cancer in the general population and whether these perceptions differ by race.Data were obtained from the 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) survey. The authors used a sample design of random digit dialing of listed telephone exchanges in the United States. Complete interviews were conducted with 5491 adults, including 1872 respondents who were assigned to receive questions pertaining to lung cancer. All analyses were conducted on this subset of respondents. A statistical software program was used to calculate chi-square tests and to perform logistic regression analyses that would model racial differences in perceptions of lung cancer. All est...

Intra-arterial chemotherapy for head and neck cancer

Cancer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Although it would appear that there is no difference in outcomes for intra-arterial (IA) versus intravenous cisplatin chemoradiotherapy, one must consider the technique by which the tumors were infused. The authors used the less effective method of bilateral infusion in 58% of patients compared to (Source: Cancer)

Two members of the SIBLING family of proteins, DSPP and BSP, may predict the transition of oral epithelial dysplasia to oral squamous cell carcinoma

Cancer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Patients with oral premalignant lesions (OPL) present with oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) at a much higher rate than the general population. There are currently no useful markers that indicate specifically which OPLs are most likely to progress. Three small integrin binding ligands N-linked glycoprotein (SIBLING) family proteins, bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteopontin (OPN), and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP), have been shown to be up-regulated in many cancers, including OSCC. The status of SIBLING expression in OPLs and their correlation to transition to oral cancer are unknown.Sixty archival surgical biopsies of dysplastic OPLs were evaluated by immunohistochemistry for expression of BSP, DSPP, and OPN and correlated with local transformation to OSCC at sites adjacent to surgicall...

Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil; oral cyclophosphamide; levamisole; or no adjuvant therapy for patients with high-risk, premenopausal breast cancer

Cancer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (DBCG) 77B trial examined the relative efficacy of levamisole, single-agent oral cyclophosphamide, and the classic combination of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) against no adjuvant systemic therapy in high-risk breast cancer patients. The authors report the results from that trial after a potential follow-up of 25 years.Between 1977 and 1983, 1146 premenopausal patients who had tumors >5 cm or positive axillary lymph nodes were assigned randomly to 1 of 4 options: no systemic therapy, levamisole 5 mg weekly for 48 weeks (the levamisole arm), oral cyclophosphamide 130 mg/m2 on Days 1 through 14 every 4 weeks for 12 cycles (the C arm), or oral cyclophosphamide 80 mg/m2 on Days 1 through 14 plus methotrexate 30 mg/m2 and flu...

Effect of a minimum lymph node policy in radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy on lymph node yields, lymph node positivity rates, lymph node density, and survivorship in patients with bladder cancer

Cancer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Extended pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND) during radical cystectomy (RC) reportedly improves bladder cancer-specific survival. Lymph node counts are often a proxy for the extensiveness of a dissection. In the current study, the impact of an institutional policy requiring a minimum number of lymph nodes was assessed.Patients undergoing RC and PLND for invasive bladder cancer between March 2000 and February 2008 were retrospectively reviewed at the study institution. Beginning March 1, 2004, a policy was established that at least 16 lymph nodes had to be examined. Specimens with (Source: Cancer)

Cumulative evaluation of a quantitative immunochemical fecal occult blood test to determine its optimal clinical use

Cancer — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The objective was to evaluate sensitivity and specificity for CRC and advanced adenomatous polyps (APs) by the fecal Hb threshold used to determine a positive test and the number of IFOBTs prepared per test, so as to determine the least number of colonoscopies required to detect a neoplasm.Cumulative data were analyzed from a prospective cross-sectional double-blind study of 1682 consecutive, ambulatory, nonbleeding colonoscopy patients who volunteered for IFOBTs, most of above average risk, from 3 ambulatory-endoscopy centers. Fecal Hb was measured in 3 samples and analyzed by an automated instrument, and the highest result [ge]50 ng Hb/mL of buffer was related to findings.Colonoscopy identified CRC in 20 patients and advanced APs in 129. Sensitivity for either was best when any of 3 test...

Plasma cell-free DNA in ovarian cancer

Cancer — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Cell-free DNA reflects both normal and tumor-derived DNA released into the circulation through cellular necrosis and apoptosis. The authors sought to determine the role of preoperative total plasma cell-free DNA levels in predicting clinical outcome in patients with ovarian cancer.After institutional review board consent, DNA was extracted from plasma of 164 women with invasive epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), 49 with benign ovarian neoplasms, and 75 age-matched controls. The samples were randomly divided into training (n = 144) and validation (n = 144) sets. Quantification of cell-free DNA was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction for [beta]-globin, and the number of genome equivalents (GE) per milliliter of plasma was determined. Cell-free DNA was correlated with clinico...

Validation and application of a module of the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory for measuring multiple symptoms in patients with gastrointestinal cancer (the MDASI-GI)

Cancer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) was developed as a brief yet comprehensive tool to assess patient-reported symptom severity and interference in patients with cancer. The authors report the development of an MDASI module for use in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer (the MDASI-GI).Patients with GI cancer (N = 184) participated in module development and validation. The process included: 1) generating GI-specific candidate items with input from GI oncologists and from qualitative interviews with patients and adding those items to the core MDASI for testing; 2) dropping candidate GI items that lacked sensitivity; 3) validating the psychometric properties (validity, reliability, sensitivity) of the resulting MDASI-GI; and 4) conducting cognitive debriefing interviews with p...

Grading of nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents

Cancer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, both FNCLCC and POG systems provide an adequate prognostic measure of outcome for pediatric NRSTS; albeit, a sizeable subset of cases with apparently intermediate prognosis was graded differently by the 2 systems. The mitotic index appears to be a key parameter in grading pediatric NRSTS. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society. (Source: Cancer)

Multiple endocrine syndrome type 2B in early childhood

Cancer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

No abstract. (Source: Cancer)

The role of high-dose imatinib in the management of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Cancer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

After an era of few treatment options for patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), imatinib has emerged as the standard of care and first-line treatment for these patients. Although imatinib was initially approved at the doses of 400 and 600 mg daily, results from clinical studies established 400 mg daily as the standard initial dose for the majority of advanced GIST patients. Nevertheless, the use of high-dose imatinib (800 mg daily) has been shown to benefit patients with advanced or metastatic GIST that progresses on the standard-dose, and has been recommended in this setting by the major management guidelines in Europe and the United States. Results from the Meta-GIST meta-analysis showed that patients whose GIST harbors a KIT exon 9 mutation ...

Radiofrequency ablation as an adjunct to systemic chemotherapy for colorectal pulmonary metastases

Cancer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an alternative to local treatment for pulmonary metastases in patients who are nonsurgical candidates. Based on previously documented efficacy of this treatment, the authors retrospectively studied the prognostic factors for long-term survival.One hundred patients with unresectable colorectal pulmonary metastases underwent percutaneous RFA. Clinical and treatment variables were collected and evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses with overall survival as the primary endpoint.At a median follow-up period of 23 (range, 1 to 96) months from the time of RFA treatment, 49 patients have died. The median overall survival after RFA treatment was 36 months and 5-year overall survival rates of 30%. Univariate analyses demonstrated that histopathological...

Circulating endothelial cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Cancer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In patients with cancer, circulating endothelial cells (CECs) are increased and are correlated with an aggressive disease course. However, the clinical and biologic significance of CECs in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) remains uncertain.In 170 patients with CLL, CEC levels were quantified by flow cytometry and were correlated with clinical and biologic data. In addition, CECs were characterized by immunophenotypic, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and gene expression profile analyses.In patients with CLL, CECs were increased compared with controls. A higher level of CECs (>20/[mu]L) identified a subset of patients with a more aggressive disease course characterized by a shorter time to first treatment both in univariate and multivariate analyses. In FISH analysis, 7 patients...

Patient-reported acute gastrointestinal symptoms during concurrent chemoradiation treatment for rectal cancer

Cancer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Although it is known that standard 5-fluorouracil-based chemoradiation therapy for rectal cancer causes significant acute gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity, research on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is limited. The authors undertook the current study to assess the feasibility of incorporating PRO measurement into routine clinical practice and to describe the trajectory of symptom development during treatment.Seventy-seven consecutive patients who were treated between 2006 and 2008 were eligible. Patients completed the 7-item Bowel Problems Scale immediately before weekly physician visits.The questionnaire completion rate was 95%. Individual GI symptoms had different trajectories of development. By Week 5, approximately 40% of all patients developed clinically meaningful pain, bowel urgency...

Phase 2 trial of weekly intravenous 1,25 dihydroxy cholecalciferol (Calcitriol) in combination with dexamethasone for castration-resistant prostate cancer

Cancer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Preclinical data indicate that there is substantial antitumor activity and synergy between calcitriol and dexamethasone. On the basis of these data, the authors conducted a phase 2 trial of intravenous (iv) calcitriol at a dose of 74 [mu]g weekly (based on a recent phase 1 trial) and dexamethasone in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).A 2-stage Kepner-Chang design was used. Oral dexamethasone at a dose of 4 mg was given weekly on Days 1 and 2, and iv calcitriol (74 [mu]g over 1 hour) was administered weekly on Day 2 from 4 to 8 hours after the dexamethasone dose in patients with CRPC. Laboratory data were monitored weekly, and renal sonograms, computed tomography scans, and bone scans were obtained every 3 months. Disease response was assessed by using the Response E...

The treatment of recurrent/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL) with everolimus results in clinical responses and mobilization of CLL cells into the circulation

Cancer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Patients with recurrent/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL) often have chemotherapy-resistant disease, resulting in poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to learn if inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) would produce tumor responses.This was a phase 2 study of oral single-agent everolimus (10 mg/day) for recurrent/refractory indolent lymphoid malignancies including CLL.Four of 22 patients with CLL (18%; 95% confidence interval, 5%-40%) achieved a partial remission to therapy. An unanticipated finding in this study was an increase in absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) associated with a decrease in lymphadenopathy in 8 (36%) patients. ALC increased a median of 4.8-fold (range, 1.9- to 25.1-fold), and the clinically measurable lymphadeno...

Disrupting established tumor blood vessels

Cancer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The unique characteristics of tumor vasculature represent an attractive target that may be exploited by vascular-targeting anticancer agents. A promising strategy involves the selective disruption of established tumor blood vessels by tumor-vascular disrupting agents (tumor-VDAs), which exhibit antivascular activity, resulting in inhibition of tumor blood flow and extensive necrosis within the tumor core. The tumor-VDA class can be subdivided into flavonoid compounds, which are related to flavone acetic acid, and tubulin-binding compounds. ASA404, of the flavonoid class, is the most advanced tumor-VDA in clinical development and has been evaluated preclinically and in several phase 1 and phase 2 studies. Preclinical studies have demonstrated the selective apoptosis of tumor endothelial cel...

Association of diabetes duration and diabetes treatment with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma

Cancer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Despite the observed association between diabetes mellitus and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), little is known about the effect of diabetes duration before HCC diagnosis and whether some diabetes medications reduced the risk of HCC development. This objective of the current study was to determine the association between HCC risk and diabetes duration and type of diabetes treatment.A total of 420 patients with HCC and 1104 healthy controls were enrolled in an ongoing hospital-based case-control study. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to adjust for HCC risk factors.The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 33.3% in patients with HCC and 10.4% in the control group, yielding an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 4.2 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 3.0-5.9). In 87% of cases, diabete...

Impact of postoperative prostate-specific antigen disease recurrence and the use of salvage therapy on the risk of death

Cancer — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This report evaluated whether biochemical recurrence (BCR) as a time-dependent covariate (t) after radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer was associated with the risk of death and whether salvage therapy with radiotherapy (RT) and/or hormonal therapy (HT) can lessen this riskThis was a retrospective cohort study of 3071 men who underwent RP at Duke University between 1988 and 2008 and had complete follow-up data. A Cox regression multivariable analysis was used to determine whether BCR (t) was associated with the risk of death in men after adjusting for age, prostatectomy findings, and the use of salvage RT and/or HT.After a median follow-up of 7.4 years, 546 (17.8%) men experienced BCR and 454 (14.8%) died. The median follow-up after prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure was 11....

Circadian variation in radiation-induced intestinal mucositis in patients with cervical carcinoma

Cancer — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Mucositis, a radiotherapy-associated toxicity, is an important factor determining morbidity and treatment compliance. Gastrointestinal mucositis in patients undergoing radiotherapy may also depend on time of administration of radiation in addition to several other factors. The presence of any correlation between the severity of acute gastrointestinal mucositis in cervical carcinoma patients and the time of irradiation was prospectively evaluated.A total of 229 patients with cervical carcinoma were randomized to morning (8:00-10:00 AM) and evening (6:00-8:00 PM) arms. The incidence of mucositis in the 2 arms was assessed and reported in terms of various grades of diarrhea.Overall (grade I-IV) as well as higher grade (III and IV) diarrhea was found to be significantly increased in the mornin...

Sex or survival

Cancer — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Combined long-term androgen deprivation (LTAD) and radiation conveys a prostate cancer-specific survival advantage over combined short-term androgen deprivation (STAD) and radiation. The seminal question is whether or not the gains are worth the adverse effects of LTAD with respect to patient preferences.Preferences for LTAD compared with STAD were elicited by direct patient interview using the probability trade-off method. "Time trade-off utilities" (TTOu) for erectile dysfunction and osteoporosis were elicited using the time trade-off method. Participants' current prostate cancer-specific health state was assessed using the Patient-Oriented Prostate Utility Scale-Psychometric. Participants' current sexual function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF).All...

Gemcitabine versus bacille Calmette-Guérin after initial bacille Calmette-Guérin failure in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Cancer — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The efficacy of intravesical gemcitabine was evaluated compared with repeated administration of bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) after BCG failure in high-risk, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (BC).In this multicenter, prospective, randomized, phase 2 trial, eligible patients were those with high-risk non-muscle-invasive BC, failing 1 course of BCG therapy. All patients were randomly allocated to Group A, receiving intravesical gemcitabine (at a dose of 2000 mg/50 mL) twice weekly for 6 consecutive weeks and then weekly for 3 consecutive weeks at 3, 6, and 12 months, or Group B, receiving intravesical BCG (Connaught strain, 81 mg/50 mL) over a 6-week induction course and each week for 3 weeks at 3, 6, and 12 months. Outcome measures were recurrence rate, time to first recurrence, and prog...

Radiation monotherapy as regional treatment for lymph node-positive Merkel cell carcinoma

Cancer — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous malignancy with a high risk of lymph node involvement. To the authors' knowledge, few data have been published to date regarding the optimal regional therapy for lymph node-positive patients. This cohort study was performed to analyze the outcomes of patients with lymph node-positive MCC treated with lymph node irradiation as definitive therapy compared with completion lymphadenectomy (CLND).Fifty patients with lymph node involvement of MCC at presentation and adequate follow-up data were included in this analysis. Forty-three of these patients were enrolled and followed prospectively. Twenty-six patients presented with microscopic lymph node disease, and 24 patients presented with palpable lymph node involvement.Regional control for p...

Antineoplastic therapy use in patients with advanced cancer admitted to an acute palliative care unit at a comprehensive cancer center

Cancer — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Cancer patients admitted to a palliative care unit generally have a poor prognosis. The role of antineoplastic therapy (ANT) in these patients remains controversial. In the current study, the authors examined the frequency and predictors associated with ANT use in hospitalized patients who required admission to an acute palliative care unit (APCU).Included in the study were all 2604 patients admitted over a 5-year period to a 12-bed APCU located within a National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer center, in which patients had access to both palliative care and ANT. Institutional databases were used to retrospectively retrieve data regarding patient demographics, cancer diagnosis, ANT use, length of hospital stay, and survival from time of admission.The median hospital stay was 11 days,...

Cause of death in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome

Cancer — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The authors have recently shown that a majority of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) classified by the International Prognostic Scoring System as lower risk die without transformation to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The cause of death (COD) of these patients is not well understood. Identifying the COD could help to guide early therapy decisions.The authors retrospectively analyzed the COD in a cohort of 273 deceased patients with lower-risk MDS according to the International Prognostic Scoring System at presentation to The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1980 to 2004. MDS-related death was defined as infection, bleeding, transformation to AML, or disease progression. Remaining CODs were classified as non-MDS-related.Median age at presentation was 66 ye...

Angiosarcoma after breast-conserving therapy

Cancer — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

With breast-conserving therapy (BCT) as the standard of care for patients with noninvasive and early stage invasive breast cancer, a small incidence of post-BCT angiosarcoma has emerged. The majority of therapeutic interventions have been unsuccessful. To the authors' knowledge, there is no consensus in the medical literature to date regarding the treatment of this malignancy. The current study was conducted to report the long-term outcomes of a novel approach using hyperfractionated and accelerated radiotherapy (HART) for angiosarcoma developing after BCT.The authors retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 14 patients treated with HART with or without surgery at the University of Florida between November 1997 and March 2006 for angiosarcoma that developed after BCT.At the time of last fo...

Correction

Cancer — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

No abstract. (Source: Cancer)

Fyn

Cancer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

is 59-kDa member of the Src family of kinases that is historically associated with T-cell and neuronal signaling in development and normal cellular physiology. Whereas Src has been heavily studied in cancer, less attention has been traditionally awarded to the other Src kinases such as Fyn. Our group has shown that Fyn is particularly upregulated in prostate cancer in contrast to the alternative members of the Src family. This suggests that it may mediate several important processes attributed to Src kinases in prostate cancer and other malignancies. These functions include not only cellular growth and proliferation but also morphogenesis and cellular motility. Together, these suggest a role for Fyn in both progression and metastasis. As several agents in clinical development affect Fyn a...

Is ionizing radiation responsible for the increasing incidence of thyroid cancer?

Cancer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The dose of exposure to ionizing radiation appears to correlate with increased risk of thyroid microcarcinoma. Can ionizing radiation be a factor contributing to the increasing incidence of thyroid cancer around the world? (Source: Cancer)

Azacitidine for the treatment of lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes

Cancer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Azacitidine induces responses and prolongs overall survival compared with conventional care regimens in patients who have high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, limited data are available concerning the efficacy and safety of azacitidine in patients who have lower risk MDS.The authors retrospectively evaluated 74 patients with International Prognostic Scoring System low-risk or intermediate 1-risk MDS, who received azacitidine on a national named patient program. At baseline, 84% of patients were transfusion-dependent, 57% had received erythropoietin, and 51% were aged >70 years. Azacitidine was administered subcutaneously for 5 days (n = 29 patients), 7 days (n = 43 patients), or 10 days (n = 2 patients) every month at a dose of 75 mg/m2 daily (n = 45 patients) or at a fixed ...

Route of intracerebrospinal fluid chemotherapy administration and efficacy of therapy in neoplastic meningitis

Cancer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A study was undertaken to determine whether route (intraventricular vs intralumbar) of intracerebrospinal fluid (intra-CSF) drug administration influences progression-free survival in the treatment of patients with neoplastic meningitis, which occurs in 1% to 5% of patients with known cancer. Currently available treatment options result in modest responses, which is in part a reflection of obstacles to drug delivery into the leptomeningeal space.One hundred patients with clinically and cytologically or radiographically documented neoplastic meningitis because of solid cancers received intra-CSF liposomal cytarabine or methotrexate as specified in a randomized phase 4 trial. The 2 treatment arms were well balanced for demographic and tumor-related characteristics of known prognostic importa...

Analysis of prognostic factors in Ewing sarcoma using a population-based cancer registry

Cancer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Ewing sarcoma is a high-grade malignancy that most often occurs in children. Because its occurrence in adults has been historically low, few studies have been published on the epidemiology of Ewing sarcoma in this group of patients. By using data from a large, population-based cancer registry, the authors designed the present study to examine the outcome of children and adult patients with Ewing sarcoma and relevant prognostic factors.A retrospective analysis of Ewing sarcoma patient cases in the California Cancer Registry database was performed to identify incident patient cases diagnosed between 1989-2007. Comparisons were made to examine differences in demographics, disease characteristics, treatment, and survival. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank...

Nuclear grading of primary pulmonary adenocarcinomas

Cancer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

According to the World Health Organization Classification of Tumors, the prognostic value of morphometric cytologic atypia has not been assessed in pulmonary adenocarcinoma.Primary tumors of 133 pulmonary adenocarcinomas [le]2 cm were analyzed using an image processor for analytical pathology. The results were evaluated using receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, and survival curves were drawn by the Kaplan-Meier method. Furthermore, the results were applied to routine histological diagnosis. Four pathologists evaluated the nuclear factors relative to the size of small lymphocytes as a standard.By using the nuclear area and nuclear major axis dimension, lung adenocarcinomas were divisible into 2 groups showing extremely favorable prognosis and fairly favorable prognosis, without...

Commentary on effects of radiotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide versus radiotherapy alone on survival in glioblastoma in a randomised phase III study: 5-Year analysis of the EORTC-NCIC trial (Lancet Oncol. 2009;10:459-466)

Cancer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Recently, un update of the important European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer study 26981 was published without correcting deficiencies that already were known and publicized in 2008. In the current commentary, the author specifies those issues to help prevent incorrect conclusions and discusses reasons why the journal that published the update dismissed a letter clarifying those shortcomings. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society. (Source: Cancer)

Number of lymph nodes removed in sentinel lymph node-negative breast cancer patients is significantly related to patient age and tumor size

Cancer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has been well-established for axillary lymph node staging for patients with breast cancer. For lymph node-negative patients, planned "backup" axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is rarely indicated. Among patients with negative SLNs, the authors observed variation by tumor size and patient age in the total number of lymph nodes removed (SLNs plus non-SLNs). They hypothesized that this variation is an unrecognized source of bias for studies examining the morbidity of SLN biopsy.Retrospective review of this institution's SLN database identified 4103 SLN biopsy procedures between 1997 and 2004 in which SLN biopsy was performed for prophylactic mastectomy, ductal carcinoma in situ, or T1 to T2 invasive cancers, and the SLNs were benign.The mean number of SLNs...

Accuracy and sensitivity of computed tomography-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of pulmonary hilar lymph nodes

Cancer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Because of their proximity to the pulmonary artery or vein, hilar lymph nodes are routinely biopsied with endobronchial or endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) allows the operator to acquire a larger core needle biopsy (CNB) when initial samples are inconclusive, when the suspected disease is not optimally diagnosed with FNAB, or when biomarkers are required. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of CT-guided PNB in patients with hilar adenopathy.The authors identified 80 patients who underwent 81 CT-guided PNBs of pulmonary hilar lesions from October 2002 through December 2006 and retrospectively reviewed their medical and imaging recor...

Reduced incidence of infusion-related reactions in metastatic colorectal cancer during treatment with cetuximab plus irinotecan with combined corticosteroid and antihistamine premedication

Cancer — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This report describes a post hoc analysis of the influence of prophylactic premedication on the incidence of infusion-related reactions (IRRs) in the MABEL study. The analysis was focused on the subpopulation of patients premedicated with antihistamines either with (n = 700) or without (n = 422) corticosteroids. Stepwise Cox regression modeling was used to examine the explanatory value of the type of premedication on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) times.The incidence of IRRs was lower in the group of patients who received antihistamine plus corticosteroid (9.6%) compared with those who received antihistamine alone (25.6%). A similar trend was seen for grade 3 or 4 IRRs (1.0% vs 4.7%, respectively). The 12-week PFS rates (61% vs 60%), median PFS (16.1 vs 13.1 week...

The role of socioeconomic status in adjustment after ductal carcinoma in situ