MedWorm: Chemotherapy

Major Study Finds Miscarriage Risk Higher for Nurses...

NurseZone.com Nursing News — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:39:58 +0100

January 27, 2012 - A recent study published by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has found the rate of spontaneous abortion in nurses who handle chemotherapy drugs to be twice that in nurses who did not handle these drugs. Past studies have yielded similar results, but this study, done in partnership with National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Nurses’ Health Study 2, used a significantly larger sample size of nearly 7,000 nurse pregnancies. The study looked at five potentially hazardous exposures: x-rays, chemotherapy drugs, sterilizing agents, anesthetic gases and antiviral drugs. (Source: NurseZone.com Nursing News)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Fasting Might Boost Chemo's Cancer-Busting Properties

Scientific American Topic - Medical Technology — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:30:00 +0100

Cancer treatment can be brutal for patients. Many of the tools we have-- chemotherapy , radiation--are big, blunt weapons that deal punishing blows to healthy tissues along with cancerous ones. So the hunt has been on for more and more finely targeted therapies that will attack malignant cells yet minimize damage to patients' bodies. [More] (Source: Scientific American Topic - Medical Technology)

Adjuvant Chemotherapy Slows Gastric CancerAdjuvant Chemotherapy Slows Gastric Cancer

Medscape Today Headlines — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:27:06 +0100

When gastric cancer is operable, a chemotherapy combination improves disease-free survival after surgery, according to a large trial. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

The results of treatment of children with metastatic Wilms tumours (WT) in an African setting: Do liver metastases have a negative impact on survival?

Pediatric Blood and Cancer — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:57:11 +0100

ConclusionsIn Africa liver metastases do not appear to worsen the prognosis of children with Stage IV WT. Despite the poor socio‐economic circumstances survival is comparable to other countries. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Source: Pediatric Blood and Cancer)

More Accurate Diagnosis, Prognosis In Challenging Breast Cancer Cases Provided By PET Techniques

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

In two new studies featured in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers are revealing how molecular imaging can be used to solve mysteries about difficult cases of breast cancer. One article focuses on an imaging agent that targets estrogen receptors in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients with formerly inconclusive assessments, and the second highlights a different imaging agent's ability to help predict the prognosis for patients undergoing chemotherapy for a very aggressive type of breast cancer... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Overexpression of DNA damage-induced 45 alpha gene contributes to esophageal squamous cell cancer by promoter hypomethylation

Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Overexpression of GADD45alpha gene is due to DNA hypomethylation in ESCC. GADD45alpha may be a protective factor in DDP chemotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. (Source: Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

London Cancer New Drugs Group Rapid Review:Erlotinib for the first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC with EGFR mutation

NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: London Cancer New Drugs Group Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews Current NICE-approved first-line treatments for patients with NSCLC who have EGFR activating mutations include platinum-doublet chemotherapy (mainly gemcitabine plus cisplatin or carboplatin in the UK), gefitinib, and pemetrexed plus cisplatin (for adenocarcinoma or large-cell carcinoma only). Erlotinib has recently had its license extended to include the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR activating mutations. In the European registration Phase III study (EURTAC), erlotinib at a dose of 150mg daily continued until disease progression (or unacceptable toxicity) resulted in a PFS gain of 4.5 months compared to standard chemotherapy; survi...

Horizon scanning: FDA Grants priority review of pertuzumab for untreated HER2-Positive metastatic breast cancer

NeLM - News — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: BioSpace Area: News According to a Biospace report, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Priority Review for pertuzumab in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel chemotherapy for people with HER2-positive metastatic or locally recurrent, unresectable breast cancer, who have not received previous treatment or whose disease has relapsed after adjuvant therapy. (Source: NeLM - News)

Horizon scanning: AmiKetT for peripheral neuropathic pain filed for FDA fast track designation

NeLM - News — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: BioSpace Area: News According to a Biospace report, EpiCept has filed AmiKetT (amitriptyline 4%, ketamine 2% cream) for Fast Track designation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). AmiKetT is a prescription topical cream under late stage clinical development by EpiCept for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathic pain. (Source: NeLM - News)

Fasting weakens cancer in mice

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Southern California) The centuries-old practice of fasting treats several cancers in animals as well as toxic pharmaceuticals. Researchers also find that fasting makes chemotherapy more effective, again in animals. Phase I trial of fasting and chemotherapy in human cancer patients nearly complete. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Mitoxantrone, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (NEAM) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with chemosensitive aggressive non‐hodgkin lymphoma

American Journal of Hematology — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, NEAM conditioning with auto‐SCT demonstrated considerable efficacy with modest toxicity in patients with chemosensitive aggressive NHL. Am. J. Hematol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. (Source: American Journal of Hematology)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Adolescents and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia have a better outcome when treated with pediatric‐inspired regimens ‐ systematic review and meta‐analysis

American Journal of Hematology — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions:Pediatric‐inspired regimens are superior to conventional‐adult chemotherapy in AYA ALL patients. Further randomized controlled studies to investigate this approach in adult ALL patients are warranted. Am. J. Hematol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. (Source: American Journal of Hematology)

EpiCept files fast track status for AmiKet

Drug Development Technology — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

EpiCept Corporation has filed a fast track designation with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its AmiKet, used for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). (Source: Drug Development Technology)

Genetic Polymorphisms of FcγRIIa and FcγRIIIa Are Not Predictive of Clinical Outcomes after Cetuximab plus Irinotecan Chemotherapy in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Karger Publishers — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:00:00 +0100

Oncology 2012;82:83-89 (DOI:10.1159/000335959) (Source: Karger Publishers)

Spindle cell carcinoma progressed from transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:36:02 +0100

Authors: Terada T Abstract The author reports a very rare case of spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC) of the urinary bladder progressed from ordinary papillary transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). A 63-year-old man complained of hematuria. A transurethral endoscopic examination revealed a papillary tumor, and transuthetral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-BT) was performed and was diagnosed as ordinary papillary urothelial TCC. Since then, he was treated with TUR-BT eight times. Chemotherapy, radiation, radical cystectomy and lymph nodes dissection were performed 16 years after the first TUR-BT. However, he developed rectal mucosal metastasis. He is now alive 17 years after the first presentation. All the TUR-BT specimens were ordinary papillary TCCs without invasion (pTa). Immunohistochemi...

An orthotopic model of platinum-sensitive high grade serous fallopian tube carcinoma.

International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:36:02 +0100

Authors: Khabele D, Fadare O, Liu AY, Wilson AJ, Wass E, Osteen K, Crispens MA Abstract Fallopian tube carcinoma (FTCA) is a very rare cancer type, but may be a useful platform for investigating high grade serous tumors of the pelvis that originate from a serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) precursor. Metastatic tumors from a patient diagnosed with Stage IIIC high grade serous FTCA (P0) were transplanted via intraperitoneal (IP) injection into a small cohort of mice (passage, P1). Patient information was obtained from the medical record. Tumors were grown, harvested and re-implanted or archived through P3. The P3 cohort was treated with saline (n=8) or cisplatin, 5 mg/kg (n=8), weekly for 4 weeks. After sacrifice, tumors from each passage and treatment group were passaged...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Silver Compounds Found To Be Toxic To Cancer

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

The internet is awash with stories of how silver can be used to treat cancer. Now, lab tests have shown that it is as effective as the leading chemotherapy drug - and may have fewer side-effects. Results from the study at the University of Leeds, published in Dalton Transactions, show that particular silver compounds are as toxic to cancer cells as the platinum-based drug Cisplatin, which is widely used to treat a range of cancers. But the crucial difference is that silver is thought to be much less toxic to healthy human cells, and in some cases, can be beneficial... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Comparative Effectiveness of Oxaliplatin vs Non-Oxaliplatin-containing Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage III Colon Cancer

JNCI — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion The addition of oxaliplatin to 5-FU appears to be associated with better survival among patients receiving adjuvant colon cancer treatment in the community. (Source: JNCI)

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis associated with necrotizing enterocolitis in premature newborns

Pediatric Blood and Cancer — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractHemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a systemic disease resulting from the excessive release of inflammatory cytokines by macrophages under prolonged antigenic stimulation. If untreated, it leads to multiorgan failure and death. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has not previously been associated with HLH. Here we report four preterm infants who were diagnosed with HLH associated with NEC. Two patients received chemotherapy and one survived. The other two infants succumbed to multiorgan failure. These results suggest that NEC may be a common clinical manifestation of HLH in premature neonates. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Source: Pediatric Blood and Cancer)

London Cancer New Drugs Group Rapid Review: SIRT WITH YTTRIUM-90 MICROSPHERES FOR THE THIRD LINE TREATMENT OF LIVER METASTASES FROM COLORECTAL CANCER

NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: London Cancer New Drugs Group Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT; micro-brachytherapy or 'radio-embolisation') is used for the treatment of non-resectable hepatic metastases secondary to colorectal cancer, with limited or no extrahepatic disease. It may be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy. It aims to deliver radiation directly into the metastases, minimising the risk of radiation damage to healthy surrounding tissues. Under local anaesthesia, glass or resin microspheres containing a small radioactive source (yttrium-90) designed to embolise into small vessels around the metastases, are injected into branches of the hepatic artery (usually via a percutaneous femoral approach). In this way the microspheres can be selec...

Metastatic Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: Focus on Therapeutics

Hormone and Metabolic Research — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Horm Metab ResDOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1299707Metastatic pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are rare and challenging tumors. The tumor burden, combined with excessive catecholamine production, predispose to a broad spectrum of complications that range from spinal cord compression to any organ damage, all of which may lead to decreased quality of life and overall survival. Current therapies include surgery, systemic chemotherapy and radiopharmaceutical agents. Surgery is often a preferred therapy because it may cure or allow a long-term remission in patients with locoregional or isolated resectable distant metastases. Additionally, surgery can palliate symptoms related to tumor burden or catecholamine excess. However, in patients for whom surgery is not an option, systemic chemotherapy and rad...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Neuroblastoma - Toddler Lilly MacGlashan riddled with cancer tumours now in remission after pioneering treatment in U.S

the Mail online | Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:50:12 +0100

Lilly MacGlashan, from Dunstable, was 'written off' by doctors in the UK when she relapsed following chemotherapy treatment for a rare cancer. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Long-Term Benefits With Chemoradiation for Bladder CancerLong-Term Benefits With Chemoradiation for Bladder Cancer

Medscape Today Headlines — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:40:28 +0100

An analysis of 6 studies shows that bladder preservation therapy with chemotherapy and high-dose radiation is a viable option for patients with less advanced and less bulky disease. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Certain Cancer Drugs May Have Fatal Side Effects

MedlinePlus Health News — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:00:00 +0100

Risk is very small, but doctors, patients should be made aware, investigators saySource: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Cancer Chemotherapy, Drug Safety (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

Neutropenia Drug Falls Flat for Acute Stroke (CME/CE)

MedPage Today Cardiovascular — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:07:32 +0100

NEW ORLEANS (MedPage Today) -- An agent used to treat chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies had no effect on outcomes for patients with acute ischemic stroke, researchers found. (Source: MedPage Today Cardiovascular)

Validation of the Antiproliferative Effects of Organic Extracts from the Green Husk of Juglans regia L. on PC-3 Human Prostate Cancer Cells by Assessment of Apoptosis-Related Genes

Advances in Urology — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:46:42 +0100

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of walnut green husk extracts on cell proliferation and to determine the possible molecular mechanism of extract-induced cell death by quantifying the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, caspases-3, and Tp53. PC-3 human prostate cancer cells. In this study, we found that green husk extracts suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner by modulating expression of apoptosis-related genes. This involved DNA fragmentation (determined by TUNEL assay) and significant changes in levels of mRNA and the expression of corresponding proteins. An increase in expressions of Bax, caspase-3, and tp53 genes and their corresponding proteins was detected using real-time PCR and western blot analysis in PC-3 cells treated with t...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

PET techniques provide more accurate diagnosis, prognosis in challenging breast cancer cases

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Society of Nuclear Medicine) In two new studies featured in the February issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, researchers are revealing how molecular imaging can be used to solve mysteries about difficult cases of breast cancer. One article focuses on an imaging agent that targets estrogen receptors in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients with formerly inconclusive assessments, and the second highlights a different imaging agent's ability to help predict the prognosis for patients undergoing chemotherapy for a very aggressive type of breast cancer. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Small interfering RNA library screen identified polo-like kinase-1 (PLK1) as a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer that uniquely eliminates tumour-initiating cells

Breast Cancer Research — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Inhibiting PLK1 with siRNA or BI 2536 blocked growth of TNBCs including the CD44high/CD24-/low TIC subpopulation and mammosphere formation. Thus, PLK1 could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of TNBC as well as other subtypes of breast cancer. (Source: Breast Cancer Research)

Malignancy‐associated chylothorax: a 20‐year study of 18 patients from a single institution

European Journal of Cancer Care — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

TENG C‐L., LI K‐W., YU J‐T., HSU S‐L., WANG R‐C. & HWANG W‐L. (2012) European Journal of Cancer Care. Malignancy‐associated chylothorax: a 20‐year study of 18 patients from a single institutionMalignancy‐associated chylothorax is a rare manifestation with uncertain characteristics and clinical significance. We segregated 18 patients into malignant lymphoma (n= 11) and solid malignancy (n= 7) groups to analyse the characteristics, treatment response and prognostic value of malignancy‐associated chylothorax. Diagnosis of chylothorax was confirmed by a triglyceride concentration of >110 mg/dL or by the presence of chylomicrons in the pleural effusion. Concentrations of glucose, protein and lactate dehydrogenase did not differ significantly between the malignant ly...

High-pressure intrapleural chemotherapy: feasibility in the pig model

World Journal of Surgical Oncology — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: High-pressure intrapleural chemotherapy is feasible in pigs. Further experiments will establish the pharmacokinetics and determine whether the benefit already shown in the peritoneum is also obtained in the pleura. (Source: World Journal of Surgical Oncology)

Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Scrotum: Clinicopathologic Analysis of 10 Cases

Dermatologic Surgery — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

ConclusionsBCC of the scrotum is rare. It can metastasize after a long period of initial therapy. Long‐term surveillance including a complete metastatic examination is recommended for these patients. (Source: Dermatologic Surgery)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Personalized treatment of colorectal cancer.

Onkologie — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:58:36 +0100

Authors: Arnold D, Stein A Abstract In the last 15 years, significant progress in the management of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been achieved with several new agents licensed extending median overall survival for stage IV disease to about 2 years. Treatment of CRC is stage-specific, multidisciplinary, and based on patient and tumor characteristics. Although especially early stages (0-III, according to Union for International Cancer Control) are treated with curative intent, patients with limited stage IV disease (liver and/or lung or localized peritoneal metastases) might still be curable in a multimodality approach including surgery, perioperative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Despite the broad variety of prognostic factors, treatment decisions and selection of drugs are mainl...

Personalized therapy in breast cancer.

Onkologie — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:58:36 +0100

Authors: Marmé F, Schneeweiss A Abstract Systemic treatment of non-metastatic breast cancer is based on endocrine therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and molecular targeted therapy - with the major problems of immense overtreatment of patients who would not relapse without systemic therapy and the failure of treatment in others whose disease still recurs. These deficits can only be overcome by the identification of new and better prognostic and predictive markers. Currently, adjuvant treatment stratification is based on a limited number of established factors, namely locoregional tumour stage, age, grade, expression of hormone receptors, HER2, and Ki-67. Molecular profiling techniques, however, have revolutionized our understanding of breast cancer as a heterogeneous disease. Future ...

OGX-427 plus prednisone found effective against prostate cancer

Drug Development Technology — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals has announced the preliminary results from a Phase 2 study of its investigational compound OGX-427, designed for the treatment of chemotherapy-naive patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). (Source: Drug Development Technology)

Adjuvant treatment of early colon cancer with micrometastases: Results of a national survey

Journal of Surgical Oncology — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:13:44 +0100

ConclusionsMM in colon cancer apparently influenced adjuvant treatment decisions absent known prognostic benefit. Prospective trials are needed to improve the selection of patients for systemic chemotherapy in early, node‐negative colon cancer. J. Surg. Oncol © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Source: Journal of Surgical Oncology)

Teen cancer survivor banned from school for growing out hair for Locks of Love

NaturalNews.com — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

After surviving leukemia and grueling chemotherapy, Michigan teen J. T. Gaskins decided to grow out his hair to donate it to Locks of Love for fellow cancer patients. Instead of being praised for his generosity, he has been suspended from high school for violating its... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Huber Needle

About.com Breast Cancer — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Huber needles are used for IV chemotherapy. Your chemo nurse will use a Huber needle to access your implanted port. A Huber needle is designed for patient safety and comfort. Learn about Huber needles here. (Source: About.com Breast Cancer)

Silver packs a punch as chemotherapy drug

New Scientist - Cancer — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:12:23 +0100

Compounds of silver are as effective against breast and colon cancer cells as a leading chemotherapy drug and may result in fewer side effects (Source: New Scientist - Cancer)

[Comment] The 2011 EBCTCG polychemotherapy overview

LANCET — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study comes 35 years after the first report of the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy, and is the 16th publication in the group's 28-year history of bringing together individual patient data from all randomised trials worldwide. (Source: LANCET)

[Articles] Comparisons between different polychemotherapy regimens for early breast cancer: meta-analyses of long-term outcome among 100 000 women in 123 randomised trials

LANCET — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

10-year gains from a one-third breast cancer mortality reduction depend on absolute risks without chemotherapy (which, for oestrogen-receptor-positive disease, are the risks remaining with appropriate endocrine therapy). Low absolute risk implies low absolute benefit, but information was lacking about tumour gene expression markers or quantitative immunohistochemistry that might help to predict risk, chemosensitivity, or both. (Source: LANCET)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Breast cancer: The moving moment a six-year-old girl clips her cancer-stricken mother's hair to prepare her for chemotherapy

the Mail online | Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:27:44 +0100

In the intimate video Lola Etchells, 6, is also shown shaving the head of her mother Sara, 44, from Greater Manchester, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last September. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Efficacy, Safety, and Potential Biomarkers of Thalidomide plus Metronomic Chemotherapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Karger Publishers — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:00:00 +0100

Oncology 2012;82:59–66 (DOI:10.1159/000336126) (Source: Karger Publishers)

Prospective cohort study of radiotherapy with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy for glioblastoma patients with no or minimal residual enhancing tumor load after surgery

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:53:11 +0100

Abstract Survival of glioblastoma patients has been linked to the completeness of surgical resection. Available data, however, were generated with adjuvant radiotherapy. Data confirming that extensive cytoreduction remains beneficial to patients treated with the current standard, concomitant temozolomide radiochemotherapy, are limited. We therefore analyzed the efficacy of radiochemotherapy for patients with little or no residual tumor after surgery. In this prospective, non-interventional multicenter cohort study, entry criteria were histological diagnosis of glioblastoma, small enhancing or no residual tumor on post-operative MRI, and intended temozolomide radiochemotherapy. The primary study objective was progression-free survival; secondary study objectives were surviv...

Pediatric spinal glioblastoma multiforme: current treatment strategies and possible predictors of survival

Child's Nervous System — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:50:26 +0100

Conclusions Tumor location, presence of a cyst, gross total resection, and younger age are possible predictors of prolonged survival. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy remain widely used. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original PaperPages 1-6DOI 10.1007/s00381-012-1705-0Authors Chiagozie Ononiwu, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Harvey Bldg, Room 811, 600N, Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USAVivek Mehta, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Harvey Bldg, Room 811, 600N, Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USAChetan Bettegowda, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Harvey Bldg, Room 811, 600N, Wolfe ...

Gemcitabine in combination with vinorelbine in elderly patients with anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:12:25 +0100

Conclusion Gemcitabine in combination with vinorelbine is active and safe in elderly patients with anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-8DOI 10.1007/s00280-012-1830-1Authors Ningning Dong, Key laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Medical Oncology Department, Peking University School of Oncology, Beijing Cancer Hospital & Institute, 52 Fucheng Rd, Beijing, 100142 ChinaMingyu Wang, Chemotherapy Department, Shandong Tumor Hospital and Institute, 440 Jiyan Rd, Jinan, 250117 ChinaHuiqing Li, Epidemiology Department, Institute of Basic Medicine, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 18877 Jingshi Rd, Jinan, 250062 ChinaYongchun Cui, Clinical Tr...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Lung Tumor Grows, but Must Chemo Change?Lung Tumor Grows, but Must Chemo Change?

Medscape Today Headlines — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:49:43 +0100

Dr. Mark Kris discusses cancer progression, as defined by RECIST criteria, and the situations in which increased tumor size in NSCLC need not prompt a change in standard chemotherapy. Medscape Hematology-Oncology (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic characteristics of Haemophilus influenzae isolated from community-acquired respiratory tract infection patients in Shanghai City, China

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:22:05 +0100

In this study we investigated 37 H. influenzae strains isolated from patients with community-acquired respiratory tract infections (CARTI) in Shanghai city between Dec 2008 and Apr 2009. H. influenzae clinical isolates were identified, and β-lactamase production tests were conducted and minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were measured. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was introduced as an effective fingerprinting method. Two isolates (5.4%) were verified as serotype b strains, and 30 strains (81.1%) were nontypeable H. influenzae. Furthermore, 10 (27.0%) were β-lactamase-producing ampicillin-resistance (BLPAR) (TEM-1 type) strains, 11 (29.8%) were low-β-lactamase-nonproducing ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae (Low-BLNAR) strains, and the rest were β-lactamase-negative...

Should urologists care for the pharyngeal infection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis when we treat male urethritis?

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:22:04 +0100

Abstract Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) or Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) from the pharynx of women or men is not uncommon. However, there is no recommendation how urologists should care for the pharyngeal infection of men with urethritis in Japan. The aim of this study is to clarify the prevalence of NG or CT infection in the pharynx of men and to show a recommendation for urologists. The Japanese reports about the detection of NG or CT from the pharynx or the oral cavity of men in Japan are reviewed in the literature from 1990 to 2011. The prevalence of NG or CT in the pharynx was 4% or 6% in men who attended clinics, and 20% or 6% in men who were positive for NG or CT from genital specimens, respectively. Single 1-g dose ceftriaxone was recommended to treat pharynge...

Aggressive Management of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis from Mucinous Appendiceal Neoplasms

Annals of Surgical Oncology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:21:20 +0100

Conclusions Aggressive management of PC from mucinous appendiceal neoplasms, by experienced surgeons, to achieve complete cytoreduction provides long-term survival with low major morbidity. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Regional Cancer TherapiesPages 1-8DOI 10.1245/s10434-012-2241-6Authors Frances Austin, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USAArun Mavanur, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USAMagesh Sathaiah, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USAJennifer Steel, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USADiana Lenzner, Biostatistics Facility, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USALekshmi Ramali...

Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Peritoneal Sarcomatosis

Annals of Surgical Oncology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:21:20 +0100

Conclusions A complete cytoreduction and low PCI score appear to be important factors in considering CRS and HIPEC for patients with peritoneal sarcomatosis. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Regional Cancer TherapiesPages 1-6DOI 10.1245/s10434-012-2240-7Authors George I. Salti, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USALuay Ailabouni, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USASamir Undevia, Division of Hematology and Oncology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA Journal Annals of Surgical OncologyOnline ISSN 1534-4681Print ISSN 1068-9265 (Source: Annals of Surgical Oncology)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Cytoreductive Surgery with Selective Versus Complete Parietal Peritonectomy Followed by Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Patients with Diffuse Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma: A Controlled Study

Annals of Surgical Oncology — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:21:17 +0100

Conclusions CPP improved survival in patients with DMPM undergoing combined treatment. This information may contribute to standardize surgical options for DMPM and other peritoneal malignancies. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Regional Cancer TherapiesPages 1-9DOI 10.1245/s10434-012-2237-2Authors Dario Baratti, Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, ItalyShigeki Kusamura, Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, ItalyAntonello Domenico Cabras, Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, ItalyMarcello Deraco, Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy Journal Annals of Surgical OncologyOnline ISSN 1534-4681Print ISSN 1068...

HDAC5 is required for maintenance of pericentric heterochromatin, and controls cell-cycle progression and survival of human cancer cells

Cell Death and Differentiation — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: P Peixoto, V Castronovo, N Matheus, C Polese, O Peulen, A Gonzalez, M Boxus, E Verdin, M Thiry, F Dequiedt & D Mottet (Source: Cell Death and Differentiation)

Draft NICE guidance says more evidence needed on new test to guide breast cancer treatment decisions

NeLM - News — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: NICE Area: News NICE has published draft guidance from their Diagnostics Assessment Programme on four tests used to guide decisions about the use of chemotherapy in women with early breast cancer. The four tests evaluated in the draft guidance measure the presence of multiple markers within the tumour that may indicate how the tumour is likely to progress. Used in conjunction with other available information such as tumour size and grade, they aim to improve the targeting of chemotherapy in breast cancer by improving the stratification and identification of patients who are most likely to benefit from chemotherapy. The rationale is based on the knowledge that certain biological features of cancers may indicate an increased likelihood of rapid growth and metastatic potential. ...

Copper-transporting P-type adenosine triphosphatase (ATP7A) is associated with platinum-resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Journal of Translational Medicine — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: ATP7A overexpression played an important role in platinum-resistance of NSCLC, and was a negative prognostic factor of NSCLC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. (Source: Journal of Translational Medicine)

miR-30a Sensitizes Tumor Cells to cis-Platinum [Cell Biology]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, our results demonstrate for the first time that miR-30a can sensitize tumor cells to cis-DDP via reducing beclin 1-mediated autophagy and that increasing miR-30a level in tumor cells represents a novel approach to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy during cancer treatment. (Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

PARP1 Poisoning Sensitizes to Topoisomerase I Inhibitors [Cell Biology]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this study we evaluated the ability of the PARP inhibitor veliparib to enhance the cytotoxicity of the topoisomerase I poisons topotecan and camptothecin (CPT). Veliparib increased the cell cycle and cytotoxic effects of topotecan in multiple cell line models. Importantly, this sensitization occurred at veliparib concentrations far below those required to substantially inhibit poly(ADP-ribose) polymer synthesis and at least an order of magnitude lower than those involved in selective killing of homologous recombination-deficient cells. Further studies demonstrated that veliparib enhanced the effects of CPT in wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) but not Parp1−/− MEFs, confirming that PARP1 is the critical target for this sensitization. Importantly, parental and Parp1−/− ...

Silver bullet for cancer: Metal can kill some tumours better than chemotherapy with fewer side effects

the Mail online | Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:00:57 +0100

Scientists say that old wives tales about the precious metal being a ‘silver bullet’ to beat the Big C could be true. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Targeted Therapy in Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma in Children and Adolescents

Current Oncology Reports — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:17:02 +0100

Abstract Pediatric soft-tissue and bone sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors of mesenchymal origin which affect approximately 1,500 children in the United States each year. Using multimodal therapy (surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy), the overall 5-year survival rate for children with soft-tissue and bone sarcomas is approximately 60%–70%. However, the prognosis for children with metastatic or recurrent disease is poor; and, furthermore, the improvements in the overall cure rate have slowed. It is highly unlikely that further advances in the treatment of pediatric soft-tissue and bone sarcomas will come from traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy. Based on research advances in understanding the biology of pediatric soft-tissue and bone sarcomas, improved cure rate...

Recovery of visual function in patient with melanoma-associated retinopathy treated with surgical resection and interferon-beta

Documenta Ophthalmologica — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:16:47 +0100

We report on a 33-year-old woman who was treated for a cutaneous malignant melanoma on a left finger by surgical resection and chemotherapy including local injections of interferon-beta in 2007. In March 2009, the melanoma had metastasized to her left hand, and she underwent metastasectomy and monthly local injections of interferon-beta. She developed shimmering vision, photopsia, blurred vision, and night blindness in her left eye in April 2009 and visited our clinic. At our initial examination, her best-corrected visual acuity was 1.5 OD and 1.2 OS, and ophthalmoscopy showed that the retina appeared normal in both eyes. However, there was a mild narrowing of retinal arteries in the left eye. Humphrey field analyzer (HFA) showed a reduction in retinal sensitivity within the central ...

Endotracheal metastasis from basaloid squamous carcinoma of the esophagus

Esophagus — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:15:46 +0100

We describe a rare case of metachronous endotracheal metastasis originating from esophageal basaloid squamous carcinoma. A 72-year-old Japanese man underwent esophagectomy for stage I esophageal cancer. Pathological diagnosis of the resected specimen was basaloid squamous carcinoma. One year later, a follow-up computed tomography scan displayed a tumor shadow in the tracheal wall. Bronchoscopy revealed a protruding tumor in the tracheal wall, and the pathologic diagnosis of the biopsy specimen was also basaloid squamous carcinoma. According to the diagnosis of metachronous endobronchial metastasis from esophageal basaloid squamous carcinoma, we treated the patient with chemotherapy comprising docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil followed by chemoradiotherapy, and complete respons...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Kinetics of blood CD34+ cells after chemotherapy plus G-CSF in poor mobilizers: Implications for pre-emptive plerixafor use

Annals of Hematology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:15:06 +0100

Abstract Mobilization and collection of stem cells is difficult in a proportion of patients intended for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). We have evaluated mobilization kinetics of blood CD34+ cells (B-CD34+) to form basis for algorithm to facilitate rational pre-emptive plerixafor use. Altogether 390 chemomobilized patients were included. Forty-three patients (11%) did not reach B-CD34+ count ≥10 × 106/l. Mobilization kinetics differed according to the mobilization capacity observed. Among those who were very poor or inadequate mobilizers (peak B-CD34+ count ≤5 × 106/l and 6–10 × 106/l, respectively), B-CD34+ counts rarely rose after white blood cells (WBC) >5–10 × 109/l, whereas in many standard mobilizers a later rise in CD34+ cou...

Yersinia enterocolitica bacteremia and enterocolitis in a previously healthy 20-month-old girl

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:14:00 +0100

Abstract Yersinia enterocolitica is a gram-negative bacillus that can cause illness ranging from a self-limiting enterocolitis to life-threatening bacteremia. Y. enterocolitica biotype 1B, serotype O:8 (1B/O:8), is the most pathogenic of the Yersinia species because of the presence of the high-pathogenicity island and the Yersinia virulence plasmid (pYV). Here, we report a pediatric case of Y. enterocolitica 1B/O:8 bacteremia and enterocolitis. A 20-month-old girl was admitted to hospital with fever, pharyngitis, and abdominal pain on day 2. Blood culture on admission was positive for Y. enterocolitica 1B/O:8. Stool culture on day 5 after cefotaxime treatment was also positive for Y. enterocolitica 1B/O:8, but only after cold enrichment at 4°C for 3 weeks. PC...

A phase II trial of Erlotinib in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin in advanced pancreatic cancer

Investigational New Drugs — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:12:11 +0100

Conclusion The triple regimen of GPT is effective for APC. Treatment-related mortalities factored early closure of this GPT protocol. Considering effect and toxicity, this triple regimen seems to offer few benefits to the patients compared with gemcitabine-based doublets. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00922896). Content Type Journal ArticleCategory PHASE II STUDIESPages 1-6DOI 10.1007/s10637-012-9792-zAuthors In Gyu Hwang, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 224 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of KoreaJoung-Soon Jang, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 224 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of KoreaSung Yong Oh, Department of Medicine, Dong-A University College of Med...

Pharmacokinetics and tissue and tumor exposure of CP-31398, a p53-stabilizing agent, in rats

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:11:01 +0100

Conclusions CP-31398 is bioavailable and has a relatively long elimination half-life, which supports the achievement of plasma steady-state levels with a once daily dosing regimen. CP-31398 exhibits a dramatically high volume of distribution, which is consistent with its tissue concentrations being much higher than corresponding plasma levels. It is accumulated in colon tumor tissues, albeit at lower concentrations than found in liver, skin, and colon. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-6DOI 10.1007/s00280-011-1811-9Authors Izet M. Kapetanovic, Chemopreventive Agent Development Research Group, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, 6130 Executive Blvd., Rm. 2116, Bethesda, MD 20892, USAMiguel Muzzio, Life Sciences Group,...

Predicting platinum resistance in primary advanced ovarian cancer patients with an in vitro resistance index

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:11:01 +0100

Conclusions This in vitro assay predicted primary platinum resistance, without misclassification of sensitive OC patients, and the results were significantly associated with PFS. We suggest that samples from primary tumor and metastatic samples have different responses to chemotherapy and that exposure to chemotherapy might induce in vitro platinum resistance. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-8DOI 10.1007/s00280-012-1835-9Authors Thea Eline Hetland, Departement of Gynecologic Oncology, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, NorwayJanne Kærn, Departement of Gynecologic Oncology, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, NorwayMartina Skrede, Departement of Pathology, Norwegian Radium Hospital...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Optimization of patient selection for EGFR-TKIs in advanced non-small cell lung cancer by combined analysis of KRAS, PIK3CA, MET, and non-sensitizing EGFR mutations

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:11:01 +0100

Conclusions When KRAS, PIK3CA, MET, and non-sensitizing EGFR mutations are concomitant, up to 96.0% of NSCLC patients unlikely to respond to TKIs can be identified, and they represented independent negative prognostic factors. Comprehensive molecular dissection of EGFR signaling pathways should be considered to select advanced NSCLC patients for TKIs therapies. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-11DOI 10.1007/s00280-012-1829-7Authors V. Ludovini, Medical Oncology Division, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, 1, Via G. Dottori, 06132 Perugia, ItalyF. Bianconi, Department of Electronic and Information Engineering, University of Perugia, Perugia, ItalyL. Pistola, Medical Oncology Division, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, 1, Via G. Dott...

RRM1 and ERCC1 expression in peripheral blood versus tumor tissue in gemcitabine/carboplatin-treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:11:00 +0100

Conclusions Advanced NSCLC patients with low RRM1 mRNA expression both in peripheral blood and in tumor tissue could benefit from gemcitabine/carboplatin chemotherapy. ERCC1 mRNA expression in tumor tissue may be a predictive and prognostic indicator in advanced NSCLC patients receiving gemcitabine/carboplatin chemotherapy. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-11DOI 10.1007/s00280-012-1834-xAuthors Guo Bing Zhang, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qing Chun Street, Hangzhou, 310003 People’s Republic of ChinaJian Chen, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qing Chun Street, Hangzhou, 310003 People’s Republic of Chin...

Non-alkylating chemotherapy carried little risk for premature ovarian failure among HL survivors

HemOncToday.com — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:19:00 +0100

van der Kaaij MA. J Clin Oncol. 2012;30:291-299. (Source: HemOncToday.com)

A Phase II Study of Capecitabine plus Oxaliplatin as First-Line Chemotherapy in Elderly Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer

Chemotherapy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:48:14 +0100

Chemotherapy 2012;58:1–7 (DOI:10.1159/000335585) (Source: Chemotherapy)

A silver bullet to beat cancer?

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Leeds) The internet is awash with stories of how silver can be used to treat cancer. Now, lab tests have shown that it is as effective as the leading chemotherapy drug - and may have fewer side-effects. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Sanford-Burnham researchers find molecular switch that allows melanoma to resist therapy

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute) In a paper published Feb. 3 in Cell, researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute identified a molecular switch that controls the protein Activating Transcription Factor 2 (ATF2), which is associated with poor prognosis in melanoma. This switch is controlled by protein kinase Cε (PKCε), which disables ATF2's tumor-suppressing activities, sensitizing cells to chemotherapy; Instead, ATF2's tumor-promoting activity is enhanced. The team also found that high levels of PKCε in melanoma are associated with poor prognosis. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Positive phase III data on prostate cancer drug MDV3100 to be presented at conference

NeLM - News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: BioSpace Area: News Medivation, Inc. and Astellas Pharma Inc. have announced positive results on all efficacy endpoints from the phase III AFFIRM trial of the investigational drug MDV3100, an oral once daily androgen receptor signaling inhibitor, in men with prostate cancer previously treated with chemotherapy. Findings include the following: . Men taking MDV3100 lived for a median of 18.4 months, compared with 13.6 months for men taking placebo (p<0.0001; hazard ratio [HR] =0.631). . MDV3100 also met all secondary endpoints, including radiographic progression-free survival (8.3 vs. 2.9 months; p < 0.0001; HR=0.404), soft tissue response rate (28.9% vs. 3.8%; p < 0.0001) and time to PSA progression (8.3 vs. 3.0 months; p <...

Predictive factors for inadequate stem cell mobilization in Chinese patients with NHL and HL: 14‐year experience of a single‐center study

Journal of Clinical Apheresis — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Our analysis showed that high amounts of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, low platelet count, chemosensitive recurrent patients, combination chemotherapy plus G‐CSF and low CD34+ cells in BM prior to mobilization could emerged as important predictive factors for mobilization failure in Chinese patients with NHL and HL. J. Clin. Apheresis, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Source: Journal of Clinical Apheresis)

Acquired Antithrombin Type IIb Deficiency After Liver Transplantation: A Case Report

American Journal of Transplantation — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A 3‐year‐old girl with multifocal hepatoblastoma was referred to our clinic for living‐donor liver transplantation, the patient's father being the donor. Pretransplant evaluation revealed that the father presented partial asymptomatic antithrombin (AT) deficiency, with no inherited AT deficiency found in the girl. The genetic testing showed an AT type IIb deficiency responsible for a defect in the heparin‐binding region of AT which is less thrombogenic but more common than the other AT qualitative defects. Her mother was ABO incompatible. Despite the thrombophilia on the father's side, transplantation was successfully performed under replacement therapy with intravenous AT concentrate and low‐molecular‐weight heparin thromboprophylaxis given to both the recipient and the donor....

Orphan receptor TR3 participates in cisplatin-induced apoptosis via Chk2 phosphorylation to repress intestinal tumorigenesis

Carcinogenesis — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Cisplatin is a widely used antitumor agent that induces aggressive cancer cell death via triggering cellular proteins involved in apoptosis. Here, we demonstrate that cisplatin effectively induces orphan nuclear receptor TR3 phosphorylation by activating Chk2 kinase activity and promoting cross talk between these two proteins, thereby contributing to the repression of intestinal tumorigenesis via apoptosis. Mechanistic analysis has demonstrated that Chk2-induced phosphorylation enables TR3 to bind to its response elements on the promoters of the BRE and RNF-7 genes, leading to the negative regulation of these two anti-apoptotic genes. Furthermore, the induction of apoptosis by cisplatin is mediated by TR3, and knockdown of TR3 reduces cisplatin-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells by 27...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Clinicopathologic study of E-cadherin/ beta-catenin complex, and topoisomerase-II in liposarcomas in a series of 71 cases

World Journal of Surgical Oncology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: :Liposarcomas do not express E-cadherin, which matches the absence of epithelioid differentiation in this sarcoma subtype, and have low topoisomerase II-alpha expression, which justifies to some extend their resistance to anthracycline-based chemotherapy. (Source: World Journal of Surgical Oncology)

Expression of putative stem marker nestin and CD133 in advanced serous ovarian cancer.

Neoplasma — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The objective of the studies was to explore if the stem cell biomarkers could be used to predict the tumor chemotherapy-resistance in serous ovarian cancer patients. Expression of two putative stem cell markers CD133 and nestin, and vascular epithelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were detected in 123 cases of advanced serous ovarian cancer specimens by immunohistochemistry. To estimate intra-tumoral microvessel density (MVD), CD34 immunostaining was also performed. CD133 and nestin were defined to be positive in 35.0% and 32.5% of the serous ovarian carcinoma tissues, respectively. It was observed that overexpression of nestin but not CD133 was associated with the cisplatin-based chemotherapy resistance and shorter overall survival of the patients, and ...

MDV3100 shows efficacy against prostate cancer

Drug Development Technology — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Medivation and Astellas Pharma have announced the positive results from the Phase 3 AFFIRM trial of the investigational drug MDV3100 in men with prostate cancer previously treated with chemotherapy. (Source: Drug Development Technology)

Emerging Therapeutic Targets in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Current Treatment Options in Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:13:31 +0100

Opinion statement The standard front-line treatment of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) remains Rituximab combined with multi-agent cytotoxic chemotherapy. In spite of high response rates to this therapy, relapsed/refractory disease is observed in up to 40% of patients. It is our opinion that additional chemoimmunotherapy, followed by high-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplant (HDT-ASCT) for responsive disease, is the optimal therapy for these patients. However, many patients cannot tolerate HDT-ASCT, or have relapsed/refractory disease in spite of it. These patients have a poor overall prognosis, and there is no clear consensus as to how these patients should be treated. Over the past decade, significant advances have been made in the understanding of the...

A basic in vitro study on effective conservative combined therapy for malignant tumors

Oral Radiology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:11:21 +0100

Conclusions These results suggest that the combined use of radiation, 43°C heat, and docetaxel will improve the therapeutic efficacy against malignant tumors by increasing sensitization to the antitumor effects of each therapy. The results also suggest that it is possible to reduce the dosage of the individual therapies in combination therapy. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-7DOI 10.1007/s11282-012-0081-5Authors Takashi Sakurai, Division of Radiology, Department of Maxillofacial Diagnostic Science, Kanagawa Dental College, 82 Inaoka, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 238-8580, JapanMasahiro Hara, Division of Radiology, Department of Maxillofacial Diagnostic Science, Kanagawa Dental College, 82 Inaoka, Yokosuka, Kanagawa 238-8580, JapanRyota Kawamata, ...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Non-platinum regimens of gemcitabine plus docetaxel versus platinum-based regimens in first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis on 9 randomized controlled trials

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:10:03 +0100

Conclusions GD acquired similar survival with platinum-based regimens in first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC. Platinum-based regimens had an advantage in TTP and ORR with more grade 3–4 nausea/vomiting, anemia, neutropenia and febrile neutropenia compared with GD. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-11DOI 10.1007/s00280-012-1833-yAuthors Yong Yu, Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 1055 SanXiang Road, Suzhou, 215004 ChinaXun Xu, Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 1055 SanXiang Road, Suzhou, 215004 ChinaZiyan Du, Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 1055 SanXiang Roa...

9-Year-Old Girl Heading Home After 6 Organ Transplant At Children’s Hospital

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:14:26 +0100

BOSTON (AP) — A 9-year-old Maine girl is heading home after a groundbreaking multiple organ transplant at Children’s Hospital Boston. Alannah Shevenell of Hollis underwent 14 hours of surgery in October to remove an aggressive tumor and to undergo a transplant of her stomach, pancreas, spleen, liver, small bowel and esophagus. Hospital officials say it was the first known esophageal transplant in the world and the largest number of organs transplanted into a person at one time in New England. Alannah was diagnosed with a rare former of cancer when she was 4. The tumor snaked and twisted itself around her internal organs, choking the life out of them. It didn’t respond to chemotherapy or surgery to get rid of it. Even the transplant was risky. Alannah is scheduled to come Wedn...

Defects In The Packaging Of DNA In Malignant Brain Tumors

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Glioblastomas grow extremely aggressively into healthy brain tissue and, moreover, are highly resistant to radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Therefore, they are regarded as the most malignant type of brain tumor. Currently available treatment methods are frequently not very effective against this type of cancer. Glioblastoma can affect people of all ages, but is less common in children than in adults... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Adjuvant chemotherapy decreases and postpones distant metastasis in extremity stage IIB/III synovial sarcoma patients

Journal of Surgical Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

[Editorial] Ovarian cancer: breaking the silence

The Lancet Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The heterogeneous nature of cancer makes it a very difficult disease to manage. Although great progress has been made against many types of cancer (as highlighted by recent mortality data from the American Cancer Society), treatment of others has shown little change in the past few decades. Ovarian cancer, for example, has traditionally lagged behind: recent research, however, is starting to provide a better outlook for women with this cancer. Two phase 3 clinical trials published in December, 2011, in the New England Journal of Medicine ( GOG018 and ICON7) showed that women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer given concomitant bevacizumab with a paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy regimen following surgery, and then maintenance bevacizumab, had significantly longer progressio...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

[Comment] Don't pick the loser: lessons from the GeparQuinto trial

The Lancet Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In The Lancet Oncology, Michael Untch and colleagues report the first efficacy results from the GeparQuinto (GBG 44) study, a randomised phase 3 trial of lapatinib versus trastuzumab in combination with neoadjuvant anthracycline-based and taxane-based chemotherapy. 620 women with HER2-positive operable or locally advanced breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive lapatinib (a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor of HER1 and HER2) or trastuzumab (a monoclonal antibody to the HER2 receptor), concurrent with a planned regimen of four cycles of an anthracycline (epirubicin 90 mg/m2 plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2) followed by four cycles of a taxane (docetaxel 100 mg/m2). (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

[Comment] Easing acceleration of head and neck chemoradiotherapy

The Lancet Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In the past 20 years, management of locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer has evolved from often devastating surgical resection towards radiotherapy, intensified either by altered fractionation or by addition of concurrent chemotherapy, with the aim of cure with functional preservation of organs. A key expectation was that intensification of radiotherapy would result in improved outcomes for patients, which would justify any extra morbidity. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

[Comment] Biliary-tract cancer: improving therapy by adding molecularly targeted agents

The Lancet Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Until recently, for most patients, biliary-tract cancer could be managed only by supportive care, with resection possible in a few individuals. In parallel with improved surgical procedures and a multidisciplinary approach, oncological treatment has evolved and now offers options with survival benefit. The continued improvement of systemic treatment is an exciting research topic with great potential. Various chemotherapy treatments, including gemcitabine, result in better outcomes than supportive care, and combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and a platinum-based agent is even more efficacious than gemcitabine alone. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

[Comment] Renaissance of autologous stem cell transplantation for AML?

The Lancet Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

After intensive induction chemotherapy, 70–80% of young adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) achieve complete remission (CR); however, without additional treatment, most will relapse within a few months. Accordingly, the aim of post-remission treatment (PRT) is to eradicate residual disease, which persists after induction and is not detectable at examination of the bone marrow morphology. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

[News] NICE guidance on rituximab for first-line treatment of symptomatic stage III–IV follicular lymphoma in previously untreated patients

The Lancet Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

On 25 Jan, 2012, the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published guidance recommending the use of rituximab in combination with certain chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of symptomatic stage III–IV follicular lymphoma in previously untreated patients. The chemotherapy regimens listed were: cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone (CVP); cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP); mitoxantrone, chlorambucil, and prednisolone (MCP); cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, etoposide, pred-nisolone and interferon α (CHVPi); and chlorambucil. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

[News] Birth defects in offspring of cancer survivors investigated

The Lancet Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Survivors of childhood cancer treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy with alkylating agents are not more likely to have children with birth defects, according to a large study by scientists working with the US-based Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

[Articles] Lapatinib versus trastuzumab in combination with neoadjuvant anthracycline-taxane-based chemotherapy (GeparQuinto, GBG 44): a randomised phase 3 trial

The Lancet Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This direct comparison of trastuzumab and lapatinib showed that pathological complete response rate with chemotherapy and lapatinib was significantly lower than that with chemotherapy and trastuzumab. Unless long-term outcome data show different results, lapatinib should not be used outside of clinical trials as single anti-HER2-treatment in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

[Articles] Concomitant chemoradiotherapy versus acceleration of radiotherapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy in locally advanced head and neck carcinoma (GORTEC 99-02): an open-label phase 3 randomised trial

The Lancet Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Chemotherapy has a substantial treatment effect given concomitantly with radiotherapy and acceleration of radiotherapy cannot compensate for the absence of chemotherapy. We noted the most favourable outcomes for conventional chemoradiotherapy, suggesting that acceleration of radiotherapy is probably not beneficial in concomitant chemoradiotherapy schedules. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

[Articles] Concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus adjuvant chemotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a phase 3 multicentre randomised controlled trial

The Lancet Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Adjuvant cisplatin and fluorouracil chemotherapy did not significantly improve failure-free survival after concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Longer follow-up is needed to fully assess survival and late toxic effects, but such regimens should not, at present, be used outside well-designed clinical trials. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

[Articles] Sequential treatment with rituximab followed by CHOP chemotherapy in adult B-cell post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD): the prospective international multicentre phase 2 PTLD-1 trial

The Lancet Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Our results support the use of sequential immunochemotherapy with rituximab and CHOP in PTLD. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

p53-Independent, Normal Stem Cell Sparing Epigenetic Differentiation Therapy for Myeloid and Other Malignancies

Seminars in Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Cytotoxic chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) usually produces only temporary remissions, at the cost of significant toxicity and risk for death. One fundamental reason for treatment failure is that it is designed to activate apoptosis genes (eg, TP53) that may be unavailable because of mutation or deletion. Unlike deletion of apoptosis genes, genes that mediate cell cycle exit by differentiation are present in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and AML cells but are epigenetically repressed: MDS/AML cells express high levels of key lineage-specifying transcription factors. Mutations in these transcription factors (eg, CEBPA) or their cofactors (eg., RUNX1) affect transactivation function and produce epigenetic repression of late-differentiation genes that antagonize MYC. Importantly...

Effect of biliary drainage on chemotherapy in patients with biliary tract cancer: an exploratory analysis of the BT22 study

HPB: official journal of the International Hepato Pancreat Biliary Association — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Biliary drainage before chemotherapy did not affect the therapeutic efficacy or tolerability of chemotherapy using G or GC. (Source: HPB: official journal of the International Hepato Pancreat Biliary Association)

Into and out of Africa – taking over from Denis Burkitt

British Journal of Haematology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryDenis Burkitt's description of the eponymous lymphoma in 1958 in Uganda, opened up a vast and important field of enquiry in haematology and oncology. His pioneering experiments with chemotherapy demonstrated the possibility of cure, often with a single dose. His geographical explorations showed the tumour to be delimited by climate, suggesting an infectious cause vectored by mosquitoes. His clinical observations furthered the field of cancer immunotherapy. And his collegial, inquisitive nature facilitated the development of an enduring cancer research centre in Kampala. Burkitt's legacy in Uganda has wide‐reaching effects that endure not only in Uganda but also throughout the haematology‐oncology community to this day. (Source: British Journal of Haematology)

Intermittent Granulocyte‐Colony Stimulating Factor (G‐CSF) maintains dose intensity after ABVD therapy complicated by neutropenia

European Journal of Haematology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Bone scale helps determine response to prostate Ca treatment

Modern Medicine — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A scale used to measure bone metastases has been found useful in determining whether some prostate cancer patients are responding to chemotherapy, report researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York. (Source: Modern Medicine)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Long‐term outcomes of epiphyseal preservation and reconstruction with inactivated bone for distal femoral osteosarcoma of children

Orthopaedic Surgery — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Inactivated bone reimplantation with preservation of the epiphysis for distal femoral osteosarcomas in children optimizes recovery of limb function and preservation of limb length. The main measures for improving clinical outcomes include preoperative analysis of the lesion's boundaries and extent of tumor invasion, bone grafting between inactivated and host bone, and timely treatment of complications. (Source: Orthopaedic Surgery)

Primary granulocytic sarcoma of the peritoneum: a case report and literature review.

Annales de Biologie Clinique — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

We report the case of a 20 years old man without particular previous pathologies, which brutally presented an ascitic syndrome in a context of health impairment state. The laparoscopy showes many white nodules on all the peritoneum. The histologic examination of one of these nodules showed granulocytic sarcoma. The blood and bone marrow cell count are without any anomaly. The treatment consisted of a standard acute myeloid leukaemia's chemotherapy with very good evolution. The rarity of peritoneal chloroma causes a diagnostic problem, especially in the absence of hematologic abnormalities. It must be mentioned in the presence of peritoneal nodules even if the blood count and bone marrow are normal. PMID: 22294142 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Annales de Biologie Clinique...

High-dose therapy with autologous stem cell transplantation versus chemotherapy or immuno-chemotherapy for follicular lymphoma in adults

NeLM - Disease Focused Reviews — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: Cochrane Library Area: Evidence > Disease Focused Reviews Background Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent and second most common Non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma (NHL) in the Western world. Standard treatment usually includes rituximab and chemotherapy. High-dose therapy (HDT) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is an option for patients in advanced stages or for second-line therapy, leading to improved progression-free survival (PFS) rates. However, the impact of HDT and ASCT remains unclear, as there are hints of an increased risk of second cancers. Objectives We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing HDT plus ASCT with chemotherapy or immuno-chemotherapy in patien...

Zonation related function and ubiquitination regulation in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in dynamic vs. static culture conditions

BMC Genomics - Latest articles — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Pathways analysis, using gene and protein expression data from two cell culture models, confirmed specific human HCC phenotypes with regard to CYPs and kinases, and revealed a zonation-related pattern of expression. Ubiquitin-mediated regulation mechanism gives plausible explanations of our findings. Altogether, our results suggest that strategies aimed at inhibiting activated kinases and signaling pathways may lead to enhanced metabolism-mediated drug resistance of treated tumors. If that were the case, mitigating inhibition or targeting inactive forms of kinases would be an alternative. (Source: BMC Genomics - Latest articles)

Clinical significance of circulating interleukin‐23 as a prognostic factor in breast cancer patients

Journal of Cellular Biochemistry — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

DiscussionThis work investigated, for the first time, the role of IL‐23 in breast cancer patients showing a significant increase respect the control group. However, further validations are needed in larger studies to better investigate the implications of IL‐23 increase in these patients. J. Cell. Biochem. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Source: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Automatic Detection and Segmentation of Lymph Nodes From CT Data

IEE Transactions on Medical Imaging — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Lymph nodes are assessed routinely in clinical practice and their size is followed throughout radiation or chemotherapy to monitor the effectiveness of cancer treatment. This paper presents a robust learning-based method for automatic detection and segmentation of solid lymph nodes from CT data, with the following contributions. First, it presents a learning based approach to solid lymph node detection that relies on marginal space learning to achieve great speedup with virtually no loss in accuracy. Second, it presents a computationally efficient segmentation method for solid lymph nodes (LN). Third, it introduces two new sets of features that are effective for LN detection, one that self-aligns to high gradients and another set obtained from the segmentation result. The method is evaluat...

Fish Oil Supplement Alters Markers of Inflammatory and Nutritional Status in Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Nutrition and Cancer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study aims at investigating whether there are changes in inflammation markers and/or in nutritional status of patients with colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy who were supplemented with fish oil. The clinical trial was conducted with 23 patients randomly distributed in 2 groups. The supplemented group (SG) consumed 2 g of fish oil containing 600 milligrams of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for 9 wk. Nutritional and inflammatory markers status was available, both at a baseline (M0), and after 9 wk of chemotherapy (M9) in the SG and in the nonsupplemented group (NSG). Statistical analysis was conducted with STATA 11.0 software. SG and NSG presented the same baseline characteristics (P > 0.05). Nutritional status indicators such as body mass index an...

Right axillosubclavian vein thrombosis resolved by percutaneous rheolytic thrombectomy in a patient with a recurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumour undergoing imatinib mesylate treatment.

Phlebology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

We report a patient with a recurrent GIST who was receiving maintenance imatinib yet developed a right axillosubclavian vein thrombotic occlusion. The occluded vein was unresponsive to systemic anticoagulation but was reopened by percutaneous rheolytic thrombectomy and has shown good long-term patency. Thus, for patients with recurrent GIST undergoing imatinib therapy, axillosubclavian vein thrombosis might manifest as a complication and could be managed with rheolytic thrombectomy, which thoroughly removes intravascular thrombus and effectively re-vascularizes the thrombosed vessel uneventfully. PMID: 22302793 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Phlebology)

The Longitudinal Relationship between Fatigue and Sleep in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Sleep — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:52:03 +0100

Conclusion:Fatigue was significantly associated with subjective reports of poor sleep and objective measures of daytime sleepiness, but not with nocturnal sleep as measured with actigraphy. This relationship between fatigue and sleep warrants further studies to explore their possible common underlying etiology.Citation:Liu L; Rissling M; Natarajan L; Fiorentino L; Mills PJ; Dimsdale JE; Sadler GR; Parker BA; Ancoli-Israel S. The longitudinal relationship between fatigue and sleep in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. SLEEP 2012;35(2):237-245. (Source: Sleep)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Chemotherapy alone improves long-term survival in Hodgkin's lymphoma

MedWire News - Oncology — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Chemotherapy alone improves long-term survival in patients with stage IA or IIA nonbulky Hodgkin's lymphoma compared with treatment that includes both chemotherapy and subtotal nodal radiation therapy, research shows. (Source: MedWire News - Oncology)

In vitro Activities of Nisin Alone or in Combination with Vancomycin and Ciprofloxacin against Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Strains

Chemotherapy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:00:00 +0100

Chemotherapy 2011;57:511–516 (DOI:10.1159/000335598) (Source: Chemotherapy)

Woman, 21, who was told she was infertile after battling cancer twice has 'miracle' baby

the Mail online | Health — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:20:34 +0100

Madeleine Telfer from Kilmarnock in Scotland thought she had lost the chance to become a mother after having 300 hours of chemotherapy to battle Hodgkin's Lymphoma twice. (Source: the Mail online | Health)

Midostaurin does not prolong cardiac repolarization defined in a thorough electrocardiogram trial in healthy volunteers

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:48:29 +0100

Conclusion Midostaurin demonstrated a good safety profile in healthy volunteers, with no prolonged cardiac repolarization or other changes on the electrocardiogram. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-9DOI 10.1007/s00280-012-1825-yAuthors Adam del Corral, Novartis Oncology, East Hanover, NJ, USACatherine Dutreix, Novartis Oncology, Basel, SwitzerlandAlice Huntsman-Labed, Novartis Oncology, Basel, SwitzerlandSebastien Lorenzo, Novartis Oncology, Basel, SwitzerlandJoel Morganroth, ERT, East Bridgewater, NJ, USARobert Harrell, Osborne Research Center, LLC, Little Rock, AR, USAYanfeng Wang, Novartis Oncology, East Hanover, NJ, USA Journal Cancer Chemotherapy and PharmacologyOnline ISSN 1432-0843Print ISSN 0344-5704 (Source: Cancer Chemothe...

Radical cystectomy for clinically muscle invasive bladder cancer: does prior non-invasive disease affect clinical outcomes?

World Journal of Urology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:48:25 +0100

Conclusion Our retrospective study suggests that patients with non-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder that progress to muscle invasion and require radical cystectomy appear to have better pathologic and clinical outcome than patients presenting with clinical muscle invasive disease de novo. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-7DOI 10.1007/s00345-012-0832-2Authors Ahmed F. Kotb, Department of Surgery (Urology), McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaEvan Kovac, Department of Surgery (Urology), McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaWassim Kassouf, Department of Surgery (Urology), McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaJoe Chin, Department of Surgery (Urology), University of Western Ontario, London, ON, CanadaYves Fradet, Department ...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Brain Tumors in Children- Current Therapies and Newer Directions

Indian Journal of Pediatrics — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:47:55 +0100

Abstract Brain tumors are the second most common malignancy and the major cause of cancer related mortality in children. Though significant advances in neuroimaging, neurosurgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy have evolved over the years, overall survival rate remains less than 75%. Malignant gliomas, high risk medulloblastoma with recurrence and infant brain tumors continue to be a major cause of therapeutic frustration. Even today diffuse pontine gliomas are universally fatal. Though tumors like low grade glioma have an overall excellent survival, recurrences and progression in eloquent areas pose therapeutic challenges. As research continues to unravel the biology including key molecules and signaling pathways responsible for the oncogenesis of different childhood ...

Laparoscopic resection of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the rectum after treatment with imatinib mesylate: report of a case

Surgery Today — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:46:47 +0100

This report describes the laparoscopic resection of a rectal GIST after treatment with imatinib mesylate. A 56-year-old male presented with a submucosal tumor (longest diameter, 8 cm) arising in the lower rectum. A core needle biopsy revealed that the tumor contained bundles of spindle-like cells. Immunostaining revealed that the tumor was positive for c-kit and CD34. Analysis of the c-kit gene revealed a substitution of ACA (threonine) by GCA (alanine) at codon 574 of exon 11. Imatinib mesylate (400 mg/day) was given as preoperative adjuvant therapy for 3 months, and the tumor shrank to 5 cm in diameter. Proctectomy with transanal anastomosis could be performed laparoscopically, while preserving the anus. There was no evidence of recurrence 2 years 6 mo...

The evaluation of surgical treatment for gastric cancer patients with noncurative resection

Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:44:38 +0100

Conclusions TG is considered to be inappropriate for the treatment of noncurative gastric cancer because of the poor prognosis, high morbidity rates, and poor compliance for chemotherapy associated with the procedure. However, noncurative DG was acceptable and postoperative chemotherapy should be used in selected patients. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-8DOI 10.1007/s00423-012-0906-zAuthors Teiji Naka, Second Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8510 JapanMakoto Iwahashi, Second Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8510 JapanMikihito Nakamori, Second Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medic...

Immunological Mechanisms Of Oncolytic Adenoviral Therapy

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in humans. The conventional cancer therapies include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeting therapies, which are intended to directly destroy and eliminate tumor cells. These treatments often fail, resulting in tumor metastasis and recurrence. Therefore, there is a critical need for novel cancer therapies. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have revealed that immune responses play a critical role in conventional cancer therapies... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Relevance of MET activation and genetic alterations of KRAS and E-cadherin for cetuximab sensitivity of gastric cancer cell lines

Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:10:50 +0100

Conclusion These data indicate that our examinations may be clinically relevant, and the candidate markers should therefore be tested in clinical studies. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original PaperPages 1-16DOI 10.1007/s00432-011-1128-4Authors Stefan Heindl, Institut für Allgemeine Pathologie und Pathologische Anatomie, Technische Universität München, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Trogerstr. 18, 81675 Munich, GermanyEvelyn Eggenstein, Institut für Allgemeine Pathologie und Pathologische Anatomie, Technische Universität München, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Trogerstr. 18, 81675 Munich, GermanySimone Keller, Institut für Allgemeine Pathologie und Pathologische Anatomie, Technische Universität München, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Trogerstr. 18, 81675 Munich, Ge...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

The effect of multiple doses of rifampin and ketoconazole on the single-dose pharmacokinetics of ridaforolimus

Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:06:12 +0100

Conclusions Rifampin and ketoconazole both have a clinically meaningful effect on the pharmacokinetics of ridaforolimus. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-7DOI 10.1007/s00280-011-1819-1Authors Mark Stroh, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USAJohn Palcza, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USAJacqueline McCrea, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USASabrina Marsilio, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USASheila Breidinger, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USADeborah Panebianco, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USAAmy Johnson-Levonas, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USAWalter K. Kraft, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental...

Do we need biomarkers to predict the benefit of adding adjuvant taxanes for treatment of breast cancer?

Breast Cancer Research — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The current understanding of the molecular biology of breast cancer presents an extremely complex portrait of the disease. Based on this knowledge, considerable efforts are being made to identify biomarkers that will predict the response to a specific treatment while minimizing the risk of unnecessary side effects. In breast cancer, the Ki67 index has been associated with poor prognosis and might play a relevant role in predicting benefit from adjuvant docetaxel, as observed in the article accompanying this editorial. Taxanes are one of the most active cytotoxic agents for breast cancer. However, the role of taxane-based chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer remains controversial in some subsets of patients. For this reason, the Ki67 index might help to better define th...

Supernatants derived from chemotherapy-treated cancer cell lines can modify angiogenesis

British Journal of Cancer AOP — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: W M Liu, J L Dennis, A M Gravett, C Chanthirakumar, E Kaminska, G Coulton, D W Fowler, M Bodman-Smith & A G Dalgleish (Source: British Journal of Cancer AOP)

Comparison of adverse events during 5‐fluorouracil versus 5‐fluorouracil/oxaliplatin adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer

Cancer — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS:The incremental harms of adjuvant chemotherapy with 5FU/oxaliplatin versus 5FU alone were modest in patients with stage III colon cancer who were insured by Medicare and Medicaid. The additional harms in patients aged ≥75 years largely were restricted to outpatient events and did not extend to an increased rate of hospitalization or early death. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society (Source: Cancer)

Targeting Quiescent Tumor Cells via Oxygen and IGF-I Supplementation

Cancer Research — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In this study, we used a 3-dimensional tissue culture system to assay diffusible factors that can limit proliferation in the context of the tumor microenvironment, with the goal of identifying targets to heighten proliferative capacity in this setting. We found that supraphysiologic levels of insulin or insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in combination with oxygen supplementation were sufficient to initiate proliferation of quiescence cells in this system. At maximal induction with IGF-I, net tissue proliferation increased 3- to 4-fold in the system such that chemotherapy could trigger a 3- to 6-fold increase in cytotoxicity, compared with control conditions. These effects were confirmed in vivo in colon cancer xenograft models with demonstrations that IGF-I receptor stimulation was suff...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Long‐term effect of the self‐management comprehensive coping strategy program on quality of life in patients with breast cancer treated with high‐dose chemotherapy

Psycho-Oncology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

ConclusionsThe CCSP improved QOL for patients at 1‐year follow‐up. Patients overwhelmingly reported that CCSP was beneficial. The CCSP as an effective coping intervention has potential as a self‐management program for breast cancer survivors. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Psycho-Oncology)

Preclinical studies identify novel targeted pharmacological strategies for treatment of human malignant pleural mesothelioma

British Journal of Pharmacology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryThe incidence of human malignant pleural mesothelioma (hMPM) is still increasing worldwide. hMPM prognosis is poor even if the median survival time has been slightly improved after the introduction of the up‐to‐date chemotherapy. Nevertheless, large phase II/III trials support the combination of platinum‐derivatives and pemetrexed or raltitrexed, as preferred first‐line schedule. Better understanding of the molecular machinery of hMPM will lead to the design and synthesis of novel compounds targeted against pathways identified as crucial for hMPM cell proliferation and spreading. Among them, several receptors tyrosine kinase show altered activity in subsets of hMPM. This observation suggests that these kinases might represent novel therapeutic targets in this chemotherapy‐...

Immunohistochemical study of nuclear factor‐κB expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: prognostic significance and sensitivity to treatment with 5‐FU

Diseases of the Esophagus — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study evaluated the relationship between the expression of NF‐κB and the prognosis and sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to chemotherapy. One hundred and nine ESCC specimens, from patients who had undergone radical esophagectomy, were divided into two groups depending on the expression of NF‐κB. Surgical data and prognosis were compared between the two groups. NF‐κB‐positive tumors were detected in 61.5% of the cases. In 69 patients with stage II and III disease, 41 patients who were NF‐κB‐positive showed poor survival. The sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines to 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) was analyzed by their NF‐κB expression, and the effect of 5‐FU was evaluated on the proliferation and activity of two cell lines of...

APRIN is a cell cycle specific BRCA2-interacting protein required for genome integrity and a predictor of outcome after chemotherapy in breast cancer

The EMBO Journal AOP — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Rachel Brough, Ilirjana Bajrami, Radost Vatcheva, Rachael Natrajan, Jorge S Reis-Filho, Christopher J Lord & Alan Ashworth (Source: The EMBO Journal AOP)

Effects of Exercise Training on Red Blood Cell Production: Implications for Anemia.

Acta Haematologica — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Hu M, Lin W Abstract Exercise training can increase total Hb and red cell mass, which enhances oxygen-carrying capacity. The possible underlying mechanisms are proposed to come mainly from bone marrow, including stimulated erythropoiesis with hyperplasia of the hematopoietic bone marrow, improvement of the hematopoietic microenvironment induced by exercise training, and hormone- and cytokine-accelerated erythropoiesis. Anemia is one of the most common medical conditions in chronic disease. The effects of exercise training on counteracting anemia have been explored and evaluated. The results of the research available to date are controversial, and it seems that significant methodological limitations exist. However, exercise training might be a promising, additional, safe an...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

6 Year Old Cuts Her Mother's Hair to Prepare for Chemo

About.com Cancer — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Chemotherapy induced hair loss can be an emotionally devastating side effect of treatment. You never quite realize how much your hair means to you until you don't have it. If you are a parent, you may realize how much your hair means to them, too. Often silently, children are bothered by the sudden loss of a parent's hair. To them, hair loss can be a physical reminder that their parent is sick....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Cancer)

A rare case of bilateral massive hemothorax from spontaneous rupture of a primary mediastinal mixed germ cell tumor.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:17:26 +0100

In this report, we describe a case of a primary mediastinal mixed germ cell tumor that presented with bilateral massive hemothorax and hemorrhagic shock. An urgent thoracotomy, which was performed to control bleeding, confirmed bilateral hemothorax secondary to a ruptured mediastinal tumor. Pathologic diagnosis revealed the mediastinal tumor to be mixed choriocarcinoma and immature teratoma, with lung metastatic choriocarcinoma. The patient recovered well from the operation and received salvage chemotherapy. Two years after diagnosis, the patient remains in remission with no evidence of disease. PMID: 22269740 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery)

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the heart.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:13:24 +0100

We present a case of primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the left atrium with involvement of the coronary sinus. The initial presentation was of cardiac tamponade resulting from the size of the tumor. There was no evidence of tumor elsewhere, and after complete resection and without adjuvant chemotherapy the patient is well at 2-year follow-up. There has been no evidence of tumor recurrence. This is a rare reported case of resection of a cardiac primitive neuroectodermal tumor without adjuvant chemotherapy. Other cases in the literature have been treated by orthoptic transplantation and resection with chemotherapy. PMID: 22269764 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery)

Gemcitabine and Cisplatin as Treatment of Advanced NSCLCGemcitabine and Cisplatin as Treatment of Advanced NSCLC

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:00:00 +0100

In NSCLC, how does the addition of PF-3512676 to gemcitabine/cisplatin chemotherapy affect outcomes? Annals of Oncology (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Nutritional Support for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Australasian Medical Journal - AMJ — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:15:12 +0100

Conclusion This study identified the need for early dietetic intervention for high nutritional risk groups of head and neck cancer patients to prevent significant weight loss. Pre-treatment nutritional status did not influence weight loss during treatment. ONS alone cannot prevent significant weight loss in patients with multiple nutrition impact symptoms. Early enteral feeding should be considered in this group of patients. (Source: Australasian Medical Journal - AMJ)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Acknowledgement to the Reviewers

Chemotherapy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:00:00 +0100

Chemotherapy 2011;57:517–520 (DOI:10.1159/000335923) (Source: Chemotherapy)

Sensor-based cell and tissue screening for personalized cancer chemotherapy

Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:06:57 +0100

Abstract Personalized tumor chemotherapy depends on reliable assay methods, either based on molecular “predictive biomarkers” or on a direct, functional ex vivo assessment of cellular chemosensitivity. As a member of the latter category, a novel high-content platform is described monitoring human mamma carcinoma explants in real time and label-free before, during and after an ex vivo modeled chemotherapy. Tissue explants are sliced with a vibratome and laid into the microreaction chambers of a 24-well sensor test plate. Within these ≈23 μl volume chambers, sensors for pH and dissolved oxygen record rates of cellular oxygen uptake and extracellular acidification. Robot-controlled fluid system and incubation are parts of the tissue culture maintenance system whil...

Identification of distinct subgroups of breast cancer patients based on self-reported changes in sleep disturbance

Supportive Care in Cancer — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:06:02 +0100

Conclusions A high percentage of women has significant sleep disturbance prior to surgery that persists during subsequent treatments (i.e., radiation therapy and chemotherapy). Clinicians need to perform routine assessments and initiate appropriate interventions to improve sleep prior to and following surgery. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-9DOI 10.1007/s00520-012-1381-3Authors Christina Van Onselen, Department of Physiological Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California, 2 Koret Way-N631Y, San Francisco, CA 94143-0610, USABruce A. Cooper, Department of Physiological Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California, 2 Koret Way-N631Y, San Francisco, CA 94143-0610, USAKathryn Lee, Department of Physiological Nursing, School ...

CD4 Levels Predict Response to Laryngeal Cancer TherapyCD4 Levels Predict Response to Laryngeal Cancer Therapy

Medscape Today Headlines — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:43:01 +0100

Laryngeal cancer patients with increased CD4 levels showed better survival rates and response to induction chemotherapy. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

In Regard to “Breast Cancer Recurrent on Supraclavicular Node(s): What Is the Treatment?” (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2011;80:1453–1457)

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:33:53 +0100

To the Editor: In a recent issue of this journal, Reddy et al. reported encouraging overall survival data after isolated supraclavicular nodal recurrence (ISNR) in breast cancer patients previously submitted to mastectomy and doxorubicin-based chemotherapy with or without irradiation. The prognosis of ISNR is generally poor: it has been shown that patients have a 5-year survival rate ranging between 5% and 35% . Reddy et al. reported that at the time of relapse the treatment was principally oriented to systemic therapy, whereas an “aggressive local approach” was delivered in only 6 patients, 3 of whom received radiation. In this retrospective analysis the authors observed an overall 3-year survival rate of 49%, with a 3-year distant metastasis–free survival rate of 40% in 47 patien...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

In Reply to Drs. Pergolizzi and Santacaterina

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:33:53 +0100

To the Editor: We appreciate the comments made by Drs. Pergolizzi and Santacaterina on our recent report on patient outcomes in the setting of isolated supraclavicular nodal (SCV) recurrence after mastectomy and doxorubicin-based chemotherapy. Their commentary is thoughtful and well articulated, and we appreciate the opportunity to respond. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

Second Malignant Neoplasms in Digestive Organs After Childhood Cancer: A Cohort-Nested Case-Control Study

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:33:53 +0100

Conclusions: This study confirms that childhood cancer treatments strongly increase the risk of SMDO, which occur only after a very long latency period. (Source: International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics)

Features of extramedullary myeloma relapse: high proliferation, minimal marrow involvement, adverse cytogenetics: a retrospective single-center study of 24 cases

Annals of Hematology — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:32:07 +0100

Abstract Extramedullary (e) relapse in multiple myeloma (MM) has an adverse prognosis, but knowledge concerning biological features and preferred treatment is scarce. We screened the myeloma registry of our institution for eMM relapses and identified 24 cases among 357 patients (pts). Only 8% of eMM relapses occurred after initial therapy, but 54% occurred after third-line or subsequent therapy. Baseline molecular cytogenetics revealed high-risk features in 10 of 19 evaluable patients. Most frequently, eMM presented as soft tissue (67%) and organ involvement (25%) or malignant effusion (12.5%). Incidence of leptomeningeal/CNS involvement was 21%. At eMM relapse, bone marrow infiltration was absent in 46% and low in 21%. Ten eMM biopsies were available showing increased pro...

A case of novel swine influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia complicated with virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:32:07 +0100

Abstract Influenza related to complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis have sporadically been reported. However, influenza A (H1N1)-virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) has rarely been reported. A 39-year old woman complained of high fever and was referred to us. Chest infiltrations in both lungs and a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) specimen was confirmed and she was diagnosed with influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia. Pancytopenia was found, and hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) was diagnosed by bone marrow aspiration. Following intravenous administration of antiflu drug and combination therapy of steroid pulse and erythromycin IV, the patient’s respiratory dysfunction a...

Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) in children

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:32:06 +0100

Abstract A multicenter, uncontrolled clinical study has been conducted to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) in children. In this article, the safety and efficacy of L-AMB are discussed. Subjects were diagnosed with invasive fungal infection (definitely diagnosed cases), possible fungal infection (clinically diagnosed cases), and febrile neutropenia with suspected fungal infection (febrile neutropenia cases). Of the 39 subjects treated with L-AMB, 18 received a definite (11) or clinical (7) diagnosis of invasive fungal infection. In these subjects, excluding one unevaluable subject, L-AMB was effective in nine out of 17 subjects (52.9%). Of 12 febrile neutropenia cases, improvement in clinical symptoms, etc., was observe...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Discrepancy of in-vitro data and clinical efficacy of micafungin against Candida tropicalis endophthalmitis

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:32:03 +0100

We report findings for a 74-year-old woman with Candida tropicalis endophthalmitis for whom an increase in β-d-glucan level and worsening of endophthalmitis were observed after intravenous injection of micafungin, an echinocandin antifungal agent. Endogenous endophthalmitis caused by C. tropicalis developed in both eyes. On the basis of her surgical history, laboratory data, and lesions, tentative diagnosis of fungal endophthalmitis was made. She was then treated with fluconazole and itraconazole, but the β-d-glucan level did not decrease, and there was no improvement of the endophthalmitis. The fluconazole was discontinued and replaced by micafungin. Unexpectedly, the level of β-d-glucan increased and endophthalmitis did not improve. The micafungin was immediately stopped and replac...

First report of a thyroid abscess in the pediatric age group caused by Arcanobacterium haemolyticum

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:32:02 +0100

We report a 2-year-old girl with thyroid abscess who presented with fever and an anterior painful neck mass. Culture of the aspirated fluid yielded Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, which is one of the etiologies of pharyngitis and rash in children and, especially, young adults. As far as we are aware this is the first report of thyroid abscess in the pediatric or adult age group caused by Arcanobacterium haemolyticum. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Case ReportPages 1-3DOI 10.1007/s10156-011-0349-4Authors Shirin Sayyahfar, Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ali Asghar Children Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Vahid Dastgerdi Street, Shariati Street, Tehran, 1919816766 IranSeyed Javad Nasiri, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ali Asghar Children Hospital,...

Calcaneal osteomyelitis due to Achromobacter xylosoxidans: a case report

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:32:02 +0100

Abstract Achromobacter xylosoxidans (A. xylosoxidans) has been described as an opportunistic pathogen causing infection. The case we describe is that of an elderly man who had osteomyelitis of calcaneal bone caused by A. xylosoxidans. As far as we are aware there are only 5 cases of osteomyelitis with A. xylosoxidans in the literature. Impaired defensive mechanism of the foot in direct contact with this waterborne bacterium can cause this disease. Because of the high level of antibiotic resistance of this bacterium, clinically more attention should be paid to patients who have impaired defensive mechanisms in their extremities, for example free flaps. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Case ReportPages 1-4DOI 10.1007/s10156-012-0373-zAuthors Kadri Ozer, Ankara Rese...

Angiosarcoma of skull in a pregnant woman: case report and review of the literature.

Turkish Neurosurgery — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:02 +0100

Authors: Samadian M, Rakhshan M, Haddadian K, Rezaei O, Zamani S, Khormaee F Abstract Angiosarcoma is a rare tumor of bone that uncommonly involves the skull. Primary neoplasms of the skull represent 2.6% of primary neoplasms of bone. We wish to report a case of angiosarcoma of he skull in an 18-year-old pregnant woman who presented with a rapidly growing left frontotemporal mass. Neuroimaging revealed a left frontotemporal mass with destruction of diploic space and both tables and with extension to the subgaleal and epidural spaces. The patient underwent surgery and the tumor was removed totally. Histological features of angiosarcoma were seen in the pathology study. She received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She has remained well during 6 years of f...