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[Regrowth pattern of glioblastoma multiforme after radiotherapy].

We investigated the correlation between the technique of radiation therapy used and the regrowth pattern of recurrent glioblastoma multiformes of 48 patients who received initial radiation therapy in our clinic from April, 1974 to March, 1988. Three different techniques have been applied to patients with brain tumors: whole brain irradiation, generous local irradiation (the parallel opposing technique or three field technique, in which the treatment field fully covers the peritumoral low density area on CT images), and restricted local irradiation (the rotation technique, in which the treatment field is restricted to within about 2 cm of the tumor margin on CT images). Radiation dose of the treatment field was over 45 Gy in every case. The regrowth pattern was defined as being one of the followings: inside of the treatment field, outside of the treatment field (this includes the boundary zone between the treatment and the non-treatment field), and remote from the treatment field-which mostly due to the tumor spreading through ventricular systems. In all 7 cases that received whole brain irradiation, tumor recurred inside of the treatment field. Two of these 7 cases showed remote recurrence at the same time. Mean duration time to recurrence was 36.3 weeks. In 27 (90%) of 30 cases that received the generous local irradiation, tumor recurred within the treatment field. Only one showed outside recurrence, and two other cases showed remote recurrence. The mean duration time to recurrence in this group was 32.2 weeks. Of 11 cases that received restricted local irradiation, 3 cases (27%) showed recurrence outside of the treatment field, one showed recurrence in a remote area. The mean duration time to recurrence in this group was 38.3 weeks, but was not significantly longer than that of other two groups. These results indicate that restricted local irradiation sometimes fails to cover the tumor invaded area, and that the results of treatment using generous local irradiation are almost the same as those using whole brain irradiation. This suggests that generous local irradiation is advantageous to patients with brain tumors since the incidence of subacute side effects such as mental deterioration is much lower in local irradiation as compared with whole brain irradiation.

Brain Neoplasms↗

Detection of human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 mRNA in peripheral blood of advanced cervical cancer patients and its association with prognosis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of detecting human papillomavirus E6 (HPVE6) gene mRNA in the peripheral blood of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer, and the relationship of the circulating HPV viral-specific mRNA with clinicopathologic factors and prognosis of locally advanced cervical cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The presence of types 16 and 18 HPVE6 gene mRNA was determined by reverse transcription followed by nested polymerase chain reaction. Thirty-five patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who were positive for HPV type 16 or 18 DNA were included in the study. All patients received external-beam radiation therapy followed by intracavitary brachytherapy. RESULTS: Eighteen (51.4%) of 35 HPV DNA-positive cervical cancer patients had HPV-specific mRNA in their peripheral blood cells, compared with none of 17 HPV DNA-negative cervical cancer patients and none of 12 control volunteers. The presence of HPVE6 gene mRNA in peripheral blood was associated with bulky tumor volume (> 4 cm) and pelvic lymph node metastasis (tumor volume, P = .03; lymph node status, P = .03). After a median follow-up of 22 months, patients who were positive for peripheral-blood HPVE6 gene mRNA had a significantly higher risk of recurrence than those who were negative (10 of 18 v three of 17, P = .02; mean recurrent time, 20.7 months v 12.6 months, P = .02). There was also a statistically significant association of peripheral-blood HPVE6 gene mRNA positivity with distant metastasis (eight of 18 vone of 17; P = .01). CONCLUSION: Results of this study seem to suggest that the presence of HPVE6 gene mRNA in peripheral blood may provide an early marker that identifies patients who are at risk for metastasis.

Adult↗

Influence of postpartum onset on the course of mood disorders.

BACKGROUND: To ascertain the impact of postpartum onset (PPO) on the subsequent time course of mood disorders. METHODS: This retrospective study compared per year rates of excited (manic or mixed) and depressive episodes between fifty-five women with bipolar (N = 22) or major depressive (N = 33) disorders with first episode occurring postpartum (within four weeks after childbirth according to DSM-IV definition) and 218 non-postpartum onset (NPPO) controls. Such patients had a traceable illness course consisting of one or more episodes alternating with complete symptom remission and no additional diagnoses of axis I disorders, mental retardation or brain organic diseases. A number of variables reported to influence the course of mood disorders were controlled for as possible confounding factors RESULTS: Bipolar women with postpartum onset disorder had fewer excited episodes (p = 0.005) and fewer episodes of both polarities (p = 0.005) compared to non-postpartum onset subjects. No differences emerged in the rates of depressive episodes. All patients who met criteria for rapid cycling bipolar disorder (7 out of 123) were in the NPPO group. Among major depressives, PPO patients experienced fewer episodes (p = 0.016). With respect to clinical and treatment features, PPO-MDD subjects had less personality disorder comorbidity (p = 0.023) and were less likely to be on maintenance treatment compared to NPPO comparison subjects (p = 0.002) CONCLUSION: Such preliminary findings suggest that PPO mood disorders may be characterized by a less recurrent time course. Future research in this field should elucidate the role of comorbid personality disorders and treatment. Moreover it should clarify whether PPO disorders are also associated with a more positive outcome in terms of social functioning and quality of life.

Adult↗

[The relation of lectin receptor's activity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with the recurrence after curative hepatectomy].

Recurrence is an important factor affecting the survival rate of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative hepatectomy. Twelve types of lectin receptors in 33 cases of HCC tissues were determined by avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method. The relationship between lectin receptors, HCC grading and recurrence time after curative hepatectomy was investigated. The results showed that tumor-free period of patients after the resection of HCC was not closely related to the size of resected tumors, their pathological gradings as well as most lectin receptors. However, tumors that recurred longer than two years after curative hepatectomy had Bandeiraea simplifolia agglutinin I (BSAI) receptors obviously fewer than those recurring within two years. It is suggested that BSAI receptors in tumor tissues might be a useful index in the prognosis of HCC patients after hepatectomy.

Adolescent↗

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: oncological evaluation after 1,000 cases a Montsouris Institute.

PURPOSE: We performed a prospective oncological evaluation of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in regard to local tumor control and biochemical recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1998 and March 2002, 1,000 consecutive patients with a mean age +/- SD of 63 +/- 6.2 years and clinically localized prostate cancer underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy at 1 institution. Preoperative 1997 TNM clinical stage was T1a in 6 patients (0.6%), T1b in 3 (0.3%), T1c in 660 (66.5%), T2a in 304 (30.4%) and T2b in 27 (2.7%). Mean preoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA) +/- SD was 10 +/- 6.1 ng./ml. (range 1.5 to 55). Postoperatively, surgical specimens were assessed and positive surgical margins recorded. Factors that could influence the surgical margins status were evaluated. Irrespective of pathological stage or surgical margin status, no adjuvant treatment was proposed before an increasing PSA. PSA recurrence was defined as PSA greater than 0.1 ng./ml. and was confirmed by a second increase. Recurrence time was defined as the time of the first increase in PSA. RESULTS: Postoperative pathological stage was pT2aN0/Nx in 203 patients (20.3%), pT2bN0/Nx in 572 (57.2%), pT3aN0/Nx in 142 (14.2%), pT3bN0/Nx in 77 (7.7%) and pT1-3 N1 in 6 (0.6%). Positive surgical margin rate was 6.9%, 18.6%, 30% and 34% for pathological stages pT2a, pT2b, pT3a and pT3b, respectively (p <0.001). The main predictors of a positive surgical margin were preoperative PSA (p <0.001), clinical stage (p = 0.001), pathological stage (p <0.001) and Gleason score (p = 0.003). The overall actuarial biochemical progression-free survival rate was 90.5% at 3 years. According to the pathological stage, the progression-free survival rate was 91.8% for pT2aN0/Nx, 88% for pT2bN0/Nx, 77% for pT3aN0/Nx, 44% for pT3bN0/Nx and 50% for pT1-3N1 (p <0.001). Of the patients 94% with negative surgical margins and 80% with positive margins had progression-free survival (p <0.001). Preservation of the neurovascular bundles in patients with localized tumors had no significant effect on the subsequent risk of positive surgical margins or progression-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Based on followup, our evaluation confirms that laparoscopic radical prostatectomy provides satisfactory results in regard to local tumor control and biochemical recurrence.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Is there really a difference in survival of women with squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the cervix?

BACKGROUND: The authors' aim was to assess whether there is a difference in biologic behavior and survival in comparing adenocarcinoma (AdCA), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and adenosquamous carcinoma (Ad/SC) of the cervix. METHODS: Cancer registrars at 703 hospitals submitted anonymous data on 11,157 patients with cervical cancer diagnosed and/or treated in 1984 and 1990 for a Patient Care Evaluation Study of the American College of Surgeons. Among these patients, 9351 (83.8%) had SCC; 1405 (12.6%), AdCA; and 401 (3.6%), Ad/SC cancers. There were no significant changes in percentages of the different histologic types between the study years 1984 and 1990, nor was the patient distribution different regarding age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic background for each histologic group. Furthermore, the distribution of patients who had had a hysterectomy did not change between 1984 and 1990. RESULTS: A larger percent of patients with SCC (63.8%) than those with Ad/SC (59.8%) or AdCA (50.2%) had tumors larger than 3 cm at greatest dimension. Early stage patients (IA, IB, IIA) often were treated by hysterectomy alone (45.5%) or combined with radiation (21.1%). The remaining patients (21.9%) received radiation alone. Of the patients with clinical stage I disease, 7.6% of Ad/CA patients, 15.5% of Ad/SC patients and 12.6% of SCC patients had positive nodes. Although patients with SCC had higher survival rates for all four clinical stages (I-IV), the differences were only significant for Stage II patients. Patients with clinical stage IB SCC and AdCA treated by surgery alone were found to have significantly better survival rates (93.1% and 94.6% at 5 years, respectively) than women treated by either radiation alone or a combination of surgery and radiation (P < 0.001, both histologic comparisons). For women with Ad/SC tumors, however, the 5-year survival rate was 87.3% for those receiving combined treatment compared with those receiving surgery alone (69.2%) or radiation alone (79.2%). However, these survival curves were not significantly different (P = 0.496). One hundred six patients with positive nodes were available for analysis. The 5-year survival rate of patients with SCC and positive nodes was 76.1%. Surprisingly, patients with Ad/SC and positive nodes had the highest 5-year survival rate (85.7%), whereas, women with AdCA and positive nodes had a sharply reduced 5-year survival rate (33.3%). The curves were significantly different (P < 0.01). For patients with clinical stage I, the risk factors for age, tumor size, nodal status, histologic features, and treatment were analyzed with Cox's multivariate regression. In this analysis, subset IB, greater tumor size, age 80 or older, and positive nodal status were each independently significant for poorer survival. Patients who were treated by surgery alone had a significantly better survival than patients who had other types of treatment or no treatment. Histologic characteristics had no significant effect on survival. In the analysis of patients with pathologic stage I disease, those with SCC had significantly poorer survival and those with Ad/SC had significantly better survival than patients with Ad/CA. Positive nodes had no significant independent effect on survival. In another analysis, tissue type was not found to be an important factor in recurrence time. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Ad/CA and Ad/SC tumors were found to represent 12.6% and 3.6%, respectively, of a large series (N = 11,157) of cervical cancers diagnosed in 1984 and 1990 and reported to the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. 2. Two thirds of women with early clinical stage disease (IA, IB, IIA) had hysterectomy as all or part of their primary therapy. 3. No significant differences were found in 5-year survival among the three tissue types in any clinical stage except American Joint Committee on Cancer stage II.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Highligts from the interdisciplinary consultation for diseases of the mouth in Basel].

A number of medical specialties traditionally face changes and lesions in the mouth, specific for diseases seen routinely in their everyday practice: gastroenterologists, paediatricians, orthodontists, to name just a few, will easily identify the typical aspect of the tongue, the Koplik spots or a dysgnathia respectively, and the treatment of the underlying diseases in question will resolve the local problem. However, more unusual lesions with chronic or recurrent course may cause a much longer patient career, which may last for months or even years and is interspersed with more or less ineffective local antiseptic or steroid treatment regimens before underlying diseases like pemphigus, lichen, diseases of haematopoetic organs, paraneoplastic lesions or even simple mechanical consequences of parafunctions like bruxismus, are identified as the underlying cause. The otorhinolaryngologist, the dermatologist and the dentist-oral-maxillofacial surgeon offer an interdisciplinary consultation at the Center for Dental Medicine at the University of Basel, in which the advantages of an advanced diagnostic armamentarium and a combined pool of experience proves to be a gain for both the patients and involved medical persons. The otolaryngologist offers diagnostic procedures of the entire upper airways, the dermatologist bridges the gap to allergology, immunology and systemic diseases well known to his specialty. Dental medicine offers diagnostic and therapeutic alternatives, of which the first two have but scarce knowledge. In this article, the different approaches to the most frequently seen diseases and associated problems are described by the dermatologist and dental specialist. The dermatologist, in a succinct state of the art review, describes the problem of pemphigus and pemphigoid, diseases which may cause diagnostic problems because of their tendency to stay limited to the oral mucosa for a longer time. Recurrent aphtosis is another problem encountered frequently, in which a vast research effort has not yet abutted into pertinent knowledge on ethiology and effective therapy for all cases. The dentist-oral-maxillofacial surgeon is especially interested in the specific problem in the diagnosis and treatment of lichen planus i.e. the differentiation of true idiopathic lichen and the lichenoid reaction due to foreign bodies in the mouth. He describes the modern diagnostic and treatment procedures. In spite of missing parts in the puzzle of all these diseases, special consideration in every individual case contributes to more effective management and offers a gain in experience and knowledge to all medical persons involved.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

[Efficacy of permanent interstitial implantation of 125I seeds for solitary brain metastasis from non-small cell lung carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Some studies have already showed that whole brain irradiation (WBI) could cause radiation brain damage. It is necessary to explore a novel treatment modality to replace whole brain irradiation without influencing the therapeutic efficacy. The purpose of this study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy and radiation brain damage of permanent interstitial implantation of 125I seeds following tumor resection for solitary brain metastasis from non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with solitary brain metastasis from non-small cell lung carcinoma were randomly assigned into two groups: Thirty-two cases(47.8%) were treated with resection and permanent interstitial implantation of 125I seeds(I), and 35(52.2%) received whole brain irradiation and local-small-field radiation (C). All patients were biopsy-verified non-small cell lung carcinoma, including 42 squamous cell carcinomas and 25 adenocarcinomas. They all were solitary brain metastasis from non-small cell lung carcinoma diagnosed by CT or MRI. After resection of solitary brain metastasis, different numbers of 125I seeds were implanted according to some parameters in group I. In group C, 35 patients received whole brain irradiation to a total dose of 30-39 Gy/3-4 weeks, 2-3 Gy/fraction, 5 fractions/week followed by a boost of 15-25 Gy/2-3 weeks through local-small fields. RESULTS: The local control rate, the recurrent rate, and the median recurrent time were 96.9%, 15.6%, and 9 months in group I, and 82.9%, 17.1%, and 7 months in group C, respectively. The differences were no significant (P > 0.05). The median survival time, the 1-year survival rate, and the 1-year mortalities were 12 months, 40.6%, and 28.1% in group I, and 9 months, 31.4%, and 37.1% in group C, respectively. The differences were significant(P < 0.05). Acute irradiation response and radiation brain damage were markedly milder in group I than in group C. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study show that resection and permanent interstitial implantation of 125I seeds for solitary brain metastasis from non-small cell lung carcinoma can not only improve the survival rates and decrease the mortalities, but also reduce radiation brain damage to improve the life quality. It is a good and effective modality, especially for younger patients. However, further study for long-term effect is needed.

Brachytherapy↗

Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung: a clinicopathologic study of eighteen cases and the efficacy of adjuvant treatment with octreotide.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of a new adjuvant protocol with octreotide, alone or in combination with radiotherapy, in radically resected large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung. METHODS: Between 1990 and 2001, a total of 18 consecutive patients affected by large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung were operated on. Lobectomy and systemic lymphadenectomy were performed in all cases. Postoperative radiotherapy was performed when stage was higher than Ib. Ten patients with positive results of preoperative indium In-111 pentetreotide scintigraphy received octreotide after the operation. RESULTS: Nine patients (50%) had local recurrences or distant metastases (mean recurrence time 14 months); palliative chemotherapy was given, but all patients died. In 10 cases (55.5%) octreotide alone or in combination with radiotherapy was administered as adjuvant treatment; 9 of these patients (90%) are alive and free of disease ( P = .0007), and the other had liver and brain metastases 21 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results seem to demonstrate the efficacy of octreotide as adjuvant therapy in large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung when results of preoperative indium In-111 pentetreotide scintigraphy were positive. Further study are required to assess the utility of octreotide in patients with negative results of indium In-111 pentetreotide scintigraphy.

Aged↗

Epidemiology of injuries in English professional rugby union: part 2 training Injuries.

OBJECTIVES: To undertake a detailed epidemiological study of training injuries sustained by professional rugby union players in order to define their incidence, nature, severity, and causes. METHODS: A two season prospective design was used to study training injuries associated with 502 rugby union players at 11 English Premiership clubs. Team clinicians reported all training injuries on a weekly basis and provided details of the location, diagnosis, severity, and mechanism of each injury. Training exposures for individual players were recorded on a weekly basis. Loss of time from training and match play was used as the definition of an injury. RESULTS: The overall incidence of injury was 2.0 per 1000 player-hours, and each injury resulted on average in 24 days lost time. Recurrences, which accounted for 19% of injuries, were more severe (35 days) than new injuries (21 days). Twenty two per cent of all training occurred during the preseason but 34% of all injuries were sustained in this period. Hamstring, calf, hip flexor/quadriceps, and adductor muscle injuries were the most common for backs, whereas hamstring, lateral ankle ligament, and lumbar disc/nerve root injuries predominated for forwards. Lumbar disc/nerve root, shoulder dislocation/instability, and hamstring muscle injuries for forwards and hamstring muscle and anterior cruciate ligament injuries for backs caused the greatest number of days absence. Running was the predominant cause of injury for both forwards and backs, although the overall incidence and severity of injuries sustained during skills training were significantly greater than those sustained during conditioning training. CONCLUSIONS: On average, a club will have 5% of their players unavailable for selection as a consequence of training injuries.

Adult↗

Malignant progression in pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma: personal experience and review of the literature.

Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) is a rare primary low-grade astrocytic tumor, recently classified as a neuroglial tumor. It generally occurs in children and young adults and shows benign behaviour (WHO II), although an anaplastic variant and malignant potential have been described. Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas with malignant transformation have been reported in three out of eight patients operated on for this type of tumor in our department in the last 15 years. The three patients were two adult women and a child, the primary tumors were located in the cortex of the right temporal lobe, and treatment consisted of complete surgical resection. Histological examination revealed simple PXA in two patients and a PXA with anaplastic foci in the other. Mean recurrence time was 5.7 years, with the original xanthoastrocytoma evolving to glioblastoma in two cases and anaplastic astrocytoma in the third. All three patients underwent a second operation, followed by adjuvant therapies. Two died from tumor progression and one from brain edema after intracerebral haemorrhage. A review of the available PXA literature dating back to 1979 revealed 16 cases of primary anaplastic astrocytoma and 21 cases of PXA with malignant transformation. Our experience adds three more cases of malignant transformations, outlining once again the potential malignancy of pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas and the fact that prognosis in these cases is the same as for primary anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma. Analysis of glioneuronal markers, Ki67 and p53 in all pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas did not prove to be a discriminating factor to identify a subgroup of xanthoastrocytomas prone to malignancy. Accordingly, these tumors demand close long-term clinical and radiological follow-up.

Adult↗

Delorme's operation and sphincteroplasty for rectal prolapse and fecal incontinence.

Clinical and manometric results of Delorme's operation and sphincteroplasty were assessed retrospectively in patients undergoing this procedure for fecal incontinence and rectal prolapse. A series of 33 patients (11 males, 22 females; aged 18-83 years, mean 59) with external rectal prolapse were treated by Delorme's operation between 1989 and 1996. Mean follow-up was 39 months (range 7-84). Sphincteroplasty was associated in 12 cases with severe fecal incontinence due to striated muscle defects. Good results were achieved in 27 patients (79%); prolapse recurrence was observed in 6 (21%), the mean recurrence time being 9 months (range 1-24 months). There were no postoperative deaths. Minor complications occurred in 15 patients. Changes in preoperative and postoperative manometric patterns were as follows (mean +/- SEM): voluntary contraction from 59 +/- 6.9 to 66 +/- 7.1 mmHg (P = 0.05), resting tone from 33 +/- 5 to 32 +/- 4.3 mmHg, rectal sensation from 59 +/- 5 to 61 +/- 5.2 ml of air (n.s.). A solitary rectal ulcer syndrome was detected in five patients. The histological pattern demonstrated pathological changes in 40% of cases. Fecal incontinence was resolved in 6 of 20 cases (30%) and chronic constipation in 4 of 9 (44%). Failure (n = 3) was related primarily to postoperative sepsis. The incontinence score showed a mean improvement of 35% decreasing, from 4.5 +/- 0.39 to 2.9 +/- 0.44 after surgery (P < 0.01). In conclusion, Delorme's procedure did not lead to constipation and improved anal continence when associated with sphincteroplasty.

Adolescent↗

The prognostic implications of histologic classification and bromodeoxyuridine labeling index of mixed gliomas.

To clarify the biological and clinical behavior and prognosis of mixed gliomas, 47 patients underwent intraoperative bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling studies. The mean age was 27.8 years at symptom onset and 31.8 years at labeling (median, 36 years). Forty-five tumors were supratentorial, 30 were frontal, and two were cerebellar; 16 were recurrent at labeling. The median labeling index (LI) was 1% (range, < 1 to 15.1%). Forty-six tumors has oligodendroglial and astrocytic elements, and one had astrocytic and ependymal elements. The median LI was 4.4% in recurrent tumors and < 1% in primary tumors. A higher BrdU LI correlated with an increased risk of recurrence and a shorter time to recurrence. During a median follow-up of 16 months, four patients died; each had a BrdU LI > or = 4.4%. The median time to recurrence was 4.5 months for tumors with BrdU LI's > 5% but was not reached for tumors with LI's < 5% (p < 0.003). The histologic grade of the oligodendroglial component correlated with the median time to recurrence (8 months for Smith Grade C tumors, not reached for Smith Grade B tumors; p < 0.05); there were too few cases to evaluate the median times to recurrence of Smith Grade A and Grade D tumors. The median time to recurrence was not reached for any astrocytic grade, and there were no significant differences in the Kaplan-Meier survival curves. These findings suggest that the BrdU LI and the grade of the oligodendroglial component of mixed gliomas have prognostic significance.

Adolescent↗

The presence of tumor cells in bone marrow at the time of first recurrence of breast cancer.

The occurrence of bone marrow carcinosis was investigated in 380 patients at the time of first recurrence of breast cancer. Results were related to results from radiographic bone survey, 99mTc MDP bone scintigraphy, clinical examination and serum alkaline phosphatase and serum calcium levels. Eighty-seven patients (23%) had tumor cells in the bone marrow. X-rays showed metastases in 78% of the patients with and in 16% of the patients without bone marrow carcinosis. The diagnostic efficiency of x-rays with bone marrow biopsy as the key diagnostic factor was 83%, and it was superior to that of other investigation methods. Bone tissue biopsies were positive alone in 15 patients (17%) and marrow aspirations were positive alone in seven patients (8%). Imprint preparations were positive alone in 7% of the patients and bone tissue biopsy in 5% of the patients. Heavy tumor infiltration (greater than or equal to 50%) of the bone marrow was associated with the occurrence of numerous regions of radiographically involved bone lesions and with histopathologic evidence of bone destruction. Furthermore, pronounced bone formation and marrow fibrosis were more commonly seen in patients with osteosclerotic bone metastases than in patients with osteolytic bone metastases. This study provides evidence that the primary soil of metastatic bone disease in human breast cancer is the bone marrow and that radiographic evidence of bone metastases is a result of an invasion and destruction of the bone tissue matrix by tumor cells from the marrow cavity.

Adult↗

Plasma immunoglobulin levels in patients with breast cancer.

The plasma levels of the immunoglobulins IgA, IgG and IgM have been measured in 55 patients with benign breast disease, 28, 68 and 22 patients with early breast cancer one day before, 10-14 days after and three-six months after mastectomy, respectively, and 35 normal healthy control women. The mean levels of IgA, IgG and IgM were similar for all groups examined except for IgG levels in breast cancer patients 10-14 days after mastectomy. In this latter case there was a significant decrease in IgG level shortly after mastectomy but at three-six months after surgery the amounts of plasma IgG were within the normal range. There was no correlation between the amounts of immunoglobulin measured at 10-14 days after surgery, and time to recurrence of the disease.

Breast Diseases↗

Massive left atrial thrombus: a possible paraneoplastic complication of breast carcinoma.

We describe a patient with long-standing rheumatic mitral valve disease, left atrial dilatation, and a precommissurotomy history of left atrial thrombus. Following operation she was maintained on daily aspirin as an antithrombotic measure. For 6 years she had no evidence, echocardiographically, of left atrial thrombus. She underwent surgery for apparently nonmetastatic breast cancer in early 1986. In May 1986 the left atrium was echocardiographically clear. At approximately the same time, recurrence was found at the suture line. In October 1987, two metastatic lung lesions and a very large left atrial mass were detected by computed tomography. The atrial mass was surgically removed and found to be a thrombus. There was a striking temporal correlation between dissemination of carcinoma and development of a massive atrial thrombus.

Atrial Fibrillation↗

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression is an independent predictor of prostate cancer recurrence.

Lack of reliable prognostic markers hinders accurate prediction of disease progression in prostate cancer. The inducible proinflammatory enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is implicated in prostate carcinogenesis, but its role in cancer progression is less clear. We examined whether COX-2 expression evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens can predict biochemical recurrence. Archival prostate cancer specimens (n = 60) were obtained from patients who underwent RP, but had not received neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. Twenty-three patients had biochemical or clinical recurrence (mean time of recurrence: 38.2 months), and 37 patients were recurrence free (mean follow-up: 95 months). COX-2 expression was determined by IHC, using an anti-COX-2 antibody. Three individuals scored the staining independently, as high- or low-expression. COX-2 was expressed in prostate cancer cells, in adjacent normal glands and in specimens from patients who later progressed. At 62-months follow-up, COX-2 staining predicted progression with 82.4% sensitivity and 81.3% specificity. Sensitivity (86.4%) and specificity (86.7%) improved at > or = 100-months follow-up. In univariate analysis, Gleason score, preoperative PSA, extraprostatic extension, margin, seminal vesicle invasion, and high COX-2 expression were significant predictors of biochemical recurrence (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, preoperative PSA (hazard ratio/unit PSA change 1.080; p = 0.0036) and COX-2 expression (hazard ratio 16.442; p < 0.0001) were independent prognostic indicators. Patients with PSA > 7 ng/ml and high COX-2 expression had the highest probability of recurrence (Kaplan-Meier analysis). COX-2 expression is an independent predictor of prostate cancer progression following RP and underscores the significance of inflammatory factors in this process.

Aged↗

Hyperthermia in the multimodal therapy of advanced rectal carcinomas.

The synergistic effects of hyperthermia (raising temperatures to 40 degrees C and above) when combined with radiotherapy and cytotoxic drugs and a modulation of immunological phenomena have been demonstrated in the laboratory. Pre-clinical data relating to hyperthermia are summed up, along with their implications for clinical application. Controlled studies of local and regional hyperthermia have been performed during recent years, and these show us that the adjunction of hyperthermia provides at least an improvement of local control compared with radiotherapy alone. Current clinical results are summarized. Therapy systems based on radiowave irradiation have been commercially available for regional hyperthermia of the pelvis since the mid 1980s. This technology allows us to perform sufficiently tolerable and effective regional hyperthermia on rectal carcinomas. Used as part of curative preoperative and postoperative multimodal therapeutic strategies, hyperthermia can lead to improvement in local control (resectability, down-staging, progression-free time, recurrence rate), at least for certain risk groups. The preoperative radio-chemo-thermotherapy of advanced primary and recurring rectal carcinoma, uT3/4, was tested in a phase-I/II study of 20 patients. Therapy procedure, acute toxicity, thermal parameters, and response are described and discussed for this patient group. The regimen proved to be sufficiently tolerable, and complications did not occur. Tumor resection was performed on 14 of the 20 patients; 13 of the procedures were R0-resections and one was an R2 resection. In 64% of the resected rectal carcinomas, histopathological down-staging of the pretherapeutic endosonographical stadium was achieved; in three of the patients, despite continued non-resectability, local control has now been maintained for more than 12 months. In two patients with nonresectable rectal carcinomas, local progress was seen during the neoadjuvant combination therapy.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗