Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR
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J. Exp. Clin. Cancer Res. · Jun 2006
Tumor size as predictor of microinvasion, invasion, and axillary metastasis in ductal carcinoma in situ.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) represents a small number of cases in countries with inadequate breast cancer screening programs, and in the majority of cases is diagnosed as a palpable lump. It has been proposed that DCIS with palpable lump > or = 2.5 cm can be associated with microinvasion or invasive carcinoma and risk of axillary metastasis. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate incidence of microinvasion, invasion, and the role of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy in DCIS > or = 2.5 cm. ⋯ Incidence of microinvasion and invasion were directly related with tumor size (10% for DCIS tumor size of 2.5-3.5 cm, 57% for 3.6-4.5 cm, and 71% for tumors between 4.5 and 6 cm). In addition, axillary metastasis incidence had a direct relationship with tumor size. (0% in 2.5-3.5-cm tumor size, 14% for 3.6-4.5 cm, and 28% in DCIS between 4.6 and 6.0 cm). The present study shows high incidence of microinvasion and invasion in DCIS diagnosed in tumors > or = 2.5 cm and supports the importance of axillary evaluation in patients with tumors >3.5 cm by means of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy.
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J. Exp. Clin. Cancer Res. · Sep 2005
Comparative Study Controlled Clinical TrialA comparison of the outcomes of non-randomised chemotherapy regimens in node positive breast cancer.
Adjuvant chemotherapy increases disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) following surgery for breast cancer. However, debates concerning the type of adjuvant chemotherapy continue. The effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on loco-regional recurrence-free survival (LFS) was also reported. ⋯ Adjuvant FAC was found to improve DFS, OS and LFS. 5-year DFS, OS and LFS were longer for patients treated with FAC as compared to CMF (67% versus 53%, p < 0.001; 77% versus 66%, p < 0.001, and 97% versus 91%). Adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for potential risk factors and tamoxifen treatment showed that FAC treated patients much benefitted in terms of survival as compared to CMF treated patients (HR 0.53, CI 0.40-0.69 for DFS; HR 0.48, CI 0.35-0.65 for OS, and HR 0.33, CI 0.16-0.65 for LFS). In conclusion, adjuvant FAC improves DFS, OS and LFS as compared to CMF in node positive breast carcinoma patients treated with mastectomy.
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J. Exp. Clin. Cancer Res. · Dec 2004
Presence of HPV in head and neck tumours: high prevalence in tonsillar localization.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) seems to be involved in head and neck carcinogenesis. To investigate this association, viral presence and expression were analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods and correlated to tumour localization, clinical-pathological aspects, and alcohol and tobacco exposure in 65 patients. HPV DNA was found in 16 cases (24.6%); the HPV types detected were: HPV16 (10 cases), HPV 6 (3 cases) HPV 33, 35, and 58 (one case each). ⋯ Viral transcripts of early regions were detected in all HPV16 positive tumours. HPV status was not related to age, gender, tumour stage or grade, and use of alcohol and/or tobacco. The results suggest that HPV16 is actively involved in the genesis of a subset of head and neck cancers and that the tonsillar localization may be considered a hot spot for viral transformation.
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J. Exp. Clin. Cancer Res. · Jun 2004
ReviewSpinal cord ependymomas in adults: analysis of 15 cases.
This retrospective analysis was performed to examine the outcome of patients with spinal cord ependymomas treated with surgery and postoperative radiation therapy between 1982 and 1998. There were 10 male and 5 female patients, ranging from 16 to 74 years of age with a median age of 38 years. Surgery was gross total resection in 2 patients, subtotal resection in 10, biopsy in 3. ⋯ The present study shows that surgery and post-operative radiation treatment for spinal ependymoma patients resulted in high survival rates. Patients with residual disease after surgery should be treated with radiation therapy with a dose of more than 45 Gy. Re-irradiation may be the treatment of choice for recurrent patients having less than complete resection or no surgery.
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J. Exp. Clin. Cancer Res. · Mar 2004
Diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the evaluation of renal tumours.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability and the reliability of diffusion-weighted MR imaging to differentiate benign from malignant renal lesions. Twenty healthy volunteers and 48 patients with known renal lesions underwent MR of the kidneys by using a 1.5 T superconductive magnet. Diffusion-weighted images (DWI) were obtained on the axial plane during breathhold (17 s) with a SE EPI single shot sequence using a b value of 500 s/mm2. ⋯ The comparison between ADC values in normal parenchyma group and tumour group were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.0001). ADC values of cystic renal cell carcinomas were higher than those of clear cell carcinomas (p < 0.001). In conclusion, DW MRI of the kidney seems to be a reliable means for differentiating normal renal parenchyma from different renal tumors.