The oncologist
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Several studies have demonstrated poor locoregional control in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), compared with other molecular subtypes of breast cancer. We sought to evaluate whether or not postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) improves locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) outcomes in TNBC patients. ⋯ PMRT is associated with longer LRFS and DFS times in high-risk TNBC patients and a longer DFS time in intermediate-risk TNBC patients. Prospective randomized studies are needed to investigate the best locoregional treatment approaches for patients with this molecular subtype of breast cancer.
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PTEN Hamartoma Tumor syndrome (PHTS) includes patients with Cowden syndrome or other syndromes with germline mutation of the PTEN tumor suppressor gene. The risk for breast, colorectal, and endometrial cancer and polyposis is increased, creating clinical overlap with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC), Lynch syndrome (LS), and adenomatous polyposis syndromes (APS). We reviewed our series of patients with PHTS to determine how often testing criteria for these syndromes were met and how often other-gene testing was ordered before testing PTEN. ⋯ PHTS is an important differential diagnosis for patients referred for HBOC, LS, or APS. Risk assessment tools may help focus genetic analysis and aid in the interpretation of multiplex testing.
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Mutations in the gene-encoding β-catenin, CTNNB1, are highly prevalent in sporadic desmoid tumors and may predict the risk for recurrence. We sought to determine the prevalence of CTNNB1 mutations in a large cohort of sporadic desmoid tumors and to determine whether CTNNB1 mutation status correlates with disease outcome. ⋯ CTNNB1 mutations are indeed common in sporadic desmoid tumors. However, our study did not detect a statistically significant difference in recurrence risk according to either the CTNNB1 mutation status or the specific CTNNB1 mutation.
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In the end-of-life (EOL) phase, high-grade glioma (HGG) patients have a high symptom burden and often lose independence because of physical and cognitive dysfunction. This might affect the patient's personal dignity. We aimed to (a) assess the proportion of HGG patients dying with dignity as perceived by their relatives and (b) identify disease and care factors correlated with dying with dignity in HGG patients. ⋯ Physicians caring for HGG patients in the EOL phase should timely focus on explaining possible treatment options, because patients experience communication deficits toward death. Physicians should strive to allow patients to die at their preferred place and avoid transitions during the last month of life.
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Inflammation has been identified as a hallmark of cancer and may be necessary for tumorgenesis and maintenance of the cancer state. Inflammation-related symptoms are common in those with cancer; however, little is known about the relationship between symptoms and systemic inflammation in cancer. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between symptoms and systemic inflammation in a large cohort of patients with advanced cancer. ⋯ The results show that the majority of cancer symptoms are associated with inflammation. The strength of the potential relationship between systemic inflammation and common cancer symptoms should be examined further within the context of an anti-inflammatory intervention trial.