Cancer
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Mantle cell lymphoma can be difficult to differentiate cytologically from other small cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Nevertheless, the distinction is important, because mantle cell lymphoma is more aggressive than other small cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The purpose of this study was to determine whether fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is helpful in diagnosing mantle cell lymphoma on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens by detecting the t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation that is characteristic of this tumor. ⋯ The detection of the t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation by FISH analysis was helpful in diagnosing mantle cell lymphoma on FNA specimens. Double-fusion signals were more specific for mantle cell lymphoma than single-fusion signals. In rare instances, other non-Hodgkin lymphomas also showed increased numbers of single-fusion signals that were not necessarily indicative of the t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation. Therefore, in an initial diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma, significant numbers of double-fusion FISH signals should be identified and interpreted in conjunction with the cytologic and immunologic studies.
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Comparative Study
Breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: how does it relate to breast cancer in African-American women?
African-American women have had a lower incidence, yet higher mortality rate from breast cancer compared with White-American women. African-American women also have had a higher risk for early-onset, high-grade, node-positive, and hormone receptor-negative disease. Similar features have characterized hereditary breast cancer, prompting speculation that risk factors could be genetically transmitted. Further evaluation of this theory required the study of breast cancer among women from sub-Saharan Africa because of their shared ancestry with African-American women. ⋯ Parallels between breast cancer burdens of African-American and sub-Saharan-African women were provocative, indicating the need for further exploration of possible genetically transmitted features related to estrogen metabolism and/or breast cancer risk.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
The IVADo regimen--a pilot study with ifosfamide, vincristine, actinomycin D, and doxorubicin in children with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma: a pilot study of behalf of the European pediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group.
The role of doxorubicin (Doxo) as part of multidrug regimens used to treat children with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is controversial. To evaluate the feasibility of combining Doxo with the well established ifosfamide, vincristine, and actinomycin D (IVA) regimen, the Italian STS Committee performed a pilot study on a series of children with metastatic STS. ⋯ The intensive IVADo regimen was effective against pediatric STS with acceptable toxicity. This combination will be investigated in high-risk patients with rhabdomyosarcoma in a randomized trial launched by the European pediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group.
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The ideal pathologic assessment of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in patients with breast carcinoma remains controversial. The authors evaluated how detailed assessment of SLNs using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and serial sectioning would affect treatment decisions and outcomes in patients with breast carcinoma who had negative SLNs on standard hematoxylin and eosin staining. ⋯ Although the finding of SLN micrometastases by IHC may change management in > 12% of patients, preliminary results suggested that such micrometastases do not affect outcomes significantly.
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The role of androgen deprivation therapy in prostate carcinoma is controversial in earlier stages of disease. The authors examined the time trends and patterns of use for androgen deprivation in the form of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists or orchiectomy, in population-based tumor registries. ⋯ The use of GnRH agonists for prostate carcinoma increased dramatically during the 1990s. This increase occurred across all stages and histologic grades of prostate carcinoma, and was greatest in patients >/= 80 years.