Cancer
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Cervical cancer is a major cause of death among women worldwide, and the most cases are reported in the least developed countries. Recently, a study on DNA microarray gene expression analysis demonstrated the overexpression of heat shock protein 70-2 (HSP70-2) in cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa). The objective of the current study was to evaluate the association between HSP70-2 expression in cervical carcinogenesis and its potential role in various malignant properties that result in disease progression. ⋯ The current findings suggested that HSP70-2 may play an important role in disease progression in cervical carcinogenesis. Patients who had early stage disease and low-grade tumors had HSP70-2 expression, supporting its potential role in early detection and aggressive treatment modalities for cervical cancer management.
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Comparative Study
Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion versus systemic chemotherapy alone for colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis.
Survival benefit of cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion was demonstrated by a prospective randomized trial for colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis. Because of a recent substantial improvement in chemotherapy, the authors analyzed treatment options of colorectal carcinomatosis in the current era. ⋯ The authors concluded that 1) contemporary chemotherapy is associated with prolonged survival among patients with carcinomatosis as compared with historical controls, and 2) addition of cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion to modern chemotherapy regimens may significantly prolong survival. Cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion and systemic chemotherapy are not competitive therapies, and they both have a role in a multidisciplinary approach to patients with carcinomatosis.
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This study was conducted to evaluate the long-term outcomes in patients with stage IE and IIE mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas treated with involved field radiotherapy (RT). ⋯ Patients with localized MALT lymphomas are reported to have excellent clinical outcome after moderate-dose RT, and some are likely cured. In the current study, thyroid and gastric MALTs were found to have significantly less risk of distant recurrence. Despite disease recurrence, the overall survival remains excellent in these patients.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of intensity-modulated radiotherapy and 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy as adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer.
The current study was performed to compare the clinical outcomes and toxicity in patients treated with postoperative chemoradiotherapy for gastric cancer using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) versus 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT). ⋯ Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was well tolerated. IMRT was found to provide sparing to the liver and possibly renal function.
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This study investigated the agreement between self-reports from pediatric brain tumor patients and proxy reports from their parents regarding the patients' quality of life (QOL), as assessed using a brain tumor-specific QOL assessment tool, the Pediatric Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Childhood Brain Tumor Survivors (pedsFACT-BrS) questionnaire. The authors expected moderate correlation and similar mean scores between patient and parent reports. ⋯ The results indicate that proper use of the pedsFACT-BrS for patients and their parent proxies can provide clinicians with valid information about the overall QOL of child and adolescent brain tumor patients, including both their general health and their brain tumor-specific well-being.