We investigated the expression of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) of the cancer/testis (C/T) gene family in cervical squamous cell carcinomas. First, we focused on the HeLa cervical cancer derived ...cell line, and we found that it expresses MAGE-A1, MAGE-A2, MAGE-A3, MAGE-A4, MAGE-A6, MAGE-A12, GAGE-3/6, LAGE-1, and PRAME genes, encoding defined C/T TAA. In contrast, no expression of MAGE-A10, BAGE, GAGE-1/2, or NY-ESO-1 genes was observed. Corresponding gene products could also be detected by immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry, taking advantage of monoclonal antibodies recognizing discrete TAA. Capitalizing on these data, a monoclonal antibody predominantly recognizing MAGE-A4 TAA in paraffin-embedded sections (57B) was used to investigate the C/T gene expression in clinical tumor samples. A group of 60 patients was studied, and 57B positivity was detectable to different extents in 33% of the cases (20/60). In 13 of them (21%), staining of over 50% of the tumor cells was evident, whereas healthy cells always scored negative. Remarkably, MAGE-A4 expression was significantly (p < 0.05) more frequently detectable in poorly differentiated tumors (8/13) than in well-differentiated or moderately differentiated cancers (3/15 and 9/32, respectively) and in stage FIGO II as compared with stage FIGO Ib tumors (12/23 and 5/24, respectively, p = 0.04). Interestingly, staining was mostly nuclear in well-differentiated tumors, but involved both nuclei and cytoplasm in less differentiated cancers. Positivities of comparable frequency were also detectable in a smaller series of specimens upon staining with MAGE-A1- or NY-ESO-1/LAGE-1-specific reagents. Considering the high tumor specificity of C/T TAA, our data provide the rationale for the design of immunotherapy procedures targeting these antigens in cervical cancers.
Aims and background
The aim of the study was to investigate whether use of the antiestrogen tamoxifen and heat treatment in combined therapy with the well-known anticancer drugs cisplatin, ...dacarbazine and cyclophosphamide enhances their therapeutic efficacy on mouse B16-F10 melanoma in vivo. The results of systemic melanoma therapy have been mostly disappointing. Therefore, there is still a great need for strategies that can improve existing chemotherapy options.
Methods and study design.
The tumor model for the investigation of antitumor activity was a mouse B16–F10 melanoma transplanted into the footpad of C57BL/6 Zgr/Hr mice. Drugs were given intraperitoneally 15 min before the application of local hyperthermia, and tumor growth and mouse survival were followed.
Results
Hyperthermia alone determined a significant delay of tumor growth, but mouse survival was not affected. In bimodal combinations with hyperthermia, all the tested antitumor drugs significantly increased both tumor growth delay and mouse survival. Tamoxifen alone did not show any inhibitory effect on B16–F10 melanoma in vivo. However, in the trimodal therapy with a particular drug and hyperthermia, it potentiated the inhibitory effects of the respective bimodal treatments, especially that of cyclophosphamide and hyperthermia.
Conclusions
Our results obtained on the mouse B16–F10 melanoma in vivo confirmed the enhanced therapeutic efficacy of the trimodal therapy tamoxifen, hyperthermia and anticancer drug combinations in melanoma treatment. Further studies should optimize the heat-drug time scheduling and drug doses that will result in the best possible therapeutic achievement for these trimodal therapy options.
The prognosis for patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma is limited because of the low number of patients who are eligible for curative hepatic resection. In this phase I study, 31 ...liver metastases in 24 patients with nonresectable metastases from colorectal carcinoma were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT).
The photosensitizer 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(m-hydroxyphenyl)bacteriochlorin (mTHPBC) was intravenously administered in a dose of .6 mg/kg (n = 12) or .3 mg/kg (n = 12). After 120 hours (n = 18) or 48 hours (n = 6), tumors were illuminated for 300 to 600 seconds through percutaneously inserted optical fibers with a light dose of 60 J/cm of diffuser (740 nm).
Tumor necrosis at 1 month after PDT was achieved in all treated lesions. Laser treatment was associated with mild pain (n = 8) and transient subclinical hepatotoxicity (n = 21). In one patient, PDT damage to the pancreas was inflicted, and in another patient, PDT damage of the skin occurred, but no serious clinical complications from PDT were reported. Administration of .6 mg/kg of mTHPBC led to transient phlebitis in 10 patients, and 3 patients experienced mild skin phototoxicity after excess light exposure.
Colorectal liver metastases that are ineligible for resection can be safely and effectively treated with interstitial mTHPBC-based PDT.
Isolated ureteral metastasis from gastric cancer is extremely rare.
We describe a 50 year old man with a history of subtotal gastrectomy who presented 4 years later with an ureteral metastasis. He ...was asymptomatic and diagnostic tests were performed due to the elevated creatinine level disclosed incidentally. The partial resection of distal right ureter as well as the resection of the right ureterovesical junction was performed with the implantation of double J stent. Histopathology revealed a metastasis of the adenocarcinoma that matched perfectly a tumour specimen from the gastric cancer surgery. It was first and isolated manifestation of gastric cancer dissemination.
Although rare, the ureteral metastasis from gastric cancer can be the first, sole and asymptomatic manifestation of gastric cancer dissemination after a period of time.
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. Early diagnosis and more effective treatment of invasive breast cancer resulted in significant mortality reduction, improvement of survival and ...the quality of life of the patients. The management od non-invasive breast cancer, on the contrary, is still controversial and the problem of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of patients come to evidence. In the following text a multidisciplinary team of experts brings the first consensus guidelines aimed to standardize and optimize the criteria and management in diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of non-invasive breast cancer patients in the Republic of Croatia.
To avoid, or at least to reduce complications in patients who require head and neck radiotherapy, adequate oral cavity treatment is necessary before the therapy. Recent management guidelines speak of ...possibilities of preventing osteoradionecrosis with hyperbaric oxygen, using long-wave ultrasound in stimulating osteoblasts growth, and surgical transfer of submandibular salivary glands to submental area with 99% effectiveness in preventing xerostomia, besides traditional therapy. Preventive measures are naturally the best choice, since late complications treatment is not needed as often, and should draw special attention of physicians and patients. Since wide a spectrum of preventive and curative measures is required, the need exists for standard teams to look after the patients during and after radiotherapy, and which should include, besides radiotherapist, oral or maxillofacial surgeon in cooperation with oral medicine specialist.
Multiple primary malignancies, metachronous or synchronous, in a single patient are relatively rare event with the increase of incidence in recent decades. The aim of this research is to study their ...incidence in patients hospitalized at the Division of Radiotherapy, Department of Oncology, University of Zagreb, School of medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb from 2003 to 2009. The incidence of multiple primary malignancies was 2.4%. Among 103 patients, 97 had two, and 6 three primary tumors. Eighty-three cases were metachronous, while 20 cases were synchronous malignancies. The frequency was higher in females than males and their age at diagnosis of tumors was younger than in males. The most common tumor combinations in males were: prostate cancer-digestive system malignancy (especially colorectal cancer) and viceversa, and hematological malignant tumors-digestive system malignancy; while in women there were: breast cancer-cancer of contralateral breast and hematological malignant tumors (especially lymphoma non Hodgkin)-breast cancer. The incidence of multiple primary malignancies is expected to increase due to the better screening programs for early detection of malignancies as well as considerable improvement in their treatment and longer life expectancy.
Treatment of cancer-related anemia Badzek, Sasa; Curić, Zvonimir; Krajina, Zdenko ...
Collegium antropologicum,
06/2008, Volume:
32, Issue:
2
Journal Article, Book Review
Peer reviewed
Open access
Anemia with consequent tissue hypoxia is common problem in cancer patients. Developed via various patophysiological mechanisms, it has deleterious effect on quality of life and survival of patients ...with cancer. Recognition of symptoms and timely initiation of treatment improve patients' quality of life, as well as efficacy of oncological treatment. Red blood cells transfusions are well known and efficient way of anemia correction. They are "golden standard" in treatment of cancer-related anemia today, and are unavoidable in almost all patients with hemoglobin concentration below 80 g/L. Newest therapy guidelines in developed countries, supported by recent literature, encourage use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO), although detailed meta-analyses and prospective randomized clinical trials have shown that rHu-EPO decreases the need for transfusions in only 9-45% patients with cancer, only if they have mild anemia, rHu-EPO increases incidence of thromboembolic events, and suspicion arises that it supports tumor cells growth and multiplication. Therefore, it is necessary to define subgroups of patients which are best candidates for rHu-EPO therapy, to accomplish lower intensity of transfusion therapy.
The aim of this study is to test the possible prognostic significance of p53 and Ki67 expression in inverted papilloma of the lateral nasal wall and adjacent sinuses regarding their malignant ...potential and recurrence. 49 biopsies of the lateral nasal wall and adjacent sinuses obtained from 41 patients from three hospitals were investigated. Immunohistochemically demonstrated p53 and Ki67 expression was measured and statistically evaluated. p53 immunoreactivity was demonstrated in most of papillomas with carcinomas but only in two benign papillomas, while Ki67 demonstrated stronger immunoreactivity in carcinomas and surrounding epithelium. Immunohistochemical staining of inverted sinonasal papillomas for p53 and Ki67 can give useful information concerning the existence of synchronous carcinoma and, in case of high Ki67, a hint toward possible recurrence.
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