A total of 30-50% of early breast cancer (EBC) patients considered as high risk using standard prognostic factors develop metastatic recurrence despite standard adjuvant systemic treatment. A means ...to better predict clinical outcome is needed to optimize and individualize therapeutic decisions. To identify a protein signature correlating with metastatic relapse, we performed surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry profiling of early postoperative serum from 81 high-risk EBC patients. Denatured and fractionated serum samples were incubated with IMAC30 and CM10 ProteinChip arrays. Several protein peaks were differentially expressed according to clinical outcome. By combining partial least squares and logistic regression methods, we built a multiprotein model that correctly predicted outcome in 83% of patients. The 5-year metastasis-free survival in 'good prognosis' and 'poor prognosis' patients as defined using the multiprotein index were strikingly different (83 and 22%, respectively; P<0.0001, log-rank test). In a multivariate Cox regression including conventional pathological factors and multiprotein index, the latter retained the strongest independent prognostic significance for metastatic relapse. Major components of the multiprotein index included haptoglobin, C3a complement fraction, transferrin, apolipoprotein C1 and apolipoprotein A1. Therefore, postoperative serum protein pattern may have an important prognostic value in high-risk EBC.
Familial aggregation in patients with several haematological malignancies has been described, but the genetic basis for this familial clustering is not known. Few genes predisposing to familial ...haematological malignancies have been identified, among which
RUNX1
and
CEBPA
have been described as predisposing genes to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Recent studies on
RUNX1
suggest that germline mutations in this gene predispose to a larger panel of familial haematological malignancies than AML. In order to strengthen this hypothesis, we have screened
CEBPA
for germline mutations in several families presenting aggregation of hematological malignancies (including chronic or acute, lymphoid or myeloid leukemias, Hodgkin’s or non Hodgkin’s lymphomas, and myeloproliferative or myelodysplastic syndromes) with or without solid tumours. Although no deleterious mutations were found, we report two novel and rare variants of uncertain significance. In addition, we confirm that the in frame insertion c.1175_1180dup (p.P194_H195dup) is a germline polymorphism.
This work describes ABAKO/RAPCAL, a flexible computational package for the study of population kinetics and radiative properties of non-equilibrium plasmas in a wide range of physical conditions. The ...code was developed looking for an optimal compromise between accuracy and computational cost. ABAKO/RAPCAL assembles a set of simple analytical models which yield substantial savings of computer resources, but yet still providing good comparisons with more elaborated codes and experimental data. Here we present some results to show the ABAKO/RAPCAL capabilities to calculate the charge distribution and radiative properties of both low- and high-Z plasmas. Finally, an application for K-shell spectroscopic determination of the electron temperature and density of laser-produced plasmas is also shown.
Evaluation of the response to therapy is important for optimal selection of treatment strategy in patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD). Refractory disease requires intensive high-dose chemotherapy, ...whereas unnecessary treatment should be avoided in patients in complete remission. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution of gallium-67 scintigraphy in predicting the clinical outcome in patients with HD and mediastinal involvement on the basis of scan results at the end of chemotherapy. Seventy-four patients with HD and mediastinal involvement were retrospectively investigated with 67Ga scintigraphy 72 h after injection of 220 MBq 67Ga citrate (planar and single-photon emission tomographic studies) following the completion of chemotherapy. At the same time, they all underwent computed tomography (CT). Patients were followed up for an average of 63 months (range 28-124 months). The disease status was newly diagnosed disease in 64 of the patients and relapse in 10. Systemic symptoms were absent (A) in 34 cases and present (B) in 40 cases. Forty-one patients had stage I or II disease and 33 patients had stage III or IV disease. Twenty-two patients had bulky disease on initial diagnosis. At the end of chemotherapy, all 74 patients showed regression of the mass by more than 50% (50%-100%) on CT. Patients were divided into two groups according to the positivity or negativity of the gallium scan after chemotherapy: 61 patients had negative and 13 patients had positive gallium scans. In the gallium-negative group, 19.7% of the patients relapsed and 91.8% were alive at the end of the follow-up. Relapse occurred in 20% of the patients with residual mass and in 19.6% of the patients without residual mass. In the gallium-positive group, 84.6% of the patients had recurrent disease and 61.5% were alive after intensive chemotherapy. There was a statistically significant difference in overall survival between patients with positive and patients with negative gallium results (P=0.0034). Disease-free survival differed significantly between patients with positive and patients with negative gallium scans at the end of chemotherapy (P<0.0001). The relative risk of death was 5.2 and the relative risk of relapse was 11.3 for patients with positive gallium scans, in comparison to those with negative gallium scans. The positive and negative predictive values for predicting relapse were 85% and 87%, respectively. It is concluded that even if gallium scan is performed at the end of chemotherapy, it can predict outcome. Alternative therapy may be required on the basis of gallium scan results obtained after treatment.
Familial aggregation in patients with several haematological malignancies has been described, but the genetic basis for this familial clustering is not known. Few genes predisposing to familial ...haematological malignancies have been identified, among which RUNX1 and CEBPA have been described as predisposing genes to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Recent studies on RUNX1 suggest that germline mutations in this gene predispose to a larger panel of familial haematological malignancies than AML. In order to strengthen this hypothesis, we have screened CEBPA for germline mutations in several families presenting aggregation of hematological malignancies (including chronic or acute, lymphoid or myeloid leukemias, Hodgkin's or non Hodgkin's lymphomas, and myeloproliferative or myelodysplastic syndromes) with or without solid tumours. Although no deleterious mutations were found, we report two novel and rare variants of uncertain significance. In addition, we confirm that the in frame insertion c.1175_1180dup (p.P194_H195dup) is a germline polymorphism.
BRCA1-associated breast cancers (BRCA1-BCs) frequently harbor a high histoprognostic grade, p53 alterations, and estrogen receptor negativity. Although these parameters predict a poor outlook, the ...overall survival in BRCA1-BCs is equivalent to or even better than that in sporadic cases. These features are reminiscent of what is observed for breast carcinoma of the medullary type, a high-grade tumor with a particular favorable course. To explore a possible relationship between this phenotype and BRCA1 mutations, we first compared 32 BRCA1-BCs and 200 consecutive cases of breast cancer without familial history for the prevalence of typical medullary breast carcinoma (TMC) using the criteria given by Ridolfi et al. R. Ridolfi et al, Cancer (Phila.), 40: 1365-1385, 1977. Second, we searched for BRCA1 mutations in a set of 18 cases of TMC, using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and Cleavase fragment length polymorphism scanning. Six of 32 (19%) BRCA1-BCs were of the TMC type, compared to 0 of 200 controls (P < 0.0001). Among the 18 TMCs, 2 BRCA1 nonsense mutations were found. This corresponds to almost 7 times the contribution of BRCA1 mutations in the general population. Two additional missense mutations were identified. Together, these results suggest that, although TMC and BRCA1-BCs are not strictly coincidental, an important connection between the two populations does exist.
Immunotherapy using recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) has been shown to induce thyroid dysfunction in some cancer patients. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the incidence and risk ...factors of this adverse autoimmune response. Triiodothyronine, thyroxine and thyrotropin levels were measured serially in 146 consecutive patients treated with rIL-2 for refractory solid tumor (77 patients) or malign hemopathy (69 patients); rIL-2 was administered intravenously in 5-day cycles (18 x 10(6)-24 x 10(6) IU.m-2.day-1) either alone in 79 cases or in combination with autologous bone marrow transplantation in 26 cases, with interferon-gamma in 37 cases, with tumor necrosis factor-alpha in 13 and with cyclophosphamide in five cases. Some patients underwent more than one therapeutic protocol. Peripheral hypothyroidism was present upon entry in nine (6.2%) patients. Thyroid dysfunction appeared or worsened during rIL-2 therapy in 24 (16.4%) patients. Sixteen (10.9%) patients exhibited peripheral hypothyroidism, out of which four exhibited biphasic thyroiditis. Another five (3.4%) patients developed transient hyperthyroidism. Anomaly could not be classified in three patients. Thyroid dysfunction appeared early after one or two cycles. All surviving patients recovered. Only gender and presence of antithyroid antibody were correlated significantly with rIL-2-induced thyroid abnormalities. No correlation was found with any of the other risk factors studied, i.e. type of malignancy, rIL-2 treatment procedure, clinical efficacy, evolution of circulating lymphocyte subsets or other autoimmune antibodies. Antithyroid antibodies were detected in 60.9% of patients with this complication. Thyroid-stimulating antibodies were never detected.
PDF
