Anticancer research
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Anticancer research · May 2014
Number of extraspinal organs with metastases: a prognostic factor of survival in patients with metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
In patients irradiated for MSCC from NSCLC, the number of extraspinal organs involved by metastases was investigated for associations with survival. ⋯ The number of extraspinal organs with metastases is an independent prognostic factor for the survival of NSCLC patients presenting with MSCC and should be considered in future studies.
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Anticancer research · May 2014
Preoperative 18F-FDG PET-CT maximum standardized uptake value predicts recurrence of biliary tract cancer.
(18)F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission with computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET-CT) is an imaging technique based on the increased uptake of glucose characteristically seen in malignant lesions. The preoperative maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of PET-CT has been identified as a powerful significant prognostic factor for predicting recurrence in malignant tumors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether (18)F-FDG PET-CT has a prognostic significance in patients with biliary tract cancer after surgical resection. ⋯ In the univariate analysis, N stage, poor tumor differentiation, the presence of lymphatic invasion and high SUVmax (>5.0) were significant risk factors for recurrence. The multivariate analysis showed a high preoperative SUVmax (>5.0) to be an independent risk factor for tumor recurrence (p=0.008). In conclusion, preoperative SUVmax of the primary tumor was significantly associated with recurrence in patients with biliary tract cancer.
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Anticancer research · Mar 2014
Propofol and bupivacaine in breast cancer cell function in vitro - role of the NET1 gene.
It has been hypothesized that anaesthesia during primary breast cancer surgery may influence recurrence or metastasis. Effects of anaesthetic drugs on breast cancer cell function are unclear. The Neuroepithelial Cell Transforming Gene 1 (NET1) gene is associated with promoting migration in adenocarcinoma in vitro. Therefore, we investigated the role of NET1 in the effect of anaesthetic drugs propofol and bupivacaine on breast cancer cell function in vitro. ⋯ Propofol reduced NET1 expression and cell migration in both ER-positive and -negative cells, which was reversed by silencing NET1, implying a role for NET1 in mediating the effect of propofol on breast cancer cell function in vitro.
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Anticancer research · Mar 2014
ReviewEndothelial dysfunction as a determinant of trastuzumab-mediated cardiotoxicity in patients with breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females in the UK and has greater severity in patients who overexpress human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2) proteins in the breast tissue. Trastuzumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody and is targeted towards blocking the HER2 pathway and effectively reduces the recurrence of breast cancer and associated mortality. ⋯ In the present review, we summarise the pathways that are implicated in the development of CHF in patients receiving trastuzumab. We also highlight the role of trastuzumab-mediated endothelial dysfunction and CHF.
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Anticancer research · Mar 2014
ReviewGenetic and epigenetic aspects of breast cancer progression and therapy.
Although breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease that is challenging to characterize and treat, the recent explosion of genetic and epigenetic research may help improve these endeavors. In the present review, we use genetic diversity to characterize and classify different types of breast cancer. We also discuss genetic and epigenetic changes that are involved in the development of different breast cancer types and examine how these changes affect prognosis. ⋯ Next, we examine potential drug therapies directed at epigenetic changes, as such epigenetic drug treatments may prove useful for treating patient-specific tumors, breast cancer progenitor cells, and drug-resistant cells. Lastly, we discuss on mechanisms of carcinogenesis, including a novel hypothesis outlining the role of epigenetics in the development of cancer progenitor cells and metastasis. Overall, breast cancer subtypes may have a similar epigenetic signal that promotes cancer development, and treatment may be most effective if both epigenetic and genetic differences are targeted.