Annals of surgical oncology
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Comparative Study
Health-related quality of life outcomes in disease-free survivors of mid-low rectal cancer after curative surgery.
The main objective of this study was to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in terms of symptoms and functional outcomes in disease-free survivors of rectal cancer. ⋯ Overall, patients with rectal cancer recover well in the long run, with HRQOL levels comparable to that of the general population. HRQOL outcomes provide valuable data that may be used to improve information disclosure to patients.
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Comparative Study
Long-term morbidity of sentinel node biopsy versus complete axillary dissection for unilateral breast cancer.
Postoperative changes after axillary lymph node surgery may significantly alter breast cancer survivors' (BCS) quality of life. Although sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has less immediate morbidity than axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), its long-term impact on shoulder abduction, arm swelling, and neurosensory changes has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to compare long-term morbidity after SLNB or ALND and breast-conservation surgery. ⋯ SLNB is associated with significantly less subjective and objective long-term morbidity than ALND.
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This study investigates oncological risks and benefits of portal occlusion (PO) in major resection for colorectal liver metastases (CLM). ⋯ Unresectability after PO is a major problem that warrants multidisciplinary improvements, and randomization to resection with or without PO remains ethically problematic. However, following adequate patient selection, PO may provide a significant survival benefit for patients with prior unresectable CLM.
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COX inhibitors and beta-blockers were recently suggested to reduce cancer progression through inhibition of tumor proliferation and growth factor secretion, induction of tumor apoptosis, and prevention of cellular immune suppression during the critical perioperative period. Here we evaluated the perioperative impact of clinically applicable drugs from these categories in the context of surgery, studying natural killer (NK) cell activity and resistance to experimental metastases. ⋯ Excess prostaglandin and catecholamine release contributes to postoperative immune-suppression. Treatment combining perioperative COX-2 inhibition and beta-blockade is practical in operated cancer patients, and our study suggests potential immunological and clinical benefits.