Annals of surgical oncology
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Gemcitabine is a promising adjuvant treatment for patients with resected pancreatic cancer. Human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 (hENT1) is the major transporter responsible for gemcitabine uptake into cells. The aim of this study was to retrospectively determine the relationship between the outcome of pancreatic cancer after surgery followed by postoperative gemcitabine monotherapy and the expression of hENT1. ⋯ A high expression of hENT1 in pancreatic cancer was found to be significantly associated with a longer survival in patients who received adjuvant gemcitabine monotherapy after curative resection, and hENT1 immunohistochemistry may well serve as a significant prognostic factor for these patients.
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Indocyanine green (ICG) retention is a validated test of hepatic function in patients with chronic liver disease. The underlying mechanism for the impairment of ICG retention in patients undergoing chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases (CLM) remains unclear. We sought to elucidate the mechanism for impairment of ICG retention in patients with CLM. ⋯ These results suggest that the deterioration of hepatic functional reserve due to SOS is associated with sinusoidal capillarization, indicated by CD34 overexpression within nontumoral liver parenchyma adjacent to SOS.
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Replication-competent oncolytic viruses have shown great promise as a potential cancer treatment. This study aimed to determine whether a novel vaccinia virus, GLV-1h151, with genetic modifications enhancing cancer specificity and enabling virus detection, is effective against a range of human cancers and is safe when administered in preclinical models. ⋯ GLV-1h151 is effective as an oncolytic agent against a wide range of cancers in cell culture and is effective against pancreatic human xenografts displaying a good biosafety profile and ability to be detected via optical imaging. GLV-1h151 thus adds another potential medium for the killing of cancer and detection of virus in infected tissue.
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Most patients who harbor a genetic mutation for hereditary breast cancer have not been identified, despite the availability of genetic testing. Developing an effective approach to the identification of high-risk individuals is the key to preventing and/or providing early diagnosis of cancer in this patient population. This educational review addresses these issues. ⋯ Using data available on the internet, and making assumptions regarding the types and results of genetic testing, we have estimated the number of mutation carriers in the country and the number who have been tested and identified as such. Overall, our ability to fund and more effectively manage carriers is weak. A technological solution is discussed.