Cancer
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Intracranial hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a malignant meningothelial tumor. Because of its rarity, few guidelines exist for optimal management. ⋯ Adjuvant radiation may show promise in preventing tumor progression, but recurrence remains a common treatment outcome regardless of initial strategy. When safe and feasible, gross total resection should be pursued as an initial surgical strategy to maximize overall survival. The propensity of these tumors to metastasize makes detailed staging imaging necessary.
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Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) (also known as diffuse-type giant cell tumor) and tenosynovial giant cell tumors (TGCT) are rare, usually benign neoplasms that affect the synovium and tendon sheaths in young adults. These tumors are driven by the overexpression of colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF1). CSF1 is expressed by a minority of tumor cells, which, in turn attract non-neoplastic inflammatory cells that express CSF1 receptor (CSF1R) through a paracrine effect. ⋯ IM displayed interesting activity in patients with PVNS/TGCT, providing proof of concept for targeting CSF1R in this disease. The authors concluded that the benefits of alleviating morbidity in patients with localized PVNS/TGCT must be balanced against the potential toxicity of chronic drug therapy.
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The A118G polymorphism of the mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1), resulting in the substitution of an amino acid, has been found to be associated with functional effects and response to opioid treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess whether this polymorphism contributes to the variability in response to tramadol/acetaminophen combination tablets (Ultracet) for treating oxaliplatin-induced painful neuropathy. ⋯ These data suggest that Ultracet is effective in the management of oxaliplatin-induced painful neuropathy. A118G polymorphism of OPRM1, by altered function of the mu-opioid receptor and consequential analgesic effect on opioid agents, could be a key determinant for decreased response to Ultracet.
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B-cell lymphoma, Unclassifiable with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Burkitt lymphoma, for convenience referred to here as unclassifiable B-cell lymphoma, is a category in the 2008 World Health Organization system used for a group of histologically aggressive neoplasms that are difficult to classify definitively. Currently, there is no established standard therapy for these neoplasms. ⋯ MYC aberrations are common in unclassifiable B-cell lymphoma. The presence of MYC aberrations identifies a patient subset that requires more aggressive therapy than R-CHOP. In contrast, MYC(-) unclassifiable B-cell lymphoma patients responded variably to either R-CHOP or aggressive therapy, and the latter showed no survival advantage.
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It has been demonstrated that the partner and localizer of breast cancer 2 (PALB2) acts as a bridging molecule between the breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and BRCA2 proteins and is responsible for facilitating BRCA2-mediated DNA repair. Truncating mutations in the PALB2 gene reportedly are enriched in patients with Fanconi anemia and breast cancer in various populations. ⋯ PALB2 mutations were present in both familial and nonfamilial breast cancers among African Americans. Rare PALB2 mutations accounted for a small but substantial proportion of patients with breast cancer.