Cancer
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Natural killer (NK) cells are a group of effector cells that act nonspecifically against tumor cells. The correlation between intratumoral NK cell infiltration and clinicopathologic features remains unclear. ⋯ Patients with a high level of NK infiltration were found to have a better prognosis than those with a low level of NK infiltration. Combination analysis with lymphocytic infiltration may provide useful information regarding the immunologic condition of patients with gastric carcinoma.
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The authors reviewed their institution's experience treating patients with mammographically detected ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast with breast-conserving therapy (BCT) to determine 10-year rates of local control and survival and to identify factors associated with local recurrence. ⋯ In patients with mammographically detected DCIS treated with BCT, adequate excision of all DCIS prior to RT can result in improved rates of local control. However, margin status may not adequately predict complete tumor extirpation. The volume of DCIS within 5 mm of the margin appears to be a more reliable surrogate for the adequacy of excision. In addition, young patient age and the absence of pathologic calcifications are independent risk factors for the development of local recurrence.
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The authors retrospectively reviewed their institution's long term experience treating a group of comparably staged low risk prostate carcinoma patients with either radical prostatectomy or external beam radiation therapy (RT) to determine whether the method of treatment resulted in significant differences in biochemical control and/or survival. ⋯ Low risk prostate carcinoma patients with similar pretreatment PSA levels and biopsy Gleason scores treated at the same institution with either radical prostatectomy or RT achieved similar 7-year rates of biochemical control and cause specific survival, regardless of treatment technique. These findings suggest that for patients with pretreatment PSA levels
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The primary purpose of this study was to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of intravenous melphalan in combination with paclitaxel and cisplatin plus granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in patients with suboptimal advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma or primary peritoneal carcinoma. ⋯ The combination of intravenous melphalan, paclitaxel, and cisplatin was found to have acceptable toxicity and good activity. A Phase II study of this combination appears to be warranted.
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Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) is an autosomal dominant tumor syndrome associated with parathyroid, gastroenteropancreatic (GEP), and pituitary neoplasia. Gastrinoma and GEP malignancy are common life-threatening endocrine complications of MEN-1. An effective management strategy for these disorders remains to be determined. The authors attempted to determine the role of the somatostatin analogue, octreotide, in ameliorating features of hypergastrinemic GEP neoplasia associated with MEN-1. ⋯ Octreotide is a safe and effective adjunct to surgical strategies for the management of GEP neoplasia in hypergastrinemic MEN-1 patients.