Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma on the waiting list for orthotopic liver transplantation.

Objective: The objective of this study was to perform a retrospective analysis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) before undergoing liver transplantation at our institution.

Subjects And Methods: From January 2000 to August 2005, 56 patients with HCC underwent TACE before orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Radiologic findings before and after TACE were assessed and correlated with histologic findings after OLT.

The functional interaction of 14-3-3 proteins with the ERK1/2 scaffold KSR1 occurs in an isoform-specific manner.

Identifying 14-3-3 isoform-specific substrates and functions may be of broad relevance to cell signaling research because of the key role played by this family of proteins in many vital processes. A multitude of ligands have been identified, but the extent to which they are isoform-specific is a matter of debate. Herein we demonstrate, both in vitro and in vivo, a specific, functionally relevant interaction of human 14-3-3gamma with the molecular scaffold KSR1, which is mediated by the C-terminal stretch of 14-3-3gamma.

A single-nucleotide polymorphism in the aromatase gene is associated with the efficacy of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole in advanced breast carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of treatment with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole in breast cancer patients segregated with respect to DNA polymorphisms of the aromatase gene CYP19.

Patients And Methods: Postmenopausal patients (n = 67) with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer were treated with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole. PCR allelic discrimination was used to examine three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in DNA obtained from breast carcinoma tissue.

Association between VEGF expression in tumour-associated macrophages and elevated serum VEGF levels in primary colorectal cancer patients.

Objective: Angiogenesis is stimulated by angiogenic factors released by tumour cells, though other cells, such as tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), also contribute towards increasing the angiogenic process in colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to determine in CRC patients the contribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in TAMs and tumour cells towards circulating VEGF levels, their association with p53 expression and microvascular density (MVD), and their prognostic value.

Methods: Immunohistochemical techniques were used to identify TAMs and p53 protein, and to evaluate the VEGF expression in TAMs, MVD and tumour cells in 110 primary CRC patients.

Time-to-progression in breast cancer: a stratification model for clinical trials.

The development of new anti-tumour drugs without clear cytoreductive activity has necessitated changes in the design of clinical trials. Defining the "time" parameter has become the essential objective of the majority of these trials. However, in breast cancer, this parameter is highly variable and, as such, difficult to quantify.

Playing only one instrument may be not enough: limitations and future of the antiangiogenic treatment of cancer.

Angiogenesis plays an essential role in tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. After initial pessimism about the usefulness of the antiangiogenic therapeutic approach for cancer, interest has increased in the development of antiangiogenic compounds after the first clinical approval of an antiangiogenic therapy. The anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody bevacizumab has recently been approved for use in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic colorectal and non-small cell lung cancer patients.

High circulating HER2 extracellular domain levels correlate with reduced efficacy of an aromatase inhibitor in hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer: a confirmatory prospective study.

Background: In this specifically designed, prospective study, the authors addressed the predictive value of circulating levels of the extracellular domain (ECD) of HER2 in patients with metastatic breast cancer who were treated with letrozole.

Methods: Two hundred twenty-six patients with hormone receptor-positive, metastatic breast cancer received letrozole (2.5 mg daily) until they developed either disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Elevated vascular endothelial growth factor pretreatment levels are correlated with the tumor burden in Hodgkin lymphoma and continue to be elevated in prolonged complete remission.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been described as an essential cytokine in the regulation of angiogenesis. Its elevation in peripheral blood or bone marrow has been associated with an unfavorable outcome in different hematologic neoplasms. Hodgkin lymphoma represents approximately one fifth of all lymphomas, and the roles of angiogenesis and VEGF in Hodgkin lymphoma have not been well defined at present.

1H, 15N and 13C backbone and side chain chemical shifts of human ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD domain).

The backbone and side chain resonance assignments of human ACS (approximately 22 KD), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain and a pyrin domain, have been determined by triple-resonance NMR techniques.

Current controversies in the management of early breast cancer.

Medical professionals in general, and medical oncologists in particular, have highly stressful practices because they are under constant pressure to have the highest-quality, up-to-date evidence available in order to make the right decision for each individual patient. From a practical point of view, being updated on oncological and other medical specialties may seem an insurmountable task because the number of scientific publications has increased dramatically. The use of systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials or the application of results obtained from high-quality randomised controlled trials are some of the most common ways to address this need.

Prognostic value of serum angiogenic activity in colorectal cancer patients.

Angiogenesis, resulting from an imbalance between angiogenic activator factors and inhibitors, is required for tumour growth and metastasis. The determination of the circulating concentration of all angiogenic factors (activators and inhibitors) is not feasible at present. We have evaluated diagnostic and prognostic values of the measurement of serum angiogenic activity in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients.

On the accurate measurement of amide one-bond 15N-1H couplings in proteins: effects of cross-correlated relaxation, selective pulses and dynamic frequency shifts.

Amide one-bond 15N-1H scalar couplings of 15N- and [15N,2H]-isotopically enriched ubiquitin have been measured with the Quantitative J approach by monitoring NMR signal intensity modulation. Scalar couplings of the non-deuterated protein are in average approximately 0.6 Hz larger than values of deuterated ubiquitin.

The "El Alamo" project (1990-1997): two consecutive hospital-based studies of breast cancer outcomes in Spain.

Background: The "Alamo" project is a retrospective analysis of 14,854 patients diagnosed of breast cancer between 1990 and 1997 in 50 Spanish hospitals.

Methods: Alamo I (AI) consisted of 4,532 patients diagnosed with breast cancer between 1990 and 1993. Data were collected in 2000.

Influence of timing of initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy over survival in breast cancer: a negative outcome study by the Spanish Breast Cancer Research Group (GEICAM).

Purpose: This retrospective trial evaluates whether the timing of initiation of the adjuvant chemotherapy has any influence over survival in early-stage breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: A total of 2782 patients from El Alamo project (from 1990 to 1997; n = 15,400) were selected with stages I-III, surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Data were gathered about prognostic factors such as age, tumor size, vessel permeation (vascular or lymphatic), histological grade, and number of involved nodes, hormonal receptor status and administration of hormone therapy.

Interference between cross-correlated relaxation and the measurement of scalar and dipolar couplings by Quantitative J.

The effects of cross-correlated relaxation in Quantitative J methods are analyzed. One-bond 1H-13C scalar and dipolar couplings of protein methine and methylene sites are obtained by monitoring proton and carbon magnetization in Quantitative J experiments. We find that scalar and dipolar couplings of the same pair of nuclei vary depending on the type of magnetization involved.

Serum endostatin and bFGF as predictive factors in advanced breast cancer patients treated with letrozole.

Introduction: To investigate the value of baseline serum levels of VEGF, bFGF, endostatin and their ratio as predictive factors of response to endocrine therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and positive ER treated with letrozole after tamoxifen failure.

Materials And Method: The serum levels of endostatin, VEGF and bFGF were determined in postmenopausal patients with progressing MBC from serum samples obtained before initiation of letrozole. The relation between serum angiogenic factor levels and TTP was investigated.

Treatment for relapse in stage I/II Hodgkin's lymphoma after initial single-modality treatment.

Background: Doxorubicin/bleomycin/vinblastine/dacarbazine (ABVD) chemotherapy alone is a viable option for the treatment of stage I/II Hodgkin's lymphoma. Among the main drawbacks for widespread acceptance of this therapy is the absence of available data on the post-salvage therapy course in patients with limited-stage disease who relapse after ABVD. This article focuses on the outcome of 11 limited-stage patients who relapsed after ABVD alone.

A phase II study of concomitant boost radiation plus concurrent weekly cisplatin for locally advanced unresectable head and neck carcinomas.

Background And Purpose: This phase II study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of weekly cisplatin along with concomitant boost accelerated radiation regimen in patients with locally advanced unresectable head and neck carcinoma.

Material And Methods: A total of 94 patients (median age, 58 years) with UICC stage III (n = 19) and IV (n = 75) cancer of the oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx and oral cavity were included. Patients received radiotherapy with a concomitant boost scheme (1.

Elevated serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor are associated with tumor-associated macrophages in primary breast cancer.

We analyzed serum and tumor samples from 133 patients with operable primary breast cancer to determine the possible relationship between presurgery and postsurgery circulating serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) numbers, tumor VEGF expression, and other immunohistochemical parameters. A significant positive correlation was observed between the number of TAM and postsurgery circulating VEGF values (P < .05).

Fat in the liver: diagnosis and characterization.

The purpose of this article is to provide an update on imaging techniques useful for detection and characterization of fat in the liver. Imaging findings of liver steatosis, both diffuse steatosis and focal fatty change, as well as focal fatty sparing, are presented. In addition, we will review computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) findings of focal liver lesions with fatty metamorphosis, including hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatocellular adenoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, angiomyolipoma, lipoma, and metastases.

Improvement of breast cancer relapse prediction in high risk intervals using artificial neural networks.

The objective of this study is to compare the predictive accuracy of a neural network (NN) model versus the standard Cox proportional hazard model. Data about the 3811 patients included in this study were collected within the 'El Alamo' Project, the largest dataset on breast cancer (BC) in Spain. The best prognostic model generated by the NN contains as covariates age, tumour size, lymph node status, tumour grade and type of treatment.