Intratumoral HLA-DR/CD33/CD11b Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Predict Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Capecitabine-based neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (nCRT) is currently the mainstay of treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), prior to surgical tumor removal. While response to this treatment is partial, it carries significant risk of side effects. As of today, there is no accepted model to predict tumor response, and allow for patient stratification.

Sidedness Matters: Surrogate Biomarkers Prognosticate Colorectal Cancer upon Anatomic Location.

Background: Anatomic location of primary tumors across the colon correlate with survival in the metastatic setting, whereas left-sided tumors may exhibit superior survival compared with right-sided tumors. The Oncotype Recurrence Score (RS) assay is a clinically validated predictor of recurrence risk in patients with stage II colorectal cancer (CRC). Previous studies had indicated that without adjuvant chemotherapy, CDX2-negative stage II CRC tumors are associated with a lower rate of disease-free survival than CDX2-positive stage II CRC tumors.

Partial splenic embolization in the treatment of prolonged thrombocytopenia due to hypersplenism in metastatic cancer patients.

Background: Hypersplenism-related thrombocytopenia (HST) may delay or preclude chemotherapy. Partial splenic embolization (PSE) has been used at our center to overcome prolonged HST.

Patients And Methods: Between November 2012 and April 2015, 11 PSE procedures were performed in 10 patients; 9 had metastatic colorectal cancer and 1 had widespread pancreatic cancer.

Trauma, attachment style, and somatization: a study of women with dyspareunia and women survivors of sexual abuse.

Background: Evidence points toward shared characteristics between female survivors of sexual abuse and women with dyspareunia. This study explored, for the first time, similarities and differences between women who were exposed to sexual abuse to those with dyspareunia, in order to examine whether insecure attachment styles and high somatization level are associated with trauma among women with dyspareunia.

Methods: Attachment styles were explored using the Experience in Close Relationships Scale to reflect participants' levels of anxiety and avoidance.

Biomarker-Driven Therapy in Metastatic Gastric and Esophageal Cancer: Real-Life Clinical Experience.

Background: Precision treatment of cancer uses biomarker-driven therapy to individualize and optimize patient care.

Objective: To evaluate real-life clinical experience with biomarker-driven therapy in metastatic gastric and esophageal cancer in Israel.

Patients And Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included patients with metastatic gastric or esophageal cancer who were treated in the participating institutions and underwent biomarker-driven therapy.

Acne during adolescence did not predict skin rash reaction to cetuximab.

Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody, is a part of the treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. The most common side effect of cetuximab is skin rash, which has a similar distribution to acne vulgaris and some overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms. The aim of the current study was to determine whether acne vulgaris in adolescence (AinA) is predictive of a cetuximab-related rash to better understand the pathogenesis of this side effect and explore potential preventive actions.

Impact of the 12-Gene Colon Cancer Assay on Clinical Decision Making for Adjuvant Therapy in Stage II Colon Cancer Patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of the 12-gene Colon Cancer Recurrence Score Assay-a clinically validated prognosticator in stage II colon cancer after surgical resection-on adjuvant treatment decisions in T3 mismatch repair proficient (MMR-P) stage II colon cancer in clinical practice.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included all patients with T3 MMR-P stage II colon cancer (Clalit Health Services members) with Recurrence Score results (time frame January 2011 to May 2012). Treatment recommendations pretesting were compared with the treatments received.

Management of Inguinal Involvement of Peritoneal Surface Malignancies by Cytoreduction and HIPEC with Inguinal Perfusion.

Background: Achieving complete cytoreduction of peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM) can be challenging. In most cases, delivery of heated intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is straightforward. However, using the closed technique in some cases may be technically challenging; for example, in patients requiring abdominal closure using a large synthetic mesh.

Resilience and psychosocial adjustment in digestive system cancer.

The study aims to investigate the contributions of resilience, affective reactions and post traumatic growth (PTG) to psychosocial adjustment and behavioral changes among digestive system cancer patients in Israel. A sample of 200 participants, 57.5 % men (from the 46 to 70-year age range), 1-4 years following diagnosis, completed an inventory assessing demographic and medical information, resilience, current positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA), PTG, psychosocial adjustment and retrospective report of behavioral changes following cancer treatment.

The association of resilience and age in individuals with colorectal cancer: an exploratory cross-sectional study.

Background: Studies generally report lower emotional distress in older patients with cancer than in younger patients with cancer. The personality construct of resilience was previously found to be higher with age, but has not been assessed in relation to emotional distress in older patients with cancer.

Objective: To assess the mediating effect of resilience on the associations between age and emotional distress in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy after preoperative chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer: long-term results of the EORTC 22921 randomised study.

Background: EORTC trial 22921 examined the addition of preoperative or postoperative chemotherapy to preoperative radiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer. After a median follow-up of 5 years, chemotherapy-irrespective of timing-significantly improved local control. Adjuvant chemotherapy did not improve survival, but the Kaplan-Meier curves diverged, suggesting possible delayed benefit.

Characteristics of response to experimental pain in sexually abused women.

Objectives: Women with a history of sexual abuse (SA) commonly report greater pain symptoms. It is still unclear whether enhanced pain susceptibility is the result of altered pain processing and response. Therefore, this pilot study aimed to explore pain sensitivity to experimentally induced pain and associated psychology in women with a history of severe SA.

A first report of radioembolization for hepatic metastases from ocular melanoma.

Background: Ocular melanoma (OM) metastasizes to the liver and is rapidly fatal despite aggressive therapy. Yttrium-90 microspheres (radioembolization) delivered via the hepatic artery is an established and effective approach for primary and metastatic hepatic tumors, although (90)Y use in OM has not been reported previously.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed for all patients with OM who received radioembolization at 5 centers.

Chemotherapy with preoperative radiotherapy in rectal cancer.

Background: Preoperative radiotherapy is recommended for selected patients with rectal cancer. We evaluated the addition of chemotherapy to preoperative radiotherapy and the use of postoperative chemotherapy in the treatment of rectal cancer.

Methods: We randomly assigned patients with clinical stage T3 or T4 resectable rectal cancer to receive preoperative radiotherapy, preoperative chemoradiotherapy, preoperative radiotherapy and postoperative chemotherapy, or preoperative chemoradiotherapy and postoperative chemotherapy.

Enhanced tumorocidal effect of chemotherapy with preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer: preliminary results--EORTC 22921.

Purpose: The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) trial evaluated the addition of chemotherapy (CT) to preoperative radiation (preop RT) and the value of postoperative CT for improving the survival in patients with T3-4 resectable rectal cancer. Patients were allocated to the following four arms: arm 1, preop RT 45 Gy in 5 weeks; arm 2, preop RT plus two 5-day CT courses (fluorouracil 350 mg/m2/d and leucovorin 20 mg/m2/d) in the first and fifth week of RT; arm 3, preop RT plus four postoperative CT courses; and arm 4, preop RT and CT plus postoperative CT. We investigated the effect of adding CT on the pathologic parameters.

Breakthrough pain characteristics and syndromes in patients with cancer pain. An international survey.

Breakthrough pain (BKP) is a transitory flare of pain that occurs on a background of relatively well controlled baseline pain. Previous surveys have found that BKP is highly prevalent among patients with cancer pain and predicts more severe pain, pain-related distress and functional impairment, and relatively poor quality of life. An international group of investigators assembled by a task force of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of BKP as part of a prospective, cross-sectional survey of cancer pain.

Severe toxicity related to the 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin combination (the Mayo Clinic regimen): a prospective study in colorectal cancer patients.

The Mayo Clinic regimen of leucovorin 20 mg/m followed immediately by 5-fluorouracil 425 mg/m administered for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks is commonly used in the treatment of colorectal cancer. This study was aimed at prospectively determining the incidence and pattern of severe toxicity associated with this regimen. We evaluated prospectively 243 patients with colorectal cancer treated in our department with the Mayo Clinic regimen for the incidence of severe toxicity (defined as toxicity requiring hospitalization).

Interleukin-2, interferon-alpha, 5-fluorouracil, and vinblastine in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a prospective phase II study: the experience of Rambam and Lin Medical Centers 1996-2000.

Background: The current study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and vinblastine (VBL) in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC).

Methods: Sixty-two MRCC patients, median age 63 years, received immunochemotherapy. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was 1 for 45 patients and 2 for 17 patients.

Gemcitabine-induced radiation recall dermatitis: case report.

A 65-year-old male with lung adenocarcinoma received radiotherapy to the mediastinum and right upper lobe, followed by chemotherapy with gemcitabine. Radiation recall dermatitis developed in the area corresponding to the radiotherapy portal. This is one of just a few cases reported recently concerning radiation recall dermatitis stemming from gemcitabine.

Psychiatric problems in returning travelers: features and associations.

Background: Travelers may return from the tropics with psychological problems. The literature regarding features and associations of these psychological problems is limited.

Methods: Case histories of 15 consecutive returning travelers seen at our psychiatric service during the last 8 years.

Octreotide in the treatment of severe chemotherapy-induced diarrhea.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID) is a common side effect of a number of chemotherapeutic agents. Conventional therapy for severe CID with opioids or loperamide is moderately effective. A prospective trial was conducted using octreotide acetate for treatment of severe CID refractory to loperamide.

Severe symptomatic hyponatremia during citalopram therapy.

Hyponatremia secondary to the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is an uncommon complication of treatment with the new class of antidepressant agents, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Most of the reported cases were associated with fluoxetine; only 2 have previously been described in association with citalopram. We describe an elderly woman who presented with severe symptomatic hyponatremia caused by the SIADH during therapy with citalopram.

[Combined treatment of hepatic tumors by cryosurgery and resection: first results].

Cryosurgery is an old technique which is being used for hepatic tumors as an adjuvant to hepatic resection. We recently treated 7 patients with multiple malignant liver tumors, 5 of whom had colorectal metastases, 1 carcinoid metastases, and 1 multiple hepatic lesions of hepatocellular carcinoma. 6 underwent combined liver resection and cryoablation of lesions in the remaining liver.

Neuropsychiatric problems in 2,500 long-term young travelers to the tropics.

Background: The prevalence and features of travel associated neuropsychiatric problems (NPP) and their relation to previous psychological consultations, antimalarials and recreational drug use have not been adequately studied.

Methods: A two-phase postal and telephone survey has been conducted among 2,500 young travelers to tropical countries. We measured the rate and duration of NPP, characterized their features, and their association with previous psychological profiles, itinerary, type of travel, consumption of recreational drugs, and malaria prophylaxis.