Design and Realization of Polymeric Waveguide/Microring Structures for Telecommunication Domain.

Polymer-based micro-optical components are very important for applications in optical communication. In this study, we theoretically investigated the coupling of polymeric waveguide and microring structures and experimentally demonstrated an efficient fabrication method to realize these structures on demand. First, the structures were designed and simulated using the FDTD method.

Percutaneous cryoablation of symptomatic localized venous malformations: preliminary short-term results.

Short-term outcomes after percutaneous image-guided cryoablation of symptomatic venous malformations in four consecutive patients (mean age, 42.5 y) are reported. Two patients had local recurrences after previous treatment.

Effect of the MDM2 antagonist RG7112 on the P53 pathway in patients with MDM2-amplified, well-differentiated or dedifferentiated liposarcoma: an exploratory proof-of-mechanism study.

Background: We report a proof-of-mechanism study of RG7112, a small-molecule MDM2 antagonist, in patients with chemotherapy-naive primary or relapsed well-differentiated or dedifferentiated MDM2-amplified liposarcoma who were eligible for resection.

Methods: Patients with well-differentiated or dedifferentiated liposarcoma were enrolled at four centres in France. Patients received up to three 28-day neoadjuvant treatment cycles of RG7112 1440 mg/m(2) per day for 10 days.

Discontinuation of imatinib in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours after 3 years of treatment: an open-label multicentre randomised phase 3 trial.

Background: The effect of imatinib discontinuation on progression-free survival and overall survival in long-lasting responders with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) is unknown. We assessed treatment interruption in patients with non-progressive disease according to the Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors criteria after 3 years of imatinib in a randomised trial.

Methods: In this open-label national multicentre phase 3 study in France, patients with GIST free of progression after 3 years of imatinib 400 mg/day were randomly assigned to continue or interrupt imatinib.

Phase II study of oral masitinib mesilate in imatinib-naïve patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastro-intestinal stromal tumour (GIST).

Background: Masitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with greater in vitro activity and selectivity for the wild-type c-Kit receptor and its juxtamembrane mutation than imatinib, without inhibiting kinases of known toxicities. This phase II study evaluated masitinib as a first-line treatment of advanced GIST.

Patients And Methods: Imatinib-naïve patients with advanced GIST received oral masitinib at 7.

Evaluating surgery quality in soft tissue sarcoma.

To identify pertinent indicators for oncologic outcomes in assessing surgery in soft tissue sarcomas, only local recurrences are considered here. Functional outcomes and treatment morbidity, equally important end-points for evaluating surgery quality, are less frequently reported and are not taken into account in this review. Herein, we review recent publications reporting indicators of surgery quality in soft tissue sarcoma treatment.

Phase II trial of weekly paclitaxel for unresectable angiosarcoma: the ANGIOTAX Study.

Purpose: The objective of this phase II trial was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of weekly paclitaxel for patients with metastatic or unresectable angiosarcoma.

Patients And Methods: Thirty patients were entered onto the study from April 2005 through October 2006. Paclitaxel was administered intravenously as a 60-minute infusion at a dose of 80 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 4-week cycle.

A phase II study of gefitinib for patients with advanced HER-1 expressing synovial sarcoma refractory to doxorubicin-containing regimens.

Rationale: Advanced synovial sarcomas (SyS) refractory to doxorubicin and ifosfamide are highly resistant to the currently available cytotoxic agents. Based on a report showing a specific overexpression of HER-1 in SyS, we investigated an HER-1 inhibitor, gefitinib, in refractory SyS.

Subjects And Methods: To establish the efficacy and safety of gefitinib in HER-1 - positive SyS refractory to one or two lines of doxorubicin- and ifosfamide-based chemotherapy, a phase II study was conducted from December 2002 to October 2005 by 12 centers of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group.

[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in sarcoma].

This document describe s the proposed clinical practices guidelines for neoadjuvant chemotherapy in soft tissue sarcomas proposed by the French Sarcoma Group.Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy remains an experimental therapeutic procedure in soft tissue sarcomas. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy may be proposed in three different types of situations: 1) a locally advanced tumor, non accessible to R0 or 1 removal of the lesion.

Phase I study and pharmacokinetic of CHS-828, a guanidino-containing compound, administered orally as a single dose every 3 weeks in solid tumours: an ECSG/EORTC study.

CHS 828 is a new guanidino-containing drug. The aim of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), the recommended dose and the toxicity of CHS 828. CHS 828 was given orally once every 3 weeks.

Management of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) in first isolated local recurrence: a retrospective study of 83 cases.

Purpose: To analyze the management and clinical outcome of patients treated for a first isolated local recurrence of soft tissue sarcomas (trunk or extremities) and to identify prognosis factors.

Methods And Material: Between 1980 and 1999, 83 adult patients were included in the study. Mean age was 61 years.

[Surgery of recurrent soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and the trunk wall: a comparison to primary sarcoma].

Purpose: To evaluate the place of conservative surgery in locally recurrent soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and the trunk wall.

Methods: Retrospective data base analysis. Comparison between 32 patients with recurrent sarcoma of the extremities and the trunk wall to 105 comparable patients with primary sarcoma treated from 1996 to 1999.

Should molecular testing be required for diagnosing synovial sarcoma? A prospective study of 204 cases.

Background: The t(X;18) translocation is a specific marker of synovial sarcomas (SS). Detection of SYT-SSX transcripts by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was tested on preselected specimens of well-established histologic types, but to our knowledge, the diagnostic utility of molecular assays on a series of potential SS in comparison with conventional tools has never been reported.

Methods: Two hundred four consecutive cases of potential SS submitted for a second opinion were studied prospectively.

Surgical resection and radiotherapy for primary retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma.

Methods And Materials: Forty-five patients were consecutively treated for primary retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma with surgery in combination with radiation therapy in the same institution. The median follow-up time was 53 months (7-108).

Results: Seventeen (38%) patients had clear microscopic margins (R0 resection), 26 patients (58%) had gross complete surgical excision (R1 resection) and two patients (4%) had a macroscopic residual disease (R2 resection).

[Update on soft tissue sarcomas].

Important refinements have taken place in the diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma with extensive use of immuno-histochemistry. New entities have been described, while malignant histiocytofibroma, the most diagnosed sarcoma type during the last two decades, has been dismembered. As for prognosis, the new UICC classification is effectively more discriminating in the definition of prognostic groups; but the usefullness of new biological or genetic markers remains to be assessed.