Reduced relative dose intensity of primary chemotherapy does not influence prognosis of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Aims: A retrospective analysis of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) was performed to assess their outcome regarding relative dose intensity (RDI) of chemotherapy administered in primary treatment.

Methods: A total of 194 patients were divided into three groups with different RDI of primary chemotherapy (100%, 90-99% and <90%). Reduced RDI in two groups (90-99% and <90%) was caused by the delay of the interval between the administration of some chemotherapeutic courses.

Occult tumour cells in peritoneal lavage are a negative prognostic factor in pancreatic cancer.

Aims: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that occult tumour cells in peritoneal lavage are a negative prognostic factor in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Real-time RT-PCR analysis of CEA, EGFR and hTERT transcript levels was used to identify occult tumour cells in peritoneal lavage samples from 96 pancreatic cancer patients.

Results: We found significant association between CEA expression levels in peritoneal lavage and clinical stage.