Reverse Abdominoplasty: A Novel Practical Approach Using Oncoplastic Reconstruction in Managing Major Chest Wall Defects for Patients With Loco-Regional Recurrence Following Breast Cancer Surgery.

Background Loco-regional recurrence of breast cancer in patients with large chest wall defects following mastectomy poses significant oncoplastic challenges. Reverse abdominoplasty is most commonly used to treat patients with excess upper abdominal soft tissue and laxity following massive weight loss. Widely employed as a technique for aesthetic contouring of the upper anterior trunk, as well as in augmentation mammoplasty, its use to date for reconstructive purposes is mainly limited to burns and large site surgical tumour ablation.

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and High-Throughput Sequencing (ChIP-Seq): Tips and Tricks Regarding the Laboratory Protocol and Initial Downstream Data Analysis.

Chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) has become an essential tool for epigenetic scientists. ChIP-seq is used to map protein-DNA interactions and epigenetic marks such as histone modifications at the genome-wide level. Here we describe a complete ChIP-seq laboratory protocol (tailored toward processing tissue samples as well as cell lines) and the bioinformatic pipelines utilized for handling raw sequencing files through to peak calling.

Genes Predisposed to DNA Hypermethylation during Acquired Resistance to Chemotherapy Are Identified in Ovarian Tumors by Bivalent Chromatin Domains at Initial Diagnosis.

Bivalent chromatin domains containing both active H3K4me3 and repressive H3K27me3 histone marks define gene sets poised for expression or silencing in differentiating embryonic stem (ES) cells. In cancer cells, aberrantly poised genes may facilitate changes in transcriptional states after exposure to anticancer drugs. In this study, we used ChIP-seq to characterize genome-wide positioning of H3K4me3- and H3K27me3-associated chromatin in primary high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas and in normal ovarian surface and fallopian tube tissue.

Anaplastic Spindle Cell Squamous Carcinoma Arising from Tall Cell Variant Papillary Carcinoma of the Thyroid Gland: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Tall cell variant (TCV) of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), an aggressive form of thyroid cancer, is characterised by 50% of cells with height that is three times greater than the width. Very rarely, some of these cancers can progress to spindle cell squamous carcinoma (SCSC) resulting in cancers with elements of both SCSC and TCV PTC. Here we report a case of SCSC arising from TCV PTC.

Differential epigenetic reprogramming in response to specific endocrine therapies promotes cholesterol biosynthesis and cellular invasion.

Endocrine therapies target the activation of the oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) via distinct mechanisms, but it is not clear whether breast cancer cells can adapt to treatment using drug-specific mechanisms. Here we demonstrate that resistance emerges via drug-specific epigenetic reprogramming. Resistant cells display a spectrum of phenotypical changes with invasive phenotypes evolving in lines resistant to the aromatase inhibitor (AI).

Trends in Immediate Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction in the United Kingdom.

Background: The study aimed to evaluate local and national trends in immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) using the national English administrative records, Hospital Episode Statistics. Our prediction was an increase in implant-only and free flap procedures and a decline in latissimus flap reconstructions.

Methods: Data from an oncoplastic center were interrogated to derive numbers of implant-only, autologous latissimus dorsi (LD), LD-assisted, and autologous pedicled or free flap IBR procedures performed between 2004 and 2013.

DMXL2 drives epithelial to mesenchymal transition in hormonal therapy resistant breast cancer through Notch hyper-activation.

The acquisition of endocrine therapy resistance in estrogen receptor α (ERα) breast cancer patients represents a major clinical problem. Notch signalling has been extensively linked to breast cancer especially in patients who fail to respond to endocrine therapy. Following activation, Notch intracellular domain is released and enters the nucleus where activates transcription of target genes.

A surprising diagnosis: metastatic prostate cancer causing cervical lymphadenopathy.

Cervical lymphadenopathy as an initial presentation for metastatic prostate cancer has been rarely described. Less than 30 cases have been published in medical literature whereby a lymph node biopsy revealed immunoreactivity for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) diagnosing metastatic prostate cancer. We present a unique scenario whereby an asymptomatic patient with previous high-risk gastric cancer presented to clinic with cervical lymphadenopathy.

Prior exposure to chemotherapy: a marker of sensitivity and selection for antiangiogenic therapy in breast cancer?

The identification of patients who are more likely to derive benefit from antiangiogenic therapy is a key to refine patient selection and so maximize clinical benefit, and reduce unnecessary treatment costs. Improved patient selection will equally be effective in minimizing the exposure of non-eligible patients to ineffectual treatment which could be associated with adverse effects as well as delaying effective treatment. Herein, we review the literature from clinical trials suggesting that the addition of antiangiogenic agents to chemotherapy for the treatment of HER-2 negative metastatic breast cancer in patients previously exposed to chemotherapy may deliver differential therapeutic benefit and may serve as a selection criteria in the current absence of a robust biomarker.

Occult bladder injury after laparoscopic appendicectomy.

Minimally invasive procedures have revolutionised surgery by reducing pain and the length of hospital stay for patients. These are not simple procedures and training in laparoscopic surgery is an arduous process. Meticulous preparation prior to surgery is paramount to prevent complications.

Breast cancer: current and future endocrine therapies.

Endocrine therapy forms a central modality in the treatment of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. The routine use of 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen has improved survival rates for early breast cancer, and more recently has evolved in the postmenopausal setting to include aromatase inhibitors. The optimal duration of adjuvant endocrine therapy remains an active area of clinical study with recent data supporting 10 years rather than 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen.

New approaches in the management of male breast cancer.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare condition that accounts for 0.1% of all male cancers. Our current evidence base for treatment is derived from female breast cancer (FBC) patients.

Is the presence of small volume disease in the sentinel node an indication for axillary clearance?

The finding of micrometastases (M(i)) and isolated tumour cells (ITC) within the axillary lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer has raised the question whether either/both have some prognostic significance. Several studies have shown that compared to node-negative patients, prognosis is significantly poorer in patients with M(i) and ITC. The fact that patients with M(i)/ITC in their sentinel lymph nodes have a systemic relapse risk that is higher than that of node-negative patients may be considered as an indication for systemic treatment.

Sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma with a pedunculated intraluminal internal jugular vein recurrence: A case report and literature review.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is an uncommon usually slowly progressing neuroendocrine tumour that arises from calcitonin (CT) producing parafollicular C cells of the thyroid gland. It accounts for approximately 5% of all thyroid cancers. The majority of MTCs are sporadic (75%) whilst 25% are part of the MEN 2 hereditary syndrome (MEN 2A and MEN 2B and familial MTC).

Solitary langerhans histiocytosis of the thyroid gland: a case report and literature review.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease of antigen presenting cells, with an incidence rate of 4.0-5.4 per 1 million individuals.

Displaced Operable Radial Head Fractures : Functional Outcome Correlations.

Background: Radial head fractures are common injuries occurring in conjunction with other injuries. We hypothesize that the associated injuries are under-diagnosed, under-treated and are under-estimated in terms of their relevance to the patients final functional outcome. We hypothesize a high correlation between the associated injuries and poor functional scores.

Diffuse optical imaging of the healthy and diseased breast: a systematic review.

Screening X-ray mammography is limited by false positives and negatives leading to unnecessary physical and psychological morbidity. Diffuse Optical Imaging using harmless near infra red light, provides lesion detection based on functional abnormalities and represents a novel diagnostic arm that could complement traditional mammography. Reviews of optical breast imaging have not been systematic, are focused mainly on technological developments, and have become superseded by rapid technological advancement.