Prognostic significance of EGFR and COX-2 expression in colorectal cancer and their association. A study in Greek population.

Purpose: Colon cancer is one of the most common malignancies. Various prognostic markers have been proposed and individualized treatment strategies have been adapted according to tumor molecular and genetic characteristics. The purpose of the present study was to retrospectively analyze a possible association between the expression of COX- 2 and EGFR and clinical and histopathological factors of patients undergoing colon surgery in a Greek population.

Thermal ablation may improve outcomes in patients with colorectal liver metastasis: a case-control study.

Purpose: Local thermal ablation may extend the scope of palliative therapy in patients with colorectal liver metastasis. We performed a retrospective, case-controlled study to compare patients with colorectal liver metastases that were treated with percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) or microwave (MW) thermal ablation, against the control group of chemotherapy alone.

Methods: We described baseline demographics, ablation sessions, procedure duration and related complications.

Adjuvant chemotherapy and acute toxicity in hypofractionated radiotherapy for early breast cancer.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of chemotherapy to the acute toxicity of a hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) schedule for breast cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 116 breast cancer patients with T1, 2N0Mx. The patients received 3-D conformal radiotherapy with a total physical dose of 50.

Successful treatment with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus in a patient with perivascular epithelioid cell tumor.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is an extremely rare neoplasm that appears to arise most commonly at visceral (especially gastrointestinal and uterine), retroperitoneal, and abdominopelvic sites. Malignant PEComas exist but are very rare. These tumors represent a family of mesenchymal neoplasms, mechanistically linked through activation of the mTOR signaling pathway.

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma with prolonged response to targeted therapy: a case report.

Introduction: Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma is universally accepted as a distinct subtype of renal cell carcinoma. There are conflicting reports on prognosis, and few data on response to treatment exist. Currently, we do not have any effective treatment for the metastatic disease apart from surgical procedures.

Male breast carcinoma: epidemiology, risk factors and current therapeutic approaches.

Male breast cancer is a very rare disease with an incidence of about 0.5-1% comparing with the one of female breast cancer but relatively little is known about its cause. Treatment strategies for breast cancer in males are derived from studies performed among females.

Results of salvage abdominoperineal resection after failed chemoradiation therapy for epidermoid anal canal carcinoma: Retrospective analysis at a single institution.

Purpose: The standard therapeutic approach to epidermoid anal canal cancer consists of combined radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Although disease control has been reported to have excellent results, as many as 40% of patients will develop locoregional disease progression. The treatment of choice for patients with persistent (PD) or recurrent disease (RD) is salvage abdominoperineal resection (APR).

Muscle metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary tumor of the liver. Disease dissemination occurs through hematogenous routes and frequently involves the lungs, bone, adrenal glands, and pancreas. The patterns of the extrahepatic manifestations are diverse.

Expression of c-kit in common benign and malignant breast lesions.

Aims And Background: c-kit (CD117) is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase that acts as a type III receptor for mast cell growth factor. In recent years, the role of c-kit in the development of preinvasive and invasive breast carcinomas has been investigated. The aim of our study was to detect c-kit expression in the entire spectrum of common benign and malignant breast lesions in correlation with a well-studied myoepithelial or stem-cell like marker (p63).

Trastuzumab plus capecitabine and docetaxel as first-line therapy for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: phase II results.

Unlabelled: In human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER-2)-positive advanced breast cancer, taxanes plus trastuzumab are among the most widely applied options in the first-line setting. The addition of capecitabine to docetaxel significantly improves overall survival in anthracycline-pretreated metastatic breast cancer. We evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of trastuzumab plus capecitabine and docetaxel regimen as first-line therapy.

Mitomycin C and UFT/leucovorin as salvage treatment in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and toxicity of uracil/tegafur (UFT) plus oral leucovorin (LV) and mitomycin C as salvage chemotherapy for heavily pretreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Methods: A total of 44 patients were treated with i.v.

Abscess formation mimicking disease progression, in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma during sunitinib treatment.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents approximately 3% of all adult cancers and is more common in males. Systemic treatment for RCC has improved following the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as sunitinib. The molecular targets of sunitinib are receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs).

Does internal stenting of the pancreaticojejunostomy improve outcomes after pancreatoduodenectomy? A prospective study.

Aim: This study's aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of using an internal stent when fashioning a duct-to-mucosa pancreatojejunostomy on preventing pancreatic fistula formation, as well as on the overall outcome for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2008, 82 consecutive patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy and duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy in an isolated jejunal loop, either with or without the aid of an internal stent. The allocation of the patients into group A (n = 41, stented anastomosis) and group B (n = 1, unstented anastomosis) was performed in a strictly alternating way.

Breast cancer in association with thyroid disorders.

Purpose: The relationship between breast cancer and thyroid diseases is controversial. Conflicting results have been reported in the literature. The incidence of autoimmune and non-autoimmune thyroid diseases were investigated in patients with breast cancer who had received prior therapy as compared with age-matched control individuals without breast or thyroid disease.

The role of capecitabine in the management of tumors of the digestive system.

Capecitabine has been developed as a prodrug of FU, with the goal of improving tolerability and intratumor drug concentration through tumor-specific conversion to the active drug. The purpose of this article is to review the available information on capecitabine with respect to clinical efficacy for tumors of the digestive tract, adverse-effect profile, documented drug interactions, dosage and administration, and future directions of ongoing research. Relevant English-language literature was identified through searches of NCI, PubMed, ASCO.

Adrenocortical oncocytic carcinoma with recurrent metastases: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Adrenal cortex oncocytic carcinoma (AOC) represents an exceptional pathological entity, since only 22 cases have been documented in the literature so far.

Case Presentation: Our case concerns a 54-year-old man with past medical history of right adrenal excision with partial hepatectomy, due to an adrenocortical carcinoma. The patient was admitted in our hospital to undergo surgical resection of a left lung mass newly detected on chest Computed Tomography scan.

How is sleep quality affected by the psychological and symptom distress of advanced cancer patients?

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between sleep quality, pain, psychological distress, cognitive status and post-traumatic experience in advanced cancer patients. Participants were 82 advanced cancer patients referred to a palliative care unit for control of pain and other symptoms. A variety of assessment tools were used to examine the prevalence of sleep disturbance, the severity of pain and depression, hopelessness, cognitive function and quality of life.

Irinotecan plus capecitabine as first-line chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer.

Unlabelled: Capecitabine, an oral 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) prodrug, is increasingly replacing intravenous i.v. 5-FU/leucovorin in colorectal cancer treatment.

Abnormal uterine bleeding as a presentation of metastatic breast disease in a patient with advanced breast cancer.

Background: Extragenital carcinomas secondarily involving the uterus are very rare and they usually occur as a manifestation of widespread disease. When the metastases involve the endometrium in a diffuse, permeative pattern, sparing the glands, they may cause problems in the diagnosis.

Case: A case of metastatic carcinoma to the endometrium with a decidua-like pattern is reported.

Genetic polymorphisms in the UGT1A1 gene and breast cancer risk in Greek women.

Uridine diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase 1 (UGT1A1) is involved in estradiol glucuronidation, which may play a central role in the etiology of breast cancer. A common insertion/deletion polymorphism in the TATAA-box of the promoter region of UGT1A1 results in decreased initiation of transcription, and has been associated with breast cancer risk in different ethnic groups. In the present study, the role of the above genetic variation at the UGT1A1 locus in breast cancer susceptibility was investigated in a homogeneous population.

Association of repeat polymorphisms in the estrogen receptors alpha, beta (ESR1, ESR2) and androgen receptor (AR) genes with the occurrence of breast cancer.

Genetic variation in genes involved in estrogen biosynthesis, metabolism and signal transduction have been suggested to play a role in breast cancer. To determine the possible contribution of genetic variation in the ESR1 (ER-alpha), ESR2 (ER-beta) and AR genes in breast cancer risk the -1174(TA)(7-27), c. 1092+3607(CA)(10-26) and c.

Surgical approaches of resectable synchronous colorectal liver metastases: timing considerations.

Aim: To compare the safety and efficacy of simultaneous versus two stage resection of primary colorectal tumors and liver metastases.

Methods: From January 1996 to May 2004, 103 colorectal tumor patients presented with synchronous liver metastases. Twenty five underwent simultaneous colorectal and liver surgery and 78 underwent liver surgery 1-3 mo after primary colorectal tumor resection.

A phase III randomized study comparing paclitaxel and cisplatin versus cyclophosphamide and cisplatin in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

Aim: To assess progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer receiving the combination of cisplatin (75 mg/m(2) i.v.) and cyclophosphamide (700 mg/m(2) i.

Localized hyaline plaque of the diaphragmatic peritoneum: report of a rare entity mimicking a hepatic tumor.

A liver tumor (2.5x3 cm) with malignant features on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was detected in a 69-year-old man with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated cirrhosis. On exploratory laparotomy a mass at the right diaphragmatic dome adherent to the liver segment VIII was found.