Molecular imaging of solid tumors: exploiting the potential.

Targeted treatment has substantially changed the field of oncology. Compared with cytotoxic chemotherapy, many novel targeted therapies are administered over long periods of time, and result in disease stabilization rather than tumor shrinkage. The activity of these novel agents might, therefore, be better reflected by changes in molecular features of the tumor rather than reduction in size or volume.

Parent-child communication patterns during the first year after a parent's cancer diagnosis: the effect on parents' functioning.

Background: Good parent-child communication is thought to help families adjust more easily during stressful events such as parental cancer. Families dealing with cancer who communicate openly have reported less psychological distress. The first year after diagnosis may be particularly stressful.

Robust passive dynamics of the musculoskeletal system compensate for unexpected surface changes during human hopping.

When human hoppers are surprised by a change in surface stiffness, they adapt almost instantly by changing leg stiffness, implying that neural feedback is not necessary. The goal of this simulation study was first to investigate whether leg stiffness can change without neural control adjustment when landing on an unexpected hard or unexpected compliant (soft) surface, and second to determine what underlying mechanisms are responsible for this change in leg stiffness. The muscle stimulation pattern of a forward dynamic musculoskeletal model was optimized to make the model match experimental hopping kinematics on hard and soft surfaces.

Monitoring and predicting response to therapy with 18F-FDG PET in colorectal cancer: a systematic review.

Molecular imaging with (18)F-FDG PET has been proven useful in the management of colorectal cancer. (18)F-FDG PET plays a pivotal role in staging before surgical resection of recurrent colorectal cancer and metastases, in the localization of recurrence in patients with an unexplained rise in serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels, and in the assessment of residual masses after treatment. Currently, there is increasing interest in the role of (18)F-FDG PET beyond staging.

Volumetric and functional recovery of the remnant liver after major liver resection with prior portal vein embolization : recovery after PVE and liver resection.

Introduction: Portal vein embolization is an accepted method to increase the future remnant liver preoperatively. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of preoperative portal vein embolization on liver volume and function 3 months after major liver resection.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective case-control study.

Conversion of furfuryl alcohol into ethyl levulinate using solid acid catalysts.

Furfural, a potential coproduct of levulinic acid, can be converted into levulinic acid via hydrogenation to furfuryl alcohol and subsequent ethanolysis to ethyl levulinate. The ethanolysis reaction is known to proceed in the presence of H(2)SO(4). We show here that several strongly acidic resins are comparably effective catalysts for this reaction.

The diagnostic hurdle of an elderly male with bone pain: how 18F-FDG-PET led to diagnosis of a leiomyosarcoma of the adrenal gland.

It is uncommon for patients to present with bone metastases while the primary tumor is still unknown. The case of a patient with bone metastases as primary presentation of leiomyosarcoma, who was diagnosed after a 18F-FDG PET-CT and a CT-guided biopsy of the adrenal gland is described. If after routine physical, laboratory and radiological investigations no diagnosis can be made, 18F-FDG PET should be added to the conventional work-up of patients with unknown primary cancer.

Tailoring therapy in colorectal cancer by PET-CT.

Positron emission tomography (PET) using [(18)F]-fluoro-2'-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) has an added value in the clinical management of patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC). This includes restaging patients before surgical resection or local recurrence of liver metastases, assessment whether residual lesions are scar or recurrence and in pinpointing recurrence in case of unexplained increase in serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen. At present, there is an increasing interest in new roles for FDG-PET, especially for characterization of lesions, for prognosis and response prediction and for early evaluation of treatment response to commenced therapy.

Insulin-like growth factors and insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins in relation to disease status and incidence of hypoglycaemia in patients with a gastrointestinal stromal tumour.

Objective: Patients with a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) suffering from non-islet cell tumour-induced hypoglycaemia (NICTH), being associated with increased plasma levels of pro-insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-IIE[68-88], have been reported occasionally. We studied the clinical relevance of pro-IGF-IIE[68-88] and other IGF-related proteins in GIST patients.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-four patients were included.

Controversies in the use of portal vein embolization.

Background/aims: Portal vein embolization (PVE) has reached worldwide acceptance to increase future remnant liver (FRL) volume before undertaking major liver resection. The aim of this overview is to point out and discuss current controversies in the application of PVE.

Methods: Review of literature pertaining to techniques of PVE, complications, tumor proliferation, timing of resection, and hypertrophy response after PVE.

Selective mtDNA mutation accumulation results in beta-cell apoptosis and diabetes development.

To test the hypothesis that somatic mitochondrial (mt)DNA mutation accumulation predisposes mice to beta-cell loss and diabetes development, transgenic mice expressing a proofreading-deficient mtDNA polymerase-gamma under the control of the rat insulin-1 promoter were generated. At 6 wk of age, mtDNA mutations reached 0.01% (1.

The insulin-like growth factor system and sarcomas.

Sarcomas are a diverse group of malignant mesenchymal tumours arising from bone and soft tissues. The identification of critical cellular signalling pathways in sarcomas is an important issue for the development of new targeted therapies. This review highlights the experimental and clinical evidence supporting the role of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signalling system in the cellular transformation and progression of several types of sarcoma, including rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma and osteosarcoma.

Beyond RECIST: molecular and functional imaging techniques for evaluation of response to targeted therapy.

The development of targeted therapies is a major breakthrough in the treatment of cancer. By evoking necrosis and cavitation, evaluation based on tumour size alone, as is done in the RECIST criteria, is no longer an adequate method. New molecular and functional imaging techniques are developed.

Induction of tumor growth after preoperative portal vein embolization: is it a real problem?

Although preoperative portal vein embolization (PVE) is an effective means to increase future remnant liver (FRL) volume, little has been published on possible adverse effects. This review discusses the clinical and experimental evidence regarding the effect of PVE on tumor growth in both embolized and nonembolized liver lobes, as well as potential strategies to control tumor progression after PVE. A literature review was performed using MEDLINE with keywords related to experimental and clinical studies concerning PVE, portal vein ligation (PVL), and tumor growth.

EORTC-GCG process quality indicators for ovarian cancer surgery.

Introduction: Surgery is the mainstay of staging and treatment of ovarian cancer. Optimal quality of ovarian cancer surgery implies complete staging and removal of all macroscopic tumour with minimal harm to the patient in order to ensure best patient outcome. However, variation in the quality of ovarian cancer surgery is apparent.

Angiogenesis inhibition in non-GIST soft tissue sarcomas.

Because angiogenesis is of crucial importance in the pathogenesis of cancer, blocking the function of proangiogenic factors has been shown to improve the outcomes of patients with several cancer types. Given the poor survival durations of patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcomas (STSs), which has remained stable at a median of 12 months over the last 20 year, there is an unmet need for novel agents active against these tumors. Like in other tumors, accumulating evidence points at an important role for angiogenic factors in STSs, rendering these factors attractive treatment targets.

Abundant Fas expression by gastrointestinal stromal tumours may serve as a therapeutic target for MegaFasL.

Although the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib has been shown to be an active agent in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST), complete remissions are almost never seen and most patients finally experience disease progression during their course of treatment. An alternative therapeutic option is to target death receptors such as Fas. We showed that a panel of imatinib-sensitive (GIST882) and imatinib-resistant (GIST48, GIST430 and GIST430K-) cell lines expressed Fas.

Promises and challenges of positron emission tomography for assessment of sarcoma in daily clinical practice.

A correct histological diagnosis, careful staging and detection of tumour response to treatment are all crucial in the management of sarcomas. Imaging is important in all of these stages. Sarcomas have distinct biological and treatment-related features posing challenges for imaging.

Adhesive strength of fibrinogen-coated collagen patch or liquid fibrin sealant in an experimental liver resection model in pigs.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of sealing bile ducts by determining the adhesive strength of 2 different sealing agents, i.e. a fibrinogen-coated collagen patch (TachoSil) and a liquid fibrin sealant (Tissucol), in an experimental partial liver resection model in pigs.

Cancer in adolescents and young adults in north Netherlands (1989-2003): increased incidence, stable survival and high incidence of second primary tumours.

Background: Lack of survival improvement in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer has led to increased awareness of this young population.

Design: We carried out a population-based study of incidence and survival of primary tumours and second primary tumours in patients aged 12-24 in north Netherlands. Age-specific incidence rates per 100,000 and 3-year moving means were calculated.