Value of macrobiopsies and transanal endoscopic microsurgery in the histological work-up of rectal neoplasms: A retrospective study.

Aim: To evaluate a step up approach: Taking macrobiopsies and performing excision biopsies in patients with suspected rectal cancer in which biopsies taken though the flexible endoscope showed benign histology.

Methods: Patients with a rectal neoplasm who underwent flexible endoscopy and biopsies were included. In case of benign biopsies rigid rectoscopy and macrobiopsies were employed.

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin in locally advanced rectal cancer. A phase I-II multicenter study of the Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group.

Background: We studied the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and efficacy of oxaliplatin added to capecitabine and radiotherapy (Capox-RT) as neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer.

Methods: T3-4 rectal cancer patients received escalating doses of oxaliplatin (day 1 and 29) with a fixed dose of capecitabine of 1000 mg/m(2) twice daily (days 1-14, 25-38) added to RT with 50.4 Gy and surgery after 6-8 weeks.

DNA ploidy status as a prognostic marker and predictor of lymph node metastasis in laryngeal carcinoma.

In patients with laryngeal carcinoma, nodal metastasis, recurrence after radiotherapy, and prognosis are important factors in clinical decision-making. Parameters such as tumor stage are considered insufficient for predicting these important items. The DNA ploidy status of the tumor may be a useful additional marker.