Establishment of permanent peritoneal PleurX catheter as palliative treatment of malignant ascites.

Introduction: Refractory malignant ascites (RMA) is a manifestation of end-stage cancer disease with a major impact on quality of life due to the symptom burden and need for repeated hospitalisations. We previously described the implantation of the permanent PleurX catheter as a treatment of RMA. The present study aimed to evaluate and describe our experience with the permanent PleurX catheter system in the largest cohort to date.

Outcome of Incidental Pulmonary Nodules in a Real-World Setting.

Objectives: Early diagnosis of lung cancer is imperative to improve survival. Incidental pulmonary nodules (IPN) may represent early stages of lung cancer and appropriate follow-up and management of these nodules is important, but also very resource demanding. We aim to describe the results of the CT-based follow-up on a cohort of patients with IPN in terms of detected malignancies, the proportion undergoing invasive procedures, and the subsequent outcome.

Can visual assessment of blood flow patterns by dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography distinguish between malignant and benign lung tumors?

Background: Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (DCE-CT) is a tool, which, in theory, can quantify the blood flow and blood volume of tissues. In structured qualitative analysis, parametric color maps yield a visual impression of the blood flow and blood volume within the tissue being studied, allowing for quick identification of the areas with the highest or lowest blood flow and blood volume.

Purpose: To examine whether DCE-CT could be used to distinguish between malignant and benign lung tumors in patients with suspected lung cancer.

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography-Derived Blood Volume and Blood Flow Correlate With Patient Outcome in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Objectives: The aim was to explore the potential for using dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography as a noninvasive functional imaging biomarker before and during the early treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Materials And Methods: Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans were performed at baseline and after 5 and 10 weeks' treatment in 69 prospectively included mRCC patients receiving treatment with interferon alpha and interleukin 2 (n = 26); interferon alpha, interleukin 2, and bevacizumab (n = 24); sunitinib (n = 7); pazopanib (n = 5); or temsirolimus (n = 7). Using a prototype software program (Advanced Perfusion and Permeability Application, Philips Healthcare, Best, the Netherlands), blood volume (BV), blood flow (BF), and permeability surface area product (PS) were calculated for each tumor at baseline, week 5, and week 10.

Intralymphatic immunotherapy induces allergen specific plasmablasts and increases tolerance to skin prick testing in a pilot study.

Background: Allergen Immunotherapy is a promising treatment of allergy. Seven patients with rhinoconjunctivitis to grass allergen were treated with intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT) to explore whether this treatment could be performed. Effect of treatment was assessed as change in symptom medication score, response in skin prick test and nasal allergen provocation.

Malignant ascites in patients with terminal cancer is effectively treated with permanent peritoneal catheter.

Background: Malignant ascites is a pathological condition caused by intra- or extra-abdominal disseminated cancer. The object of treatment is palliation. In search of an effective and minimally invasive palliative treatment of malignant ascites placement of a permanent intra peritoneal catheter has been suggested.

Mediastinal staging in Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma: computed tomography versus F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography and computed tomography.

Background: After the diagnosis Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC) has been established, consideration must turn toward the stage of disease, because this will impact directly on management and prognosis. Staging is used to predict survival and to guide the patient toward the most appropriate treatment regimen or clinical trial. Distinguishing malignant involvement of the mediastinal lymph nodes (N2 or N3) from the hilar lymph nodes, or no lymph nodes (N0 or N1) is critical, because malignant involvement of N2 or N3 lymph nodes usually indicates non-surgically resectable disease.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography as a potential biomarker in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: preliminary results from the Danish Renal Cancer Group Study-1.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) computer tomography (CT) as a biomarker in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Materials And Methods: Twelve patients with favorable or intermediate Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center risk group and clear cell mRCC participating in an ongoing prospective randomized phase II trial comprising interleukin-2-based immunotherapy and bevacizumab were included in this preliminary analysis. All patients had a follow-up time of at least 2 years.

Characterization of pulmonary lesions in patients with suspected lung cancer: computed tomography versus [¹⁸F] fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography.

Pulmonary nodules are of high clinical importance, given they may prove to be an early manifestation of lung cancer. Pulmonary nodules are small, focal, radiographic opacities that may be solitary or multiple. A solitary pulmonary nodule is a single, small (<-30 mm in diameter) opacity.

Complete pathologic response in lung tumors in two patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with erlotinib.

Introduction: Patients with non-small cell lung cancer with a sensitizing mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are likely to respond to treatment with an EGFR inhibitor. In some patients, residual tumor tissue can be visualized for several years without any signs of progression.

Methods: Two patients with pathologically verified adenocarcinoma of the lung and multiple bone metastases were monitored after start of treatment with erlotinib by examining clinical parameters and imaging of lung tumors and bone metastases.

High resolution spiral CT for determining the malignant potential of solitary pulmonary nodules: refining and testing the test.

Background: A solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) may represent early stage lung cancer. Lung cancer is a devastating disease with an overall 5-year mortality rate of approximately 84% but with early detection and surgery as low as 47%. Currently a contrast-enhanced multiple-row detector CT (MDCT) scan is the first examination when evaluating patients with suspected lung cancer.

Fas ligand expression in metastatic renal cell carcinoma during interleukin-2 based immunotherapy: no in vivo effect of Fas ligand tumor counterattack.

Purpose: It has been hypothesized that tumor cells expressing Fas ligand (FasL) might be able to counterattack and neutralize tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. We assessed the effect of FasL tumor counterattack on the clinical outcome of interleukin-2 (IL-2)-based immunotherapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Experimental Design: Tumor core needle biopsies were obtained before IL-2-based immunotherapy in 86 patients and repeated within the first cycle in 57 patients.

Leukocyte orchestration in blood and tumour tissue following interleukin-2 based immunotherapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

With the objective of evaluating leukocyte orchestration in situ, serial blood samples and tumour tissue core needle biopsies were obtained at baseline and repeated after 1 month of therapy, among 49 consecutive single-institution patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Patients were treated with outpatient low-dose subcutaneous interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) alone (n = 23) or in combination with histamine dihydrochloride (n = 26). Objective responses were achieved in ten of 49 patients (20%) with an overall median survival of 14 months and an estimated 1- to 4-year survival rate of 57, 35, 24 and 22%, respectively.