Trastuzumab and first-line taxane chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer patients with a HER2-negative tumor and HER2-positive circulating tumor cells: a phase II trial.

Purpose: HER2 overexpressing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are observed in up to 25% of HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients. Since targeted anti-HER2 therapy has drastically improved clinical outcomes of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, we hypothesized that patients with HER2 overexpressing CTCs might benefit from the addition of trastuzumab to chemotherapy.

Methods: In this single-arm, phase II trial, patients with HER2-positive CTCs received trastuzumab as addition to first-line treatment with taxane chemotherapy.

Tumor-agnostic ctDNA levels by mFAST-SeqS in first-line HR-positive, HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer patients as a biomarker for survival.

This prospective cohort study reports aneuploidy score by mFast-SeqS as a strong prognostic marker in MBC patients. mFAST-SeqS is an affordable and easily implementable method for the assessment of total ctDNA levels and, as such, provides an alternative prognostic tool. One mixed cohort (cohort A, n = 45) starting any type of treatment in any line of therapy and one larger cohort (cohort B, n = 129) consisting of patients starting aromatase inhibitors (AI) as first-line therapy were used.

Patients' perceptions of 70-gene signature testing: commonly changing the initial inclination to undergo or forego chemotherapy and reducing decisional conflict.

Purpose: Little is known about the impact of 70-gene signature (70-GS) use on patients' chemotherapy decision-making. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of 70-GS use on patients' decisions to undergo chemotherapy. The perceived decision conflict during decision-making was a secondary objective of the study.

Mannose binding lectin and prediction of risk for chemotherapy induced febrile neutropenia in patients with a solid tumor.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) - deficient patients who undergo chemotherapy for a solid tumor might have an increased risk developing febrile neutropenia (FN). We investigated in a prospective cohort study relations between MBL-serum levels and polymorphisms in MBL promotor genotypes (-550H/L and -221X/Y) on incidence and severity of FN. Risk of FN was 17.

Local treatment in unresectable hepatic metastases of carcinoid tumors: Experiences with hepatic artery embolization and radiofrequency ablation.

Background: Hepatic metastases of carcinoid tumors cause incapacitating symptoms, but are usually diffuse and therefore unresectable. In this article we evaluate our experiences with local treatment techniques in the management of carcinoid patients with hepatic metastases and failing systemic treatment.

Methods: Fifteen consecutive carcinoid patients (11 men and 4 women; median age 60 years; range 45-71 years) were treated with either hepatic artery embolization (HAE) with Ivalon particles or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) (percutaneously or intra-operatively).

Metastatic carcinoid tumors: a clinical review.

Carcinoid tumors are neuroendocrine tumors derived from enterochromaffin cells, which are widely distributed in the body. They can originate from any location in the body, but they are traditionally described as originating from the foregut, midgut, and hindgut. Although the overall incidence of carcinoid tumors appears to have increased in the past decades, the prognosis for patients with metastatic carcinoid tumors has improved during the last decade.

Daily cyclic changes in the urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in patients with carcinoid tumors.

Background: Vasoactive peptides produced by neuroendocrine tumors can induce characteristic symptoms of the carcinoid syndrome (flushing, diarrhea, and wheezing). To what extent external factors provoke these symptoms and how excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), the degradation product of serotonin, varies throughout the day remain unknown. In this study, we investigated whether symptoms and daily activity are related to 5-HIAA excretion and whether 24-h urine collection is needed.

Carcinoid heart disease: the role of urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid excretion and plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide, transforming growth factor-beta and fibroblast growth factor.

Background: Serotonin excretion plays a role in the development of carcinoid heart disease (CHD), but the exact pathogenesis is not known. In the current study, the authors evaluated 24-hour urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) excretion, as well as plasma levels of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in patients with and without CHD determined by ultrasound examination.

Methods: Urine and plasma samples were obtained for 37 patients and cardiac ultrasound was performed during follow-up in 1999 and 2000.