Calcitonin testing for detection of medullary thyroid cancer in people with thyroid nodules.

Background: Thyroid nodules are very common in general medical practice, but rarely turn out to be a medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Calcitonin is a sensitive tumour marker for the detection of MTC (basal calcitonin). Sometimes a stimulation test is used to improve specificity (stimulated calcitonin).

Additional value of a high sensitive thyroglobulin assay in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Objective: Thyroglobulin (Tg) is an excellent tumour marker, as detectable or increasing Tg levels are highly indicative of persistent or recurrent differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The clinical value of a highly sensitive (hs)-Tg assay in patients with DTC has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the additional value of unstimulated hs-Tg measurements (Tg-on) compared to stimulated IRMA-Tg measurements (Tg-off) in the follow-up of patients with DTC.

Longitudinal analysis of cytokine expression during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and subsequent surgery in esophageal cancer patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to provide more insight in the course of cytokine concentrations related to pathologic response (pR) and complications after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) and esophagectomy in esophageal cancer patients.

Methods: Patients treated with NCRT followed by transthoracic esophagectomy (n = 35) or transthoracic esophagectomy alone (n = 8) were included. Eight different cytokine concentrations were determined during NCRT, esophagectomy, and the first postoperative week.

CD44, SHH and SOX2 as novel biomarkers in esophageal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) improves survival in esophageal cancer (EC) patients, but the response to treatment is heterogeneous and little is known regarding prognostic and predictive markers in these patients. CD44, SOX2 and SHH have been implicated in resistance to CRT, possibly through an association with a cancer stem cell phenotype.

Material And Methods: 101 EC patients treated with nCRT and surgery were included.

Bone Marrow Function After (131)I Therapy in Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.

Objective: The primary objective was to evaluate the short- and long-term toxic effects of radioiodine ((131)I) therapy on bone marrow function in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients. The secondary objective was to define characteristics of patients at risk for impaired bone marrow function after (131)I treatment.

Patients And Methods: DTC patients treated with (131)I between 1989 and 2013 were included.

Recombinant TSH stimulated remnant ablation therapy in thyroid cancer: the success rate depends on the definition of ablation success--an observational study.

Introduction: Patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) are treated with (near)-total thyroidectomy followed by remnant ablation. Optimal radioiodine-131 (131I) uptake is achieved by withholding thyroid hormone (THW), pretreatment with recombinant human Thyrotropin Stimulating Hormone (rhTSH) is an alternative. Six randomized trials have been published comparing THW and rhTSH, however comparison is difficult because an uniform definition of ablation success is lacking.

Endocrine tumours: progressive metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma: first- and second-line strategies.

The treatment for metastasised medullary thyroid cancer is still a topic of discussion. One of the main challenges remains to find effective adjuvant and palliative options for patients with metastatic disease. The diagnostic and treatment strategies for this tumour are discussed and possible new developments commented.

Clinical validation of FDG-PET/CT in the radiation treatment planning for patients with oesophageal cancer.

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the proportion of locoregional recurrences (LRRs) that could have been prevented if radiotherapy treatment planning for oesophageal cancer was based on PET/CT instead of CT.

Materials And Methods: Ninety oesophageal cancer patients, eligible for high dose (neo-adjuvant) (chemo)radiotherapy, were included. All patients underwent a planning FDG-PET/CT-scan.

GATA6 expression in Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Barrett's oesophagus can progress towards oesophageal adenocarcinoma through a metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The transcription factor GATA6 is known to be involved in columnar differentiation and proliferation, and GATA6 gene amplification was recently linked with poor survival in oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Aim: To study the expression of GATA6 during Barrett's oesophagus development and malignant transformation.

Lymph node retrieval during esophagectomy with and without neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: prognostic and therapeutic impact on survival.

Objectives: We aimed to examine the association between total number of resected nodes and survival in patients after esophagectomy with and without nCRT.

Background: Most studies concerning the potentially positive effect of extended lymphadenectomy on survival have been performed in patients who underwent surgery alone. As nCRT is known to frequently "sterilize" regional nodes, it is unclear whether extended lymphadenectomy after nCRT is still useful.

Fewer cancer reoperations for medullary thyroid cancer after initial surgery according to ATA guidelines.

Background: Surgery is still the only curative treatment for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). We evaluated clinical outcome in patients with locoregional MTC with regard to adequacy of treatment following ATA guidelines and number of sessions to first intended curative surgery in different hospitals.

Methods: We reviewed all records of MTC patients (n = 184) treated between 1980 and 2010 in two tertiary referral centers in the Netherlands.

Survival in anaplastic thyroid cancer in relation to pre-existing goiter: a population-based study.

Background: We investigated whether pre-existent goiter and well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) are associated with survival in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC).

Methods: We analyzed medical records from 94 ATC patients, drawn from the Netherlands Cancer Registry, diagnosed in 17 hospitals between 1989 and 2009.

Results: The 29 patients (31%) with pre-existent goiter, including 8 with WDTC, were younger than those without (median, 69 vs.

Prognostic impact of clinicopathological features and expression of biomarkers related to (18)F-FDG uptake in esophageal cancer.

Purpose: To analyze the association between pretreatment 18-F-fluoro-deoxyglucose (FDG) uptake and characteristics of aggressive tumor biology in predicting outcome in esophageal cancer (EC).

Methods: Tumor FDG-uptake was measured by maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) in 47 patients undergoing esophagectomy with curative intent. ROC analyses were used to predict an optimal SUVmax cutoff for survival.

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced gastric cancer, a phase I/II feasibility and efficacy study.

Objectives: This study was initiated to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of preoperative radiotherapy with weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin in locally advanced gastric cancer.

Methods: In a prospective study, patients with locally advanced gastric cancer stage IB-IV(M0) were treated with chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery 4-6 weeks after the last irradiation. Chemoradiotherapy consisted of radiation to a total dose of 45 Gy given in 25 fractions of 1.

Loss of CD44 and SOX2 expression is correlated with a poor prognosis in esophageal adenocarcinoma patients.

Background: It has been suggested that markers associated with cancer stem cells (CSC) may play a role in esophageal cancer. Our aim was to investigate the expression pattern of proposed CSC markers ALDH1, Axin2, BMI1, CD44, and SOX2 in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and to relate their expression to survival.

Methods: In this study we included 94 EAC patients and examined the expression of the above-mentioned markers by using immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays.

Outcomes of adrenal-sparing surgery or total adrenalectomy in phaeochromocytoma associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2: an international retrospective population-based study.

Background: The prevention of medullary thyroid cancer in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 syndrome has demonstrated the ability of molecular diagnosis and prophylactic surgery to improve patient outcomes. However, the other major neoplasia associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, phaeochromocytoma, is not as well characterised in terms of occurrence and treatment outcomes. In this study, we aimed to systematically characterise the outcomes of management of phaeochromocytoma associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.

Comparison of two preoperative inspiratory muscle training programs to prevent pulmonary complications in patients undergoing esophagectomy: a randomized controlled pilot study.

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are the most commonly reported complications after esophagectomy. The aim of this study was to examine the effect and feasibility of preoperative inspiratory muscle training-high intensity (IMT-HI), and IMT-endurance (IMT-E) on the incidence of PPCs in patients following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer (EC).

Method: A single-blind, randomized, clinical pilot study was conducted between 2009 and 2012.

Increased risk of thromboembolism in esophageal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in esophageal cancer (EC) patients may increase the formation of thromboembolic events (TEEs). We analyzed the incidence and impact of TEEs in EC patients treated with platinum-based CRT.

Methods: A total of 336 patients with EC underwent an esophagectomy, of which 110 patients received neoadjuvant CRT (41.

Evaluation of progression prior to surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with computed tomography in esophageal cancer patients.

Background: The risk of tumor progression during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in esophageal cancer (EC) is around 8% to 17%. We assessed the efficacy of computed tomography (CT) to identify these patients before esophagectomy.

Methods: Ninety-seven patients with locally advanced EC treated with Carboplatin/Paclitaxel and 41.

Long-term cardiovascular mortality in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma: an observational study.

Purpose: The primary aim was to study the risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Secondary aims were to evaluate all-cause mortality and explore the relation between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH; also known as thyrotropin) level and these outcome parameters.

Patients And Methods: Subjects from two cohorts were retrospectively compared by Cox regression analyses; 524 patients with DTC and 1,572 sex- and age-matched controls from a large population-based study in the same geographic region.

Impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on postoperative course after curative-intent transthoracic esophagectomy in esophageal cancer patients.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) improves locoregional control and overall survival in esophageal cancer patients. Although adverse events are relatively low during neoadjuvant CRT, severe postoperative adverse effects may occur, leading to morbidity and even mortality. We investigated the impact of a more frequently used neoadjuvant CRT regimen of 41.

Neoadjuvant therapy reduces the incidence of nodal micrometastases in esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Background: We evaluated the impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) on nodal micrometastases (NMMs) in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) patients with histologically negative nodes ([y]pN0).

Methods: Of 48 consecutively treated patients with neoadjuvant CRT, we selected 20 EAC ypN0 patients (group 1). These patients were matched with 20 pN0 EAC patients who had surgery alone (group 2).