Early radiographic response to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor in non-small cell lung cancer patients with epidermal growth factor receptor mutations: A prospective study.

Background: The time schedules for response evaluation of epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase Inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are still ill-defined.

Methods: Stage IIIB/IV patients with histologically proven NSCLC were enrolled in this study if the tumor cells bore EGFR mutations other than T790M. Eligible patients were treated with either 250 mg of gefitinib or 150 mg of erlotinib once daily.

Culture supernatants of different colon cancer cell lines induce specific phenotype switching and functional alteration of THP-1 cells.

We developed an in vitro model to evaluate the effect of products secreted from different colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines on specific phenotypic switching and functional alterations in THP-1 cells. We co-cultured the human monocytic cell line, THP-1, or phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-treated THP-1 cells, (THP-1p), with supernatants from either the HT-29 (Dukes' B), HCT-15 (Dukes' C), or Colo205 (Dukes' D) cell lines, and assessed the cells for macrophage differentiation. The surface marker and cytokine profiles suggested that secreted CRC factors differentiated THP-1 cells into a "mixed" M1/M2 phenotype, although HT-29 and Colo205 supernatants induced THP-1p cells into predominantly M1-like macrophages and M2-like macrophages, respectively.

Sunitinib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: an ethnic Asian subpopulation analysis for safety and efficacy.

Aims: We evaluated and compared the safety and efficacy of sunitinib in Asian and non-Asian patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma enrolled in a previously reported global expanded access program.

Methods: Previously treated and treatment-naïve patients received open-label sunitinib at a starting dose of 50 mg/day for 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks off treatment, in repeated 6-week cycles. Safety was assessed regularly, tumor measurements were performed per local practice, and survival data collected where possible.

Omega-3 fatty acid-, micronutrient-, and probiotic-enriched nutrition helps body weight stabilization in head and neck cancer cachexia.

Objective: To evaluate whether an oral nutritional supplement enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, micronutrients, and probiotics affected body weight (BW) changes, serum albumin and prealbumin levels in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) cachexia.

Study Design: Sixty-eight HNC patients were randomly assigned to receive either an Ethanwell/Ethanzyme (EE) regimen enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, micronutrients, and probiotics, or control (Isocal) for a 3-month period. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the association between BW change and variables.

Low-dose zoledronic acid reduces spinal cord metastasis in pulmonary adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation.

Zoledronic acid (ZOL), a nitrogen-containing compound, is effective in the treatment of skeletal disorders, but its long-term use in high doses gives rise to complications such as osteonecrosis. We aimed to investigate the effect of low-dose ZOL on the expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), which may be correlated with tumor growth and spinal cord metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation. First, we used the small hairpin RNA technique to directly knock down NCAM expression in cells of a murine lung adenocarcinoma line, line 1 cells, and found that the tumor cells generated showed lower invasive capacity, slower tumor growth, and lesser tendency for spinal cord metastasis than control cells.

Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in patients with oral cavity cancer in a betel nut chewing-prevalent area.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations exist in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but few data about mutation patterns with clinical outcomes were reported.

Methods: Fifty-six formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples were obtained surgically from OSCC patients. Direct sequencing of EGFR was carried out using nested polymerase chain reaction.

Zoledronic acid induces cell-cycle prolongation in murine lung cancer cells by perturbing cyclin and Ras expression.

Zoledronic acid (ZOL) was shown earlier to prolong survival in animal models of lung cancer. The aim of this study was to examine whether alteration of intracellular cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, retinoblastoma, and Ras protein expression and E2F localization are among the possible antilung cancer mechanisms driven by ZOL. Furthermore, we used geranylgeraniol to test whether the mevalonate pathway is involved in the antitumor effects of ZOL against lung cancer.

Neutralization of interleukin (IL)-10 released by monocytes/macrophages enhances the up-regulatory effect of monocyte/macrophage-derived IL-6 on expressions of IL-6 and MUC1, and migration in HT-29 colon cancer cells.

The interactions between monocyte-derived IL-6 and IL-10 in colon cancer are unknown. We continued previous work that showed monocyte/macrophage-derived IL-6 induces IL-6 and MUC1 expression in HT-29 cancer cells, and evaluated if IL-10 present in monocyte/macrophage is involved in this IL-6-mediated effect. We treated HT-29 cells with monocyte/macrophage supernatant following neutralization of monocyte/macrophage-released IL-10.

Tumor growth inhibition of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines by low dose of arsenic trioxide via alteration of cell cycle progression and induction of apoptosis.

Background: Although arsenic trioxide (ATO) has displayed anticancer activity against primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), its efficacy in metastatic NPC deserved further investigation because the biological/therapeutic difference in cancer cells probably exists between primary and distant sites.

Methods: Two human metastatic NPC cell lines (NPC-BM1 and NPC-BM2) were investigated. We measured cellular proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptotic extent of BM1 and BM2 cells treated with ATO in vitro.

Using vital sign flow sheets can help to identify neoplastic fever and other possible causes in oncology patients: a retrospective observational study.

Context: It is important to determine the etiology of fever in cancer patients. Such patients often undergo extensive laboratory and radiographic investigations and prolonged anti-infective therapy that are time- and resource- consuming, risk drug toxicity, and postpone systemic chemotherapy.

Objectives: To investigate neoplastic fever (NF) patterns from vital sign flow sheets.

Immunotherapy with dendritic cells pulsed by autologous dactinomycin-induced melanoma apoptotic bodies for patients with malignant melanoma.

The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of immunotherapy for patients with metastatic melanoma with autologous melanoma apoptotic bodies (MAB)-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs). Accessible tumors from eligible patients with refractory metastatic melanoma were surgically removed and processed for primary culture. The autologous tumor cells were treated with dactinomycin to obtain MAB.

Phase II study of epirubicin in combination with weekly docetaxel for patients with advanced NSCLC who have failed or relapsed after the frontline platinum-based chemotherapy.

Background: We conducted a phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of weekly docetaxel combined with epirubicin on D15 as second-line chemotherapy in Taiwanese patients with advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who failed or relapsed after the frontline platinum-based chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed advanced NSCLC (Stage IIIB-IV) were entered into this Phase II trial. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was 0 to 2 and adequate organ function was required.

Zoledronic acid is unable to induce apoptosis, but slows tumor growth and prolongs survival for non-small-cell lung cancers.

Background: Although zoledronic acid (ZOL), a third-generation nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, has been identified as an attractive therapeutic agent against breast cancer, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma as well as small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), as best as we are aware, the anti-tumor effect of ZOL upon non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains to be effectively investigated. This study examined the effects of ZOL upon the line-1 tumor cell, using a murine lung adenocarcinoma cell line similar to the behavior of human lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We investigated the anti-tumor effects of ZOL (3-100 microM) on line-1 tumor cells in vitro, including cellular proliferation, by means of an MTT assay, cell-cycle analysis by flow cytometry and by assessing the level of apoptosis by annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) and 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining.

Phase II study of a biweekly regimen of vinorelbine and cisplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Many novel agents, including vinorelbine, gemcitabine, paclitaxel and docetaxel, have been administrated in combination with cisplatin to patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Of these drugs, vinorelbine is reported to have a high response rate and acceptable toxicity level. In an attempt to increase treatment activity, a biweekly regimen using vinorelbine and cisplatin was designed.

Regressed subungual melanoma simulating cellular blue nevus: managed with sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Background: Subungual melanoma, a not uncommon presentation of cutaneous melanoma in Asian populations, is easily overlooked as benign and thus is improperly treated.

Objective: To present two cases with clinical suspicion of subungual melanoma. Skin biopsies failed to demonstrate the diagnostic features of malignancy.

Weekly short infusion of taxotere at a 4 week cycle in Chinese patients with advanced NSCLC who have failed or relapsed after the frontline platinum-based non-taxane chemotherapy--a Phase II trial.

Background: This Phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of weekly docetaxel at a 4 week cycle in second-line therapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who failed to respond or relapsed after the frontline platinum-based, non-taxane regimen.

Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed and progressive NSCLC after one platinum-based, non-taxane regimen were eligible for this study. Performance status of 0-2 and adequate organ function were required.

Dose-finding and phase 2 study of weekly paclitaxel (taxol) and cisplatin combination in treating Chinese patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Objectives: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of weekly paclitaxel combined with cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to identify the optimal dose of weekly paclitaxel to be administered safely and effectively.

Methods: Chemonaive patients with NSCLC, stage 3B with malignant pleural effusion, or stage 4 were enrolled in this study. In the dose-finding study, patients took paclitaxel once weekly at an initial dose of 50 mg/m2 and 3 weeks followed by cisplatin on day 15 at a fixed dose of 80 mg/m2.

Ovarian metastasis originating from bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: a rare presentation of lung cancer.

Ovarian metastasis originating from bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) has not been reported previously. We report a 63-year-old Chinese woman who was diagnosed as BAC with pleural metastasis in 1997. Four years later, she complained of vaginal bleeding, and a pelvic mass was discovered by an abdominal computerized tomography scan.

Contradiction of clinical expectations in lymphoscintigraphy sentinel node mapping in detecting microscopic melanoma metastasis.

A 51-year-old man presented with lower back skin pigmentation tag that he had had for 2 years. Physical examination showed a 10 x 10 mm ulcerated, protruding pigmented skin mass at the midline of back at the 4th lumbar spine level. Skin biopsy disclosed a 5 mm thickness nodular melanoma, which had invaded the reticular dermis.

Cytokine profiles of sentinel lymph nodes draining the primary melanoma.

Background: The sentinel lymph node (SLN) draining the primary melanoma is the first echelon node where micrometastasis is established. SLNs may be the initial sites of antigen presentation associated with immune responses.

Methods: A portion of each SLN from 68 melanoma patients undergoing selective SLN dissection was processed for enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay determination of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) secretion.