Inflammation-Based Scores as a Common Tool for Prognostic Assessment in Heart Failure or Cancer.

Inflammation-based scores are widely tested in cancer and have been evaluated in cardiovascular diseases including heart failure. We investigated the impact of established inflammation-based scores on disease severity and survival in patients with stable heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) paralleling results to an intra-institutional cohort of treatment naïve cancer patients. HFrEF and cancer patients were prospectively enrolled.

Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma of Larynx and Hypopharynx: A Rare Clinicopathological Entity.

(1) Background: Lymphoepithelial carcinoma of the hypopharynx and larynx is a rare tumor with fewer than 50 cases in the published literature. We present a literature review to discuss the clinical findings, viral or genetic associations, diagnostic challenges, histopathological findings and therapeutic aspects of the disease. (2) Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed through MEDLINE/PubMed from 1968 to 2018.

Long-term Survival After Salvage Surgery for a Giant Primary Rib Osteosarcoma.

A 29-year-old woman with a primary rib osteosarcoma declined treatment and was readmitted 20 months later in life-threatening condition caused by major local tumor progression with severe mediastinal shifting, and without distant metastases. She underwent extended tumor resection with palliative intent and recovered well after a prolonged course with post-pneumonectomy empyema. Further treatment was declined, and she presented again 4.

Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Lung: A Diagnostic Pitfall in Pregnancy.

Lung cancer during pregnancy represents a rare disease. In this case report, we present a patient at advanced and metastasized stage of signet ring cell carcinoma who presented in the 22 week of gestation.

Activity of Pembrolizumab in Recurrent Cervical Cancer: Case Series and Review of Published Data.

Objectives: Recent data support the use of pembrolizumab in cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate pembrolizumab in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent cervical cancer.

Methods: Data from consecutive patients treated with pembrolizumab at a single academic institution were assessed.

Subclinical involvement of the liver is associated with prognosis in treatment naïve cancer patients.

Background: Routinely tested liver biomarkers as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), butyryl-cholinesterase (BChE), albumin and bilirubin are altered in distinct malignancies and hepatic metastases. This study aimed to investigate whether all liver parameters have the ability to predict long-term mortality in treatment naïve cancer patients but without a malignant hepatic involvement.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 555 consecutive patients with primary diagnosis of cancer without prior anticancer therapy.

Coordinated Pulses of mRNA and of Protein Translation or Degradation Produce EGF-Induced Protein Bursts.

Protein responses to extracellular cues are governed by gene transcription, mRNA degradation and translation, and protein degradation. In order to understand how these time-dependent processes cooperate to generate dynamic responses, we analyzed the response of human mammary cells to the epidermal growth factor (EGF). Integrating time-dependent transcript and protein data into a mathematical model, we inferred for several proteins their pre-and post-stimulus translation and degradation coefficients and found that they exhibit complex, time-dependent variation.

PTEN expression as a predictor for the response to trastuzumab-based therapy in Her-2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Even though trastuzumab is an effective therapy in early stage Her-2+ breast cancer, 40-50% of advanced Her-2+ breast cancer patients develop trastuzumab resistance. A potential resistance mechanism is aberrant downstream signal transmission due to loss of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN). This study investigated the relationship between the expression of PTEN and trastuzumab response in Her-2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer patients.

Cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with cancer and their association with all-cause mortality.

Objective: Patients with cancer may display elevated levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and high-sensitive troponin T (hsTnT) without clinical manifestation of cardiac disease. This study aimed to evaluate circulating cardiovascular hormones and hsTnT and their association with mortality in cancer.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 555 consecutive patients with a primary diagnosis of cancer and without prior cardiotoxic anticancer therapy.

Navigator-3, a modulator of cell migration, may act as a suppressor of breast cancer progression.

Dissemination of primary tumor cells depends on migratory and invasive attributes. Here, we identify Navigator-3 (NAV3), a gene frequently mutated or deleted in human tumors, as a regulator of epithelial migration and invasion. Following induction by growth factors, NAV3 localizes to the plus ends of microtubules and enhances their polarized growth.

Distinctive outcome in patients with non-uterine and uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Background: Leiomyosarcomas represent the largest subtype of soft tissue sarcomas. Two subgroups can be distinguished, non-uterine (NULMS) and uterine leiomyosarcomas (ULMS). The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate differences in clinical features and outcome between these two subgroups.

Hepatic dysfunction contributes to coagulation disturbances in patients undergoing whole body hyperthermia by use of extracorporeal circulation.

Purpose: This phase I study was performed to evaluate coagulation alterations during extracorporeal circulation (ECC) induced whole body hyperthermia (WBHT) in 12 patients with advanced soft tissue sarcomas.

Methods: To distinguish between effects of normothermic ECC and ECC-WBHT, blood samples were drawn at different time points: at baseline, after 30 min on normothermic ECC, at the end of the heating period, and 24 h and 7 days thereafter. Standard coagulation tests, coagulation factors, thrombelastography,platelets and reticulated platelets, liver enzymes, and scintigraphic platelet imaging were performed.

Initially localized synovial sarcoma in adults: a retrospective single-center analysis of 26 patients registered at the Department of Oncology, University of Vienna between 2004 and 2013.

Background: Synovial sarcoma is a rare subgroup of all soft-tissue sarcomas. The aim of this retrospective single-center analysis was to investigate the outcome of patients with initially localized disease.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-six patients were enrolled in this retrospective single-center analysis.

Arthroscopic Removal of Chronic Symptomatic Calcifications of the Supraspinatus Tendon Without Acromioplasty: Analysis of Postoperative Recovery and Outcome Factors.

Background: Little knowledge exists on postoperative recovery of pain and shoulder function following arthroscopic removal of calcific deposits of the supraspinatus tendon (ACDSSP). Certain factors may influence outcome, including acromial morphology.

Purpose: To examine postoperative recovery following ACDSSP without acromioplasty and to analyze influential outcome factors.

Clinical signs of neurofibromatosis impact on the outcome of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.

Objective: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are a rare subtype of sarcoma, with a poor outcome. MPNST are regarded as being sporadic or associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Few comparative overall-survival (OS) data in these 2 subsets of MPNST patients exist.

Epidermal growth-factor-induced transcript isoform variation drives mammary cell migration.

Signal-induced transcript isoform variation (TIV) includes alternative promoter usage as well as alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation of mRNA. To assess the phenotypic relevance of signal-induced TIV, we employed exon arrays and breast epithelial cells, which migrate in response to the epidermal growth factor (EGF). We show that EGF rapidly--within one hour--induces widespread TIV in a significant fraction of the transcriptome.

High-level ERBB2 gene amplification is associated with a particularly short time-to-metastasis, but results in a high rate of complete response once trastuzumab-based therapy is offered in the metastatic setting.

Despite patient selection based on ERBB2 overexpression, not all patients benefit from trastuzumab therapy. We have investigated whether a ERBB2 gene dosage effect might provoke increased biological aggressiveness and altered trastuzumab sensitivity. Absolute ERBB2 copy numbers ("CN") and ERBB2/centromer 17 ratios ("R") were measured by FISH analysis in tumors of 127 patients receiving trastuzumab-based treatment for Her-2/neu overexpressing metastatic breast cancer.

Surgical treatment of GIST--an institutional experience of a high-volume center.

Background: Discovery of the molecular pathogenesis of Gastrointestinal stromal tumors led to the development of targeted therapies, revolutionizing their treatment. However, surgery is still the mainstay of GIST therapy and the only chance for cure.

Aim: Here we present a single institutional consecutive case series of 159 GIST-patients.

HER3, p95HER2, and HER2 protein expression levels define multiple subtypes of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Trastuzumab is effective in the treatment of HER2/neu over-expressing breast cancer, but not all patients benefit from it. In vitro data suggest a role for HER3 in the initiation of signaling activity involving the AKT–mTOR pathway leading to trastuzumab insensitivity. We sought to investigate the potential of HER3 alone and in the context of p95HER2 (p95), a trastuzumab resistance marker, as biomarkers of trastuzumab escape.

Trabectedin in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma: a retrospective single center analysis.

The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of trabectedin treatment in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in the routine clinical setting. Further, the type and frequency of systemic treatments before commencing treatment with trabectedin and after its discontinuation, as well as the frequency of pulmonary metastasectomies, were analyzed. The current analysis includes retrospective data from consecutive STS patients treated with trabectedin at the Department of Medicine I, Division of Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, between January 2008 and December 2012.

The Austrian experience with trabectedin in non-selected patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS).

Purpose: The purpose of this retrospective analysis was to assess efficacy and tolerability of trabectedin in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in the routine clinical setting.

Patients And Methods: Efficacy and safety data of trabectedin were retrospectively evaluated in patients with advanced STS who had started treatment with trabectedin at six institutions in Austria between January 2008 and May 2012.

Results: Data of 101 adult patients were included in the present analysis.

Autologous stem cell transplantation in adults with metastatic sarcoma of the Ewing family: a single centre experience.

Background: Adults with metastatic Ewing family sarcomas (ES) after being treated with standard therapy for localised disease have limited treatment options with curative intent. The aim of this retrospective single centre study was to evaluate the efficacy of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in this patient population.

Methods: We report on seven consecutive patients with ES.