Fusion Cell Markers in Circulating Tumor Cells from Patients with High-Grade Ovarian Serous Carcinoma.

Cancer is primarily a disease in which late diagnosis is linked to poor prognosis, and unfortunately, detection and management are still challenging. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are a potential resource to address this disease. Cell fusion, an event discovered recently in CTCs expressing carcinoma and leukocyte markers, occurs when ≥2 cells become a single entity (hybrid cell) after the merging of their plasma membranes.

Angiogenesis' related genetic variants alter clinical features and prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients.

Objectives: Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and VEGFA receptor (KDR) genes confer different inherited abilities in angiogenesis (AG) pathway. We aimed in the present study to evaluate influence of six VEGFA and four KDR SNVs in clinical features and survival of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients.

Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight DLBCL patients diagnosed between June 2009-September 2014 were enrolled in the study.

EVALUATING MMP-2 AND TGFß-RI EXPRESSION IN CIRCULATING TUMOR CELLS OF PANCREATIC CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR CORRELATION WITH CLINICAL EVOLUTION.

Background: Metastasis is common in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, and the presence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in circulating tumor cells may suggest worse prognosis.

Aim: To correlate the number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the peripheral blood of patients with a locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic tumor and the protein expression involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in CTCs with clinical characteristics, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Method: This was a prospective study conducted using peripheral blood samples collected at three different times.

Evaluation of incidence, significance, and prognostic role of circulating tumor microemboli and transforming growth factor-β receptor I in head and neck cancer.

Background: Circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) are clusters of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), involved in metastasis, as also transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The purpose of this study was to verify their role in progression-free survival (PFS).

Methods: Blood from patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC; n = 53) was analyzed in 2 moments.

Circulating Tumor Cells as Cancer Biomarkers in the Clinic.

It is believed that the development of metastatic cancer requires the presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) , which are found in a patient's circulation as rare abnormal cells comingled with billions of the normal red and white blood cells. The systems developed for detection of CTCs have brought progress to cancer treatment. The molecular characterization of CTCs can aid in the development of new drugs, and their presence during treatment can help clinicians determine the prognosis of the patient.

Epidemiological Profile and Treatment Outcomes in Young Adults (19-29 Years of Age) Treated for Cancer in a Tertiary Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Worldwide, the incidence of cancer in young adults (20-39 years) is increasing, and represents an important cause of mortality in this age group. A retrospective study was undertaken to provide information that may lead to improved treatment outcomes.

Methods: Epidemiological, clinicopathological, treatment, and survival information were retrieved from the electronic database registry of a tertiary referral hospital in São Paulo, Brazil for patients 19-29 years of age diagnosed with cancer between January 2007 and December 2012.

Early detection of poor outcome in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: tumor kinetics evaluated by circulating tumor cells.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide. New prognostic markers are needed to identify patients with poorer prognosis, and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) seem to be promising to accomplish this.

Patients And Methods: A prospective study was conducted by blood collection from patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC), three times, every 2 months in conjunction with image examinations for evaluation of therapeutic response.

Is early response by (18)F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography a predictor of long-term outcome in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer?

Background: Identify in advance responder patients to chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) would allow prompt interruption of ineffective therapies in non-responder patients. Hence, predictive markers are sought in numerous trials to detect responder patients, including tumor shrinkage measured by imaging methods. Usually, Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) is used to evaluate tumor response in metastatic CRC, but these criteria are questionable with use of biological agents associated to chemotherapy.

MRP1 expression in CTCs confers resistance to irinotecan-based chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Circulating tumor cells are important markers of tumor progression and can reflect tumor behavior in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Identification of proteins that confer resistance to treatment is an important step to predict response and better selection of treatment for patients. Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) and Multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4) play a role in irinotecan-resistance, and Excision Repair Cross-Complementation group 1 (ERCC1) expression can confer resistance to platinum compounds.

A Phase II Randomized Study of Lapatinib Combined With Capecitabine, Vinorelbine, or Gemcitabine in Patients With HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer With Progression After a Taxane (Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group 0801 Study).

Background: Novel targeted agents and combinations have become available in multiple lines of treatment for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2(+)) metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In this context, alternatives to the lapatinib (L) and capecitabine (C) regimen, evaluating L combined with other cytotoxic drugs, are warranted.

Patients And Methods: In the present phase II, multicenter study, patients with HER2(+) MBC with progression after taxane were randomized between L, 1250 mg, combined with C, 2000 mg/m(2) on days 1 to 14 (LC), vinorelbine (V), 25 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 (LV), or gemcitabine (G), 1000 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 (LG), every 21 days.

Noncurative Resection for Gastric Cancer Patients: Who Could Benefit? : Determining Prognostic Factors for Patient Selection.

Background: Resections have long been recommended for patients with incurable gastric cancer. However, high morbidity rates and more efficient chemotherapy regimens have demanded more accurate patient selection. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of gastric cancer patients treated with noncurative resection in a single cancer center.

Detection of KRAS mutations in circulating tumor cells from patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: Quantification of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) as a prognostic marker in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has already been validated and approved for routine use. However, more than quantification, qualification or characterization of CTCs is gaining importance, since the genetic characterization of CTCs may reflect, in a real time fashion, genetic profile of the disease.

Objective: To characterize KRAS mutations (codon 12 and 13) in CTCs from patients with mCRC and to compare with matched primary tumor.

Thymidylate synthase expression in circulating tumor cells: a new tool to predict 5-fluorouracil resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Thymidylate synthase (TYMS) is an important enzyme for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) metabolism in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. The search for this enzyme in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be a powerful tool to follow-up cancer patients. mCRC patients were enrolled before the beginning of 5-FU-based chemotherapy.

Aortic dissection during antiangiogenic therapy with sunitinib. A case report.

Context: Sunitinib is an antiangiogenic drug that has been approved for treating metastatic renal cancer. Its action as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) and other angiogenesis receptors may lead to adverse effects such as hypertension and heart failure. However, reports in the literature on an association between sunitinib therapy and acute aortic dissection are rare.

Isolation, detection, and immunomorphological characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from patients with different types of sarcoma using isolation by size of tumor cells: a window on sarcoma-cell invasion.

Background: Sarcomas are rare and heterogeneous neoplasms with poor prognosis that are thought to spread to distant organs mainly by hematogenous dissemination. However, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have never been visualized in sarcomas.

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of using isolation by size of tumor cells (ISET) for isolation, identification, and characterization of CTCs derived from patients with high-grade and metastatic sarcomas.

Cytokeratin-based CTC counting unrelated to clinical follow up.

Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been reported to be a relevant prognostic biomarker in metastatic patients. However, their clinical use and impact is still under debate. We have thus comparatively and kinetically assessed two CTC detection methods according to the patient's clinical follow up.

The influence of transforming growth factor-α, cyclooxygenase-2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7, MMP-9 and CXCR4 proteins involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition on overall survival of patients with gastric cancer.

Aims: Determination of prognostic parameters that are predictive of survival of gastric cancer (GC) may allow better identification of patients who could benefit from current chemotherapy regimens. To assess the correlation between tumour progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), we assayed the expression levels of selected molecules involved in EMT [CD44, transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7, MMP-9 and C-X-C chemokine receptor (CXCR4)], and correlated these with overall patient survival (OS) and disease stage.

Methods And Results: Medical records and pathological biopsy results of 137 patients with GC were evaluated retrospectively.

Synchronous thyroid and colon metastases from epidermoid carcinoma of the lung: case report.

Context: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progresses to distant metastases in most cases. The most frequent sites for distant metastases are the bones, central nervous system, adrenal glands and liver. Dissemination to the skin, myocardium, thyroid gland and intestine may occur, but is rare.

Meningeal carcinomatosis in breast cancer: prognostic factors and outcome.

Meningeal carcinomatosis (MC) occurs in up to 5% of breast cancer patients. Few studies have evaluated prognostic markers in breast cancer patients with MC. Our aim was to describe the treatment of breast cancer patients with MC, and identify prognostic factors related to survival.

Pathologic complete response with neoadjuvant imatinib for locally advanced pelvic GIST.

There are few data that show pathologic complete response (pCR) to imatinib treatment in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). We describe a case of a patient with pCR of a pelvic, locally advanced, high-risk GIST who was treated with neoadjuvant imatinib and ultimately underwent a conservative procedure. A 48-year-old male presented with a pelvic mass 10 cm in diameter.

Prolonged time to progression with fulvestrant for metastatic breast cancer.

Although the incidence of breast cancer has been declining in recent years, the disease is still one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in women. Recently, breast cancer has been treated with innovative approaches that use hormone-sensitive therapies. This is because in at least one-third of breast cancers, estrogens mediated via the estrogen receptor pathway act as endocrine growth factors.

Factors correlated with peritoneal carcinomatosis and survival in patients with gastric cancer treated at a single institution in Brazil.

Background: Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of death due to cancer worldwide and is particularly prevalent in Brazil. Promising new therapeutic agents have already shown activity in some gastrointestinal malignancies and their role in gastric cancer will need to be evaluated. Determining the prognostic factors of survival for patients with gastric cancer can help in identifying patients with a worse prognosis after treatment with the current chemotherapeutic regimens.