Maps and atlases of cancer mortality: a review of a useful tool to trigger new questions.

In this review we illustrate our view on the epidemiological relevance of geographically mapping cancer mortality. In the first part of this work, after delineating the history of cancer mapping with a view on interpretation of Cancer Mortality Atlases, we briefly illustrate the 'art' of cancer mapping. Later we summarise in a non-mathematical way basic methods of spatial statistics.

On smoothing trends in population index modeling.

In this article, we consider the U.K. Common Birds Census counts and their use in monitoring bird abundance.

The impact of lower urinary tract symptoms and comorbidities on quality of life: the BACH and UREPIK studies.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) on quality of life (QoL) and to determine its extent across a variety of cultures, and the confounding effects of self-reported comorbidities and demographics.

Subjects And Methods: Data were obtained from two population-based studies in five cities: UREPIK (Boxmeer, the Netherlands; Auxerre, France; Birmingham, UK; and Seoul, Korea) and the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) study (Boston, USA). UREPIK used stratified random samples of men aged 40-79 years.

Oxaliplatin combined with 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate in advanced colorectal cancer.

Background: A promising regimen including 5-Fluorouracil, methotrexate and oxaliplatin is reported.

Patients And Methods: Patients with untreated measurable metastatic disease received bolus 5-Fluorouracil (600 mg/m2) on days 2 and 16, modulated by methotrexate (200 mg/m2) 24 h earlier, alternated with 4 weeks of continuous infusion of 5-Fluorouracil (200 mg/m2/daily) plus oxaliplatin (130 mg/m2) on days 29 and 56, followed by 2 weeks of rest. Serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was analyzed at baseline and before every cycle.

Androgen ablation therapy does not increase the risk of late morbidity following 3D-conformal radiotherapy of organ-confined prostate cancer: the experience of the European Institute of Oncology.

Aims And Background: Androgen ablation therapy in conjunction with radiotherapy--neoadjuvant and adjuvant--has consistently been shown to be associated with improved biochemical and local control, whereas controversy still remains as regards its benefit in terms of overall survival. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of androgen ablation in combination to 3D-conformal radiotherapy on late treatment-related toxicity.

Methods: 236 patients were treated with 3D-conformal radiotherapy to a total dose ranging from 70 and 78.

The prevalence of urinary incontinence in community-dwelling married women: a matter of definition.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of female urinary incontinence (UI) and its impact on quality of life.

Subjects And Methods: In a Dutch national postal questionnaire survey, 1460 spouses of 1771 men in the town of Boxmeer, age-stratified and randomly selected, were asked to participate. The prevalence of UI in the women was assessed in two ways.

Combined treatment of glioblastoma patients with locoregional pre-targeted 90Y-biotin radioimmunotherapy and temozolomide.

Aim: In a previous phase I-II study, the safety profile and anti-tumor efficacy of pre-targeting locoregional radioimmunotherapy (LR-RIT), based on the ''3 step'' method, was assessed in 24 high-grade glioma patients. The encouraging results in terms of low toxicity and objective response rate (25%) prompted us to continue our study.

Methods: An analysis of 73 patients with hystologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), treated with the ''3 step'' (90)Y-biotin based LR-RIT, is herein reported.

Mammaglobin expression in leukapheresis products is a predictive marker of poor prognosis in women with high-risk breast cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and prognostic relevance of tumor cell detection in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized peripheral blood progenitor cell collections (PBPCCs) using cytokeratin (CK), maspin (MAS), and mammaglobin (MAM) genes as epithelial cell markers. The population on which the study was conducted was drawn from stage III breast cancer patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation with PBPCCs.

Experimental Design: One hundred and ninety-four patients were enrolled in the study and analyzed for tumor cell detection on the basis of 481 PBPCCs gathered before administration of chemotherapy.

Hyperfractionated radiotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer. An analysis of 43 consecutive patients.

Background: Despite numerous randomized trials suggesting a benefit of unconventional fractionation in locally advanced head and neck cancer, the role of this approach in nasopharyngeal carcinoma is debatable. Based on the current clinical experience, the authors introduced hyperfractionated irradiation in the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer, including nasopharyngeal tumors. The preliminary results of this treatment approach in nasopharyngeal cancer patients are presented, with special focus on the pattern of failure and toxicity.

ChlVPP/ABVVP, a first line 'hybrid' combination chemotherapy for advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma: a retrospective analysis.

We retrospectively analysed toxicities and clinical results of 61 Hodgkin's lymphoma patients treated with chlorambucil, vinblastine, procarbazine, doxorubicin, bleomycin, vincristine and etoposide (ChlVPP/ABVVP), delivered in a weekly alternate schedule. Of 61 patients, 33 were in stages III-IV, 21 in stage IIB and seven in stage IIA with bulky disease or extranodal presentation. ChlVPP/ABVVP was administered for 6-8 cycles.

Receptor radionuclide therapy with 90Y-DOTATOC in patients with medullary thyroid carcinomas.

Unlabelled: Metastatic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) shows a progressive course. Surgery is the only curative treatment. In advanced disease, chemo- and radiotherapy show poor results.

Finding dose-volume constraints to reduce late rectal toxicity following 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) of prostate cancer.

Background And Purpose: The rectum is known to display a dose-volume effect following high-dose 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT). The aim of the study is to search for significant dose-volume combinations with the specific treatment technique and patient set-up currently used in our institution.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the dose-volume histograms (DVH) of 135 patients with stage T1b-T3b prostate cancer treated consecutively with 3D-CRT between 1996 and 2000 to a total dose of 76 Gy.

The prevalence of male urinary incontinence in four centres: the UREPIK study.

Objectives: To report the results of the prevalence and health status associated with male urinary incontinence (UI) in a population-based, multicentre study in four countries, and to assess the epidemiology of this condition.

Subjects And Methods: A standard questionnaire asking about frequency and amount of urine loss, use of pads and stress incontinence, was used to measure the prevalence of UI among men in four countries (Boxmeer, The Netherlands; Auxerre, France; Birmingham, UK; and Seoul, Korea). Self-reported urinary leakage was also recorded, with details of visits to the doctor for the symptoms.

The association between lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction in four centres: the UrEpik study.

Objective: To report a large-scale multinational investigation of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and sexual function, designed to investigate the independent association between them, as recent small-scale epidemiological studies suggest an association between benign prostatic hyperplasia and sexual dysfunction; both conditions are strongly associated with age and no study has been able to exclude age as a confounding factor in this relationship.

Subjects And Methods: Culturally and linguistically validated versions of standard questionnaires were used to estimate the prevalence of LUTS (using the International Prostate Symptom Score, IPSS) and erectile dysfunction (ED) score (using O'Leary's Sexual Function Inventory) in regions of the UK (Birmingham), the Netherlands (Boxmeer), France (Auxerre) and Korea (Seoul). In each centre, stratified random samples were selected from population registers to provide representative samples of the population of men aged 40-79 years (and their partners) in each community.

The relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms and health status: the UREPIK study.

Objectives: To assess the hypothesis that as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) increase in severity, the impact as measured by the BPH impact index (BII) would also increase.

Subjects And Methods: The UREPIK survey collected information on this relationship from men and their partners in the Netherlands, Korea, France and the UK. Culturally and linguistically validated versions of three standard questionnaires, the SF-12, the BII and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) were used to assess the distribution of symptoms and the impact on health status.

Intravascular ultrasound based dose assessment in endovascular brachytherapy.

Background: the role of endovascular brachytherapy in restenosis prevention is well documented. Dose is usually prescribed at a fixed distance from the source axis by angiographic quantification of vessel diameter. Recently, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was introduced in dose prescription, allowing a better evaluation of the vessel anatomy.

The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in men and women in four centres. The UrEpik study.

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiology of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among men and women, as there are significant unanswered questions about the prevalence and impact of LUTS in different populations.

Subjects And Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional survey was completed in Boxmeer (the Netherlands), Auxerre (France), Birmingham (UK) and Seoul (Republic of Korea), using culturally and linguistically validated versions of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). The aim was to estimate the distribution of symptoms of LUTS in men and women.

ACOD, a modified CHOP regimen for elderly patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The aim of this study is to verify the feasibility and the clinical activity of a new CHOP-like schedule (ACOD) with a fractionated days 1 and 8 administration in elderly patients. This regimen was chosen in the attempt to allow a sufficient dose intensity (DI) of each drug with better compliance. Fifty-two patients, (74 years, median age), with diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were retrospectively evaluated.

[Prevalence of lower urinary tract disorders and incontinence in Auxerre. French segment of the UrEpik study].

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of low urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and urinary incontinence among men and women aged 40 to 79 years.

Methods: A postal survey was carried out in a community-dwelling random sample, in Auxerre, France. LUTS were assessed using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS).

Pretargeted adjuvant radioimmunotherapy with yttrium-90-biotin in malignant glioma patients: a pilot study.

In a previous study we applied a three-step avidin-biotin pretargeting approach to target 90Y-biotin to the tumour in patients with recurrent high grade glioma. The encouraging results obtained in this phase I-II study prompted us to apply the same approach in an adjuvant setting, to evaluate (i) time to relapse and (ii) overall survival. We enrolled 37 high grade glioma patients, 17 with grade III glioma and 20 with glioblastoma, in a controlled open non-randomized study.

[Prevalence of nocturia among people in Auxerre: the French part of the UrEpik study].

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of nocturia among men and women aged 40 to 79 years old.

Material And Methods: A postal survey was carried out in a community-dwelling random sample in Auxerre, France. Nocturia was assessed using the item 7 of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS).