Comparison between two widely used laboratory methods in BRAF V600 mutation detection in a large cohort of clinical samples of cutaneous melanoma metastases to the lymph nodes.

Aims: The study compares detection rates of oncogenic BRAF mutations in a homogenous group of 236 FFPE cutaneous melanoma lymph node metastases, collected in one cancer center. BRAF mutational status was verified by two independent in-house PCR/Sanger sequencing tests, and the Cobas® 4800 BRAF V600 Mutation Test.

Results: The best of two sequencing approaches returned results for 230/236 samples.

Molecular alterations in clinical stage III cutaneous melanoma: Correlation with clinicopathological features and patient outcome.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency and type of oncogenic v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (/neuroblastoma RAS viral (v-ras) oncogene homolog ( mutations in cutaneous melanoma with clinically detected nodal metastases (stage IIIB and C) in relation to clinicopathological features and outcome. The clinicopathological data of 250 patients following therapeutic lymphadenectomy (LND) between 1995 and 2010, as well as / mutational status in corresponding nodal metastases, were analyzed. The median follow-up time was 53 months.

Molecular characterization and patient outcome of melanoma nodal metastases and an unknown primary site.

Background: Melanoma of unknown primary site (MUP) is not a completely understood entity with nodal metastases as the most common first clinical manifestation. The aim of this multicentric study was to assess frequency and type of oncogenic BRAF/NRAS/KIT mutations in MUP with clinically detected nodal metastases in relation to clinicopathologic features and outcome.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed series of 103 MUP patients (period: 1992-2010) after therapeutic lymphadenectomy (LND): 40 axillary, 47 groin, 16 cervical, none treated with BRAF inhibitors.

Prognosis in patients with sentinel node-positive melanoma is accurately defined by the combined Rotterdam tumor load and Dewar topography criteria.

Purpose: Prognosis in patients with sentinel node (SN)-positive melanoma correlates with several characteristics of the metastases in the SN such as size and site. These factors reflect biologic behavior and may separate out patients who may or may not need additional locoregional and/or systemic therapy.

Patients And Methods: Between 1993 and 2008, 1,080 patients (509 women and 571 men) were diagnosed with tumor burden in the SN in nine European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) melanoma group centers.

Cutaneous melanoma with nodal metastases in elderly people.

Background: The impact of age on melanoma patient outcomes is uncertain.

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics and treatment outcomes in cutaneous melanoma patients ≥ 65 years of age with lymph node metastases.

Methods: We analyzed data from 849 consecutive patients with stage III cutaneous melanoma who were treated between 1994 and 2007 at one institution.

Multimarker reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay in lymphatic drainage and sentinel node tumor burden.

Purpose: We assessed molecular (presence of melanoma cells markers in lymph fluid [LY]) and pathological features (sentinel lymph node [SN] tumor burden according to Rotterdam criteria, metastases microanatomic location) and correlated them with survival and melanoma prognostic factors in a group of patients with positive SN biopsy.

Methods: We analyzed 368 consecutive SN-positive patients after completion lymph node dissection (CLND). In 321 patients we obtained data on SLN microanatomic location/tumor burden (only 7 cases had metastases <0.

Melanoma without a detectable primary site with metastases to lymph nodes.

Objective: To compare outcomes of patients with clinical nodal melanoma metastases that occurred without a detectable primary tumor (melanoma of unknown primary site; MUP) with those with a known primary site (KPM).

Methods: We included data from 459 consecutive patients treated from 1994 to 2007 with radical therapeutic lymph node dissection (LND; stage IIIB, C) due to clinically palpable and pathologically confirmed lymph node metastases (229 axillary; 230 ilioinguinal). The median follow-up was 49 months.

Sentinel node tumor burden according to the Rotterdam criteria is the most important prognostic factor for survival in melanoma patients: a multicenter study in 388 patients with positive sentinel nodes.

Summary Background Data: The more intensive sentinel node (SN) pathologic workup, the higher the SN-positivity rate. This is characterized by an increased detection of cases with minimal tumor burden (SUB-micrometastasis <0.1 mm), which represents different biology.

The survival benefit to patients with positive sentinel node melanoma after completion lymph node dissection may be limited to the subgroup with a primary lesion Breslow thickness greater than 1.0 and less than or equal to 4 mm (pT2-pT3).

Background: The survival benefit of sentinel node biopsy is still controversial. The aim of our study was to assess the overall survival (OS; calculated both from the date of primary tumor excision and lymph node dissection) data from two large groups of AJCC 2002 stage-III cutaneous melanoma patients-after completion lymph node dissection (CLND after positive sentinel node biopsy) and after therapeutic LND (TLND for clinically/cytologically detected regional lymph node metastases).

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the outcomes for 544 consecutive patients, who underwent CLND (47.

Rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumors associated with a novel germline KIT mutation.

Somatic, activating mutations of KIT or PDGFRA are early oncogenic events in the majority of sporadic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Also a number of families with GISTs have been described in recent years. The familial GIST syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder with high penetrance and diverse manifestations associated mostly with germline KIT mutations.

Different factors are responsible for predicting relapses after primary tumors resection and for imatinib treatment outcomes in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Background: The development of accurate diagnostic methods in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and the introduction of imatinib (IM) therapy has focused attention on the factors influencing the prognosis of patients with primary lesions as well as of patients with advanced disease treated with imatinib.

Material/methods: The clinico-pathological and genetic factors influencing disease-free survival (DFS) in 335 patients with primary CD117-immunopositive tumors (group A; calculated from primary tumor resection) and progression-free survival (PFS) in 232 metastatic/unresectable GIST patients treated with IM (group B; calculated from the start of imatinib therapy) were analyzed.

Results: In group A, statistically significant factors negatively influencing DFS(five-year DFS: 38%), both in univariate and multivariate analysis, were: primary tumor size >5 cm, mitotic index >5/50 HPF (high-power fields), male gender, primary tumor R1 resection or tumor rupture, non-gastric primary tumor localization.

Presence of homozygous KIT exon 11 mutations is strongly associated with malignant clinical behavior in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of gastrointestinal tract. GISTs range from benign indolent neoplasms to highly malignant sarcomas. Gain-of-function mutations of tyrosine kinase receptors, KIT or PDGFRA, have been identified in most GISTs.

Risk criteria and prognostic factors for predicting recurrences after resection of primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Background: The introduction of adjuvant imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) raised debate over the accuracy of National Institutes of Health risk criteria and the significance of other prognostic factors in GIST.

Methods: Tumor aggressiveness and other clinicopathological factors influencing disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed in 335 patients with primary resectable CD117-immunopositive GISTs (median follow-up, 31 months after primary tumor resection) from a prospectively collected tumor registry.

Results: Overall median DFS was 37 months, and estimated 5-year DFS was 37.

Predictive factors for long-term effects of imatinib therapy in patients with inoperable/metastatic CD117(+) gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

The Purpose: To analyze the outcomes of treatment and factors predicting effects of imatinib (IM) therapy in inoperable/metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) CD117(+) patients.

Materials And Methods: We identified 232 patients in a prospectively collected Clinical GIST Registry with advanced inoperable/metastatic GIST treated with IM 400-800 mg daily (129 males and 103 females and median age 56 years). Median follow-up time was 26 months.

[Gastrointestinal stromal tumors localized in small intestine and diagnosed preoperatively as gynecological neoplasms].

Objectives: The aim of the study was the analysis of women with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) of small intestine treated and followed-up in Cancer Center-Institute in Warsaw, who were primary operated in gynecological departments due to suspicion of gynecological neoplasm.

Materials And Methods: In the database of Clinical GIST Registry from 2001 to 2004 we identified 44 women with the diagnosis of CD117(+) GIST of small intestine, what corresponds to 34% (44/130) all female GIST patients. Sixteen of them (36.