Laparoscopic HIPEC in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer.

Background/aims: HIPEC has been recently recommended as the 'new standard of care' for advanced ovarian cancer patients to treat residual disease, a recommendation based on the good results reported by many single institution studies. This study aims to elucidate whether cyto-reductive surgery for advanced stage IV ovarian cancer combined with laparoscopic HIPEC has any value in the management of advanced ovarian cancer.

Methodology: From January 2007 to October 2011, 31 patients with stage IV ovarian cancer were enrolled.

Hepatitis B today.

Hepatitis B remains a major problem for public health worldwide and represents a challenging disease for practicing physicians. Of the 2 billion people who have been infected with the hepatitis B virus, more than 350 million have chronic infections. These chronically infected individuals are at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.

EGFR alterations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a chromogenic in situ hybridization analysis based on tissue microarrays.

Background/aims: To evaluate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene status in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma correlating the results to protein expression and clinicopathological features

Methodology: Using tissue microarray technology (TMArrayer 100), fifty (n = 50) paraffin-embedded tissue samples of histologically-confirmed primary tumors were cored twice at a diameter of 1 mm and re-embedded into the final recipient block. Immunohistochemistry was performed by the use of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody (31G7). Also, a chromogenic in situ hybridization protocol was applied based on the use of EGFR gene and chromosome 7 centromeric probes, respectively.

How necessary is vagotomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy and total pancreatectomy.

Background/aims: Gastrectomy with gastrojejunostomy is a fundamental step used for the restoration of the alimentary tract after pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy. Anastomotic ulcers occurring after pancreaticoduodenectomy, is a well known problem. The aim of our study is to investigate the incidence of anastomotic ulcer after pancreaticoduodenectomy or total pancreatectomy and to elucidate whether vagotomy is necessary.

Local recurrence following curative low anterior resection for rectal carcinoma.

Background/aims: Local recurrence is a formidable problem after potentially curative resection for rectal cancer. We attempted to identify possible factors affecting the frequency of local recurrence, focusing on the clearance of the tumor and the margin of resection.

Methodology: The clinical cohort consisted of 66 patients suffering from rectal carcinoma.

Regional targeting chemoimmunotherapy in patients undergoing pancreatic resection in an advanced stage of their disease: a prospective randomized study.

Purpose: To evaluate in a prospective randomized study the long-term results of adjuvant locoregional chemoimmunotherapy in a number of patients with stage III pancreatic duct cancer who underwent pancreatic resection between November 1993 and October 2000.

Methods: One hundred twenty-eight patients were divided into three groups. Group A (n = 40) patients had surgical resection alone.