Ovarian cancer and late onset paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration.

Paraneoplastic cerebellar syndrome (PCD) is a rare, neurological disorder that primarily emerges before the detection of malignancy. We present a case involving a 52-year-old woman who was diagnosed and treated for primary ovarian cancer in 2005. In 2007, the patient exhibited ataxia, dysarthria and peripheral neuropathy.

High-resolution computed tomography features of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia and usual interstitial pneumonia.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in the diagnosis of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). We hypothesized that the computed tomography (CT) features of NSIP could be distinguished from those of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP).

Methods: The HRCT images of 47 patients with surgical lung biopsy-proven NSIP (n = 25) and UIP (n = 22) were independently reviewed by 2 thoracic radiologists.

Epidermal growth factor receptor in non-small-cell lung carcinomas: correlation between gene copy number and protein expression and impact on prognosis.

Purpose: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is frequently overexpressed in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), and EGFR inhibitors are promising new therapeutic agents. The molecular mechanisms responsible for EGFR overexpression are poorly understood.

Materials And Methods: Gene copy number and protein status of EGFR were investigated in microarrayed tumors from 183 NSCLC patients, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; 89 patients) and non-SCC (94 patients) histologies.

The E-cadherin cell-cell adhesion complex and lung cancer invasion, metastasis, and prognosis.

Background: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in the western world. Progress in treatment results has been limited, and the prognosis is poor with a 5-year survival less than 15%. Based on new developments in molecular biology, our knowledge about lung carcinogenesis and mechanisms for invasion and metastasis has expanded and may in the future lead to more specific targeted therapies and better prognosis.

HER2/neu expression in malignant lung tumors.

Despite intensive treatment efforts, the prognosis for lung cancer is very poor; less than 15% of patients survive 5 years. Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the HER2/neu protein receptor, is effective in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and may be useful in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Using the HercepTest (Dako; Carpenteria, CA), 25% of NSCLC show 2+ or greater HER2/neu expression, but only 6% to 8% of NSCLC tumors have 3+ overexpression.

Epidermal growth factor receptor family in lung cancer and premalignancy.

Lung cancer, like many other epithelial malignancies, is thought to be the outcome of genetic and epigenetic changes that result in a constellation of phenotypic abnormalities in bronchial epithelium. These include morphologic epithelial dysplasia, angiogenesis, increased proliferative rate, and changes in expression of cell surface proteins, particularly overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family proteins. The EFGR family is a group of four structurally similar tyrosine kinases (EGFR, HER2/neu, ErbB-3, and ErbB-4) that dimerize on binding with a number of ligands, including EGF and transforming growth factor alpha.

Urachal carcinoma: key points for the general surgeon.

Urachal carcinoma is a rare neoplasm with the majority of cases reported in the urologic literature. Because of its presentation as an intra-abdominal mass with involvement of adjacent structures the general surgeon may be consulted early in the diagnostic evaluation. One should be aware of this entity as early recognition and appropriate surgery provides the best opportunity for long-term survival.