Combination of verteporfin-photodynamic therapy with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine enhances the anti-tumour immune response in triple negative breast cancer.

Introduction: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer characterised by its high tumourigenic, invasive, and immunosuppressive nature. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a focal therapy that uses light to activate a photosensitizing agent and induce a cytotoxic effect. 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-ADC) is a clinically approved immunomodulatory chemotherapy agent.

Prospektive Kohortenstudie von InspECT zur Sicherheit und Wirksamkeit der Elektrochemotherapie bei Hauttumoren und Metastasen in Abhängigkeit von Ulzeration.

Hintergrund: Elektrochemotherapie (ECT) ist eine wirksame lokale Behandlung von Hauttumoren. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Wirksamkeit der ECT bei ulzerierten gegenüber nichtulzerierten Tumoren zu vergleichen und den Effekt auf tumorassoziierte Symptome zu untersuchen.

Methodik: 20 Krebszentren des International Network for Sharing Practices on Electrochemotherapy (InspECT) sammelten prospektiv Daten.

Prospective cohort study by InspECT on safety and efficacy of electrochemotherapy for cutaneous tumors and metastases depending on ulceration.

Background: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is an effective local treatment for cutaneous tumors. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of ECT in ulcerated vs. non-ulcerated tumors and investigate the effect on tumor-associated symptoms.

Photodynamic Therapy in Primary Breast Cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a technique for producing localized necrosis with light after prior administration of a photosensitizing agent. This study investigates the nature, safety, and efficacy of PDT for image-guided treatment of primary breast cancer. We performed a phase I/IIa dose escalation study in 12 female patients with a new diagnosis of invasive ductal breast cancer and scheduled to undergo mastectomy as a first treatment.

Electrochemotherapy for Breast Cancer-Results From the INSPECT Database.

Background: Cutaneous recurrence from breast cancer can pose a clinical challenge. It might be the only disease site, or could be part of disseminated disease, and often profoundly affects quality of life. Electrochemotherapy is a palliative treatment using electric pulses to locally permeabilize tumor cells and thereby significantly increase bleomycin cytotoxicity.

To infiltrate or not? Acute effects of local anaesthetic in breast surgery.

Background: There is limited evidence to support use of local anaesthetic (LA) wound infiltration in breast surgery. This study seeks to examine whether wound infiltration of bupivacaine (0.25%) decreases post-operative pain and analgesic use, without increasing post-operative complications.

Detailed evaluation of one step nucleic acid (OSNA) molecular assay for intra-operative diagnosis of sentinel lymph node metastasis and prediction of non-sentinel nodal involvement: experience from a London teaching hospital.

One step nucleic acid (OSNA) is a molecular diagnostic assay for intra-operative detection of sentinel node metastases. This study compared OSNA with standard histopathology in 283 nodes from 170 patients to evaluate sensitivity, specificity and concordance of the two methods. Additional analysis was done to investigate how cytokeratin 19 mRNA copy number affects prediction of non-sentinel node positivity.