Histopathological response to chemotherapy and survival of mucinous type gastric cancer.

Background: Data on the clinicopathological characteristics of mucinous gastric cancer (muc-GC) are limited. This study compares the clinical outcome and response to chemotherapy between patients with resectable muc-GC, intestinal (int-GC) and diffuse (dif-GC) gastric cancer.

Methods: Patients from the D1/D2 study or the CRITICS trial were included in exploratory surgery-alone (SAtest) or chemotherapy test (CTtest) cohorts.

Nanoindentation of embedded particles.

We address the effect of elastic inhomogeneity on elastic modulus and hardness determinations made by depth-sensing indentations performed on individual particles embedded within a matrix of different elastic modulus. Finite element simulations and nanoindentation experiments are used to quantify the consequences of particle/matrix elastic inhomogeneity and we propose an adaptation of the Oliver-Pharr method that gives access to particle properties knowing those of the matrix. The method is suitable for any combination of matrix and particle elastic modulus and for any type of indenter, provided that the area of the tested particles along the surface of the sample is measured and that a large number of particles are probed.

A method for cleaning flat punch diamond microprobe tips.

Microprobe tips are commonly used to perform in-situ micromechanical tests within an electron microscope. In service, such tips have a tendency to accumulate along their surface a layer of deposited material. Tip cleanliness is crucial in order to obtain reliable and reproducible data; however, cleaning of such tips can be arduous, due to their fragility.

Prognostic value of tumor markers and ctDNA in patients with resectable gastric cancer receiving perioperative treatment: results from the CRITICS trial.

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic value of tumor markers in a European cohort of patients with resectable gastric cancer.

Methods: We performed a post hoc analysis of the CRITICS trial, in which 788 patients received perioperative therapy. Association between survival and pretreatment CEA, CA 19-9, alkaline phosphatase, neutrophils, hemoglobin and lactate dehydrogenase were explored in uni- and multivariable Cox regression analyses.

Risk Factors for Metachronous Isolated Peritoneal Metastasis after Preoperative Chemotherapy and Potentially Curative Gastric Cancer Resection: Results from the CRITICS Trial.

Gastric cancer (GC) patients at high risk of developing peritoneal metastasis (PM) as a single site of metastasis after curative treatment may be candidates for adjuvant prophylactic strategies. Here we investigated risk factors for metachronous isolated PM in patients who were treated in the CRITICS trial (NCT00407186). Univariable and multivariable analyses on both metachronous isolated PM and 'other events', i.

Towards Personalization in the Curative Treatment of Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and has a high mortality rate. In the last decades, treatment strategy has shifted from an exclusive surgical approach to a multidisciplinary strategy. Treatment options for patients with resectable gastric cancer as recommended by different worldwide guidelines, include perioperative chemotherapy, pre- or postoperative chemoradiotherapy and postoperative chemotherapy.

Venous thromboembolism during preoperative chemotherapy in the CRITICS gastric cancer trial.

Background: The occurrence of a venous thromboembolism (VTE) is common in patients with cancer. Gastric cancer has been associated with one of the highest risks for VTE. Chemotherapy, especially cisplatin has been associated with a high VTE risk.

Older versus younger adults with gastric cancer receiving perioperative treatment: Results from the CRITICS trial.

Aim: To evaluate treatment-related toxicity, treatment compliance, surgical complications and event-free survival (EFS) in older (≥70 years) versus younger (<70 years) adults who underwent perioperative treatment for gastric cancer.

Methods: In the CRITICS trial, 788 patients with resectable gastric cancer were randomised before start of any treatment and received preoperative chemotherapy (3 cycles of epirubicin, cisplatin or oxaliplatin and capecitabine), followed by surgery, followed by either postoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (45Gy + cisplatin + capecitabine).

Results: 172 (22%) patients were older adults.

Sorafenib as first-line therapy in patients with advanced Child-Pugh B hepatocellular carcinoma-a meta-analysis.

Background: Sorafenib has demonstrated survival benefit in first-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); utility of sorafenib in patients with advanced HCC and Child-Pugh B (CP-B) liver function remains a subject of debate.

Methods: A systematic review identified studies using first-line sorafenib in patients with advanced HCC and CP-A/B liver function. Meta-regression analysis comprising linear regression was conducted to explore the association between the baseline factors and overall survival (OS).

CRITICS-II: a multicentre randomised phase II trial of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery versus neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and subsequent chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery versus neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery in resectable gastric cancer.

Background: Although radical surgery remains the cornerstone of cure in resectable gastric cancer, survival remains poor. Current evidence-based (neo)adjuvant strategies have shown to improve outcome, including perioperative chemotherapy, postoperative chemoradiotherapy and postoperative chemotherapy. However, these regimens suffer from poor patient compliance, particularly in the postoperative phase of treatment.

Prognostic factors for disease relapse in patients with neuroendocrine tumours who underwent curative surgery.

Aim: Surgery is the only modality of cure in patients diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs). The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors associated with disease relapse in patients with NETs treated by potentially-curative surgery.

Methods: Sequential patients registered in The Christie European NET Society (ENETS) Centre of Excellence, with grade (G)1 or G2 NETs who had undergone curative surgery (February 2002-June 2014) were included.

Swallowing threshold parameters of subjects with shortened dental arches.

Objectives: To quantify swallowing threshold parameters of subjects with a moderate shortened dental arch dentition (SDA: missing molar teeth, but premolar teeth in occluding position and uninterrupted anterior regions) compared to subjects with a complete dental arch dentition (CDA).

Methods: Fourteen females with SDA (3-4 occlusal premolar units) and 14 females with CDA were instructed to chew silicone test 'food' (cubic particles with a total volume of 3 cm(3)). They spit it out the moment they felt the urge to swallow and the pulverized particles were collected.

Exercise adherence in patients with trismus due to head and neck oncology: a qualitative study into the use of the Therabite.

Trismus is a common problem after treatment of head and neck cancer. The Therabite is an effective treatment for trismus. To explore the factors that may influence Therabite exercise adherence, how these interrelate and to provide aims for interventions to increase adherence, the authors conducted a multi-centre, formal-evaluative qualitative retrospective study.

Effect of postoperative radiotherapy on the functional result of implants placed during ablative surgery for oral cancer.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the survival of dental implants placed during ablative surgery in the interforaminal region of the original edentulous mandible in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity in relation to postoperative radiotherapy. Forty-eight patients treated in 1996-2003 with surgery alone or in combination with postoperative radiotherapy were analysed. In all patients, 2 to 4 Brånemark Mk II/III 2-phase implants were placed during tumour resection.

Masticatory function in patients with an extremely resorbed mandible restored with mandibular implant-retained overdentures: comparison of three types of treatment protocols.

The objective of the present study was to analyse the effects of implant supported overdentures on masticatory function in patients with an extremely resorbed mandible, and to compare the masticatory function in these patients using three differing types of implant treatment protocols. The mandibular overdentures were retained by a transmandibular implant, by four endosseous implants following augmentation of the mandible, and by four short endosseous implants, respectively. Sixty patients (50 women, 10 men, mean age 59.

Swallowing thresholds of mandibular implant-retained overdentures with variable portion sizes.

We analysed the effect of three portion sizes Optocal Plus (small, medium and large) on swallowing thresholds in subjects with either conventional complete dentures or mandibular implant-retained overdentures (transmandibular and permucosal cylindric implants). Tests were carried out in 52 women and 15 men (mean age 59 years) 4 years after treatment in a randomised controlled clinical trial. The results indicated that the degree of mucosal support for the mandibular denture did not affect the number of chewing strokes, time till swallowing or swallowed particle size.

Pain and instability during biting with mandibular implant-retained overdentures.

We tested in a randomized controlled clinical trial the effect of pain and instability of dentures on bite force with different degrees of mucosal support. The trial involved 3 groups who had received: 1) a new conventional denture (CD-group), 2) an implant-mucosa-borne overdenture on 2 IMZ implants (IMZ-group) or 3) a mainly implant-borne overdenture retained by a transmandibular implant (TMI-group). Fifty-three women and 15 men, mean age 59 years, participated in this study.

Biting and chewing in overdentures, full dentures, and natural dentitions.

It has been suggested that the provision of dental implants can improve the oral function of subjects with severely resorbed mandibles, possibly restoring function to the level experienced by satisfied wearers of conventional complete dentures. Nevertheless, a quantitative comparison has never been made and can be drawn from the literature only with difficulty, since studies differ greatly in methodology. To make such a comparison, we measured bite force and chewing efficiency by using identical methods in subjects with overdentures, complete full dentures, and natural dentitions.

Rehabilitation of patients with severe (Class VI) maxillary resorption using Le Fort I osteotomy, interposed bone grafts and endosteal implants: 1-8 years follow-up on a two-stage procedure.

The 1 to 8 years follow-up results on a group of 15 patients who underwent a Le Fort I osteotomy with interposed bone grafts and who received implants at a second stage, are reported. The procedure proved to be extremely reliable in that sufficient bone was present for maximum size implants, whilst implant survival appeared to be high (94.6%).

Masticatory performance and chewing experience with implant-retained mandibular overdentures.

The relationship between masticatory performance and chewing experience has not yet been explored for patients with implant-retained overdentures. Although many relationships have been found between parameters of objective and subjective oral function, the structure of these relationships remain unclear. Therefore, we studied in a randomized clinical trial the relationship between the comminution of an artificial test food, i.

Bite forces with mandibular implant-retained overdentures.

Sensitivity or pain of the mucoperiosteum covering the mandibular edentulous ridge is often thought to limit bite forces in complete-denture wearers. Therefore, bite forces with mandibular implant-retained overdentures may depend on the degree of implant support. This study analyzed the effects of different degrees of support for the mandibular denture on bite forces measured four years after denture treatment as part of a randomized controlled clinical trial.