The impact of cytochrome P450 2D6 metabolism in women receiving adjuvant tamoxifen.

Background: Tamoxifen is biotransformed to the potent anti-estrogen, endoxifen, by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 enzyme. CYP2D6 genetic variation and inhibitors of the enzyme markedly reduce endoxifen plasma concentrations in tamoxifen-treated patients. Using a North Central Cancer Treatment Group adjuvant tamoxifen trial, we performed a comprehensive evaluation of CYP2D6 metabolism by assessing the combined effect of genetic variation and inhibition of the enzyme system on breast cancer recurrence and death.

Immunohistochemical detection of HER-2/neu, c-kit (CD117) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression in soft tissue sarcomas.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of HER-2/neu, VEGF and CD117 overexpression in soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and to study the effect of this overexpression, if present, on survival in patients with specific histological subtypes of STS.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study on patients diagnosed with STS during the period of 1986-2001. HER-2/neu overexpression was measured in these patients by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using the Hercep test developed by DAKO.

HER-2/neu overexpression detected by immunohistochemistry in soft tissue sarcomas.

Sarcomas currently represent 1% of adult malignancies and 15% of pediatric malignancies. To determine the prevalence of HER-2/neu overexpression by the histologic type and to identify a possible predictive role in patients with sarcoma, we performed a retrospective study on subjects with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of a soft tissue sarcoma. HER-2/neu overexpression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) performed on paraffin-embedded specimens.

Choriocarcinoma and epithelial trophoblastic tumor: successful treatment of relapse with hysterectomy and high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell support: a case report.

Background: Post-termchoriocarcinoma is a rare complication of pregnancy. The presence of epithelioid trophoblastic elements may lead to the persistence of locally invasive disease which is unresponsive to multiagent chemotherapy. Relapse is associated with an estimated mortality rate of 30%.