Is nasopharyngeal cancer really a "Cantonese cancer"?

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is endemic in Southern China, with Guandong province and Hong Kong reporting some of the highest incidences in the world. The journal Science has called it a "Cantonese cancer". We propose that in fact NPC is a cancer that originated in the Bai Yue ("proto Tai Kadai" or "proto Austronesian" or "proto Zhuang") peoples and was transmitted to the Han Chinese in southern China through intermarriage.

Weak expression of cyclooxygenase-2 is associated with poorer outcome in endemic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: analysis of data from randomized trial between radiation alone versus concurrent chemo-radiation (SQNP-01).

Background: Over-expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme has been reported in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the prognostic significance of this has yet to be conclusively determined. Thus, from our randomized trial of radiation versus concurrent chemoradiation in endemic NPC, we analyzed a cohort of tumour samples collected from participants from one referral hospital.

An Epstein-Barr virus positive natural killer lymphoma xenograft derived for drug testing.

Natural killer (NK) lymphomas occurring more frequently in the Far East and South America respond poorly to anthracycline-based regimens. Here we report an in vivo NK lymphoma xenograft (NK-S1) derived from the testicular metastasis of a patient with an extranodal NK lymphoma (nasal type). The NK-S1 xenograft, established in severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice retained the same imunophenotypic features as the original tumor.

A novel approach to brachytherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma using a phosphorous32 (32P) brachytherapy delivery device--a first-in-man study.

Purpose: While potentially very useful, percutaneously delivered brachytherapy of inoperable intra-abdominal solid tumors faces significant technical challenges. This first-in-man study is designed to determine the safety profile and therapeutic efficacy of a novel phosphorous (32P) brachytherapy device (BrachySil) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods And Materials: Patients received single percutaneous and transperitoneal implantations of BrachySil under local anesthesia directly into liver tumors under ultrasound or computed tomographic guidance, at an activity level of 4 MBq/cc of tumor.

Outcome of patients with nasal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma treated with radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy.

Background: This study reviews the outcome of patients with nasal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma treated at the Therapeutic Radiology Department, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, from 1997 to 2003.

Methods: Twenty-one consecutive patients treated with radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy, were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: The median age was 44 years (range, 27-86 years).

Nasal-type extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphomas: a clinicopathologic and genotypic study of 42 cases in Singapore.

We studied the clinicopathologic features of 42 cases of nasal-type extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma in Singapore and compared our findings with other series reported in the Asian and Western populations. A panel of immunohistochemical stains, which included CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56, T-cell intracellular Antigen-1 and granzyme B, and in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA (EBER) were performed. Polymerase chain reaction for T-cell receptor-gamma gene rearrangement using both gel and capillary electrophoresis were evaluated to determine the proportion of tumors which are of true T-cell lineage.