Molecular network, pathway, and functional analysis of time-dependent gene changes associated with pancreatic cancer susceptibility to oncolytic vaccinia virotherapy.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is a fatal disease associated with resistance to conventional therapies. This study aimed to determine changes in gene expression patterns associated with infection and susceptibility of pancreatic cancer cells to an oncolyticvaccinia virus, GLV-1h153, carrying the human sodium iodide symporter for deep tissue imaging of virotherapy.

Methods: Replication and susceptibility of pancreatic adenocarcinoma PANC-1 cells to GLV-1h153 was confirmed with replication and cytotoxicity assays.

Imaging characteristics, tissue distribution, and spread of a novel oncolytic vaccinia virus carrying the human sodium iodide symporter.

Introduction: Oncolytic viruses show promise for treating cancer. However, to assess therapy and potential toxicity, a noninvasive imaging modality is needed. This study aims to determine the in vivo biodistribution, and imaging and timing characteristics of a vaccinia virus, GLV-1h153, encoding the human sodium iodide symporter (hNIS.

Real-time fluorescence imaging of abdominal, pleural, and lymphatic metastases.

Virally-directed fluorescence imaging has the potential to revolutionize intra-operative oncologic staging and tumor resection. Many viruses genetically engineered to specifically infect tumor cells as cancer therapy can be further modified to have a visible marker gene for cancer staging. In this chapter, we describe such a herpes simplex virus (HSV) modified to be detected by fluorescence.

Increased risk of neoplasm in appendicitis treated with interval appendectomy: single-institution experience and literature review.

Appendicitis is a common diagnosis encountered by the acute care surgeon. Management of complicated appendicitis is controversial and often involves initial nonoperative therapy with interval appendectomy. This study reviews single-institutional experience with management of complicated appendicitis with interval appendectomy and addresses an unusually high occurrence of incidental appendiceal malignancies observed with a review of relevant literature.

Flexible CO2 laser and submucosal gel injection for safe endoluminal resection in the intestines.

Background: The CO(2) laser's unique wavelength of 10.6 μm has the advantage of being readily absorbed by water but historically limited it to line-of-sight procedures. Through recent technological advances, a flexible CO(2) laser fiber has been developed and holds promise for endoluminal surgery.

Irreversible electroporation is a surgical ablation technique that enhances gene transfer.

Background: Reversible electroporation has long been used to transfer macromolecules into target cells in the laboratory by using an electric field to induce transient membrane permeability. Recently, the electric field has been modulated to produce permanent membrane permeability and cell death. This novel technique, irreversible electroporation (IRE), is being developed for nonthermal cancer ablation.

Surgical management of tumors invading the aorta and major arterial structures.

Background: This study investigates surgical management of tumors arising from or involving the aorta and major arterial structures.

Methods: A retrospective single institutional review was conducted of patients undergoing arterial resection for tumors involving the aorta or major arterial structures between January 1992 and May 2009 at a tertiary care center. Patients with tumors abutting arteries without necessitating resection and those involving only venous structures were excluded.

Insertion of the human sodium iodide symporter to facilitate deep tissue imaging does not alter oncolytic or replication capability of a novel vaccinia virus.

Introduction: Oncolytic viruses show promise for treating cancer. However, to assess therapeutic efficacy and potential toxicity, a noninvasive imaging modality is needed. This study aimed to determine if insertion of the human sodium iodide symporter (hNIS) cDNA as a marker for non-invasive imaging of virotherapy alters the replication and oncolytic capability of a novel vaccinia virus, GLV-1h153.

Management of disappearing colorectal hepatic metastases.

Disappearance of liver lesions during neoadjuvant chemotherapy is common and is the basis for the increasing number of patients suitable for potentially curative hepatectomy in patients with hepatic colorectal metastases. Many of the liver lesions disappearing on radiologic evaluation after successful chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer are still present and alive. In patients with only some disappearing lesions, exploration should be undertaken to thoroughly evaluate all sites of previous disease.

Hyperthermia potentiates oncolytic herpes viral killing of pancreatic cancer through a heat shock protein pathway.

Background: Oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) is designed to specifically infect, replicate in, and lyse cancer cells. This study investigates a novel therapeutic regimen, combining the effects of NV1066 (a recombinant HSV-1) and hyperthermia in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Methods: NV1066 is an attenuated HSV-1 that replicates in cells resistant to apoptosis.

Regional liver therapy using oncolytic virus to target hepatic colorectal metastases.

The mortality of colorectal carcinoma often results from the progression of metastatic disease, which is predominantly hepatic. Although recent advances in surgical, locoregional, and systemic therapies have yielded modest improvements in survival, treatment of these aggressive lesions is limited to palliation for the vast majority of patients. Oncolytic viral therapy represents a promising novel therapeutic modality that has achieved tumor regression in several preclinical and clinical models.

Does magnetic resonance imaging accurately predict residual disease in breast cancer?

Background: The accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying residual disease after breast conservation therapy (BCT) is unclear.

Method: Review of an institutional database identified patients with positive or close ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Is there concordance of invasive breast cancer pathologic tumor size with magnetic resonance imaging?

Background: In the era of breast conservation therapy, preoperative imaging is imperative in planning a single definitive surgical treatment.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of patients treated at a single institution for invasive breast cancer over 5 years. Clinical and pathologic variables were analyzed with respect to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pathologic tumor size using analysis of variance F tests and chi-square tests.

Scientific Presentation Award: The impact of magnetic resonance imaging on surgical treatment of invasive breast cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and surgical treatment of invasive breast cancer (IBC).

Method: The IBC patients treated from January 2003-June 2008 were reviewed by a single institution.

Results: A total of 814 patients were treated, out of which 562 (69%) underwent breast conservation therapy (BCT), 151 (19%) chose mastectomy alone (M), and 101 (12%) chose mastectomy with reconstruction (M+ R).

Factors influencing time between biopsy and definitive surgery for malignant melanoma: do they impact clinical outcome?

Background: Whether time between biopsy and surgery for malignant melanoma affects clinical outcomes is sparsely defined. This study evaluated factors influencing surgical interval and surgical interval effect on outcomes.

Methods: We performed a review of a prospective 10-year, single-institution database.

Optimal treatment of multiple ipsilateral primary breast cancers.

Introduction: The success of breast-conservation therapy (BCT) for patients with multiple ipsilateral invasive breast cancers (MIBC) is sparsely documented.

Methods: A retrospective review of single-institution experience. Patients with 2 or more invasive cancers separated by normal breast tissue were included; patients with 1 invasive cancer with additional in situ lesions and those receiving neoadjuvant therapy were excluded.