Intrapleural nivolumab in cancer patients with pleural effusion.

We assessed the preliminary efficacy and toxicity of intrapleural instillation of nivolumab in patients with large pleural effusion. Patients with metastatic cancers who have a large volume of pleural effusion and required evacuation were eligible. Thoracentesis followed by nivolumab (40 mg, single intrapleural instillation) was performed.

Multicenter phase 2 study of intrapleural nivolumab in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and pleural effusion.

About 40% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) developed pleural effusions at some time during the course of their disease. Preliminary results from our Phase 2 multicentre clinical trial (Cohort 1) demonstrated the safety of intrapleural nivolumab in cancer patients. In Cohort 2 we assessed the preliminary efficacy and toxicity of intrapleural instillation of the nivolumab in patients with metastatic NSCLC and large pleural effusion requiring evacuation.

[Acute damage to the myocardium and left lung is a complication of high-frequency percutaneous thermoablation of solitary metastasis of renal cancer into the liver (a clinical observation)].

The paper describes a case of severe complication of radio-frequency percutaneous thermoablation of renal metastasis into the liver, which occurred in a young woman with the intact cardiovascular system and manifested itself in the development of alveolar edema of the lung and acute dilation of the stomach. Pulmonary edema resulted from left ventricular myocardial and pulmonary parenchymal lesions and acute mitral valvular insufficiency. The authors' considerations as to the possible cause and mechanisms of development of this life-threatening complication first described in the literature are also given.

Analysis of elastase 1 for evaluation of excretory function of the pancreas after gastropancreatoduodenal resection.

The level of elastase 1 in feces was markedly decreased in all patients with tumors of the pancreatic head or its involvement before and after gastropancreatoduodenal resection and was close to normal in patients with retroperitoneal tumors not invading the pancreas. Serum elastase 1 concentrations were virtually the same in patients, normal subjects, and patients without signs of pancreatic involvement. The presence of elastase 1 in feces reflects adequate function of the pancreato-digestive anastomosis, while low concentrations of the enzyme indicate impaired function of the pancreas, presumably because of operation trauma and tumor process.

[Ways to improve tolerance to gastro-pancreatic-duodenal resection].

Immediate results of 125 gastropancreatoduodenal resection (GPDR) performed for cancer of the pancreatoduodenal zone are presented. Despite extended surgery volume (15 GPDR were extended, in 14 patients resection of the major vessels was performed) postoperative lethality decreased to 1.6% due to lowered rate of severe postoperative complications (first of all insufficiency of pancreato- and biliodigestive anastomosis).