Increased Expression of the Δ133p53β Isoform Enhances Brain Metastasis.

The Δ133p53β isoform is increased in many primary tumors and has many tumor-promoting properties that contribute to increased proliferation, migration and inflammation. Here we investigated whether Δ133p53β contributed to some of the most aggressive tumors that had metastasized to the brain. mRNA expression was measured in lung, breast, melanoma, colorectal metastases and, where available, the matched primary tumor.

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for early stage lung cancer and lung metastases in a New Zealand population.

Aim: Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) involves the delivery of high doses of precisely targeted radiation in a shorter time period than conventional radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of lung-based SABR in a New Zealand cohort to the global literature.

Methods: A single-institution retrospective analysis was performed on all patients who received lung-based SABR between May 2015 and September 2019 at Waikato Hospital, New Zealand.

Extensive Pulmonary Metastases 13 Years after Initial Resection of Intracranial Meningioma.

Background: Extracranial metastasis from intracranial meningioma is a very rare condition. A current literature review reveals that only few cases are documented with extensive pulmonary involvement >10 years after initial intracranial meningioma resection. Diagnosis of pulmonary meningioma is often confirmed by computed tomography chest-guided core biopsies.

Outcomes after primary intensity-modulated radiation therapy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma at a New Zealand regional cancer centre: Impact of p16 status.

Introduction: The rising incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in New Zealand is due to an increase in the numbers of human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated OPSCC. We evaluated the impact of positive p16 immunohistochemistry, as a surrogate for HPV positivity, on OPSCC outcomes after primary intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with or without concurrent chemotherapy.

Methods: Retrospective review was undertaken of electronic medical records of 90 patients with OPSCC who received primary IMRT with or without chemotherapy between 2008 and mid-2015 at the Regional Cancer Centre, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Early experience with novel immunomodulators for cancer treatment.

Immunotherapy involves the treatment of cancer by modification of the host-tumour relationship. It is now known that this relationship is quite complex and only some of the interactions have been elucidated. Early attempts at immunotherapy, such as Coley's toxins, were undertaken without an understanding of the processes mediating the effects.

Chemotherapy prescription patterns in colon cancer: a patterns-of-care survey in New Zealand.

Colorectal cancer is the second most common site of cancer for both men and women in New Zealand (NZ). Survival, especially with metastatic disease, has improved considerably over the last decade with the introduction of new chemotherapeutic agents. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to document variations in chemotherapy prescription patterns throughout NZ.

Baseline staging of newly diagnosed breast cancer--Kuwait cancer control center experience.

Objective: To determine the value of staging investigations in detecting metastases in newly diagnosed asymptomatic patients with breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of patients' files with newly diagnosed breast cancer in the period from 1993 to 1998 was performed. Due to inadequate information, thirty-eight files were excluded leaving 785 files for analysis.