Initial performance evaluation of a preclinical PET scanner available as a clip-on assembly in a sequential PET/MRI system.

We evaluated the performance characteristics of a prototype preclinical PET scanner available as an easy clippable assembly that can dock to an MRI system. The single ring version of the PET system consists of eight detectors, each of which comprises a 12  ×  12 silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) array coupled with a dual layer of offset scintillation crystals to measure depth of interaction. The crystal arrays have 29  ×  29 (30  ×  30 for the outer layer) 4 mm long LYSO crystals (6 mm for the outer layer).

amplification induces sensitivity to anti therapy in pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma.

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) is a rare cancer. When the tumor is metastatic, few therapeutic options are available. Precision medicine using next-generation sequencing is defined by the administration of drugs based on the tumor genetic mutations.

Temozolomide Plus Bevacizumab in Elderly Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma and Poor Performance Status: An ANOCEF Phase II Trial (ATAG).

Lessons Learned: Results suggest that the combination of bevacizumab plus temozolomide is active in terms of response rate, survival, performance, quality of life, and cognition in elderly patients with glioblastoma multiforme with poor performance status.Whether this combination is superior to temozolomide alone remains to be demonstrated by a randomized study.

Background: The optimal treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in patients aged ≥70 years with a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) <70 is not established.

Clinical and dosimetric study of radiotherapy for glioblastoma: three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy versus intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: We aimed to compare three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for the treatment of glioblastoma.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective study of 220 patients with glioblastoma, treated with 3D-CRT or IMRT, with or without surgery. Dosimetric parameters as well as clinical and survival data for the two techniques were analyzed and compared.

Radical cystectomy or bladder preservation with radiochemotherapy in elderly patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer: Retrospective International Study of Cancers of the Urothelial Tract (RISC) Investigators.

Background: Radical cystectomy (RC) and radiochemotherapy (RCT) are curative options for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Optimal treatment strategy remains unclear in elderly patients.

Material And Methods: Patients aged 80 years old and above with T2-T4aN0-2M0-Mx MIBC were identified in the Retrospective International Study of Cancers of the Urothelial Tract (RISC) database.

Immune classifications with cytotoxic CD8 and Th17 infiltrates are predictors of clinical prognosis in glioblastoma.

Background: Interest is growing on immune cells involvement in central nervous system tumors such as glioblastoma. Even if a few reports highlighted that immune classifications could have a prognostic value, no paradigm has been clearly yet established on large and homogeneous cohorts. The aim of our study was to analyze the prognostic role of the in situ immune response of cytotoxic T cells (i.

Impact of waiting time on nodal staging in head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma treated with radical intensity modulated radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: To evaluate the influence of delays for radiotherapy on survival, recurrence and upstaging for head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with no nodal involvement treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Material And Methods: This retrospective study included 63 consecutive patients with HNSCC located in the pharynx and larynx and treated with exclusive IMRT with or without chemotherapy. Survival, loco-regional or distant failure and upstaging were analyzed according to the waiting time.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the French version of the Expanded Prostate cancer Index Composite questionnaire for health-related quality of life in prostate cancer patients.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been positioned as one of the major endpoints in oncology. Thus, there is a need to validate cancer-site specific survey instruments. This study aimed to perform a transcultural adaptation of the 50-item Expanded Prostate cancer Index Composite (EPIC) questionnaire for HRQoL in prostate cancer patients and to validate the psychometric properties of the French-language version.

Predictive factors of pathologic complete response of HER2-positive breast cancer after preoperative chemotherapy with trastuzumab: development of a specific predictor and study of its utilities using decision curve analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the Institut Gustave Roussy/M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (IGR/MDACC) nomogram in predicting pathologic complete response (pCR) to preoperative chemotherapy in a cohort of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive tumors treated with preoperative chemotherapy with trastuzumab.

Obesity As a Risk Factor for Anthracyclines and Trastuzumab Cardiotoxicity in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: Patients with metabolic syndrome have a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, although their susceptibility to chemotherapy-induced cardiac disease is not well documented. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess associations between obesity or being overweight and cardiotoxicity from anthracyclines and sequential anthracyclines and trastuzumab in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: We performed a random-effects analysis and a network meta-analysis and assessed publication bias.

Current role of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging for prostate cancer.

Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) has shown promising results in diagnosis, localization, risk stratification and staging of clinically significant prostate cancer, and targeting or guiding prostate biopsy. mp-MRI consists of T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) combined with several functional sequences including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), perfusion or dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging (DCEI) and spectroscopic imaging. Recently, mp-MRI has been used to assess prostate cancer aggressiveness and to identify anteriorly located tumors before and during active surveillance.

Clinical nomogram to predict bone-only metastasis in patients with early breast carcinoma.

Background: Bone is one of the most common sites of distant metastasis in breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to combine selected clinical and pathologic variables to develop a nomogram that can predict the likelihood of bone-only metastasis (BOM) as the first site of recurrence in patients with early breast cancer.

Methods: Medical records of patients with non-metastatic breast cancer were retrospectively collected.

Multiparametric MRI and post implant CT-based dosimetry after prostate brachytherapy with iodine seeds: The higher the dose to the dominant index lesion, the lower the PSA bounce.

Purpose: To determine whether post-implant MRI-based dosimetry of the Dominant Intra-prostatic Lesion (DIL) could best predict the occurrence of PSA bounce after prostate brachytherapy.

Methods And Materials: We selected 66 patients with a low risk prostate cancer treated with (125)I prostate brachytherapy as monotherapy. Post-implant dosimetry based on day 30 CT-scan and multiparametric MRI co-registration was generated: planned D90, D95, V100, V150 values were calculated for each DIL.

Extraperitoneal Para-aortic Lymphadenectomy by Robot-Assisted Laparoscopy in Gynecologic Oncology: Preliminary Experience and Advantages and Limitations.

Background: We are reporting the preliminary multicentric experience in extraperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy by robot-assisted laparoscopy (EPLRL) in gynecologic oncology.

Materials And Methods: Two teams from the cancer centers performed EPLRL in 37 patients with gynecologic cancer.

Results: There were 30 patients with cervical cancer, 6 with endometrial cancer, and 1 with adnexal cancer.

Coexpression of androgen receptor and FOXA1 in nonmetastatic triple-negative breast cancer: ancillary study from PACS08 trial.

Aim: Microarray studies identified a subgroup of molecular apocrine tumors (estrogen receptor [ER] negative/androgen receptor [AR] positive) that express luminal genes including FOXA1. FOXA1 may direct AR to sites normally occupied by ER in luminal tumors, inducing an estrogen-like gene program that stimulated proliferation.

Materials & Methods: Expression of AR and FOXA1 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 592 patients with nonmetastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Mapping of failures after radiochemotherapy in patients with non-metastatic esophageal cancer: A posteriori analysis of the dose distribution in the sites of loco-regional relapse.

Background And Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the patterns of loco-regional failure (LRF) after exclusive chemoradiotherapy (eCRT) for esophageal cancer with respect to planned dose and/or the incidental (unplanned) dose outside target volumes.

Materials And Methods: Co-image registration of CT or (18)F-FDG PET-CT at the time of failure (tf) and at the time of CRT (t0) was performed in 34 patients with LRF. Dosimetric parameters with regard to local failure (LF), nodal failure (NF) and involved nodal stations (NS) were derived.

Evaluation of axillary involvement by ultrasound-guided lymph node biopsy: A prospective study.

Objectives: The primary aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the accuracy of pre-operative ultrasound (US) alone and associated with a fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or a core needle biopsy (CNB) in the diagnosis of axillary node involvement in patient with breast cancer. The secondary study objective was to determine if this US±FNAC or CNB can lead to the adequate axillary surgery in cN0 and cN1 patient.

Methods: A total of 121 consecutive women with stage cT1 to cT2, cN0/cN1, invasive breast cancer were prospectively identified at our institution between February 2, 2013 and August 30, 2013.

The impact of taxane-based preoperative chemotherapy in gastroesophageal signet ring cell adenocarcinomas.

The benefit of preoperative chemotherapy in resectable gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas was not observed in signet ring cell subtype. However, the potential interest of taxane-based preoperative chemotherapy on this subtype is still an unresolved issue. Nineteen patients with localized signet ring cell adenocarcinomas received taxane-based regimens, and 17 patients underwent surgery.

Robotically assisted para-aortic lymphadenectomy: surgical results: a cohort study of 487 patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate perioperative outcomes of robotic-assisted laparoscopic para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PAL) in patients with gynecologic cancers during the learning phases of robotic surgery programs and to compare results of extraperitoneal versus transperitoneal approaches of PAL.

Materials And Methods: This study is a retrospective multicentric study of patients who underwent robotically assisted laparoscopic PAL (N = 487). Eleven European centers and 1 US center participated in the study.

Invasive lobular breast cancer and its variants: how special are they for systemic therapy decisions?

The WHO classification of breast tumors distinguishes, besides invasive breast cancer 'of no special type' (former invasive ductal carcinoma, representing 60-70% of all breast cancers), 30 special types, of which invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the most common (5-15%). We review the literature on (i) the specificity and heterogeneity of ILC biology as documented by various analytical techniques, including the results of molecular testing for risk of recurrence; (ii) the impact of lobular histology on prediction of prognosis and effect of systemic therapies in patients. Though it is generally admitted that ILC has a better prognosis than IDC, is endocrine responsive, and responds poorly to chemotherapy, currently available data do not unanimously support these assumptions.

Image-guided IMRT for localized prostate cancer with daily repositioning: inferring the difference between planned dose and delivered dose distribution.

Introduction: To investigate the dosimetric impact of daily on-line repositioning during a full course of IMRT for prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Twenty patients were treated with image-guided IMRT. Each pre-treatment plan (Plan A) was compared with a post-treatment plan sum (Plan B) based on couch shifts measured.

Pattern of occult nodal relapse diagnosed with (18)F-fluoro-choline PET/CT in prostate cancer patients with biochemical failure after prostate-only radiotherapy.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to describe the pattern of nodal relapse with (18)F-fluoro-choline (FCH) Positron Emission Tomography/Computerized Tomography (PET/CT) in prostate cancer patients after radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-three patients had a FCH PET/CT at time of biochemical failure. Of 65 patients with positive findings, 33 had positive nodes.

Impact of sentinel lymph node biopsy on the therapeutic management of early-stage endometrial cancer: Results of a retrospective multicenter study.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the impact of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping and ultrastaging on the therapeutic management of early-stage endometrial cancer.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study covered the period from January 2000 through December 2012 and included 304 women with presumed low- or intermediate-risk endometrial cancer. Node staging, histology results, and the effects of both on therapeutic management were assessed in two groups: those who underwent the SLN mapping and ultrastaging procedure and those treated in accordance with French guidelines.

Comparison of single-port laparoscopy and conventional laparoscopy for extraperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy.

Background: Extraperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PAL) is used to treat gynecological cancers. This laparoscopic approach was first described using a multiport technique, and more recently, a single-port technique was developed. Our aim was to experimentally compare both approaches-conventional laparoscopy (CL) and single-port laparoscopy (SPL)-via the extraperitoneal laparoscopic approach.