Intratumoral but not peritumoral lymphatic vessel density measured by D2-40 expression predicts poor outcome in gastric cancer--ROC curve analysis to find cut-off point.

Background: Neolymphangiogenesis, a process of lymphatic vessel development in neoplastic tissue, may be a key event in the transmission of cancer cells into lymph nodes. The current study examined the relationship between lymphatic vessel density (LVD) measured by podoplanin (D2-40) expression, clinicopathological parameters and patient survival in gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: D2-40 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens obtained from 60 patients with gastric cancer.

Clinical practice in secondary prophylaxis and management of febrile neutropenia in Poland: results of the febrile neutropenia awareness project.

Aim Of The Study: This paper presents the second part of the GoPractice project involving oncologists from seven Polish provinces. The aim of this part of the project was to assess the knowledge of oncologists on indications for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) secondary prophylaxis (SP) of febrile neutropenia (FN) and FN management based on current therapeutic guidelines (Polish Society of Clinical Oncology [PTOK] and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC]).

Material And Methods: The project involved 169 oncologists from 7 regions working in large specialist oncological centers, university hospitals, regional and city hospitals, specialist outpatient clinics and oncological wards in small, local hospitals.

Clinical practice in febrile neutropenia risk assessment and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor primary prophylaxis of febrile neutropenia in Poland.

Aim Of The Study: The first aim was to investigate the knowledge and awareness of oncologists concerning febrile neutropenia (FN) risk assessment and indications for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) primary prophylaxis (PP), based on current therapeutic guidelines (PTOK and EORTC). The second aim was to educate the oncologists on best practices for risk assessment and neutropenia management.

Material And Methods: The project participants included 169 oncologists from 7 regions working in large specialist oncological centres, university hospitals, regional and city hospitals, specialist outpatient clinics, and oncological wards in small local hospitals.

Urinary complications in rectal cancer patients are related to the dissection tool.

Background/aims: To assess the incidence and risk of urinary complications after anterior rectal cancer resection with regard to the surgical device used for total mesorectal excision (TME).

Methodology: During the years 2004-2009 we operated 374 rectal cancer patients with TME and the intent of autonomic nerves sparing intent. Seventeen patients underwent mesorectal dissection with ultrasound scalpel (US).

Correlation of intensity of MT-I/II expression with Ki-67 and MCM-2 proteins in invasive ductal breast carcinoma.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical significance of the intensity of metallothionein (MT-I/II) expression and its relationship to two different proliferation markers, Ki-67 antigen and minichromosome maintaince 2 protein (MCM-2) in 117 patients with invasive ductal breast carcinoma (IDC). A significantly higher MT-I/II expression was noted in the grade 3 (G3) carcinomas as compared to those of G1 and G2. A positive correlation was observed between the MT-I/II expression and both proliferation markers, Ki-67 (r=0.

Pain experienced by patients during minimal-invasive ultrasound-guided breast biopsy: vacuum-assisted vs core-needle procedure.

Aims: To evaluate comparatively the pain associated with ultrasound-guided core-needle (CN) and vacuum-assisted (VA) biopsy for non-palpable breast lesions.

Methods: 723 women undergoing ultrasound-guided breast biopsy for BIRADS IV and V lesions according to the same standardised protocol were prospectively studied. 14-gauge CN biopsy with an automated gun was performed in 321 patients.

Correlation of Ki-67 and MCM-2 proliferative marker expression with grade of histological malignancy (G) in ductal breast cancers.

The study aimed at examining a relationship between expression of Ki-67 antigen and minichromosome maintenance 2 protein (MCM-2) and a grade of histological malignancy G in ductal breast cancers. The function of widely used marker of proliferation Ki-67 is still not clear. In contrast, the MCM-2 protein is well known to play an important role in controlling the cell cycle.

Energy dependence of radiochromic dosimetry films for use in radiotherapy verification.

Aim: The purpose of the study was to examine the energy dependence of Gafchromic EBT radiochromic dosimetry films, in order to assess their potential use in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) verifications.

Materials And Methods: The film samples were irradiated with doses from 0.1 to 12 Gy using photon beams from the energy range 1.

Differentiated expression of estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PgR) in ductal breast cancers.

Contents of estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PgR) in cells of breast cancers represent strong predictive factors. The higher is the contents of ER and PgR in breast cancer, the higher is a probability of obtaining a response to hormonal therapy and prognosis for the patient is better. In a routine manner, all tumours of mammary gland are subjected to evaluation of ER and PgR expression using immunohistochemistry.

[The effectiveness of population-based breast cancer screening programme].

Unlabelled: Well-organised mammography screening programme can significantly reduce the breast cancer mortality However, changes in mortality rates take a long time thus some early indicators are usually used to monitor the effectiveness of the programme. If these operational objectives are accomplished then the programme can replicate the mortality reduction achieved in randomised trials.

The Aim Of This Study: To evaluate the quality of breast cancer screening programme in the region of Lower Silesia during the first year of its operating.

The effects of radioisotope therapy and radiotherapy in subjects with breast cancer with bone metastases.

Background: Metastatic bone disease is found in 80-90% of patients examined after death and is a serious problem in everyday practice. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the survival time of patients with bone metastases in relation to the prognostic group and applied treatment.

Material And Methods: The authors analyzed 84 patients treated in the Radiotherapy Division of Lower Silesian Oncology Centre during the years 1997-2004.