Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer--An overview.

The incidence of gastric cancer varies by up to ten fold throughout the world, and the geographic distribution of hereditary cases is not well explored. Familial clustering is seen in 10% of cases, and approximately 3% of all gastric cancers develop due to hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC). In this review, the characteristics of HDGC are presented according to molecular particularities, geographic distribution, and other parameters.

Prognostic Role of Nodal Status and Clinically Asymptomatic Valvular Insufficiency in Patients with HER2-positive Breast Cancer Treated with Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy and Trastuzumab in an Adjuvant Setting.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess metastasis-free survival of 134 patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and trastuzumab in an adjuvant setting, according to sub-clinical cardiac side-effects (parameters not tested previously) evaluated before, during and after trastuzumab therapy, as well as selected clinicopathological parameters.

Results: In our series, left ventricular ejection fraction decreased significantly from 68.1% before trastuzumab treatment to 66.

Retracing Circulating Tumour Cells for Biomarker Characterization after Enumeration.

Background: Retracing and biomarker characterization of individual circulating tumour cells (CTCs) may potentially contribute to personalized metastatic cancer therapy. This is relevant when a biopsy of the metastasis is complicated or impossible to acquire.

Methods: A novel disc format was used to map and retrace individual CTCs from breast-cancer patients and nucleated cells from healthy blood donors using the CytoTrack platform.

Maspin-related Orchestration of Aggressiveness of Gastric Cancer.

Background And Study Aim: Although some hypotheses have been postulated on the genesis of gastric cancer (GC), the origin of this disease remains unclear. The aim of this study was to develop a hypothesis about gastric carcinogenesis based on our experience in the field of GC and on published reports on about 28 studies in the field of subcellular maspin expression in GC. In 180 cases of GC, the clinicopathologic features were correlated with the results obtained after paired immunohistochemical stains (tumor/normal mucosa) with 15 antibodies: E-cadherin, HER-2, VEGF, CD31, CD105, COX-2, maspin, bax, bcl-2, p53, Ki67, MLH-1, MSH-2, Mena protein, and vimentin.

Serum markers in early-stage and locally advanced melanoma.

The identification of prognostic factors in cutaneous melanoma allows choosing the most effective treatment, especially in group of patients with locoregional disease. Markers related to carcinogenesis and angiogenesis in particular have effect on the course of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical utility of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), and YKL-40 in serum of melanoma patients at pathological stages I-III.

Suspicious macroscopic features of small malignant colorectal polyps.

Objective: The aim of this analysis was to retrospectively review video recordings of malignant polyps <10 mm in search for suspicious macroscopic features in white light endoscopy.

Methods: Database entries and recordings of screening colonoscopies from a single tertiary referral center between June 2009 and December 2012 were reviewed. Malignant polyps <10 mm were analyzed.

miR-7 expression in serous ovarian carcinomas.

Background/aim: miR-7 has recently been linked to cancer. Some miR-7 targets, including B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), are involved in ovarian cancer (OC) pathogenesis. The majority of OCs display TP53 mutations, which are critically important for OC development.

Dosimetry audit of radiotherapy treatment planning systems.

In radiotherapy Treatment Planning Systems (TPS) various calculation algorithms are used. The accuracy of dose calculations has to be verified. Numerous phantom types, detectors and measurement methodologies are proposed to verify the TPS calculations with dosimetric measurements.

NVIDIA OptiX ray-tracing engine as a new tool for modelling medical imaging systems.

The most accurate technique to model the X- and gamma radiation path through a numerically defined object is the Monte Carlo simulation which follows single photons according to their interaction probabilities. A simplified and much faster approach, which just integrates total interaction probabilities along selected paths, is known as ray tracing. Both techniques are used in medical imaging for simulating real imaging systems and as projectors required in iterative tomographic reconstruction algorithms.

Leadership training to improve adenoma detection rate in screening colonoscopy: a randomised trial.

Objective: Suboptimal adenoma detection rate (ADR) at colonoscopy is associated with increased risk of interval colorectal cancer. It is uncertain how ADR might be improved. We compared the effect of leadership training versus feedback only on colonoscopy quality in a countrywide randomised trial.

ESTRO consensus guideline on target volume delineation for elective radiation therapy of early stage breast cancer.

Background And Purpose: Delineation of clinical target volumes (CTVs) is a weak link in radiation therapy (RT), and large inter-observer variation is seen in breast cancer patients. Several guidelines have been proposed, but most result in larger CTVs than based on conventional simulator-based RT. The aim was to develop a delineation guideline obtained by consensus between a broad European group of radiation oncologists.

The matrix metalloproteinase-7 and pro-enzyme of metalloproteinase-1 as a potential marker for patients with rectal cancer without distant metastasis.

The aim of this study was the evaluation of clinical usage of metalloproteinase (MMP): proMMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 in serum of patients with rectal cancer, as well as the selection of parameters of the greatest diagnostic sensitivity and the determination of their relation with clinicopathological features, what is more, the demonstration whether their concentrations may have a prognostic value in the assessment of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The study comprised 100 patients with rectal cancer including 29 women and 71 men. The tested group was comprised of qualified patients without distant metastasis (M0).

Implementation of a dose gradient method into optimization of dose distribution in prostate cancer 3D-CRT plans.

Aim: The aim of this work is to present a method of beam weight and wedge angle optimization for patients with prostate cancer.

Background: 3D-CRT is usually realized with forward planning based on a trial and error method. Several authors have published a few methods of beam weight optimization applicable to the 3D-CRT.

Quality of life in patients with prostate cancer treated with radical image-guided radiotherapy.

Aim Of The Study: The evaluation of quality of life during image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) in patients with prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: The study consisted of 180 prostate cancer patients treated with radical radiotherapy (IGRT). The patients were irradiated using conformal or dynamic techniques with 2 Gy fractionation doses to a total dose of 76 Gy.

Review of clinical practice utility of positron emission tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose in assessing tumour response to therapy.

Positron emission tomography, most commonly with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose, is being used for evaluation of tumour response to therapy. Limitations of this method are associated with (1) fluorodeoxyglucose pharmacokinetic properties, (2) the detection system, (3) discrepancies between metabolic and anatomic images, and (4) acquisition standardization. Response to therapy may be evaluated with qualitative (Deauville score), semiquantitative (standardised uptake value), and quantitative methods (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; Positron Emission Tomography Response Criteria in Solid Tumours).

Tracheal adenoid cystic carcinoma mimicking a thyroid tumor: A case report.

At present, only eight cases of tracheal adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs) mimicking thyroid tumors have been reported. Since there are no guidelines available regarding their diagnosis and treatment, they present a significant clinical challenge. In the present study, patient treatment was analyzed to deliver the first concise summary of treatment options in patients with ACC mimicking a thyroid tumor.

Anaplastic transformation of low-grade gliomas (WHO II) on magnetic resonance imaging.

Introduction: Malignant transformation among gliomas WHO II ranges between 35% and 89%. However, according to some reports, all gliomas WHO II undergo such transformation over time. The aim of the study was to analyse MRI parameters indicating anaplastic transformation of gliomas WHO II.

Immortalization of T-cells is accompanied by gradual changes in CpG methylation resulting in a profile resembling a subset of T-cell leukemias.

We have previously described gene expression changes during spontaneous immortalization of T-cells, thereby identifying cellular processes important for cell growth crisis escape and unlimited proliferation. Here, we analyze the same model to investigate the role of genome-wide methylation in the immortalization process at different time points pre-crisis and post-crisis using high-resolution arrays. We show that over time in culture there is an overall accumulation of methylation alterations, with preferential increased methylation close to transcription start sites (TSSs), islands, and shore regions.

Measurement-based model of a wide-bore CT scanner for Monte Carlo dosimetric calculations with GMCTdospp software.

The aim of this work was to create a model of a wide-bore Siemens Somatom Sensation Open CT scanner for use with GMCTdospp, which is an EGSnrc-based software tool dedicated for Monte Carlo calculations of dose in CT examinations. The method was based on matching spectrum and filtration to half value layer and dose profile, and thus was similar to the method of Turner et al. (Med.

DISRUPT: a randomised phase 2 trial of ombrabulin (AVE8062) plus a taxane-platinum regimen as first-line therapy for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: DISRUPT evaluated whether adding the vascular-disrupting agent ombrabulin to a taxane-platinum doublet in the first-line setting improved progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Patients were randomised to ombrabulin 35 mg/m(2) or placebo followed by a taxane-platinum regimen every 3 weeks.

Results: Overall, 176 patients were randomised.

Biosimilar medicines - their use in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. Position statement of the Working Group of the Polish National Consultant in Gastroenterology.

Biological medical products are drugs whose active components are produced only by living, genetically modified organisms or live cell cultures. Patents and exclusivity for most biopharmaceuticals has either expired or will expire soon, which enables biotechnological companies to introduce similar biological products. The problem of replacing a biological medicine with a biosimilar in the course of therapy remains open.

Dose gradient based algorithm for beam weights selection in 3D-CRT plans.

Aim: In this work we test the usage of dose gradient based algorithm for the selection of beam weights in 3D-CRT plans for different cancer locations. Our algorithm is easy to implement for three fields technique with wedges defined by planner.

Background: 3D-CRT is usually realized with forward planning which is quite time consuming.

Glassy cell carcinoma of the cervix: a literature review.

Glassy cell carcinoma (GCC) is a histologically aggressive subtype of cervical cancer with rapid growth and early metastases. The prognosis for patients with GCC is poor. This article reviews the literature pertinent to the epidemiology, cytology, pathology, immunohistochemistry, treatment and prognosis of GCC.