Bevacizumab Does Not Inhibit the Formation of Liver Vessels and Liver Regeneration Following Major Hepatectomy: A Large Animal Model Study.

Background/aim: Patients with unresectable liver colorectal cancer metastases are treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy often accompanied by biological therapy aimed at reducing the mass of metastases and thus increasing the chances of resectability. Bevacizumab comprises an anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) humanized IgG monoclonal antibody that is used for biological therapy purposes. It acts to inhibit angiogenesis, thereby slowing down the growth of metastases.

Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy in Novel Porcine Model of Diffuse Liver Damage Induced by Repeated Biliary Obstruction.

In liver surgery, biliary obstruction can lead to secondary biliary cirrhosis, a life-threatening disease with liver transplantation as the only curative treatment option. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have been shown to improve liver function in both acute and chronic liver disease models. This study evaluated the effect of allogenic MSC transplantation in a large animal model of repeated biliary obstruction followed by partial hepatectomy.

MiR-376b-3p Is Associated With Long-term Response to Sunitinib in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients.

Background/aim: Sunitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor routinely used as first-line therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) could be suitable biomarkers with predictive potential in mRCC. The aim of this study was to identify miRNA-based predictive biomarkers of therapy response to avoid unnecessary therapy to non-responding patients.

Submucosal mucoid as a late complication after appendectomy-A case report.

Introduction: Shortly after an operation infection, intraabdominal abscess, seroma, haemorrhage or development of paralytic ileus may occur. Postoperative adhesions, nonspecific abdominal pain without signs of obstruction, incisional hernia and appendicitis or mucocele in appendiceal stump present common late complications. We present a unique case of a late complication after appendectomy.

Risk factors for failure of continuous positive airway pressure treatment in patients with ostructive sleep apnoea.

Background And Aims: Obstructive sleep apnoea is a potentially serious sleep disorder associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. It is treated with continuous airway pressure (CPAP) but this is not always successful. Unsuccessful cases should be treated by bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP).

Acute glycemic changes in brain and subcutaneous tissue measured by continuous glucose monitoring system in hereditary hypertriglyceridemic rat.

Parallel glucose measurements in blood and other different tissues give us knowledge about dynamics of glycemia changes, which depend on vascularization, distribution space and local utilization by tissues. Such information is important for the understanding of glucose homeostasis and regulation. The aim of our study was to determine the time-lag between blood, brain, and adipose tissue during rapid glucose changes in a male hHTG rat (n=15).

Relationship between follicular volume and oocyte competence, blastocyst development and live-birth rate: optimal follicle size for oocyte retrieval.

Objective: To analyze oocyte competence in gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) stimulation cycles with regard to maturity, fertilization and blastocyst rate, as well as clinical outcome (pregnancy and live-birth rate), in relation to follicular volume, measured by three-dimensional transvaginal sonography (3D-TVS), and follicular fluid composition.

Methods: This was a prospective single-center study conducted between June 2012 and June 2014, including 118 ovum pick-ups with subsequent embryo transfer. Ovarian stimulation was performed using the GnRHa long protocol.

Serum Concentration of Erlotinib and its Correlation with Outcome and Toxicity in Patients with Advanced-stage NSCLC.

Background: Erlotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR); it is used in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We focused on the role of serum concentration of erlotinib and its association with outcome and toxicity in patients with advanced NSCLC harbouring the wild-type EGFR gene or squamous histology.

Patients And Methods: Clinical data of 122 patients were analyzed.

MIC1/GDF15 as a Bone Metastatic Disease Biomarker.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate MIC1/GDF15 as a biomarker in the monitoring of bone metastases occurrence.

Patients And Methods: The assessed group included patients diagnosed with: prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Patients were divided into two groups based on the scintigraphy of the occurrence of bone metastases.

Cryopreserved NK cells in the treatment of haematological malignancies: preclinical study.

Background: Leukaemia is an aggressive cancer of haematopoiesis. Despite increasing treatment success, the relapse rate is still high. Natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in the immune response to malignancies; thus, it is conceivable that NK cell-based immunotherapy may control relapses, while extending the disease-free survival.

Change in Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase Is Associated with Outcome of Patients with Advanced-stage NSCLC Treated with Erlotinib.

Background: Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) has been reported as a prognostic biomarker in malignant diseases. However, little is known on the dynamics of serum LDH levels during systemic treatment. We focused on the association of changes in serum LDH with outcome of patients with advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with erlotinib.

Testing of a Novel Cancer Metastatic Multiplex Panel for the Detection of Bone-metastatic Disease - a Pilot Study.

Background: Bone metastases develop in several malignancies (multiple myeloma, breast, prostate and lung carcinoma) and cause several complications. The aim of this study was to search for new biomarkers to use in monitoring of bone metastatic disease with the use of xMAP technology.

Patients And Methods: We assessed 62 oncological patients: 23 with no bone metastases, 28 with metastatic disease not having undergone therapy and 11 with metastatic disease treated by denosumab.

Searching for New Biomarkers and the Use of Multivariate Analysis in Gastric Cancer Diagnostics.

Aim: The first aim of this study was to search for new biomarkers to be used in gastric cancer diagnostics. The second aim was to verify the findings presented in literature on a sample of the local population and investigate the risk of gastric cancer in that population using a multivariant statistical analysis.

Patients And Methods: We assessed a group of 36 patients with gastric cancer and 69 healthy individuals.

The Role of TPS and TPA in the Diagnostics of Distant Metastases.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the degree to which tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS), as well as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), can assist in the detection of distant metastases.

Patients And Methods: We assessed 157 patients with colorectal and breast cancer divided into two groups. The first was a group of patients with cancer at stages 1, 2 and 3; the second was a group of patients with cancer at stage 4 with metastasis.

Prognostic Significance of Serum Tumor Markers in Patients with Advanced-stage NSCLC Treated with Pemetrexed-based Chemotherapy.

Background: Tumor biomarkers represent effective tools for diagnostics and follow-up monitoring of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We focused on evaluating the predictive and prognostic role of the seven following tumor biomarkers: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin-19 fragment (CYFRA 21-1), fragments of cytokeratin 8, 18 and 19 (MonoTotal), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A, thymidine kinase (TK) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) in patients with advanced-stage NSCLC treated with pemetrexed-based chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: In total, 114 patients with advanced-stage (IIIB or IV) non-squamous NSCLC treated with pemetrexed-based chemotherapy (monotherapy or combination with a platinum derivative) were included.

Pemetrexed Versus Erlotinib in the Second-line Treatment of Patients with Advanced-stage Non-squamous NSCLC Harboring Wild-type EGFR Gene.

Background: Pemetrexed and erlotinib represent different agents commonly used for the second-line treatment of patients with advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: We analyzed data of 137 patients with advanced-stage non-squamous NSCLC treated with pemetrexed or erlotinib in the second line. All patients harbored a wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor gene.

High serum level of C-reactive protein is associated with worse outcome of patients with advanced-stage NSCLC treated with erlotinib.

Erlotinib is a low molecular weight tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) directed at epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), widely used in the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although introduction of EGFR-TKIs have significantly extended survival of advanced-stage NSCLC patients, their efficacy in the entire patient population is relatively low. Aside from activating EGFR mutations, no reliable biochemical or molecular predictors of response to erlotinib have been established.

The Association of Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen, Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9, Thymidine Kinase, and Tissue Polypeptide Specific Antigen with Outcomes of Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treated with Bevacizumab: a Retrospective Study.

The aim of our retrospective study was to analyze the association of selected tumor markers (TMs) including serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), thymidine kinase, and tissue polypeptide specific antigen with outcomes in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with bevacizumab. There is an increasing body of evidence from retrospective/observational studies that some serum TMs may be predictive of effect of targeted therapies in mCRC. In our study, the cohort included 152 patients treated with bevacizumab-based therapy between years 2005 and 2014 at Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical School and Teaching Hospital Pilsen.

Statins augment efficacy of EGFR-TKIs in patients with advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer harbouring KRAS mutation.

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) represent novel effective agents approved for the treatment of patients with advanced-stage NSCLC. KRAS mutations have been reported as a negative prognostic and predictive factor in patients with NSCLC treated with EGFR-TKIs. Several studies have recently shown that statins can block tumour cell growth, invasion and metastatic potential.

The role of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and thymidine kinase (TK) levels in prediction of efficacy ofEGFR-TKIs in patients with advanced-stage NSCLC [corrected].

Background/aim: Tumor biomarkers are used for diagnostics and follow-up monitoring of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We focused on the predictive role of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and thymidine [corrected] kinase (TK) in patients with advanced-stage NSCLC treated with epidermal growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs).

Patients And Methods: In a total of 163 patients with advanced-stage (IIIB or IV) NSCLC treated with EGFR-TKIs (erlotinib or gefitinib), pre-treatment levels of NSE and TK were measured.

Predictive role of CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in patients with advanced-stage NSCLC treated with erlotinib.

Background: Tumor biomarkers are used for predicting therapy effect and prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We focused on their potential role in prediction of the efficacy of erlotinib.

Patients And Methods: In a total of 144 patients with advanced-stage (IIIB or IV) NSCLC treated with erlotinib, pre-treatment levels of soluble carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin markers in serum were measured.

Expanded cryopreserved mesenchymal stromal cells as an optimal source for graft-versus-host disease treatment.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are fibroblast-like cells present in different types of tissues. Their immunomodulatory potential represents a promising method for post-transplant immunotherapy in the treatment of GVHD (graft-versus-host disease) with suboptimal response to standard immunosuppression. In this study we tested influence of 1-8 month-long cryopreservation on ability of MSC to suppress activation of non-specifically stimulated lymphocytes.

Effect of rosuvastatin therapy on troponin I release following percutaneous coronary intervention in nonemergency patients (from the TIP 3 study).

Several randomized studies have suggested that pretreatment with statins may reduce a periprocedural biomarker release in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); however, results remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 1-day rosuvastatin therapy on troponin I release in patients who underwent nonemergency PCI. A total of 445 patients with angina pectoris were randomly assigned to therapy with rosuvastatin (20 mg 12 hours before coronary angiography + 20 mg immediately before PCI; rosuvastatin group, 220 patients) or PCI without statin therapy (control group, 225 patients).

Cost-effectiveness of hematopoietic stem cell mobilization strategies including plerixafor in multiple myeloma and lymphoma patients.

Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) are preferred source of hematopoietic stem cells for autologous transplantation. Mobilization of PBSCs using chemotherapy and/or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) however fails in around 20%. Combining G-CSF with plerixafor increases the mobilizations success.

Sequential treatment of advanced-stage lung adenocarcinoma harboring wild-type EGFR gene: second-line pemetrexed followed by third-line erlotinib versus the reverse sequence.

Background: Pemetrexed and erlotinib represent novel agents for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The role of sequential treatment in NSCLC has not been elucidated yet. We compared the efficacy of second-line pemetrexed followed by third-line erlotinib (P-E) to treatment with the reverse sequence (E-P).