Survivin co-ordinates formation of follicular T-cells acting in synergy with Bcl-6.

Follicular T helper (Tfh) cells are recognized by the expression of CXCR5 and the transcriptional regulator Bcl-6. Tfh cells control B cell maturation and antibody production, and if deregulated, may lead to autoimmunity. Here, we study the role of the proto-oncogene survivin in the formation of Tfh cells.

Challenges in the development of a survivin vaccine (SurVaxM) for malignant glioma.

There is growing interest in immunotherapy for malignant gliomas. This interest stems from a number of immunological observations, together with the failure of conventional therapeutic agents to produce broad and clinically meaningful improvements in survival and quality of life. The challenges faced in translating laboratory-based immunological observations to Phase I and II clinical trials for immunotherapy of gliomas are substantial.

Surgical resection after TNFerade therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Context: Treatment of pancreatic cancer remains a major oncological challenge and survival is dismal. Most patients, present with advanced disease at diagnosis and are not candidates for curative resection. Preoperative chemoradiation may downstage and improve survival in locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Chest tube-delivered bupivacaine improves pain and decreases opioid use after thoracoscopy.

Background: This study compared a simplified method of intrapleural bupivacaine administration with traditional analgesic therapy to decrease postoperative pain and opioid usage in patients after thoracoscopy.

Methods: Thirty patients who had non-rib-spreading thoracoscopic operations under general anesthesia were prospectively randomized to no local anesthetic infusion (control), intermittent bolus (30 mL every 6 hours), or continuous infusion (5 mL/h). Bupivacaine (0.

Robot-assisted ureterectomy and ureteral reconstruction for urothelial carcinoma.

Background And Purpose: Urothelial carcinoma of the distal ureter can be managed by ureterectomy followed by reconstruction of the urinary system. We review our experience with robot-assisted ureterectomy.

Patients And Methods: Nine consecutive patients who were candidates for ureterectomy underwent robot-assisted surgery between 7/8/2005 and 7/25/2006.

Co-expression of urokinase with haptoglobin in human carcinomas.

Background: We have shown that colon and breast cancer contains large amounts of urokinase (uPA), and that these cells are the actual sites of its synthesis. We isolated a large complex molecule consisting of the beta-chain of uPA, both chains of haptoglobin (Hp), and part or all of an NCAM-like molecule. The question arose whether it would be possible to show the presence of Hp in the same cells where uPA was found.

Factors associated with actual long-term survival following soft tissue sarcoma pulmonary metastasectomy.

Aims: To identify clinicopathologic and treatment variables associated with long-term overall survival (OS) in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients with lung metastases undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy (PM).

Methods: Retrospective review of 94 STS PM patients with an actual follow-up > or = 5 years. Data were collected on demographics, tumor features, treatment, and outcome.

Synergism between arsenic trioxide and heat shock protein 90 inhibitors on signal transducer and activator of transcription protein 3 activity--pharmacodynamic drug-drug interaction modeling.

Purpose: Constitutive signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activity, observed in approximately 50% of acute myelogenous leukemia cases and associated with adverse treatment outcome, is down-regulated by arsenic trioxide (ATO). Heat shock protein (HSP) 90 is a molecular chaperone involved in signal transduction pathways. We hypothesized that HSP90 inhibitors will potentiate ATO effect on constitutive STAT3 activity and cell killing.

Intratumoral hemorrhage after remote subtotal microsurgical resection and gamma knife radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma.

Our report describes the occurrence of intratumoral hemorrhage in a vestibular schwannoma, which was treated with microsurgical resection thirteen years and gamma knife surgery (GKS) more than two years prior to the event. Although rare, it is apparent that bleeding into a vestibular schwannoma remains a possibility, even after the tumor has responded favorably to GKS. Long-term followup of patients with vestibular schwannoma who have been treated with GKS is advisable to assess treatment response and to detect adverse events (e.

Palliation of malignant dysphagia in esophageal cancer: a literature-based review.

Esophageal cancer is a lethal malignancy and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is increasing in incidence. Most patients present with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic disease. The 5-year survival rate of patients with esophageal cancer is < 20%.

PDT as a cytotoxic agent and biological response modifier: Implications for cancer prevention and treatment in immunosuppressed and immunocompetent patients.

PDT acts as a biological response modifier in addition to directly damaging target cells and their blood supply. The reduced efficacy of PDT in immunosuppressed patients demonstrates the importance of immune mechanisms in this therapy, and transplant recipients require aggressive optimization of direct cytotoxic pathways. However, immunocompetent individuals can benefit from PDT's effects on innate and adaptive immune responses, including the possibility of generating in situ anti-tumor vaccines.

Transarterial chemoembolization in a patient with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma and portal vein thrombosis: a case report and review of the literature.

Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for more than 5% of all cancers in the world, and causes between 250,000 and one million deaths globally each year. The incidence of portal vein thrombosis in HCC patients is around 8%. These patients are regarded as unsuitable for chemoembolization, especially if there is portal vein occlusion.

Stereotactic gamma knife surgery for trigeminal neuralgia: detailed analysis of treatment response.

Object: The purpose of this study was to assess the durability and completeness of pain relief in patients treated using stereotactic gamma knife surgery (GKS) for trigeminal neuralgia (TN).

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with refractory TN were treated with stereotactic GKS. All patients received a prescription radiation dose of 35, 40, or 45 Gy to the 50% isodose surface through a 4-mm collimator helmet.

Nuclear survivin expression predicts poor outcome in cholangiocarcinoma.

Background/aims: Survivin is an anti-apoptotic protein expressed in cancer and may have prognostic value. Our study examined the prognostic role of survivin in biliary cancer.

Methodology: Twenty-four consecutive cases of cholangiocarcinoma were studied.

The prognostic significance of margin width for extremity and trunk sarcoma.

Background And Objectives: To evaluate the significance of resection margin for soft tissue sarcoma (STS), we determined local recurrence-free interval (LRFI), distant metastases-free interval (DMFI), and overall survival (OS) for primary extremity and truncal STS with clear margins (> or =10 mm), close margins (1-9 mm), and positive margins (0 mm).

Methods: Patients were evaluated via review of charts and tumor specimens.

Results: Among 111 patients, tumors were predominantly high grade (86%), > or =5 cm (76%), and deep (81%).

Contamination problem with sentinel node localization procedure: a case study.

Lymphoscintigraphy for sentinel node (SN) localization was performed on a 60-y-old man with a melanoma on his back. Skin contamination occurred as a result of the radiopharmaceutical dose administration. Skin contamination could result in a misinterpretation of the SN location.

Esophageal resection for carcinoma in patients older than 70 years.

Background: A larger number of older patients are presenting as candidates for esophageal resection. An aggressive surgical approach in this population is controversial.

Methods: Four hundred thirteen patients with esophageal cancer who presented to Roswell Park Cancer Institute from 1991 to 1998 were retrospectively reviewed.

Rectal cancer in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

Background: Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) accounts for approximately 2% to 5% of all colorectal cancers. Rectal cancer in HNPCC is not well characterized.

Methods: A retrospective medical record review of HNPCC patients with colorectal cancer diagnosis from December 1948 to December 1999 was performed in an attempt to elucidate the natural history of rectal cancer in HNPCC.

Induction chemotherapy for locoregional lung cancer using paclitaxel combination. A preliminary report.

Induction chemotherapy has been reported to be effective in treatment of locally advanced, borderline resectable, (Stage III), non small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). A logical extension of the indication for the induction chemotherapy may be to treat earlier stage resectable lung cancers (stages I and II) because the cure rate of the resectable lung cancers still remains poor and is below 60% except for stage IA. Thirty eight patients with a diagnosis of loco-regional NSCLC were treated with paclitaxel combination chemotherapy.

Evolution of sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has rapidly evolved into the standard of care for clinically node-negative melanoma. Since adopting sentinel lymph node (SLN) technology in 1993, we have periodically reviewed our institution's results and made several modifications.

Methods: From January 1993 to December 1998, 182 patients with clinically node-negative primary cutaneous melanoma underwent SLNB.

Comparison of anastomotic suturing techniques in the rat esophagus.

Background: Long-gap esophageal atresia continues to be a challenging pediatric thoracic surgical problem. Despite the use of various tension relieving procedures, the esophageal anastomosis is often performed under considerable tension. Excessive tension can cause anastomotic sutures to pull through the esophageal tissue, with resultant early esophageal anastomotic dehiscence.