Determining the length of posttherapeutic follow-up for cancer patients using competing risks modeling.

Background/objective: After a curative treatment for cancer, patients enter into a posttherapeutic surveillance phase. This phase aims to detect relapses as soon as possible to improve the outcome. Mould and others predicted with a simple formula, using a parametric mixture cure model, how long early-stage breast cancer patients should be followed after treatment.

[Radionuclides, technologies and quality control in brachytherapy].

Brachytherapy consists in placing radioactive sources directly in contact with the tumoral bed. The type of source, its characteristics and its use will be adapted regarding the kind of treatment foreseen. Modern brachytherapy techniques employ remote afterloading technologies allowing better quality and security in the delivery of treatment.

The KRAS mutation detection within the initial management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a status report in France in 2011.

Background: The detection of KRAS mutations is mandatory to initiate an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody in the treatment of metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC).

Patients And Methods: This observational retrospective study was performed in 160 French centres during a 2-week period in 2011. Its main objective was to evaluate the rate of KRAS testing in patients with mCRC having initiated their first-line therapy.

A potentially neuroprotective role for erythropoietin with paclitaxel treatment in ovarian cancer patients: a prospective phase II GINECO trial.

Purpose: A prospective phase II multicenter study was performed in two steps in paclitaxel-treated ovarian cancer patients in France. A French version of the four-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx) questionnaire was validated. This was then used to evaluate neurotoxicity in relation to erythropoietin treatment.

Local control and sequelae in localised Ewing tumours of the spine: a French retrospective study.

Objectives: To evaluate both local outcome and sequelae of non-metastatic spinal Ewing tumours (EWT).

Patients And Methods: A French cohort of patients ≤ 50years with localised spinal EWT treated between 1988 and 2009, was analysed in regard to tumour characteristics (e.g.

[Brachytherapy for endometrial cancers].

Surgery remains the cornerstone of the treatment for endometrial cancer, but brachytherapy plays a major role in the care of patients. In postoperative situations, brachytherapy is frequently indicated to prevent recurrences of the vaginal cuff. In case of medically inoperable patient, it can be, with or without external irradiation, an alternative treatment.

The role of the FOLFIRINOX regimen for advanced pancreatic cancer.

In 2010, the FOLFIRINOX regimen (bolus and infusional 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) emerged as a new option in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer and a good performance status. However, at that time, some doubts were raised regarding safety issues. Similarly, no data on FOLFIRINOX were published in patients with unresectable/locally advanced or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer.

[Localized Ewing sarcoma of the spine: a preliminary dose-escalation study comparing innovative radiation techniques in a single patient].

Purpose: Although radiosensitive, spinal locations of Ewing's sarcomas are challenging for the radiation oncologist due to poor radiation tolerance of the spinal cord. However, some favorable anatomical compartments - that may represent more than 20% - were associated with a better outcome and could benefit from a radiation dose escalation using the most recent radiation therapy techniques.

Materials And Methods: We performed a dose escalation study on one patient, declined in two scenarios: (1) a tumour located within a single vertebral body and (2) a locally advanced disease involving the vertebral foramen and paraspinal soft tissues.

Analysis of PIK3CA exon 9 and 20 mutations in breast cancers using PCR-HRM and PCR-ARMS: correlation with clinicopathological criteria.

Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases (PI3K) are essential for cell signaling, proliferation, differentiation and survival. The catalytic subunit of PI3K, encoded by the PIK3CA oncogene, is mutated in 18-45% of breast carcinomas. These mutations, involved in tumorigenic processes, activate the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

[Case report of EPPER Syndrome (eosinophilic polymorphic pruritic eruption associated with radiotherapy) in a patient treated against endometrial cancer].

Acute and mainly late toxicity is a major concern for radiotherapists. Here, we describe a case of a generalized acute eruption due to radiation, having a superficial and deep perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate with numerous eosinophils found in skin biopsy: the EPPER syndrome (eosinophilic polymorphic pruritic eruption associated with radiotherapy). A patient who had endometrial cancer was treated first by surgery, then radiotherapy developed the day following the end of irradiation a generalized erythematous, pruriginous eruption (pelvis, trunk, lower and upper limbs, neck, face, ears).

[Intensity modulated radiotherapy for head and neck cancers: ethics and patients selection].

Purpose: Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) allows a better coverage of the target volume and a better saving of organs at risk with a decrease of toxicity in head and neck cancers. It requires more human labor and materials compared to conformational radiotherapy. If they are insufficient, a selection of the patients receiving IMRT may be necessary, raising an ethical problem.

Laryngeal chondrosarcoma: repeated laser and radiofrequency ablation in the palliative setting.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to illustrate the use of radiofrequency and laser ablation in head and neck oncology and to describe the management of a case of laryngeal chondrosarcoma in a 90-year-old patient.

Case Report: A 90-year-old man, WHO performance status 3, with low-grade laryngeal chondrosarcoma was seen in the outpatients department at the end of 2008 for assessment of dysphonia. Total laryngectomy was considered to be too invasive and was consequently excluded.

Fluorescence diagnosis of bladder cancer: a novel in vivo approach using 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) dendrimers.

Unlabelled: What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Fluorescence cystoscopy with hexylaminolevulinate (h-ALA, Hexvix®) is known to improve tumour detection in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. However, specificity is relatively low and the intensity of the observed fluorescence signal decreases over time due to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) efflux. This study evaluates in an in vivo model the use of a dendritic 5-aminolevulinic acid compound for fluorescence diagnosis.

Photodynamic therapy of malignant brain tumours: a complementary approach to conventional therapies.

The poor outcome of primary malignant brain tumours is predominantly due to local invasion and local recurrence and their prognosis is highly dependent on the degree of resection. They have no border and, at best, a marginal zone that remains invisible to the surgeon. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) appears to be an interesting modality to fill the need for a targeted treatment that may reduce recurrence and extend survival with minimal side effects.

[Stereotactic radiotherapy in pediatric indications].

Stereotactic radiotherapy is a very high precision procedure, which has been limited to radiosurgery for a long time. Technological improvements allowed the development of radiotherapy in stereotactic conditions, leading to a lot of innovations. Previously indicated for cerebral pathologies, this procedure is now developed for extracerebral locations.

Impact of dosimetric and clinical parameters on clinical side effects in cervix cancer patients treated with 3D pulse-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy.

Background And Purpose: To assess the association between dosimetric/clinical parameters and gastrointestinal/urinary grade 2-4 side effects in cervix cancer patients treated with 3D pulse dose rate brachytherapy.

Materials And Methods: Three hundred and fifty-two patients received brachytherapy associated with external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for 266 of them; 236 patients underwent surgery. The doses for the most exposed 2, and 0.

Impact of 3D image-based PDR brachytherapy on outcome of patients treated for cervix carcinoma in France: results of the French STIC prospective study.

Purpose: In 2005 a French multicentric non randomized prospective study was initiated to compare two groups of patients treated for cervix carcinoma according to brachytherapy (BT) method: 2D vs 3D dosimetry. The BT dosimetric planning method was chosen for each patient in each center according to the availability of the technique. This study describes the results for 705 out of 801 patients available for analysis.

Interaction of liposomal formulations of meta-tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (temoporfin) with serum proteins: protein binding and liposome destruction.

mTHPC is a non polar photosensitizer used in photodynamic therapy. To improve its solubility and pharmacokinetic properties, liposomes were proposed as drug carriers. Binding of liposomal mTHPC to serum proteins and stability of drug carriers in serum are of major importance for PDT efficacy; however, neither was reported before.

[Dosimetric comparison between the intensity modulated radiotherapy with fixed field and Rapid Arc of cervix cancer].

Purpose: Concurrent radiochemotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer. This treatment is responsible for bowel and hematologic toxicities. The use of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), in static beams, allows a decrease of this toxicity.

[Surgery and postoperative radiation therapy in primary retroperitoneal sarcomas: experience of the cancer centre Alexis-Vautrin].

Purpose: Surgical resection remains the standard treatment for patients with resectable retroperitoneal sarcomas. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyse the outcomes of patients with primary retroperitoneal sarcoma.

Patients And Methods: We analysed data of 50 patients with primary retroperitoneal sarcoma who underwent curative-intent resection from 1975 to 2008.

Aptamers as remarkable diagnostic and therapeutic agents in cancer treatment.

Nucleic acid aptamers are molecules that are being used in a large number of biomedical applications. Aptamers have the properties to bind to a wide range of molecules with high specificity and affinity for their target. These properties together with their small size and their ease of synthesis make them very attractive and promising for targeting diseases and therapeutic applications.

Experimental model of naturally occurring post-radiation sarcoma: interest of positron emission tomography (PET) for early detection.

Radiotherapy is an integral part of overall cancer therapy. One of the most serious adverse effects of irradiation concern, for long-term survivors, the development of post-radiation sarcoma (PRS) in healthy tissues located within the irradiated area. PRS have bad prognosis and are often detected at a late stage.

[Fast recovery of haemodynamic and ventilatory functions after sugammadex bolus following rocuronium-induced anaphylactic shock refractory to conventional treatment].

Recently, three case reports have suggested the possible efficacy of sugammadex in anaphylactic shock refractory to conventional treatment induced by rocuronium. We report a new case of severe anaphylactic reaction to rocuronium treated with sugammadex. After 18 minutes of conventional treatment because of persistent cardiocirculatory failure and bronchospasm, a bolus of 2000 mg (18 mg/kg) of sugammadex was injected.

[Chemotherapy of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: challenges and encouraging results].

The outcome for patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is dismal. In this article, we will review current first-line treatments for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma focusing on phase III randomized studies. Single-agent gemcitabine, the reference treatment since 1995, offers only slight benefit.

Foslip®-based photodynamic therapy as a means to improve wound healing.

Background: Collagen matrices as substitution for connective tissue are known to promote wound healing. Photodynamic therapy has been anecdotally associated with improved wound healing and reduced scarring. The present study investigates the impact of collagen based scaffolding material, embedded with a liposomal formulation of meta-tetra (hydroxyphenyl) chlorin (mTHPC, Foslip(®)) and photodynamic therapy on wound healing in mice.