bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relevance of performing a bone marrow aspirate and biopsy in breast cancer patients with suspected bone marrow metastasis
Authors: Sobrevilla-Calvo P. , Jaramillo-Restrepo M. , Rivas-Vera S. , Avilés-Salas A. , Acosta-Barreda A. , Cervera-Ceballos E. , Labardini-Méndez J. 
Published: March 2020

18605 Background: Patients with breast cancer often presents hematological abnormalities during the disease evolution, frequently it is difficult to define if these are due to bone marrow infiltartion or are due to drug toxicity or a new hematological disorder. To determine the proportion of patients with bone marrow metastasis we reviewed the bone marrow aspirates and biopsies of patients with histological proven breast cancer and an abnormal peripheral blood count referred to the Hematology Department. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 88 patients referred to our Department from april 1998 to april 2005 with breast cancer and with bone marrow smears and biopsies. The BM smears were interpreted blindly by one of us. The BM biopsies were reviewed independently by a hematopatologist. A statistician analysed the data and estimated frequencies and rates, survival analysis was estimated by means of the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Median age 47.7 years (range 28–80), clinical stage at diagnosis was: II, 19 (21.1%); IIIA, 19 (21.1%); IIIB, 16 (17.8%); IV, 34 (40%). The hematological abnormality that triggered the referral was: Thrombocytopenia, 61 (67.8%); anemia, 53 (58.9%); leucopenia, 47 (53.4%); thrombocytopenia and anemia, 39 (43.3%). The median time from the initial diagnosis to the BM biopsy was 12.8 months (range 1 to 176.7). Regarding the BM aspirates interpretatrion: 17 were not evaluable, 53 were negative for infiltration, 17 were positive for carcinoma and 1 with plasma cell infiltration (this patients had concurrent Breast cancer and myeloma). BM biopsies: 19 were not evaluable, 48 were negative, 20 positive and 1 with myeloma. The sensitivity of the BM aspirates was 75% (12/16) and the specificity 95% (41/43). The median survival of the patients with BM metastais was 109 months, and 104 of the patients without BM metastasis (p = 0.9767) Conclusions: Most of the patients with hematological abnormalities do not have BM infiltration, bone marrow biopsies have more sensitivity than aspirates. The presence of BM metastasis does not necessarily predicts a short survival period. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Prospective evaluation of clinical and biological parameters to predict clinically relevant denutrition in cancer patients undergoing surgery
Authors: Antoun S. 
Published: March 2020

18611 Background: Denutrition increases surgery morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Methods: This study aimed to compare the relative value of different scores widely used to measure denutrition. During 3 months for all of the patients requiring heavy carcinologic surgery we checked: weight loss over 10%, body mass index (BMI), serum albumin, transthyretin (Tt), Buzby index, Pronostic Inflammatory Nutritional Index (PINI), Ottery score (PG-SGA). Other data like the surgical procedure, duration of surgery, cancer status were also recorded. Morbidity was defined by infectious and non-infectious major complications (IMC, NIMC), length of stay (Ls) in hospital, and death at 1 and 6 months. Results: 275 patients from 8 French Cancer Centers were included (167 were female, median age: 58 years). In multivariate analyses albumin level (<30 g/l) is the only significant predictor of surgical morbidity, with the duration of the surgical procedure. Ottery score was the most sensitive among clinical parameters. Weight loss was significantly correlated with survival. Conclusions: Serum albumin and weight loss are useful parameters to consider in cancer patient requiring surgery; they are easy to monitor and should be part of pre-operative check-up in those patients. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Prevalence and characterization of the insomnia syndrome in an outpatient oncology clinic
Authors: Prommer E. E. 
Published: March 2020

18612 Background: Insomnia is an often overlooked symptom. One potential reason for this neglect is that insomnia is viewed as a normal and temporary reaction to the cancer diagnosis or treatment. Patients themselves may fail to report their sleep difficulties to their physicians for similar reasons. Previous work in understanding insomnia has been limited by the lack of an operational definition of the insomnia syndrome, small sample size and varied instruments for symptom detection. Hence, the proportion of cancer patients meeting diagnostic criteria for the insomnia syndrome is not well known. Recently the diagnosis of the insomnia syndrome has been redefined using a combination of criteria derived from the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the DSM-IV. The criteria includes)difficulty in initiating and/or maintaining sleep, whereby sleep-onset latency and/or wake after sleep onset is greater than 30 minutes; sleep efficiency (ratio of total sleep time to total time spent in bed) lower than 85%; difficulties occurring at least 3 nights per week; difficulties occurring for at least 6 months; and difficulties causing marked distress or significant impairment in daytime functioning (eg, fatigue, disturbed mood, performance deficits). Methods: 100 consecutive oncology patients were surveyed using the above criteria for the insomnia syndrome. Symptom assessment was also included. Results: The incidence of the insomnia syndrome seems to correspond to previously reported incidences.Patient have more problems staying asleep than going to sleep. Patients may have dramatic inversions of their sleep/wake cycle yet feel that they do not have insomnia. Pain is the most commonly associated symptom associated with insomnia. Conclusions: There is a great need for better tools to asssess the symptom of insomnia. Focusing on specific characteristics of insomnia and distinguishing the insomnia syndrome versus the symptom of insomnia is an effective way establish if there is a need for specific therapy. The addition of symptom assessment further improves the characterisation insomnia. Characteristics of insomnia experienced by the patient may help direct specific treatment modalities. Pain is a frequently associated symptom with insomnia. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Emetic potential of daily oral etoposide
Authors: Herbert S. M. , Brames M. J. , Einhorn L. H. 
Published: March 2020

18618 Background: Chemotherapy agents are classified by their degree of emetogenicity. Agents with high or moderate emetogenicity are treated with a 5HT3 antagonist + dexamethasone to mitigate acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Intravenous etoposide (E) has low probability of nausea and/or vomiting. However, at the 2004 Perugia International Antiemetic Consensus meeting, oral E was listed as a moderately emetogenic drug (Supp Care Cancer 13:80–84, 2005). Daily oral E has been used to treat refractory germ cell cancer. We prospectively evaluated the emetic potential of daily oral etoposide in this patient (pt.) population. Methods: Between 8/03 and 12/05, 13 male pts. with refractory germ cell cancer were treated with single agent daily oral E 50 mg/M2 day × 21 days every 4 weeks. All had progressed following cisplatin combination chemotherapy and had previously received high dose chemotherapy with carboplatin + E (intraveneously) with peripheral blood stem cell transplant. Median age was 35 (range 14 to 54). No pt. received prophylactic antiemetics. Pts. completed a 6 question Multinational Association Supportive Care Cancer (MASCC) antiemetic tool each day they received E. Intensity and duration of nausea were recorded, with 0 being none and 10 being most severe. Additionally, pts. were asked if they experienced vomiting. The number of vomiting episodes as well as any antiemetic medications were recorded. Data on 25 pts. will be presented and we currently have information on 13 pts. Results: 13 pts. completed the MASCC form. Only 2 pts. required antiemetic support. 1 pt. experienced emesis × 1 on day 1 and 1 pt. experienced emesis × 1 on day 11. 1 pt. experienced nausea on days 9 through 20 with a MASCC rating of 3–6. 1 pt. documented nausea day 1 through 21 with a MASCC rating of 1–3. 2 pts. experienced a MASCC rating of 1 of their nausea, 1 pt. on day 1 and 1 pt. on day 2. Overall, 8 of 13 pts. had no nausea or vomiting despite the absence of any antiemetics and 2 other patients had only minimal nausea for a single day. Conclusions: Daily oral E has only a low probability of emesis and does not require prophylactic antiemetics. [Table: see text]
Clinical prognostic factors in metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) patients treated with Imatinib
Authors: Lopez-Pousa A. , Gallego O. , Matias-Guiu X. , Nadal R. , Villanueva R. , Quintana M. , Carrera G. , Marse R. , Artigas V. , Barnadas A. 
Published: March 2020

19500 Background: Imatinib (IMT) therapy is the main successful therapy for metastatic GIST. We analyze the results of the treatment according to the clinical factors and dose of IMT. Methods: 38 patients (pts) with metastatic GIST (C-KIT positive) were treated from June 2001 to June 2005 with IMT; 11 pts received 400 mg bid and 27 pts 400 mg daily. Evaluation of c-Kit mutation on exon 11 was analyzed in 23 pts. An analysis of the clinical factors was performed. Results: The average age was 60 y. (18–78); Gender: 26 male/12 female; Primary location in small bowel 24, gastric 12, esophagus 2. ECOG 0–1 in 87% of pts. 31 pts have had radical surgery at the primary (26 R0, 5 R1). Interval to metastatic/local relapse was 10 months (2–61). Hepatic metastases were presented in 26 pts (1–5 in 12, 6–10 in 5, >10 in 9 pts); peritoneal disease in 26 pts (1–5 in 10, 6–10 in 8, >10 in 7 pts); pulmonary metastases in 2, bone in 2 and nodal in 3 pts; local tumor in 6. With a median follow-up of the 56 m, response rate was 5 complete, 21 partial responders, 7 disease stabilization. Three pts died in the first month of treatment, two due to tumoral bleeding, one due to progressive disease. Median survival (MS) was 43 (0–54) months, not achieved for pts in 400 mg, 41 months for 400 mg bid pts (p=0.61). Progression free survival (PFS) was 21 months (21 for pts in 400 mg, 20 for pts in 400 mg bid). We don’t find statistical differences regarding the number of hepatic and peritoneal metastases, neither according to the size of metastases (<10 cm was 48 m., ≥10 cm was 41 m.). MS was not achieved in 18/23 patients with exon 11 mutation vs 9 months for non-mutation patients (p 0.00). No differences were found in survival for 4/18 pts with missense mutation. Conclusions: Mutational status may predict the outcome of GIST patients treated with IMT. Dose of IMT, mass size and number of metastases were not prognostic factors for survival. Special attention would be done to the risk of bleeding at the start of treatment with IMT. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Postoperative radiotherapy results in soft tissue sarcomas
Authors: Aykanat A. , Yoney A. , Unsal M. , Kandemir O. , Berberoglu E. , Kucuk A. , Eskici S. , Buyukpolat Y. , Adatepe M. F. , Altin S. 
Published: March 2020

19513 Background: Postoperative radiotherapy results with higher local rates than surgery alone. In this trial we have evaluated and studied factors that affects local recurrence rates. Methods: A retrospective clinical study of 125 eligible patients with soft tissue sarcoma diagnosis from SB Okmeydani Educational Hospital-Oncology Department treated between 1998–2002 years was performed. Tumor size, surgery margin histopathologic grade and type were evaluated. At subgroup analysis local recurrense rates were studied in groups with or without postoperative radiotherapy. Results: In 125 patients, 70 were tumor free, 45 were tumor positive or with suspicious margin after the surgery. Subgroup of 25 patients which have tumor size smaller than 5 cm and negative margin had no radiotherapy and had no local recurrens. In an other group of 45 patients which have tumor size larger than 5 cm and tumor negative after excision 18 patients did not have any postoperative radiotherapy and 4 of them (% 22) had local failure. The rest of the 27 patients of this group who had postoperatif radiotherapy had 2 (% 7) local failure. Among 55 patients with positive or suspicious margins; 18 had no postoperative radiotherapy and there were 6 (% 33) local recurrens while the 37 patients with radiotherapy had 7 (% 18) local recurrens rates. Conclusions: In operable soft tissue sarcomas tumor size, hystopathological grade, postoperatif surgery margins are the most important factors which affects local recurrens rates. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Detection of circulating lymphendothelial cells in patients with solid tumors
Authors: Fiedler W. , Suhrbier K. , Riethdorf S. , Schuch G. , Pantel K. , Bokemeyer C. , Loges S. 
Published: March 2020

20010 Background: Bone marrow derived endothelial progenitor cells (ECPs) contribute to neoangiogenesis in cancer patients. Elevated numbers of circulating endothelial cells and EPCs can be detected in the peripheral blood of tumor patients. Recently, proliferating lymphatic vessels have been described in human cancers such as melanoma and head and neck tumors. Therefore, we investigated whether circulating lymphatic endothelial cells can be detected in cancer patients. Methods: We developed a sensitive immunocytochemical approach using a monoclonal antibody against the lymphendothelial specific hyaluronic receptor LYVE. After enrichment by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, 7 × 10(5) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) from 23 patients with metastatic cancer (6 gastrointestinal, 4 lung, 3 thymus, 3 thyroid, 1 mamma, 1 pancreas, 2 renal, 1 adrenal, 2 urothelial cancer, 1 PNET, 1 NET) and healthy individuals (n = 7) were spun onto glass slides. Two million PBMNs from each patient were stained for LYVE using the APAP technique. Isotype antibodies were used as controls. Cytospins were analyzed with the automated cellular imaging system (ACIS; ChromaVision Medical Systems). The method was validated with spiked blood samples. Results: Circulating LYVE+ lymphatic endothelial cells could be detected in 4 of 7 healthy subjects (57%) and in 16 of 23 patients (69%) with metastatic cancer. The mean number of lymphendothelial cells was significantly higher in cancer patients (15 cells/1 × 10(6) PBMNCs [range 0–276] vs. 1.0 cells/1 × 10(6) PBMNCs [range 0–2]). As a control, circulating tumor cells were enumerated after staining with a cytokeratin antibody (A45-B/B3). Circulating tumor cells could not be detected in healthy controls but in 13 of 23 of cancer patients (mean 1.4 cells/1 × 10(6) PBMNCs range [0–9]). Conclusion: Circulating lymphendothelial cells can be detected in patients with metastatic cancer and healthy subjects. Tumor patients have higher levels of circulating lymphendothelial cells than normal controls. These cells may participate in the generation of lymphatic vessels within tumor manifestations. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Effect of adjuvant treatment on the circulating CK-19 mRNA-positive tumor cells in patients with early stage breast cancer
Authors: Xenidis N. , Mavroudis D. , Apostolaki S. , Perraki M. , Stathopoulou A. , Lianidou E. , Georgoulias V. 
Published: March 2020

20012 Background: To evaluate the effect of adjuvant treatment on the peripheral blood CK-19 mRNA circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with early-stage breast cancer. Methods: CTCs were detected by real-time RT-PCR assay, in 119 patients with estrogen or/and progesterone receptors-positive tumors at the following time points: before the initiation and after the completion of adjuvant chemotherapy and every 3 or 6 months during the period of adjuvant tamoxifen administration. Results: Adjuvant chemotherapy failed to “eliminate” the CTCs in 17 (47%) out of 36 patients with detectable cells in pre-chemotherapy samples; in addition, adjuvant tamoxifen failed to “eliminate” the CTCs in 8 (36.4%) of 22 patients displaying detectable cells in post-chemotherapy samples. The incidence of clinical relapse was significantly (p = 0.017) higher for patients with post-chemotherapy detectable CTCs as well as for patients with persistently detectable CTCs throughout the follow-up period compared with those who did not (65.3% vs 7.3%, respectively; p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, post-chemotherapy detection of CTCs and their persistence throughout the follow-up period were significantly associated (p = 0.001 and 0.003, respectively) with early relapse. Conclusions: The detection of CK-19 mRNA+ CTCs after adjuvant chemotherapy and during tamoxifen administration is an independent prognostic factor associated with unfavorable outcome. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Protein multiplex sandwich immunoassay: A reliable and objective method for complete molecular characterization of breast cancer from core needle biopsies
Authors: Sauer G. , Schneiderhahn-Marra N. , Bãuerle M. , Kurzeder C. , Koretz K. , Kreienberg R. , Jost T. , Deissler H. 
Published: March 2020

20025 Background: Within the last years, protein microarrays have been developed to quantify a large number of parameters present in a given sample simultaneously. Such miniaturised and parallelised sandwich immunoassays are of general interest for all proteomic and diagnostic approaches in which several parameters have to be determined from small samples. We describe the development of a bead-based flow cytometry that represents a convenient approach for rapid multiplex detection of functional target molecules from breast cancer biopsies. Methods: Briefly, sonographically guided core needle biopsies (CNB) were performed from 120 breast cancer masses from different patients. All biopsies were carried out with an automated core biopsy device fitted with 14-gauge (22 mm excursion) needles. Tumor samples were frozen on at −70 Celsius and pulverized. Proteins were extracted, allowing the simultaneous quantification of more than hundred proteins by a bead-based multiplex sandwich immunoassay. Results: The total amount of extracted protein from tumor tissues (mean weight of 20 mg) ranged from 300 to 1000 μg. We demonstrate appropriate sensitivity, reproducibility, and robustness for this protein microarray technology to characterize clinical samples and generate reliable data sets. A set of multiplexed sandwich immunoassays based on Luminex beads were developed that identify marker proteins indicative of prognosis or response to therapeutic options. Up to almost hundred parameters were identified and quantified simultaneously of which estrogen, progesterone and HER2 status in the multiplex assay was highly significant correlated to results obtained by immunohistochemistry (IHC) (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that this new bead-based protein microarray technology rapidly and reliably characterizes tissue samples to generate data sets of molecular marker. Therefore, this technology may once replace traditional IHC in determining marker proteins indicative of prognosis or response to therapeutic options. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
XIAP mRNA levels but not XAF1 or XIAP/XAF1 mRNA levels predict pathological response in bladder cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Pinho M. B. , Sellos J. , Costas F. , Herchenhorn D. , Peixoto F. A. , Diengsmann R. , Small I. A. , Cardoso H. , Guimarães D. P. , Ferreira C. G. 
Published: March 2020

20030 Background: The relation between apoptosis-related molecules and chemosensitivity has been extensively studied. In recent years, attention has shifted to a new family of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). XIAP (X- linked inhibitor of apoptosis) is the most versatile and potent member of the IAP family. To date, the overexpression of XIAP has been detected in various cancers. XAF1 (X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis associated factor 1) is a new protein identified for its ability to interact with XIAP. Neither XIAP nor XAF1 or XIAP/XAF1 mRNA expression have been studied in bladder cancer patients. Methods: The expression of XIAP and XAF1 mRNA was analyzed by a real time quantitative fluorogenic PCR method in a group of 17 patients with locally advanced bladder cancer treated with a combination of neoadjuvant Gemcitabine and Cisplatin. The prognostic significance of XIAP and XAF1 mRNA expression and the correlation with several clinicopathological variables was evaluated. Results: XIAP and XAF1 mRNA expression was detected in all 17 (100%) case samples. The levels of XIAP mRNA expression showed a moderate variation among samples. In contrast, XAF1 and XIAP/XAF1 mRNA levels showed significant variation among samples. Bivariate correlation analyses revealed a significant positive Spearman direct correlation coefficient between the XIAP expression and the pathological response. No significant correlation was found for XAF1 expression as well as for the XIAP/XAF1 ratio and clinical and pathological response. Conclusions: This is first study to address the role of XIAP, its negative regulator XAF1, and the XIAP/XAF1 ratio in bladder cancer patients. The positive correlation between the XIAP mRNA expression and the pathological response is in line with a previous study from our group in which a correlation was found between XIAP expression and survival. All these observations point to a complex role of XIAP in tumor biology. XAF1 mRNA expression in bladder carcinomas did not achieve significance as an independent predictive and prognostic factor in a bivariate analysis. Further studies are necessary in order to better assess a possible clinical value for XIAP and XAF1 as predictive and prognostic markers in cancer patients. No significant financial relationships to disclose.