bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patterns of Practice in the Radiation Therapy Management of Rectal Cancer: Survey of the Interregional Group Piedmont, Valle d'Aosta and Liguria of the “Associazione Italiana di Radioterapia Oncologica (AIRO)”
Authors: Pagliuca Milena Di Genesio , Turri Lucia , Munoz Fernando , Melano Antonella , Bacigalupo Almalina , Franzone Paola , Sciacero Piera , Tseroni Vassiliki , Vitali Maria Laura , Delmastro Elena , Scolaro Tindaro , Marziano Corrado , Orsatti Marco , Tessa Maria , Rossi Annalisa , Ballarè Andrea , Moro Gregorio , Grasso Rachele , Krengli Marco 
Published: February 2018

Aims and background To report the survey about the main aspects on the use of radiotherapy for the treatment of rectal cancer in Piedmont and Liguria. Methods and study design Sixteen centers (11 from Piedmont and 5 from Liguria) received and answered by email a questionnaire data base about clinical and technical aspects of the treatment of rectal cancer. All data were incorporated in a single data base and analyzed. Results Data regarding 593 patients who received radiotherapy for rectal cancer during the year 2009 were collected and analyzed. Staging consisted in colonoscopy, thoracic and abdominal CT, pelvic MRI and endoscopic ultrasound. PET/CT was employed to complete staging and in the treatment planning in 12/16 centers (75%). Neoadjuvant radiotherapy was employed more frequently than adjuvant radiotherapy (50% vs 36.4%), using typically a total dose of 45 Gy with 1.8 Gy/fraction. Concurrent chemoradiation with 5-fluorouracil or capecitabine was mainly employed in neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings, whereas oxaliplatin alone or in combination with 5-FU or capecitabine and leucovorin was commonly employed as the adjuvant agent. The median interval from neoadjuvant treatment to surgery was 7 weeks after long-course radiotherapy and 8 days after short-course radiotherapy. The pelvic total dose of 45 Gy in the adjuvant setting was the same in all the centers. Doses higher than 45 Gy were employed with a radical intent or in case of positive surgical margins. Hypofractionated regimens (2.5, 3 Gy to a total dose of 35–30 Gy) were used in the palliative setting. No relevant differences were observed in target volume definition and patient setup. Twenty-six patients (4.4%) developed grade 3 acute toxicity. Follow-up was scheduled in a similar way in all the centers. Conclusions No relevant differences were found among the centers involved in the survey. The approach can help clinicians to address important clinical questions and to improve consistency and homogeneity of treatments.
Curative Radiotherapy using Different Radiation Techniques for Isolated Lung Metastasis from Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Lee Sunyoung , Kim Dae Yong , Kim Sun Young , Koom Woong Sub , Lee Sun Young , Kang Jin-Kyu , Kim Mi Sook 
Published: February 2018

Aims and background Surgical resection remains the mainstay for the treatment of colorectal lung metastasis, but a group of patients who are medically inoperable or unsuitable for surgery are treated with radiotherapy. The purpose of this multi-institutional study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and investigate the prognostic factors affecting local control and survival in this subset of patients. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 30 patients with 43 lesions who underwent curative radiotherapy for isolated lung metastasis from colorectal cancer at nine institutions from 2003 and 2008. A total dose of 42–75 Gy at the peripheral planning target volume was administered in 3–35 fractions. The median biologically equivalent dose was 84 Gy (range, 58.5–180). Results Treatment response was complete in 10 (33.3%), partial in 13 (43.3%), stable in six (20.0%), and progressive in one patient (3.3%). The median follow-up period for all patients was 29.0 months (range, 5.0–93.8). Kaplan-Meier local control at 5 years was 44%. The median survival was 46.2 months, and the 5-year overall survival was 47%. Twenty-three patients (77%) experienced treatment failure, most of which were intrapulmonary failure. The intrapulmonary relapse-free survival and overall relapse-free survival at 5 years were 22% and 19%, respectively. Treatment response and pre-radiotherapy carcinoembryonic antigen level were significant prognostic factors for local control and survival. Grade 3–5 toxicity occurred in 7 patients. Three patients had grade 5 toxicity, including radiation pneumonitis, a tracheoesophageal fistula, and hemoptysis. Conclusions Curative radiotherapy for isolated lung metastasis from colorectal cancer in patients who are medially inoperable or unsuitable for surgery results in long-term survival, comparable to surgical resection. Curative radiotherapy could be an effective and noninvasive alternative if dose-limiting toxicity is carefully considered, particularly in patients with bilateral or central lesions.
Analysis of HYAL3 Gene Mutations in Chinese Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Zhang Rong-xin , Zhu Jin-hai , Fan Jiang , Ji Xiao-qi 
Published: February 2018

Purpose In a previous study, we found a hyaluronidase 3 (HYAL3) gene mutation in exon 2 at position 188 by genome sequencing in a lung squamous cell carcinoma patient. The mutation results in substitution of serine for alanine. The aim of the study was to screen the HYAL3 gene mutation in Chinese lung squamous cell carcinoma patients and explore the correlation between mutation of HYAL3 with clinical and pathological characteristics in lung squamous cell carcinoma patients in China. Methods We applied polymerase chain reaction to examine the HYAL3 gene mutations in cancer tissues and their adjacent normal tissues from 39 cases of lung squamous cell carcinoma patients. Results 1) The incidence rate of HYAL3 mutation in 39 cases of lung squamous cell carcinoma was 10.26% (4/39) and none in adjacent normal lung tissues (0/39). 2) The mutations of HYAL3 in the 4 cases were all heterozygous: 3 of them were located in exon 1 (G-T) and one in exon 2 (G-T). 3) Mutations of the HYAL3 gene were not correlated with the distribution of patient gender, age, tumor size, histological grade, smoking history, TNM stage or distant metastasis ( P >0.05). The gene mutation was correlated with lymph node status ( P = 0.044). Conclusion Mutations of the HYAL3 gene are rare in Chinese lung squamous cell carcinoma patients and might contribute to lymph node metastasis.
Value of Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Characterization of Complex Adnexal Masses
Authors: Cappabianca Salvatore , Iaselli Francesco , Reginelli Alfonso , D'Andrea Alfredo , Urraro Fabrizio , Grassi Roberto , Rotondo Antonio 
Published: February 2018

Aims and background The aim of the study was to define the role of diffusion-weighted imaging in the characterization of adnexal complex masses, with particular regard to the distinction between benign and malignant lesions. Conflicting results on this topic have emerged from studies in the last decade, with a consequent substantial limitation to the use of this relatively novel technique in clinical practice. Methods and study design Magnetic resonance imaging examinations performed on 91 patients with ovarian masses (56 benign, 35 malignant) were retrospectively evaluated by two observers unaware of the final histopathological diagnosis. Diffusion-weighted sequences with b values of 0, 500 and 1000 were performed in all cases, and apparent diffusion coefficient maps were automatically generated. The signals of both the cystic and solid components of the ovarian masses were evaluated on T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted images acquired with a b value of 1000. Apparent diffusion coefficient values were measured in all cases. Results With regard to the solid components, hypointensity on both the T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted images has proved to be a reliable indicator of benignancy. In contrast, hyperintensity on both sequences was suggestive of malignancy. Signal intensity of the cystic components and apparent diffusion coefficient values of both components have not proven useful in characterization of the masses. Conclusions Only the definition of the signal intensities on diffusion-weighted images obtained with the use of high b values on the solid component of a complex adnexal mass is useful to characterize an ovarian mass as benign or malignant.
Pilot Research for the Correlation between the Expression Pattern of E-cadherin-β-Catenin Complex and Lymph Node Metastasis in Early Gastric Cancer
Authors: Yoshii Takako , Miyagi Yohei , Nakamura Yoshiyasu , Kobayashi Osamu , Kameda Yoichi , Ohkawa Shinichi 
Published: February 2018

Aims and background Early gastric cancer without lymph node metastasis can be treated with minimally invasive endoscopic surgery. Hence, a better modality for predicting lymph node metastasis should be beneficial to early gastric cancer patients who may only require minimally invasive treatment. In vitro, phosphorylation of β-catenin induces the loss of membranous β-catenin and E-cadherin, subsequently increasing the potential for metastasis. We investigated the behavior of these molecules comparing lymph node metastasis-positive and lymph node metastasis-negative groups, using the specimens from the patients with early gastric cancer. This was a pilot research evaluating the usefulness of combined analysis of these molecules in predicting lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer. Methods The clinicopathological features and immunohistochemical expression patterns of E-cadherin and β-catenin in the primary lesion were studied retrospectively in 28 patients (lymph node metastasis-positive versus lymph node metastasis-negative: 14 vs 14) selected from 272 patients. These patients underwent radical surgery for the early gastric cancer treatment from April 2000 to March 2004 at our hospital. All patients gave written informed consent to use their tissues for the clinical study. Statistical analyses were performed by the chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test. Results More loss of membranous E-cadherin was observed in the lymph node metastasis-positive group than in the lymph node metastasis-negative group. Although the finding was slightly more marked in the intestinal than in the diffuse type early gastric cancer, there was no statistical significance. Loss of membranous β-catenin showed a similar trend and no statistical significance. When we evaluated the expression patterns of both molecules, dual loss of membranous E-cadherin and β-catenin significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis [dual loss in lymph node metastasis-positive versus lymph node metastasis-negative patients: 12 (86%) vs 6 (43%), P = 0.046]. Additionally, corresponding proportions in intestinal type early gastric cancer were 5 of 6 (83%) vs 0 of 6 (0%), P = 0.015. Conclusions Based on our results, the combined analysis of E-cadherin and β-catenin localizations may be helpful to accurately predict lymph node metastasis in intestinal type early gastric cancer.
Estimates of cancer burden in Lombardy
Authors: Gatta Gemma , Ciampichini Roberta , Bisanti Luigi , Contiero Paolo , Tessandori Roberto , Baili Paolo , Rossi Silvia 
Published: February 2018

Aims and background Cancer registration in Lombardy covers almost half of the regional population and started in 1976 in the Varese province. The aim of this paper is to provide estimates of the incidence, mortality and prevalence of seven major cancers for the entire Lombardy region in the period 1970—2015. Methods The estimates were obtained by applying the MIAMOD method, a statistical back-calculation approach to derive incidence and prevalence figures starting from mortality and relative survival data. Published data from the Italian cancer registries were modeled in order to estimate the regional cancer survival. Results In Lombardy, about 9,000 new cases of breast cancer, 8,500 of colorectal cancer, 7,200 of prostate cancer and 6,700 of lung cancer were expected to be diagnosed in the year 2012. Incidence rates are still rising for female breast cancer, skin melanoma in both sexes, and lung cancer in women. By contrast, the rates have been declining for cervix and stomach cancer. For lung cancer in men, prostate cancer and colorectal cancer the rates increased, reaching a peak in different periods, and then decreased. Prevalence increased for all cancers considered except cervix cancer. The rise was less pronounced in stomach cancer due to the impressive reduction of its incidence and was striking for breast and prostate cancer, with 116,000 and 58,900 prevalent cases in 2012. Mortality dropped for all considered cancers with the only exception of lung cancer in women. Conclusion This up-to-date picture of the cancer risk and burden in Lombardy shows the increasing demand for oncology services as one of the major challenges for the region. However, primary prevention is still the only way to simultaneously reduce incidence, prevalence and mortality rates, thus saving further lives and preserving health resources.
Estimates of cancer burden in Liguria
Authors: Vercelli Marina , Quaglia Alberto , Lillini Roberto , Rossi Silvia , Foschi Roberto ,   Registro Tumori Regione Liguria, Orengo Maria Antonietta , Marani Enza , Casella Claudia , Puppo Antonella , Celesia Maria Vittoria , Cogno Roberta , Levreri Isabella , Benfatto Lucia , Manenti Simone , Cappellano Daniela , Garrone Elsa 
Published: February 2018

Aims and background The regional health care system of Liguria caters for a resident population which is among the oldest in Europe. One population-based cancer registry is present in the region, providing incidence and survival data for the Genoa province (covering 55% of the regional population). This paper will estimate the incidence, prevalence and mortality in the Liguria region for cancers of the lung, breast, prostate, colon-rectum, stomach and uterine cervix and melanoma of the skin in 1970—2015. Methods The estimated figures were obtained by applying the MIAMOD method. Starting from mortality and survival data, incidence and prevalence were derived using a statistical back-calculation approach. Survival was modeled on the basis of published data from the Italian cancer registries. The MIAMOD method was applied also to estimate the colorectal cancer incidence, mortality and prevalence rates in the Ligurian provinces in the period 1988—2015. Results In 2012 about 1,500 new cases of breast cancer were expected in Ligurian women. The estimates for the other cancer sites were considerably lower, ranging from 839 (colon-rectum) to 54 (cervix). In men about 1,400 new cases were estimated for prostate cancer, while the incidence for the other sites ranged from 1,118 (colon-rectum) to 208 (skin melanoma). The breast cancer prevalence rate was more than 10 times the incidence rate in women, and the lung cancer prevalence rate was more than double the incidence rate in both sexes. Mortality rates were highest for lung cancer in men and breast cancer in women; the lowest rates were estimated for melanoma and cancer of the uterine cervix. Conclusion In Liguria a large portion of the health expenditure has been devoted to diagnostic and therapeutic resources. This may have contributed to the reduction of mortality rates and to the improvement of cancer survival. This phenomenon, added to population aging, will inflate the cancer prevalence. One of the major challenges for the Liguria region is to face the increasing demand for oncology services.
Estimates of cancer burden in Trentino-Alto Adige
Authors: Piffer Silvano , Gentilini Maria , Rizzello Roberto , Mazzoleni Guido , Bellù Francesco , Rossi Silvia 
Published: February 2018

Aims and background The Trentino-Alto Adige region is composed of two autonomous provinces (Trento and Bolzano), each with its own cancer registry. The registries' total coverage is 100% of the regional population. The main difference between the two provinces in terms of cancer epidemiology is related to the prostate cancer incidence and survival, with higher values in Bolzano. This paper provides an update until 2015 of the basic epidemiological indicators for seven major cancers for the entire region. Methods The indicators were estimated by means of the MIAMOD method, a statistical back-calculation approach to derive incidence and prevalence figures starting from mortality and relative survival data. Mortality data were provided by ISTAT for the period 1970—2002 while survival was modeled on the basis of published data from the Italian cancer registries. Results The estimates for 2012 show that breast cancer was the most common cancer in women and prostate cancer was most common in men. Incidence and mortality were decreasing for cervix cancer and stomach cancer in both genders during the whole study period. The lung cancer incidence and mortality were decreasing in men but increasing in women. The colorectal cancer incidence rose in both genders while the mortality was decreasing in women. The incidence of skin melanoma increased in both sexes, while the mortality remained very low. The breast cancer incidence was increasing up to 2015 while the mortality was declining since 1986. The prostate cancer incidence increased up to 2006, thereafter the rates stabilized while mortality started to decrease in the early 2000s. The highest mortality rates were estimated for lung cancer in men and breast cancer in women. Conclusions Lifestyle plays an important role in cancer trends, as does organized screening for early detection of cervix, breast and colorectal cancer. The provincial data on risk factor distribution and adherence to and coverage of organized screening are satisfactory and their optimization may allow additional benefits in terms of public health.
Useful indicators to interpret the cancer burden in Italy
Authors: Vercelli Marina , Quaglia Alberto , Lillini Roberto 
Published: February 2018

Introduction In the last decades the demographics of most Western countries have undergone a deep transformation, which has caused a steady increase in degenerative chronic diseases and has made maintaining health and social support by the welfare system difficult. This paper aims to present a set of indicators pertaining to the health status of the Italian population and to the national economic and social systems, as an aid to a better interpretation of the cancer burden impact and of its future tendencies. Material and Methods All indicators were derived from the ISTAT Health for All database. They were presented by region or macro area, globally or by gender, considering the most recent regional distribution and their time trends. The following features of the Italian population were chosen: percent of people aged over 65 years; life expectancy at birth; birth rate; crude and age-standardized overall mortality rates; dependency ratio; percent of single persons; percent of people with no more than a junior high school diploma; percent of people attaining at least the short first university degree; percent of people employed in the service and tertiary sectors; unemployment rate; incidence of poverty; total health expenditure (THE) as an absolute value and as percent of GDP; percent of public THE; percent of out-of-pocket THE of households; percent of smokers; proportion of overweight and obese people aged ≥18 years. Results Italy presented an unbalanced demographic situation with an increasingly old population, a decreasing middle-aged age group, a low birth rate, high crude overall mortality rates, and decreasing standardized overall mortality rates. The Italian population is characterized by a constant increase in the dependency ratio and in the percentage of people living alone, together with increasing expenses for health care, both at the public and households levels. Smoking has reduced its impact in men but not yet in women. The increasing proportion of overweight and obese people may explain the convergence in time of the mortality rates of the different Italian macro areas. Discussion and conclusion The Italian situation seems to be not well fitted to face the expected growing cancer burden. Along with the aging of the population, the corresponding lowering of the national GDP due to the persisting global economic crisis will lead the public sector and families to reduce health expenditure, while the number of people affected by cancer is bound to increase. Moreover, the social support provided by family members and the advantages of the Mediterranean dietary habits are declining. The strategies for facing the challenging evolution of the future should focus on successful primary prevention and a wider application of evidence-based medicine to optimize the choice of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures offered to citizens.
Efficacy and safety of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin and docetaxel in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancers
Authors: Baykara Meltem , Buyukberber Suleyman , Ozturk Banu , Coskun Ugur , Kaplan Muhammet Ali , Unsal Diclehan Kilic , Dane Faysal , Demirci Umut , Bora Huseyin , Benekli Mustafa 
Published: February 2018

Aims and background Chemoradiation using cisplatin-based regimens has become the standard care in the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancers. The impact of taxanes as radiosensitizing agents with concurrent chemoradiation regimens is unknown. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of weekly cisplatin + docetaxel combination with chemoradiation in locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancers. Methods Forty-two patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancers (59.5% stage IV, 23.3% stage III, and 16.7% stage II) were assessed retrospectively. Total radiation dose to the planning target volume of gross disease (primary and/or node) was 70 Gy/35 fractions, 5 fractions per week. Minimum doses of 60 Gy and 50 Gy were administered to planning target volume of elective high-risk and low-risk disease, respectively. Chemotherapy consisted of weekly cisplatin (20 mg/m2) + docetaxel (20 mg/m2) concurrently with radiotherapy. Results The median age of the patients was 46.5 years (range, 17–79). Objective response rate was 86%. The 4-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 65.4% and 91.3%, respectively. The most common grade 3 and 4 toxicities were mucositis (48%), nausea (22%), neutropenia (12%), dermatitis (5%), fatigue (5%) and weight loss (5%). Conclusions Weekly cisplatin and docetaxel concurrent with radiotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancers was found tolerable with a high efficacy.
Gastrointestinal Carcinoids and Colorectal Cancers: Is It a Paracrine Effect?
Authors: Shenoy Santosh 
Published: February 2018

Background Carcinoid tumors are uncommon neuroendocrine tumors that account for less than 1% of gastrointestinal tract malignancies. They have a reported incidence of 1.3 per 100,000. Small bowel carcinoids are the commonest and have the highest incidence of associated second primary malignancies, followed by appendiceal and colorectal carcinoids. The most common second primary malignancy is colorectal adenocarcinoma. Case series We report a series of 11 patients observed in the period 2006–2011 with primary gastrointestinal tract cancers and synchronous carcinoids discovered incidentally by the histopathologist in the resected primary cancer specimen. Results In all patients with synchronous carcinoids and colorectal adenocarcinoma there was a pattern of similar embryonic visceral origin. Is this a paracrine effect from biological peptides produced by the carcinoids?