pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
What motivates men age ≥ 50 years to participate in a screening program for melanoma?

Background: The screening behaviour and screening outcomes of men ≥ 50 years was investigated within a randomized controlled trial of a community-based intervention of screening for melanoma, consisting of a community education program, an education program for medical practitioners and the provision of dedicated skin screening clinics. \ud
Methods: Data from cross-sectional telephone surveys before (559 completed interviews); at the end (591 completed interview); and at 2 year after the intervention (445 completed interviews) were analysed. In addition, we analysed data from skin screening clinics within the intervention program (3,355 men ≥ 50 years participated). \ud
Results: During the intervention period men ≥ 50 years  increased both their screening behaviour and intention to screen. Those men ≥ 50 years  who reported a past history of removal of a mole as well as other risk factors for skin cancer and positive attitudes towards screening were more likely to participate in skin screening across time. Men ≥ 50 years accounted for 20.5% of all skin screening clinic attendees, 31.3% of those referred for a suspicious lesion, 48.5% of melanomas, and 45% of all Keratinocyte Carcinomas diagnosed within the screening program, respectively.\ud
Conclusions: The intervention program successfully motivated men ≥ 50 years  to attend screening for skin cancer, resulting in the highest yield of skin cancer within this subgroup of the population. Messages addressing skin cancer risk factors and attitudes towards skin cancer and screening could be used to target a screening program for melanoma towards men ≥ 50 years
Rituximab in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide in the treatment of patients with recurrent follicular lymphoma

The current study was conducted to asses the safety profile and clinical activity of rituximab in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide in patients with recurrent follicular lymphoma (FL). METHODS: This study was a noncomparative, multicenter, phase II study. Between March 2000 and December 2002, 54 patients with recurrent FL were enrolled in the FC+R trial. Patients received fludarabine at a dose of 25 mg/m(2) and cyclophosphamide at a dose of 300 mg/m(2) daily for 3 consecutive days, every 3 weeks for 4 cycles. Rituximab was administered at a dose of 375 mg/m(2) beginning 2 weeks after the first course of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide and then on Day 1 of each cycle thereafter. The planned treatment duration was 10 weeks. RESULTS: Overall, 92% of patients completed the planned therapy in 10 to 14 weeks and 74% achieved a complete response (CR). Among patients with BCL2-positive bone marrow, 86% obtained a molecular disease remission (MR). The median survival from treatment (SFT), the duration of disease remission (DR), and time to disease progression (TTP) had not been reached after a median follow-up of 45 months. Of the baseline characteristics, >2 previous treatments, BCL2-positive bone marrow, and low Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) score were found to be associated with better DR and/or TTP. Hematologic toxicity was transient and reversible, with the exception of 3 patients with severe and prolonged neutropenia. Three patients presented with infections, 1 of whom died of bronchopneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: The FC+R scheme, a nonanthracycline-containing regimen lasting up to 10 weeks, was found to be relatively well-tolerated and demonstrated significant antilymphoma activity with excellent clinical CR and molecular response rates
BRAFV600E Mutation and p27kip1 Expression in\ud
Papillary Carcinomas of the Thyroid ≤1 cm and\ud
Their Paired Lymph Node Metastases

Abstract \ud
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BACKGROUND. BRAFV600E mutation and p27kip1 expression have been introduced as novel indicators that may predict prognosis in different tumors, as well as in papillary thyroid carcinomas. METHODS. Tissue samples from 214 consecutive patients who underwent total or near-total thyroidectomy with histological diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) ≤1 cm were analyzed for BRAFV600E mutation by a real-time, allele-specific amplification and for p27kip1 expression by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS. The BRAFV600E mutation was detected in 88 of the tumors examined, with significant differences between groups with and without lymph node (LN) metastases; the mean age of patients with BRAF V600E mutation was significantly higher than that of patients without mutations. A significant association was found between low p27Kip1 protein expression and multifocality, bilaterality, and extrathyroidal extension, in addition to LN metastasis. In 42 cases with LN metastases, 23 harbored the BRAFV600E mutation in the metastatic tumor and presented a wider diameter of the largest metastatic area, a higher number of involved LNs, and a higher percentage of metastatic lesions with extracapsular extension of LN (ECE-LN). A significantly lower mean value of p27Kip1 was observed in LNs harboring the BRAFV600E mutation and in ECE-LN; an inverse correlation was found between p27Kip1 and the number of metastatic LNs, as well as the diameter of the largest metastatic area in LN. CONCLUSIONS. The authors' data suggested that BRAFV600E mutation and p27Kip1 down-regulation in cancer cells of PTC <1 cm may be factors that facilitate tumor-cell growth and progression once these are seeded in the LNs. © 2007 American Cancer Society
Bevacizumab Improves Pathologic Response and Protects Against Hepatic Injury in Patients Treated With Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy for Colorectal Liver Metastases

BACKGROUND. The current study evaluated the effect of bevacizumab added to
fluoropyrimidine-plus-oxaliplatin (5FU/OX) chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases
(CLM) on the pathologic response and nontumorous liver histology.
METHODS. A total of 105 consecutive patients treated preoperatively with 5FU/OX
chemotherapy with (n 5 62) or without (n 5 43) bevacizumab were analyzed.
The response to chemotherapy was evaluated by pathologic analysis of tumor viability
(percentage of viable tumor in relation to tumor surface area). The incidence
and grade of hepatic sinusoidal dilation were also investigated.
RESULTS. Bevacizumab-containing regimens significantly reduced the degree of
tumor viability compared with 5FU/OX-only chemotherapy (32.9% vs 45.3%; P
5 .02). After stratification according to the magnitude of tumor viability, a higher
proportion of patients treated with bevacizumab than without had <25% residual
viable tumor cells (45% vs 23%; P 5 .02). However, the addition of bevacizumab
to 5FU/OX did not appear to increase the incidence of complete pathologic
response (11.3% vs 11.6%; P 5 .59). The incidence and severity of sinusoidal dilation
was lower in patients treated with bevacizumab than in those treated with
5FU/OX only (any grade: 27.4% vs 53.5%; moderate or severe: 8.1% vs 27.9%;
both P <.01).
CONCLUSIONS. In patients treated with 5FU/OX chemotherapy, bevacizumab
improves the pathologic response, as demonstrated by a reduction of the degree
of tumor viability, and reduces the incidence and severity of hepatic injury. This
retrospective study provides additional evidence supporting the use of bevacizumab
in combination with 5FU/OX for CLM. Cancer 2007;110:2761–7.   2007
American Cancer SocietyPublishedN/
VEGF and VEGFR-1 are coexpressed by epithelial and stromal cells of renal cell carcinoma.
 : 
VEGF and its receptors in renal cell carcinoma

International audienceBACKGROUND.: Tumor angiogenesis is a dynamic process that plays a major role in cancer progression. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors play a pivotal role in angiogenesis. The expression of VEGF and its receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was investigated in the perspective of anti-VEGF treatments. METHODS.: Total VEGF protein levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in tumor tissue samples from surgical specimens of 65 patients with clear cell RCC. At the cellular level the VEGF isoforms VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 mRNA were quantified by real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in laser-microdissected tumoral epithelial as stromal cells and in corresponding normal tissue compartments. Colocalization of VEGF and VEGFR-1 proteins was studied by triple immunofluorescent labeling. RESULTS.: Protein VEGF in cytosolic extracts was significantly higher in tumoral than in nontumoral tissue (P < .0001). Event-free survival was significantly longer for patients with cytosolic VEGF lower than the cutoff (75th percentile of VEGF protein levels, P = .02). In laser-microdissected epithelial cells, VEGF(121) and VEGFR-1 mRNA expressions were higher in RCC than in corresponding nontumoral kidney (P = .007 and P = .002, respectively); they were also higher in stromal cells of RCC compared with nontumoral kidney (P = .02 and P = .003, respectively). There was no differential VEGFR-2 expression in epithelial or in stromal cells of tumoral or nontumoral kidney. By immunofluorescent labeling VEGF and VEGFR-1 colocalized on RCC tumor epithelial and stromal cells. CONCLUSIONS.: Combined laser microdissection and quantitative RT-PCR, as triple immunofluorescent labeling, underlined the preferential expression of the most soluble VEGF isoform, VEGF(121), and its receptor VEGFR-1, but not VEGFR-2, in epithelial and stromal cells of RCC. Cancer 2008. (c) 2007 American Cancer Society
Thyroid fine-needle aspiration samples inadequate for reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis

BACKGROUND: Analysis of different tumor markers by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in fine-needle aspiration samples of thyroid nodules has been studied with the objective of improving the accuracy of the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid lesions. The aim of the current study was to investigate thyroid fine-needle aspiration samples inadequate for RT-PCR analysis and to determine whether there is a correlation between their proportion and the method of sampling used or the greatest dimension of the nodules. ----- METHODS: A total of 350 fine-needle aspiration samples from patients with thyroid nodules were analyzed. After the aspirate was smeared for conventional cytology, the leftover material in the needle was used for RT-PCR analysis in 1 group of 175 patients. In another group of 175 patients, a separate puncture was performed to obtain material for RT-PCR analysis only. Samples were considered adequate for RT-PCR analysis if the expression of both glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and thyroglobulin was found by RT-PCR. ----- RESULTS: In total, 61 (17.4%) samples inadequate for RT-PCR were detected. All 12 samples that were inadequate for cytologic diagnosis were also found to be inadequate for RT-PCR analysis. The proportion of inadequate samples for RT-PCR was found to be significantly higher in samples taken from leftover material in the needle (21.7%) then in samples from a separate puncture (13.1%) (P = .049). No statistically significant correlation between the adequacy of samples for RT-PCR and the largest dimension of the nodule was found. ----- CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of samples inadequate for RT-PCR was found to be higher in samples taken from leftover material in the needle than in samples obtained from a separate puncture
Increased expression of transketolase-like-1 in papillary thyroid carcinomas smaller than 1.5 cm in diameter is associated with lymph-node metastases.

BACKGROUND: Patients with small papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) may have a high incidence of regional lymph-node (LN) metastases at presentation, and these are considered to be an independent risk factor for tumor recurrence. A mutated transketolase transcript (TKTL1) has been found up-regulated in different human malignancies, and strong TKTL1 protein expression has been associated with aggressiveness and poor patient survival in several epithelial cancers. METHODS: TKTL1 protein expression was analyzed in 256 consecutive cases of PTCs <or=1.5 cm by immunohistochemistry with a specific anti-TKTL1 antibody. RNA analysis was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in all cases for which frozen material was available, which resulted in 55 fragments of PTC. RESULTS: Increased levels of TKTL1 transcript were detected in 50 of 55 analyzed tumors compared with their corresponding normal tissues. Significant differences in TKTL1 transcript levels were found between cases of PTC with and without LN metastases. In primary tumors, immunoreactivity for TKTL1 was detected in the majority of cases, ranging from 0% to 95.0% (mean, 50.11% +/- 27.75%). A significant association was found between TKTL1 protein expression and the presence of multifocality, bilaterality, extrathyroidal extension, vascular invasion, sclerosis, and LN metastases. In cases with LN metastases, a positive correlation was found between the TKTL1 protein expression in primary tumors and the number of metastatic LNs as well as the diameter of the largest metastatic area in LNs. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that TKTL1 overexpression in PTC <or=1.5 cm may be considered a factor that facilitates tumor growth and progression. (c) 2008 American Cancer Society
Factors related to the presentation of thin and thick nodular melanoma from a population-based cancer registry in Queensland Australia

Purpose: \ud
Worldwide, the incidence of thick melanoma has not declined, and the nodular melanoma (NM) subtype accounts for nearly 40% of newly-diagnosed thick melanoma. To assess differences between patients with thin (≤2.00 mm) and thick (≥2.01 mm) nodular melanoma, we evaluated factors such as demographics, melanoma detection patterns, tumor visibility, and physician screening for NM alone and compared clinical presentation and anatomic location of NM with superficial spreading melanoma (SSM).\ud
\ud
Methods\ud
We utilized data from a large population-based study of Queensland (Australia) residents diagnosed with melanoma. Queensland residents aged 20 to 75 years with histologically confirmed first primary invasive cutaneous melanoma were eligible for the study, and all questionnaires were conducted by telephone (response rate 77.9%).  \ud
\ud
Results\ud
During this four-year period, 369 patients with nodular melanoma were interviewed, of whom 56.7% were diagnosed with tumors ≤ 2.00 mm. Men, older individuals, and those who had not been screened by a physician in the past three years were more likely to have nodular tumors of greater thickness.  Thickest nodular melanoma (4 mm+) was also most common in persons who had not been screened by a doctor within the past three years (OR 3.75; 95% CI 1.47-9.59).  Forty-six percent of patients with thin nodular melanoma (≤ 2.00 mm) reported a change in color, compared with 64% of patients with thin SSM and 26% of patients with thick nodular melanoma (>2.00 mm).\ud
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Conclusion\ud
Awareness of factors related to earlier detection of potentially fatal nodular melanomas, including the benefits of a physician examination, should be useful in enhancing public and professional education strategies.  Particular awareness of clinical warning signs associated with thin nodular melanoma should allow for more prompt diagnosis and treatment of this subtype. \ud
\u
Gemcitabine-based doublets versus single-agent therapy for elderly patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer: a Literature-based Meta-analysis.

Although platinum-based combinations are considered the best option of care for patients\ud
with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), single-agent therapy is the preferred treatment for older\ud
patients. Since the late 1990s, various combinations of third-generation agents (gemcitabine [G], vinorel-\ud
bine, docetaxel, and paclitaxel) have been tested, yielding contradictory results. The authors of this report\ud
performed  a  literature-based  meta-analysis  to  assess  the  efficacy and  tolerability  of  G-based  doublets\ud
compared with single-agent chemotherapy for elderly patients with NSCLC.\ud
METHODS: Data from all published, randomized, phase 3 trials that compared a G-based doublet with a third-generation single agent in elderly patients were collected from electronic databases (Medline and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), relevant reference lists, and abstract books. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for the 1-year survival rate, the overall response rate (ORR), and grade 3 and 4 toxicities. RESULTS: Four eligible trials (1436 patients) were selected from 442 studies that initially were identified. A significant difference  in  ORR  favoring  G-based  doublets  over  single  agents  was  observed  (OR,  0.65;  95%  confidence interval [95% CI], 0.51-0.82 [P<.001]), whereas the trend toward an improved 1-year survival rate was not significant (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.57-1.06 [P¼.169]). Grade 3 and 4 toxicities did not differ significantly except for thrombocytopenia (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.12-2.76 [P¼.014]).\ud
CONCLUSIONS: G-based doublets appeared to be effective and feasible compared with single agents in the treatment of elderly patients with advanced NSCLC  who were  not  suitable  for  full-dose,  platinum-based  chemotherapy. Further prospective, elderly specific, phase 3 trials will be necessary
Genetic alterations between primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and recurrence after radiotherapy

BACKGROUND: In the attempt to characterize the genetic bases of recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) after radiotherapy (RT), the authors compared the molecular profiles of primary tumors and recurrences. METHODS: TP53 gene status and instability at 10 microsatellite markers were determined in pre-RT lesions and corresponding local recurrences in a series of 16 HNSCCs. RESULTS: Eight (50\%) HNSCCs showed both TP53 and microsatellite instability (MSI) status concordance in pre- and postirradiation biopsies; 3 (18.7\%) showed discordance of both TP53 and MSI status; and finally 5 (31.2\%) had discordance at only 1 genetic test. Accordingly, the authors interpreted as true recurrence the 8 concordant cases, and as true second primary malignancies the 3 discordant ones. In the remaining 5 cases with partial DNA correspondence, the exact nature of the new lesion only partially related to the original cancer is a matter of discussion. Patients showing the same mutations among pre- and post-RT HNSCCs had a longer disease-free interval (DFI) and better survival than those showing discordant genetic features (log-rank test, P = .0045). CONCLUSIONS: Post-RT recurrent HNSCCs are genetically heterogeneous. The genetic characterization of the recurrence, especially in those cases with a particularly short DFI showing partially discordant mutations, might have a useful clinical relevance in the restaging process
Association of Diabetes Duration and Diabetes Treatment with the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Despite the observed association between diabetes mellitus and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), little
is known about the effect of diabetes duration before HCC diagnosis and whether some diabetes medications
reduced the risk of HCC development. This objective of the current study was to determine the association between
HCC risk and diabetes duration and type of diabetes treatment. METHODS: A total of 420 patients with HCC and
1104 healthy controls were enrolled in an ongoing hospital-based case-control study. Multivariate logistic regression
models were used to adjust for HCC risk factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 33.3% in patients
with HCC and 10.4% in the control group, yielding an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 4.2 (95% confidence interval [95%
CI], 3.0-5.9). In 87% of cases, diabetes was present before the diagnosis of HCC, yielding an AOR of 4.4 (95% CI, 3.0-
6.3). Compared with patients with a diabetes duration of 2 to 5 years, the estimated AORs for those with a diabetes
duration of 6 to 10 years and those with a diabetes duration >10 years were 1.8 (95% CI, 0.8-4.1) and 2.2 (95% CI, 1.2-
4.8), respectively. With respect to diabetes treatment, the AORs were 0.3 (95% CI, 0.2-0.6), 0.3 (95% CI, 0.1-0.7), 7.1
(95% CI, 2.9-16.9), 1.9 (95% CI, 0.8-4.6), and 7.8 (95% CI, 1.5-40.0) for those treated with biguanides, thiazolidinediones,
sulfonylureas, insulin, and dietary control, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes appears to increase the risk
of HCC, and such risk is correlated with a long duration of diabetes. Relying on dietary control and treatment with
sulfonylureas or insulin were found to confer the highest magnitude of HCC risk, whereas treatment with biguanides
or thiazolidinediones was associated with a 70% HCC risk reduction among diabetics. Cancer 2010;116:1938–46.
VC 2010 American Cancer SocietyPublishedN/
Is resection of colorectal liver metastases after a second-line chemotherapy regimen justified?

BACKGROUND:
Patient outcomes following resection of colorectal liver metastases (CLM) after second-line chemotherapy regimen is unknown.

METHODS:
From August 1998 to June 2009, data from 1099 patients with CLM were collected prospectively. We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of patients who underwent resection of CLM after second-line (2 or more) chemotherapy regimens.

RESULTS:
Sixty patients underwent resection of CLM after 2 or more chemotherapy regimens. Patients had advanced CLM (mean number of CLM ± standard deviation, 4 ± 3.5; mean maximum size of CLM, 5 ± 3.2 cm) and had received 17 ± 8 cycles of preoperative chemotherapy. In 54 (90%) patients, the switch from the first regimen to another regimen was motivated by tumor progression or suboptimal radiographic response. All patients received irinotecan or oxaliplatin, and the majority (42/60 [70%]) received a monoclonal antibody (bevacizumab or cetuximab) as part of the last preoperative regimen. Postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were 33% and 3%, respectively. At a median follow-up of 32 months, 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year overall survival rates were 83%, 41%, and 22%, respectively. Median chemotherapy-free survival after resection or completion of additional chemotherapy administered after resection was 9 months (95% confidence interval, 4-14 months). Synchronous (vs metachronous) CLM and minor (vs major) pathologic response were independently associated with worse survival.

CONCLUSIONS:
Resection of CLM after a second-line chemotherapy regimen was found to be safe and was associated with a modest hope for definitive cure. This approach represents a viable option in patients with advanced CLM. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.PublishedN/