Cancer Recurrence (cancer + recurrence)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences

Kinds of Cancer Recurrence

  • bladder cancer recurrence
  • breast cancer recurrence


  • Selected Abstracts


    Urine Test May Improve Detection of Bladder Cancer Recurrence

    CA: A CANCER JOURNAL FOR CLINICIANS, Issue 3 2006
    Article first published online: 31 DEC 200
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Letrozole Cuts Breast Cancer Recurrences

    CA: A CANCER JOURNAL FOR CLINICIANS, Issue 1 2004
    Article first published online: 31 DEC 200
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Cancer recurrence after total laryngectomy: Treatment options, survival, and complications

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 5 2006
    Savitri C. Ritoe MD
    Abstract Background. A follow-up schedule to detect asymptomatic cancer recurrence is offered to all patients with laryngeal cancer. In this study, the therapeutic options, prognosis, and morbidity of patients with total laryngectomy, who were found to have cancer recurrence during this follow-up schedule were determined. Methods. Patients who had undergone a total laryngectomy between January 1, 1990, and January 1, 2000, and had cancer recurrence were included. Data from this group were analyzed retrospectively. Results. The prognosis was poor after the development of cancer recurrence. Curative therapy could only be offered to 27.5% of these patients. Only 5% of the patients were disease free at the end of the study period. Many patients with cancer recurrence needed interventions. A large proportion of them had complications. Conclusions. The follow-up schedule offered to patients after total laryngectomy should put greater emphasis on care than on early detection of cancer recurrence. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck27: 383,388, 2006 [source]


    Aromatase inhibitors in preventing breast cancer recurrence

    FUTURE PRESCRIBER, Issue 1 2006
    Associate Director of Cancer Services, Endocrine Surgeon, Robert Carpenter Consultant Breast
    First page of article [source]


    Screening for local and regional cancer recurrence in patients curatively treated for laryngeal cancer: Definition of a high-risk group and estimation of the lead time

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 5 2007
    Savitri C. Ritoe MD
    Abstract Background. All patients treated for laryngeal cancer are offered the same follow-up schedule to detect asymptomatic locoregional recurrences. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic profile of patients for cancer recurrence and estimated the lead time. Methods. A cohort study was performed between 1990 and 1995. Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the prognostic factors. The effect of altering the follow-up for asymptomatic recurrence detection was determined after estimating the lead time. Results. The variables cT classification, smoking, and histologic grade proved to be prognostic factors. The risk of locoregional failure was 15% in the low-risk group versus 29% in the high-risk group. The estimated lead time was 2 to 4 weeks. Conclusion. Risk profiles for locoregional relapse were defined. Intensifying the follow-up schedule is not advisable because the lead time is very short. An excessively high number of routine visits would have to be performed to increase the detection rate for asymptomatic recurrences. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2007 [source]


    Direct fluorescence visualization of clinically occult high-risk oral premalignant disease using a simple hand-held device

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 1 2007
    Catherine F. Poh DDS
    Abstract Background A considerable proportion of oral cancer and precancer is not clinically apparent and could contribute significantly to the late diagnosis and high mortality of oral cancer. A simple method to identify such occult change is needed. Methods Patients in the Oral Dysplasia Clinics at British Columbia are currently being examined with a simple hand-held device that permits the direct visualization of alterations to autofluorescence in the oral cavity. Tissue showing loss of autofluorescence is biopsied. Results We present 3 representative cases in which occult lesions were identified with fluorescence visualization during longitudinal follow-up, resulting in the diagnosis of a primary dysplasia in case 1, a second primary cancer in case 2, and cancer recurrence in case 3. Conclusions This is the first report of the diagnosis of occult oral disease using a simple noninvasive device. These early examples indicate the potential value of this technology to guide the management of patients with oral lesions, facilitating the detection of high-risk changes not apparent with white-light visualization. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2006 [source]


    Cancer recurrence after total laryngectomy: Treatment options, survival, and complications

    HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 5 2006
    Savitri C. Ritoe MD
    Abstract Background. A follow-up schedule to detect asymptomatic cancer recurrence is offered to all patients with laryngeal cancer. In this study, the therapeutic options, prognosis, and morbidity of patients with total laryngectomy, who were found to have cancer recurrence during this follow-up schedule were determined. Methods. Patients who had undergone a total laryngectomy between January 1, 1990, and January 1, 2000, and had cancer recurrence were included. Data from this group were analyzed retrospectively. Results. The prognosis was poor after the development of cancer recurrence. Curative therapy could only be offered to 27.5% of these patients. Only 5% of the patients were disease free at the end of the study period. Many patients with cancer recurrence needed interventions. A large proportion of them had complications. Conclusions. The follow-up schedule offered to patients after total laryngectomy should put greater emphasis on care than on early detection of cancer recurrence. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck27: 383,388, 2006 [source]


    Severe pulmonary metastasis in obese and diabetic mice

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 12 2006
    Akinori Mori
    Abstract Although obesity is known as a risk factor for several human cancers, the association of obesity with cancer recurrence and metastasis remains to be characterized. Here, B16-BL6 melanoma and Lewis lung carcinoma cells were intravenously injected into diabetic (db/db) and obese (ob/ob) mice. The number of experimental lung colonies was markedly promoted in these mice when compared with C57BL/6 mice. In contrast, tumor growth at the implanted site was comparable when cells were inoculated orthotopically. The use of B16-BL6 cells stably transfected with the luciferase gene revealed that the increased metastasis reflected a difference mainly within 6 hr after the intravenous inoculation of tumor cells. Administration of recombinant leptin in ob/ob mice abolished the increase in metastasis early on as well as the decrease in the splenic NK cell number. In addition, depletion of NK cells by an anti-asialo-GM1 antibody abrogated the enhanced metastasis in db/db mice. These results demonstrate that metastasis is markedly promoted in diabetic and obese mice mainly because of decreased NK cell function during the early phase of metastasis. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Severe rosacea associated with colon cancer recurrence

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
    L. Margolin MD
    An 80-year-old male, who had undergone orchiectomy because of prostatic cancer, presented with rosacea (for the first time in his life), weight loss and anemia, and was diagnosed with local recurrence of colon cancer. The hormonal disarrangement unbalance after orchiectomy and a paraneoplastic vasoactive substance may have contributed to the development of rosacea in this patient. [source]


    Adjuvant methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, and cisplatin chemotherapy has potential to prevent recurrence of bladder tumors after surgical removal of upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 9 2008
    Norihito Soga
    Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant platinum based chemotherapy in upper urinary tract urothelial cancer following surgical resection in terms of survival benefit and inhibition of bladder cancer recurrence. Methods: Between April 1986 and August 2005, a total of 132 patients with a diagnosis of upper urinary tract urothelial cancer underwent radical nephroureterectomy with cuff of bladder at our department. A total of 46 patients (13 with pT2pN0M0 and 33 with pT3 pN0M0 transitional cell carcinoma without prior bladder cancer) were enrolled. Patients with locally advanced disease were divided into two groups: the adjuvant chemotherapy group (24 patients) who received adjuvant methotrexate, vinblastine, adriamycin, and cisplatin (M-VAC) and the non-adjuvant chemotherapy group who did not receive adjuvant M-VAC (22 patients). Results: There were no statistically significant differences in patient characteristics or 10-year survival between the two groups. The recurrence rate in the non-adjuvant chemotherapy group was significantly higher than in the adjuvant chemotherapy group (log-rank test, P < 0.0001). Only non-adjuvant chemotherapy was a significant and independent risk factor (hazard ratio 6.97) for the development of intravesical recurrence (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Adjuvant M-VAC is an important optional adjuvant therapy and can prevent recurrent bladder tumors following surgery for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma. To determine whether adjuvant chemotherapy has further benefit, a randomized study would be needed. [source]


    Sufficient prophylactic efficacy with minor adverse effects by intravesical instillation of low-dose bacillus Calmette-Guérin for superficial bladder cancer recurrence

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 4 2003
    AKIRA IRIE
    Abstract Background: Intravesical instillation of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the most efficient strategy for prophylaxis of superficial bladder cancer recurrence. Adverse effects of BCG are major obstacles, but the reduction of BCG dose could minimize these effects. The efficacy and adverse effects of half-dose (40 mg) BCG, Tokyo 172 strain, were prospectively evaluated. Methods: A total of 93 patients with superficial bladder cancer (pTa or pT1) were sequentially assigned to receive either 40 or 80 mg of BCG after transurethral resection. BCG was administered weekly for 6 weeks postoperatively. Eighty patients observed longer than 12 months after BCG therapy (41, 40 mg group; 39, 80 mg group) were analyzed. Results: BCG therapy course was completed in 71 patients. Tumor recurrence was recognized in 11 of 40 patients in the 40 mg group and in 5 of 31 patients in the 80 mg group. There was no significant difference in tumor recurrence rate between the two groups (P = 0.547). BCG therapy was withdrawn in 1 patient in the 40 mg group and in 8 patients in the 80 mg-group because of BCG-related adverse effects. The morbidity of BCG-related toxicity was significantly higher in the 80 mg group. Conclusion: Half-dose of BCG Tokyo 172 strain had a similar efficacy and its toxicity was signi­ficantly lower compared to the standard dose. Thus, half-dose of this strain might be suitable, at least for initial BCG therapy, for the prophylaxis of bladder cancer recurrence. Further study would be necessary to clarify the efficacy of low-dose instillation in high-risk patients. [source]


    Nurses' experiences of being present with a patient receiving a diagnosis of cancer

    JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 3 2000
    Una Dunniece DipN BSc(Hons) RN
    Nurses' experiences of being present with a patient receiving a diagnosis of cancer This paper reports the findings of a study which describes the experiences of nurses who were present with a patient when they received a diagnosis of cancer, cancer recurrence or prognosis of terminal cancer. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six nurses who had experience of caring for patients with cancer in an acute surgical setting. Data were analysed using a phenomenological descriptive approach. Participants' descriptions revealed the following seven core themes: ,What if it was me?'; divergent feelings; being there; becoming closer; method of disclosure; time as an influence and learning by reflection. Possible implications for nursing practice and education are discussed and recommendations are made for future research. [source]


    Decreased expression of Ep-CAM protein is significantly associated with the progression and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinomas in Taiwan

    JOURNAL OF ORAL PATHOLOGY & MEDICINE, Issue 1 2009
    Emily Ya-Chi Hwang
    Background:, The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) is involved in cell signaling, migration, proliferation, cell-cycle regulation, and cancer metastasis. Methods:, This study used an immunohistochemical technique to examine the expression of Ep-CAM protein in 84 specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), 98 specimens of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED, 31 mild, 41 moderate, and 26 severe OED cases), and 15 specimens of normal oral mucosa (NOM). Results:, We found that the mean Ep-CAM labeling indices (LIs) decreased significantly from NOM (80 ± 18%) and mild OED (76 ± 14%) through moderate OED (66 ± 22%) and severe OED (55 ± 20%) to OSCC samples (46 ± 16%, P < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between the lower mean Ep-CAM LI and OSCCs with larger tumor size (P = 0.003), positive lymph node metastasis (P = 0.022), more advanced clinical stages (P < 0.001), cancer recurrence (P = 0.021), or extracapsular spread of lymph node (P = 0.015). However, only Ep-CAM LI < 50% (P < 0.0001) was identified as an independent unfavorable prognosis factor by multivariate analyses with Cox proportional hazard regression model. Kaplan,Meier curve showed that OSCC patients with an Ep-CAM LI < 50% had a significantly poorer cumulative survival than those with an Ep-CAM LI , 50% (P < 0.00001, log-rank test). Conclusions:, We conclude that the decreased expression of Ep-CAM protein is an early event in oral carcinogenesis. The Ep-CAM LI in OSCC samples can predict the progression of OSCCs and the survival of OSCC patients. [source]


    Low recurrence of preexisting extrahepatic malignancies after liver transplantation

    LIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 6 2008
    Daniel Benten
    The incidence of de novo malignancies is increased in organ transplant recipients, and patients with hepatic carcinomas are at high risk for tumor recurrence after liver transplantation. Data about recurrent cancer after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in patients with a history of nonhepatic malignancy are very limited. We retrospectively analyzed data from 606 adult OLT recipients and identified 37 patients (6.1%) with a preexisting extrahepatic malignancy. In the same group, 43 patients (7.0%) developed de novo cancer. Preexisting malignancies included 26 solid tumors and 11 hematological malignancies, including 7 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome due to myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs). Patients had been selected for OLT because of the expected good prognosis of their preexisting malignancy. Except for 3 patients, recipients were tumor-free at OLT. The median interval from tumor diagnosis to OLT was 44 months (range, <1-321). After a median follow-up of 66 months post transplantation (range, 4-131), all but 1 recipient with incidental colon carcinoma were free of recurrence. No patient with MPD showed leukemic transformation, whereas a patient with neurofibromatosis experienced growth of skin fibromas. Our data and an included review of published OLT recipients with preexisting malignancies have enabled us to show that recurrence rates are comparable for nontransplanted patients and renal-transplant recipients. In conclusion, cancer recurrence is low if OLT recipients are carefully selected. Therefore, previous extrahepatic malignancy should not be considered a contraindication for OLT per se, but the oncologic/hematologic prognosis should be considered, particularly with respect to the current 5-year survival rate of OLT. Liver Transpl, 2008. © 2008 AASLD [source]


    Sweet's syndrome in chronic lymphocytic leukemia associated with neutropenic fever and granulocyte colony stimulation factor

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 9 2006
    Michael A. Thompson
    Abstract Granulocyte colony stimulation factor (G-CSF) is commonly used in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. We report the case of a 62-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who presented with neutropenic fever and sepsis. After treatment with G-CSF he developed Sweet's syndrome. Sweet's syndrome is a rare disorder but has been associated with cancer recurrence as well as administration of G-CSF. We present clinical and pathologic images that highlight the salient features of this entity. Am. J. Hematol., 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Supportive-expressive group therapy for women with metastatic breast cancer: survival and psychosocial outcome from a randomized controlled trial

    PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 4 2007
    David W. Kissane
    Abstract Background: Mixed reports exist about the impact of supportive-expressive group therapy (SEGT) on survival. Methods: From 485 women with advanced breast cancer recruited between 1996,2002, 227 (47%) consented and were randomized within an average 10 months of cancer recurrence in a 2:1 ratio to intervention with 1 year or more of weekly SEGT plus three classes of relaxation therapy (147 women) or to control receiving three classes of relaxation therapy (80 women). The primary outcome was survival; psychosocial well-being was appraised secondarily. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. Results: SEGT did not prolong survival (median survival 24.0 months in SEGT and 18.3 in controls; univariate hazard ratio for death 0.92 [95% CI, 0.69,1.26]; multivariate hazard ratio, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.74,1.51]). Significant predictors of survival were treatment with chemotherapy and hormone therapy (p<0.001), visceral metastases (p<0.001) and advanced disease at first diagnosis (p<0.05). SEGT ameliorated and prevented new DSM-IV depressive disorders (p = 0.002), reduced hopeless,helplessness (p = 0.004), trauma symptoms (p = 0.04) and improved social functioning (p = 0.03). Conclusions: SEGT did not prolong survival. It improved quality of life, including treatment of and protection against depression. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Cognitive-existential group psychotherapy for women with primary breast cancer: A randomised controlled trial

    PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 6 2003
    David W. Kissane
    Background. We conducted a randomised, controlled trial of cognitive-existential group therapy (CEGT) for women with early stage breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with the aim of improving mood and mental attitude to cancer. Methods. Women were randomised to 20 sessions of weekly group therapy plus 3 relaxation classes or to a control arm receiving 3 relaxation classes. Assessments, independently done at baseline, 6 and 12 months, included a structured psychiatric interview and validated questionnaires covering mood, attitudes to cancer, family relationships, and satisfaction with therapy. Results. Three hundred and three of 491 (62%) eligible patients participated over 3 years. Distress was high pre-intervention: 10% were diagnosed as suffering from major depression, 27% from minor depression and 9% from anxiety disorders. On an intention-to-treat analysis, there was a trend for those receiving group therapy (n=154) to have reduced anxiety (p=0.05, 2-sided) compared to controls (n=149). Women in group therapy also showed a trend towards improved family functioning compared to controls (p=0.07, 2-sided). The women in the groups reported greater satisfaction with their therapy (p<0.001, 2-sided), appreciating the support and citing better coping, self-growth and increased knowledge about cancer and its treatment. They valued the CEGT therapy. Overall effect size for the group intervention was small (d=0.25), with cancer recurrence having a deleterious effect in three of the 19 therapy groups. Psychologists as a discipline achieved a moderate mean effect size (d=0.52). Conclusion. CEGT is a useful adjuvant psychological therapy for women with early stage breast cancer. Interaction effects between group members and therapists are relevant to outcome. Group-as-a-whole effects are powerful, but the training and experience of the therapist is especially critical to an efficacious outcome. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    The first year after breast cancer diagnosis: hope and coping strategies as predictors of adjustment

    PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 2 2002
    Annette L. Stanton
    Given the marked individual variability in psychological adjustment in response to breast cancer, it is important to specify factors contributing to adaptive survivorship. This longitudinal study of 70 women with Stage I or II breast cancer tested the ability of situation-specific coping strategies and a more stable attribute, hope, to predict adjustment prospectively from the point shortly following diagnosis through the first year. Consonant with previous studies, coping through active acceptance at diagnosis predicted more positive adjustment across time, and avoidance-oriented coping predicted greater fear of cancer recurrence, over and above participant age and initial status on dependent variables. The hypothesis that coping through turning to religion would be more effective for less hopeful women was supported, and mixed support emerged for the hypothesis that approach-oriented coping strategies would yield greater adaptational benefits for women high in hope. Findings suggest that risk and protective factors for adjustment across the first year of survivorship can be identified even prior to definitive surgery for breast cancer, particularly when both dispositional characteristics such as hope and situation-specific coping strategies are considered. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Reduced Mortality Rate Associated with Annual Mammograms after Breast Cancer Therapy

    THE BREAST JOURNAL, Issue 1 2006
    Timothy L. Lash DSc
    Abstract: Guidelines have been developed for appropriate posttherapy surveillance for breast cancer recurrence. One purpose of posttherapy surveillance is to detect potentially curable local recurrences and new cancers in the opposite breast. The objective of this investigation was to assess the impact of annual mammography on all-cause mortality in breast cancer survivors. We conducted a case,control analysis nested in a cohort of 865 stage I or II breast cancer patients diagnosed from 1996 to 1999. The exposure variable was the number of mammograms received after completing primary therapy. Cases were decedents and we used risk-set sampling to match eight controls to each case on follow-up time. The mortality rate declined with an increasing number of mammograms (p for trend = 0.007). The age- and therapy-adjusted odds ratio associating receipt of an additional mammogram, compared with receipt of no mammogram, equaled 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53,1.1). These results are consistent with a protective effect of regular surveillance mammography after completing therapy for early stage breast cancer. [source]


    Local Recurrence of Breast Cancer in the Stereotactic Core Needle Biopsy Site: Case Reports and Review of the Literature

    THE BREAST JOURNAL, Issue 2 2001
    Celia Chao MD
    Abstract: Early mammographic detection of nonpalpable breast lesions has led to the increasing use of stereotactic core biopsies for tissue diagnosis. Tumor seeding the needle tract is a theorectical concern; the incidence and clinical significance of this potential complication are unknown. We report three cases of subcutaneous breast cancer recurrence at the stereotactic biopsy site after definitive treatment of the primary breast tumor. Two cases were clinically evident and relevant; the third was detected in the preclinical, microscopic state. All three patients underwent multiple passes during stereotactic large-core biopsies (14 gauge needle) followed by modified radical mastectomy. Two patients developed a subcutaneous recurrence at the site of the previous biopsy 12 and 17 months later; one had excision of the skin and dermis at the time of mastectomy revealing tumor cells locally. In summary, clinically relevant recurrence from tumor cells seeding the needle tract is reported in two patients after definitive surgical therapy (without adjuvant radiation therapy). Often, the biopsy site is outside the boundaries of surgical resection. Since the core needle biopsy exit site represents a potential area of malignant seeding and subsequent tumor recurrence, we recommend excising the stereotactic core biopsy tract at the time of definitive surgical resection of the primary tumor. [source]


    Outcomes following temporal bone resection,,

    THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 8 2010
    Nichole R. Dean DO
    Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: To evaluate survival outcomes in patients undergoing temporal bone resection. Study Design: Retrospective review. Methods: From 2002 to 2009 a total of 65 patients underwent temporal bone resection for epithelial (n = 47) and salivary (n = 18) skull base malignancies. Tumor characteristics, defect reconstruction, and postoperative course were assessed. Outcomes measured included disease-free survival and cancer recurrence. Results: The majority of patients presented with recurrent (65%), advanced stage (94%), cutaneous (72%), and squamous cell carcinoma (57%). Thirty-nine patients had perineural invasion (60%) and required facial nerve resection; 16 (25%) had intracranial extension. Local (n = 6), regional (n = 2), or free flap (n = 46) reconstruction was required in 80% of patients. Free flap donor sites included the anterolateral thigh (31%), radial forearm free flap (19%), rectus (35%), and latissimus (4%). The average hospital stay was 4.9 days (range, 1,28 days). The overall complication rate was 15% and included stroke (n = 4), cerebrospinal fluid leak (n = 2), hematoma formation (n = 1), infection (n = 1), flap loss (n = 1), and postoperative myocardial infarction (n = 1). A total of 22 patients (34%) developed cancer recurrence during the follow-up period (median, 10 months), 17 (77%) of whom presented with recurrent disease at the time of temporal bone resection. Two-year disease-free survival was 68%, and 5-year disease-free survival was 50%. Conclusions: Aggressive surgical resection and reconstruction is recommended for primary and recurrent skull base malignancies with acceptable morbidity and improved disease-free survival. Laryngoscope, 2010 [source]


    Lymphatic Mapping and Sentinel Lymphadenectomy for 106 Head and Neck Lesions: Contrasts Between Oral Cavity and Cutaneous Malignancy,

    THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue S109 2006
    FACS, Francisco J. Civantos MD
    Abstract Objectives: The objectives of this prospective series were to present our results in 106 sequential cases of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the head and neck region and contrast the experience in oral cancer with that for cutaneous lesions. Hypotheses: SLNB has an acceptably low complication rate in the head and neck. Lymphatic mapping and gamma probe-guided lymphadenectomy can improve the management of malignancies of the head and neck by more accurate identification of the nodal basins at risk and more accurate staging of the lymphatics. For appropriately selected patients, radionuclide lymphatic mapping may safely allow for minimally invasive sentinel lymphadenectomy without formal completion selective lymphadenectomy. Methods: One hundred six patients underwent intralesional radionuclide injection and radiologic lymphoscintigraphy (LS) on Institutional Review Board-approved protocols and 103 of these underwent successful SLNB. These included 35 patients with malignant melanoma, 10 cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, four lip cancers, eight Merkel cell carcinomas, two rare cutaneous lesions, and 43 oral cancers. Mean follow up was 24 months. Patients with oral cavity malignancy underwent concurrent selective neck dissection after narrow-exposure sentinel lymph node excision. In this group, the SLNB histopathology could be correlated with the completion neck specimen histopathology. Patients with cutaneous malignancy underwent SLNB alone and only received regional lymphadenectomy based on positive histology or clinical indications. Data were tabulated for anatomic drainage patterns, complications, histopathology, and patterns of cancer recurrence. Results: Surgical complications were rare. No temporary or permanent dysfunction of facial or spinal accessory nerves occurred with sentinel node biopsy. Lymphatic drainage to areas dramatically outside of the expected lymphatic basins occurred in 13.6%. Predictive value of a negative sentinel node was 98.2% for cutaneous malignancies (based on regional recurrence) and 92% with oral cancer (based on pathologic correlation). Gross tumor replacement of lymph nodes and redirection of lymphatic flow represented a significant technical issue in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Sixteen percent of patients with oral cancer were upstaged from N0 to N1 after extended sectioning and immunohistochemistry of the sentinel node. Conclusions: LS and SLNB can be performed with technical success in the head and neck region. Complications are minimal. More accurate staging and mapping of lymphatic drainage may improve the quality of standard lymphadenectomy. The potential for minimally invasive surgery based on this technology exists, but there is a small risk of missing positive disease. Whether the failure rate is greater than that of standard lymphadenectomy without gamma probe guidance is not known. New studies need to focus on refinements of technique and validation of accuracy as well as biologic correlates for the prediction of metastases. [source]


    Colorectal cancer stem cells

    ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 10 2009
    Paul Salama
    Abstract Somatic stem cells reside at the base of the crypts throughout the colonic mucosa. These cells are essential for the normal regeneration of the colonic epithelium. The stem cells reside within a special ,niche' comprised of intestinal sub-epithlial myofibroblasts that tightly control their function. It has been postulated that mutations within these adult colonic stem cells may induce neoplastic changes. Such cells can then dissociate from the epithelium and travel into the mesenchyme and thus form invasive cancers. This theory is based on the observation that within a colon cancer, less than 1% of the neoplastic cells have the ability to regenerate the tumour. It is this group of cells that exhibits characteristics of colonic stem cells. Although anti-neoplastic agents can induce remissions by inhibiting cell division, the stem cells appear to be remarkably resistant to both standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These stem cells may therefore persist after treatment and form the nucleus for cancer recurrence. Hence, future treatment modalities should focus specifically on controlling the cancer stem cells. In this review, we discuss the biology of normal and malignant colonic stem cells. [source]


    The independent value of tumour volume in a contemporary cohort of men treated with radical prostatectomy for clinically localized disease

    BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2010
    Sima P. Porten
    Study Type , Prognosis (case series) Level of Evidence 4 OBJECTIVE To determine if prostate tumour volume is an independent prognostic factor in a contemporary cohort of men who had a radical prostatectomy (RP) for clinically localized disease, as the effect of tumour volume on prostate cancer outcomes has not been consistently shown in the era of widespread screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 856 men who had RP from 1998 to 2007 for localized prostate cancer. Tumour volume based on pathology was analysed as a continuous and categorized (<0.26, 0.26,0.50, 0.51,1.00, 1.01,2.00, 2.01,4.00, >4.00 mL) variable using Cox proportional hazards regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis. A multivariable analysis was also conducted controlling for PSA level, Gleason grade, surgical margins, and pathological stage. RESULTS Tumour volume had a positive association with grade and stage, but did not correlate with biochemical recurrence-free survival on univariate analysis as a continuous variable (hazard ratio 1.00, P = 0.09), and was only statistically significant for volumes of >4 mL as a categorical variable. No tumour volume was an independent predictor of prostate cancer recurrence on multivariate analysis. There was no difference between tumour volume and time to cancer recurrence for organ-confined tumours using Kaplan-Meier analysis. In low-risk patients (PSA level <10 ng/mL, Gleason score ,6, clinical stage T1c/T2a) tumour volume did not correlate with biochemical recurrence-free survival in univariate or multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS There is no evidence that tumour volume is an independent predictor of prostate cancer outcome and it should not be considered as a marker of tumour risk, behaviour or prognosis. [source]


    Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for T1 renal cancer: the gold standard?

    BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2004
    A comparison of laparoscopic vs open nephrectomy
    OBJECTIVE To evaluate the complication rate and clinical follow-up of patients treated for T1 renal cancer by open or laparoscopic nephrectomy at the same institution, as this approach appears to be attractive for treating small renal cancers. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1995 and 2002, 39 patients underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic and 26 transperitoneal open radical nephrectomy for T1 renal cancer (TNM 1997). Variables before during and after surgery, e.g. cancer recurrence, were compared between the groups. RESULTS There were no differences between the laparoscopic and open groups in age, sex ratio, weight, height, fitness score, operative duration (134 vs 133 min), minor or major complications, tumour diameter, Fuhrman grade or length of follow-up. Patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery had less blood loss (133 vs 357 mL, P < 0.001), less need for transfusion (none vs 150 mL, P = 0.04), a lower consumption of analgesia drugs, and shorter hospitalization (5.5 vs 8.8 days, P < 0.001). With a mean follow-up of 20.4 months there was no recurrence or tumour progression. CONCLUSION Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for patients with T1 renal cancer is a safe, reliable procedure that decreases hospitalization time and bleeding, and ensures the same cancer control as open nephrectomy. [source]


    Study quantifies risk of breast cancer recurrence

    CA: A CANCER JOURNAL FOR CLINICIANS, Issue 6 2008
    Article first published online: 13 FEB 200
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Caring for cancer survivors,

    CANCER, Issue S18 2009
    A survey of primary care physicians
    Abstract BACKGROUND: The number of long-term US cancer survivors is expected to double by the year 2050. Although primary care physicians (PCPs) provide the majority of care for long-term cancer survivors, to the authors' knowledge, few data to date have detailed PCP practice patterns, attitudes, and challenges in caring for long-term cancer survivors. METHODS: Self-administered surveys were mailed to 406 community- and academic-based general internal medicine physicians in Denver, Colorado. Survey development included in-depth physician interviews and pretesting. Of the 299 responses, 72 were ineligible; an analysis of the data from 227 surveys is presented. RESULTS: The response rate was 76%. Community-based PCPs comprised 70% of completed surveys. Reported care patterns were assessed to create a multidimensional care score reflecting levels of attention to 4 areas of survivorship care: monitoring for cancer recurrence, management of late effects, sexual functioning, and mental health. Only 24% of PCPs met criteria for routinely providing more multidimensional survivorship care. More recent medical school graduates reported providing less multidimensional survivorship care when compared with their more experienced colleagues. Approximately 82% of PCPs believed that primary care guidelines for adult cancer survivors are not well defined, and 47% of PCPs cited inadequate preparation and lack of formal training in cancer survivorship as a problem when delivering care to long-term survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Although PCPs provide the bulk of care for long-term survivors within the survivorship phase of the cancer trajectory, only a small subset have reported providing multidimensional survivorship care. Results underscore a need for substantially increased training in survivorship care to support the delivery of multidimensional primary care for long-term survivors. Cancer 2009;115(18 suppl):4409,18. © 2009 American Cancer Society. [source]


    Influence of private practice setting and physician characteristics on the use of breast cancer adjuvant chemotherapy for elderly women,,

    CANCER, Issue 17 2009
    Dawn L. Hershman MD
    Abstract BACKGROUND: Although >70% of younger women with nonmetastatic breast cancer (BC) received adjuvant chemotherapy, only approximately 15% to 20% of elderly women with BC received chemotherapy. The decision to treat may be associated with nonmedical factors, such as patient, physician, or practice characteristics. In the current study, the association between oncologist characteristics and the receipt of chemotherapy in elderly women with BC was evaluated. METHODS: Women aged >65 years who were diagnosed with American Joint Committee on Cancer stages I to III BC between 1991 and 2002 were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database. The Physician Unique Identification Number was linked to the American Medical Association Masterfile to obtain information on oncologists. Investigated was the association between demographic, tumor, and oncologist-related factors and the receipt of chemotherapy, using Generalized Estimating Equations to control for clustering. Patients were defined as low risk (estrogen/progesterone receptor positive, stage I/II disease) and high risk (estrogen/progesterone receptor-negative, stage II/III disease). RESULTS: Of 42,544 women identified, 8714 (20%) were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. In a hierarchical analysis, women who underwent chemotherapy were more likely be treated by oncologists primarily employed in a private practice (odds ratio [OR], 1.40; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.23-1.59) and who graduated after 1975 (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01-1.26) and were less likely to have an oncologist trained in the United States (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74-0.93). The association between a private practice setting and the receipt of chemotherapy was found to be similar for patients at high risk (OR, 1.55) and low risk (OR, 1.35) for cancer recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly women with BC treated by oncologists who were employed in a private practice were more likely to receive chemotherapy. Efforts to determine whether these associations reflected experience, practice setting, insurance type, or other economic incentives are warranted. Cancer 2009. Published 2009 by the American Cancer Society. [source]


    Recurrences and second primary breast cancers in older women with initial early-stage disease

    CANCER, Issue 5 2007
    Ann M. Geiger MPH
    Abstract BACKGROUND. The association between common breast cancer therapies and recurrences and second primary breast cancers in older women is unclear, although older women are less likely to receive common therapies. METHODS. Women aged ,65 years who were diagnosed with stage I or II breast cancer and who underwent mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery (BCS) from 1990 to 1994 were identified from automated data from 6 healthcare systems and then were followed for 10 years or until breast cancer recurrence, disenrollment, or death. Trained abstractors reviewed medical records to obtain recurrence, tumor, treatment and demographic data. The authors used proportional hazards models to examine predictors of recurrent and second primary breast cancers adjusted for demographic and tumor factors. RESULTS. Of 1837 eligible women, 34% were ages 65 to 69 years, 46% were ages 70 to 79 years, and 20% were aged ,80 years. In multivariable models that used mastectomy as the reference group, BCS without radiation therapy was associated with an increased risk of any recurrent and second primary breast cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1,2.3), particularly with the subgroup of women with local and regional recurrence (HR, 3.5; 95% CI, 2.0,6.0). Tamoxifen use for <1 year versus ,5 years exhibited a borderline association with any recurrent or second primary breast cancer (HR, 1.9; 95% CI, 0.9,4.2). CONCLUSIONS. Radiation therapy after BCS and 5 years of tamoxifen use were beneficial in reducing recurrences and second primary breast cancers in older women, regardless of their age or comorbidity burden. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society. [source]


    Is breast cancer survival improving?

    CANCER, Issue 1 2004
    Trends in survival for patients with recurrent breast cancer diagnosed from 1974 through 2000
    Abstract BACKGROUND Despite advances in therapies for breast cancer, improvement in survival for patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer has been difficult to establish. The objective of the current study was to determine whether the survival of women with recurrent breast cancer has improved from 1974 to 2000. METHODS The authors analyzed the survival experience of 834 women who developed recurrent breast cancer between November 1974 and December 2000. All patients had been treated previously with adjuvant anthracycline-based protocols. Patients were divided into five consecutive groups based on year of breast cancer recurrence, and survival was compared across the five groups. Because some prognostic variables were divided unevenly divided among the cohorts, a multivariate model was created to determine the association of year of recurrence and survival after accounting for other prognostic factors. RESULTS In the unadjusted analysis, there was a statistically significant improvement in survival across the five groups, and the more recent cohorts had longer survival (P < 0.001). Other variables that predicted longer survival after breast cancer recurrence included smaller initial tumor size, lower stage of disease, fewer lymph nodes involved, longer disease-free interval, estrogen receptor,positive tumors, and nonvisceral dominant site of disease recurrence. In the multivariate analysis, which adjusted for these prognostic factors, year of recurrence was associated with a trend toward improved survival, with a 1% reduction in risk for each increasing year. CONCLUSIONS For these cohorts of patients, the authors present data suggesting that the prognosis for patients with recurrent breast cancer improved between 1974 and 2000. Cancer 2004;100:44,52. © 2003 American Cancer Society. [source]