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Solid Organ Malignancies (solid + organ_malignancy)
Selected AbstractsMalignancy after Heart Transplantation: Analysis of 24-Year Experience at a Single CenterJOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 5 2009Tahir Yagdi M.D. The incidence, spectrum, risk factors, and clinical impact of posttransplant malignancy were investigated in a cohort of patients with long-term follow-up at a single center. Methods: Data for 835 patients who underwent heart transplantation between 1979 and 2002 and survived beyond one month were retrospectively evaluated for posttransplant skin cancer, solid organ tumors, and lymphoma. Results: One hundred thirty-nine malignancies developed in 126 patients (15.1%). Skin cancer, solid organ tumors, and lymphoma represented 49%, 27%, and 24% of the malignancies, respectively. Mean patient age at transplantation for patients developing skin cancer, solid organ tumor, and lymphoma were 50 years, 51 years, and 46 years, respectively (p = 0.024). Risk factors for skin cancer were: age greater than 40 at transplantation, number of treated rejection episodes in the first year after transplantation, and smoking history. Variables associated with solid organ malignancy development were age and smoking history. There was no variable related to the development of posttransplant lymphoma. Median survival after diagnosis of skin cancer, solid organ tumor, and lymphoma were 5.0 years, 0.3 years, and 0.7 years, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Posttransplant malignancies have different risk factors and variable clinical impact. Older age at transplantation, smoking history, and more episodes of treated rejection were related to increased incidence of nonlymphoid malignancy incidence after heart transplantation, whereas no variable was associated with lymphoid malignancy. Skin cancers have a benign course, while solid organ malignancies and lymphomas carry an unfavorable prognosis. [source] SELECTIVE TARGETING OF THE TUMOUR VASCULATURE,ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 11 2008Lie S. Chan Selective targeting of the tumour vasculature in the treatment of solid organ malignancies is an alternative to conventional chemotherapy treatment. As the tumour progressively increases in size, angiogenesis or the formation of new vasculature is essential to maintain the tumour's continual growth and survival. Therefore disrupting this angiogenic process or targeting the neovasculature can potentially hinder or prevent further tumour expansion. Many anti angiogenic agents have been investigated with many currently in clinical trials and exhibiting varied results. Vascular disrupting agents such as the Combretastatins and OXi 4503 have shown promising preclinical results and are currently being examined in clinical trials. [source] Anticoagulation prophylaxis for central venous catheter-associated thrombosis in cancer patients: An Australian perspectiveASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Suzanne KOSMIDER Abstract Background: The use of indwelling central venous catheters (CVC) for chemotherapy delivery is essential for people receiving therapies by protracted venous infusion and for patients with difficult venous access. Complications include infection and catheter-related thrombosis. Strategies have been suggested to prevent catheter-related thrombosis, however, there is no clear consensus on how to proceed. Guidelines recommend against the use of prophylactic anticoagulation in adult patients with solid organ malignancies and an indwelling CVC. We investigated the practice of Australian medical oncologists. Methods: A written questionnaire was mailed to all members of the Medical Oncology Group of Australia assessing practices of prophylactic anticoagulation in adult patients with solid organ malignancies and CVC. Results: Responses were obtained from 141 (55%) medical oncologists and from 40 advanced trainees. Ten percent (n = 4) of oncology trainees and 18.4% (n = 26) of medical oncologists routinely administered anticoagulants to patients with a CVC without a previous history of line-related thrombus. The most common strategy employed (73% of those using anticoagulation) was to recommend 1 mg of warfarin. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that a significant number of patients in Australia receive routine anticoagulation, the most popular strategy being the use of low-dose warfarin. Based on our results there is a clear need for further education regarding the lack of supporting data and the potential harm that may ensue. [source] Natural history, growth kinetics, and outcomes of untreated clinically localized renal tumors under active surveillanceCANCER, Issue 13 2009Paul L. Crispen MD Abstract BACKGROUND: The growth kinetics of untreated solid organ malignancies are not defined. Radiographic active surveillance (AS) of renal tumors in patients unfit or unwilling to undergo intervention provides an opportunity to quantify the natural history of untreated localized tumors. The authors report the radiographic growth kinetics of renal neoplasms during a period of surveillance. METHODS: The authors identified patients with enhancing renal masses who were radiographically observed for at least 12 months. Clinical and pathological records were reviewed to determine tumor growth kinetics and clinical outcomes. Tumor growth kinetics were expressed in terms of absolute and relative linear and volumetric growth. RESULTS: The authors identified 172 renal tumors in 154 patients under AS. Median tumor diameter and volume on presentation were 2.0 cm (mean, 2.5; range, 0.4-12.0) and 4.18 cm3 (mean, 20.0; range, 0.033-904). Median duration of follow-up was 24 months (mean, 31; range, 12-156). A significant association between presenting tumor size and proportional growth was noted, with smaller tumors growing faster than larger tumors. Thirty-nine percent (68 of 173) of tumors underwent delayed intervention, and 84% (57 of 68) were pathologically malignant. Progression to metastatic disease was noted in 1.3% (2 of 154) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The authors demonstrated the association between a tumor's volume and subsequent growth, with smaller tumors exhibiting significantly faster volumetric growth than larger tumors, consistent with Gompertzian kinetics. Surveillance of localized renal tumors is associated with a low rate of disease progression in the intermediate term, and suggests potential overtreatment biases in select patients. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society. [source] | ||||||||||