The follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) is the second most common histotype among papillary thyroid cancers (PTCs). Although the prognosis of FVPTC is similar to the conventional phenotype, differential diagnostic difficulties may not be uncommon with other follicular thyroid neoplasms, and little is known about their genetic alterations. Defining these alterations may lead to the identification of diagnostic and biologic markers. »
06/15/10

This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy of gabapentin for the treatment of pain syndromes related to radiation-induced mucositis in patients with head and neck cancers treated with concurrent chemoradiation. »
06/08/10

Non muscle invasive bladder cancers recur frequently and identification of biomarkers for predicting recurrence are necessary. The present study evaluated the individual and synergistic effects of tumor suppressor (p53/p21waf1) and angiogenesis [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/endoglin (CD105)] markers. »
06/23/10

Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine), a nucleoside derivative isolated from Cordyceps militaris, reportedly has antitumor effects, but its effect on the regulation of matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9), which regulates invasion and migration by cancer cells, has not been clearly elucidated. »
06/17/10

Bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease: approximately 75% of its forms are non muscle invasive neoplasms. Standard treatment for non muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) consists of complete transurethral resection (TURB) of all visible lesions. »
06/01/10

Recent studies have demonstrated a poor prognosis for patients who have altered expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) in several cancer types. The objective of the current study was to investigate the prognostic impact of PAI-1 on patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder. »
06/18/10

1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25D(3)) potentiates the cytotoxic effects of several common chemotherapeutic agents. The combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin is a current standard chemotherapy regimen for bladder cancer. The authors investigated whether 1,25D(3) could enhance the antitumor activity of gemcitabine and cisplatin in bladder cancer model systems. »
07/01/10

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. These tumors may occur in any region but are most commonly reported in the stomach and the small intestine. GISTs originate from the neoplastic transformation of the intestinal pacemaker cell, the interstitial cell of Cajal. Cajal cells are neuron-derived cells that migrate from the neural crest to the intestine, and the GISTs stemming from these are different from classical mesenchymal tumors such as leiomyoma. »
03/26/10

Helical tomotherapy, an advanced intensity-modulated radiation therapy with integrated CT imaging, permits highly conformal irradiation with sparing of normal tissue. Capecitabine, a pro-drug of 5-FU that induces thymidine phosphorylase can achieve higher levels of intracellular 5-FU when administered concurrently with radiation. We evaluated the feasibility as well as the clinical outcome of concurrent administration of capecitabine with tomotherapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. »
06/28/10

The Primary Breast Lymphomas (PBL) represent 0,38-0,70% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), 1,7-2,2% of all extranodal NHL and only 0,04-0,5% of all breast cancer. Most frequent PBLs are the diffuse large B cell lymphomas; in any case-reports MALT lymphomas lack or are a rare occurrence. Their incidence is growing. From 1880 (first breast resection for "lymphadenoid sarcoma" carried out by Gross) to the recent past the gold standard treatment for such diseases was surgery. At present such role has lost some of its importance, and it is matter of debate. »
06/28/10