Cancer

STK15 is a novel gene involved in centrosome function and normal chromosome segregation. Since DNA amplification is often correlated with poor prognosis, the current study explored whether STK15 expression in primary breast tumors maybe associated with prognosis, and found correlation with nuclear grade but not with other parameters studied, including survival.

The current study revealed that by using aggregate volumes or surface area measurements as tumor size estimates, multifocal/multicentric breast tumors had a significantly higher incidence of axillary lymph node metastases than unifocal tumors of similar volume or surface area. These results suggested that multifocal and unifocal tumors have a dissimilar biology and that consideration should be given to studying alternative T classification algorithms for multicentric/multifocal breast carcinomas.

Resection of lung metastases from breast carcinoma was associated with a significant 5-year survival rate of 45%. Whether these encouraging findings resulted from the surgical procedure itself or the preoperative selection of patients remained uncertain. When surgery is considered in this setting, the size of the largest metastasis and the disease-free interval should be taken into account.

A retrospective subset analysis of a large, randomized, Phase III trial suggests that treatment with 4 mg of zoledronic acid is more effective than 90 mg of pamidronate in reducing skeletal complications among patients with breast carcinoma. A multiple-event analysis demonstrated the superiority of zoledronic acid in all breast carcinoma patients regardless of the type of bone lesion. Among patients with at least one osteolytic lesion at study entry, patients who were treated with zoledronic acid had a significantly longer time to their first skeletal event.

In the current study, the authors analyzed the survival of 834 women who developed recurrent breast cancer between November 1974 and December 2000. Their findings suggest that the prognosis of patients with recurrent breast cancer has improved, with a 1% reduction in risk of death for each increasing year.

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma, which to the authors' knowledge is the most commonly occurring hereditary disorder that predisposes to colorectal carcinoma, harbors an array of diagnostic and management problems. These are predicated on physician knowledge of its phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity, in concert with the multifaceted problems that impact on patient compliance.

Suramin administered as a 1-hour bolus monthly × 3 to 58 patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma induced declines (> 50%) in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and objective responses with respect to measurable disease in 37.5% and 18.5% of patients, respectively. Responses with respect to PSA and pain also were observed in patients who were pretreated with chemotherapy.

The authors evaluated the relation between remaining life expectancy and other variables that predicted receipt of radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy for clinically localized prostate carcinoma. Older men underwent radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy less often than younger men with similar disease stage, tumor grade, prostate-specific antigen level, comorbidity, and remaining life expectancy.

Platinum-based regimens have been reported to improve response rates and survival in patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urothelial tract. However, the toxicities of platinum-based chemotherapy are considerable and regimens with reduced toxicity that can be administered to a broader group of TCC patients without sacrificing activity therefore are of interest. The authors evaluated the tolerability and efficacy of fixed doses of paclitaxel and methotrexate with escalating doses of gemcitabine in patients with previously untreated unresectable or metastatic TCC and reported an overall response rate of 57% and a median survival time of 18 months.

Surgery is effective in the treatment of endometrial carcinoma recurrences, although it is fraught with major complications and a high mortality rate. Careful selection of patients is required.

In the current study, radical hysterectomy was found to have a persistent and negative impact on patients' sexual interest and vaginal lubrication whereas the majority of other sexual and vaginal problems disappeared over time. Sexual and vaginal problems after radical hysterectomy should be discussed with the patient before and after surgery.

This study shows that splenic and nodal marginal zone lymphomas are indolent lymphomas with different presenting features but common morphologic and biologic characteristics, including high hepatitis C virus seroprevalence. Studies are required to identify specific biologic markers and to define the best treatment.

Any myelosuppression ≥ Grade 3 during imatinib mesylate therapy for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) was associated with a worse major cytogenetic response (P = 0.04) or a complete cytogenetic response (P = 0.01) to the drug, and the effect was even more pronounced with myelosuppression of > 2 weeks in duration. Myelosuppression is an independent, adverse factor for achieving a cytogenetic response with imatinib in patients with CML, and intervention with hematopoietic growth factors to minimize it should be investigated further.

Surgery may prolong the survival of selected patients with metastatic intraocular melanoma, but effective systemic treatment is urgently needed for this disease.

In this cross-sectional study, the authors assessed the association of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) with another malignancy in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, a study that was conducted in 40 communities throughout the U.S. and involved 93,676 postmenopausal women ages 50–79 years. In age-adjusted analyses, women with a history of NMSC (n = 7554 women) were 2.30 times as likely to report a history of another malignancy, other than NMSC, compared with women who had no history of NMSC (95% confidence interval, 2.18–2.44). The results provide evidence of an association between NMSC and another malignancy in a large, multiethnic population.

Screening mammography performs equally well in black women and white women after controlling for age, breast density, and time since previous mammogram. However, black women who present for a first screening mammogram with breast symptoms have significantly larger and higher-grade tumors compared with white women.

Previous studies have demonstrated an association between diabetes mellitus and cancer risk; however, to the author's knowledge, no data concerning the risk of cancer associated with subclinical impaired glucose tolerance have been published to date. The current study found that subclinical maternal glucose intolerance was associated with a dose-related increase in the risk of developing a malignant neoplasm, particularly of the breast.

The findings of the current study point to the significant impact of ethnic/racial influences on the health profiles of cancer survivors. The current analysis highlights the necessity of incorporating multiculturalism into research involving cancer survivors. The disparity in access to and provision of health care among minorities and the underserved is becoming a recognized shortcoming of society, and the complexities of this problem are numerous. Cancer research that has focused on prevention, etiology, and treatment has only minimally addressed ethnicity and race as important variables; consequently, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the impact of race and ethnicity on the prevention, etiology, and treatment of cancer.

Adjustments of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group criteria might be required for the diagnosis of invasive infections caused by saprophytic molds, especially non-Scedosporium spp., in patients with cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) are rare in patients age < 40 years and are extremely rare in patients age < 20 years. Such cases exhibit the same clinicopathologic findings as do PDACs in patients age > 40 years, except for a greater frequency of mucinous tumor phenotypes. PDACs in younger patients also are associated more often with inherited cancer syndromes, suggesting that younger patients have risk factors other than the usual risk factors for PDACs in elderly patients.

Suicidal ideation can change even in terminally ill patients with cancer. End-of- life care that is focused on the psychologic distress of dying individuals may be a way of preventing suicide. The suffering experienced by terminally ill cancer patients may be universal, irrespective of individual culture.

The authors compared quality-of-life results from a 10-week, group-based, cognitive-behavioral stress management intervention with results from a half-day seminar for men who were treated for localized prostate carcinoma. The 10-week program resulted in changes that were associated significantly with intervention-associated increases in perceived stress management skills.

Genistein is a naturally occurring compound that inhibits the formation of tumor blood vessels. The current study demonstrates that the antiangiogenic activity of Genistein most likely results from the inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and from the subsequent inhibition of VEGF gene expression.