Larger Tumors (larger + tumor)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Terms modified by Larger Tumors

  • larger tumor size

  • Selected Abstracts


    Common single nucleotide polymorphism of hypoxia-inducible factor-1, and its impact on the clinicopathological features of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

    JOURNAL OF DIGESTIVE DISEASES, Issue 4 2005
    Ting Sheng LING
    OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis is one of the most important molecular events in solid tumor development and growth, in which hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1, is a key regulator and plays an important role. Studies have shown that a single nucleotide polymorphism (C1772T) in the HIF-1, gene exerts a large effect on the phenotype of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma. But the impact of the C1772T polymorphism on the clinicopathological features of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown, and thus it is the main focus of our study. METHODS: The C1772T genotype of 95 ESCC patients and 104 healthy controls were studied by using the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Mutations were confirmed by direct DNA sequencing. The impact of C1772T on tumor size, invasive depth, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, histological grade and TNM stage was also studied. RESULTS: The genotype frequency observed in the patients and controls was 11.58% versus 10.58%, respectively, for genotype C/T (P > 0.05). Genotype T/T was not found in our study. Larger tumors and a higher rate of lymph node metastasis was found for the C/T group. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is no significant difference of genotype distribution between ESCC patients and healthy controls, genotype C/T is associated with larger tumor and higher rate of lymph node metastasis. [source]


    Do young hepatocellular carcinoma patients have worse prognosis?

    LIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2006
    The paradox of age as a prognostic factor in the survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients
    Abstract: Background/Aims: Our previous study showed that male hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients below 40 years of age had the worst survival in the initial several years, but had the best prognosis thereafter. Thus, it seems that age has a paradoxical influence on the prognosis. To further clarify the issue of age on HCC prognosis, we initiated this study. Methods: A total of 11 312 HCC cases from seven medical centers from 1986 to 2002 were included. We analyzed the 1-year survival and survival after 1 year. Results: Male gender, age younger than 40 years old and hepatitis B virus (HBV) were associated with worse 1-year survival. In contrast, male gender, age younger than 40 years old and HBV were associated with better survival after 1 year. Higher percentage of the young HCC patients had a tumor size larger than 3 cm. 83.7% of HCC patients below 40 years of age were male and 89.8% of them were HBV carriers. Conclusions: If we encountered a young HCC patient, the patient will probably be a male HBV carrier. He would probably have larger tumor and is more likely to expire within 1 year than the older HCC patients. However, if the young HCC patient can survive for more than 1 year, he would probably have better survival in the following years than the older patients. [source]


    THE TECHNICAL FUNDAMENTALS OF ENDOSCOPIC MUCOSAL RESECTION IN THE COLON: OUR METHOD

    DIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 2004
    Yasushi Oda
    ABSTRACT Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is the technique used to resect flat or depressed tumors or larger tumors such as laterally spreading tumors with marginal normal mucosa. Recently, endoscopic mucosal dissection technique has been rapidly accepted, mainly in early gastric cancer in Japan. We need to have firm knowledge of EMR technique in the colon for recovery as we advance this new technique. We describe our conventional EMR method practically. EMR should be performed to locate the target lesion at down side to perform sure EMR. The ideal shape of upheaval by saline injection is hemisphere. The needle sheath and snare should be taken out a little of the endoscopy to manipulate firmly. Another technique of secure EMR is the snare manipulation. We prefer that the shape of the snare is circular and the snare is hard. It is important while trapping to press the target lesion with both the whole snare circle and the end of the sheath. With these fundamental procedures we could resect the target lesions at will. [source]


    Tumor expressed PTHrP facilitates prostate cancer-induced osteoblastic lesions

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 10 2008
    Jinhui Liao
    Abstract Expression of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) correlates with prostate cancer skeletal progression; however, the impact of prostate cancer-derived PTHrP on the microenvironment and osteoblastic lesions in skeletal metastasis has not been completely elucidated. In this study, PTHrP overexpressing prostate cancer clones were stably established by transfection of full length rat PTHrP cDNA. Expression and secretion of PTHrP were verified by western blotting and IRMA assay. PTHrP overexpressing prostate cancer cells had higher growth rates in vitro, and generated larger tumors when inoculated subcutaneously into athymic mice. The impact of tumor-derived PTHrP on bone was investigated using a vossicle co-implant model. Histology revealed increased bone mass adjacent to PTHrP overexpressing tumor foci, with increased osteoblastogenesis, osteoclastogenesis and angiogenesis. In vitro analysis demonstrated pro-osteoclastic and pro-osteoblastic effects of PTHrP. PTHrP enhanced proliferation of bone marrow stromal cells and early osteoblast differentiation. PTHrP exerted a pro-angiogenic effect indirectly, as it increased angiogenesis but only in the presence of bone marrow stromal cells. These data suggest PTHrP plays a role in tumorigenesis in prostate cancer, and that PTHrP is a key mediator for communication and interactions between prostate cancer and the bone microenvironment. Prostate cancer-derived PTHrP is actively involved in osteoblastic skeletal progression. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Spoke-wheel-like enhancement as an important imaging finding of chromophobe cell renal carcinoma: A retrospective analysis on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 10 2004
    TSUNENORI KONDO
    Abstract Aim:, Little information has been reported with regard to the radiological features of chromophobe cell renal carcinomas (CCRC). The aim of the present study was to identify imaging characteristics which lead to the histological diagnosis of CCRC. Methods:, The imaging findings of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were retrospectively analyzed in 11 patients with CCRC operated on at Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. Results:, None of the factors studied were significant in distinguishing the two variants, typical and eosinophilic variants. Enhanced CT scans showed a spoke-wheel-like enhancement with a central scar in 3 patients (27%). The radiological patterns were classified into two groups. Seven patients (64%) showed pattern 1 in which: (i) a hypodense to isodense enhancement compared to the renal medulla in the corticomedullary phase during dynamic CT; (ii) an isodense mass compared to the renal medulla in unenhanced CT scan; and (iii) a lobulated appearance were typically observed. Four patients (36%) showed pattern 2 that seemed to be similar to the features of clear cell carcinoma, having an alveolar structure including a hyperdense enhancement in the corticomedullary phase and an inhomogeneous appearance. A spoke-wheel-like enhancement was observed only in patients with pattern 1, and was more clearly demonstrated in larger tumors. Conclusions:, The CT and MRI findings in CCRC patients were not uniform, but it was noted that a spoke-wheel-like enhancement with a central stellate scar, which might have been mistaken for oncocytoma, was one of important findings of CCRC. Tumors demonstrating a spoke-wheel-like enhancement with a central scar should be carefully managed, because they could be malignant. [source]


    Prognostic indicators in node-negative advanced gastric cancer patients

    JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 7 2010
    Hiroaki Saito MD
    Abstract Background and Objectives Despite carrying better overall prognoses, some node-negative gastric cancer patients die from recurrent malignancies. Identifying factors associated with disease-specific survival in adequately staged node-negative gastric cancer is important, as these patients are presumably free of microscopic regional metastases and may derive significant benefit from existing or future adjuvant strategies. Methods To investigate significant prognostic indicators in node-negative advanced gastric cancer patients, we reviewed 777 advanced gastric cancer patients who had undergone curative gastrectomies. Results The 5-year survival rate of node-negative advanced gastric cancer patients is 84.9%, which is significantly better than that of patients with lymph node metastasis. Multivariate analysis indicated that tumor size, histology, and depth of invasion are independent prognostic factors. The 5-year survival rate of patients with larger tumors (,7,cm), poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and serosal invasion was 49.1%, which was significantly worse that of patients with fewer or none of these factors. Conclusions Tumor size, histology, and the presence of serosal invasion are strong indicators of poor prognosis in node-negative advanced gastric cancer patients. J. Surg. Oncol. 2010; 101:622,625. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Relationship of clinical and pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and outcome of locally advanced breast cancer,

    JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 1 2002
    Csaba Gajdos MD
    Abstract Background and Objectives Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancers produces histologically evaluable changes and frequently reduces the size of the primary tumor. Local clinical response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy may correlate with response of distant metastases. Therefore, clinical or pathological factors, which predict or assess response to treatment, may predict outcome after consideration for initial extent of disease. Methods To identify pretreatment characteristics of locally advanced breast cancers which predict clinical and pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy as well as survival and to assess the utility of postoperative histologic changes, we retrospectively studied one hundred forty-four patients with locally advanced breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy between January 1975 and July 1996. Patients were identified through pathology records of the Mount Sinai Medical Center and via one of the author's clinical databases. Pathologic and clinical responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy were correlated with survival. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify variables most significantly related to clinical response and pathologic axillary lymph node involvement. Results Complete clinical response with no palpable tumor was noted in 7/86 patients (8%) and complete pathologic response was achieved in 18/138 patients (13%). Both clinical (P,=,0.038) and pathologic response (P,=,0.011) were related to tumor size at the time of diagnosis: smaller tumors were more likely to respond to chemotherapy than larger tumors. Histologic evidence of chemotherapeutic effect, i.e., cytoplasmic vacuolization, change in the number of mitoses and localized fibrosis in lymph nodes did not correlate with clinical or pathologically measured response. Clinical and pathologic response was not associated with age, histology, differentiation, or type of chemotherapy. No residual tumor was found in the axillary nodes of 27% (37) of the patients. Age and complete pathologic response were the only variables significantly related to pathologic nodal status. Eighty-four percent of the 61 patients under 50 years of age had nodal involvement compared to 65% of older patients (P,=,0.014). Fifty percent of complete pathologic responders had positive axillary lymph nodes compared to 76% of patients who did not have a complete pathologic response (P,=,0.020). Distant disease-free (P,=,0.039) and overall survival (P,=,0.035) were related to the number of involved axillary lymph nodes. After consideration for pathologic lymph node status, no other variable was significantly related to distant disease-free or overall survival in multivariate analysis. No variable was significantly related to local disease-free survival. Age, clinical tumor size, clinical lymph node status, clinical response, type of chemotherapy, histology, differentiation, chemotherapy effects on primary tumor and lymph nodes, decline in the number of mitoses, and degree of fibrosis in nodes were not predictive of distant recurrence or overall survival. Conclusions This study of patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancers found little evidence that measurable clinical or pathologic changes attributable to chemotherapy predicted survival. Axillary lymph node status, associated with young age, was the most important prognostic indicator in these patients. J. Surg. Oncol. 2002;80:4,11. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Prediction of clinically insignificant prostate cancer by detection of allelic imbalance at 6q, 8p and 13q

    PATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2008
    Masataka Nakano
    The criterion tumor volume (TV) for clinically insignificant prostate cancer has been reported, but it differs from study to study: some have reported TV < 200 mm3; others, < 500 mm3. The aim of the present study was to distinguish clinically insignificant cancers from significant ones using molecular biological methods. A total of 184 microscopic cancers (MC) defined as limited within a 3 mm circle and 82 main tumor (MT) nodules were selected. Thirteen microsatellite loci at 6q22, 8p23.2,23, 13q14 and 13q33 were evaluated for loss of heterozygosity (LOH). MT were subgrouped as TV , 500 mm3 or <500 mm3; TV , 200 mm3 or < 200 mm3; and TV < 200 mm3, 200 mm3 , TV < 500 mm3 or TV , 500 mm3; and frequencies of LOH were compared between these three groups. Frequencies of LOH at 6q16,21, 6q22, 8p23.1, 8p23.2, 13q14 were significantly lower in MC (1.0%, 2.7%, 1.9%, 1.1% and 5.4%) than in MT (30.9%, 40.4%, 12%, 8.7% and 20.6%), but no significant differences in LOH frequency were found within each of the three TV groups, between each cut-off. When insignificant tumor is defined as TV < 200 mm3 or < 500 mm3, it should include tumors with malignant potential equivalent to larger tumors. It is suggested that in order to identify insignificant tumor within a strict safety range, TV should be set lower. [source]


    Comparison of Animal Models for Head and Neck Cancer Cachexia,

    THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 12 2007
    Trinitia Cannon MD
    Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: Despite its negative impact on cancer patients, there are few animal models of cancer cachexia. Our hypothesis was that different human cell lines would variably induce cachexia. Study Design: Prospective animal study. Methods: We established two xenograft models in athymic mice and compared these with a cachexigenic cell line, the murine adenocarcinoma 16 (MAC16) cell line. Eight-week-old female, athymic mice were injected with human head and neck cell lines (JHU022, JHU012) and the MAC16 cell line. Body weight, food intake, body composition, leg weights, serum cytokines, and lipid mobilizing factor (LMF) were compared. Results: Mean food intake for all groups was equivalent. Mean percent change in body weight after 18 days was 18%, 19%, 12%, and 3% for control, JHU012, JHU022, and MAC16 experimental groups, respectively. Both JHU022- and MAC16-injected mice showed wasting even when tumor burden was low. In contrast, mice injected with JHU012 developed larger tumors yet lacked evidence of cachexia. These mice demonstrated loss of lean body mass but not fat mass. Serum cytokine levels for interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-1, were elevated in JHU022-bearing mice, whereas IL-1,, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-,, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF)-, were elevated in MAC16-bearing mice. LMF was present in both the JHU022 and JHU012 cell lines. Conclusions: The JHU022 cell line caused more severe cachexia than the JHU012 cells, suggesting these cell lines may be used to further study cancer cachexia. IL-1, and IL-1, in the JHU022 model may be mediators of cachexia, whereas TNF-,, IFN-,, and IL-6 may be mediators in MAC16-induced cachexia. [source]


    Algorithm for Reconstruction After Endoscopic Pituitary and Skull Base Surgery,

    THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 7 2007
    Abtin Tabaee MD
    Abstract Introduction: The expanding role of endoscopic skull base surgery necessitates a thorough understanding of the indications, techniques, and limitations of the various approaches to reconstruction. The technique and outcomes of endoscopic skull base reconstruction remain incompletely described in the literature. Study Design and Methods: Patients undergoing endoscopic skull base surgery underwent an algorithmic approach to reconstruction based on tumor location, defect size, and presence of intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. A prospective database was reviewed to determine the overall efficacy of reconstruction and to identify risk factors for postoperative CSF leak. Results: The diagnosis in the 127 patients in this series included pituitary tumor in 70 (55%) patients, encephalocele in 16 (12.6%) patients, meningioma in 11 (8.7%) patients, craniopharyngioma in 9 (7.1%) patients, and chordoma in 6 (4.7%) patients. Successful reconstruction was initially achieved in 91.3% of patients. Eleven (8.7%) patients experienced postoperative CSF leak, 10 of which resolved with lumbar drainage alone. One (0.8%) patient required revision surgery. Correlation between postoperative CSF leak and study variables revealed a statistically significant longer duration of surgery (243 vs. 178 min, P = .008) and hospitalization (12.1 vs. 4.5 days, P < .0001) and a trend toward larger tumors (mean, 3.2 vs. 2.3 cm; P = .058) in patients experiencing postoperative CSF leak. Conclusion: The algorithm for reconstruction after endoscopic surgery presented in this study is associated with excellent overall efficacy. A greater understanding of risk factors for postoperative CSF leak is imperative to achieve optimal results. [source]


    Long-Term Results of Endonasal Sinus Surgery in Sinonasal Papillomas

    THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 9 2003
    Marcel Kraft MD
    Abstract Objective To assess the value of endonasal sinus surgery in the management of sinonasal papillomas. Study Design Retrospective study including 43 patients operated on for sinonasal papilloma in a long-term follow-up. Methods In 26 cases (60%) an endonasal approach, in eight cases (19%) an external approach, and in four cases (9%) a combined procedure was performed to remove these tumors. Five septal lesions (12%) were resected under direct vision. The original sections and charts of all patients were reviewed to assess clinical data. Follow-up information was available for 42 of our patients (98%) with a mean follow-up of 62 months. Results Histologic examination revealed 34 cases of inverted papilloma (79%), five cases of exophytic papilloma (12%), and four cases of columnar cell papilloma (9%). Malignancy occurred in 4 of 43 patients (9%), and recurrences developed in 8 of 42 patients (19%). Two of these recurrences happened after endoscopic sinus surgery (two inverted papillomas), three after lateral rhinotomy (three inverted papillomas), one after a combined procedure (one inverted papilloma), and two after simple resection (two exophytic papilloma). Conclusions In keeping with our experience, the endonasal endoscopic approach, often in combination with a medial maxillectomy, is favored for the treatment of sinonasal papilloma because of a lower recurrence rate and a better cosmetic result. In some larger tumors and lesions in difficult locations, better visualization can be obtained by a combined external and endonasal approach. [source]


    Life expectancy of screen-detected invasive breast cancer patients compared with women invited to the Nijmegen screening program

    CANCER, Issue 3 2010
    Johannes D. M. Otten
    Abstract BACKGROUND: Screening can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer and thus to an improvement in survival. The authors studied the life expectancy of women with screen-detected invasive breast cancer (patients) compared with women invited to the breast cancer screening program in Nijmegen, the Netherlands (comparison group). METHODS: Each patient diagnosed between 1975 and 2006 was randomly age-matched with a woman invited in the same calendar year and free from breast cancer at the time of diagnosis of the patient. Survival analyses were performed to study differences in life expectancy. RESULTS: The life expectancy for 858 patients was 6 years shorter than for the comparison group. However, for 360 patients with small (<15 mm) invasive breast cancer, life expectancy was similar to that of the comparison group. In contrast, for patients detected with larger tumors (,15 mm) the life expectancy was 6 to 12 years shorter, depending on tumor size. Furthermore, life expectancy was modified by screening history. For patients who had a negative screening examination 2 years before the detection of their breast cancer, the difference in life expectancy from the comparison group became smaller for the larger tumor sizes (,15 mm). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, about 40% (360 of 858) of all women with invasive screen-detected breast cancer have the same life expectancy as women from the comparison group (reflecting the general population). For women diagnosed with larger tumors at diagnosis, life expectancy diminishes with increasing tumor size and is modified by screening history. Cancer 2010. © 2009 American Cancer Society. [source]


    Estimating breast cancer-specific and other-cause mortality in clinical trial and population-based cancer registry cohorts

    CANCER, Issue 22 2009
    James J. Dignam PhD
    Abstract BACKGROUND: To compute net cancer-specific survival rates using population data sources (eg, the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results [SEER] Program), 2 approaches primarily are used: relative survival (observed survival adjusted for life expectancy) and cause-specific survival based on death certificates. The authors of this report evaluated the performance of these estimates relative to a third approach based on detailed clinical follow-up history. METHODS: By using data from Cancer Cooperative Group clinical trials in breast cancer, the authors estimated 1) relative survival, 2) breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) determined from death certificates, and 3) BCSS obtained by attributing cause according to clinical events after diagnosis, which, for this analysis was considered the benchmark "true" estimate. Noncancer life expectancy also was compared between trial participants, SEER registry patients, and the general population. RESULTS: Among trial patients, relative survival overestimated true BCSS in patients with lymph node-negative breast cancer; whereas, in patients with lymph node-positive breast cancer, the 2 estimates were similar. For higher risk patients (younger age, larger tumors), relative survival accurately estimated true BCSS. In lower risk patients, death certificate BCSS was more accurate than relative survival. Noncancer life expectancy was more favorable among trial participants than in the general population and among SEER patients. Tumor size at diagnosis, which is a potential surrogate for screening use, partially accounted for this difference. CONCLUSIONS: In the clinical trials, relative survival accurately estimated BCSS in patients who had higher risk disease despite more favorable other-cause mortality than the population at large. In patients with lower risk disease, the estimate using death certificate information was more accurate. For SEER data and other data sources where detailed postdiagnosis clinical history was unavailable, death certificate-based estimates of cause-specific survival may be a superior choice. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society. [source]


    Increasing incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer in the United States, 1988,2005

    CANCER, Issue 16 2009
    Amy Y. Chen MD
    Abstract BACKGROUND: Studies have reported an increasing incidence of thyroid cancer since 1980. One possible explanation for this trend is increased detection through more widespread and aggressive use of ultrasound and image-guided biopsy. Increases resulting from increased detection are most likely to involve small primary tumors rather than larger tumors, which often present as palpable thyroid masses. The objective of the current study was to investigate the trends in increasing incidence of differentiated (papillary and follicular) thyroid cancer by size, age, race, and sex. METHODS: Cases of differentiated thyroid cancer (1988-2005) were analyzed using the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) dataset. Trends in incidence rates of papillary and follicular cancer, race, age, sex, primary tumor size (<1.0 cm, 1.0-2.9 cm, 3.0-3.9 cm, and >4 cm), and SEER stage (localized, regional, distant) were analyzed using joinpoint regression and reported as the annual percentage change (APC). RESULTS: Incidence rates increased for all sizes of tumors. Among men and women of all ages, the highest rate of increase was for primary tumors <1.0 cm among men (1997-2005: APC, 9.9) and women (1988-2005: APC, 8.6). Trends were similar between whites and blacks. Significant increases also were observed for tumors ,4 cm among men (1988-2005: APC, 3.7) and women (1988-2005: APC, 5.70) and for distant SEER stage disease among men (APC, 3.7) and women (APC, 2.3). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rates of differentiated thyroid cancers of all sizes increased between 1988 and 2005 in both men and women. The increased incidence across all tumor sizes suggested that increased diagnostic scrutiny is not the sole explanation. Other explanations, including environmental influences and molecular pathways, should be investigated. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society. [source]


    Natural history, growth kinetics, and outcomes of untreated clinically localized renal tumors under active surveillance

    CANCER, Issue 13 2009
    Paul 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]


    Marital status, treatment, and survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme

    CANCER, Issue 9 2005
    A population-based study
    Abstract BACKGROUND Social factors influence cancer treatment choices, potentially affecting patient survival. In the current study, the authors studied the interrelations between marital status, treatment received, and survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GM), using population-based data. METHODS The data source was the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Public Use Database, 1988,2001, 2004 release, all registries. Multivariate logistic, ordinal, and Cox regression analyses adjusted for demographic and clinical variables were used. RESULTS Of 10,987 patients with GM, 67% were married, 31% were unmarried, and 2% were of unknown marital status. Tumors were slightly larger at the time of diagnosis in unmarried patients (49% of unmarried patients had tumors larger than 45 mm vs. 45% of married patients; P = 0.004, multivariate analysis). Unmarried patients were less likely to undergo surgical resection (vs. biopsy; 75% of unmarried patients vs. 78% of married patients) and were less likely to receive postoperative radiation therapy (RT) (70% of unmarried patients vs. 79% of married patients). On multivariate analysis, the odds ratio (OR) for resection (vs. biopsy) in unmarried patients was 0.88 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.79,0.98; P = 0.02), and the OR for RT in unmarried patients was 0.69 (95% CI, 0.62,0.77; P < 0.001). Unmarried patients more often refused both surgical resection and RT. Unmarried patients who underwent surgical resection and RT were found to have a shorter survival than similarly treated married patients (hazard ratio for unmarried patients, 1.10; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS Unmarried patients with GM presented with larger tumors, were less likely to undergo both surgical resection and postoperative RT, and had a shorter survival after diagnosis when compared with married patients, even after adjustment for treatment and other prognostic factors. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society. [source]


    Overexpression of osteopontin is associated with intrahepatic metastasis, early recurrence, and poorer prognosis of surgically resected hepatocellular carcinoma

    CANCER, Issue 1 2003
    Hung-Wei Pan M.S.
    Abstract BACKGROUND Intrahepatic metastasis via portal vein spread is an important feature and a crucial unfavorable prognostic factor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To identify the molecular factors for tumor progression, the authors used differential display (DD) to analyze aberrant gene expression in HCC. The goal of the current study was to elucidate the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of osteopontin (OPN) in HCC progression. METHODS OPN mRNA levels, which were increased preferentially in HCC in a DD assay and verified with Northern blotting, were measured in 240 surgically removed, unifocal, primary HCCs using the reverse transcription,polymerase chain reaction at the exponential phase. OPN mRNA expression was correlated with clinicopathologic features, particularly portal vein invasion, early tumor recurrence, and prognosis. RESULTS Osteopontin mRNA was overexpressed in 133 tumors (55%). The OPN overexpression was associated closely with ,-fetoprotein elevation (P = 0.001), p53 mutation (P = 0.021), larger tumors (P = 0.002), high-grade HCC (P < 0.001), late-stage HCC (P < 0.001), early tumor recurrence and/or metastasis (P = 0.003), and a lower 10-year survival rate (P = 0.00013). Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor stage and early tumor recurrence were crucial prognostic factors. In early-stage HCC, which has no vascular invasion and a lower early tumor recurrence than late-stage HCC, OPN mRNA overexpression predicted a higher early recurrence rate (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS OPN mRNA overexpression was correlated closely with high-grade, late-stage, and early tumor recurrence, which lead to poorer prognosis. Osteopontin overexpression might serve as an unfavorable prognostic factor and a useful marker for predicting early recurrence in early-stage HCC. Cancer 2003;98:119,27. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11487 [source]


    Prognostic factors in patients with Hürthle cell neoplasms of the thyroid

    CANCER, Issue 5 2003
    Luis Lopez-Penabad M.D.
    Abstract BACKGROUND Hürthle cell neoplasms, often considered a variant of follicular thyroid neoplasms, represent 3% of thyroid carcinomas. Only a handful of publications have focused on the biologic behavior, prognostic factors, and treatment outcomes of Hürthle cell carcinoma. The objective of the current study was to identify the clinical and pathologic features of Hürthle cell carcinomas that predict disease progression or death. METHODS The authors reviewed medical records of patients who were treated for Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC) and Hürthle cell adenoma (HCA) at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from March 1944 to February 1995, including follow-up information. The pathologic diagnosis was confirmed by one of the authors. RESULTS The authors identified 127 patients with Hürthle cell neoplasms, 89 patients with HCC and 38 patients with HCA. Seven patients with HCC had foci of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Survival for this subgroup was worse compared with the overall group and was analyzed separately. The HCC group was significantly older (age 51.8 years vs. age 43.1. years) and had larger tumors (4.3 cm vs. 2.9 cm) compared with the HCA group. No differences were seen in gender or previous radiation exposure. Forty percent of patients in the HCC group died of thyroid carcinoma, whereas no patients in the HCA group died of the disease. There has been no improvement in all-cause and disease specific mortality in the past 5 decades for patients with these neoplasms. Conventional staging systems predicted mortality with minor differences. Of the patients with known metastasis, 38% showed radioiodine uptake. Univariate analysis identified older age, higher disease stage, tumor size, extraglandular invasion, multifocality, lymph node disease, distant metastasis, extensive surgery, external beam radiation therapy, and chemotherapy as factors that were associated with decreased survival. Tumor encapsulation was associated with improved survival. Although radioactive iodine treatment had no overall effect on survival, subgroup analysis showed that patients who received radioactive iodine for adjuvant ablation therapy had better outcomes compared either with patients who did not receive radioactive iodine or with patients who received radioactive iodine as treatment for residual disease. Multivariate analysis indicated that older age and larger tumor size predicted worse survival through an association with worse behaving tumors (multifocal, less encapsulated, and with extraglandular invasion). The decreased survival in patients with lymph node metastases may be explained by its association with distant metastases. The association of extensive surgery, external beam radiation therapy, and chemotherapy with worse survival also disappeared once those factors were analyzed together with other prognostic factors, such as distant metastases. CONCLUSIONS Several clinical and pathologic prognostic factors were identified in patients with HCC and HCA. Older age and larger tumor size predicted reduced survival. Radioactive iodine therapy may confer a survival benefit when it is used for adjuvant ablation therapy, but not when residual disease is present. The authors could not demonstrate a survival benefit for the use of extensive surgery, external beam radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. Cancer 2003;97:1186,94. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11176 [source]