MRI method ‘cuts breast cancer false‑positives’

Assessing apparent diffusion coefficients during dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging may reduce the number of avoidable false‑positive breast cancer results and unnecessary biopsies, show findings published in Radiology.

via Med Wire News

Myxoid liposarcoma with negative features on bone scan and [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography

Background: Myxoid liposarcoma occurs in middle age, and is characterized by extrapulmonary metastasis, including bone metastasis. Bone scans and [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) are widely used for assessment of tumor extension, including vertebral metastasis. However, both methods have a low positive rate with regard to vertebral metastasis arising from myxoid liposarcoma. This is particularly true for bone scans for intramedullary lesions that have no cortical involvement.Case presentationWe present the case of a 53-year-old male with myxoid liposarcoma in the leg. He had been treated for multiple metastases over a ten-year period, and was experiencing back pain due to a pathological fracture in the second lumbar vertebra (L2). Magnetic resonance imaging of all the vertebrae showed abnormal signal intensity suggestive of metastasis in eight vertebrae, and revealed extraskeletal extension in three vertebrae. Bone scans and FDG-PET were negative except for the L2 fracture which was indicated on a bone scan. Conclusions: Both bone scans and FDG-PET can be negative in cases of vertebral metastasis that arise from myxoid liposarcoma, even when extraskeletal extensions are present. . Similarly, even a fractured vertebra may not always be visible on FDG-PET.

via World Journal of Surgical Oncology

Arsenic trioxide improves hematopoiesis in refractory severe aplastic anemia

We investigated the efficacy of arsenic trioxide (ATO) in patients with refractory severeaplastic anemia (SAA). A total of 5 consecutive adults were enrolled. The patients receivedATO at a dose of 0.15 mg/kg intravenously daily for 5 days every week for 8 weeks. Ifnecessary, a second course was performed after an interval of one week. All patients achievedclinically significant responses to ATO. The overall complete response rate and overallresponse rate at 17 weeks were 60% (3/5) and 100%(5/5), respectively. So treatment withATO may be a feasible approach in patients with refractory SAA.

via Journal of Hematology & Oncology

Malignant epithelioid angiomyolipoma of the kidney with pulmonary metastases and p53 gene mutation

Angiomyolipoma (AML) is a rare tumor mainly arising in the kidney. Here we report the case of a 55-year-old woman with malignant epithelioid angiomyolipoma with p53 gene mutation. After 7 years from radical nephrectomy of the left kidney, the patient developed multiple lung metastases that showed morphologic features overlapping those of the previously lesion, which was misdiagnosed as renal cell carcinoma. Both renal and pulmonary tumors were reevaluated by immunohistochemical assay, which were showed positive for HMB-45 and p53 protein (95%), but negative for epithelial markers and S-100 protein. A correct diagnosis of malignant epithelioid angiomyolipoma was made on the basis of those results. Meanwhile exon 8 mutation of p53 gene was detected in the renal tumor by microdissectionPCR-SSCP and sequencing technique indicating that p53 gene mutation may play an important role in malignant transformation. The patient was died of respiratory failure after 15 years' follow-up. This is the second report of renal malignant angiomyolipoma with p53 gene mutation.

via World Journal of Surgical Oncology

HPV status predicts oropharyngeal cancer irradiation response

Human papillomavirus-positive head and neck cancer is more sensitive to the initial effects of radiation therapy than HPV-negative head and neck cancer, suggest study findings.

via Med Wire News

High expression of CXCR4, CXCR7 and SDF-1 predicts poor survival in renal cell carcinoma

Background: Chemokines and their receptors are known to play important roles in the tumorigenesis of many malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of the expression of the chemokine SDF-1 and its receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 in patients with renal cell carcinoma. Methods: The expression of CXCR4, CXCR7 and SDF-1 in specimens from 97 renal cell carcinoma patients was evaluated by immunohistochemistry on a tissue microarray. These results were correlated with the clinicopathological parameters and survival of the patients. Results: CXCR4 and CXCR7 were expressed in all patients, whereas SDF-1 was expressed in 61 patients (62.9%). No association was observed between the expression of CXCR4, CXCR7 or SDF-1 and the clinical or pathological data except between SDF-1 expression and Fuhrman's grade (P = 0.015). Patients with high expression of CXCR4, CXCR7 and SDF-1 had shorter overall survival and recurrence-free survival than those with low expression. In a multivariate analysis, the high expression of CXCR4, CXCR7 and SDF-1 correlated with poor overall survival and recurrence-free survival independent of gender, age, AJCC stage, lymph node status, metastasis, histologic variant and Fuhrman's grade. Conclusions: High levels of CXCR4, CXCR7 and SDF-1 were associated with poor overall survival and recurrence-free survival in renal cell carcinoma patients. CXCR4, CXCR7 and SDF-1 may serve as useful prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for renal cell carcinoma.

via World Journal of Surgical Oncology

Extragastrointestinal stromal tumor of the mesoappendix: CT findings and a review of the literature

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are nonepithelial, mesenchymal neoplasms that rarely occur in children.Case presentationWe present a unique case of a GIST that developed outside the gastrointestinal tract within the mesoappendix of a 6-year old boy. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a slightly lobulated, homogeneous soft-tissue mass, with marked contrast enhancement. Conclusion: This case study provides new insight into the CT appearance of extragastrointestinal stromal tumors.

via World Journal of Surgical Oncology