Science News, Information and Educational Resources


Science Feed Image

    		•    
    In the early 19th century, microscopy in pathology replaced gross descriptive pathology of the 18th century. Cells became known as the most important and distinct elements of benign and cancerous tissues. Thus, by the mid-1800s, a solid foundation had been laid for microscopy, and surgeons recognized that microscopic diagnosis by pathologists merited attention. In due course, preoperative microscopic diagnoses and classification of cancers in biopsy specimens were incorporated into choosing the most fitting surgical operation. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.dx.doi.org


      ...Read On

    BACKGROUND:In 1999, a multidisciplinary panel of experts in colorectal cancer reviewed the relevant medical literature and issued a consensus recommendation for a 12-lymph node (LN) minimum examination after resection for colon cancer. Some authors have shown racial/ethnic differences in receipt of this evidence-based care. To date, however, none has investigated the correlation between disparities in LN examination and disparities in outcomes after colon cancer treatment.METHODS:This retrospective analysis used California Cancer Registry linked to California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development discharge data (1996-2006). Chi-square analysis, logistic regression, and Cox proportional hazard models predicted disparities in receipt of an adequate examination and the effect of an inadequate exam on mortality and disparities. Patients with stage I and II colon cancers undergoing surgery in California were included; patients with stage III and IV disease were excluded.RESULTS:A total of 37,911 records were analyzed. Adequate staging occurred in fewer than half of cases. An inadequate examination (<12 LNs) was associated with higher mortality rates. Hispanics had the lowest odds of receiving an adequate exam; however, blacks, not Hispanics, had the highest risk of mortality compared with whites. This disparity was not completely explained by inadequate LN examination.CONCLUSIONS:Inadequate LN exam occurs often and is associated with increased mortality. There are disparities in receipt of the minimum exam, but this only explains a small part of the observed disparity in mortality. Improving the quality of LN examination alone is unlikely to correct colon cancer disparities. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.dx.doi.org


      ...Read On

    BACKGROUND:Effective management of symptoms in cancer patients requires early intervention. This study assessed whether the timing of referral to the Supportive Care Center (SCC) and symptom burden outcome varied by race or ethnicity in lung cancer patients who had been seen at a tertiary cancer center.METHODS:Non-Hispanic white (n = 752), Hispanic (n = 111), and non-Hispanic black (n = 117) patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer comprised this sample. Data on sociodemographic factors, stage of disease, comorbid conditions, and symptom severity (pain, depressed mood, fatigue) served as potential predictor variables.RESULTS:Whereas the mean time (15 months; median = 7 months) from initial presentation at the cancer center to referral to the SCC did not vary by race or ethnicity, we found that Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks had higher symptom burden when they first presented at the cancer center than non-Hispanic whites. Severe pain, depressed mood, and fatigue were significant predictors for early referral (<7 months) of non-Hispanic whites, but only severe fatigue (P <.05) was predictive of early referral for Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks. Furthermore, while the proportion of non-Hispanic white patients reporting severe pain, depressed mood, and fatigue significantly decreased (P <.001) at first follow-up visit after referral to the SCC; among Hispanics, improvement was only observed for depressed mood. No improvement in any of these symptoms was observed for non-Hispanic blacks.CONCLUSIONS:Whereas the timing of referral to supportive services did not vary by race, disparities in symptom burden outcomes persisted. Additional studies are needed to validate our findings. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.dx.doi.org


      ...Read On

    BACKGROUND:Antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) inhibit the proliferation of various human cancer cell lines and experimental tumors by mechanisms that include direct action on GHRH receptors in cancer cells.METHODS:In this study, the effects of newly synthesized GHRH antagonists, MIA-313, MIA-602, MIA-604, and MIA-610, were investigated in 2 human ovarian epithelial adenocarcinoma cell lines, OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3, in vitro and in vivo. The expression of receptors for GHRH was demonstrated by Western blot analysis and ligand competition methods in the OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cell lines and in tumors from those cells grown in athymic nude mice. The effects of GHRH antagonists on the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by OVCAR-3 cells and on the vascularization of OVCAR-3 xenografts also were evaluated.RESULTS:Both the pituitary and the splice variant type 1 (SV1) GHRH receptors were detected in the 2 cell lines and in tumor xenografts, and SV1 was expressed at higher levels. Cell viability assays revealed the antiproliferative effect of all GHRH antagonists that were. Maximal tumor growth inhibition was approximately 75% in both models. MIA-313 and MIA-602 decreased VEGF secretion of OVCAR-3 cells, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and reduced tumor vascularization in a Matrigel plug assay, but caused no change in the expression of VEGF or VEGF receptor in the terminal ileum of mice with OVCAR-3 tumors.CONCLUSIONS:Results from the current study indicated that a he novel approach based on GHRH antagonists may offer more effective therapeutic alternatives for patients with advanced ovarian cancer and who do not tolerate conventional anti-VEGF therapy. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.dx.doi.org


      ...Read On

    BACKGROUND:In many types of cancer, the survival rates are reported to be less favorable for adolescents compared with younger children. To investigate whether this is true for adolescents with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the results obtained in patients enrolled in protocols run by the Italian Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committee (STSC) were analyzed.METHODS:From 1988 through 2005, 643 patients were registered (567 children ages birth-14 years and 76 adolescents ages 15-19 years) and treated in 4 STSC protocols. The number of patients enrolled was compared with the expected number calculated from incidence rates derived from the Italian network of cancer registries.RESULTS:Only 27% of the expected number of adolescents with RMS were enrolled in the STSC trials. Compared with children, adolescents were found to have a longer interval from initial symptoms to diagnosis (8 weeks vs 4.6 weeks), more alveolar RMS (47.4% vs 32.6%), lymph node infiltration (39.1% vs 23.3%), and metastases at the time of diagnosis (30.7% vs 17.8%). The 2 age groups received similar treatments. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 68.9% in children versus 57.2% in adolescents (P = .006), and the progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 64.3% in children versus 48.1% in adolescents (P = .0237). On multivariate analysis, age, tumor site, lymph node involvement, and metastases were found to be significant prognostic factors for OS and PFS.CONCLUSIONS:Survival for adolescents with RMS enrolled in STSC protocols appears to be satisfactory. The higher prevalence of unfavorable tumor characteristics noted among adolescents seems to explain their worse outcome compared with children. However, the limited number of adolescents enrolled in STSC studies is worrisome, and cooperation with oncologists who treat adults needs to be improved. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.dx.doi.org


      ...Read On


    		   
    You can link to this article on your web site using following code:

    Website Code:

    Forum Code:  




     
    		 
    Comments

    We're looking for comments that are interesting, substantial or highly amusing. If your comments are excessively self-promotional (use your real name, no keywords please), obnoxious, or even worse, boring, you will be banned from commenting. Your comment must be related to the post. Please do not comment on how great or wonderful the post is. All comments are moderated and, if approved, will display in less than 24 hours.


    blog comments powered by Disqus