Improved resolution power of electrophoretic fractionation of DNA using a voltage gradient up and down application

The improved resolution power of electrophoretic fractionation of DNA in a wide range of molecular masses is demonstrated using an "up and down" application of voltage gradient gel electrophoresis (VGGE). This application also allows separation of different DNA fragments which are poorly fractionated in conventional electrophoresis.

Regulatory cytokine gene polymorphisms and risk of colorectal carcinoma.

It is well established that cancer arises in chronically inflamed tissue, and this is particularly notable in the gastrointestinal tract. Classic examples include Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and inflammatory bowel disease-associated colorectal cancer. Growing evidence suggests that these associations might be not casual findings. Focusing on individual cytokines has generated evidence that anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) may have a complex role in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. As an example, IL-10-deficient mice develop severe atrophic gastritis and a chronic enterocolitis, develo…

Weekly docetaxel (wDOC) for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC): A literature based meta-analysis

“Evaluating the prognostic role of serum extracellular domain (ECD) of HER-2/neu (s-HER2) in patients (PTS) with metastatic (M) breast cancer (BC): results of an observational study”

[Role of loco-regional treatments for patients with breast cancer liver metastases].

“Cisplatin and gemcitabine with either vinorelbine or paclitaxel in the treatment of carcinomas of unknown primary site”

BACKGROUND: : To date, the standard treatment for patients who have carcinoma of unknown primary site has not been established. METHODS: : In this randomized Phase II study, 66 previously untreated patients (33 patients per arm) with carcinomas of unknown primary site received cisplatin (35 mg/m2) and gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) with either paclitaxel (70 mg/m2) or vinorelbine (25 mg/m2), and all drugs were administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. Twenty-nine patients (44%) presented with > or =2 involved sites. The pathologic diagnosis was mainly adenocarcinoma (48 patients; 72.7%) and squamous carcinoma (7 patients; 10.6%). RESULTS: : In the first arm, 16 patients (48.5%…

Weekly docetaxel in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most frequent tumor among women worldwide and is the second cause of cancer-related mortality in the US. Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) accounts for less than 10% of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and about 30% of early breast cancer patients will develop recurrent, advanced, or metastatic disease. It remains an incurable illness and the primary goal of its management is palliative. Several agents are active for the fi rst-line treatment of MBC. The taxanes, paclitaxel and docetaxel, represent the standard of care for the treatment of these patients. Among the various schedules, docetaxel can be administered weekly, achieving similar effi cacy results with lower…

1308 Evaluating the prognostic role of serum extracellular domain (ECD) of HER-2/neu (s-HER2) in patients (PTS) with metastatic (M) breast cancer (BC): results of an observational study

Prognostic value of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and D-Dimer (DD) levels in cancer patients

“Serum HER-2/neu (s-HER2) levels evaluation in breast cancer (BC) patients (PTS)”

CISPLATIN (C) AND ALIMTA (A) WITH PANITUMUMAB FOR ADVANCED NON-SQUAMOUS NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER (NS-NSCLC): A PHASE I-DOSE FINDING STUDY.

Background The treatment of NSCLC is rapidly changing since new drugs are becoming available. Recently, CA has become a standard for the first line treatment of NS-NSCLC. Previous clinical studies have shown that anti-EGFR MoAb may be added to chemotherapy, but the identification of a molecular signature can predict their activity and better define their true role. Aims In absence of data about the MTD of Panitumumab (a MoAb targeting the EGFR, potentially active in NS-NSCLC) when associated to chemotherapy, we decided to assess the optimal dose of panitumumab in combination with CA. Moreover, in view of a future phase II study, all pts will be studied for the following molecular characteri…

“Final results of a phase II trial of a weekly (W) poly-chemotherapy (CT) with cisplatin (CDDP), epirubicin (EPI), fluorouracil (5FU), folinic acid (FA) and G-CSF for the treatment of gastroesophageal (GE) and gastric (G) cancer (C)”

Cisplatin and gemcitabine with either vinorelbine or paclitaxel in the treatment of carcinomas of unknown primary site : results of an Italian multicenter, randomized, phase II study.

BACKGROUND. To date, the standard treatment for patients who have carcinoma of unknown primary site has not been established. METHODS. In this randomized Phase II study, 66 previously untreated patients (33 patients per arm) with carcinomas of unknown primary site received cisplatin (35 mg/m2) and gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) with either paclitaxel (70 mg/m2) or vinorelbine (25 mg/m2), and all drugs were administered intravenously on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle. Twenty-nine patients (44%) presented with ≥2 involved sites. The pathologic diagnosis was mainly adenocarcinoma (48 patients; 72.7%) and squamous carcinoma (7 patients; 10.6%). RESULTS. In the first arm, 16 patients (48.5%) experienc…

Detection and quantification of mammaglobin in the blood of breast cancer patients: can it be useful as a potential clinical marker? Preliminary results of a GOIM (Gruppo Oncologico dell'Italia Meridionale) prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Mammaglobin is expressed mainly in mammary tissue, overexpressed in breast cancer (BC) and rarely in other tissue. The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of transcript MGB1 detection and to evaluate the role of MGB1 as potential clinical marker for the detection of disseminated cancer cells in the blood of BC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A consecutive series of 23 BC tissues, 36 peripheral blood BC samples and 35 healthy peripheral blood samples was prospectively recruited to investigate MGB1 expression by means of a quantitative Real Time RT-PCR assay. RESULTS: MGB1 overexpression in tissue samples of BC patients is significantly associated only …

“Results of a phase II study of a weekly regimen of cisplatin (CDDP),epirubicin (EPI), fluorouracil (5FU) and folinic acid (FA) with G-CSF in gastroesophageal (GE) and gastric (G) cancer”

Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms and Breast Cancer Susceptibility

Human breast cancer (BC) is characterized by a considerable clinical heterogeneity. Steroid hormone receptor expression and growth factor receptor expression have been considered suitable diagnostic and prognostic markers, whereas mutations of oncosuppressor and gatekeeper genes have been found associated with an increased risk for this malignancy. To evaluate the role that polymorphisms of genes involved in the regulation of inflammatory response might play in BC susceptibility, we investigated associations between cytokine functionally relevant polymorphisms in 84 BC patients compared to 110 age- and sex-matched controls. TNF-alpha (-308G/A), TGF-beta1 (+869C/T), IL-10 (-1117G/A; -854C/T;…

“High efficacy of the CHOP + Rituximab association in a case of primary rectal non Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)”

Non presente

Should cirrhosis change our attitude towards treating non-hepatic cancer?

Cirrhosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and is the end stage of any chronic liver disease. Cancer, a leading cause of death worldwide, is a growing global health issue. There are limited data in the literature on the incidence, prevalence and management of non-hepatic cancers (NHC) in cirrhotic patients. The aim of this brief review was to underline the main concerns, pitfalls and warnings regarding practice for these patients. Survival of patients with compensated cirrhosis is significantly longer than that of decompensated cirrhosis and patients with NHC and in Child-Pugh class C should not be candidates for cytotoxic chemotherapy. It is important before starting cytotoxic c…

"Evaluating the prognostic role of serum extracellular domain (ECD) of HER-2/neu (s-HER2) in patients (PTS) with early (E) breast cancer (BC)”

“Weekly docetaxel and gemcitabine as first line treatment for metastatic breast cancer: results of a multicenter phase II study”

<i>Objectives:</i> We conducted a multicenter phase II study to evaluate the clinical efficacy, toxicity, and dose intensity of a new weekly schedule of docetaxel and gemcitabine as first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer patients. <i>Methods:</i> We enrolled 58 patients, 52% of whom had received a previous anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. The treatment schedule was: docetaxel 35 mg/m<sup>2</sup> and gemcitabine 800 mg/m<sup>2</sup> i.v. on days 1, 8, 15 every 28 days. <i>Results:</i> All patients were assessable for toxicity and 56 for efficacy. Overall response rate was 64.3% with 16.1% of complete responses and 48…