Prognostic value of nuclear matrix protein expression in localized prostate cancer.
The aim of the study was to correlate nuclear matrix (NM) protein expression profiles with the risk of PSA progression or death in early prostate cancer (PCa).High-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) was used to identify tumor-associated NM proteins in the PCa specimens obtained from 94 patients. The association between the expression of each protein and the probability of PSA progression or death was studied through univariate analysis. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis was then used to generate patient clusters showing comparable outcomes by including the proteins that were predictive at univariate analysis. PSA-free and overall survival curves relative to…
Randomized phase III trial of adjuvant epirubicin followed by cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) versus CMF followed by epirubicin in patients with node-negative or 1–3 node-positive rapidly proliferating breast cancer
International audience; Adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) have proven highly effective in rapidly proliferating breast cancer (RPBC). It has also been seen that sequential administration of doxorubicin and CMF is superior to their alternation, especially in indolent tumors. In a phase III study, we evaluated whether adjuvant epirubicin (E) followed by CMF is superior to the inverse sequence in RPBC. Patients with node-negative or 1-3 node-positive RPBC (Thymidine Labeling Index > 3% or histological grade 3 or S-phase > 10% or Ki67 > 20%) were randomized to receive E (100 mg/m i.v. d1, q21 days for 4 cycles) followed by CMF (600, 40, 600 mg/m i.v. d1 and 8, q2…
Editorial debate: Challenges we oncologists, working within a universal healthcare system, have to face in these hard times
I have been very much impressed by the clarity, pragmatism and good medical judgement of the article by Camilo Porta,1 a respected and dedicated ESMO faculty member and friend, giving his personal perspective on real issues many oncologists working in a public system are eventually facing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. I understand Professor Porta is voicing what many oncologists from countries deeply affected by the pandemic, such as Italy or Spain, may think. Although I concur with most of his approaches and comments, I would like to complement some of these statements with some additional thoughts. Medicine was created more than 2500 years ago as a profession aiming at alleviating suffe…