The significance of focal positive margins (FPMs) after radical prostatectomy (RP) is unclear. Our objective was to investigate the prognostic value of FPMs in patients undergoing RP.

Pioneer transcription factors constitute a heterogeneous group of regulatory proteins of animals, which, unlike other transcription factors, are able to recognize and bind target DNA sequences within closed chromatin. This binding can change the local chromatin structure and facilitate binding of other proteins, thus establishing competence for gene expression. The ability to bind silent genes in the closed environment makes the pioneer factors very useful in the processes leading to cardinal alteration of cell phenotype, such as differentiation in embryonic development or cell reprogramming. These proteins can remain bound to target sequences during mitotic division, and due to this probably take part in the maintenance of cellular memory. Apparently, pioneer transcription factors are active participants in carcinogenesis and maintenance of tumor cell phenotype, although their role in these processes needs additional research. It is reasonable to suppose that a further study will help to shed more light on the genetic processes in embryonic development, increase the efficiency of cell reprogramming and also develop new approaches to diagnostics and therapy of cancer diseases.

Neuroendocrine neoplasmas are a form of cancer arising from cells of diffuse neuroendocrine system. They produce peptides or amines that act as hormones or neurotransmitters. Incidence of NENs is relatively low. Diagnostic work-up and treatment requires a multidisciplinary team approach. The aim of this study was an analysis of data from patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasmas of gastrointestinal tract. The study included patients followed up from 1998 to 2013 with histologically confirmed well-differentiated digestive neuroendocrine neoplasm with low or intermediate malignant potential. 97 patients were included; 34 men (35.1%) and 63 women (64.9%). In patients being diagnosed after 2005 interferon treatment is significantly less used than endoscopic and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. We have identified more appropriate discriminant values of 5-HIAA and chromogranin A (6.8 mg/24 hours; 70 ng/ml) for predicting the presence of metastases at the time of diagnosis. We have identified following risk factors for overall mortality: liver metastases, presence of diarrhea, flush, small bowel primary tumor, high values of CgA and 5-HIAA at the time of diagnosis (5-HIAA > 520.52 mg/24 hours, CgA > 174.5 ng/ml). Surgical treatment was found to be a positive prognostic factor.

Mesenteric lymphatic malformations (MLs) are a heterogeneous group of benign diseases of the lymphatic system that present with cystic dilated lymphatics of the mesentery. MLs are rare and represent less than 5% of all lymphatic malformations. The aims of this study were to analyze the characteristics of MLs in children and to suggest a modified classification.

To investigate the presence of vasculogenic mimicry in laryngeal squamous cell carcino- ma and explore its clinical significance.

Paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the most important drugs for breast cancer; however, the drug effects are limited by its systematic toxicity and poor water solubility. Nanoparticles have been applied for delivery of cancer drugs to overcome their limitations. Toward this goal, a novel single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)-based drug delivery system was developed by conjugation of human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles for loading of antitumor agent PTX. The nanosized macromolecular SWNT-drug carrier (SWNT-HSA) was characterized by TEM, UV-Vis-NIR spectrometry, and TGA. The SWNT-based drug carrier displayed high intracellular delivery efficiency (cell uptake rate of 80%) in breast cancer MCF-7 cells, as examined by fluorescence-labeled drug carriers, suggesting the needle-shaped SWNT-HSA drug carrier was able to transport drugs across cell membrane despite its macromolecular structure. The drug loading on SWNT-based drug carrier was through high binding affinity of PTX to HSA proteins. The PTX formulated with SWNT-HSA showed greater growth inhibition activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells than PTX formulated with HSA nanoparticle only (cell viability of 63 vs 70% in 48 h and 53 vs 62% in 72 h). The increased drug efficacy could be driven by SWNT-mediated cell internalization. These data suggest that the developed SWNT-based antitumor agent is functional and effective. However, more studies for in vivo drug delivery efficacy and other properties are needed before this delivery system can be fully realized.

The procedure for Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) accreditation identified the formation of MDTs for the diagnosis and scheduling of primary treatment with integration of supportive care as a key strength at Istituto Nazionale Tumori (INT). The opportunities for improvement highlighted by the OECI peer review inspired a study on the evaluation of psychological distress, with a view to integrating this evaluation into global patient management and to defining standardized criteria for the provision of psychological services. This article describes the OECI accreditation experience at INT and the study conducted between January and May 2015 on the evaluation of patients' distress levels during cancer treatment, defining a score-based cutoff point that triggers the intervention of a psychologist. The Distress Thermometer was used as a tool for evaluating psychological distress, performed by nurses on admitting the patient. A total of 261 questionnaires were completed by patients admitted to the medical oncology and hematology departments, with an average distress value of 4.1, and 60% of patients experiencing clinically detectable emotional distress. Emotion-related problems had a significant association with a greater level of distress, while there were few reports of relationship issues as a cause of distress. As a result of the improvement initiative supported by the psychological distress evaluation study, we validated the screening questionnaire to be included at the initial patient evaluation stage with a cutoff point triggering the intervention by a psychologist at a score of ≥7.

A 56 years old female was admitted to our department with complaint of a painless cervical mass. Clinical feature:there was a painless mass above left lobe of thyroid gland, which was about 3.0 cm x 2.5 cm in size, and could move with swallowing action. B-mode ultrasound features: there was a solid mass in left lobe of thyroid gland, which was about 3.2 cm. Nodule was found in isthmus, accompanied with lymphadenovarix on the left neck possibly be MCA. fT3: 4.64 pmol/L, fT4:16.56 pmol/L,TSH:3.74 mIU/L, anti-TG:17.75 U/ml, anti-TPO:40.77 U/ml. Pathological result of the neoplasm: papillocarcinoma. Clinical diagnosis: papillary thyroid carcinoma.

To investigate the effect and mechanisms of the PTX on the human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE2.

To investigate the imaging manifestations of 16-slice enhanced CT of parotid adenolymphoma in the parotid gland and the corresponding pathology,in order to improve the understanding of the CT imaging manifestations of parotid adenolymphoma in the parotid gland.

Adiponectin is an adipocyte-specific adipocytokine with proliferative and pro-angiogenic effects that regulates many biological processes, including immunity, insulin resistance, and inflammation. The oncogenic role of adiponectin has been implicated in several cancer types. Stromal cells within tumor contribute tumor growth and angiogenesis; however, it is not clear that how adiponectin regulates stromal cell-mediated tumorigenesis. In this study, using the tumor xenograft models, we demonstrated that tumor development was severely impaired in mouse subcutaneous cancer tissue and metastasis tumor tissue in adiponectin knockout mice. Our results indicated adiponectin deficiency resulted in decrease of blood vessel and stromal senescent fibroblasts in subcutaneous and metastasis tumor tissue. These observations were confirmed in vitro, in which co-cultured tumor cells and fibroblasts treated with adiponectin promoted ECs tube formation. A secretion of CXCL1 by adiponectin-treated tumor cells was observed during the process of inducing stromal fibroblast senescence. Furthermore, stromal cells senescence was through p53 and p16 pathways. Taken together, our results indicate that adiponectin promotes stromal cell senescence within invasive colon cancer contributing to angiogenesis and tumor growth in part through the production of CXCL1 and may serve as a therapeutic target for tumor patients. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Breast cancer patients fear the relapse of their disease and subsequent death the most. Dying Well Education Program, a death education program, was offered for breast cancer patients to help them to reflect on the meanings of life and death.

Determination of serum markets of bone resorption in patients, with renal cancer after radical surgery can improve the accuracy of early diagnosis of bone metastases, assess the extent of metastatic bone lesions, and monitoring of bisphosphonates treatment. These data suggest promising activity for tartrat-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP-5b) of early detection of bone metastasis.

Examined 76 (26 men and 50 women) patients with active acromegaly aged 20 to 70 years, average age (48.22 ± 12.19). Echocardiographic signs of hypertrophy of the left ventricular (LVH) revealed by 63.2% of patients, including 46%--concentric LVH. Found that high levels of pituitary growth hormone (GH) and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were independent predictors of LVH. Influence of GH and IGF-1 on the formation of LVH-mediated through anthropometric parameters and levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, which are predictors in patients with acromegaly LVH.

Local ablative therapy with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy may improve survival in oncogene-addicted lung cancer patients with extracranial oligometastatic disease treated with targeted therapies. There is limited data on the use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in this same setting. We present a case of an anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive lung cancer patient with hepatic oligometastatic progression who was successfully treated with both stereotactic ablative radiation and RFA while continuing with an ALK inhibitor.

In parapapillary melanoma patients, radiation-induced optic complications are frequent and visual acuity is often compromised. We investigated dose-effect relationships for the optic nerve with respect to visual acuity after proton therapy.