Fwd: Cancer testis antigen expression in gastrointestinal stromal tumors: New markers for early recurrence.

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From: HubMed - cancer <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 7:29 AM
Subject: Cancer testis antigen expression in gastrointestinal stromal tumors: New markers for early recurrence.
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com


[1]Int J Cancer. 2008 Jul 21;
Perez D, Herrmann T, Jungbluth AA, Samartzis P, Spagnoli G, Demartines N, Clavien PA, Marino S, Seifert B, Jaeger D

Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are expressed in a variety of malignant tumors but not in any normal adult tissues except germ cells and occasionally placenta. Because of this tumor-associated pattern of expression, CTAs are regarded as potential vaccine targets. The expression of CTAs in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) has not been analyzed systematically previously. The present study was performed to analyze the expression of CTA in GIST and to determine if CTA expression correlates with prognosis. Thirty-five GIST patients were retrospectively analyzed for their expression of CTAs by immunohistochemistry using the followingmonoclonal antibodies (mAb/antigen): MA454/MAGE-A1, M3H67/MAGE-A3, 57B/MAGE-A4, CT7-33/MAGE-C1 and E978/NY-ESO-1. Fourteen tumors (40%) expressed 1 or more of the 5 CTAs tested. Fourteen percent (n = 5/35) were positive for MAGE-A1, MAGE-A3 or MAGE-A4, respectively. Twenty-six percent (n = 9/35) stained positive for MAGE-C1 and 20% (n = 7/35) for NY-ESO-1. A highly significant correlation between CTA expression and tumor recurrence risk was observed (71% vs. 29%; p = 0.027). In our study population, the high-risk GIST expressed CTAs more frequently than low-risk GIST (p = 0.012). High-risk GISTs which stained positive for at least 1 CTA, recurred in 100% (n = 25) of the cases. This is the first study analyzing CTA expression in GIST and its prognostic value for recurrence. The CTA staining could add information to the individual patient prognosis and represent an interesting target for future treatment strategies. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.



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Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18646188
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Fwd: Receipt of standard breast cancer treatment by african american and white women.

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From: HubMed - breast cancer <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 7:30 AM
Subject: Receipt of standard breast cancer treatment by african american and white women.
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com


[1]Int J Med Sci. 2008; 5(4): 181-8
Worthington J, Waterbor JW, Funkhouser E, Falkson C, Cofield S, Fouad M

Objectives: Breast cancer mortality is higher among African Americans than for Whites, though their breast cancer incidence is lower. This study examines whether this disparity may be due to differential receipt of treatment defined as "standard of care" or "addition to standard of care" by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).Design: Incident, female breast cancer cases, 2,203 African American and 7,518 White, diagnosed during 1996-2002 were identified from the Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry. Breast cancer treatment was characterized as whether or not a woman received standard of care as defined by the NCCN. For cases characterized as receiving standard of care, addition to standard of care was also evaluated, defined as receiving at least one additional treatment modality according to NCCN guidelines. Logistic models were used to evaluate racial differences in standard and addition to standard of care and to adjust for age, stage at diagnosis, year of diagnosis and area of residence.Results: No racial differences were found for standard (Prevalence Ratio (PR)=1.00) or for addition to standard of care (PR=1.00) after adjustment for confounders. When the adjusted models were examined separately by age, stage, and area of residence, overall no racial differences were found.Conclusion: No racial differences in standard of care and addition to standard of care for breast cancer treatment were found. Therefore, both African Americans and Whites received comparable treatment according to NCCN guidelines.



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Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18645609
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Fwd: Associations between serum testosterone levels, cell proliferation and progesterone receptor content in normal and malignant breast tissue in postmenopausal women.

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From: HubMed - breast cancer <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 7:30 AM
Subject: Associations between serum testosterone levels, cell proliferation and progesterone receptor content in normal and malignant breast tissue in postmenopausal women.
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com


[1]Gynecol Endocrinol. 2008 Jul; 24(7): 405-10
Hofling M, Lofgren L, von Schoultz E, Carlstrom K, Soderqvist G

Progestogens and progesterone receptors (PR) may play an important role in increased breast proliferation following combined estrogen/progestogen hormone therapy, while androgens may counteract this effect. In 50 untreated healthy postmenopausal women and 48 untreated postmenopausal breast cancer patients, we measured serum levels of testosterone (T), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), estrone (E(1)) and adrenal androgens; and additionally, in the breast cancer patients, cortisol and corticosteroid-binding globulin and endocrine data related to breast proliferation (assessed using the Ki-67/MIB-1 monoclonal antibody) and PR levels (determined by enzyme immunoassay) in the breast cancer tissue. In the healthy women the percentage of MIB-1(+) cells showed significant negative correlations with serum levels of total T, calculated free T (fT) and the fT/E(1) ratio; while in the breast cancer patients PR content showed significant negative correlations with fT level, the fT/E(1) ratio and the T/SHBG ratio. No other correlations were found in any of the groups. Our findings in healthy women confirm previous reports of an antiproliferative effect of androgens in breast tissue and our finding in breast cancer patients suggests that this antiproliferative effect may be mediated via downregulation of PR.



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Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18645713
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Fwd: Fraction size in radiation treatment for breast conservation in early breast cancer.

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From: HubMed - breast cancer <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 7:30 AM
Subject: Fraction size in radiation treatment for breast conservation in early breast cancer.
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com


[1]Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008; CD003860
James ML, Lehman M, Hider PN, Jeffery M, Francis DP, Hickey BE

BACKGROUND: Shortening the duration of radiation therapy would benefit women with early breast cancer treated with breast conservation. It may also improve access to radiation therapy by improving efficiency in radiation oncology departments globally. This can only happen if the shorter treatment is as effective and safe as conventional radiation therapy. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of altered fraction size on women with early breast cancer who have undergone breast conserving surgery. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Breast Cancer Group Specialised Register (June 2006), MEDLINE (November 2006), EMBASE (November 2006), reference lists for articles, and relevant conference proceedings. No language constraints were applied. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials of unconventional versus conventional fractionation in women with early breast cancer who had undergone breast conserving surgery. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data extraction was performed independently by the authors with disagreements resolved by discussion. Missing data was sought by contacting the authors concerned. MAIN RESULTS: Two trials were included and reported on 2644 women. The women were highly selected with node negative tumours smaller than 5 cm and negative pathological margins; 46% of the women had a cup separation size of less than 25 cm. The studies were of high quality. Data for local recurrence and breast appearance were not available in a form which could be combined. Unconventional fractionation (delivering radiation therapy in larger amounts each day but over fewer days than with conventional fractionation) did not appear to affect: (1) local-recurrence free survival (absolute difference 0.4%, 95% CI -1.5% to 2.4%), (2) breast appearance (risk ratio (RR) 1.01, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.17; P = 0.86), (3) survival at five years (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.19; P = 0.75), (4) late skin toxicity at five years (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.44 to 2.22; P = 0.98, or (5) late radiation toxicity in sub-cutaneous tissue (RR 1.0, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.28; P = 0.99). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We have evidence from two high quality randomised trials that the use of unconventional fractionation regimes (greater than 2 Gy per fraction) does not affect breast appearance or toxicity and does not seem to affect local recurrence for selected women treated with breast conserving therapy. These are women with node negative tumours smaller than 5 cm and negative pathological margins. Two new trials have been published in March 2008. Their results are consistent with our findings. The results of these trials will be incorporated in the next update of this review.



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Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18646095
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Fwd: Effects of fulvestrant alone or combined with different steroids in human breast cancer cells in vitro.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: HubMed - breast cancer <rssfwd@rssfwd.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 7:30 AM
Subject: Effects of fulvestrant alone or combined with different steroids in human breast cancer cells in vitro.
To: mesothelioma77@gmail.com


[1]Climacteric. 2008 Aug; 11(4): 315-21
Jansen GH, Franke HR, Wolbers F, Brinkhuis M, Vermes I

OBJECTIVES: Fulvestrant is an estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist that binds, blocks and degrades the estrogen receptor and is currently used in adjuvant treatment in postmenopausal women with ER-positive breast cancer as an alternative for tamoxifen. As an antagonist, it may induce or aggravate climacteric symptoms. In order to alleviate these symptoms, one could consider hormone therapy. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of fulvestrant alone or in combination with different steroids in human breast cancer cells in vitro, and to demonstrate whether these steroids will compromise the efficacy of fulvestrant in ER-positive breast cancer cells. METHODS: We performed experiments in vitro with various hormone therapy preparations (estradiol (E2), dihydrodydrogesterone (DHD) and tibolone) at a concentration of 10(-6) mol/l alone or combined with fulvestrant in different breast cancer cell lines, ER-positive and ER-negative. After an incubation of 144 h, proliferation and apoptosis were measured. The first was measured by quantification of the expression of cyclin D1 mRNA, the latter by the Nicoletti fragmentation assay. RESULTS: This in vitro study revealed clear differences in results when various hormone therapy preparations, alone or combined with fulvestrant, are added to ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancer cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that fulvestrant, an ER antagonist used in the treatment of ER-positive breast cancer, combined with E2 and DHD or in combination with tibolone, is not compromised in its efficacy in inducing apoptosis in ER-positive breast cancer cell lines in vitro.



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Source: http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18645697
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