The role of conventional radiography to assess the outcome of oncologic skeletal reconstructions of lower limbs aided by vascularized fibular autograft

IntroductionVascularized fibular autografts (VFA) are used in the oncologic skeletal reconstructions of long bones, alone or combined with massive bone allografts (MBA). Data regarding the role of imaging in assessing these complex skeletal reconstructions are lacking, and have mainly focused on Computed Tomography (CT). Our aim was to evaluate if early conventional radiography (CR) findings are correlated with the outcome of these skeletal reconstructions.Materials and methodsAll consecutive patients who underwent oncologic resection of lower limbs long bones followed by VFA reconstruction were included in this single-center retrospective study. We compared the CR obtained immediately after surgery with the CR at the 6-month control, as well as the CR at 6 months with the CT at 6 months when available. The following scores were assigned to the VFA: 0 (unchanged), 1 (osteopenia-cortical bone thinning), 2 (increase in bone density-cortical thickening). We then investigated whether this score correlated with the implant outcome within 12 months (optimal integration, suboptimal integration, integration requiring further surgery or lack of integration) using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses, considering the occurrence of integration and the duration time before the surgical removal of the whole bone reconstruction.ResultsForty-five patients were included (32 men [71.1%], mean age 14.6 years), 26 affected by osteosarcoma, 14 by Ewing sarcoma, 3 by adamantinoma and 2 operated for the failure of previous reconstructions for bone sarcoma. VFA changes on 6-month CR were significantly associated with optimal integration of the implants (log-rank P = 0.0137, multivariate Hazard ratio = 7.62, 95% confidence interval = 1.13–51.25). None of the other clinical and surgical features were associated with the implant outcome. The findings on 6-month CR and CT follow-up were not significantly different. CT at 6 months was available in 36 patients (80.0%).ConclusionThe assessment of VFA morphological changes on CR performed at 6 months can predict the outcome of the skeletal implant. This data should be considered for clinical decision-making, selecting patients requiring additional images (CT), and possible subsequent revision surgical procedures.     

前列腺癌早期诊断的研究进展北大核心

前列腺癌(prostate cancer, PCa)是中老年男性常见恶性肿瘤之一,目前尚缺乏有效的晚期癌症治疗方法,因此早期诊断对于降低PCa死亡率至关重要。近年来,较多研究开发出多种新型诊断方法以改善对PCa诊断的准确性,同时避免过度诊疗,但其有效性及实用性尚需进一步验证。本文对目前新型生物标志物、联合成像技术及风险预测模型等的早期诊断技术进行总结,以期为临床研究提供指导作用。     

基于红外热成像技术探讨扶正温阳法对阳虚体质的影响

目的 基于红外热成像技术探讨“扶正温阳法”对阳虚质的影响，探讨阳虚质者红外热图的共性规律，分析判断“扶正温阳法”干预阳虚质人群的疗效。方法 纳入30例阳虚质患者给予益气温阳药物在大椎、肾俞（双侧）、命门等进行穴位贴敷，分别在干预前后运用红外热成像技术测定督脉、腰部、腹部、双手及双足局部温度的变化。结果 干预后阳虚体质患者的督脉、腰部、腹部、双手、双足温度均升高（P<0.05），阳虚体质局部温度得以改善。结论 本研究发现“扶正温阳法”可诱发循经热传导现象，通过调节热能代谢而起到调治阳虚体质的作用，红外热成像技术可用来辅助评价阳虚质的治疗效果，对临床指导制定阳虚质人群的干预方案疗效判定具有指导意义。     

Phase 0 Study of Vandetanib-Eluting Radiopaque Embolics as a Preoperative Embolization Treatment in Patients with Resectable Liver Malignancies

PurposeTo assess the safety and tolerability of a vandetanib-eluting radiopaque embolic (BTG-002814) for transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with resectable liver malignancies.Materials and MethodsThe VEROnA clinical trial was a first-in-human, phase 0, single-arm, window-of-opportunity study. Eligible patients were aged ≥18 years and had resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (Child-Pugh A) or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Patients received 1 mL of BTG-002814 transarterially (containing 100 mg of vandetanib) 7–21 days prior to surgery. The primary objectives were to establish the safety and tolerability of BTG-002814 and determine the concentrations of vandetanib and the N-desmethyl vandetanib metabolite in the plasma and resected liver after treatment. Biomarker studies included circulating proangiogenic factors, perfusion computed tomography, and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsEight patients were enrolled: 2 with HCC and 6 with mCRC. There was 1 grade 3 adverse event (AE) before surgery and 18 after surgery; 6 AEs were deemed to be related to BTG-002814. Surgical resection was not delayed. Vandetanib was present in the plasma of all patients 12 days after treatment, with a mean maximum concentration of 24.3 ng/mL (standard deviation ± 13.94 ng/mL), and in resected liver tissue up to 32 days after treatment (441–404,000 ng/g). The median percentage of tumor necrosis was 92.5% (range, 5%–100%). There were no significant changes in perfusion imaging parameters after TACE.ConclusionsBTG-002814 has an acceptable safety profile in patients before surgery. The presence of vandetanib in the tumor specimens up to 32 days after treatment suggests sustained anticancer activity, while the low vandetanib levels in the plasma suggest minimal release into the systemic circulation. Further evaluation of this TACE combination is warranted in dose-finding and efficacy studies.     

Molecular imaging in oncology: Current impact and future directions

The authors define molecular imaging, according to the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, as the visualization, characterization, and measurement of biological processes at the molecular and cellular levels in humans and other living systems. Although practiced for many years clinically in nuclear medicine, expansion to other imaging modalities began roughly 25 years ago and has accelerated since. That acceleration derives from the continual appearance of new and highly relevant animal models of human disease, increasingly sensitive imaging devices, high-throughput methods to discover and optimize affinity agents to key cellular targets, new ways to manipulate genetic material, and expanded use of cloud computing. Greater interest by scientists in allied fields, such as chemistry, biomedical engineering, and immunology, as well as increased attention by the pharmaceutical industry, have likewise contributed to the boom in activity in recent years. Whereas researchers and clinicians have applied molecular imaging to a variety of physiologic processes and disease states, here, the authors focus on oncology, arguably where it has made its greatest impact. The main purpose of imaging in oncology is early detection to enable interception if not prevention of full-blown disease, such as the appearance of metastases. Because biochemical changes occur before changes in anatomy, molecular imaging—particularly when combined with liquid biopsy for screening purposes—promises especially early localization of disease for optimum management. Here, the authors introduce the ways and indications in which molecular imaging can be undertaken, the tools used and under development, and near-term challenges and opportunities in oncology.