Effectiveness of radiotherapy for elderly patients with anaplastic gliomas

Postoperative radiotherapy (RT) is utilized routinely in the management of anaplastic World Health Organization Grade III gliomas (AG), including anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) and anaplastic oligodendroglioma (AO). However, the optimal role of RT in elderly AG patients remains controversial. We evaluated the effectiveness of RT in elderly AG patients using a national cancer registry. The USA Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (1990–2008) was used to query patients over 70 years of age with AA or AO. Independent predictors of overall survival were determined using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Among 390 elderly patients with AG, 333 (85%) had AA and 57 (15%) had AO. Approximately two-thirds of AA patients (64%) and AO patients (65%) received RT. Most AO patients (58%) and many AA patients (41%) underwent surgical resection; the remainder had biopsy. The median overall survival for all patients who underwent RT was 6 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5–7 months) versus 2 months (95% CI 1–6) in patients who did not have RT. Patients who had gross total resection (GTR) plus RT had a median overall survival of 11 months (95% CI 7–14). Multivariate analysis for all patients showed that undergoing RT was significantly associated with improved survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.52, p < .0001). AA tumor type (HR 1.37, p = .03) was associated with worse survival than AO tumor type; female sex (HR 0.59, p < .0001) and being married (HR 0.66, p = .002) significantly improved survival. Patients that underwent GTR had a significant reduction in the hazards of mortality compared to biopsy (HR 0.72, p = .04). Elderly AG patients undergoing RT had better overall survival compared to patients who did not receive RT. Treatment strategies involving maximal safe resection plus RT should be considered in the optimal management of AG in elderly patients.     

Risk of subsequent cancer among pediatric,adult and elderly patients following a primary diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme: a population-based study of the SEER database

Purpose/aim of the study: Our objective was to determine the risk of a subsequent malignancy in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Materials and methods: Data of patients with a primary diagnosis of GBM were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Patients were divided into three age groups: pediatric, ≤19 years of age; adult, 20–59 years; elderly, ≥60 years. Outcomes were overall survival and incidence of second cancer. Results: A total of 24?348 patients with primary GBM were identified during the period from 2004 to 2013: 349 pediatric, 9841 adults and 14?518 elderly. There were significant differences in terms of sex, race, registry site, tumor histological type, tumor size and extension among the groups. The median survival time for pediatric, adult and elderly patients was 15, 15 and 5 months, respectively. Of the study population, 1.8% developed a second malignancy and the rates of the three groups were statistically different. Secondary tumors of the cranial nerves and other nervous system were the most common occurrence in the adults and elderly. Female, registry site, giant cell glioblastoma, undergoing surgery or radiation therapy were associated with developing a second malignancy. Conclusions: The risk of a second malignancy in GBM patients is 1.8%, and associated with certain patient and treatment factors.     

Comparing dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion post-processing with different clinically available software among patients affected of a high-grade glioma

Background and purposeThe main purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate inter-software variability in patients affected of a high-grade glioma for the post-processing of dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC¹) perfusion imaging in MRI.²Materials and methodsThe included patients were either anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO³ grade III) or glioblastoma (WHO grade IV) located in the cerebral parenchyma. The postprocessing of 54 MRI-DSC imaging from 46 patients using both Intellispace.. (Philips) and Olea.. (Olea Medical) software was performed. The hemodynamic parameter studied was the normalised relative cerebral blood volume corrected for the T1 leakage effect (nrCBVc⁴). The inter-operator variabilities were also evaluated.ResultsRegarding inter-software reproducibility, Cohen...s Kappa from therapeutic follow-up obtained were 0.61, close to the recommended limit (0.60). Subgroups were created to complete the analysis and to evaluate the partial volume effect. Even if necrosis or vascular structures from regions of interest (ROI⁵) were avoided, results did not improve. ROI of a minimum area of 250...mm² yielded a Cohen...s Kappa of 0.65. The inter-operator reproducibility on Intellispace and Olea were 0.90 and 0.73 respectively, which is satisfactory.ConclusionThe reproducibility between Intellispace and Olea was below recommended threshold in a clinical context. This discrepancy can be explained by the partial volume effect and the models used. ROI with an area of at least 250...mm² improves this reproducibility and becomes acceptable.     

乳腺癌术后抑郁发生率及相关危险因素研究

目的 调查乳腺癌术后患者抑郁的发生状况及相关危险因素.方法 应用Beck抑郁量表(BDI)对243例连续入组的乳腺癌术后患者进行抑郁评估,并记录患者的一般资料和乳腺癌的临床资料.结果 以BDI总分4/5为界,92例(37.9%)乳腺癌术后患者存在有明显的抑郁症状,抑郁组的年龄、月收入显著低于非抑郁组(t=-2.306,P=0.022;χ2=7.767,P=0.021),而手术方式、术后时间、临床肿瘤分期、是否伴随其他躯体疾病、何种治疗方式、ER受体情况在抑郁组和非抑郁组间未发现显著性的差异.结论 乳腺癌术后抑郁的发生比例较高,低龄、低收入可能是乳腺癌术后抑郁发生的危险因素.     

The effect of hypnotic-guided imagery on psychological well-being and immune function in patients with prior breast cancer

Objective: To determine the effect of hypnotic-guided imagery on immune function and psychological parameters in patients being treated for Stage I or II breast cancer. Methods: To determine the effects of hypnotic-guided imagery on immune function and psychological parameters, the following study was undertaken. Psychological profiles, natural killer (NK) cell number and activity were measured at baseline, after the 8-week imagery training program and at the 3-month follow-up. Results: There were significant increases in improvement in depression (P<.04) and increase in absolute number of NK cells, but these were not maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Hypnotic-guided imagery did cause some transient changes in psychological well-being and immune parameters. However, these changes were not retained after the treatment ended. Conclusions: Many studies during the last 15 years have demonstrated interactions between the central nervous and the immune systems. While a negative effect of stress on immune responses has been demonstrated, there have also been published reports that psychological treatments can positively alter the immune system. However, given the complexities of immune system kinetics, the transient nature of any psychological effect and the insensitivity of immune assays, our study indicates that there is a role for hypnotic-guided imagery as an adjuvant therapy.     

Insomnia and its treatment in women with breast cancer

Insomnia is a common complaint in breast cancer patients and has been shown to have a host of psychological and medical correlates and consequences. Typically insomnia is treated pharmacologically, however more recent findings from randomized controlled clinical trials support the use of cognitive behavioral therapies. The aim of this article is to review the empirically supported breast cancer literature on insomnia, briefly present and explain the insomnia treatment options available, and extrapolate research guidelines for future directions in this growing field. Behavioral therapeutic approaches for insomnia seem particularly suitable to use in the breast cancer populations because they have lower risk of interacting with the cancer treatment, do not burden the patients with additional pharmacological treatments, and can target the treatment towards ameliorating specific symptoms, like fatigue, that are characteristic in this population. However, there is a need for replication of efficacy studies of cognitive behavioral treatments for insomnia in breast cancer, as well as studies investigating vulnerability, risk and protective factors that might ultimately lead to insomnia prevention programs for use in this population.     

人脑胶质瘤中Skp2的表达与肿瘤恶性程度及预后关系的研究

目的探讨人脑胶质瘤中Skp2蛋白的表达与肿瘤恶性程度及预后的关系。方法收集胶质瘤石蜡标本52例，其中低恶性度胶质瘤25例，高恶性度胶质瘤27例，采用免疫组化法检测瘤组织内Skp2、Ki-67的表达情况。同时，对病人的生存时间进行随访。结果①skp2在低、高恶性度肿瘤表达的阳性率分别为56％和81．5％。两组间差异显著（P〈0．01）。②skp2和Ki-67在胶质瘤中的表达呈显著正相关（r=0．818．P〈0．01），在Skp2表达阳性的胶质瘤细胞中其Ki-67的标记指数明显高于相应Skp2表达阴性者（P〈0．05）。③Kaplan—Meier生存分析显示，skp2高表达组（skp2LI〉15％）累积生存率显著降低（P〈0．05）。结论Skp2蛋白的过表达可能参与了胶质瘤的恶性进程。检测胶质瘤的Skp2蛋白水平可能有助于评价肿瘤的生物学行为和预后。     

乳腺癌手术前伴焦虑抑郁情绪患者的抗抑郁药物治疗对照研究

目的 评估抗抑郁药物治疗乳腺癌改良根治手术前伴焦虑抑郁情绪患者的疗效.方法 对2006年1月至2007年10月住院的37例乳腺癌患者在入院后三天内手术前进行汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)和汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA)评估,将HAMA≥14及HAMD≥17的焦虑抑郁患者随机分为研究组(15例)和对照组(15例).研究组采用改良根治手术+抗抑郁药物(帕罗西汀)治疗,对照组采用常规改良根治手术治疗.观察三周,比较两组术后情绪变化及创面愈合情况.结果 与基线比,术后一周研究组HAMD减分大于对照组(4.2±1.5、2.7±1.1,F=0.8,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义;术后三周研究组HAMD和HAMA减分均大于对照组(HAMD:11.4±1.4、5.9±1.9,F=1.9,P<0.05;HAMA:9.1±2.2、4.5±1.4,F=5.2,P<0.05),差异均有统计学意义;与对照组比较,研究组创面愈合天数明显缩短(16.0±2.1、27.9±4.8,F=9.714,P<0.05),差异有统计学意义;术后三周,研究组患者焦虑缓解率(73.3%,11/15)高于对照组(40%,6/15),差异有统计学意义(χ2=3.4,P<0.05),抑郁情绪缓解率(86.7%,13/15)也高于对照组(40%,6/15, χ2=7.0,P<0.05).结论 对手术前伴抑郁焦虑的乳腺癌患者而言,手术联合抗抑郁药物治疗较单纯手术治疗疗效更好.     

贝伐单抗联合化疗治疗复发高级别胶质瘤的疗效观察及安全性分析

目的探讨贝伐单抗联合化疗治疗复发高级别胶质瘤的疗效及安全性。方法回顾性分析2011年3月~2013年12月符合入选标准的11例复发高级别胶质瘤患者,接受贝伐单抗联合替莫唑胺(TMZ)化疗方案治疗。化疗效果按照肿瘤可计算MRI增强范围评价疗效,并观察患者治疗前至再次进展之间KPS、QOL评分改变。不良反应参照WHO抗癌药物急性与亚急性毒性反应分度标准。结果 11例患者全部完成2个周期以上的化疗。疗效评价,总体完全缓解(CR)4例,部分缓解(PR)6例,病情稳定(SD)1例,病情进展(PD)0例,缓解率(RR)为90.9%(10/11),DCR为100%(11/11);中位PFS为5.4个月,中位OS为6.5个月。贝伐单抗联合TMZ所致不良反应以胃肠道反应(66.3%)、骨髓抑制(43.2%)、肾损伤(39.0%)、高血压(27.3%)常见,本组多为Ⅰ、Ⅱ级(35.93%),很少Ⅲ级(2.60%),无Ⅳ级;治疗后患者KPS评分及QOL评分均较治疗前均有改善(均P0.05)。结论贝伐单抗联合TMZ化疗对复发高级别胶质瘤的治疗有良好的抗肿瘤活性和较高的疾病控制率,安全性较高,是一种可优先选择的治疗方法。     

Relationship between a hopeful attitude and cellular immunity in patients with breast cancer

Objectives

To evaluate the relationship between hopefulness and immune function in patients with breast cancer.

Methods

A total of 196 patients with breast cancer were enrolled. The subjects were divided into two groups using the abbreviated version of the seven-item Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS-7). Subsets of circulating lymphocytes were assessed using flow cytometry: CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD19⁺ and CD56⁺. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and EORTC QLQ-C30 were administered.

Results

A total of 104 patients (53.6%) showed a hopeful attitude, with a score of 0 on the BHS-7. Scores on the MADRS and BDI were significantly higher in the nonhopeful group, whereas global and total functioning scores on the EORTC QLQ-C-30 were significantly higher in the hopeful group. The hopeful group showed significantly higher CD8⁺ T-cell percentage and counts and significantly lower CD4⁺ T-cell percentage and CD19⁺ B-cell percentage and counts compared with the nonhopeful group. All statistically significant differences between the two groups were maintained after adjusting for age and scores on the BDI and EORTC QLQ-C-30 as covariates, except for CD 19⁺ cell counts.

Conclusion

The results suggest that hopefulness may be associated with immunity in patients with breast cancer, independent of depression and quality of life.     

Cognitive impairment following chemotherapy for breast cancer: The impact of practice effect on results

Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI) can be an adverse effect in women treated for breast cancer. Some longitudinal studies reported deficits in attention, memory, and executive function following treatment, but other studies did not find cognitive changes. It is known that practice effects (PE) on repeated assessments with cognitive tests contribute to the discrepancies in these results, but its influence on scores has not been systematically explored. The present study examines the impact of PE on retest scores in a group of women with breast cancer treated with chemotherapy and evaluated longitudinally.

Method: 51 women with breast cancer treated with a combination of 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide with or without taxanes were assessed after surgery but before chemotherapy (T1), post-chemotherapy (T2), and at one year after T2 (T3). Longitudinal changes on cognitive performance were analyzed twice: when retest scores were not corrected for PE and when correction for PE was applied to T2 and T3 scores.

Results: When PE was not corrected, progressive improvement over time in measures of memory and divided attention at T2 and T3 was observed. In contrast, when PE was corrected, worsening was found in measures of memory, fluency, executive function, and attention at T2 and in attention and executive function at T3. Results after correction for PE are in line with previous longitudinal studies that report cognitive impairment after treatment with chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Conclusion: Accounting for PE is recommended to identify true change on cognition through treatment with chemotherapy for breast cancer.     

An evaluation of the absolute and relative stability of alexithymia in women with breast cancer

OBJECTIVES: In the controversy for alexithymia as a state or a trait dimension, recent studies showed that, whereas absolute changes (i.e., extent of alexithymia scores change over time) were observed, alexithymia was relatively stable (i.e., extent to which relative differences among individuals remain the same over time). The present study extended this question by investigating a disease with highly threatening outcomes (breast cancer), by looking at changes in depression and anxiety, and by examining stability for total and factor alexithymia scores. METHODS: One hundred twenty-two women in treatment for a first instance of breast cancer were assessed for alexithymia (TAS-20), depression, and anxiety (HADS) the day before surgery (T1) and six months later (T2). RESULTS: Alexithymia scores changed from baseline to follow-up (lack of absolute stability). Strong evidence of relative stability was also demonstrated, as alexithymia scores at baseline correlated significantly with alexithymia scores at follow-up and were also a significant predictor of follow-up alexithymia scores, after partialling the effects of depression and anxiety severity. Changes in alexithymia were explained only to a small extent by changes in depression and anxiety from T1 to T2. Results at the factor level revealed that "difficulty identifying feelings" follow-up and change score accounted for the highest variations in depression and anxiety, and "externally oriented thinking" for the lowest ones. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of relative stability of alexithymia supports the view that this construct is a stable personality trait rather than a state-dependent phenomenon, even in a context of high threat for physical and psychological integrity.     

Positive effects of illness reported by myocardial infarction and breast cancer patients

This study investigated the positive effects or changes that patients identified in their lives following a myocardial infarction (MI) or breast cancer. One hundred and forty-three patients were assessed in hospital following a first-time MI and 52 breast cancer patients were assessed on referral for radiotherapy. Approximately 3 months later both groups were asked if any positive changes had taken place in their lives following their illness. Patients' written responses to a single open-ended question were read independently by three judges who identified seven major positive themes. Approximately 60% of each patient group reported positive changes from their illness and the reporting of such changes was unrelated to illness severity. The most common theme reported by MI patients was healthy lifestyle change (68%), whereas, for breast cancer patients, it was improved close relationships with others (33%). These results are discussed in terms of the way patients make sense of and adapt to chronic illness.     

上海市徐汇区6社区乳腺癌患者生命质量现况及影响因素分析

目的 了解社区乳腺癌患者的生命质量现况并分析主要的影响因素.方法 采用乳腺癌患者生命质量量表(FACT-B,V4.0)和自行设计的一般情况表,对上海市徐汇区6个社区的390例乳腺癌患者进行问卷调查.结果 社区乳腺癌患者的生命质量总分为102.2±16.6.生活自理能力、工作状态、复发状况、医疗保障和中医药治疗是影响乳腺癌患者总体生命质量的因素;中医药治疗和生活自理能力是影响情感维度的重要因素.结论 上海徐汇6社区乳腺癌患者的生命质量尚可.提高患者的生活自理能力、关注社区乳腺癌患者中的弱势人群,开展针对性的癌症康复俱乐部活动等心理干预活动是开展社区乳腺癌患者康复干预的有效措施.     

Assessing illness representations of breast cancer: a comparison of patients with healthy and benign controls

OBJECTIVE: Illness representations of cancer may comprise inaccurate information, misconceptions, or negative conceptualizations of the disease, which may influence screening behaviors. This study examined the differences between healthy women's and breast cancer patients' representations of breast cancer. METHODS: The cross-sectional design involved 147 consecutive women free from breast diseases, or with benign breast conditions, and 102 patients with breast cancer recruited from the outpatient breast clinic of a public cancer hospital. Respondents completed a modified version of the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) that assessed six dimensions of illness representations of breast cancer. RESULTS: Multiple comparison tests revealed that nonmalignant women's illness representations were characterized by weak beliefs concerning breast cancer curability/controllability, combined with an overestimation of the negative physical, social, and economic consequences of breast cancer. Moreover, these women held stronger beliefs about the role of environmental factors (radiation exposure, diet, and pollution) in breast cancer causation and expressed greater disagreement on the role of chance in the onset and course of the illness. CONCLUSION: Illness representations of breast cancer appear to play a significant role in determining the unfavorable and exaggerated way in which laywomen perceive breast cancer. This is discussed within the framework of the social construction of the disease, which portrays breast cancer as a fatal and disfiguring disease, and the strong influence lay literature and the media exert on it.     

Relaxation and guided imagery program in patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy is not associated with neuroimmunomodulatory effects

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of breast cancer is usually associated with significant psychological stress. In this study, we examined the effects of relaxation and visualization therapy (RVT) on psychological distress, cortisol levels, and immunological parameters of breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental (n=20) who underwent group RVT for 24 consecutive days or control group (n=14) who were on radiotherapy only. Psychological scores (stress, anxiety, and depression) were measured by structured clinical interviews. Salivary cortisol was assessed along the day. Lymphocytes were isolated and cultured to measure T-cell proliferation and sensitivity to glucocorticoids (GCs). RESULTS: RVT was effective to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression scores (all P<.05). However, cortisol levels as well as proliferation remained unchanged following RVT. Although T cells of experimental group were more sensitive to GCs than cells of controls at baseline, no changes were noted following RVT. Cortisol levels were positively correlated to anxiety and depression scores and inversely correlated to T-cell proliferation and sensitivity to GCs. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the psychological intervention was capable to attenuate the emotional distress presented during radiotherapy treatment. A longer RVT or worse psychological morbidity at baseline may be necessary to translate psychological into biological changes.     

Determinants of fatigue 6 and 12 months after surgery in women with early-stage breast cancer: A comparison with women with benign breast problems

Objective

The objective of this study was to examine the predictors of fatigue 6 and 12 months after surgical treatment in women with early-stage breast cancer (BC group) and in women with benign breast problems (BBP group) in a prospective follow-up study.

Methods

Women entered the study prior to diagnosis and completed questionnaires on personality factors, psychological factors, and social support. Fatigue was assessed 6 and 12 months after diagnosis (BBP group) or surgical treatment (BC group). Clinical data were taken from medical records.

Results

In the BC group (n=117), fatigue at 6 months was predicted by trait anxiety (P<.001) and extraversion (P<.05). Trait anxiety (P<.05), extraversion (P<.05), and depressive symptoms (P<.05) predicted fatigue at 12 months. In the BBP group (n=190), the predictors were trait anxiety (P<.001) for fatigue at 6 months, and trait anxiety (P<.001) and neuroticism (P<.01) for fatigue at 12 months.

Conclusion

Many patients who are already fatigued before diagnosis remain tired regardless of diagnosis. Trait anxiety is strongly related to fatigue in both groups.     

肿瘤转移抑制基因KiSS-1在乳腺癌脑转移患者的表达及临床意义

目的 转移抑制基因KiSS-l在多种肿瘤的浸润转移中起着重要的作用。但该基因与乳腺癌脑转移的关系仍很不清楚。本研究检测了乳腺癌原发灶和脑转移灶中KiSS-l基因的表达并探讨其临床意义。方法 选择2002年6月～2004年6月行乳腺癌脑转移病灶切除的患者12例，应用实时荧光定量PCR检测乳腺癌原发灶和转移灶中KiSS-l基因mRNA的表达，应用Westernblot检测KiSS-l蛋白的表达，并进一步应用免疫组化进行验证。结果 实时荧光定量PCR显示脑转移标本KiSS-l mRNA表达仅为原发灶的1／10，与原发灶比较有显著差异（P〈0．01），Western blot检测显示脑转移灶KiSS-l蛋白较原发灶明显减弱，免疫组化显示KiSS-l在原发灶中表达率明显低于原发灶。结论 KiSS-l基因在乳腺痛脑转移中具有转移抑制作用，可能在乳腺癌脑转移治疗中发挥作用。