Does an extended mediastinal lymphadenectomy improve outcome after R0 resection in lung cancer?

Objective： This retrospective study was conducted to investigate the impact of more extended mediastinal lymphadenectomy on the outcome of lung cancer patients treated with R0 resection. Methods： During the investigation period, 325 lung cancer cases were enlisted and 278 cases entered the analysis. The patients were divided into Control group （n=116） and Research group （n=162） according to the different extents of mediastinal lymph node clearance at different time periods. Three major parameters were retrospectively assessed to compare the quality of surgical care： extent of lymph node clearance, resection volume, and postoperative recovery process and common complications. Comparison of the outcome between two groups was carried out. Results： Research group showed a significant quality improvement of lymphadenectomy, such as more mediastinal node stations investigated （more than 3 N2 stations investigated： Research group, 90.7% vs. Control group, 55.2%; P=0.001） and more nodes collection （total nodes 26.1±10.0 vs. 19.1±8.3, P=0.000; N2 nodes 15.5±7.2 vs. 9.8±5.6, P=0.000）. However, overall survival （OS） and disease-free survival （DFS） were not significantly different either between two groups （5-year OS： Control group, 56.4±4.6% vs. Research group, 62.6±4.3%; P=0.271） or between subgroups from stage I to IIIa. TNM stage and histology were significant factors associated with OS and DFS in multivariate analysis; extent of mediastinal lymphadenectomy was not associated with OS or DFS. Conclusions： More radical mediastinal lymphadenectomy may not lead to an improved oncological outcome for lung cancer treated with R0 resection.     

Complete mesocolic excision and extended lymphadenectomy: Where should we stand?

Debate regarding the risks and merits of complete mesocolic excision and extended lymphadenectomy is ongoing, particularly for right-sided colon cancers. In this article, we hope to provide a succinct yet encompassing review of the relevant literature. We posit that complete mesocolic excision with D3 dissection is indicated in select patients with colon cancers, particularly those distal to the cecum.     

Targeting triple negative breast cancer: Is p53 the answer?

Triple negative breast cancers, which are defined by lack of expression of estrogen, progesterone, or HER2 receptors, represent approximately 15% of all breast cancers, although they account for a much higher proportional of breast cancer mortality. This is due both to their innate aggressive biological characteristics, but also to lack of effective therapies. Conventional chemotherapy is currently the only treatment option, thus there is a critical need to find new and effective targeted therapies in this disease. While investigation of agents such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and EGFR inhibitors continues, results from recent clinical trials indicate that these therapies are not as active in sporadic triple negative breast cancers as initially hoped. It is important therefore to consider other emerging therapeutic agents. Mutation in p53 is found in the vast majority of triple negative breast cancers, and as such is a target of particular interest. Within this review, several agents with potential activity against aberrant p53 signaling have been considered, as a novel approach to finding an effective targeted therapy for this aggressive breast cancer subtype.     

Does the count after inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy in vulvar cancer correlate with outcome?

Background

Inguinal lymph node (LN) metastasis is an important prognostic factor in vulvar cancer. Our aim was to determine the prognostic value of the number of resected LNs in inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed in a series of 158 individuals who underwent bilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy for vulvar squamous cell carcinoma from January 1980 to February 2010.

Results

The mean age was 67 years (range: 15–90). Median tumor size was 5 cm (range: 1–18). A median of 22.5 inguinal LNs (range: 2–57) was resected. Thirteen (8.2%) patients had <12 LNs resected, and 145 (91.8%) had ≥12 LNs resected. Eighty (50.6%) patients had LN metastasis, with a median of 2 positive LNs (range: 1–16). Of those with positive LNs, 19 (23.8%), 23 (28.8%), and 38 (47.5%) patients had 1, 2, and 3 or more positive LNs, respectively. Thirty-three (41.2%) patients had bilateral LN metastasis. For patients without LN involvement, we failed to observe any significant difference between patients with <12 LNs and ≥12 LNs that were resected with regard to risk of recurrence (p = 0.97) and death from cancer (p = 0.43) in 5 years. However, resection of <12 LNs in patients with positive LNs negatively impacted the risk of recurrence (p = 0.003) and death from cancer (p = 0.043).

Conclusions

Resection of fewer than 12 LNs in vulvar cancer has a negative impact on outcome for patients with positive inguinal LNs.     

Core biopsy versus FNAC for palpable breast cancers. Is image guidance necessary?

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of free-hand percutaneous core biopsy (FHCB) and to determine the role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as diagnostic tools for palpable radiologically-suspicious breast lumps. This retrospective study was based on reviewing the clinical records of all patients diagnosed as having breast cancer between January 1999 and December 2000 and patients who had benign lesions, but suspicious breast imaging at triple assessment. Absolute sensitivity of FHCB for diagnosing cancer in palpable lesions was 98.7% compared with 51.3% for FNAC. The difference in the sensitivity of FHCB and FNAC was statistically significant (P<0.005, Wilcoxon matched pair test). Since 94.8% of radiologically-suspicious lumps were shown to be cancers, we advocate FHCB for all patients presenting with radiologically suspicious palpable lumps to our breast clinic. We also conclude that the sensitivity of FHCB for the diagnosis of malignancy in palpable radiologically-suspicious breast lesions is so high that image-guidance is unnecessary.     

Do the British public recognise differences in survival between three common cancers?

Background:

The recognition that cancer is not a single entity, rather that different cancers have different causes and trajectories, has been a key development in the scientific understanding of cancer. However, little is known about the British public''s awareness of differences between cancers. This study examined differences in perceived survivability for three common cancers with widely disparate survival rates (breast, colorectal and lung).

Method:

In a population-based survey, using home interviews (N=2018), respondents answered a quantitative (numeric) question on 5-year survival and a qualitative (non-numeric) question on curability, for each of the three cancers.

Results:

British adults correctly recognised that 5-year survival for breast cancer was higher than for colorectal cancer (CRC), which in turn was recognised to be higher than for lung cancer. Similarly, curability was perceived to be higher for breast than CRC, and both were perceived to be more curable than lung cancer. Awareness of survival differences did not vary by sex, age or socioeconomic status. In terms of absolute values, there was a tendency to underestimate breast cancer survival and overestimate lung cancer survival.

Conclusion:

The British public appear to be aware that not all cancers are equally fatal.     

Is lymphadenectomy a prognostic marker in endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the human endometrium?

Background  

During surgery for endometrial cancer, a pelvic lymphadenectomy with or without para-aortic lymphadenectomy is performed at least in patients with risk factors (stage I, grading 2 and/or histological subtypes with higher risk of lymphatic spread), and is hence recommended by the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO). Although lymph node metastases are important prognostic parameters, it has been contentious whether a pelvic lymph node dissection itself has a prognostic impact in the treatment of endometrial cancer, especially in endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Therefore, this study evaluated whether lymphadenectomy has a prognostic impact in patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma.     

Is England closing the international gap in cancer survival?

Background:

We provide an up-to-date international comparison of cancer survival, assessing whether England is ‘closing the gap'' compared with other high-income countries.

Methods:

Net survival was estimated using national, population-based, cancer registrations for 1.9 million patients diagnosed with a cancer of the stomach, colon, rectum, lung, breast (women) or ovary in England during 1995–2012. Trends during 1995–2009 were compared with estimates for Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Clinicians were interviewed to help interpret trends.

Results:

Survival from all cancers remained lower in England than in Australia, Canada, Norway and Sweden by 2005–2009. For some cancers, survival improved more in England than in other countries between 1995–1999 and 2005–2009; for example, 1-year survival from stomach, rectal, lung, breast and ovarian cancers improved more than in Australia and Canada. There has been acceleration in lung cancer survival improvement in England recently, with average annual improvement in 1-year survival rising to 2% during 2010–2012. Survival improved more in Denmark than in England for rectal and lung cancers between 1995–1999 and 2005–2009.

Conclusions:

Survival has increased in England since the mid-1990s in the context of strategic reform in cancer control, however, survival remains lower than in comparable developed countries and continued investment is needed to close the international survival gap.     

Is the AJCC TNM staging system still appropriate for gastric cancer patients survival after 5 years?

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the eighth AJCC TNM staging classification for patients with gastric cancer who had already survived for 5 years.Patients and methodsPatients who underwent radical gastrectomy at a large eastern center were considered. The prognostic value of staging systems were assessed and compared. Additional external validation was performed using a dataset from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database.ResultsThe 5-year overall survival (OS) rate for patients in the training set was 59.4%. With the prolongation of the survival time after surgery, the 5-year OS improved significantly (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in survival curves among patients who have survived 5 years after surgery. The AUC and χ2 of the eighth AJCC classification for predicting of 5-year OS decreased gradually after surgery and appeared stable after 5 years. For patients who survived 5 years after surgery, we constructed a new TNM staging system (nTNM) according to the survival curves of T stage and N stage. A 2-step multivariate analysis showed that nTNM, age and sex were independent prognostic factors. The nTNM demonstrated superior prognostic stratification, with higher c-statistic and likelihood ratio chi-square scores and lower AIC values than those of the AJCC classification. Similar results were observed in the external validation set.ConclusionThe nTNM predicted an additional survival more accurately than did the AJCC classification for patients who have survived 5 years after surgery; this may guide decisions regarding surveillance.     

Early detection of oral cancer – Is dielectrophoresis the answer?

The early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma by non-invasive methods has the potential to hasten diagnosis and thus lessen the morbidity associated with tumour therapy. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) can non-invasively determine electrophysiological parameters such as conductivity and permittivity of cellular cytoplasm and membrane. The present study demonstrates that DEP can be utilised to characterise H357 and UP cells and reveals that there are significant differences in these parameters between malignant and more normal epithelial cell lines. The present results suggest that DEP has potential for the early detection of cancerous from non-cancerous cells in a clinical setting.     

Raising hemoglobin: an opportunity for increasing survival?

Although the association between low hemoglobin levels and poorer outcomes in radiation oncology has long been recognized, anemia is often overlooked and untreated. However, a growing body of clinical evidence now indicates that low hemoglobin levels during radiation treatment are associated with decreased response and survival following radiotherapy. For example, a large Canadian retrospective study in patients receiving radical radiotherapy for cervical cancer showed that the 5-year survival rate was 19% higher in those whose hemoglobin during radiation treatment was =12 g/dl compared to those with levels <12 g/dl. The data suggest that clinical trials need to be performed to determine whether increasing hemoglobin levels leads to improved local control and survival. The mechanism by which low hemoglobin levels could cause poorer outcomes is not well understood and needs further elucidation. It is postulated that lower hemoglobin levels resulting in decreased oxygen carrying capacity may lead to increased tumor hypoxia, radiation resistance and increased tumor angiogenesis. The interrelationship of low hemoglobin levels, hypoxia, tumor angiogenesis and survival is explored in this article.