CalcNTCP: a simple tool for computation of normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) associated with cancer radiotherapy

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to develop a simple and user-friendly software for fast and accurate computation of normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) in accordance with the Lyman model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The software CalcNTCP has been developed in Visual Basic and is equipped with two functional modes. Mode 1 is based on pre-stored values of various parameters for 27 different organ systems and the user has only to input the values of volume fraction (v) and radiation dose (D), whereas Mode 2 is designed for the customized entries. RESULTS: The results of software validation have demonstrated that CalcNTCP is more efficient and time-saving as compared to manual or semi-manual procedures. The shapes and locations of representative survival curves generated by CalcNTCP-based computations for various radiation doses (10 - 100 Gy) and reference volumes (0.33 - 1.00) absolutely matched with optimal curves. CONCLUSION: CalcNTCP is a simple, fast and accurate tool for the computation of NTCP with a direct implication in the evaluation or optimization of radiotherapy treatment plans.     

Ureteric nephrogenic adenoma: a report of two cases

Nephrogenic adenoma is a rare, benign, metaplastic lesion predominantly seen in urinary bladder, which occurs even more rarely in the ureters. We report two such cases, arising in the ureter. Both patients were young adult males. Histology of both cases was similar, showing tubules lined by columnar cells with hobnailing of nuclei. Immunohistochemically, both cases resembled their counterparts in urinary bladder. These lesions are important to recognize, since they can easily be confused with several malignancies.     

New syndromic entity of situs inversus totalis.

A 22-year-old Bedouin female with MCA/MR has been recently ascertained. She showed profound mental retardation, proportionate short stature, facial dysmorphism, spastic quadreparesis, bilateral taliper equinovarus, brachydactyly, situs inversus totalis, and MRI findings of cerebellar/midbrain migration defects. The described phenotype represents a new syndromic situs inversus with a characteristic Facio-Cerebro-Skeleto-Cardiac phenotype.     

Gemcitabine triggers angiogenesis-promoting molecular signals in pancreatic cancer cells: Therapeutic implications

Pancreatic tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by poor tumor-vasculature and extensive desmoplasia that together contribute to poor response to chemotherapy. It was recently shown that targeting of TME to inhibit desmoplasiatic reaction in a preclinical model resulted in increased microvessel-density and intratumoral drug concentration, leading to improved therapeutic response. This approach; however, failed to generate a favorable response in clinical trial. In that regard, we have previously demonstrated a role of gemcitabine-induced CXCR4 signaling as a counter-defense mechanism, which also promoted invasiveness of pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. Here, we investigated the effect of gemcitabine on endothelial cell phenotype. Gemcitabine-treatment of human-umbilical-vein-endothelial-cells (HUVECs) did not promote the growth of HUVECs; however, it was induced when treated with conditioned media from gemcitabine-treated (Gem-CM) PC cells due to increased cell-cycle progression and apoptotic-resistance. Moreover, treatment of HUVECs with Gem-CM resulted in capillary-like structure (CLS) formation and promoted their ability to migrate and invade through extracellular-matrix. Gemcitabine-treatment of PC cells induced expression of various growth factors/cytokines, including IL-8, which exhibited greatest upregulation. Further, IL-8 depletion in Gem-CM diminished its potency to promote angiogenic phenotypes. Together, these findings suggest an indirect effect of gemcitabine on angiogenesis, which, in light of our previous observations, may hold important clinical significance.