18F-FDG uptake on PET correlates with biological potential in early oral squamous cell carcinoma

Conclusion: The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of early oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) may have a role as an imaging biomarker for assessment of malignant potential, including cell metabolism and angiogenesis. Objective: The usefulness of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has been proven in various cancers, including OSCC. Moreover, in several carcinomas, the SUVmax of the tumor has been shown to correlate with the histological type, tumor stage, differentiation, and prognosis. Here, we investigated whether the SUVmax of early OSCC was associated with the biological features. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with newly diagnosed early OSCC who underwent preoperative FDG-PET and curative surgical resection were included in this study. Tumor sections were stained by immunohistochemistry for glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), CD98, microvessels (CD34), cell proliferation marker (Ki-67), and cell cycle regulator (p53). The correlation between SUVmax and clinicopathological findings or the expression level of these molecules was analyzed. Results: SUVmax of primary OSCC was significantly higher in patients with T2 stage. Moreover, patients whose tumors showed vascular invasion had a tendency to show higher SUVmax. A significant correlation was observed between SUVmax and the expression of LAT1 or microvessel density.     

Maximizing the Impact of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention in Zambia by Targeting High-Risk Men: A Pre/Post Program Evaluation

AIDS and Behavior - A well-documented barrier to voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is financial loss due to the missed opportunity to work while undergoing and recovering from VMMC. We...     

l‐type amino acid transporter 1 and CD98 expression in primary and metastatic sites of human neoplasms

The significance of l ‐type amino acid transporter (LAT) 1 expression remains unclear in the metastatic process of human neoplasms, whereas experimental studies have demonstrated that LAT1 is associated with the metastatic process of cancer cells. We compared the immunohistochemical expression of LAT1 and CD98 between the primary site and a concordant pulmonary metastatic site in 93 cancer patients, all of whom had undergone thoracotomy. LAT1, CD98, Ki‐67 labeling index, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD31, and CD34 were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining in the resected tumors of 93 cancer patients: 45 colon cancers; nine breast cancers; eight head and neck cancers; 11 genital cancers; 14 soft‐tissue sarcomas; and six other cancers. The expression of these markers was significantly higher in the metastatic sites than in the primary sites. In total, the positive rates of LAT1, CD98, Ki‐67, VEGF, CD31, and CD34 were 40, 24, 56, 41, 45, and 39%, respectively, in the primary sites and 65, 45, 84, 67, 73, and 61%, respectively, in the metastatic sites. LAT1 expression was closely correlated with CD98 expression, angiogenesis, and cell proliferation. The association between LAT1 and CD98 expression was strongest in the primary and metastatic sites. The present study suggests that overexpression of LAT1 and CD98 has an important role to play in the metastatic process of variable human neoplasms. Moreover, LAT1 expression was significantly correlated with cell proliferation and angiogenesis. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 2380–2386)     

Thymic cancer effectively treated by combination chemotherapy of carboplatin and etoposide with concurrent radiotherapy

A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for acute heart failure. A chest CT scan revealed a large anterior mediastinal mass and pericardial effusion. Percutaneous needle biopsy showed that the mass was an advanced thymic cancer (squamous cell carcinoma). The patient was treated by combination chemotherapy of carboplatin and etoposide with concurrent radiotherapy (44 Gy). There was no severe toxicity except for grade 4 neutropenia. After 3 courses of chemotherapy, the mass showed an approximately 81% reduction in tumor size and disappearance of the pericardial effusion. Finally, the thymic cancer and small pulmonary metastatic lesions were all resected. This concurrent chemoradiotherapy can be effective against inoperable squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus.     

Tensionless Spigelian herniorrhaphy using a bilayered prosthetic patch: historical, anatomical, diagnostic, and operative perspectives

Spigelian hernias, which represent <2% of all hernias of the vellum abdominis (abdominal wall) anterior, can be a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. Noninvasive imaging techniques, including ultrasonography (US) and computerized axial tomography (CAT), substantially complement clinical inferences based on interrogation and physical examination. Successful definitive care mandates comprehension of the regional, topographical, and visceral anatomy in axial, coronal, and transverse planes. Reported herein is the successful use of a bilayered prosthetic patch, advantageous because of its unimodular and biplanar configuration, to perform a tensionless herniorrhaphy.