Desmoid Tumor Treated with Polychemotherapy Followed by Imatinib: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Desmoid tumors, also known as aggressive fibromatosis, are tumors of intermediate dignity, which grow slowly but are locally aggressive. These tumors do not metastasize but can be potentially life threatening when infiltrating vital structures. The therapy strategy consists of surgery, radiation and systemic therapy with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antiestrogen compounds and cytotoxic chemotherapy. We report on a 40-year-old male patient with advanced fibromatosis of the neck who has been treated with 7 cycles of polychemotherapy (adriablastin, ifosfamide and dacarbazine) followed by targeted therapy with imatinib. Tumor response was evaluated clinically and by magnetic resonance imaging. The tumor decreased significantly after the first cycle of chemotherapy and tumor-related symptoms declined. The response continued after switching to targeted therapy with imatinib, which is currently ongoing. The best treatment for this rare tumor remains under discussion. Doxorubicin and dacarbazine are frequently used agents. We included ifosfamide in our therapy, which is standard in the treatment of soft tissue tumors. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib seems to offer new possibilities and is currently investigated in randomized trials. We conclude that combination chemotherapy including doxorubicin, ifosfamide and dacarbazine in the treatment of aggressive fibromatosis should be considered for patients suffering from unresectable, advanced disease and clinical symptoms which require a rapid response to therapy

Austrian Immigrant Survey 2016 (SUF edition)

Full edition for scientific use. The Austrian Immigrat Survey 2016 is a supplementary telephone survey to the main survey of the Social Survey Austria (SSÖ) 2016. In the supplementary survey, each 300 migrants in Austria from Turkey and former Yugoslavia were interviewed about their living situation. In order to make comparisons with the Austrian population, some of the questions were the same as asked in the SSÖ main survey

Austrian Immigrant Survey 2016 and Social Survey Austria 2016 combined (SUF edition)

Full edition for scientific use. This data set is a combination of the Social Survey Austria (SSÖ) 2016 and the Austrian Immigrant Survey 2016 (AIS). The abstracts for the respective data sets can be found under the DOI numbers: doi: 10.11587/IGXRAO (SSÖ 2016) and doi: 10.11587/8VAV6W (Austrian Immigration Survey 2016)

Clusterin expression in elastofibroma dorsi

Background: Elastofibroma dorsi is a benign soft tissue lesion composed of abnormal elastic fibers. Degenerated elastic fibers in skin and liver are associated with clusterin, an apoprotein that shares functional properties with small heat shock proteins. We evaluated the staining pattern and possible role of clusterin in elastofibroma dorsi. Material and methods: Twenty-one subcutaneous elastofibromas from the scapular region were evaluated with Elastica van Gieson and Orcein stains, immunohistochemically with antibodies to clusterin, smooth muscle actin, S-100, vimentin and CD34 and correlated with clinical data with respect to physical trauma. Results: Clusterin correlated with the staining pattern of Elastica van Gieson and labelled abnormal broad coarse fibrillar and globular elastic fibers in all elastofibromas. Orcein stains additionally identified fine oxytalan fibers which were not stained by clusterin. Clusterin staining was observed only on the outside of the elastin fibers, while the cores of fibers and globules were unstained. 4/21 elastofibromas showed cellular nodules with a myxoid/ collagenous stroma. The round to oval cells showed cytoplasmic staining with vimentin and clusterin; CD34 labelled mostly cell membranes. The cells lacked SMA and S-100 expression. The central areas of the nodules were devoid of elastic fibers, but the periphery contained coarse fibers and globules. 9/11 patients, for whom clinical data were available, reported trauma to the scapular region. Conclusion: Many investigated ED were associated with trauma, which supports a reactive/ degenerative etiology of ED. The abnormal large elastic fibers in all ED were enveloped by clusterin. Clusterin deposition may protect elastic fibers from degradation and thus contribute indirectly to the tumor-like presentation of ED