The histopathological comparison of L-carnitine with amifostine for protective efficacy on radiation-induced acute small intestinal toxicity

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the protective efficacy of l-carnitine (LC) to amifostine on radiation-induced acute small intestine damage. Materials and Methods: Thirty, 4-week-old Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to four groups - Group 1: control (CONT, n = 6), Group 2: irradiation alone (RT, n = 8), Group 3: amifostine plus irradiation (AMI+RT, n = 8), and Group 4: l-Carnitine plus irradiation (LC+RT, n = 8). The rats in all groups were irradiated individually with a single dose of 20 Gy to the total abdomen, except those in CONT. LC (300 mg/kg) or amifostine (200 mg/kg) was used 30 min before irradiation. Histopathological analysis of small intestine was carried out after euthanasia. Results: Pretreatment with amifostine reduced the radiation-induced acute degenerative damage (P = 0.009) compared to the RT group. Pretreatment with LC did not obtain any significant difference compared to the RT group. The vascular damage significantly reduced in both of the AMI+RT (P = 0.003) and LC+RT group (P = 0.029) compared to the RT group. The overall damage score was significantly lower in the AMI+RT group than the RT group (P = 0.009). There was not any significant difference between the LC+RT and RT group. Conclusions: Amifostine has a marked radioprotective effect against all histopathological changes on small intestinal tissue while LC has limited effects which are mainly on vascular structure

Prognostic importance of microvessel density, VEGF expression and perineural invasion in laryngeal cancer treated with adjuvant radiotherapy

Background and Aims: We aimed to investigate the prognostic importance of the microvessel density (MVD) value, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, and the presence of perineural invasion (PNI) in laryngeal cancer (LSCC) patients. Methods: Pathological specimens of 62 LSCC patients were assessed for the evaluation of the MVD value, the VEGF expression level, and the presence of PNI of the tumors. The tumor characteristics and prognostic effects of these parameters on local control (LC) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive analyses were done using frequencies for the demographic variables. The survival estimates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The effects of the parameters on LC and OS were investigated by using the log-rank test comparing the survival rates. Cox regression analysis was used for multivariable analysis. Results: The 5-year LC and OS rates of the 62 LSCC patients were 64.5 and 53.9%, respectively. Twenty-two patients (35.5%) had PNI and the frequency of PNI was higher in the patients with a high-grade disease (P = 0.01). The MVD value was higher in the tumors of older patients (P = 0.035) and was correlated with the VEGF expression (P = 0.009). A higher tumor grade was related to a higher VEGF expression (P = 0.01) and the increase in the VEGF expression was associated with a significant decrease in the OS (P = 0.03). Conclusion: The VEGF expression, the MVD value, and the presence of PNI had no prognostic significance on the LC in the LSCC patients while only the VEGF expression was associated with the OS

The Better Performance Status, the Better Outcome: Laryngeal Carcinoma Treated with Definitive Radiotherapy

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic factors affecting locoregional control (LRC) and overall survival (OS) of patients with laryngeal carcinoma who were not candidates for surgical treatment due to tumour or host factors but were treated with definitive radiotherapy (RT)

An unusual metastatic site of tongue carcinoma: Shoulder muscles

The incidence of skeletal Muscle metastases is reported to be less than 1% of metastases of haematogenous origin. Distant skeletal muscle metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas are exceedingly rare. Only a case with tongue carcinoma metastasized to paravertebral muscles, has been reported so far. The reasons for the rarity of metastatic involvement of skeletal muscle are still unclear. The presence of skeletal muscle metastases in the setting of disseminated disease offers no hope for Curative treatment. We report an unusual case of a 63-year-old patient with tongue carcinoma metastasizing to the left shoulder Muscles. To our knowledge, this is the first such case to be reported in the English medical literature. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Cutaneous metastasis of epidermoid carcinoma of the larynx: a case report

The frequency of distant metastasis of epidermoid carcinoma of the larynx is between 6.5-7.2%. The common sites of metastasis are lung, liver and bone. Cutaneous metastasis is very rare. A 56-year-old male with locally advanced larynx carcinoma who received curative radiochemotheraphy a year ago was presented to our department with subcutaneous nodular lesions, and fatigue. Physical examination revealed 0.5 cm sized, and 1x1cm sized subcutaneous nodular lesions in the right arm, and in the parasternal area, respectively. Histopathologic examination confirmed the skin metastasis of epidermoid carcinoma of the larynx. The patient has profound anemia, hypercalcemia, hypernatremia, and hyperglicemia with complicated diabetic foot. Although the symptomatic treatment began immediately, the patient died on the third day of hospitalisation. Cutaneous metastasis may be the first sign of local failure, of distant metastasis, or even of the undetected laryngeal carcinoma with poor prognosis

Comparison of the protective roles of L-carnitine and amifostine against radiation-induced acute ovarian damage by histopathological and biochemical methods

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the radioprotective efficacies of L-carnitine (LC) and amifostine against radiation-induced acute ovarian damage. Materials and Methods: Forty-five, 3-month-old Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to six groups. Control (CONT, n = 7); irradiation alone RT: radiation therapy (RT, n = 8); amifostine plus irradiation (AMI + RT, n = 8); LC plus irradiation (LC + RT, n = 8); LC and sham irradiation (LC, n = 7); and amifostine and sham irradiation (AMI, n = 7). The rats in the AMI + RT, LC + RT and RT groups were irradiated with a single dose of 20 Gy to the whole abdomen. LC (300 mg/kg) and amifostine (200 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally 30 min before irradiation. Five days after irradiation, both antral follicles and corpus luteum in the right ovaries were counted, and tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) were measured. Results: Irradiation significantly decreased antral follicles and corpus luteum (P: 0.005 and P < 0.0001). LC increased the median number of antral follicles and corpus luteum (P: 0.009 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Amifostine improved median corpus luteum numbers but not antral follicle (P < 0.000, P > 0.05). The level of MDA and AOPP significantly increased after irradiation (P = 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). MDA and AOPP levels were significantly reduced by LC (P: 0.003, P < 0.0001) and amifostine (P < 0.0001, P: 0.018). When comparing CONT group with AMI + RT and LC + RT groups, MDA and AOPP levels were similar (P > 0.005). The levels of both MDA and AOPP were also similar when LC + RT is compared with AMI + RT group (P > 0.005). Conclusions: L-carnitine and amifostine have a noteworthy and similar radioprotective effect against radiation-induced acute ovarian toxicity

Renal cell carcinoma metastases in the mediastinum lymph node: case report and literature review

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common malignant lesion of the kidney, accounting for 90-95% of all renal cancers in adult. Approximately, 30% of patients present with metastatic disease at diagnosis, and one-third of the remainder will develop metastasis during follow-up. Presence of distant metastases at diagnosis is a strong independent predictor of poor survival in patients with RCC. RCC metastasizes by haematogeneous and lymphogeneous ways. Pulmonary metastases are common in patients with renal cell carcinoma and usually consist of multiple nodules of varying sizes that develop in both lung fields. In contrast, metastases to the supradiaphragmatic nodes but no pulmonary paranchymal metatases are rare. A 71-year-old male with renal cell carcinoma whom radical nefrectomy and postoperative radiotherapy was performed. After the treatment, computed tomography of the thorax showed the conglomerate lymph node enlargement in subcarinal region. Histology of this lesion was revealed renal cell carcinoma after the broncoscopic biopsy. The present case is discussed in light of the recent literature

MARJOLIN'S ULCER IN SCALP: CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Marjolin's ulcer is a rare skin cancer that originates in areas of chronic wounds and scar tissues. It has more aggressive nature than other primary skin cancers. The exact mechanism of tumor development has not yet been identified. It could be seen on the skin of whole body surface. The most common histopathologic type of this malignancy is squamous cell carcinoma. It could develop in early and late period of time after trauma. Although surgery is still the main treatment, radiotherapy and chemotherapy could be other options in appropriate circumstances. In the present case report we described a patient who had lost her scalp in a work accident 25 years ago and developed skin cancer on scar tissue in late period, with a literature review