Quantitative RT-PCR luminometric hybridization assay with an RNA-internal standard for cytokeratin-19 mRNA in peripheral blood of patients with breast cancer. Clin Biochem

6 normal PBMC and is highly specific as none of the 26 healthy controls tested had detectable CK-19 mRNA levels, while 10 out of 14 (71.4%) and 9 out of 37 (24.3%) patients with stage IV and stage I/II breast cancer, respectively, were tested positive. Conclusion: The developed quantitative RT-PCR hybridization assay for CK-19 is reproducible, highly sensitive and specific, and can be used for a large-scale prospective evaluation of clinical samples

The SM and NLO multileg working group: Summary report

This report summarizes the activities of the SM and NLO Multileg Working Group of the Workshop "Physics at TeV Colliders", Les Houches, France 8-26 June, 2009.Comment: 169 pages, Report of the SM and NLO Multileg Working Group for the Workshop "Physics at TeV Colliders", Les Houches, France 8-26 June, 200

Phase I study of dose-escalated paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (PIC) combination chemotherapy in advanced solid tumours

Based on the already known in vitro synergy between paclitaxel (taxol), cisplatin and oxazophosphorine cytostatics and the broad spectrum of activity of the above drugs we sought to evaluate the paclitaxel (taxol)-ifosfamide-cisplatin (PIC) combination in the outpatient setting in individuals with a variety of advanced solid tumours. Cohorts of patients were entered into six successive dose levels (DLs) with drug doses ranging as follows: paclitaxel 135–215 mg m−2day 1 – (1 h infusion), ifosfamide 4.5–6.0 g m−2(total dose) – divided over days 1 and 2, and cisplatin 80–100 mg m−2(total) – divided over days 1 and 2. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was given from day 5 to 14. Forty-two patients were entered. Eighteen patients had 2–8 cycles of prior chemotherapy with no taxanes or ifosfamide (cisplatin was allowed). The regimen was tolerated with outpatient administration in 36/42 patients. Toxicities included: grade 4 neutropenia for ≤ 5 days in 27% of cycles; 5 episodes of febrile neutropenia in three patients at DL-III, -V and -VI. Grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia and cumulative grade 3 anaemia were seen in 7% and 13% of cycles respectively. Three cases of severe grade 3 neuromotor/sensory neuropathy were recorded at DL-II, -III, and -V, all after cycle 3. The maximum tolerated dose was not formally reached at DL-V, but because of progressive anaemia and asthenia/fatigue, it was decided to test a new DL-VI with doses of paclitaxel 200 mg m−2, ifosfamide 5.0 g m−2and cisplatin 100 mg m−2; this appeared to be tolerable and is recommended for further phase II testing. The response rate was 47.5% (complete response + partial response: 20/42). The PIC regimen appears to be feasible and safe in the outpatient setting. Care should be paid to neurotoxicity. Phase II studies are starting in non-small-cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer and head and neck cancer at DL-VI. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

Birth outcome in women with breast cancer

We investigated whether maternal breast cancer affects birth outcome in a nationwide cohort study of 695 births from 1973 to 2002 of women with breast cancer with respect to preterm birth, low birth weight at term, stillbirth and congenital abnormalities as well as mean birth weight, compared with the outcomes of 33 443 births from unaffected mothers. There was no excess risk of adverse birth outcome for the 216 newborns of women with breast cancer before pregnancy. Stratification by mother's treatment did not change the results. For 37 newborns of women diagnosed during pregnancy, the prevalence ratio (PR) of preterm birth was 8.1 (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.8–17). However, 10 of the 12 preterm deliveries among these women were elective early deliveries. Among 442 births of women diagnosed in the 2 years from time of delivery, the PR of preterm birth was 1.4 (95% CI: 1.0–2.0), and the PR of low birth weight at term for boys was 2.9 (95% CI: 1.3–6.3). Overall, our results are reassuring regarding the risks of adverse birth outcome for breast cancer patients

Chemotherapy-induced complete regression of choroidal metastases and subsequent isolated leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in advanced breast cancer: a case report and literature review

Choroidal metastases from breast cancer represent an unusual metastatic presentation that has been traditionally treated with radiation therapy. Herein, we report a case of metastatic breast cancer presenting with pulmonary, cutaneous, lymph node and symptomatic choroidal metastases treated with systemic combination chemotherapy incorporating docetaxel and mitoxantrone without induction or consolidation radiation therapy to control visual symptoms from choroidal metastases. The patient experienced a durable complete remission in all metastatic sites that was maintained for 21 months since the initiation of chemotherapy, afterwhich she developed isolated leptomeningeal carcinomatosis managed successfully with intensive intrathecal methotrexate and whole brain irradiation leading to a new complete remission maintained until this report; 11 months after its presentation. This is the first case to our knowledge reporting complete regression of choroidal metastases with docetaxel-based chemotherapy as the only treatment modality and subsequent isolated leptomeningeal carcinomatosis recurrence