Can we predict lymph node metastasis by using preoperative markers in gastric cancer patients?

Introduction. Lymph node involvement is a negative prognostic factor for patients undergoing curative gastrectomy and indication for preoperative chemotherapy, thus a sufficient assessment strategy is required. We aimed to establish the value of preoperatively collected data in prediction of lymph node metastasis. Material and methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 150 gastric cancer patients hospitalized in the Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Łódź in 2011–2017. We gathered information comprising clinicopathological features, inflammatory markers: neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) and Tumor Index (TI). Results. Independent factors associated with lymph node involvement were: NLR (OR = 1.35; p = 0.01), Tumor Index (OR = 1.07; p < 0.001). ROC curve plots assessed the diagnostic value of TI and NLR. Conclusions. Tumor Index and NLR are factors indicating lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer patients. NLR is a potentially useful tool for neoadjuvant chemotherapy qualification

Can we predict lymph node metastasis by using preoperative markers in gastric cancer patients?

Introduction. Lymph node involvement is a negative prognostic factor for patients undergoing curative gastrectomy and indication for preoperative chemotherapy, thus a sufficient assessment strategy is required. We aimed to establish the value of preoperatively collected data in prediction of lymph node metastasis.Material and methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 150 gastric cancer patients hospitalized in the Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Łódź in 2011–2017. We gathered information comprising clinicopathological features, inflammatory markers: neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) and Tumor Index (TI).Results. Independent factors associated with lymph node involvement were: NLR (OR = 1.35; p = 0.01), Tumor Index (OR = 1.07; p < 0.001). ROC curve plots assessed the diagnostic value of TI and NLR.Conclusions. Tumor Index and NLR are factors indicating lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer patients. NLR is a potentially useful tool for neoadjuvant chemotherapy qualification

Treatment of hard-to-heal wounds arising as a result of surgical oncology treatment- usage of the modern wound dressings

The problem of hard-to-heal wounds concerns 1-1.5% of the total population and about 3% of the population above 60 years of age. The risk factors associated with impaired wound healing are diabetes, arterial and venous insufficiency, advanced atherosclerosis, obesity, and inadequate wound supply. As a result of these pathological processes may develop localized wound infection, disseminated infection, tissue necrosis, and even chronic inflammation carcinogenesis. In the group of patients with malignant tumors, there are wounds arising in the course of the underlying disease and as a result of medical treatment. Wound healing is a significant problem and is often complicated due to the patient’s general condition, comorbidities and complex treatment of cancer, which includes surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Radiotherapy used for local-regional control of disease after surgical treatment has a negative effect on healing by causing fibrosis of tissues and blood vessels damage, while chemotherapy interferes with the process of cell proliferation

Detection of melanoma lesions using 131I-IMBA obtained by electrophilic substitution of 131I for metal organic substituent — a preliminary communication

BACKGROUND: Compounds of N-alkylated benzamide derivatives have been the subject of investigations in the last few decades from the standpoint of their possible application for scintigraphic detection of melanoma. Positive results have been observed in studies on biodistribution when using animal models and the compound IMBA (N-(2-diethylaminoethyl)-3-iodo-4-metoxybenzamide). The present study presents preliminary results of scintigraphic studies in patients with documented melanoma metastases, who were administered 131I-IMBA synthesized by modified labelling procedure (electrophilic substitution of radioactive 131I to metal organic substituent). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was made in three patients with diagnosed melanoma metastases to tissues and organs. To each patient 111 MBq of 131I-IMBA was intravenously administered and whole body scintigraphy was performed 4 and 24 hours post injection of the radiopharmaceutical. Additionally, after 24 hours, SPECT/CT of selected regions of the body was performed. RESULTS: In 3 patients a total of 20 lesions of increased activity were found (15 were detected previously by other methods, 5 in the head, 4 in thorax, 2 in liver and spleen, 3 in abdomen and 6 in extremities). In the scintigrams performed 4 hours after 131I-IMBA administration, there were found 12 lesions of enhanced accumulation of the radiopharmaceutical. After 24 hours, due to reduction of background activity, there were 8 additional hot lesions detected. The mean activity tumour/background ratio for 20 lesions 4 hours post injection amounted to 1.51 ± 0.64, and the ratio increased to 2.94 ± 2.32 24 hours after administration of a radiopharmaceutical. CONCLUSIONS: 131I-IMBA preparation, obtained by a modified labelling procedure, enabled detection of metastatic lesions in the patients. This may indicate that there is a possibility of using radioiodinated IMBA (with 123I or 131I) for diagnosis of melanoma in humans. From our results it follows that scintigraphy should be performed 24 hours post injection. Further studies on diagnostic efficacy (sensitivity and specificity) of the method are necessary. Nuclear Med Rev 2010; 13, 2: 70–7

Promising Immune Treatment of Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Cemiplimab—Real-World Experience in the Global SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most frequent non-melanoma skin cancer. The standard curative treatment is surgical resection, but the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic disease apart from radiotherapy is currently based on cemiplimab. Cemiplimab has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of advanced and metastatic cSCC in clinical trials, although real-world data are still limited. We present four cases of cSCC, which showed a tremendous response to cemiplimab—one patient achieved complete response and three of them achieved partial response. Immunotherapy with cemiplimab, a recently approved PD1 inhibitor, is an important addition to the cutaneous oncology therapeutic options that may be considered in patients with advanced disease not amenable to surgery or radiotherapy. In all four cases, the patients postponed visits to the doctor because of the fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection or for administrative and organizational reasons declared difficult access to doctors caused by the pandemic

Hormonal Receptor Status Determines Prognostic Significance of FGFR2 in Invasive Breast Carcinoma

Interaction between fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) and estrogen/progesterone receptors (ER/PR) affects resistance to anti-ER therapies, however the prognostic value of FGFR2 in breast cancer (BCa) remains largely unexplored. We have recently showed in vitro that FGFR2-mediated signaling alters PR activity and response to anti-ER treatment. Herein, prognostic significance of FGFR2 in BCa was evaluated in relation to both ER/PR protein status and a molecular signature designed to reflect PR transcriptional activity. FGFR2 was examined in 353 BCa cases using immunohistochemistry and Nanostring-based RNA quantification. FGFR2 expression was higher in ER+PR+ and ER+PR- compared to ER−PR− cases (p < 0.001). Low FGFR2 was associated with higher grade (p < 0.001), higher Ki67 proliferation index (p < 0.001), and worse overall and disease-free survival (HR = 2.34 (95% CI: 1.26–4.34), p = 0.007 and HR = 2.22 (95% CI: 1.25–3.93), p = 0.006, respectively). The poor prognostic value of low FGFR2 was apparent in ER+PR+, but not in ER+PR− patients, and it did not depend on the expression level of PR-dependent genes. Despite the functional link between FGFR2 and ER/PR revealed by preclinical studies, the data showed a link between FGFR2 expression and poor prognosis in BCa patients