We previously reported preliminary results of our phase I study of continuous daily sorafenib with bevacizumab every other week for solid tumours. Toxicity was moderate, leading to additional dose levels (DL) testing intermittent sorafenib dosing. »
01/05/10

The purpose of this pilot study was to detect a correlation between serum cytokine levels and severity of mucositis, necessitating installation of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube (PEG) in head and neck (H&N) cancer patients receiving combined chemo−radiation therapy. Patients and Methods: Fifteen patients with H&N epithelial cancer were recruited to this study. All patients received radiotherapy to the H&N region, with doses ranging from 50−70 Gy. Chemotherapy with cisplatin, carboplatin, 5−fluorouracil and taxanes was given to high−risk patients, using standard chemotherapy protocols. Patients were evaluated for mucositis according to WHO common toxicity criteria, and blood samples were drawn for inflammatory (IL−1, IL−6, IL−8, TNF−alpha) and anti−inflammatory (IL−10) cytokine levels before and during treatment. »
02/25/10

Prior reports of an increased risk of lung cancer in HIV−infected individuals have not always included control groups, nor considered other risk factors such as tobacco exposure. We sought to determine the role of HIV infection and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on lung cancer incidence in 2,651 HIV−infected and 898 HIV−uninfected women from the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). »
02/22/10

Increased presence of circulating DNA has been reported in lung cancer. However, the utility of circulating DNA as a diagnostic and prognostic marker and in assessing therapeutic efficacy is yet to be realized. »
02/22/10

We previously reported that Trastuzumab− and Cetuximab−mediated antibody−dependent cell−mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in cancer patients was impaired in comparison with that in healthy donors because of NK−cell dysfunction. In this study, we evaluated whether IL−21 could improve the impairment of ADCC in patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), as IL−21 was reported to have the ability to activate NK cells. »
02/02/10

The treatment of bone metastasis in association with thyroid cancer represents a difficult challenge. Given the paucity of patients with bone metastasis and the difficulty of treating this disease, few studies have investigated the clinical features and prognostic factors of bone metastasis from differentiated thyroid cancer. »
03/01/10

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)−associated colorectal carcinogenesis involves dysregulation of multiple cellular pathways, including p53 signaling and cytokine action. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF−alpha) on p53 and p53 up−regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), a downstream effector of p53 in the apoptotic pathway in colorectal cancer cells. »
03/01/10

Reported differences in cancer risk between male and female animals following chronic inflammation suggest that estrogen has inflammation−modifying properties. Little is known about these effects in humans. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC); we studied differences in inflammation−associated CRC between male and female patients with IBD. »
02/15/10

Meningiomas are common tumors, representing 15% to 25% of all central nervous system tumors. NF2 gene inactivation on chromosome 22 has been shown as an early event in tumorigenesis; however, few factors underlying tumor growth and progression have been identified. The chromosomal abnormalities of 14q32 are often associated with meningioma pathogenesis and progression; therefore, it has been proposed that an as yet unidentified tumor suppressor is present at this locus. »
02/23/10

8−Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8−oxodG) is the commonly used marker of oxidative stress−derived DNA damage. 8−OxodG formation is regulated by local antioxidant capacity and DNA repair enzyme activity. Earlier studies have reported contradictory data on the function of 8−oxodG as a prognostic factor in different cancer types. »
02/23/10