Impact of biomarker dynamic profile and pathological response induced by neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer

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Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation among biomarkers, pathological response and clinical outcomes in patients (pts) with rectal cancer submitted to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Methods: Pts entering the study had rectal adenocarcinoma, uT3/4N-/+ or uT2N-/+ with inferior location. Chemotherapy consisted of oxaliplatin 60 mg/m2 weekly infusion IV for 6 times and 5-fluorouracil 225 mg/m2/die continuous infusion IV d 1–38. Radiotherapy was delivered up to a dose of 50.4 Gy in daily fractions of 1.8 Gy d 1–38. Rectal surgery with TME was performed 6–8 weeks after neoadjuvant treatment. Immunohistochemical determination of Ki67, p53, bcl2, TS, EGFR, MLH1 and MSH2 was performed in pretreatment biopsy and operative specimen. Results: Between March 2002 and May 2005, 32 pts had completed neoadjuvant therapy and surgery. Pt characteristics: 24 (75%) men and 8 (25%) women; median age 64 (33–80) years; stage uT2N-M0 3 (9.4%) pts, uT3N-M0 14 (43.8%), uT3N+M0 10 (31.2%), uT3NXM0 2 (6.2%), uT4N+M0 3 (9.4%). Surgery consisted of abdominal-perineal amputation in 12 (37.5%) and low-anterior resection in 17 (53.1%) pts, with negative circumferential resection margins in 86.2%. Laparoscopic local excision was performed in 3 (9.4%) pts. Pathological down-staging occurred in 18 (56.2%) pts, including 7 (21.9%) pT0N0, with sphincter preservation in 40%. Tumor Regression Grade (TRG) (according to Mandard) evaluation of operative specimen was: 7 TRG1, 11 TRG2, 11 TRG3 and 3 TRG4. Expression mean value in pretreatment biopsy and operative specimen was: Ki67 88.8% and 31.7%; p53 49.7% and 40.7%; TS 12.6% and 10.0%; MLH1 89.7% and 76.4%; MSH2 84.3% and 72.2%. The evaluation of biomarker profile in operative specimen of TRG2 pts vs TRG3–4 showed: Ki67 16.6% vs 46.2% (p=0.03); TS 4.5% vs 12.9% (ns); MSH2 82.3% vs 65.6% (ns); p53 52.3% vs 34.8% (ns). Median DFS was 19 (3–35) months. At a median follow-up of 22 (5–41) months, 100.0% of TRG1 pts, 90.9% of TRG2, 73.3% of TRG3–4 had no-evidence of disease relapse. Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest a correlation between Ki67 and pathological response in rectal cancer pts treated with neoadjuvant therapy. Moreover, DFS appears to be related to TRG.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Radioiodine ablation of thyroid remnants after preparation with recombinant human thyrotropin in differentiated thyroid carcinoma: results of an international, randomized, controlled study

CONTEXT

After surgery for differentiated thyroid carcinoma, many patients are treated with radioiodine to ablate remnant thyroid tissue. This procedure has been performed with the patient in the hypothyroid state to promote endogenous TSH stimulation and is often associated with hypothyroid symptoms and impaired quality of life. OBJECTIVE AND INTERVENTION: This international, randomized, controlled, multicenter trial aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) to prepare euthyroid patients on L-thyroxine therapy (euthyroid group) to ablate remnant thyroid tissue with 3.7 GBq (100 mCi) 131I, compared with that with conventional remnant ablation performed in the hypothyroid state (hypothyroid group). Quality of life was determined at the time of randomization and ablation. After the administration of the 131-I dose, the rate of radiation clearance from blood, thyroid remnant, and whole body was measured.

RESULTS

The predefined primary criterion for successful ablation was "no visible uptake in the thyroid bed, or if visible, fractional uptake less than 0.1%" on neck scans performed 8 months after therapy and was satisfied in 100% of patients in both groups. A secondary criterion for ablation, an rhTSH-stimulated serum thyroglobulin concentration less than 2 ng/ml, was fulfilled by 23 of 24 (96%) euthyroid patients and 18 of 21 (86%) hypothyroid patients (P = 0.2341). Quality of life was well preserved in the euthyroid group, compared with the hypothyroid group, as demonstrated by their lower pretreatment scores on the Billewicz scale for hypothyroid signs and symptoms, 27 +/- 7 vs. 18 +/- 4 (P < 0.0001) and their significantly higher Short Form-36 Health Assessment Scale scores in five of eight categories. Euthyroid patients had a statistically significant one third lower radiation dose to the blood, compared with patients in the hypothyroid group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates comparable remnant ablation rates in patients prepared for 131I remnant ablation with 3.7 GBq by either administering rhTSH or withholding thyroid hormone. rhTSH-prepared patients maintained a higher quality of life and received less radiation exposure to the blood.

Suppressor of cytokine signalling 2 (SOCS-2) expression in breast carcinoma

AIMS

To investigate SOCS-2 (suppressor of cytokine signalling 2) protein expression in breast carcinoma samples in relation to biopathological parameters and survival.

METHODS

A polyclonal antibody against SOCS-2 was used to study 50 archival breast carcinoma samples, collected from 1993 to 1995. The presence of SOCS-2 protein was investigated in relation to clinical and biological parameters used in breast cancer pathology. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) was used to study whether SOCS-2 expression was related to SOCS-2 gene copy number.

RESULTS

SOCS-2 protein was expressed in 34 of 50 breast carcinoma samples and was positively associated with low grade, low nuclear grade, and p27 protein. SOCS-2 expression was inversely related to Ki-67, cyclin A, retinoblastoma protein (pRb), and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). No relation with overall survival was demonstrated. SOCS-2 amplification was found in three samples. No relation between the number of FISH signals and SOCS-2 expression was found.

CONCLUSIONS

The significant correlation seen between SOCS-2 expression, grade, nuclear grade, p27, Ki-67, cyclin A, pRb, and EGFR labelling strongly supports the hypothesis that SOCS-2 loss might be related to cell proliferation and tumour growth in breast carcinoma. Gene copy number changes did not seem to play a role in SOCS-2 regulation and expression; other mechanisms might be involved and deserve further study.

[Workplace injuries and professional mobility correlated with health problems. The potential and limitations of the ISTAT Labour Force survey--July 1999]

BACKGROUND

Knowledge on the occupational and social factors that influence the relationship between illness, absence from work and occupational mobility is at present insufficient.

OBJECTIVES

To map out, by social class and occupational group, the impact of health problems on work and the distribution of accidents and morbidity associated with occupation.

METHODS

Using data from the National Survey of the Italian Labour Force (ISTAT, 1999), covering a sample of 200,384 subjects, prevalence odds ratios of morbidity, work injuries and change of occupation due to health problems were calculated by social class and occupation, adjusting for age and residence.

RESULTS

The working class showed a higher risk, due to health problems, of a reduction in time worked (OR = 3.70 in men and OR = 4.10 in women), of choosing to work part-time (OR = 2.04 in men and OR = 2.27 in women), or of withdrawing from the workforce (for artisans, skilled manual workers, farmers and agricultural labourers OR = 1.63 in men and OR = 1.47 in women). This class was also at a greater disadvantage not only with respect to accident rates (OR = 1.85 in men and OR = 1.88 in women), but also with respect to the time needed for post-trauma rehabilitation and return to work (for absences of one week to one month: OR = 1.67 and 1.83 for men and women, respectively; for absences of more than one month: OR = 1.29 and OR = 1.69). Moreover, the working class, when compared to other social classes, had a higher rate of suffering from illness, physical impairment or other physical and psychological problems caused or aggravated by working activity (25% in men and 32% in women).

CONCLUSIONS

The ISTAT National Survey provides an estimate of minor accidents with prognoses of less than three days, including those not reported to the National Institute for Insurance against Occupational Accidents and Diseases (INAIL). This allows a preliminary exploration of the relationship between health problems and occupational mobility; however, it seems necessary to collect more detailed information in order to more exhaustively explore the mechanisms which generate the inequalities observed.

Presence and type of oncogenic human papillomavirus in classic and in differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and keratinizing vulvar squamous cell carcinoma

The presence and type of oncogenic papillomavirus (HPV) in classic warty/basaloid vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and in differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and keratinizing vulvar squamous cell carcinoma was investigated using three techniques, that is, histology, in situ hybridization, and PCR-ELISA. HPV typing was performed using in situ hybridization and PCR-ELISA. Differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive keratinizing vulvar squamous cell carcinoma proved completely negative for HPV by PCR-ELISA, in situ hybridization, and histologic examination, while in classic vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, a HPV positivity of 66.1% was found. HPV 16 was the predominant type, with HPV 35, 33, and 52 types found rarely and sometimes together with HPV 16. PCR-ELISA proved to be the most suitable method to detect and type mucosal oncogenic HPVs. The absolute absence of HPV DNA in differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasias and in keratinizing vulvar squamous cell carcinoma suggests a strong HPV-independent pathway of malignant progression to invasive carcinoma.

Location of functioning metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma by simultaneous double isotope acquisition of I-131 whole body scan and bone scan

In a young patient with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), previously submitted to total thyroidectomy and I-131 therapy for ablation of thyroid remnant, a follow-up 1-131 diagnostic whole body scan (WBS) demonstrated four small abnormal I-131 uptake areas. Two of these were projected over the thoracic region and corresponded to lung nodules, as later demonstrated by lung computerized tomography (CT)-scan. The remaining two areas were found in the lumbar-pelvic region, but their precise location could not be determined. Standard bone Rx examination and bone scan were negative. After I-131 therapy, we simultaneously acquired a I-131 WBS and a Tc-99m oxidronate bone scan by setting a dual window on the gamma camera. Comparing the I-131 and bone images we were able to identify the 4th lumbar vertebra and right ilium as the bone segments to be studied by a radiological approach. Eventually, the thin slice CT-scan demonstrated the presence of two small osteolytic lesions in these areas. In conclusion, the simultaneous acquisition of images both from I-131 and a bone-seeking agent may be useful to locate functioning bone metastases from DTC.

The prognostic value of the AgNOR parameter in human breast cancer depends on the pRb and p53 status

BACKGROUND

The amount of argyrophilic nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) represents a cell kinetics parameter used in tumour pathology for prognostic purposes. AgNOR expression is directly related to the rate of ribosome biogenesis, which has been recently shown to be controlled also by the tumour suppressor proteins pRb and p53.

AIMS

To ascertain the relative prognostic value of AgNORs and of pRb and p53 expression in breast carcinoma.

METHODS

This study was carried out on 335 human primary breast carcinomas with a median follow up time of 108 months. AgNORs were measured by morphometric analysis on sections that had been selectively silver stained; expression of p53 and phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated pRb forms was assessed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Patients were divided into groups with low (249) and high (86) AgNOR values; with normal (267) and mutated p53 (68); and with normal (256) and hyperphosphorylated or deleted pRb (79). Univariate analysis of disease free survival showed that AgNORs and the status of pRb and p53 were significantly related to the patients' clinical outcome. However, among the four groups characterised by different pRb and p53 status, the AgNOR parameter was not capable of distinguishing subgroups of patients with different clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that the prognostic value of the AgNOR parameter depends on the status of the tumour suppressor proteins pRb and p53, and it cannot be ascribed to the relation between AgNORs and the cell proliferation rate.

Mutations in the SLC26A4 (pendrin) gene in patients with sensorineural deafness and enlarged vestibular aqueduct

Pendred syndrome and the enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) are considered phenotypic variations of the same entity due to mutations in the SLC26A4 (pendrin) gene. Pendred syndrome consists in sensorineural deafness, goiter and impaired thyroid hormone synthesis while in EVA thyroid function seems to be preserved. The aim of this study was to evaluate thyroid function and morphology and to look for mutations in the SLC26A4 gene in patients presented with EVA. Among 57 consecutive patients with sensorineural deafness 15 with EVA, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were identified and studied. A complete evaluation of thyroid function including thyroid echography and perchlorate discharge test was carried out in all patients with EVA; all exons of the SLC26A4 gene were amplified from peripheral leukocytes and directly sequenced, using specific intronic primers. Out of 15 patients with EVA, goiter was present in 8 (53%), hypothyroidism in 7 (47%), increased serum thyroglobulin levels in 8 (53%) and a positive perchlorate discharge test in 10 (67%). Nine alleles of the SLC26A4 gene were mutated: 2 novel mutations (L465W and G497R) and 4 already known mutations (T410M, R409H, T505N and IVS1001+1G>A) were found. Four subjects were compound heterozygous and 1 heterozygous (G497R/wt). All patients harbouring mutations in the SLC26A4 gene had goiter and a positive perchlorate discharge test: 3 were slightly hypothyroid and 2 euthyroid. The remaining 10 patients had no mutations in the SLC26A4 gene: 4 of them were hypothyroid, 2 with goiter and positive perchlorate discharge test, 2 without goiter and with negative perchlorate discharge test. Two patients without mutations were euthyroid with positive perchlorate discharge test. Patients with mutations in the SLC26A4 gene had larger thyroid volume (p<0.002), higher serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels (p<0.002) and greater radioiodine discharge after perchlorate (p=0.09) than patients without mutations. The results of the present study lend support to the concept that all patients with mutated SLC26A4 gene have abnormalities of thyroid function tests.

Recombinant human thyrotropin-stimulated serum thyroglobulin combined with neck ultrasonography has the highest sensitivity in monitoring differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Recombinant human TSH (rhTSH)-stimulated thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement and (131)I whole body scan (WBS) have been validated as informative tests in the postsurgical follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. We report the diagnostic accuracy of Tg measurement and diagnostic WBS, alone or in combination, after rhTSH stimulation in a retrospective, consecutive series of patients undergoing follow-up for differentiated thyroid cancer. Routine procedures also include neck ultrasound in every patient and post-therapy WBS when indicated. We studied 340 consecutive patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma, previously treated with near-total thyroidectomy and (131)I thyroid ablation, scheduled for routine diagnostic tests. At baseline on L-T(4)-suppressive therapy, 294 patients had undetectable (<1 ng/ml) serum Tg and negative anti-Tg autoantibodies (TgAb), 25 patients had undetectable serum Tg and positive TgAb, and 21 patients had detectable serum Tg and negative TgAb. These patients were tested for the presence of active disease by rhTSH stimulation. The results of our study showed that rhTSH-stimulated Tg alone had a diagnostic sensitivity of 85% for detecting active disease and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98.2%. After adding the results of neck ultrasound, sensitivity increased to 96.3%, and the NPV to 99.5%. rhTSH-stimulated WBS had a sensitivity of only 21% and a NPV of 89%. The combination of rhTSH-stimulated Tg and WBS had a sensitivity of 92.7% and a NPV of 99%. We conclude that the rhTSH-stimulated Tg test combined with neck ultrasonography has the highest diagnostic accuracy in detecting persistent disease in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. A detectable level of serum Tg on L-T(4), its conversion from undetectable to detectable after rhTSH, and/or a suspicious finding at ultrasound will allow the identification of patients requiring therapeutic procedures without the need for diagnostic WBS.

Thyroid color flow doppler sonography and radioiodine uptake in 55 consecutive patients with amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis

Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AMT) is a life-threatening condition, the appropriate management of which is achieved by identifying its different subtypes. Type 1 AIT develops in patients with underlying thyroid abnormalities and is believed to be due to increased thyroid hormone synthesis and release; Type 2 AIT occurs in patients with a normal thyroid gland and is an amiodarone-induced destructive process of the thyroid. Management differs in the two forms of AIT, since Type 1 usually responds to combined thionamides and potassium perchlorate therapy, while Type 2 is generally responsive to glucocorticoids. Mixed forms, characterized by coexistence of excess thyroid hormone synthesis and destructive phenomena, may require a combination of the two therapeutic regimens. In this cross-sectional prospective study, 55 consecutive untreated patients, whose AIT was subtyped according to clinical and biochemical criteria, were evaluated to assess the specificity of color flow doppler sonography (CFDS) and thyroidal radioiodine uptake (RAIU) in the differential diagnosis of AIT. Sixteen patients (6 men, 10 women, age 66+/-13 yr), who had diffuse or nodular goiter with or without circulating thyroid autoantibodies, were classified as Type 1 AIT; 39 patients (27 men, 12 women, age 65+/-13 yr) with apparently normal thyroids were classified as Type 2 AIT. All Type 1 patients had normal or increased thyroidal vascularity on CFDS, while Type 2 AIT patients had absent vascularity (p<0.0001). Thirteen Type 1 AIT patients had inappropriately normal or elevated thyroidal 3-h and 24-h RAIU values (range 6-37% and 10-58%, respectively), in spite of elevated values of urinary iodine excretion; the remaining 3 patients (two with nodular goiter, one with a thyroid adenoma) had low 3-h and 24-h RAIU values (range 1.1-3.0% and 0.9-4.0%, respectively). The latter patients, who were unresponsive to the combination of methimazole and potassium perchlorate, became euthyroid after the addition of glucocorticoids. Thirty-eight Type 2 AIT patients had low 3-h and 24-h RAIU values (range 0.4-3.7% and 0.2-3.0%, respectively), but one had inappropriately normal 3-h and 24-h RAIU values (6% and 13%, respectively). In conclusion, CFDS can accurately distinguish between Type 1 and Type 2 AIT, and in general the CFDS pattern is concordant with the thyroid RAIU. However, in 4 out of 55 patients (7%) the thyroid RAIU was discrepant, probably reflecting the coexistence of Type 1 and Type 2 AIT. Thus, assessment of both CFDS and RAIU may provide a more accurate subtyping of AIT and help in selecting the appropriate therapy. Finally, in long standing iodine sufficient areas, such as the United States, where the thyroid RAIU is consistently low irrespective of the etiology of the AIT, CFDS offers a rapid and available method to differentiate between Type 1 and Type 2 AIT.

Effect of different hormonal replacement therapies on circulating allopregnanolone and dehydroepiandrosterone levels in postmenopausal women

The effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on the central nervous system in postmenopausal women might be mediated by changes in neurosteroid synthesis and/or release. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of HRT on the levels of allopregnanolone, a sedative anxiolytic GABA(A) agonist steroid, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a GABA(A) antagonist steroid. We evaluated allopregnanolone and DHEA circulating levels after 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of HRT with ten different estrogen or estrogen-progestin molecules, regimens and routes of administration in 186 postmenopausal women. Cortisol, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol and progesterone levels were also evaluated. Allopregnanolone levels significantly increased during follow-up with all HRT preparations. The addition of progestin molecules (except for 19-nor derivatives) to transdermal estradiol administration alone determined a higher increase in allopregnanolone levels. Transdermal HRT showed a significantly higher percentage change in allopregnanolone levels compared with oral HRT. DHEA levels showed a progressive decline starting from the 3-month follow-up, without significant differences between the transdermal and oral groups, as well as among the ten groups, independently of the presence and type of progestin molecule used. In conclusion, HRT strongly modifies circulating neurosteroid levels in postmenopausal women.