A new method for the high-precision assessment of tumor changes in response to treatment

Motivation

Imaging demonstrates that preclinical and human tumors are heterogeneous, i.e. a single tumor can exhibit multiple regions that behave differently during both development and also in response to treatment. The large variations observed in control group, tumors can obscure detection of significant therapeutic effects due to the ambiguity in attributing causes of change. This can hinder development of effective therapies due to limitations in experimental design rather than due to therapeutic failure. An improved method to model biological variation and heterogeneity in imaging signals is described. Specifically, linear Poisson modeling (LPM) evaluates changes in apparent diffusion co-efficient between baseline and 72 h after radiotherapy, in two xenograft models of colorectal cancer. The statistical significance of measured changes is compared to those attainable using a conventional t-test analysis on basic apparent diffusion co-efficient distribution parameters.

Results

When LPMs were applied to treated tumors, the LPMs detected highly significant changes. The analyses were significant for all tumors, equating to a gain in power of 4-fold (i.e. equivalent to having a sample size 16 times larger), compared with the conventional approach. In contrast, highly significant changes are only detected at a cohort level using t-tests, restricting their potential use within personalized medicine and increasing the number of animals required during testing. Furthermore, LPM enabled the relative volumes of responding and non-responding tissue to be estimated for each xenograft model. Leave-one-out analysis of the treated xenografts provided quality control and identified potential outliers, raising confidence in LPM data at clinically relevant sample sizes.

Availability and implementation

TINA Vision open source software is available from www.tina-vision.net.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Case Report of Four Different Primary Mesenteric Neoplasms and Review of Literature

INTRODUCTION

It is rare for primary tumors to arise from the mesentery. Lymphangiomas appear as congenital malformations of the lymphatic system or benign neoplasms as a large, thin-walled, often multilocular cyst. Mesenteric infiltration is common and during surgical treatment, adjustment of structures such as the bowel and resection of the spleen may be required. Cystic mesotheliomas are rare, benign tumors that originate from the peritoneal mesothelium and are more common in women. Mesenteric cysts are mostly benign and rare intra-abdominal tumors, and can be seen as occupying a large cyst. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a rare pleomorphic sarcoma that is more commonly encountered in men. After the extremities, the second most common areas to be affected are the retroperitoneum and peritoneal cavity.

CASE PRESENTATION

We encountered four cases of different primary mesenteric neoplasms that were operated at the Gazi Yasargil teaching and research hospital, department of general surgery, Diyarbakir, Turkey, between 2013 and 2014. We reviewed these primary mesenteric neoplasms and compared them with previous literature.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary mesenteric tumors are rare and mostly benign tumors. Complete surgical excision is necessary for all tumors and follow-up is necessary after surgery for malignant fibrous histiocytoma due to recurrence.

Intestinal Obstruction Due to Idiopathic Sclerosing Encapsulating Peritonitis: A Case Report

INTRODUCTION

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is characterized by partial or complete encasement of small intestine by a thick fibrocollagenous membrane. Depending on underlying causes, SEP is divided into primary and secondary forms. Idiopathic SEP is also called idiopathic or abdominal cocoon syndrome. Herein we presented a case of idiopathic SEP.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 90-year-old male patient presented to our emergency department with signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction and dehydration. Physical examination findings, patient's age and plain abdominal radiography were consistent with tumoral obstruction or viscus perforation. Explorative laparotomy revealed a fibrous capsule encasing intestines as well as dense adhesions between intestinal loops. Since the overall condition of the patient was not well enough to allow a wide dissection and membrane excision, the operation was terminated after performing a limited loop ileostomy. Unfortunately, the patient was lost due to organ failure at the postoperative period.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite advances in radiological techniques, the exact diagnosis in many cases is still made according to intraoperative findings and histopathological properties of the excised membrane. While some cases of SEP remain asymptomatic for years, most cases are characterized by recurrent bouts of acute, subacute or chronic intestinal obstruction. To our knowledge, the case presented here is the oldest patient with idiopathic SEP in the literature.

Coexistence of abdominal cocoon, intestinal perforation and incarcerated Meckel’s diverticulum in an inguinal hernia: A troublesome condition

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is a rare disease entity, in which the small intestine becomes encased and mechanically obstructed by a dense, fibrotic membrane. The disorder is characterized as either primary (idiopathic) or secondary to other causes. The idiopathic cases of SEP, which lack any identifiable etiology according to clinical, radiological and histopathological findings, are also reported under the designation of abdominal cocoon syndrome. The most frequent presenting symptoms of all SEP cases are nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention and inability to defecate, all of which are associated with the underlying intestinal obstruction. Persistent untreated SEP may advance to intestinal perforation, representing a life-threatening condition. However, preoperative diagnosis remains a particular clinical challenge, and most diagnoses are confirmed only when the typical fibrous membrane encasing the small intestine is discovered by laparotomy. Here, we report the clinical presentation of an 87-year-old male with signs of intestinal obstruction and the ultimate diagnosis of concurrent abdominal cocoon, right incarcerated Meckel’s diverticulum, and gastrointestinal perforation in laparotomy.

Alternative medicine for management of breast masses: more harm than good

CASE SERIES.

PATIENT

-.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

Breast cancer.

SYMPTOMS

-.

MEDICATION

-.

CLINICAL PROCEDURE

-

SPECIALTY

-.

OBJECTIVE

Diagnostic/therapeutic accidents.

BACKGROUND

Several well-established, evidence-based treatment modalities are currently available and widely applied to breast cancer patients, but it is known that some of the cancer patients use traditional/alternative medicine other than their treatments.

CASE REPORT

Herein, we report the cases of 2 middle-aged women (45 and 50 years old) with malignant breast masses who experienced serious complications in response to self-prescribed use of alternative medicine practices to treat their condition in lieu of evidence-based medical treatment. Specifically, the use and/or inappropriate application of alternative medical approaches promoted the progression of malignant fungating lesions in the breast for these 2 patients. The first patient sought medical assistance upon development of a fungating lesion 7∼8 cm in diameter and involving 1/3 of the breast, with a palpable mass of 5×6 cm immediately beneath the wound. The second patient sought medical assistance upon development of a wide, bleeding, ulcerous area with patchy necrotic tissue that comprised 2/3 of the breast and had a 10×6 cm palpable mass under the affected area. Use of some non-evidence-based medical treatments as complementary to evidence-based medical treatments may benefit the patient on an emotional level; however, this strategy should be used with caution, as the non-evidence-based therapies may cause physical harm or even counteract the evidence-based treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

A malignant, fungating wound is a serious complication of advanced breast cancer. It is critical that the public is informed about the potential problems of self-treating wounds such as breast ulcers and masses. Additionally, campaigns are needed to increase awareness of the risks and life-threatening potential of using non-evidence-based medical therapies exclusively.

Breast ecchymosis: Unusual complication of an antidepressant agent

INTRODUCTION

Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is safely used for treatment of psychosomatic disorders. Despite being associated with a low side effect profile, it has been reported to cause hematological side effects including vaginal bleeding, epistaxis, purpura, hematuria, intracranial bleeding, and rectal bleeding. Isolated breast ecchymosis is one of exceedingly rare SSRI-induced hematological abnormalities.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

In this case study, we report a case of left breast ecchymosis in a 75-year-old woman that developed in conjunction with use of the SSRI fluoxetine.

DISCUSSION

The use of SSRIs has surged over the past decades due to increased diagnosis and focus on clinical management of depression and anxiety disorders, especially in developed nations. The low side effect profiles of the eight currently marketed SSRI agents has further promoted their use in the general population. While the most commonly reported side effects are mild and relatively tolerable, a risk of SSRI-related abnormal bleeding exists and may represent a life-threatening side effect. The most frequent SSRI-related bleeding manifestation is ecchymosis, but cases of isolated breast ecchymosis are exceedingly rare and to date only one report of SSRI-induced breast ecchymosis is included in the publicly available literature.

CONCLUSION

Three factors may have played a role in lack of reports describing SSRI-induced breast ecchymosis in literature. First, SSRIs indeed very seldom cause breast ecchymosis; second, physicians are not aware of such a causal relationship; and third, physicians find this side effect not worth to publish.

Neuroendocrine and epithelial phenotypes in small-cell lung cancer: implications for metastasis and survival in patients

BACKGROUND

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) has a very aggressive clinical course with early metastasis. This study investigated how the distinctive neuroendocrine characteristics contribute to disease progression and invasion in human SCLC.

METHODS

The neuroendocrine phenotype (pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)) was quantified by ELISA in blood samples from 43 SCLC patients. The neuroendocrine (POMC, chromogranin A, neuron-specific enolase, NCAM) and epithelial (cytokeratin and E-cadherin) phenotypes were investigated, using ELISA and immunocytochemistry/immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

In SCLC patients, 16% had elevated circulating POMC, which was associated with significantly worse survival (P=0.02) and liver metastases (P=0.004). In addition, POMC correlated with epithelial-positive circulating tumour cells (P=0.0002). In a panel of SCLC cell lines, all POMC-secreting cell lines expressed cytokeratin (40% of total). Even after cloning, DMS 79 cells expressed both neuroendocrine and epithelial markers. DMS 79 xenografts secreted POMC into the blood, which mirrored the tumour volume. These xenografts expressed both neuroendocrine and epithelial phenotypes in all tumours, with both phenotypes prevalent in cells invading the surrounding tissue.

CONCLUSION

Both neuroendocrine and epithelial phenotypes coexist in human SCLC tumours in vitro and in vivo and this persists in invading tumour cells. In patients, POMC secretion predicts poor survival and liver metastases, suggesting a crucial role of the neuroendocrine phenotype.

Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor signalling using cediranib (RECENTIN; AZD2171) enhances radiation response and causes substantial physiological changes in lung tumour xenografts

A number of pre-clinical studies have suggested that blocking vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling can be beneficial in combination with radiotherapy. This study investigated the effects of cediranib, a highly potent orally available inhibitor of VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity in combination with radiation in Calu-6 lung xenografts. In nude mice, Calu-6 tumours were established and treatments initiated at a volume of 250 mm(3). Tumour-localized radiotherapy was given as three or five daily fractions of 2 Gy. Cediranib (3 mg kg(-1)) was administered 2 h prior to each fraction and continued post radiotherapy (concomitant regimen) or was initiated immediately after the completion of radiotherapy (sequential regimen). The endpoint was the time taken for tumour volume to quadruple (RTV4). Combined treatments resulted in a significantly enhanced growth delay compared with either modality alone. The therapeutic benefit was the same irrespective of the scheduling regimen. Tumour regression was observed post radiotherapy, which was associated with high levels of apoptosis and necrosis, and pronounced antivascular effects in histological samples. The amplified antivascular effect of cediranib when given after radiation suggests that pre-irradiated endothelium is sensitized to cediranib. Concomitant 5-day treatment with both cediranib and radiation reduced vessel density, perfusion and increased in tumour hypoxia. This was not associated with an acquired radioresistance suggesting that the maintenance of cediranib treatment post radiotherapy prevents the contribution of hypoxic cells to tumour regrowth. Collectively, these data support the contention that VEGFR inhibition can enhance radiation response in pre-clinical models and provide a rationale to develop cediranib in combination with radiotherapy in the clinical setting.