Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Neurosurg Pediatr 2019 Feb 15:1-9. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

3Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center and Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Leptomeningeal dissemination (LMD) is the defining pattern of metastasis for medulloblastoma. Although LMD is responsible for virtually 100% of medulloblastoma deaths, it remains the least well-understood part of medulloblastoma pathogenesis. The fact that medulloblastomas rarely metastasize outside the CNS but rather spread almost exclusively to the spinal and intracranial leptomeninges has fostered the long-held belief that medulloblastoma cells spread directly through the CSF, not the bloodstream. Read More

Magn Reson Imaging 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Radiology, Box 218, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom; Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom, CB2 0QQ. Electronic address:

The tumor microenvironment is characteristically acidic and this extracellular acidosis is known to play a role in carcinogenesis and metastasis and can affect tumor chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity. Intracellular pH has been used as a possible biomarker of salvageable tissue in ischemic stroke. A non-invasive MRI-based approach for the determination and imaging of cerebral pH would be a powerful tool in cancer diagnosis and monitoring, as well as stroke treatment planning. Read More

Radiol Med 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Oncology Radiation Therapy Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.

Purpose: To investigate the role of radiotherapy (RT) in the management of EGFR- or ALK-mutated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with TKI.

Materials And Methods: Clinical data of 106 patients (pts) from five Institutions treated with RT concomitant to TKI were retrospectively revised. Overall survival (OS) and toxicities were analyzed as endpoints of the study. Read More

Acad Radiol 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Radiology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, 1 Panfu Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510108, China; Department of Radiology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. Electronic address:

Rationale And Objectives: To explore the value of texture analysis based on the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value and the effect of region of interest (ROI) placements in distinguishing glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) from solitary brain metastasis (sMET).

Materials And Methods: Sixty-two patients with pathologically confirmed GBM (n = 36) and sMET (n = 26) were retrospectively included. All patients underwent diffusion-weighted imaging with b values of 0 and 1000 s/mm, and the ADC maps were generated automatically. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, OH.

Background: Metastasis from melanoma carries poor prognosis and survival. Average life expectancy is estimated four to six months following diagnosis of skeletal metastasis. Comprehensive treatment, along with newer immunotherapies, has shown promising results. Read More

Clin Nucl Med 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

From the SyMPTOm PET/MRI Platform, Nuclear Medicine Department, and.

A 63-year-old woman was referred to our PET/MRI platform to evaluate the possible relapse of a meningeal metastasis, complicating an invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast. This metastasis was diagnosed on a left hemiparesis and treated by surgery and radiation therapy. One year later, the same symptoms led to another brain MRI examination that found a contrast-enhanced lesion in the operating site. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Feb;98(7):e14368

Rationale: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Nasopharyngeal metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma is very rare. This is the first report of posttransplantation nasopharyngeal metastasis. Read More

BMC Cancer 2019 Feb 13;19(1):145. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Surgical Oncology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning Province, China.

Background: The brain is a common site for metastasis in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the mutational of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients with brain metastases.

Methods: Searches were performed in PubMed, EmBase, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies evaluating the association of EGFR mutation with OS in NSCLC patients through September 2017. Read More

J Dermatol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Dermatology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.

Some studies showed that clinical response to immune check point inhibitors is lower in acral and mucosal melanoma than in cutaneous melanoma. Although the synergistic effect of radiotherapy (RT) and ipilimumab has been reported in patients with brain metastasis, the efficacy of combined RT and anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) therapy for acral and mucosal melanoma is unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of combined RT and anti-PD-1 therapy for acral and mucosal melanoma. Read More

Clin Exp Immunol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

San Raffaele Institute and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy.

Two types of extracellular vesicles (EVs), exosomes and ectosomes, are generated and released by all cells, including immune cells. The two EVs appear different in many properties: size, mechanism and site of assembly, composition of their membranes and luminal cargoes, sites and processes of release. In functional terms, however, these differences are minor. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Neurosurgery, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000, Odense, Denmark.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of residual tumour after resection of brain metastases using early postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the influence of residual tumour on overall patient survival.

Methods: Data from 72 consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for cerebral metastases over an 18-month study period were retrospectively collected. Early postoperative MRI was used to determine the presence of postoperative residual tumour. Read More

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2018 26;5(6):000861. Epub 2018 Jun 26.

Pneumology Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia.

Gingival metastasis of lung cancer is uncommon. We report the case of an 82-year-old male smoker admitted to the pulmonology department with right pleural effusion. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed an invasive right hilar tumour, adherent to the superior vena cava, pulmonary artery, main right bronchus, mediastinal pleura and pericardium with lymphangitic carcinomatosis of the right lung. Read More

Exp Mol Med 2019 Feb 12;51(2):11. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Biochemistry, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, 28644, Korea.

p21-Activated kinase 4 (PAK4), a member of the PAK family, regulates a wide range of cellular functions, including cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and survival. Dysregulation of its expression and activity thus contributes to the development of diverse pathological conditions. PAK4 plays a pivotal role in cancer progression by accelerating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and metastasis. Read More

Mymensingh Med J 2019 Jan;28(1):254-258

Dr Sabrina Yesmin, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Medicine, Dr Sirajul Islam Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh; E-mail:

Breast cancer in male is rare which accounts about 1% of all malignant breast neoplasm cases. Since paraneoplastic syndrome is unusual with male breast cancer, very few reported cases are found. A72- year-old gentleman presented with proximal myopathy in all four limbs was referred to Dr. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2018 Dec;10(12):6540-6546

Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518116, China.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with oligometastasis may benefit from local treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of local surgical treatment with systematic chemoradiotherapy in NSCLC with oligometastasis.

Methods: Data from a total of 172 patients with NSCLC with oligometastasis were collected at our Cancer Hospital from January 2006 to December 2016. Read More

Mol Pharmacol 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Universidad Autonoma Madrid;

Recent reports regarding the significance of chemokine receptors in disease have put a spotlight on ACKR3. This atypical chemokine receptor is overexpressed in numerous cancer types and has been involved in the modulation of tumour cell proliferation and migration, tumour angiogenesis or resistance to drugs, thus contributing to cancer progression and metastasis occurrence. Here we focus on the clinical significance and potential mechanisms underlying the pathological role of ACKR3 in breast, lung and brain cancer and discuss its possible relevance as prognostic factor and potential therapeutic target in these contexts. Read More

Clin Breast Cancer 2019 Jan 7. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Epidemiology Unit, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México City, México.

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women, and the incidence of brain metastasis (BM) from BC ranges from 20% to 30%, with a median survival of 10 to 15 months. Previous reports have shown that the presence of obesity or diabetes negatively impacts survival. The present study investigates the association between obesity or diabetes mellitus (DM) and overall survival of patients with BC with BM. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Lexington Brain and Spine, Columbia SC, USA. Electronic address:

Objective: Deep-seated brain tumors are often best treated with primary surgical excision. Traditional microsurgical techniques may cause retraction injury and extensive brain dissection. To mitigate this risk, stereotactic-guided tubular retractors were developed, but the risk of shear injury remains. Read More

Diagn Pathol 2019 Feb 9;14(1):16. Epub 2019 Feb 9.

Brain Cancer Program, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, 1550 Orleans Street, 1M16, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.

Background: Gliomas with 1p/19q-codeletion as well as mutation of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 are typically characterized as oligodendrogliomas with comparatively good response to treatment with radiation and chemotherapy.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 28-year-old man with an IDH1 and TP53 mutant high grade glioma with abnormalities in chromosomes 1 and 19 suggestive of anaplastic oligodendroglioma that rapidly progressed to widespread metastatic disease. Biopsy of a liver lesion confirmed metastasis of the patient's known brain primary and chemotherapy with temozolomide was initiated. Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Feb 8:1-9. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Departments of1Radiation Oncology and.

OBJECTIVEWith increasing survival for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer in the trastuzumab era, there is an increased risk of brain metastasis. Therefore, there is interest in optimizing intracranial disease control. Lapatinib is a small-molecule dual HER2/epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor that has demonstrated intracranial activity against HER2+ breast cancer brain metastases. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2019 Feb 6;11(2). Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Cell and Molecular Biology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane 4006, QLD, Australia.

Glioblastomas are the most common and lethal neoplasms of the central nervous system. Neighbouring glioma cells maintain extreme degrees of genetic and phenotypic variation that form intratumoural heterogeneity. This genetic diversity allows the most adaptive tumour clones to develop treatment resistance, ultimately leading to disease recurrence. Read More

Gynecol Oncol Rep 2019 May 26;28:1-5. Epub 2019 Jan 26.

Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.

We aim to describe survival outcomes of gynecologic oncology inpatients treated with intravenous bisphosphonates for hypercalcemia and develop a risk stratification model that predicts decreased survival to aid with goals of care discussion. In a single-center, retrospective cohort study of gynecologic oncology patients admitted for bisphosphonate therapy for hypercalcemia. Survival from hypercalcemia to death was assessed by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Read More

Contrast Media Mol Imaging 2019 8;2019:6501231. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.

Purpose: The combined use of anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cellular MRI, and bioluminescence imaging (BLI) allows for sensitive and improved monitoring of brain metastasis in preclinical cancer models. By using these complementary technologies, we can acquire measurements of viable single cell arrest in the brain after systemic administration, the clearance and/or retention of these cells thereafter, the growth into overt tumours, and quantification of tumour volume and relative cancer cell viability over time. While BLI is very useful in measuring cell viability, some considerations have been reported using cells engineered with luciferase such as increased tumour volume variation, changes in pattern of metastatic disease, and inhibition of tumour growth. Read More

Clin Cancer Res 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine.

Purpose: The prognosis of metastatic osteosarcoma continues to be poor. We hypothesized that alpha-emitting, bone-targeting radium 223 dichloride (RaCl) can be safely administered to patients with osteosarcoma and that early signals of response or resistance can be assessed by quantitative and qualitative correlative imaging studies and biomarkers.

Experimental Design: A 3+3 phase I, dose-escalation trial of RaCl (50, 75, and 100 kBq/kg) was designed in recurrent/metastatic osteosarcoma patients aged ≥15 years. Read More

Neuro Oncol 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

Background: Patients with breast cancer positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) remain at high risk of intracranial relapse following treatment and experience increased rates of intracranial failure after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). We hypothesized that the addition of concurrent lapatinib to SRS would improve intracranial complete response rates.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed HER2-amplified breast cancer brain metastases from 2005-2014 who underwent SRS were included and divided into 2 cohorts based on timing of treatment with lapatinib. Read More

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kurashiki Central Hospital, 1-1-1, Miwa, Kurashiki-City, Okayama, 710-8602, Japan.

Objectives: When induction therapy followed by surgery for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer results in pathological complete response, the prognosis is excellent; however, relapses can occur. We analyzed the predictive factors for achieving pathological complete response and reviewed the clinicopathological features and surgical outcomes of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer with pathological complete response.

Methods: Between March 2005 and January 2015, 145 resections after induction therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer were performed; 38 cases achieved pathological complete response. Read More

Eur J Surg Oncol 2019 Jan 19. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tenon University Hospital, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Sorbonne University, Paris, France; INSERM UMR S 938, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.

Patterns of distant metastatic failure of endometrial cancer (EC) by specific anatomic site are not well described in the literature. In this manuscript, we evaluated the metastatic patterns of EC cancer and analysed the potential distribution of metastatic disease in this malignancy.

Methods: A total of 1444 women with EC were identified. Read More

Z Orthop Unfall 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Ethikkomitee, Klinikum Landshut gGmbH.

In a comatose patient with acute subdural haematoma, the polytrauma spiral indicated pulmonary metastasising renal carcinoma, which limited therapeutic possibilities. Whole-body positron-emission tomography/computer tomography (PET/CT) was performed with fluorodesoxyglucose. Renal carcinoma with pulmonary, nodal and parotidal metastases was proved. Read More

J Cancer 2019 1;10(3):556-567. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, P.R. China.

This study compared the clinicopathological features and survival of metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) after stratification by age and non-bone-related metastasis to identify prognostic factors. Patients with mPCa between 2010 and 2015 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database and analyzed. The overall survival (OS) rate was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank test as well as multivariate Cox regression analysis. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Feb 2;20(3). Epub 2019 Feb 2.

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kayseri 38039, Turkey.

Tocotrienols, found in several natural sources such as rice bran, annatto seeds, and palm oil have been reported to exert various beneficial health promoting properties especially against chronic diseases, including cancer. The incidence of cancer is rapidly increasing around the world not only because of continual aging and growth in global population, but also due to the adaptation of Western lifestyle behaviours, including intake of high fat diets and low physical activity. Tocotrienols can suppress the growth of different malignancies, including those of breast, lung, ovary, prostate, liver, brain, colon, myeloma, and pancreas. Read More

PLoS One 2019 4;14(2):e0211644. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Oscar-Langendorff-Institute of Physiology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany.

Epileptic seizures are frequent in patients with glioblastoma, and anticonvulsive treatment is often necessary. While clinical guidelines recommend all approved anticonvulsants, so far it is still unclear which of the available drugs is the best therapeutic option for treating glioma-associated seizures, also in view of possible anti-tumorigenic effects. In our study, we employed four patient-derived low-passage cell lines of glioblastoma and three cell lines of brain metastases, and challenged these cultures with four anticonvulsants with different mechanisms of action: levetiracetam, valproic acid, carbamazepine and perampanel. Read More

Neuro Oncol 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Neurology & Brain Tumor Center, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Background: A scorecard to evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings during the course of leptomeningeal metastases (LM) has been proposed by the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) group.

Methods: To explore the feasibility of the LANO scorecard, cerebrospinal MRI of 22 patients with LM from solid tumors were scored by 10 neuro-oncologists and 9 neuroradiologists at baseline and at follow-up after treatment. Raters were blinded for clinical data including treatment. Read More

Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2019 Feb 3. Epub 2019 Feb 3.

Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL.

In February 2018, the Melanoma Research Foundation and the Moffitt Cancer Center hosted the Second Summit on Melanoma Central Nervous System (CNS) Metastases in Tampa, Florida. In this white paper we outline the current status of basic science, translational and clinical research into melanoma brain metastasis development and therapeutic management. We further outline the important challenges that remain for the field and the critical barriers that need to be overcome for continued progress to be made in this clinically difficult area. Read More

J Cell Mol Med 2019 Feb 2. Epub 2019 Feb 2.

Institute of Life Sciences, Vasile Goldiş Western University of Arad, Arad, Romania.

Breast cancer and melanoma are among the most frequent cancer types leading to brain metastases. Despite the unquestionable clinical significance, important aspects of the development of secondary tumours of the central nervous system are largely uncharacterized, including extravasation of metastatic cells through the blood-brain barrier. By using transmission electron microscopy, here we followed interactions of cancer cells and brain endothelial cells during the adhesion, intercalation/incorporation and transendothelial migration steps. Read More

Anticancer Res 2019 Feb;39(2):923-931

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kumamoto University Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan.

Background/aim: The optimal treatment strategy for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastasis (BM) has not yet been fully determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the optimal management of EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with BM.

Patients And Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was performed on the clinical outcomes of 81 advanced/recurrent EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with BM treated with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) (gefitinib n=52 or erlotinib n=29). Read More

Acta Biomater 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, Center for Targeted Drug Delivery, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University, Irvine, CA 92618-1908, USA; Advanced Materials and Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60607-7052, USA. Electronic address:

Despite the advances in molecularly targeted therapies, delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the targeting of brain tumors remains a challenge. Like brain, bone is a common site of metastasis and requires therapies capable of discerning the tumor from its healthy cellular milieu. To tackle these challenges, we made a variation on the previously proposed concept of the earthicle and fabricated an aqueous, surfactant-free ferrofluid containing superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) coated with silicate mesolayers and carbon shells, having 13 nm in size on average. Read More

Neurochirurgie 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of neurosurgery, CHU-hôpital Nord, Marseille, France.

Thymic epithelial tumors (TET) are rare lesions. The brain metastases of these tumors are even rarer. We report a case of brain metastases in a known patient with a thymic carcinoma diagnosed in October 2016. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine. Electronic address:

Background: Few prognostic markers are available for NSCLC patients undergoing neurosurgical resection of symptomatic brain metastases.

Objective: We investigated whether tumor mutation status (EGFR, KRAS, ALK, ROS1, BRAF) and treatment history were associated with survival after neurosurgery.

Methods: We reviewed the electronic health records of 104 NSCLC patients with genomic profiling who underwent neurosurgical resection for symptomatic brain metastases at an academic institution between January 2000 and January 2018. Read More

PLoS Genet 2019 Feb 1;15(2):e1007888. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Brain metastasis (BM) is a major complication of lung adenocarcinoma (LAD). An investigation of the pathogenic mechanisms of BM, as well as the identification of appropriate molecular markers, is necessary. The aim of this study was to determine the expression patterns of microRNAs (miRNAs) in LAD with BM, and to investigate the biological role of these miRNAs during tumorigenesis. Read More

Curr Med Chem 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa. Portugal.

Background: Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors have a poor survival prognosis due to their invasive and heterogeneous nature, in addition to the resistance to multiple treatments.

Objective: In this paper, the main aspects of brain tumor biology and pathogenesis are reviewed both for primary tumors of the brain, (i.e. Read More

Urol Case Rep 2019 Mar 11;23:75-77. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Department of Surgery, Cairns Hospital, 165 Esplanade, Cairns, 4870, Q, Australia.

Onco Targets Ther 2019 18;12:699-708. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, ErDao District, Changchun 13033, China,

Background: Long noncoding small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (SNHG16) has been shown to play an oncogenic role in multiple cancers. However, the biological roles and mechanism of SNHG16 action in the regulation of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remains unknown. The aims of this study were to investigate the roles and the possible mechanism of SNHG16 in PTC progression. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Center for Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.

Background: Melanoma incidence rates rise as people age but the impact of aging on distant metastasis is unclear.

Objective: To investigate how timing, pattern and extent of distant metastasis is influenced by age.

Methods: Analysis of a single-center cohort of 1. Read More

Cancer Lett 2019 Jan 28;447:141-153. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, 152-703, Republic of Korea; Brain Korea 21 Program for Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, 152-703, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive heterogeneous disease with a divergent profile. It has an earlier tendency to form metastases and is associated with poor clinical outcomes due to the limited treatment options available. Heat-shock protein (HSP90) represents a potential treatment target as it promotes tumor progression and metastasis by modulating the maturation and stabilization of signal transduction proteins. Read More

J Leukoc Biol 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Infiltration of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) blasts into the CNS remains as a major clinical problem, with high risk for chemotherapy-resistant relapse and treatment-related morbidity. Despite the common inclusion of CNS prophylaxis treatments in therapy regimens, there are significant gaps in understanding the mechanisms that mediate leukemia cell entry into the CNS as well as roles for resident cells in the brain. In this study, we employ a xenograft model of human B cell precursor (BCP)-ALL in immunocompromised mice. Read More

Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Aim: Targeted therapy (TT) has improved survival for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). However, survival is usually limited if brain metastases (BMs) develop. We aimed to evaluate survival outcomes in mRCC patients based on timing of BM diagnosis. Read More

NMC Case Rep J 2019 Jan 18;6(1):11-15. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.

We present the case of a 68-year-old man with brain metastasis from lung cancer and a history of immune checkpoint inhibitor administration, with overlapping abscess within the metastatic lesion. He initially received antibiotic treatment under a diagnosis of brain abscess because of a hyper-intense area on diffusion-weighted imaging inside the gadolinium-enhanced wall. The size of the enhanced lesion did not change much, but the extent of perifocal edema decreased after antibiotic treatment. Read More

Int J Gynecol Cancer 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Gynaecologic Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Objectives: To assess the importance of salvage therapy in the management of high-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (HR GTN) after failure of first line multiagent chemotherapy.

Methods: This retrospective study involving women with HR GTN treated at Kidwai cancer institute from 2000 to 2015. Initial chemotherapy consisted of etoposide, methotrexate with folinic acid, actinomycin D, cyclophosphamide and vincristine (EMA-CO). Read More

Oncologist 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Background: The 8th edition of TNM staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has revised M classification and defined M1b disease with single extrathoracic metastasis, which is distinguished from M1c with multiple extrathoracic metastases. We investigated the prevalence, characteristics, and overall survival (OS) of M1b disease in patients with stage IV NSCLC.

Methods: The study reviewed the medical records and imaging studies of 567 patients with stage IV NSCLC to determine M stage using the 8th edition of TNM staging. Read More

Int J Cancer 2019 Jan 29. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.

A retrospective determination of the time of metastasis formation is essential for a better understanding of the evolution of oligometastatic cancer. This study was based on the hypothesis that genomic alterations induced by cancer therapies could be used to determine the temporal order of the treatment and the formation of metastases. We analysed the whole genome sequence of a primary tumour sample and three metastatic sites derived from autopsy samples from a young never-smoker lung adenocarcinoma patient with an activating EGFR mutation. Read More