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Journal of Cancer Research Updates

18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging in Detection of Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Pages 10-11
Fangyang Jiao, Jingjie Ge, Zhongwen Zhou, Yihui Guan and Chuantao Zuo

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-2279.2016.05.01.2

Published: 29 January2016

 


Abstract: Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare type of extranodal large B-cell lymphoma. Now, it remains a diagnostic challenge, because of non-specific findings on clinical, laboratory, and imaging studies. Here we present a case of an IVLBCL patient, who presented with fever of unknown origin and had skin involvement, that 18F-FDG PET/CT showed increased metabolism on systemic subcutaneous fat layer with a SUVmax of 1.29. After five courses of R-CHOP, 18F-FDG PET/CT showed disappearance of the diffuse FDG accumulation on systemic subcutaneous fat layer with a SUVmax of 0.55. These features make this case unique.

Keywords: Lymphoma, Fever, 18F-FDG, PET/CT.

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Journal of Cancer Research Updates

A Guide for Pain Management in Developing Nations: The Diagnosis and Assessment of Pain in Cancer Patients
Pages 29-44
Joseph V. Pergolizzi, Gianpietro Zampogna, Robert Taylor, Marixa Guerrero, Juan Quillermo Santacruz and Robert B. Raffa

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-2279.2016.05.01.6

Published: 29 January2016

 


Abstract: The fundamental approach to cancer patients with pain is to identify the pain sites, and describe, quantify, and categorize the pain by type at each site. There are many validated tools to serve the clinician in these efforts, particularly for pain assessment. Multimechanistic pain syndromes are common in cancer patients. Cancer patients may experience nociceptive pain. They may also experience neuropathic pain due to chemotherapy-induced or cancer-related nerve damage. Analgesic choices must be guided by the pain mechanisms, nature, and severity of the pain, comorbid conditions, and patient characteristics. Long-acting opioid analgesics or fixed-clock dosing can eliminate end-of-dose analgesic gaps. The potential for opioid abuse is an important public health challenge but one that should not undermine the appropriate treatment of moderate to severe cancer pain. Abuse-deterrent opioid formulations can be useful. Care is needed for special populations of cancer patients dealing with pain, such as geriatric, pediatric, or obese patients. While morphine has long been the “gold standard” of oral opioid products, recent clinical trials suggest that oral hydrocodone and oral oxycodone may offer advantages over oral morphine. Patient adherence is crucial for adequate analgesia and patient education can promote adherence and manage expectations.

Keywords: Cancer pain, malignant pain, opioid analgesia, opioids, undertreatment of cancer pain, assessment of cancer pain.

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Journal of Cancer Research Updates

Concomitant Treatment for Brain Metastases in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: Our Clinical Experience
Pages 23-28
S. Simonida Crvenkova and Maja Popova

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-2279.2016.05.01.5

Published: 29 January2016

 


Abstract: Purpose: Aim of this study was to evaluate tumor response, Quality of life (QoL) and median survival of concomitant chemotherapy (P/E) protocol with WBRT (whole brain radiotherapy) followed by P/E protocol until progression or appearance of serious adverse effects in NSCLC patients with multiple brain metastases.

Methods: From December 2012 to April 2014, 12 patients were enrolled in this study. All of the patients received previous treatments. Selected patients had multiple brain metastases detected on CT and/or MRI, and the brain is only one site of disease dissemination and patients were at younger age.

External beam radiotherapy was administered with two lateral opposed fields. Concurrently with WBRT, patients received P/E protocol and after 4 weeks, followed by P/E protocol repeated on 21 days until progression or appearance of serious adverse effects. Tumor response was assessed according to RECIST criteria. Assessment of QoL was performed by patients’ subjective answers, subjective improvement in emesis, ataxia, headache and seizures and without subjective improvement. Adverse effects were performed according to WHO criteria. Overall survival was analyzed from the beginning of the concomitant treatment until death or patient’s last control.

Results: Common adverse events were neurotoxicity and hematology toxicity according to WHO criteria. No patient was withdrawn from the study because of the adverse events. All patients reported subjective improvements. Overall median survival was 7.5 months (95% CI 6.32-8.73).

Conclusions: WBRT plus chemotherapy can improve the efficacy and QoL in NSCLC patients, because of synergistic effect and current evidence that the blood-brain barrier is damaged in patients with BM. Considering our clinical results, we recommend this treatment as safe and effective for selected NSCLC patients.

Keywords: Concomitant chemotherapy and WBRT, NSCLC patients, brain metastases.

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Journal of Cancer Research Updates

Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Raspberry Extracts
Pages 54-59
You-Qiu Xue, Ke-Jun Cheng, Jian-Ge Qiu, Xiao-Long Mei, Wen-Ji Zhang, Qi-Wei Jiang, Wu-Ming Qin, Yang Yang, Di-Wei Zheng, Yao Chen, Meng-Ning Wei, Dong-Mei Huo, Xing Wei and Zhi Shi

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-2279.2015.04.02.2

Published: 07 May 2015

 


Abstract: The raspberry (Rubus idaeus) is an economical important berry crop that contains phytochemicals such as polyphenols and flavonoids with potential health benefits. This study addresses the antioxidant and anticancer effects of raspberry and its root extracts. Raspberry and raspberry root were extracted with ethanol, and separated into petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butyl alcohol and water fraction. Most extracts showed the powerful activities to scavenge DPPH radical, eliminate hydroxyl free radical ion, and inhibit the growth of human cancer cells, suggesting their promising application on health care.

Keywords: Raspberry, antioxidant, anticancer.

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Journal of Cancer Research Updates

Establishment and Characterization of Primary Human Ovarian Cancer Stem Cell Line (CD44+ve)
Pages 59-66
Amoura Abouelnaga, Ghada A. Mutawa, Hassan Abdelghaffar, Mohamed Sobh, Sahar Hamed and Shaker A. Mousa

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1929-2279.2016.05.02.3

Published: 15 April 2016 


Abstract: Ovarian cancer is ranked as the 7th most lethal cancer worldwide with 239,000 new cases annually. The mortality rate is high because most ovarian tumors are diagnosed at advanced stages and are resistant to chemotherapy and thus incurable due to the lack of effective early detection of ovarian tumors. There is a small sub-population of ovarian tumor cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into different cancer cell types, called cancer stem cells (CSCs), which might be responsible for cancer relapse. The CD44+ phenotype in ovarian tumor cells elucidates cancer initiating cell-like properties of promoting differentiation, metastasis, and chemotherapy-resistance. Increased expression of genes previously associated with CSCs promotes regenerative capacity by promoting stem cell function that can drive cancer relapse and metastasis. In this study we present a method to isolate the primary epithelial ovarian cancer cells from human solid tumor and establish CD44+ve primary ovarian cancer stem cell (OCSCCD44+ve) line using magnetic microbeads. Also we evaluated the expression of stemness genes Nanog, Sox2, Oct4, and Nestin by real-time qPCR analysis. Thequantitative analysis by real-time qPCRshows that OCSCCD44+ve overexpressed the embryonic stem cell marker genes Nanog, Oct4, Sox2, and Nestin when compared with ovarian cancer cells OCCCD44-ve as positive control and ovarian cells as negative control. We demonstrate that CD44 in malignant ovarian tumors is a critical molecule that exhibits cancer stem cell properties that enhance tumorigenicity and cancer metastasis. Our results provide a better understanding of ovarian CSCs, which is important for future in vivo studies with subsequent target therapy for preclinical studies.

Keywords: Ovarian cancer, Cancer stem cell, Stemness genes, CD44, Chemo-resistance.

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