Imaging of Treated Liver Tumors and Assessment of Tumor Response to Cytostatic Therapy and Post-Treatment Changes in the Liver

Author(s):  
Silvia Brocco ◽  
Anna Sara Fraia ◽  
Anna Florio ◽  
Emilio Quaia
2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 202-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Martin ◽  
Moira Callan ◽  
Archana Kaur ◽  
Karen Gregg

The traditional approach to headache trigger management is to advise avoidance of all triggers, but we have advocated an alternative approach called ‘Learning to Cope with Triggers’ (LCT), in which the objective is to desensitise headache sufferers to some triggers or to build up tolerance for the triggers, using exposure techniques. A recent publication established the efficacy of this approach to trigger management. Reported here are three cases to illustrate how LCT is used in practice. Two cases were male and one was female, with ages ranging from 32 to 67 years. The headache diagnoses were frequent episodic tension-type headache, migraine without aura, and chronic tension-type headache; all had had headaches since childhood/adolescence. The headache triggers that were the focus of the intervention were heat, tiredness, and stress/anger. Post-treatment, changes in the capacity of the triggers to elicit headaches were reported in all three cases. Reductions in headaches from pre- to post-treatment, and from pre- to 4-month follow-up, were: case 1, 69% and 60% respectively; case 2, 76% and 80% respectively; and case 3, 73% and 61% respectively. Decreases in medication consumption, and enhanced self-efficacy were also recorded.


Oncology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (10) ◽  
pp. 652-658
Author(s):  
Jhe-Cyuan Guo ◽  
Chen-Yuan Lin ◽  
Chia-Chi Lin ◽  
Ta-Chen Huang ◽  
Ming-Yu Lien ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Heterogeneous tumor response has been reported in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This study investigated whether the tumor site is associated with the response to ICIs in patients with recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Patients with ESCC who had measurable tumors in the liver, lung, or lymph node (LN) according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) 1.1 and received ICIs at 2 medical centers in Taiwan were enrolled. In addition to RECIST 1.1, tumor responses were determined per individual organ basis according to organ-specific criteria modified from RECIST 1.1. Fisher test or χ<sup>2</sup> test was used for statistical analysis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In total, 37 patients were enrolled. The overall response rate per RECIST 1.1 was 13.5%. Measurable tumors in the LN, lung, and liver were observed in 26, 17, and 13 patients, respectively. The organ-specific response rates were 26.9%, 29.4%, and 15.4% for the LN, lung, and liver tumors, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.05). The organ-specific disease control rates were 69.2%, 52.9%, and 21.1% for the LN, lung, and liver tumors, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.024). Five (27.8%) among 18 patients harboring at least 2 involved organs had heterogeneous tumor response. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The response and disease control to ICIs may differ in ESCC tumors located at different metastatic sites, with a lesser likelihood of response and disease control in metastatic liver tumors than in tumors located at the LNs and lung.


Author(s):  
W. Kinnaird ◽  
A. Stewart-Lord

Abstract Aim: Sexual dysfunction is a common side effect of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to treat prostate cancer. Men are likely to experience erectile dysfunction, low libido, ejaculatory problems and penile shortening. This qualitative study explored men’s perceptions of sexual dysfunction, including factors such as self-perception, relationships and information and support needs. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with n = 8 men living 18–30 months after EBRT ± ADT. The interviews were transcribed and thematic analysis was carried out. Results: All men experienced sexual dysfunction following treatment. The main themes arising were: (i) priorities—sexual issues were not a priority when making treatment decisions, (ii) information and support—men described a lack of information and support about sexual dysfunction and (iii) impact—sexual dysfunction impacted on their self-perception and relationships. Findings: Men undergoing EBRT/ADT for prostate cancer may be affected by post-treatment changes in sexual function in a range of ways. This study suggests that they would benefit from early and wide-ranging information and support on sexual dysfunction, even if they do not consider it as a priority. Candid discussions about self-perception and relationships, as well as physical changes, may equip them to cope with post-treatment changes.


Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 192
Author(s):  
Henrikas Pauzas ◽  
Ugne Gyvyte ◽  
Tadas Latkauskas ◽  
Laura Kairevice ◽  
Paulius Lizdenis ◽  
...  

Background and objectives: The effectiveness of neoadjuvant therapy, which is commonly used for stage II-III rectal cancer (RC) treatment, is limited. Genes associated with the pathogenesis of RC could determine response to this treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential predictive value of VEGFA, COX2, HUR and CUGBP2 genes and the associations between post-treatment changes in gene expression and the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy. Materials and Methods: Biopsies from RC and healthy rectal tissue of 28 RC patients were collected before neoadjuvant therapy and 6-8 weeks after neoadjuvant therapy. The expression levels of VEGFA, COX2, HUR, CUGBP2 genes were evaluated using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The results reveal a significantly higher expression of VEGFA, COX2 and HUR mRNA in RC tissue compared to healthy rectal tissue (p < 0.05), and elevated VEGFA gene expression in pre-treatment tissues was associated with a better response to neoadjuvant therapy based on T-stage downstaging (p < 0.05). The expression of VEGFA, HUR and CUGBP2 genes significantly decreased after neoadjuvant therapy (p < 0.05). Responders to treatment demonstrated a significantly stronger decrease of VEGFA and COX2 expression after neoadjuvant therapy than non-responders (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the pre-treatment VEGFA gene expression might have predictive value for the response to neoadjuvant therapy, while the post-treatment decrease in VEGFA and COX2 gene expression could indicate the effectiveness of neoadjuvant therapy in RC patients.


Author(s):  
Michael Wolf ◽  
U. Schulte ◽  
K. Küpper ◽  
C. Bourauel ◽  
L. Keilig ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 2023-2023 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Razis ◽  
P. Selviaridis ◽  
J. Fletcher ◽  
S. Labropoulos ◽  
R. Caprioli ◽  
...  

2023 Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) carries a grave prognosis. There are phase I-II studies indicating that imatinib is active in GBM in pre-treated patients. To better understand the molecular basis of imatinib’s activity in this disease we performed a pharmacodynamic neoadjuvant study with imatinib in GBM. Methods: Patients underwent CT guided biopsy of their brain tumors. If diagnosed with GBM they were immediately treated with 7 days of imatinib 400mg po BID followed by either definitive surgery or, if that was not feasible, followed by re-biopsy. Corticosteroid dose was stable during this period and valproic acid was the only anti-epileptic drug allowed in order to avoid pharmacokinetic interaction with imatinib. Treatment after recovery was as per usual institutional policy. Pre and post treatment tissue specimens were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, proteomic technology and molecular biological methods. Pharmacokinetic studies were also performed. Results: Twenty patients were enrolled in 2 institutions with a median age of 64, of which 14 were male and 6 female. PS was 0 in 2, 1 in 9 and 2 in 9. Seventeen patients had pure GBM, 2 had mixed GBM with astrocytoma and one had anaplastic astrocytoma. Eighteen patients had stable disease on pre and post treatment MRI, one had progressed and one was not evaluable. Median survival was 6.2 months (1.1–18mo). Intact imatinib was quantified in the post treatment tissue specimens and correlations were made with serum imatinib levels per patient. No correlation was seen. Tissue specimens were analyzed by in situ MALDI mass spectroscopy and differential protein expression profiles were detected, when pre and post treatment specimens were compared. The identification of candidate proteins is ongoing. In 11 patients with evaluable, high-quality, matched pre and post imatinib biopsies, 4 had biochemical evidence of tumor response (decreased AKT or MAPK, or increased p27). In addition, 2 patients showed high-level EGFR activation, and one patient had high-level PDGFR activation. Conclusions: Treatment of GBM patients with imatinib results in measurable levels of the drug in the tumor. Potential indicators of biochemical response in a subset of patients were identified. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


Author(s):  
Mohammad Shamim Al Mamun ◽  
Md Zakir Hossain

This case report will evaluate the management of bimaxillary protrusion by standard edge wise technique with extraction of premolars. The objective of treatment was to use mild forces and to provide maximum space for the retraction of anterior teeth. The goal of the treatment was to improve facial appearance. The case was successfully managed by extraction of all first Premolars and fixed appliance therapy using standard edge wise mechanics. Post-treatment changes were good and stableBan J Orthod & Dentofac Orthop, April 2013; Vol-3, No.2


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