From Bench to Bedside: New Technologies for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal-Ruth Schweiger ◽  
Hans Lehrach

According to the centre for disease control (CDC) malignant neoplasms are the second most common cause of death in the US in 2004 (1). One of the major problems is that most of the cancers are diagnosed in an advanced stage, which prohibits curative treatment. In order to circumvent these problems, we need to develop strategies that allow identification of risk patients and tumors at an early stage. In addition, it is necessary to identify prognostic and predictive biomarkers that guide patient treatment at different stages of the disease.

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongnan Zhen ◽  
Hui Guan ◽  
Jiabin Ma ◽  
Wenhui Wang ◽  
Shen Jing ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Neuroblastoma is a common extracranial malignant tumor in children. Its main treatment modality is a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Given the advances in chemotherapy regimens and the widespread use of bone marrow transplantation over the decades, there has been improvement in treatment efficacy, which has led to prolonged patient survival. Accordingly, long-term complications have become a growing concern among physicians and patients. This study aimed to analyze the survival rate of patients with neuroblastoma and the risk factors for developing second malignant neoplasms (SMNs). Methods The SEER 18 Regs (1973–2015) and SEER 9 Regs (1973–2015) data of the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database of the US National Cancer Institute were adopted for survival and SMN analysis. Results The 5-, 10-, and 20-year overall survival rates of patients with neuroblastoma were 67%, 65%, and 62%, respectively. Among 38 patients with neuroblastoma who presented with SMNs, those with abdomen as the primary site accounted for the majority (63.2%), followed by those with thorax (26.3%) and other sites (10.5%). SMNs occurred more commonly in non-specific neuroblastoma (incidence: 0.87%) than ganglioneuroblastoma (incidence: 0.3%). Compared with the general population, the risk of SMN is significantly higher (SIR = 4.36). The risk of developing SMNs was significantly higher in the digestive system (SIR = 7.29), bones and joints (SIR = 12.91), urinary system (SIR = 23.48), brain and other nervous systems (SIR = 5.70), and endocrine system (SIR = 5.84). Multivariate analysis revealed that the year of diagnosis (OR = 2.138, 95% CI = 1.634–2.797, p < 0.001) was the only independent risk factor for developing SMNs. Conclusion This study identifies the risk factor for developing SMNs in patients with neuroblastoma, which could facilitate individualized screening for high-risk patients, to allow early diagnosis and treatment of SMNs.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongnan Zhen ◽  
Hui Guan ◽  
Jiabin Ma ◽  
Wenhui Wang ◽  
Shen Jing ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Neuroblastoma is a common extracranial malignant tumor in children. Its main treatment modality is a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Given the advances in chemotherapy regimens and the widespread use of bone marrow transplantation over the decades, there has been improvement in treatment efficacy, which has led to prolonged patient survival. Accordingly, long-term complications have become a growing concern among physicians and patients. This study aimed to analyze the survival rate of patients with neuroblastoma and the risk factors for developing second malignant neoplasms (SMNs).Methods: The SEER 18 Regs (1973-2015) and SEER 9 Regs (1973-2015) data of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of the US National Cancer Institute were adopted for survival and SMN analysis.Results: The 5-, 10-, and 20-year overall survival rates of patients with neuroblastoma were 67%, 65%, and 62%, respectively. Among 38 patients with neuroblastoma who presented with SMNs, those with abdomen as the primary site accounted for the majority (63.2%), followed by those with thorax (26.3%) and other sites (10.5%). SMNs occurred more commonly in non-specific neuroblastoma (incidence: 0.87%) than ganglioneuroblastoma (incidence: 0.3%). Compared with the general population, the risk of SMN is significantly higher (SIR=4.36). The risk of developing SMNs was significantly higher in the digestive system (SIR =7.29), bones and joints (SIR = 12.91), urinary system (SIR = 23.48), brain and other nervous systems (SIR = 5.70), and endocrine system (SIR = 5.84). Multivariate analysis revealed that the year of diagnosis (OR=2.138, 95%CI=1.634-2.797, p<0.001) was the only independent risk factor for developing SMNs.Conclusion: This study identifies the risk factor for developing SMNs in patients with neuroblastoma, which could facilitate individualized screening for high-risk patients, to allow early diagnosis and treatment of SMNs.


Choonpa Igaku ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 655-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuya NISHIURA ◽  
Hideaki WATANABE ◽  
Yoshihiko KOUNO ◽  
Masahiro ITO ◽  
Kazuyuki OOHATA ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-233
Author(s):  
Sergey Morozov ◽  
Viktor Gombolevskiy ◽  
Anton Vladzimirskiy ◽  
Albina Laypan ◽  
Pavel Kononets ◽  
...  

Study aim. To justify selective lung cancer screening via low-dose computed tomography and evaluate its effectiveness. Materials and methods. In 2017 we have concluded the baseline stage of “Lowdose computed tomography in Moscow for lung cancer screening (LDCT-MLCS)” trial. The trial included 10 outpatient clinics with 64-detector CT units (Toshiba Aquilion 64 and Toshiba CLX). Special low-dose protocols have been developed for each unit with maximum effective dose of 1 mSv (in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 2.2.1, Sanitary Regulations 2.6.1.1192-03). The study involved 5,310 patients (53% men, 47% women) aged 18-92 years (mean age 62 years). Diagnosis verification was carried out in the specialized medical organizations via consultations, additional instrumental, laboratory as well as pathohistological studies. The results were then entered into the “National Cancer Registry”. Results. 5310 patients (53% men, 47% women) aged 18 to 92 years (an average of 62 years) participated in the LDCT-MLCS. The final cohort was comprised of 4762 (89.6%) patients. We have detected 291 (6.1%) Lung-RADS 3 lesions, 228 (4.8%) Lung- RADS 4A lesions and 196 (4.1%) Lung-RADS 4B/4X lesions. All 4B and 4X lesions were routed in accordance with the project's methodology and legislative documents. Malignant neoplasms were verified in 84 cases (1.76% of the cohort). Stage I-II lung cancer was actively detected in 40.3% of these individuals. For the first time in the Russian Federation we have calculated the number needed to screen (NNS) to identify one lung cancer (NNS=57) and to detect one Stage I lung cancer (NNS=207). Conclusions. Based on the global experience and our own practices, we argue that selective LDCT is the most systematic solution to the problem of early-stage lung cancer screening.


Author(s):  
Panagiotis Delimatsis

Secrecy and informality rather than transparency traditionally reign trade negotiations at the bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels. Yet, transparency ranks among the most basic desiderata in the grammar of global governance and has been regarded as positively related to legitimacy. In the EU’s case, transparent trade diplomacy is quintessential for constitutional—but also for broader political—reasons. First, even if trade matters fall within the EU’s exclusive competence, the EU executive is bound by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) to inform the European Parliament, the EU co-legislator, in regular intervals. Second, transparency at an early stage is important to address public reluctance, suspicion, or even opposition regarding a particular trade deal. This chapter chronicles the quest for and turning moments relating to transparency during the EU trade negotiations with Canada (CETA); the US (TTIP), and various WTO members on services (TiSA).


Author(s):  
Timur Ergen

This chapter brings together arguments from economics, sociology, and political economy to show that innovation processes are characterized by a dilemma between the advantages of aligned expectations—including greater coordination and investment—and those of diversity, including superior openness to new technological possibilities. To illustrate the argument, the chapter discusses a historical case involving one of the largest coordinated peace-time attempts to hasten technological innovation in the history of capitalism, namely the US energy technology policies of the 1970s and 1980s. Close examination of the commercialization of photovoltaics and synthetic fuel initiatives illustrates both sides of the dilemma between shared versus diverse expectations in innovation: coordination but possible premature lock-in on the one hand, and openness but possible stagnation on the other. The chapter shows that even the exploration and interpretation of new technologies may be as much a product of focused investment as of trial-and-error search.


2012 ◽  
Vol 109 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Marberger ◽  
Jelle Barentsz ◽  
Mark Emberton ◽  
Jonas Hugosson ◽  
Stacy Loeb ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. 3392
Author(s):  
Joeri Lambrecht ◽  
Mustafa Porsch-Özçürümez ◽  
Jan Best ◽  
Fabian Jost-Brinkmann ◽  
Christoph Roderburg ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Surveillance of at-risk patients for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highly necessary, as curative treatment options are only feasible in early disease stages. However, to date, screening of patients with liver cirrhosis for HCC mostly relies on suboptimal ultrasound-mediated evaluation and α-fetoprotein (AFP) measurement. Therefore, we sought to develop a novel and blood-based scoring tool for the identification of early-stage HCC. (2) Methods: Serum samples from 267 patients with liver cirrhosis, including 122 patients with HCC and 145 without, were collected. Expression levels of soluble platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (sPDGFRβ) and routine clinical parameters were evaluated, and then utilized in logistic regression analysis. (3) Results: We developed a novel serological scoring tool, the APAC score, consisting of the parameters age, sPDGFRβ, AFP, and creatinine, which identified patients with HCC in a cirrhotic population with an AUC of 0.9503, which was significantly better than the GALAD score (AUC: 0.9000, p = 0.0031). Moreover, the diagnostic accuracy of the APAC score was independent of disease etiology, including alcohol (AUC: 0.9317), viral infection (AUC: 0.9561), and NAFLD (AUC: 0.9545). For the detection of patients with (very) early (BCLC 0/A) HCC stage or within Milan criteria, the APAC score achieved an AUC of 0.9317 (sensitivity: 85.2%, specificity: 89.2%) and 0.9488 (sensitivity: 91.1%, specificity 85.3%), respectively. (4) Conclusions: The APAC score is a novel and highly accurate serological tool for the identification of HCC, especially for early stages. It is superior to the currently proposed blood-based algorithms, and has the potential to improve surveillance of the at-risk population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-117
Author(s):  
Christian Henrich-Franke

Abstract The second half of the 20th century is commonly considered to be a time in which German companies lost their innovative strength, while promising new technologies presented an enormous potential for innovation in the US. The fact that German companies were quite successful in the production of medium data technology and had considerable influence on the development of electronic data processing was neglected by business and media historians alike until now. The article analyses the Siemag Feinmechanische Werke (Eiserfeld) as one of the most important producers of the predecessors to said medium data technologies in the 1950s and 1960s. Two transformation processes regarding the media – from mechanic to semiconductor and from semiconductor to all-electronic technology – are highlighted in particular. It poses the question of how and why a middling family enterprise such as Siemag was able to rise to being the leading provider for medium data processing office computers despite lacking expertise in the field of electrical engineering while also facing difficult location conditions. The article shows that Siemag successfully turned from its roots in heavy industry towards the production of innovative high technology devices. This development stems from the company’s strategic decisions. As long as their products were not mass-produced, a medium-sized family business like Siemag could hold its own on the market through clever decision-making which relied on flexible specialization, targeted license and patent cooperation as well as innovative products, even in the face of adverse conditions. Only in the second half of the 1960s, as profit margins dropped due to increasing sales figures and office machines had finally transformed into office computers, Siemag was forced to enter cooperation with Philips in order to broaden its spectrum and merge the production site in Eiserfeld into a larger business complex.


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