Background The role of orthotopic liver transplantation in the treatment of patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is controversial, and determining which patients are likely to have a good outcome after liver transplantation is difficult. Methods We studied 48 patients with cirrhosis who had small, unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas and who underwent liver transplantation. In 94 percent of the patients, the cirrhosis was related to infection with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, or both. The presence of tumor was confirmed by biopsy or serum alpha-fetoprotein assay. The criteria for eligibility for transplantation were the presence of a tumor 5 cm or less in diameter in patients with single hepatocellular carcinomas and no more than three tumor nodules, each 3 cm or less in diameter, in patients with multiple tumors. Twenty-eight patients with sufficient hepatic function underwent treatment for the tumor, mainly chemoembolization, before transplantation. After liver transplantation...

Liver transplantation for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinomas in patients with cirrhosis

Secret History: Return of the Black Death Channel 4, 7-8pm In 1348 the Black Death swept through London, killing people within days of the appearance of their first symptoms. Exactly how many died, and why, has long been a mystery. This Secret History documentary follows experts as they pick through the evidence and reveal why the plague killed on such a scale. And they ask, what might be coming next?

Medscape

In 2011, the National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer's Association created separate diagnostic recommendations for the preclinical, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia stages of Alzheimer's disease. Scientific progress in the interim led to an initiative by the National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer's Association to update and unify the 2011 guidelines. This unifying update is labeled a "research framework" because its intended use is for observational and interventional research, not routine clinical care. In the National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer's Association Research Framework, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is defined by its underlying pathologic processes that can be documented by postmortem examination or in vivo by biomarkers. The diagnosis is not based on the clinical consequences of the disease (i.e., symptoms/signs) in this research framework, which shifts the definition of AD in living people from a syndromal to a biological construct. The research framework focuses on the diagnosis of AD with biomarkers in living persons. Biomarkers are grouped into those of β amyloid deposition, pathologic tau, and neurodegeneration [AT(N)]. This ATN classification system groups different biomarkers (imaging and biofluids) by the pathologic process each measures. The AT(N) system is flexible in that new biomarkers can be added to the three existing AT(N) groups, and new biomarker groups beyond AT(N) can be added when they become available. We focus on AD as a continuum, and cognitive staging may be accomplished using continuous measures. However, we also outline two different categorical cognitive schemes for staging the severity of cognitive impairment: a scheme using three traditional syndromal categories and a six-stage numeric scheme. It is important to stress that this framework seeks to create a common language with which investigators can generate and test hypotheses about the interactions among different pathologic processes (denoted by biomarkers) and cognitive symptoms. We appreciate the concern that this biomarker-based research framework has the potential to be misused. Therefore, we emphasize, first, it is premature and inappropriate to use this research framework in general medical practice. Second, this research framework should not be used to restrict alternative approaches to hypothesis testing that do not use biomarkers. There will be situations where biomarkers are not available or requiring them would be counterproductive to the specific research goals (discussed in more detail later in the document). Thus, biomarker-based research should not be considered a template for all research into age-related cognitive impairment and dementia; rather, it should be applied when it is fit for the purpose of the specific research goals of a study. Importantly, this framework should be examined in diverse populations. Although it is possible that β-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tau deposits are not causal in AD pathogenesis, it is these abnormal protein deposits that define AD as a unique neurodegenerative disease among different disorders that can lead to dementia. We envision that defining AD as a biological construct will enable a more accurate characterization and understanding of the sequence of events that lead to cognitive impairment that is associated with AD, as well as the multifactorial etiology of dementia. This approach also will enable a more precise approach to interventional trials where specific pathways can be targeted in the disease process and in the appropriate people.

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NIA-AA Research Framework: Toward a biological definition of Alzheimer's disease

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors in the human digestive tract, but their molecular etiology and cellular origin are unknown. Sequencing of c-kit complementary DNA, which encodes a proto-oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT), from five GISTs revealed mutations in the region between the transmembrane and tyrosine kinase domains. All of the corresponding mutant KIT proteins were constitutively activated without the KIT ligand, stem cell factor (SCF). Stable transfection of the mutant c-kit complementary DNAs induced malignant transformation of Ba/F3 murine lymphoid cells, suggesting that the mutations contribute to tumor development. GISTs may originate from the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) because the development of ICCs is dependent on the SCF-KIT interaction and because, like GISTs, these cells express both KIT and CD34.

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/279/5350/577.full.pdf

Gain-of-function mutations of c-kit in human gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Background Constitutive activation of KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is critical in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Imatinib mesylate, a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been shown in preclinical models and preliminary clinical studies to have activity against such tumors. Methods We conducted an open-label, randomized, multicenter trial to evaluate the activity of imatinib in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor. We assessed antitumor response and the safety and tolerability of the drug. Pharmacokinetics were assessed in a subgroup of patients. Results A total of 147 patients were randomly assigned to receive 400 mg or 600 mg of imatinib daily. Overall, 79 patients (53.7 percent) had a partial response, 41 patients (27.9 percent) had stable disease, and for technical reasons, response could not be evaluated in 7 patients (4.8 percent). No patient had a complete response to the treatment. The median duration of response had not been reached after a median follow...

/pdf/efficacy-and-safety-of-imatinib-mesylate-in-advanced-4vg0k4gx64.pdf

Efficacy and safety of imatinib mesylate in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Head and Neck Tumours.- Lip and Oral Cavity.- Pharynx.- Larynx.- Maxillary Sinus.- Salivary Glands.- Thyroid Gland.- Digestive System Tumours.- Oesophagus.- Stomach.- Colon and Rectum.- Anal Canal.- Liver.- Gall Bladder.- Extrahepatic Bile Ducts.- Ampulla of Vater.- Pancreas.- Lung Tumours.- Tumours of Bone and Soft Tissues.- Bone.- Soft Tissue.- Skin Tumours.- Carcinoma of Skin.- Melanoma of Skin.- Breast Tumours.- Gynaecological Tumours.- Cervix Uteri.- Corpus Uteri.- Ovary.- Vagina.- Vulva.- Urological Tumours.- Prostate.- Testis.- Penis.- Urinary Bladder.- Kidney.- Renal Pelvis and Ureter.- Urethra.- Ophthalmic Tumours.- Carcinoma of Eyelid.- Malignant Melanoma of Eyelid.- Carcinoma of Conjunctiva.- Malignant Melanoma of Conjunctiva.- Malignant Melanoma of Uvea.- Retinoblastoma.- Sarcoma of Orbit.- Carcinoma of Lacrimal Gland.- Brain Tumours.- Hodgkin's Disease.- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.- Paediatric Tumours.- Nephroblastoma (Wilms' Tumour).- Neuroblastoma.- Soft Tissue Sarcomas - Paediatric.

TNM classification of malignant tumours

The IASLC Lung Cancer Staging Project: proposals for the revision of the TNM stage groupings in the forthcoming (seventh) edition of the TNM Classification of malignant tumours.

Diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A consensus approach.

Gastrointestinal (GI) stromal tumors (GISTs), the specific KIT- or PDFGRA-signaling driven mesenchymal tumors, are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the GI tract. In this study, we analyzed 1869 cases originally classified as smooth muscle tumors of the stomach and found that 1765 (94%) of these were GISTs. The GISTs had a slight male predominance (55%) with a median age of 63 years. Only 2.7% of tumors occurred before the age of 21 years and 9.1% before the age of 40 years. The tumors varied from 0.5 to 44 cm (median, 6.0 cm) and most commonly presented with GI bleeding; 12% were incidentally detected. Several histologic variants were recognized among the spindle cell tumors (sclerosing, palisaded-vacuolated, hypercellular, and sarcomatous) and of epithelioid tumors (sclerosing, dyscohesive, hypercellular, and sarcomatous). Outcome was strongly dependent on tumor size and mitotic activity. Only 2% to 3% of tumors 10 cm and >5 mitoses/50 HPFs metastasized. However, tumors >10 cm with mitotic activity 5/50 HPFs had a relatively low metastatic rate (11% and 15%). A small number of patients survived intra-abdominal metastasis up to over 20 years. Tumor location in fundus or gastroesophageal junction, coagulative necrosis, ulceration, and mucosal invasion were unfavorable factors (P <0.001), whereas tumor location in antrum was favorable (P <0.001). KIT expression was detected in 91% of the cases, CD34 in 82%, smooth muscle actin in 18%, and desmin in 5%; the latter two were favorable (P <0.001). KIT exon 11 mutations were detected in 119 cases; patients with point mutations fared better than those with deletions (P <0.01). PDGFRA exon 18 mutations (total 86 cases) were common in epithelioid GISTs and most commonly represented a D842V point mutation; none of these was prognostically significant. The above results may be helpful for setting the criteria for adjuvant treatment such as Gleevec.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach: a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular genetic study of 1765 cases with long-term follow-up.

Histological Classification of Urinary Bladder Tumours.- Definitions and Explanatory Notes.- Epithelial Tumours of the Bladder.- Non-epithelial Tumours.- Miscellaneous Tumours.- Metastatic Tumours and Secondary Extensions.- Unclassified Tumours.- Epithelial Abnormalities.- Tumour-like Lesions.- TNM Classification of Tumours of the Urinary Bladder.- Illustrations.

Leslie H. Sobin

Papers

TNM classification of malignant tumours

The IASLC Lung Cancer Staging Project: proposals for the revision of the TNM stage groupings in the forthcoming (seventh) edition of the TNM Classification of malignant tumours.

Diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumors: A consensus approach.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the stomach: a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular genetic study of 1765 cases with long-term follow-up.

Histological Typing of Urinary Bladder Tumours