Nebraska Medical Center

About: Nebraska Medical Center is a healthcare organization based out in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Gene & Transplantation. The organization has 917 authors who have published 735 publications receiving 27603 citations.

Predicting survival after liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma beyond the Milan criteria: a retrospective, exploratory analysis

Abstract: Summary Background Patients undergoing liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma within the Milan criteria (single tumour ≤5 cm in size or ≤3 tumours each ≤3 cm in size, and no macrovascular invasion) have an excellent outcome. However, survival for patients with cancers that exceed these criteria remains unpredictable and access to transplantation is a balance of maximising patients' chances of cure and organ availability. The aim of this study was to explore the survival of patients with tumours that exceed the Milan criteria, to assess whether the criteria could be less restrictive, enabling more patients to qualify as transplant candidates, and to derive a prognostic model based on objective tumour characteristics, to see whether the Milan criteria could be expanded. Methods Data on patients who underwent transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma despite exceeding Milan criteria at different centres were recorded via a web-based survey completed by specialists from each centre. The survival of these patients was correlated retrospectively with the size of the largest tumour nodule, number of nodules, and presence or absence of microvascular invasion detected at pathology. Contoured multivariable regression Cox models produced survival estimates by means of different combinations of the covariates. The primary aim of this study was to derive a prognostic model of overall survival based on tumour characteristics, according to the main parameters used in the Tumour Node Metastasis classification. The secondary aim was the identification of a subgroup of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma exceeding the Milan criteria, who achieved a 5-year overall survival of at least 70%—ie, similar to the outcome expected for patients who meet the Milan criteria. Findings Over a 10-month period, between June 25, 2006, and April 3, 2007, data for 1556 patients who underwent transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma were entered on the database by 36 centres. 1112 patients had hepatocellular carcinoma exceeding Milan criteria and 444 patients had hepatocellular carcinoma shown not to exceed Milan criteria at post-transplant pathology review. In the group of patients with hepatocellular carcinomas exceeding the criteria, the median size of the largest nodule was 40 mm (range 4–200) and the median number of nodules was four (1–20). 454 of 1112 patients (41%) had microvascular invasion and, for those transplanted outside the Milan criteria, 5-year overall survival was 53·6% (95% CI 50·1–57·0), compared with 73·3% (68·2–77·7) for those that met the criteria. Hazard ratios (HR) associated with increasing values of size and number were 1·34 (1·25–1·44) and 1·51 (1·21–1·88), respectively. The effect was linear for size, whereas for number of tumours, the effect tended to plateau above three tumours. The effect of tumour size and number on survival was mediated by recurrence (b=0·08, SE=0·12, p=0·476). The presence of microvascular invasion doubled HRs in all scenarios. The 283 patients without microvascular invasion, but who fell within the Up-to-seven criteria (hepatocellular carcinomas with seven as the sum of the size of the largest tumour [in cm] and the number of tumours) achieved a 5-year overall survival of 71·2% (64·3–77·0). Interpretation More patients with hepatocellular carcinoma could be candidates for transplantation if the current dual (yes/no) approach to candidacy, based on the strict Milan criteria, were replaced with a more precise estimation of survival contouring individual tumour characteristics and use of the up-to-seven criteria. Funding Specific funding was not used to do this study.

Iron oxide nanoparticles for sustained delivery of anticancer agents.

Abstract: We have developed a novel water-dispersible oleic acid (OA)-Pluronic-coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticle formulation that can be loaded easily with high doses of water-insoluble anticancer agents Drug partitions into the OA shell surrounding iron oxide nanoparticles, and the Pluronic that anchors at the OA−water interface confers aqueous dispersity to the formulation Neither the formulation components nor the drug loading affected the magnetic properties of the core iron oxide nanoparticles Sustained release of the incorporated drug is observed over 2 weeks under in vitro conditions The nanoparticles further demonstrated sustained intracellular drug retention relative to drug in solution and a dose-dependent antiproliferative effect in breast and prostate cancer cell lines This nanoparticle formulation can be used as a universal drug carrier system for systemic administration of water-insoluble drugs while simultaneously allowing magnetic targeting and/or imaging Keywords: Sustained release; wat

Multi-institutional clinical experience with the Calypso System in localization and continuous, real-time monitoring of the prostate gland during external radiotherapy.

Abstract: Purpose: To report the clinical experience with an electromagnetic treatment target positioning and continuous monitoring system in patients with localized prostate cancer receiving external beam radiotherapy. Methods and Materials: The Calypso System is a target positioning device that continuously monitors the location of three implanted electromagnetic transponders at a rate of 10 Hz. The system was used at five centers to position 41 patients over a full course of therapy. Electromagnetic positioning was compared to setup using skin marks and to stereoscopic X-ray localization of the transponders. Continuous monitoring was performed in 35 patients. Results: The difference between skin mark vs. the Calypso System alignment was found to be >5 mm in vector length in more than 75% of fractions. Comparisons between the Calypso System and X-ray localization showed good agreement. Qualitatively, the continuous motion was unpredictable and varied from persistent drift to transient rapid movements. Displacements ≥3 and ≥5 mm for cumulative durations of at least 30 s were observed during 41% and 15% of sessions. In individual patients, the number of fractions with displacements ≥3 mm ranged from 3% to 87%; whereas the number of fractions with displacements ≥5 mm ranged from 0% to 56%. Conclusion: The Calypso System is a clinically efficient and objective localization method for positioning prostate patients undergoing radiotherapy. Initial treatment setup can be performed rapidly, accurately, and objectively before radiation delivery. The extent and frequency of prostate motion during radiotherapy delivery can be easily monitored and used for motion management.