Journal of Solid Tumors 

About: Journal of Solid Tumors is an academic journal published by Sciedu Press. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Cancer & Metastasis. It has an ISSN identifier of 1925-4067. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 238 publications have been published receiving 531 citations.

Colorectal carcinoma in gharbiah district, Egypt: Comparison between the elderly and non-elderly

Abstract: Objective: This work was conducted to study colorectal carcinoma (CRC) in Gharbiah district, Egypt and to verify the effect of age on the treatments and their outcomes. Methods: B etween 2000 and 2002, 293 cases with CRC were identified in the Gharbiah population based cancer registry (GPBCR); 159 of whom were treated at Tanta Cancer Center (TCC). Patients were grouped into elderly and non-elderly ( ≥ and < 65 years, respectively). Results: CRC was the 6th cancer in Egypt, representing 4% of the total cancers and 53% of GIT cancers. The median age was 53 years with male predominance. Colon cancers were more common than rectal cancers. Most patients had tumors that were localized, low grade and adenocarcinoma (AC). Constipation, abdominal pains and bleeding per rectum were the commonest complaints. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy were adopted in 84, 28 and 72% of patients, respectively. The median OS and PFS were 23 and 25 months (95%CI: 17-29 and 11.8-18.2), respectively. Compared to non-elderly, elderly patients were more likely to have rectal tumors, non-AC histology, non-metastatic disease; more comorbidities were less likely to receive chemotherapy particularly in the adjuvant setting ( P < 0.05 for all). The OS and PFS of elderly patients were not statistically different from the non-elderly. Conclusions: Within the limits of this retrospective trial, elderly patients with CRC tend to have more rectal and non-metastatic cancers. They were more likely to have comorbidities and less likely to receive chemotherapy. However, the OS and DFS were comparable to non-elderly.

Enhancing silicon quantum dot uptake by pancreatic cancer cells via pluronic® encapsulation and antibody targeting

Abstract: Objectives: Silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) are of great interest for bio - imaging applications due to their tunable luminescence, low toxicity, unique surface chemistry, and high quantum yield. Most synthesis routes produce SiQDs that are not water-dispersible, making them unattractive for biological applications. Here, we show that Pluronic® block copolymers can encapsulate SiQDs to make them water dispersible and suitable for cancer imaging applications. Methods: Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, and temperature and pH stability measurements were used to evaluate these Pluronic®-encapsulated SiQDs (PSiQDs). The particles were also tested targeted in vitro imaging and in vivo bio - distribution. Results: Encapsulation with Pluronic® polymers renders the SiQDs water dispersible, preserves their optical properties, protects them from oxidation, and prevents aggregation. Surface modification of the PSiQDs with pancreatic cancer targeting moieties, anti-claudin-4 and anti-mesothelin, led to enhanced uptake of these nanoconstructs in comparison to PSiQDs modified with folate as the targeting moeity. Conclusions: The particles are stable at biological conditions, and show promise for targeted diagnostic applications without possessing elementally toxic components.

Systemic therapy for bladder cancer – a medical oncologist’s perspective

Abstract: Advanced bladder cancer, both muscle-invasive localized disease and metastatic disease, is managed with systemic chemotherapy. Cisplatin-based multi-agent chemotherapy remains the cornerstone for systemic therapy. MVAC (methotrexate-vinblastine-doxorubicin-cisplatin) has been most rigorously studied, both neoadjuvantly and for palliation of metastatic disease. For metastatic disease, cisplatin-gemcitabine (GC) has compared favorably to MVAC due to improved tolerability with similar efficacy. GC has been adopted as standard therapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer improves survival among those patients eligible to receive cisplatin. Adjuvant chemotherapy is difficult to administer effectively given morbidity of radical cystectomy, and studies have shown mixed results about its benefit. Non-cisplatin regimens have been investigated but remain experimental and reserved for those not candidates for cisplatin in the metastatic setting. While multiple agents have been studied after metastatic disease progression after cisplatin-based therapy, there remain no FDA-approved therapies for the second line. Future trials with anti-VEGF therapy and immunotherapy are actively being investigated. This review examines the systemic therapy available to oncologists with current evidence and future directions.

Radiobiological evaluation of dose calculation algorithms in RapidArc planning of esophageal cancer treatment plans

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of current study is to investigate the impact of tissue heterogeneity corrections in Acuros XB algorithm (AXB) and Anisotropic Analytical Algorithm (AAA) on RapidArc esophageal cancer treatment plans using equivalent uniform dose (EUD) calculations and tumor control probability (TCP). Methods: Ten esophageal cancer cases were selected for the current study. All cases were planned using RapidArc technique in Eclipse treatment planning system (10.0.28). The treatment plans were inversely optimized using progressive resolution optimizer and each optimized plan was calculated using AAA with tissue heterogeneity correction. The AAA plans were then normalized such that prescription dose covered 95% of the planning target volume (PTV). The AXB plans were generated by recalculating the normalized AAA plans using AXB with tissue heterogeneity correction for identical monitor units and beam parameters as in the corresponding AAA plans. The EUD and TCP calculations were then performed on the AAA and AXB plans. Results: For PTV, the EUD values in AXB plans were always lower than in AAA plans with an average difference of 1.3%. Similarly, AXB calculations produced smaller magnitude of EUD for the organs at risk (OARs) compared to AAA calculations. On average, in AXB plans, the lung EUD was lower by 3.5%, the liver EUD was lower by 2.3%, the heart EUD was lower by 2.8%, and the spinal cord EUD was lower by 1.8%. The TCP of AXB plans was lower by average difference of 7.1% compared to that of AAA plans. Conclusion: In comparison to AAA calculations, the preliminary results presented in the current study showed that AXB calculations produced lower EUD and TCP for the PTV as well as lower EUD for OARs in the esophageal cancer treatment plans created by RapidArc planning technique.

Immunohistochemical detection of human cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and human papillomavirus in invasive breast carcinoma in Egyptian women: A tissue microarray study

Abstract: Background and aim: Breast cancer is the commonest malignant tumor and a common cause of cancer death in women all overthe world. Some recent studies attributed breast cancer to viral infection. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of HCMV,EBV and HPV in invasive carcinoma of the breast among the Egyptian women by immunohistochemistry and whether there is arelationship between the prognostic factors of breast carcinoma and these viruses. Patients and methods: This retrospective study included 107 selected cases of invasive breast carcinoma. Slides cut from tissuemicroarray prepared blocks were stained immunohistochemically for HCMV, EBV and HPV antigens. The association of suchviruses with the clinicopathological features, tumor recurrence and patient death was evaluated statistically. Result: HCMV, EBV and HPV were present in 43.9%, 10.3% and 24.3% of cases respectively. HCMV was associatedsignificantly with the tumor grade, mitotic count (P = .01), IDC, ER, PR, Her2/neu and molecular subtype (P = .032, .002, .02,.005, .003) respectively. EBV was associated with the tumor size, stage and histological type (P = . 025, .005, .009) respectively.HPV wasn’t associated with any of the clinicopathological characteristics. None of these viruses was associated with the tumorrecurrence or patient death. Conclusion: HCMV and EBV might be contributing factors for the development and behavioural alteration of breast carcinoma,representing potential tools for the detection of specific therapies for this cancer. Further studies on a larger number of casesusing other techniques such as CISH for specific typing of the viruses especially HPV can add more information.