Real world experience with omission of therapeutic lymph node dissection in clinical stage III malignant melanoma treated with checkpoint or kinase inhibition systemic therapy.

Background: Management of clinical stage III melanoma, which historically was treated with surgical therapeutic lymph node dissection (TLND), has changed significantly due to the introduction of effective systemic therapies including immune checkpoint and BRAF/MEK inhibitors. We asked how surgical interventions changed progression free survival and overall survival in this population.

Methods: The Flatiron Health electronic health records database for Advanced Melanoma was queried for patients with clinical stage III melanoma treated between 2018 and 2022 with systemic therapy.

Factors leading to pancreatic resection in patients with pancreatic cancer: a national perspective.

Background: Resection is the only option for potential cure in pancreatic cancer. Patients admitted for resection may have the procedure deferred during their hospitalization. We aim to identify factors that lead pancreatic cancer patients to undergo resection.

Disparities of Immunotherapy Utilization in Patients with Stage III Cutaneous Melanoma: A National Perspective.

Background/aim: Immunotherapy combined with surgery is associated with better survival than surgery alone in patients with advanced melanoma. This study examined the utilization of immunotherapy in relation to population characteristics and the associated survival benefit.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study utilizing the US National Cancer Database.

Evolving Role of Hepatic Resection for Metastatic Urologic Malignancies.

Liver resection for noncolorectal, nonneuroendocrine metastases remains controversial. Here, we evaluate a single institutional experience with hepatic resection for metastatic urologic malignancies. A single-institution review of patients who underwent hepatic resection for metastatic urologic tumors between the years of 2000 and 2013 was performed.

Vascular Anomalies in Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Lesson Learned.

It is essential to identify any variant anatomy prior to surgery as this could have a drastic effect on surgical planning. We describe a case in which two vascular irregularities, an Arc of Buhler and celiac stenosis, were identified on angiogram after completion of a pancreaticoduodenectomy. While there could have been catastrophic results from his surgery in the setting of celiac stenosis, the presence of the aberrant Arc of Buhler allowed this patient to emerge without any permanent morbidity.

Resection of metachronous pancreatic cancer 4 years after pancreaticoduodenectomy for stage III pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma frequently recurs in patients even after resection with curative intent. The majority of these are early recurrences and are associated with metastatic disease, thus not amenable to repeat resection. Here we report a patient who underwent completion pancreatectomy for a metachronous pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Underreporting of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: Is the True Incidence Being Captured?

Background: Hospital cancer registries are only required to report gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) if labeled malignant or metastatic, leading to potential loss of cases in national cancer registries. Our objective was to determine whether GISTs are underreported in the US.

Methods: Retrospective review of pathology reports between 2010 and 2013 with diagnosis of GIST was performed at two academic medical centers.

Estimates of conditional survival in gastric cancer reveal a reduction of racial disparities with long-term follow-up.

Introduction: In prior analyses, conditional survival (CS) estimates for gastric cancer have weighed clinical and pathologic factors to predict prognosis at time intervals after surgery. Since racial disparities in gastric cancer outcomes were not considered, our objective was to determine whether race influences CS estimates.

Methods: Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry were used to identify gastric adenocarcinoma patients who underwent curative surgical intervention between 1988 and 2005.

Neural progenitor cell-mediated delivery of interferon beta improves neuroblastoma response to cyclophosphamide.

Background: We have shown that continuous systemic delivery of interferon beta (IFN-beta) remodels dysfunctional tumor vasculature, thereby improving tumor perfusion and enhancing delivery and efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs. We hypothesized that because of their inherent tumor tropism, neural progenitor cells (NPCs) engineered to express IFN-beta could also effect maturation of tumor vasculature without generating high systemic levels of IFN-beta.

Methods: Mice with luciferase-expressing disseminated human neuroblastoma were divided into four groups of equal tumor burden by bioluminescence imaging: (1) untreated controls; (2) NPC-IFN-beta only; (3) cyclophosphamide (CTX) only; and (4) NPC-IFN-beta in combination with CTX.

The efficacy of combination therapy using adeno-associated virus--interferon beta and trichostatin A in vitro and in a murine model of neuroblastoma.

Purpose: Trichostatin A (TSA) is a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor and has demonstrated significant antitumor activity against a variety of cancer cell lines. Type I interferons have also shown significant antitumor as well as antiangiogenic activity. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of combination therapy of TSA and interferon beta (IFN-beta) on human neuroblastoma cells in vitro and in vivo using a murine model of retroperitoneal neuroblastoma.

Bortezomib inhibits angiogenesis and reduces tumor burden in a murine model of neuroblastoma.

Background: Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor with pleiotropic antitumor activity. Here we investigate the antiangiogenic and antitumor efficacy of bortezomib against neuroblastoma both in vitro and in a murine model of localized and disseminated disease.

Methods: In vitro activity of bortezomib was assessed by evaluating its effect on cell proliferation and cell cycle status.

Bevacizumab-induced transient remodeling of the vasculature in neuroblastoma xenografts results in improved delivery and efficacy of systemically administered chemotherapy.

Purpose: Dysfunctional tumor vessels can be a significant barrier to effective cancer therapy. However, increasing evidence suggests that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibition can effect transient "normalization" of the tumor vasculature, thereby improving tumor perfusion and, consequently, delivery of systemic chemotherapy. We sought to examine temporal changes in tumor vascular function in response to the anti-VEGF antibody, bevacizumab.

Continuous delivery of IFN-beta promotes sustained maturation of intratumoral vasculature.

IFNs have pleiotropic antitumor mechanisms of action. The purpose of this study was to further investigate the effects of IFN-beta on the vasculature of human xenografts in immunodeficient mice. We found that continuous, systemic IFN-beta delivery, established with liver-targeted adeno-associated virus vectors, led to sustained morphologic and functional changes of the tumor vasculature that were consistent with vessel maturation.

Lymphedema therapy reduces the volume of edema and pain in patients with breast cancer.

Background: Despite recent advances in breast-conserving surgery, upper-extremity lymphedema remains a problem for patients after the treatment of breast cancer. This study examines the results of a protocol of therapy for lymphedema in breast cancer patients.

Methods: A total of 135 patients with lymphedema after breast cancer treatment were provided a protocol of complete decongestive therapy (CDT).

Intravascular administration of tumor tropic neural progenitor cells permits targeted delivery of interferon-beta and restricts tumor growth in a murine model of disseminated neuroblastoma.

Background: Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) has potent antitumor activity; however, systemic toxicity has limited its clinical use. We investigated the potential of targeted delivery using tumor-tropic neural progenitor cells (NPCs) transduced to express human IFN-beta (hIFN-beta).

Methods: Disseminated neuroblastoma was established in SCID mice by tail vein injection of tumor cells.

Efficacy of zoledronate against neuroblastoma.

Background: We investigated the antitumor and antiosteoclastic effects of zoledronate against human neuroblastoma in vitro and in a murine model of bone metastasis.

Methods: Antitumor activity of zoledronate against neuroblastoma cell lines was assessed by evaluating proliferation, apoptosis, and cell-cycle progression. A murine model of bone invasion was used to assess antiosteoclastic and antitumor activity in vivo.