Diagnostic efficacy of PET and PET/CT for recurrent lung cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world, and is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Although there are no conclusive data to support the survival benefits of early detection or early treatment for recurrence, an early and accurate diagnosis of recurrence is critical to optimize therapy. PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic value of positron emission tomography (PET) and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) using fluorine-18 deoxyglucose (18FDG) with conventional imaging techniques (CITs) for the detection of lung cancer recurrence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A meta-analysis was performed, with systematic searches conducted using PubMed and EMBASE databases (up to 31 December 2011). Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) values were calculated for 1035 patients reported in 13 articles. Summary receiver-operating characteristic curves (SROC) were also generated. RESULTS: The pooled sensitivity (95% CI) for PET, PET/CT, and CITs were 0.94 (0.91-0.97), 0.90 (0.84-0.95), and 0.78 (0.71-0.84), respectively. The pooled specificity (95% CI) for PET, PET/CT, and CITs were 0.84 (0.77-0.89), 0.90 (0.87-0.93), and 0.80 (0.75-0.84), respectively. Regarding sensitivity, lower values were associated with CITs than PET (P = 0.000) and PET/CT (P = 0.005), and there was no significant difference between PET/CT and PET (P = 0.102). Regarding specificity, values for PET/CT and PET were significantly higher than for CITs (both P = 0.000), and there was no significant difference between PET/CT and PET (P = 0.273). In the SROC curves, a better diagnostic accuracy was associated with PET/CT than PET and CITs. CONCLUSION: PET/CT and PET were found to be superior modalities for the detection of recurrent lung cancer, and PET/CT was superior to PET.

The effect of lycopene on the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is common in men with very high mortality which is one of leading causes of cancer-related deaths in men. The main treatment approaches for metastasized prostate cancer are androgen deprivation and chemotherapeutic agents. Although there are initial responses to castration, the resistance to the treatment will eventually occur, leading to castration-resistant prostate cancer. The common chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of prostate cancer are docetaxel and taxane but outcomes of using these drugs have not been satisfactory. Therefore, it is necessary to find better treatment approaches for prostate cancer and to search for compounds that are effective in prostate cancer prevention. Lycopene extracted from tomato and other fruits or plants such as Gac, watermelon, pink grapefruit, pink guava, red carrot and papaya has been shown to be effective on prostate cancer prevention and treatment. The advantage of the application of lycopene for its anti-prostate cancer activity is that lycopene can reach much higher concentration in prostate tissue than other tissues. In this review, the effect of lycopene on PI3K/Akt pathway is summarised, which could be one of major mechanisms for anti-cancer activity of lycopene.

[Relationship between susceptibility and prognosis of laryngeal cancer and genetic polymorphisms in CYP1A1 and GSTM1].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between susceptibility and prognosis of laryngeal cancer and genetic polymorphisms in CYP1A1 GSTM1. METHODS: The genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1 exon-7 and GSTM1 were analyzed by polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique in peripheral blood leukocytes of 89 laryngeal cancer cases and 164 non-cancer controls. RESULTS: Either in the frequency of CYP1A1 (W, MW, M) and GSTM1 negative individual of laryngeal cancer were significantly higher than that in the controls(P < 0.05). Combined genetype of CYP1A1 and GSTM1, that is CYP1A1 W/GSTM1 (-), CYP1A1 MW/GSTM1 (-), CYP1A1 M/GSTM1 (+), CYP1A1 M/GSTM1 (-) had higher risk than those combined genotypes, which ratios were 1.42 (0.62-3.22), 1.67 (0.7-4.03), 2.55 (1.0-6.54) and 4.02 (1.65-9.79), respectively. Statistic analysis suggested an interaction between smoking and CYP1A1 M/GSTM1 (-) genotypes polymorphisms which increase risk of laryngeal cancer. There was no significant difference in the frequency of CYP1A1, GSTM1 individual with the development and prognosis of laryngeal cancer. CONCLUSION: The present datas suggested that genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 were susceptible to laryngeal cancer. Individuals with CYP1A1 M or GSTM1 (-) had increased risk of developing laryngeal cancer, but individuals with combined CYP1A1 M/GSTM1 (-) and smoking were more susceptible. Genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 are not related with clinic process of laryngeal cancer.