Changes in the multidisciplinary management of rectal cancer from 2009 to 2015 and associated improvements in short-term outcomes.

AIM: Significant recent changes in management of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) include preoperative staging, use of extended neoadjuvant therapies and minimally invasive surgery (MIS). This study was aimed at characterizing these changes and associated short-term outcomes. METHOD: We retrospectively analysed treatment and outcome data from patients with T3/4 or N+ LARC ≤ 15 cm from the anal verge who were evaluated at a comprehensive cancer centre in 2009-2015. RESULTS: In total, 798 patients were identified and grouped into five cohorts based on treatment year: 2009-2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014-2015. Temporal changes included increased reliance on MRI staging, from 57% in 2009-2010 to 98% in 2014-2015 (P < 0.001); increased use of total neoadjuvant therapy, from 17% to 76% (P < 0.001); and increased use of MIS, from 33% to 70% (P < 0.001). Concurrently, median hospital stay decreased (from 7 to 5 days; P < 0.001), as did the rates of Grade III-V complications (from 13% to 7%; P < 0.05), surgical site infections (from 24% to 8%; P < 0.001), anastomotic leak (from 11% to 3%; P < 0.05) and positive circumferential resection margin (from 9% to 4%; P < 0.05). TNM downstaging increased from 62% to 74% (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Shifts toward MRI-based staging, total neoadjuvant therapy and MIS occurred between 2009 and 2015. Over the same period, treatment responses improved, and lengths of stay and the incidence of complications decreased.

Placement of double-J stent in patients with malignant ureteral obstruction: antegrade or retrograde approach?

AIM: To determine whether antegrade or retrograde methods should be preferred for double-J stent placement in patients with malignant ureteral obstruction (MUO). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The medical records of patients treated for MUO in the Urology and Interventional Radiology Clinic, Konya Training and Research Hospital, were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with benign aetiology were excluded from the study. Reports of the procedures, ultrasonography findings, computed tomography (CT), angiography, and pyelography images and the follow-up records of patients with MUO were assessed. A total of 111 patients and 114 ureteral stenting treatments were included in the study; 63 (55.3%) were operated on using the antegrade ureteral stenting (AUS) method, whereas 51 (44.7%) were operated on using the retrograde ureteral stenting (RUS), method, and the characteristics of these groups were evaluated. The presence of hydroureteronephrosis and ureteral tortuosity were determined. RESULTS: Overall success rates were found to be 95.2% using the AUS method and 47.1% using the RUS method. The technical success of the antegrade method was significantly higher in patients with or without tortuosity (respectively: p=0.005, Z shape p=0.001, pigtail shape p=0.035″). The technical success of the antegrade method was significantly higher in patients with hydroureteronephrosis (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The AUS technique should be the first choice for double-J stent placement in patients with MUO.

Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary patient care bundle for reducing surgical-site infections.

BACKGROUND: Surgical-site infection (SSI) is associated with significant healthcare costs. To reduce the high rate of SSI among patients undergoing colorectal surgery at a cancer centre, a comprehensive care bundle was implemented and its efficacy tested. METHODS: A pragmatic study involving three phases (baseline, implementation and sustainability) was conducted on patients treated consecutively between 2013 and 2016. The intervention included 13 components related to: bowel preparation; oral and intravenous antibiotic selection and administration; skin preparation, disinfection and hygiene; maintenance of normothermia during surgery; and use of clean instruments for closure. SSI risk was evaluated by means of a preoperative calculator, and effectiveness was assessed using interrupted time-series regression. RESULTS: In a population with a mean BMI of 30 kg/m2 , diabetes mellitus in 17·5 per cent, and smoking history in 49·3 per cent, SSI rates declined from 11·0 to 4·1 per cent following implementation of the intervention bundle (P = 0·001). The greatest reductions in SSI rates occurred in patients at intermediate or high risk of SSI: from 10·3 to 4·7 per cent (P = 0·006) and from 19 to 2 per cent (P < 0·001) respectively. Wound care modifications were very different in the implementation phase (43·2 versus 24·9 per cent baseline), including use of an overlying surface vacuum dressing (17·2 from 1·4 per cent baseline) or leaving wounds partially open (13·2 from 6·7 per cent baseline). As a result, the biggest difference was in wound-related rather than organ-space SSI. The median length of hospital stay decreased from 7 (i.q.r. 5-10) to 6 (5-9) days (P = 0·002). The greatest reduction in hospital stay was seen in patients at high risk of SSI: from 8 to 6 days (P < 0·001). SSI rates remained low (4·5 per cent) in the sustainability phase. CONCLUSION: Meaningful reductions in SSI can be achieved by implementing a multidisciplinary care bundle at a hospital-wide level.

The Role of AcrAB-TolC Efflux Pumps on Quinolone Resistance of E. coli ST131.

Escherichia coli ST131 is a cause for global concern because of its high multidrug resistance and several virulence factors. In this study, the contribution of acrAB-TolC efflux system of E. coli ST131 to fluoroquinolone resistance was evaluated. A total of nonrepetitive 111 ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli isolates were included in the study. Multilocus sequence typing was used for genotyping. Expressions of acrA, acrB, and TolC efflux pump genes were measured by RT-PCR. Mutations in marA, gyrA, parC, and aac(6')-lb-cr positivity were studied by Sanger sequencing. Sixty-four (57.7%) of the isolates were classified as ST131, and 52 (81.3%) of the ST131 isolates belonged to H30-Rx subclone. In ST131, CTX-M 15 positivity (73%) and aac(6')-lb-cr carriage (75%) were significantly higher than those in non-ST131 (12.8% and 51%, respectively) (P < 0.05). The ampicillin-sulbactam (83%) resistance was higher, and gentamicin resistance (20%) was lower in ST131 than that in non-ST131 (64% and 55%, respectively) (P = 0.001 and P = 0.0002). Numbers of the isolates with MDR or XDR profiles did not differ in both groups. Multiple in-dels (up to 16) were recorded in all quinolone-resistant isolates. However, marA gene was more overexpressed in ST131 compared to that in non-ST131 (median 5.98 vs. 3.99; P = 0.0007). Belonging to H30-Rx subclone, isolation site, ciprofloxacin MIC values did not correlate with efflux pump expressions. In conclusion, the marA regulatory gene of AcrAB-TolC efflux pump system has a significant impact on quinolone resistance and progression to MDR profile in ST131 clone. Efflux pump inhibitors might be alternative drugs for the treatment of infections caused by E. coli ST131 if used synergistically in combination with antibiotics.

Survival after resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma-development and external validation of a prognostic nomogram.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to derive and validate a prognostic nomogram to predict disease-specific survival (DSS) after a curative intent resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A nomogram was developed from 173 patients treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, USA. The nomogram was externally validated in 133 patients treated at the Academic Medical Center (AMC), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Prognostic accuracy was assessed with concordance estimates and calibration, and compared with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. The nomogram will be available as web-based calculator at mskcc.org/nomograms. RESULTS: For all 306 patients, the median overall survival (OS) was 40 months and the median DSS 41 months. Median follow-up for patients alive at last follow-up was 48 months. Lymph node involvement, resection margin status, and tumor differentiation were independent prognostic factors in the derivation cohort (MSKCC). A nomogram with these prognostic factors had a concordance index of 0.73 compared with 0.66 for the AJCC staging system. In the validation cohort (AMC), the concordance index was 0.72, compared with 0.60 for the AJCC staging system. Calibration was good in the derivation cohort; in the validation cohort patients had a better median DSS than predicted by the model. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed nomogram to predict DSS after curative intent resection of PHC had a better prognostic accuracy than the AJCC staging system. Calibration was suboptimal because DSS differed between the two institutions. The nomogram can inform patients and physicians, guide shared decision making for adjuvant therapy, and stratify patients in future randomized, controlled trials.

Clinical nodal staging scores for prostate cancer: a proposal for preoperative risk assessment.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic lymph node dissection in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for clinically localised prostate cancer is not without morbidity and its therapeutical benefit is still a matter of debate. The objective of this study was to develop a model that allows preoperative determination of the minimum number of lymph nodes needed to be removed at radical prostatectomy to ensure true nodal status. METHODS: We analysed data from 4770 patients treated with radical prostatectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection between 2000 and 2011 from eight academic centres. For external validation of our model, we used data from a cohort of 3595 patients who underwent an anatomically defined extended pelvic lymph node dissection. We estimated the sensitivity of pathological nodal staging using a beta-binomial model and developed a novel clinical (preoperative) nodal staging score (cNSS), which represents the probability that a patient has lymph node metastasis as a function of the number of examined nodes. RESULTS: In the development and validation cohorts, the probability of missing a positive lymph node decreases with increase in the number of nodes examined. A 90% cNSS can be achieved in the development and validation cohorts by examining 1-6 nodes in cT1 and 6-8 nodes in cT2 tumours. With 11 nodes examined, patients in the development and validation cohorts achieved a cNSS of 90% and 80% with cT3 tumours, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic lymph node dissection is the only reliable technique to ensure accurate nodal staging in patients treated with radical prostatectomy for clinically localised prostate cancer. The minimum number of examined lymph nodes needed for accurate nodal staging may be predictable, being strongly dependent on prostate cancer characteristics at diagnosis.

Association of positive transection margins with gastric cancer survival and local recurrence.

PURPOSE: To examine the association between positive resection margins and survival and local recurrence in patients with gastric cancer undergoing resection with curative intent. METHODS: Patients who underwent curative intent resection for gastric carcinoma from 1985 to 2010 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Positive margins were defined as disease present at the line of luminal transection. Clinicopathological features and outcome of patients undergoing gastrectomy with negative and positive margins were compared. RESULTS: Among 2384 patients undergoing curative intent resection, 108 (4.5 %) had positive margins. Positive margins were associated with higher American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, T stage, N stage, median number of positive nodes, diffuse Lauren type, and poorly differentiated tumors. Treatment of positive margins consisted of: observation (39 %), chemoradiotherapy (26 %), chemotherapy (20 %), repeat resection (10 %), radiotherapy (4 %), and unknown (1 %). Multivariate analysis of the entire cohort demonstrated margin status, T stage, N stage, grade, and perineural invasion to be independent predictors of survival. Margin status was an independent predictor of survival in patients with ≤3 positive nodes or T1-2 disease but was not in patients with >3 positive nodes or T3-4 disease. Local recurrence occurred in 16 % of patients with a positive margin. We identified no factors predictive of local recurrence in patients with positive margins. CONCLUSIONS: Positive resection margin is associated with advanced AJCC stage and aggressive tumor biology but remains an independent predictor of worse survival. The significance of a positive margin in gastric cancer is confined to patients with nontransmural disease and/or limited nodal involvement.

Perioperative complications influence recurrence and survival after resection of hepatic colorectal metastases.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative outcomes, such as blood loss, transfusions, and morbidity, have been linked to cancer-specific survival, but this is largely unsupported by prospective data. METHODS: Patients from a previous, randomized trial that evaluated acute normovolemic hemodilution during major hepatectomy (≥3 segments) were reevaluated and those with metastatic colorectal cancer (n = 90) were selected for analysis. Survival data were obtained from the medical record. Disease extent was measured using a clinical-risk score (CRS). Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model were used to evaluate recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Median follow-up was 71 months. The CRS was ≥3 in 45 % of patients; 59 % had extrahepatic procedures. Morbidity and mortality were 33 and 2 %, respectively. Postoperative chemotherapy was given to 87 % of patients (78/90) starting at a median of 6 weeks. RFS and OS were 29 and 60 months, respectively. Postoperative morbidity significantly reduced RFS (23 vs. 69 months; P < 0.001) and OS (28 vs. 74 months; P < 0.001) on uni- and multi-variate analysis; positive resection margins and high CRS also were significant factors. Delayed initiation of postoperative chemotherapy (≥8 weeks) was common in patients with complications (37 vs. 12 %; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this selected cohort of patients from a previous RCT, perioperative morbidity was strongly (and independently) associated with cancer-specific outcome. It also was associated with delayed initiation of postoperative chemotherapy, the impact of which on survival is unclear.

Indications for and efficacy of splenectomy for haematological disorders.

BACKGROUND: Splenectomy is performed for a variety of indications in haematological disorders. This study was undertaken to analyse outcomes, and morbidity and mortality rates associated with this procedure. METHODS: Patients undergoing splenectomy for the treatment or diagnosis of haematological disease were included. Indications for operation, preoperative risk, intraoperative variables and short-term outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: From January 1997 to December 2010, 381 patients underwent splenectomy for diagnosis or treatment of haematological disease. Some 288 operations were performed by an open approach, 83 laparoscopically, and there were ten conversions. Overall 136 patients (35·7 per cent) experienced complications. Postoperative morbidity was predicted by age more than 65 years (odds ratio (OR) 1·63, 95 per cent confidence interval 1·05 to 2·55), a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score lower than 60 (OR 2·74, 1·35 to 5·57) and a haemoglobin level of 9 g/dl or less (OR 1·74, 1·09 to 2·77). Twenty-four patients (6·3 per cent) died within 30 days of surgery. Postoperative mortality was predicted by a KPS score lower than 60 (OR 16·20, 6·10 to 42·92) and a platelet count of 50,000/µl or less (OR 3·34, 1·25 to 8·86). The objective of the operation was achieved in 309 patients (81·1 per cent). The success rate varied for each indication: diagnosis (106 of 110 patients, 96·4 per cent), thrombocytopenia (76 of 115, 66·1 per cent), anaemia (10 of 16, 63 per cent), to allow further treatment (46 of 59, 78 per cent) and primary treatment (16 of 18, 89 per cent). CONCLUSION: Splenectomy is an effective procedure in the diagnosis and treatment of haematological disease in selected patients.

Prognostic aspects of DCE-MRI in recurrent rectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether pre-reoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI findings correlate with clinical outcome in patients who undergo surgical treatment for recurrent rectal carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective study of DCE-MRI in patients with recurrent rectal cancer was performed after obtaining an IRB waiver. We queried our PACS from 1998 to 2012 for examinations performed for recurrent disease. Two radiologists in consensus outlined tumour regions of interest on perfusion images. We explored the correlation between K(trans), Kep, Ve, AUC90 and AUC180 with time to re-recurrence of tumour, overall survival and resection margin status. Univariate Cox PH models were used for survival, while univariate logistic regression was used for margin status. RESULTS: Among 58 patients with pre-treatment DCE-MRI who underwent resection, 36 went directly to surgery and 18 had positive margins. K(trans) (0.55, P = 0.012) and Kep (0.93, P = 0.04) were inversely correlated with positive margins. No significant correlations were noted between K(trans), Kep, Ve, AUC90 and AUC180 and overall survival or time to re-recurrence of tumour. CONCLUSION: K(trans) and Kep were significantly associated with clear resection margins; however overall survival and time to re-recurrence were not predicted. Such information might be helpful for treatment individualisation and deserves further investigation.

Downstaging in pancreatic cancer: a matched analysis of patients resected following systemic treatment of initially locally unresectable disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients with locally unresectable pancreatic cancer (AJCC stage III) have a median survival of 10-14 months. The objective of this study was to evaluate outcome of initially unresectable patients who respond to multimodality therapy and undergo resection. METHODS: Using a prospectively collected database, patients were identified who were initially unresectable because of vascular invasion and had sufficient response to nonoperative treatment to undergo resection. Overall survival (OS) was compared with a matched group of patients who were initially resectable. Case matching was performed using a previously validated pancreatic cancer nomogram. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients with initial stage III disease were identified who underwent resection after treatment with either systemic therapy or chemoradiation. Initial unresectability was determined by operative exploration (n = 15, 42%) or by cross-sectional imaging (n = 21, 58%). Resection consisted of pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 31, 86%), distal pancreatectomy (n = 4, 11%), and total pancreatectomy (n = 1, 3%). Pathology revealed T3 lesions in 26 patients (73%), node positivity in 6 patients (16%), and a negative margin in 30 patients (83%). The median OS in this series was 25 months from resection and 30 months since treatment initiation. There was no difference in OS from time of resection between the initial stage III patients and those who presented with resectable disease (P = .35). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, patients who were able to undergo resection following treatment of initial stage III pancreatic cancer experienced survival similar to those who were initially resectable. Resection is indicated in this highly select group of patients.

Dynamic contrast enhanced-MRI for the detection of pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the ability of dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE-MRI) to predict pathological complete response (pCR) after preoperative chemotherapy for rectal cancer. METHODS: In a prospective clinical trial, 23/34 enrolled patients underwent pre- and post-treatment DCE-MRI performed at 1.5T. Gadolinium 0.1 mmol/kg was injected at a rate of 2 mL/s. Using a two-compartmental model of vascular space and extravascular extracellular space, K(trans), k(ep), v(e), AUC90, and AUC180 were calculated. Surgical specimens were the gold standard. Baseline, post-treatment and changes in these quantities were compared with clinico-pathological outcomes. For quantitative variable comparison, Spearman's Rank correlation was used. For categorical variable comparison, the Kruskal-Wallis test was used. P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Percentage of histological tumour response ranged from 10 to 100%. Six patients showed pCR. Post chemotherapy K(trans) (mean 0.5 min(-1) vs. 0.2 min(-1), P = 0.04) differed significantly between non-pCR and pCR outcomes, respectively and also correlated with percent tumour response and pathological size. Post-treatment residual abnormal soft tissue noted in some cases of pCR prevented an MR impression of complete response based on morphology alone. CONCLUSION: After neoadjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer, MR perfusional characteristics have been identified that can aid in the distinction between incomplete response and pCR. KEY POINTS: Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI provides perfusion characteristics of tumours. These objective quantitative measures may be more helpful than subjective imaging alone Some parameters differed markedly between completely responding and incompletely responding rectal cancers. Thus DCE-MRI can potentially offer treatment-altering imaging biomarkers.

Low risk of severe hypoglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus starting insulin therapy with premixed insulin analogues BID in outpatient settings.

AIMS: The choice of insulin at initiation in type 2 diabetes remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of self-reported severe hypoglycaemia associated with premixed insulin analogues in routine clinical care. METHODS: A 12-month, prospective, observational, multicentre study in patients starting a commonly prescribed premixed insulin analogue (either insulin lispro 25/75 or biphasic insulin aspart 30/70, twice daily) after suboptimal glycaemic control on oral antidiabetic agents. Treatment decisions were made solely in the course of usual practice. RESULTS: Study follow-up was completed by 991 (85.5%) of the 1150 patients enrolled. At baseline, mean (SD) age was 57.9 (10.1) years; mean diabetes duration was 9.2 (5.9) years; mean haemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) was 9.9 (1.8) % and the rate of severe hypoglycaemia was 0.03 episode/patient-year. At 12 months, the rate of severe hypoglycaemia was 0.04 episode/patient-year (95% CI 0.023, 0.055 episode/patient-year) and mean insulin dose was 41.5 (19.4) units. Changes from baseline to 12 months for mean fasting plasma glucose and HbA(1c) were -5.1 mmol/l and -2.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: After initiation of premixed insulin analogues in patients with type 2 diabetes in real-world settings, the incidence of severe hypoglycaemia was lower than expected from previously reported studies.

Recurrence and survival after pathologic complete response to preoperative therapy followed by surgery for gastric or gastrooesophageal adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To characterise recurrence patterns and survival following pathologic complete response (pCR) in patients who received preoperative therapy for localised gastric or gastrooesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospective database identified patients with pCR after preoperative chemotherapy for gastric or preoperative chemoradiation for GEJ (Siewert II/III) adenocarcinoma. Recurrence patterns, overall survival, recurrence-free survival, and disease-specific survival were analysed. RESULTS: From 1985 to 2009, 714 patients received preoperative therapy for localised gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma, and 609 (85%) underwent a subsequent R0 resection. There were 60 patients (8.4%) with a pCR. Median follow-up was 46 months. Recurrence at 5 years was significantly lower for pCR vs non-pCR patients (27% and 51%, respectively, P=0.01). The probability of recurrence for patients with pCR was similar to non-pCR patients with pathologic stage I or II disease. Although the overall pattern of local/regional (LR) vs distant recurrence was comparable (43% LR vs 57% distant) between pCR and non-pCR groups, there was a significantly higher incidence of central nervous system (CNS) first recurrences in pCR patients (36 vs 4%, P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma who achieve a pCR following preoperative therapy still have a significant risk of recurrence and cancer-specific death following resection. One third of the recurrences in the pCR group were symptomatic CNS recurrences. Increased awareness of the risk of CNS metastases and selective brain imaging in patients who achieve a pCR following preoperative therapy for gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma is warranted.

Discriminatory accuracy and potential clinical utility of genomic profiling for breast cancer risk in BRCA-negative women.

Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. The clinical utility of genotyping individuals at these loci is not known. Subjects were 519 unaffected women without BRCA mutations. Gail, Claus, and IBIS models were used to estimate absolute breast cancer risks. Subjects were then genotyped at 15 independent risk loci. Published per-allele and genotype-specific odds ratios were used to calculate the composite cumulative genomic risk (CGR) for each subject. Affected age- and ethnicity-matched BRCA mutation-negative women were also genotyped as a comparison group for the calculation of discriminatory accuracy. The CGR was used to adjust absolute breast cancer risks calculated by Gail, Claus and IBIS models to determine the proportion of subjects whose recommendations for chemoprevention or MRI screening might be altered (reclassified) by such adjustment. Mean lifetime breast cancer risks calculated using the Gail, Claus, and IBIS models were 19.4, 13.0, and 17.7%, respectively. CGR did not correlate with breast cancer risk as calculated using any model. CGR was significantly higher in affected women (mean 3.35 vs. 3.12, P = 0.009). The discriminatory accuracy of the CGR alone was 0.55 (SE 0.019; P = 0.006). CGR adjustment of model-derived absolute risk estimates would have altered clinical recommendations for chemoprevention in 11-19% of subjects and for MRI screening in 8-32%. CGR has limited discriminatory accuracy. However, the use of a genomic risk term to adjust model-derived estimates has the potential to alter individual recommendations. These observations warrant investigation to evaluate the calibration of adjusted risk estimates.

Repeatability of SUV measurements in serial PET.

PURPOSE: The standardized uptake value (SUV) is a quantitative measure of FDG tumor uptake frequently used as a tool to monitor therapeutic response. This study aims to (i) assess the reproducibility and uncertainty of SUV max and SUV mean, due to purely statistical, i.e., nonbiological, effects and (ii) to establish the minimum uncertainty below which changes in SUV cannot be expected to be an indicator of physiological changes. METHODS: Three sets of measurements were made using a GE Discovery STE PET/CT Scanner in 3D mode: (1) A uniform 68Ge 20 cm diameter cylindrical phantom was imaged. Thirty serial frames were acquired for durations of 3, 6, 10, 15, and 30 min. (2) Esser flangeless phantom (Data Spectrum, approximately 6.1 L) with fillable thin-walled cylinders inserts (diameters: 8, 12, 16, and 25 mm; height: approximately 3.8 mm) was scanned for five consecutive 3 min runs. The cylinders were filled with 18FDG with a 37 kBq/cc concentration, and with a target-to-background ratio (T/BKG) of 3/1. (3) Eight cancer patients with healthy livers were scanned approximately 1.5 h post injection. Three sequential 3 min scans were performed for one bed position covering the liver, with the patient and bed remaining at the same position for the entire length of the scan. Volumes of interest were drawn on all images using the corresponding CT and then transferred to the PET images. For each study (1-3), the average percent change in SUV mean and SUV max were determined for each run pair. Moreover, the repeatability coefficient was calculated for both the SUV mean and SUV max for each pair of runs. Finally, the overall ROI repeatability coefficient was determined for each pair of runs. RESULTS: For the 68Ge phantom the average percent change in SUV max and SUV mean decrease as a function of increasing acquisition time from 4.7 +/- 3.1 to 1.1 +/- 0.6%, and from 0.14 +/- 0.09 to 0.04 +/- 0.03%, respectively. Similarly, the coefficients of repeatability also decrease between the 3 and 30 min acquisition scans, in the range of 10.9 +/- 3.9% - 2.6 +/- 0.9%, and 0.3 +/- 0.1% - 0.10 +/- 0.04%, for the SUV max and SUV mean, respectively. The overall ROI repeatability decreased from 18.9 +/- 0.2 to 6.0 +/- 0.1% between the 3 and 30 min acquisition scans. For the l8FDG phantom, the average percent change in SUV max and SUV mean decreases with target diameter from 3.6 +/- 2.0 to 1.5 +/- 0.8% and 1.5 +/- 1.3 to 0.26 +/- 0.15%, respectively, for targets from 8-25 mm in diameter and for a region in the background (BKG). The coefficients of repeatability for SUV max and SUV mean also decrease as a function of target diameter from 7.1 +/- 2.5 to 2.4 +/- 0.9 and 4.2 +/- 1.5 to 0.6 +/- 0.2, respectively, for targets from 8 mm to BKG in diameter. Finally, overall ROI repeatability decreased from 12.0 +/- 4.1 to 13.4 +/- 0.5 targets from 8 mm to BKG in diameter. Finally, for the measurements in healthy livers the average percent change in SUVmax and SUV mean were in the range of 0.5 +/- 0.2% - 6.2 +/- 3.9% and 0.4 +/- 0.1 and 1.6 +/- 1%, respectively. The coefficients of repeatability for SUV max and SUV men are in the range of 0.6 +/- 0.7% - 9.5 +/- 12% and 0.6 +/- 0.7% - 2.9 +/- 3.6%, respectively. The overall target repeatability varied between 27.9 +/- 0.5% and 41.1 +/- 1.0%. CONCLUSIONS: The statistical fluctuations of the SUV mean are half as large as those of the SUV max in the absence of biological or physiological effects. In addition, for clinically applicable scan durations (i.e., approximately 3 min) and FDG concentrations, the SUV max and SUV mean have similar amounts of statistical fluctuation for small regions. However, the statistical fluctuations of the SUVmean rapidly decrease with respect tothe SUVmax as the statistical power of the data grows either due to longer scanning times or as the target regions encompass a larger volume.

Development and validation of circulating tumour cell enumeration (Epic Sciences) as a prognostic biomarker in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic significance of circulating tumour cell (CTC) number determined on the Epic Sciences platform in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) treated with an androgen receptor signalling inhibitor (ARSI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A pre-treatment blood sample was collected from men with progressing mCRPC starting either abiraterone or enzalutamide as a first-, second- or third-line systemic therapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Discovery cohort, N = 171) or as a first- or second-line therapy as part of the multicenter PROPHECY trial (NCT02269982) (Validation cohort, N = 107). The measured CTC number was then associated with overall survival (OS) in the Discovery cohort, and progression-free survival (PFS) and OS in the Validation cohort. CTC enumeration was also performed on a concurrently obtained blood sample using the CellSearch® Circulating Tumor Cell Kit. RESULTS: In the MSKCC Discovery cohort, CTC count was a statistically significant prognostic factor of OS as a dichotomous (<3 CTCs/mL versus ≥ 3 CTCs/mL; hazard ratio [HR] = 1.8 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.3-3.0]) and a continuous variable when adjusting for line of therapy, presence of visceral metastases, prostate-specific antigen, lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase. The findings were validated in an independent datas et from PROPHECY (HR [95% CI] = 1.8 [1.1-3.0] for OS and 1.7 [1.1-2.9] for PFS). A strong correlation was also observed between CTC counts determined in matched samples on the CellSearch® and Epic platforms (r = 0.84). CONCLUSION: The findings validate the prognostic significance of pretreatment CTC number determined on the Epic Sciences platform for predicting OS in men with progressing mCRPC starting an ARSI.

Prospective study of outcomes after percutaneous biliary drainage for malignant biliary obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous biliary drainage (PBD) is used to relieve malignant bile duct obstruction (MBO) when endoscopic drainage is not feasible. Little is known about the effects of PBD on the quality of life (QoL) in patients with MBO. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in QoL and pruritus after PBD and to explore the variables that impact these changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible patients reported their QoL and pruritus before and after PBD using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary instrument (FACT-HS) and the Visual Analog Scale for Pruritus (VASP). Instruments were completed preprocedure and at 1 and 4 weeks following PBD. RESULTS: A total of 109 (60 male/49 female) patients enrolled; 102 (94%) had unresectable disease. PBD was technically successful (hepatic ducts cannulated at the conclusion of procedure) in all patients. There were 2 procedure-related deaths. All-cause mortality was 10% (N = 11) at 4 weeks and 28% (N = 31) at 8 weeks post-PBD with a median survival of 4.74 months. The mean FACT-HS scores declined significantly (P < .01) over time (101.3, 94.8, 94.7 at baseline, 1 week, 4 weeks, respectively). The VASP scores showed significant improvement at 1 week with continued improvement at 4 weeks (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: PBD improves pruritus but not QoL in patients with MBO and advanced malignancy. There is high early mortality in this population.

A prospective prediction tool for understanding Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever dynamics in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to develop a prospective prediction tool on Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) to identify geographic regions at risk. The tool could support public health decision-makers in implementation of an effective control strategy in a timely manner. METHODS: We used monthly surveillance data between 2004 and 2015 to predict case counts between 2016 and 2017 prospectively. The Turkish nationwide surveillance data set collected by the Ministry of Health contained 10 411 confirmed CCHF cases. We collected potential explanatory covariates about climate, land use, and animal and human populations at risk to capture spatiotemporal transmission dynamics. We developed a structured Gaussian process algorithm and prospectively tested this tool predicting the future year's cases given past years' cases. RESULTS: We predicted the annual cases in 2016 and 2017 as 438 and 341, whereas the observed cases were 432 and 343, respectively. Pearson's correlation coefficient and normalized root mean squared error values for 2016 and 2017 predictions were (0.83; 0.58) and (0.87; 0.52), respectively. The most important covariates were found to be the number of settlements with fewer than 25 000 inhabitants, latitude, longitude and potential evapotranspiration (evaporation and transpiration). CONCLUSIONS: Main driving factors of CCHF dynamics were human population at risk in rural areas, geographical dependency and climate effect on ticks. Our model was able to prospectively predict the numbers of CCHF cases. Our proof-of-concept study also provided insight for understanding possible mechanisms of infectious diseases and found important directions for practice and policy to combat against emerging infectious diseases.