How do glycolytic enzymes favour cancer cell proliferation by nonmetabolic functions?

Cancer cells enhance their glycolysis, producing lactate, even in the presence of oxygen. Glycolysis is a series of ten metabolic reactions catalysed by enzymes whose expression is most often increased in tumour cells. HKII and phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) have mainly an antiapoptotic effect; PGI and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activate survival pathways (Akt and so on); phosphofructokinase 1 and triose phosphate isomerase participate in cell cycle activation; aldolase promotes epithelial mesenchymal transition; PKM2 enhances various nuclear effects such as transcription, stabilisation and so on. This review outlines the multiple non-glycolytic roles of glycolytic enzymes, which are essential for promoting cancer cells' survival, proliferation, chemoresistance and dissemination.

Adrenocortical carcinomas: surgical trends and results of a 253-patient series from the French Association of Endocrine Surgeons study group.

Because of the rarity of adrenocortical carcinoma, survival rates and the prognosis for patients who have undergone operation are not well known. The purpose of the French Association of Endocrine Surgery was to evaluate these factors over an 18-year period. A trend study was associated to assess changes in the clinical and biochemical presentations as well as the surgical evolution. A total of 253 patients (158 women, 95 men) with a mean age of 47 years were included. Cushing syndrome was the main clinical presentation (30%), and hormonal studies revealed secreting tumors in 66% of the cases. Altogether, 72% (n = 182) of patients underwent resection for cure, and 41.5% (n = 105) of them had an extensive resection because of metastatic cancer. A lymphadenectomy was performed in 32.5% (n = 89) of the cases. The operative mortality was 5.5% (n = 14). Patients were given mitotane as adjuvant therapy in 53.8% of the cases (n = 135). The results of staging were stage I in 16 patients (6.3%), stage II (local disease) in 126 patients (49.8%), stage III (locoregional disease) in 57 patients (22.5%), and stage IV (metastases) in 54 patients (21.3%). Neither tumor staging nor the rate of curative surgery changed during the study period. More subcostal incisions were performed, and the use of mitotane increased significantly. The 5-year actuarial survival rates were 38% overall, 50% in the curative group, 66% for stage I, 58% for stage II, 24% for stage III, and 0% for stage IV. Multivariate analysis showed that mitotane benefited only the group of patients not operated on for cure. A better prognosis was found in patients operated on after 1988 (p = 0.04), in those with precursor-secreting tumors (p = 0.005), and in those at local stages of the disease (p = 0.0003). Thus mitotane benefited only patients not operated on for cure. Curative resection, precursor secretion, recent diagnosis, and local stage were favorably associated with survival.

[Adrenocortical tumors with oncocytic cells: benign or malignant?]. / Tumeurs surrénaliennes à cellules oncocytaires: bénignité ou malignité?

Adrenocortical tumor with oncocytic cells are exceptional. They are composed exclusively or almost exclusively of oncocytic cells, which are large cells with eosinophilic granulations, corresponding to numerous mitochondria in electronic microscopic examination. This tumor is usually non-functional and benign, and has to be differentiated from the adrenocortical carcinoma.

Synchronous pulmonary adenocarcinoma and extranodal marginal zone/low-grade B-cell lymphoma of MALT type.

A case of synchronous adenocarcinoma of lung and extranodal marginal zone/low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) is reported. Primary pulmonary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is relatively rare, however, the majority of these lesions are low-grade B-cell lymphomas of MALT. After the stomach, the lung is the second most common location for such latter lesions. Lung adenocarcinoma in selected countries is fast becoming the leading form of non small-cell lung carcinoma. To our knowledge, this synchronous occurrence in the lung has not been previously reported. Such associations have been primarily limited to gastric lesions where an association with Helicobacter pylori infection has been identified. This case report highlights the importance of adjunctive diagnostic investigations such as molecular techniques in conclusive analysis of synchronous cases such as ours.

[Costal chondroma and chondrosarcoma]. / Chondromes et chondrosarcomes costaux.

The aim of this study was to report two cases of chondrosarcoma located on the chest wall, in order to emphasize the difficulty encountered by the pathologist to differentiate a chondrosarcoma from a chondroma and the importance, in our opinion, of performing a large resection with wide margins in all cases.

[Portal vein aneurysm]. / Anévrisme de la veine porte.

In a 72-year-old female patient suffering from non specific and vague abdominal pain, an aneurysm of the portal vein was discovered. In the absence of complication, and because the risk of operation appeared too high, the decision was to abstain from surgery. With more than 3 years of regular follow-up, the patient was free of symptoms, and the portal vein aneurysm was unchanged. Sixty cases including this one are reviewed.

Bronchial stump aspergillosis.

Two cases of bronchial stump aspergillosis were diagnosed 5 and 6 years after pneumonectomy for lung cancer. In each case, the fungal mass was endoscopically removed using standard forceps. A recurrence of the fungal mass persisted until all visible protruding nylon threads in the airway lumen were destroyed with a Nd:YAG laser. Removal of the visible suture is necessary for eliminating the infection. No additional local or systemic antifungal therapy is needed.

Aspergilloma: a series of 89 surgical cases.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for pleuropulmonary aspergilloma is reputed to be risky. We reviewed our results, focusing attention on the postoperative complications. METHODS: During a 20-year period, 87 patients were operated on for pulmonary (86) or pleural (3) aspergillomas. Seventy-two percent of patients were complaining of hemoptysis. Eighty-nine resections were performed because there were two bilateral cases. Seventy percent of aspergillomas had developed in cavitation sequelaes from tuberculosis disease. Thirty-four patients had severe respiratory insufficiency that allowed us to perform only lobectomy (18), segmentectomy (2), or cavernostomy (14). RESULTS: Thirty-seven lobectomies (five with associated segmentectomies), two bilobectomies, 21 segmentectomies, 10 pneumonectomies, and 17 cavernostomies were performed. Total blood loss exceeded 1,500 mL in 14 cases, and 71% of patients required blood transfusion. There were five postoperative deaths (5.7%), related to respiratory failure (2), infectious complication (1), pulmonary embolus (1), and cardiorythmic disorder (1). Incomplete reexpansions were frequently seen in patients undergoing lobectomies or segmentectomies. No death or major complications occurred in asymptomatic patients. During follow-up, none of the patients had recurrent hemoptysis. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection of aspergilloma is effective in preventing recurrence of hemoptysis. It has low risk in asymptomatic patients and in the absence of underlying pulmonary disease. Incomplete reexpansion is frequent after lobectomy and segmentectomy, especially when there is underlying lung disease. Cavernostomy is an effective treatment in high-risk patients. Long-term prognosis is mainly dependent on the general condition of patients.

Unilateral neck exploration under local anesthesia: the approach of choice for asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Conventional parathyroidectomy involves a bilateral neck exploration with the patient under general anesthesia with a thorough search for all parathyroid tissue. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of unilateral neck exploration under local anesthesia in patients with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (first-degree hyperparathyroidism). METHODS: Of 679 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for first-degree hyperparathyroidism from July 1989 to June 1997, 230 asymptomatic patients underwent unilateral neck exploration under local anesthesia. Selection criteria for this approach included the successful identification of a solitary parathyroid adenoma on preoperative imaging, no thyroid disease, and no family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia. Intact parathyroid hormone levels were monitored during the operation. RESULTS: Total serum calcium levels were normal in 220 patients (96%) 3 to 6 months after surgery. Ten patients (4%) experienced persistent hypercalcemia, 8 of whom had multiple gland disease and 2 of whom had false-positive imaging. Two of these patients underwent bilateral neck exploration under general anesthesia and were cured, although 8 patients remained asymptomatic and were followed up non-operatively. The mean operating time was 30 minutes (range, 12-65 minutes). There were two complications (0.87%) including one wound hematoma and one transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral neck exploration under local anesthesia is an efficacious and safe approach to the treatment of first-degree hyperparathyroidism and should be considered in all patients with asymptomatic disease.

Andrews thoracoplasty as a treatment of post-pneumonectomy empyema: experience in 23 cases.

BACKGROUND: Andrew's thoracopleuroplasty has been described for treating tuberculous empyemas with bronchopleural fistulas. We report on its utilization for treating postpneumonectomy empyemas. METHODS: During a 25 year period, 23 patients underwent thoracopleuroplasty for treating postpneumonectomy empyemas, after a period of drainage-irrigation of the cavity. Seven patients presented with persistent bronchial fistula at operation. After resection of the costal arches surrounding the infected cavity, the cavity was cleaned, and the external parietal plane was sutured to the mediastinal plane. Only drainage of the subscapular space was left in place. RESULTS: Postoperative mortality was 4.3%. Postoperative recovery was simple in 17 cases, whereas a superficial abscess was evacuated in 3 cases. The procedure failed in 3 cases, which were treated by open thoracostomy (2), and by reenlargment of the thoracopleuroplasty (1). The sequelae were mainly a diminution of the shoulder mobility, especially when the first rib was resected. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracopleuroplasty may safely treat postpneumonectomy empyemas, even those with bronchial fistulas. Most patients are definitively and rapidly cured with limited sequelae.

Scimitar syndrome with pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas.

Right abnormal pulmonary venous return into the inferior vena cava associated with abnormal fissure, dextrocardia, and systemic arterial supply of a variable degree, are the characteristics of the scimitar syndrome. We report on a patient in whom this rare syndrome was associated with pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas within the involved lung.

Thrombosis of an idiopathic saccular azygos aneurysm.

We report a case of a large saccular idiopathic aneurysm of the azygos vein which was discovered totally thrombosed at operation. To our knowledge, such a case of thrombosis occurring in this exceptional aneurysm location has never been previously reported.

Prognostic factors and results after surgical treatment of primary sarcomas of the lung.

BACKGROUND: Primary sarcoma of the lung is a rare tumor. Our purpose was to study survival after resection and prognostic factors, which have been rarely reported. METHODS: In a 24-year period, we performed 20 complete resections and three exploratory thoracotomies only for primary lung sarcomas. One patient declined operation. Mean diameter of resected tumors was 9 cm (range, 4 to 18 cm). There were eight stage IB, eight stage IIB, one stage IIIA, and three stage IIIB. Sixty percent of patients with resected tumors received adjuvant therapy. Age, sex, resectability, tumor size, histologic cell type, stage, and adjuvant therapy were analyzed as predictors of survival. RESULTS: No postoperative deaths occurred. All 4 patients who had no resection died within 15 months. The 5- and 10-year actuarial survival after complete resection was 48%. The 5- and 10-year actuarial survival in stage IB was 83%, whereas the 4-year actuarial survival in stage IIB was 30% (p < 0.05). Complete resection and stage of disease were the sole significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Complete resection of primary sarcoma of the lung, when feasible, can achieve prolonged survival, although almost half of the patients died of metastasis within 2 years of operation. Adjuvant therapy needs to be investigated.

[A retrospective study of 53 cases of resectable primary bronchopulmonary cancers associated with Pierre Marie syndrome]. / Etude rétrospective de 53 cancers broncho-pulmonaires primitifs résécables associés à un syndrome de Pierre Marie.

The prognosis of primary lung cancer associated with hypertrophic osteopulmonary arthropathy is not well known. Between July 1973 adn August 1995, we cared for 53 consecutive patients with resectable non-small-cell lung cancer associated with osteoplumonary arthropathy. There were 51 men and 2 women, mean age 56 years. In 83% of the cases the lung cancer was revealed by hypertrophic osteopulmonary arthropathy. The tumor generally involved the right lung (n = 38) and the upper lobe (n = 35). There was no peripheral or central predominance. Complete tumoral resection was performed in 47 patients, incomplete resection in 4 and exploratory thoracotomy in 2. The main histologies were adenocarcinoma (50%) and squamous cell carcinoma (40%). Among the 51 resected tumors, 27 were grade I, 5 grade II, 17 grade III and 2 grave IV. Overall 5-year survival was 39%, reaching 51% for grade I, 40% for grade II, 27% for grade III and 0% for grade IV. The pulmonary manifestations of hypertrophic osteopulmonary arthropathy regressed within the first postoperative hours in all the patients whose tumor was resected and in 1 of the 2 patients who underwent exploratory thoracotomy. AT follow-up, the hypertropic pulmonary arthropathy had disappeared in all resected patients except 1 with a grade I tumor. Tumor recurrence was proven in 18 resected patients, 5 of whom also had recurrent osteopulmonary arthropathy. Our results suggest that primary lung cancer associated with hypertrophic pulmonary arthropathy has characteristic features and that prognosis is comparable with primary lung cancer alone.

Desmoid fibromatosis of the shoulder and of the upper chest wall following a clavicular fracture.

A desmoid tumor of the shoulder girdle infiltrating the upper chest wall and weighing 1500 g was almost completely removed in an 18-year-old man, 27 months after a bifocal fracture of the clavicule. Thirteen years later, the patient was free of recurrence. The interval time between trauma and diagnosis, as the particular characteristics of aggressive fibromatosis, strongly support a major causal role of the clavicular fracture in the occurrence of this tumor.

Survival and prognostic factors in patients undergoing parenchymal saving bronchoplastic operation for primary lung cancer: a series of 110 consecutive cases.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to report our experience concerning bronchial sleeve lobectomy for treating bronchogenic cancer. METHOD: From 1980 to 1994, 110 patients underwent bronchial sleeve lobectomy for bronchogenic cancer. In 45 patients, preoperative investigations contraindicated pneumonectomy, whereas in 65 other patients, sleeve resection was performed without functional necessity. The most common procedures were sleeve lobectomy of the right upper lobe (64%), and of the left upper lobe (21%). Sixteen patients (15%) underwent additional arterial vascular resection. Seven patients had microscopic invasion of the bronchial margin without the possibility of further resection in six with regard to their limited respiratory function. Tumors were staged as follow: 32 stage IB (all T2 N0), 57 stage IIB (57T2 N1), and 17 stage IIIA (eight, T3N1; nine, T2N2), whereas four patients had an in situ cancer (four stage 0). RESULTS: Operative mortality was 2.75%. The 5- and 10-year actuarial survival rates were, respectively, 39 and 22% for the entire group. The 5-year actuarial survival rates were, 60% in stage IB, 30% in stage IIB, and 27% in stage IIIA. Four factors significantly influenced survival (P<0.05): nodal stage, arterial resection, invasion of the bronchial stump and poor functional respiratory status contraindicating pneumonectomy. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, sleeve resection for stage I provides comparable survival to that of standard resection at equal stage. However, in patients with pathologically N1 disease, who can tolerate a pneumonectomy, a randomized study is mandatory to confirm that sleeve lobectomy can be performed without the risk of decreasing long-term survival. In our study, patients who required an associated vascular resection demonstrated a poor survival.

[Pleural mesotheliomas. Current knowledge]. / Les mésothéliomes pleuraux. Revue d'actualité.

Pleural mesotheliomas are rare primary tumors of the pleura. Three groups are classified under the term mesothelioma: 1) benign pleural mesothelioma for which complete surgical treatment is curative with a good prognosis; 2) localized malignant mesothelioma which is a fibrosarcoma, best treated by wide en-bloc resection; 3) diffuse malignant mesothelioma which is mainly of epithelial type. The prognosis is poor in spite of all therapeutic approaches using irradiation, chemotherapy and surgery, alone or in combination, and long-term survivals are uncommon. Two surgical approaches are currently available for patients with diffuse mesothelioma: radical extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy/decortication. Rigorous combinations of multimodality therapy are needed to improve local control and survival.

[Pleural fibromas: a review based on 12 cases]. / Les fibromes pleuraux: mise au point à partir de douze observations.

The authors report 12 cases of pleural fibroma, which is a rare benign tumor, usually discovered incidentally. However, these tumors are sometimes associated with a paraneoplastic syndrome, or may lead to compressive symptoms related to their large size. Radical resection is mandatory because recurrence may occur, sometimes several years later with a malignant behavior. Long-term follow-up is therefore necessary to detect any recurrence, particularly when certain prognostic factors are initially present.