Role of NADPH oxidases in inducing a selective increase of oxidant stress and cyclin D1 and checkpoint 1 over-expression during progression to human gastric adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is one of the main causes of global mortality. Here, reactive oxygen species (ROS) could largely contribute to gastric carcinogenesis. Hence, the present work was aimed to assess the role of ROS, oxidant status, NADPH oxidases (NOXs) expression, during human gastric adenocarcinoma. METHODS: We obtained subcellular fraction from samples of gastric mucosa taken from control subjects (n = 20), and from 40 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, as well as samples of distant areas (tumour-free gastric mucosa). RESULTS: Parameters indicative of lipid peroxidation and cell proliferation were selectively increased in both tumour-free and in cancerous gastric mucosa, despite of glutathione (GSH) content, glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were increased in the adenocarcinoma. These high levels of antioxidant defences inversely correlated with down-regulated expression for NOX2 and 4; however, over-expression of NOX1 occurred with increased caspase-3 activity and overexpressed checkpoint 1 (MDC1) and cyclin D1 proteins. In the tumour-free mucosa an oxidant stress took place, without changing total GSH but with decreased activities for GR and mitochondrial SOD; moreover, over-expression of checkpoint 1 (MDC1) correlated with lower NOX2 and 4 expression in this mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: Chronically injured gastric mucosa increases lipoperoxidative events and cell proliferation. In the adenocarcinoma, cell proliferation was further enhanced, oxidant stress decreased which seemed to be linked to NOX1, MDC1 and cyclin D1 over-expression, but with a lower NOXs activity leading a 'low tone' of ROS formation. Therefore, our results could be useful for early detection and treatment of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Intensive care unit admission after cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Is it necessary?

Introduction. Cytoreductive surgery (CS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a new approach for peritoneal carcinomatosis. However, high rates of complications are associated with CS and HIPEC due to treatment complexity; that is why some patients need stabilization and surveillance for complications in the intensive care unit. Objective. This study analyzed that ICU stay is necessary after HIPEC. Methods. 39 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis were treated according to strict selection criteria with CS and HIPEC, with closed technique, and the chemotherapy administered were cisplatin 25 mg/m(2)/L and mitomycin C 3.3 mg/m(2)/L for 90-minutes at 40.5°C. Results. 26 (67%) of the 39 patients were transferred to the ICU. Major postoperative complications were seen in 14/26 patients (53%). The mean time on surgical procedures was 7.06 hours (range 5-9 hours). The mean blood loss was 939 ml (range 100-3700 ml). The mean time stay in the ICU was 2.7 days. Conclusion. CS with HIPEC for the treatment of PC results in low mortality and high morbidity. Therefore, ICU stay directly following HIPEC should not be standardized, but should preferably be based on the extent or resections performed and individual patient characteristics and risk factors. Late complications were comparable to those reported after large abdominal surgery without HIPEC.

Pelvic exenteration for colorectal cancer: oncologic outcome in 59 patients at a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic exenteration (PE) continues to be the only curative option in selected patients with advanced or recurrent pelvic neoplasms. A current debate exists concerning the appropriate selection of patients for PE, with the most important factor being the absence of extrapelvic disease. AIM: To evaluate the outcome of patients submitted to exenterative surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A review of the clinical charts of patients with colorectal cancer who underwent PE between January 1994 and June 2010 at the Institute National of Cancerología in Mexico City was performed. RESULTS: We selected 59 patients, 53 of whom were females (90%), and six of whom were males (10%). Mean age at the time of diagnosis was 50 years (range, 21-77 years). A total of 51 patients underwent posterior PE (86%), and eight patients underwent total PE (14%). Operative mortality occurred in two cases (3%), and 29 patients developed complications (49%). Overall, 11 patients (19%) experienced local failure with mean disease-free survival time of 10.2 months. After a mean follow-up of 28.3 months, nine patients are still alive without evidence of the disease (15%). CONCLUSIONS: PE should be considered in advanced colorectal cancer without extrapelvic metastatic disease. PE is accompanied by considerable morbidity (49%) and mortality (3%), but local control is desirable. Overall survival justifies the use of this procedure in patients with primary or recurrent locally advanced rectal cancer.

Hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis C in Mexico.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has increased in many countries as a result of an increased frequency of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In Mexico, the association of HCC to HCV infection has not been evaluated. This study aims to evaluate the epidemiological factors related to HCC in Mexican patients as well as the results of treatment. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective review of clinical files of patients with HCC diagnosed between May 1992 to July 2002 was performed. RESULTS: There were 63 males and 64 females with a median age of 57 years (range 17-82). Seventy-one patients were evaluated for hepatitis status. In 43 (60%) HCV was the etiological factor. Isolated HCV infection was present in 32 (45%), HCV infection and ethanol abuse was observed in 11 (15.5%). In six (8.4%) patients hepatitis B was the etiological factor. HCV and HBV infection were found in 9 (12.6%). HCV and HBV infection associated to ethanol abuse was present in one patient. Ethanol abuse alone was observed in six (8.4%) patients. The median size of the lesion was 8cm (range 3-20cm). Alpha-fetoprotein was measured in 113 patients and was higher than 500ng/dL in 60 (53%). Sixty-five patients received supportive measures. Sixty-two were treated. Eighteen were resected. Thirteen were treated with intraoperative large volume ethanol injection (ILVEI), 12 with chemotherapy and 19 with tamoxifen-talidomide. Patients without treatment had a median survival time of 11 months and patients who received treatment had a median survival time of 25.3 months. The median survival time in patients who received surgery was 26 months, the ILVEI group survival time was 18 months, the chemotherapy survival was 8.8 months, and the tamoxifen-talidomide survival time was 7 months. CONCLUSIONS: HCC is a rare neoplasm in Mexico and HCV infection is the main etiological factor. Surgical resection is the best form of treatment of HCC in our country. However, only 14% of the patients were candidates. For non-resectable lesions, ILVEI offers the best palliative results in our center.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in the youth. A comparative analysis with hepatocellular carcinoma in adulthood.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very rare disease among young individuals. Epidemiological, clinical and histopathological features of this malignancy in the youth have not been thoroughly studied. METHODOLOGY: A review of the clinical files of patients with HCC younger than 40 years of age, who were treated between May 1990 and July 2002, was performed. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were included for analysis; nine were female and eight male. The mean age at diagnosis was 24 years (range 12-39 years). Abdominal pain was the main symptom, followed by vomiting and nausea. Enlargement of the liver was observed in 11 patients (65%). In seven patients (41%), an etiological factor was not found. Five of these cases were of the fibrolamellar variant (29%). Only four patients were resected (23%) two of which belonged to the fibrolamellar type. Three patients (18%) are still alive after 64.9 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: HCC is a very uncommon disease in the youth and affects similarly both genders. It is discovered at an advanced stage. Hepatitis B and C are uncommon etiological factors. The frequency of fibrolamellar carcinoma is higher in this age group. Though resection is more feasible, the overall survival rates remain low.

The beta form of the estrogen receptor is predominantly expressed in the papillary cystic neoplasm of the pancreas.

INTRODUCTION: Papillary cystic neoplasm (PCN) of the pancreas is a low-malignancy tumor affecting predominantly young females. Sex steroid hormones have been involved in its development and/or growth. Estrogen receptor (ER) has been scarcely found in this tumor, although there is some evidence suggesting expression of the beta-isoform. Unlike ER, progesterone receptor (PR) expression has been consistently observed. Immunohistochemical analysis of the two isoforms of ER has not been performed in this tumor. AIM: To characterize expression of ER isoforms with an immunohistochemical method. METHODOLOGY: Expression of ER-alpha, ER-beta, and PR was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using isoform-specific ER and PR antibodies in paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from seven cases of PCN of the pancreas. RESULTS: Most patients were young females. ER-alpha and ER-beta were present in two and six tumors, respectively. PR was identified in six tumors. CONCLUSIONS: ER-beta expression predominates over the alpha-isoform in PCN of the pancreas. This finding supports the idea that previous negative results on ER expression were a consequence of the use of antibodies with no anti-beta activity. The role of ER-beta in the milieu of factors promoting the development and aggressiveness of PCN needs to be elucidated to address novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

[Arterial hypertension as clinical manifestation of non-parasitic hepatic cyst. A case report]. / Hipertensión arterial como manifestación clínica de quiste no parasitario de hígado. Reporte de un caso.

We present the case of a 32-year-old female patient referred to the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan) with a history of several months of systemic hypertension and epigastric pain associated to early postprandial satiety, fatigue, and dyspnea. At physical examination, a smooth, non-tender, palpable mass was found in right upper quadrant 7 cm below costal margin. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed right-sided non-parasitic liver cyst. The patient was taken to the operating room, where she presented hypertensive crisis of 180/125 mm Hg, which did not respond to midazolam therapy. The procedure was suspended and deferred. After blood pressure control with angiotensin II-antagonist and calcium-antagonist, the patient was submitted to laparotomy, where a wide deroofing of the lesion was performed. The postoperative evolution was uneventful and the patient has remained normotense without anti-hypertensive medication after 6 months of follow-up.

[Hepatocellular carcinoma in youth: a comparative analysis with hepatocarcinoma in adults]. / Carcinoma hepatocelular en jóvenes: un análisis comparativo con hepatocarcinoma en adultos.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very rare disease among young individuals. Epidemiological, clinical, and histopathological features of this malignancy in youth have not been thoroughly studied. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A review of clinical files of patients with HCC < 40 years of age treated between May 1990 and July 2002 was performed. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were included for analysis, nine were female and eight, male. Mean age at diagnosis was 24 years (range 12-39 years). Abdominal pain was the main symptom, followed by vomiting and nausea. Enlargement of liver was observed in 11 patients (65%). In seven patients (41%), etiologic factor was not found. Five of these cases were of fibrolamellar variant (29%). Only four patients were resected (23%) two of whom belonged to fibrolamellar type. Three patients (18%) are still alive after 64.9 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: HCC is a very uncommon disease in youth and affects similarly both genders. It is discovered at advanced stage. Hepatitis B and C are uncommon etiologic factors. Frequency of fibrolamellar carcinoma is higher in this age group. Although resection is more feasible, overall survival rates remain low.

La colecistectomía por laparoscopia en un centro oncológico: un análisis comparativo / Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in an oncologic center; a comparative study

Objetivo: Analizar comparativamente los resultados de la colecistectomía abierta (CA) y la colecistectomía laparoscópica (CL) en pacientes con cáncer. Diseño: Estudio de casos y controles. Lugar: Un centro oncológico de referencia en México D.F. Pacientes: Sujetos tratados por cáncer y con indicación para colecistectomía en un periodo de 60 meses. Para efectos de comparación se dividieron en dos grupos. El grupo CA con pacientes sometidos a CA durante los primeros 30 meses del estudio y el grupo CL con pacientes sometidos a CL los últimos 30 meses. Resultados: El grupo CL de 55 pacientes presentó significativamante menos complicaciones, mortalidad y estancia hospitalaria en comparación al grupo CA de 50 pacientes. La frecuencia de conversiones en el grupo CL fue de 14 por ciento. Esta frecuencia de conversiones fue mayor en el subgrupo de pacientes con antecedente de cirugía previa en el abdomen superior. No hubo diferencia en morbimortalidad en pacientes con antecedentes de cirugía previa en abdomen superior o de diabetes mellitus (DM). El antecedente de cirrosis hepática (CH) condicionó mayor morbimortalidad en el grupo CA. Conclusiones: En nuestro medio la CL puede realizarse con seguridad en pacientes con historia de cáncer, laparotomía o radioterapia (RT) abdominal y debe considerarse el tratamiento de elección para litiasis vesical sintomática. Debe considerarse también como tratamiento de elección en pacientes con DM o con CH. Cuando se presenta antecedente de cirugía en abdomen superior se recomienda la inserción del primer trocar bajo visión directa de la cavidad peritoneal. En este subgrupo la frecuencia de conversiones es alta