Prognostic value of increase in transcript levels of Tp73 DeltaEx2-3 isoforms in low-grade glioma patients.

Glial tumours are a devastating, poorly understood condition carrying a gloomy prognosis for which clinicians sorely lack reliable predictive parameters facilitating a sound treatment strategy. Tp73, a p53 family member, expresses two main classes of isoforms--transactivatory activity (TA)p73 and DeltaTAp73--exhibiting tumour suppressor gene and oncogene properties, respectively. The authors examined their expression status in high- and low-grade adult gliomas. Isoform-specific real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used for the analysis of Tp73 isoform transcript expression in a series of 51 adult patients harbouring glial tumours, in order to compare tumour grades with each other, and with non-tumoural samples obtained from epileptic patients as well. Our data demonstrate increase of TAp73 and DeltaTAp73 transcript levels at onset and early stage of the disease. We also show that DeltaEx2-3 isoform expression in low-grade tumours anticipates clinical and imaging progression to higher grades, and correlates to the patients' survival. Expression levels of P1 promoter generated Tp73 isoforms--and particularly DeltaEx2-3--indeed allow for prediction of the clinical progression of low-grade gliomas in adults. Our data are the first such molecular biology report regarding low-grade tumours and as such should be of help for sound decision-making.

What is new in nuclear medicine imaging?

Modern nuclear medicine tests can be of great help to today's surgical oncologists. The new techniques of positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and the availability of new radiopharmaceuticals for localization of tumors and assessment of organ function provide information vital to the management of oncology patients.

[Pneumoperitoneum related to celioscopy. Prevention of vascular wounds]. / Pneumopéritoine de la coelioscopie. Prévention des plaies vasculaires.

The insertion of the inflation needle during laparoscopic procedures carries the risk of severe vascular damage to the aorto-cava bifurcation. Interindividual anatomic variation is great as shown by magnetic resonance imaging, increasing the risk of vascular damage. Four simple technical precautions are recommended to prevent accidents: insertion at the lower umbilical margin, widen distance between the umbilicus and the greater vessels, a 45 degree insertion angle and strictly medial position.

[Quality of life analysis in patients treated for breast cancers]. / Analyse de la qualité de la vie chez des patientes traitées pour un cancer du sein.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the different quality of life parameters in treated breast cancer patients. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective analysis from 1977 to 1987. STUDY SITE: Bichat, Lariboisière and Tenon Hospitals. PATIENTS: 239 operated patients, with or without irradiation following or before chemotherapy, with or without hormonotherapy. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to age. STUDY PARAMETERS: Essentially, gynaecologic consequences of treatments (flush, menstrual cycles, fertility, vaginal dryness, breast reconstruction), effect of tamoxifen on genital organs and osteopenia. MAIN RESULTS: Tamoxifen acts as an oestrogen both on genital organs and bones. CONCLUSION: The impact of substitutive hormone therapy on quality of life should be evaluated in randomized studies.

[Intraperitoneal chemotherapy for ovarian adenocarcinoma: pharmacokinetics of cisplatin]. / Chimiothérapie intrapéritonéale pour adénocarcinome ovarien: pharmacocinétique du cisplatine.

Chemotherapy using cis dichlorodiamine platinum (CDDP) in doses of 30 and 60 mg/m2 was carried out in 6 patients who had adenocarcinoma of the ovary, that had not been treated before, 15 to 120 minutes before surgery was carried out. The results of doses of platin given on the blood levels are demonstrated. A slight and progressive increase in the plasma levels of CDDP with peaks between 0.6 and 1.95 of total platinum and 0.22 mcg/ml of free platin were found. The tissue levels in the region of the ovaries were found to be between 0.16 and 0.94 mcg/mg. There was a stepwise increase in the levels found in the pathological peritoneal cover of between 0.42 and 31.2 mcg/mg. This dropped as time went by; and then led to change in accordance with the intra-peritoneal concentrations. This study shows that it is possible when giving drugs intraperitoneally to avoid high plasma peaks and to obtain good levels of concentration of cisplatin in the peritoneum.

[Von Recklinghausen's disease and pregnancy]. / Maladie de Recklinghausen et grossesse.

On the basis of six cases and a review of the literature, the authors identify the special features associated with the combination of von Recklinghausen's disease and pregnancy. Fertility is unaffected and pregnancy possible. Careful monitoring is required because of severe complications. In certain probably minor forms of the disease, the outcome of pregnancy is favourable with no complications.

[Paradoxical effects of tamoxifen on the woman's uterus. Apropos of 7 cases of myoma that appeared while under anti-estrogen treatment]. / Effets paradoxaux du tamoxifène sur l'utérus de la femme. A propos de sept cas de myomes apparus sous traitement anti-estrogénique.

This study concerns the effects of anti-oestrogens which from now on are an integral part of back-up treatment for cancer of the breast. Seven cases where fibroids led to the need for laparotomy occurred in menopausal women who had been treated with tamoxifen. This has led us to discuss the paradoxical effect of this molecule, which is said to be anti-oestrogenic. This ambivalence is confirmed by studying the literature. These cases raise two questions which we try to answer: 1. Is the action of tamoxifen really anti-oestrogenic? 2. What management should be carried out to lessen the likelihood of tamoxifen treatment leading to laparotomy?