Clinical characteristics of sarcoma patients: a population-based data analysis from a German clinical cancer registry.

PURPOSE: Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of malignant neoplasms with a wide range of histological types and occur in almost any anatomic site and side. This study evaluated the prognostic factors in sarcoma patients based on German clinical cancer registry data. METHODS: The German clinical cancer register of Saxony-Anhalt was used for all data analyses. Sarcoma cases of all clinical or pathological T-stages (T1a-T4c), all N-stages (N0-3) and M-stages (0-1b) corresponding to the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stages I to IVB were considered. In our analyses, 787 cases diagnosed between 2005 and 2022 were included. Further, we assessed the association of cancer-related parameters with mortality and hazard ratios (HR) from the Cox proportional hazard models. We included sex, age at diagnosis, histological grade, T-, N- and M-stages, tumor size, tumor localization and tumor side as parameters in our regression models. RESULTS: The majority of sarcoma patients were diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma (12%), liposarcoma (11%), angiosarcoma (5.3%) and myxofibrosarcoma (2.7%). In our univariate regression models, tumors localized in more than one location, head, face and neck region as well as the pelvis and lower extremity were associated with increased mortality risk (more than one location: HR 7.10, 95% CI 2.20-22.9; head, face and neck: HR 1.35, 95% CI 0.89-2.06; pelvis: HR 1.27, 95% CI 0.86-1.89; lower extremity: HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.05-1.96). Higher histological grades, UICC-grades and TNM-stages were related to a higher mortality risk. Differing histological subtypes had significant influence on overall survival and progression-free survival. Patients diagnosed with fibromyxoid sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and angiosarcoma were related to higher mortality risk compared to other histological subtypes (fibromyxoid sarcoma: HR 5.2, 95% CI 0.71-38.1; rhabdomyosarcoma: HR 2.93, 95% CI 1.44-6.00; angiosarcoma: HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.53-2.18). CONCLUSIONS: Histological grade, tumor size, nodal and distant metastasis, tumor localization and histological subtype were determined as prognostic factors in terms of survival.

Anti-GABA-A Receptor Antibody-Mediated Epilepsia Partialis Continua After Treatment With Alemtuzumab: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Patients with anti-GABA-A receptor encephalitis characteristically experience therapy-refractory epileptic seizures. General anesthesia is often required to terminate refractory status epilepticus. The immunologic mechanisms leading to antibody formation remain to be elucidated. Described triggers of anti-GABA-A autoimmunity are tumors, mainly thymomas, and herpes simplex encephalitis. METHODS: We present a young woman with prediagnosis of relapse remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), treated with interferons, natalizumab, and alemtuzumab. Six months after one and only cycle of alemtuzumab, speech arrest and behavioral changes with aggressive and anxious traits appeared. She showed increasing motor convulsions resulting in focal status epilepticus. RESULTS: Anti-GABA-A receptor antibodies in CSF and serum were confirmed in different external laboratories, in a more extensive analysis after antibodies against NMDAR, CASPR2, LGI1, GABABR, and AMPAR were ruled out during in-house examination. Clinical condition improved temporarily with cortisone therapy, plasmapheresis, and IVIG but deteriorated rapidly after steroid discontinuation, resulting in brain biopsy. On histopathologic confirmation consistent with anti-GABA-A receptor antibody-associated CNS inflammation, completing the first rituximab cycle, continuing oral corticosteroids and supplementing immunosuppression with cyclosporine A led to quick recovery. DISCUSSION: Our case describes a severe autoantibody-induced encephalitis in a young patient with MS, with alemtuzumab as a potential trigger for anti-GABA-A receptor encephalitis.

[What does the general and abdominal surgeon need to know about oncologically oriented radiotherapy?] / Was muss der Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurg von der onkologisch ausgerichteten Strahlentherapie wissen?

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy is an integral component of most modern multimodal tumor treatment concepts, both in palliative and curative situations and intentions. This also applies to many tumor entities relevant in general as well as abdominal surgery. This can give rise to new challenges in the context of the daily clinical routine and interdisciplinary tumor conferences. AIM: Practice relevant overview, based on selective references from the current scientific literature in medicine and own experiences obtained in daily work, for the oncological surgeon on radiotherapy-associated options for visceral tumor lesions. A particular focus is on rectal cancer, esophageal cancer, anal cancer and liver metastases. METHOD: A narrative review is given. RESULTS (SELECTED CORNER POINTS): In total neoadjuvant therapy it is possible to avoid resection in rectal cancer if a good response is achieved and close monitoring can be provided. In esophageal cancer neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by resection can be considered the therapeutic regimen of choice for all suitable patients. If surgery is not an option, definitive chemoradiotherapy is an appropriate and favorable alternative, especially with respect to squamous cell carcinoma. Even taking the latest data on the topic into account, definitive chemoradiotherapy remains undisputedly recommended for anal cancer. Liver tumors can be locally ablated by stereotactic radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Close cooperation between disciplines in the context of tumor therapy remains essential for the best possible treatment and outcome of patients.

Mortality after radiotherapy or surgery in the treatment of early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer: a population-based data analysis in the clinical cancer registry of Brandenburg-Berlin.

PURPOSE: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is an established treatment method with favorable toxicity for inoperable early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. This paper aims to evaluate the importance of SBRT in the treatment of early-stage lung cancer patients compared to surgery as standard of care. METHODS: The German clinical cancer register of Berlin-Brandenburg was assessed. Cases of lung cancer were considered if they had a TNM stage (clinical or pathological) of T1-T2a and N0/x and M0/x, corresponding to UICC stages I and II. In our analyses, cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2015 were included. We adjusted our models with propensity score matching. We compared patients treated with SBRT or surgery regarding age, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), sex, histological grade, and TNM classification. Further, we assessed the association of cancer-related parameters with mortality; hazard ratios (HR) from Cox proportional hazards models were computed. RESULTS: A total of 558 patients with UICC stages I and II NSCLC were analyzed. In univariate survival models, we found similar survival rates in patients who underwent radiotherapy compared with surgery (HR 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.92-1.56; p = 0.2). Our univariate subgroup analyses of patients > 75 years showed a statistically nonsignificant survival benefit for patients treated with SBRT (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.54-1.35; p = 0.5). Likewise, in our T1 subanalysis, survival rates were similar between the two treatment groups regarding overall survival (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.57-2.19; p = 0.7). The availability of histological data might be slightly beneficial in terms of survival (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.68-1.15; p = 0.4). This effect was also not significant. Regarding the availability of histological status in our subgroup analyses of elderly patients, we could show similar survival rates as well (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.44-1.23; p = 0.14). T1-staged patients also had a statistically nonsignificant survival benefit if histological grading was available (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.39-1.44; p = 0.4). Concerning adjusted covariates, better KPS scores were associated with better survival in our matched univariate Cox regression models. Further, higher histological grades and TNM stages were related to a higher mortality risk. CONCLUSION: Using population-based data, we observed an almost equal survival of patients treated with SBRT compared to surgery in stage I and II lung cancer. The availability of histological status might not be decisive in treatment planning. SBRT is comparable to surgery in terms of survival.

Obesity and the risk of papillary thyroid cancer: a pooled analysis of three case-control studies.

BACKGROUND: There is a correlation between temporal trends of obesity prevalence and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) incidence in the United States. Obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for many cancers, but there are few studies on the association between obesity and PTC risk. We investigated the association between anthropometric measurements and PTC risk using pooled individual data from three case-control populations. METHODS: Height and weight information were obtained from three independent case-control studies, including 1917 patients with PTC (1360 women and 557 men) and 2127 cancer-free controls from the United States, Italy, and Germany. Body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, and body surface area (BSA) were calculated. An unconditional logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) with respect to risk of PTC, adjusted by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and study site. RESULTS: In the pooled population, for both men and women, an increased risk of PTC was found to be associated with greater weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and BSA, whereas a reduced risk of PTC was associated with greater height, in the pooled population for both men and women. Compared with normal-weight subjects (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), the ORs for overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI≥30 kg/m2) subjects were 1.72 [CI 1.48-2.00] and 4.17 [CI 3.41-5.10] respectively. Compared with the lowest quartile of body fat percentage, the ORs for the highest quartile were 3.83 [CI 2.85-5.15] in women and 4.05 [CI 2.67-6.15] in men. CONCLUSION: Anthropometric factors, especially BMI and body fat percentage, were significantly associated with increased risk of PTC. Future studies of anthropometric factors and PTC that incorporate intermediate factors, including adiposity and hormone biomarkers, are essential to help clarify potential mechanisms of the relationship.

Subcellular distribution of the sodium iodide symporter in benign and malignant thyroid tissues.

BACKGROUND: Membranous expression of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) is a prerequisite for iodide uptake in thyrocytes. Previous studies reported heterogeneous results on the relative frequency of staining in various pathological conditions of the thyroid. The present study aimed at determining membranous staining by using confocal laser microscopy in benign and malignant thyroid diseases, complemented in a subgroup of patients with recurrent or metastatic disease with functional findings of radioiodine uptake (RIU). METHODS: There were 380 malignant thyroid tumors (145 papillary, 51 follicular, 87 Hurthle cell, and 97 undifferentiated thyroid carcinomas [UTC]), 115 benign adenomas, 62 diffuse goiters, 89 inflammatory conditions (Graves', Hashimoto, Thyroiditis deQuervain, and lymphocytic thyroiditis), and 179 normal tissues (NT, fetal, and adult). These were subjected to NIS (two different antibodies) and thyroglobulin (TG) staining and evaluated by confocal microscopy. RESULTS: In a subgroup of 50 samples from patients with recurrent or metastatic disease, NIS staining was correlated with the RIU. As compared with NT, Graves' patients had significantly higher positive NIS membrane staining (>97% vs. 69%) whereas patients with Hashimoto, lymphocytic thyroiditis but also benign adenomas scored lower than NT (56.7% and 55.8% vs. 69%). Depending on their differentiation NIS staining was significantly lower in thyroid carcinomas in parallel with TG staining with only 1/97 UTCs being positive. RIU was more frequently detectable than NIS staining. CONCLUSION: Confocal staining strictly evaluating only membranous expression of NIS has not used on a large scale before this study. We confirm the loss of membranous NIS in benign but more prominently in malignant thyroid tumors. NIS staining of diagnostic tissues cannot be used to predict RIU.