Correlation of survival length after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic head adenocarcinoma depending on tumor characteristics detected by means of computed tomography and resection margins status.

Pancreatic carcinoma is an aggressive tumor with a grim prognosis. Accurate staging is essential for indicating surgery in patients with borderline resectable tumors. This paper examines the correlation between pre-operation characteristics of tumors found on CT, infiltration of individual resection margins as confirmed by a pathologist, and the survival of patients with resectable pancreatic head ductal adenocarcinoma. This prospective cohort study involved patients operated on for pancreatic head adenocarcinoma, which was clearly resectable based on the staging CT and intraoperative observation between 2011-2014. Only patients without postoperative complications who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed. Seventy-nine patients were assessed, of which 16 (20.3%) had R0 resection and 63 (79.7%) had R1 resection. Patients with R1 results had up to 2.7 times higher risk of death than patients with R0 resection. We found a trend towards shorter survival associated with a closer relationship of the tumor to the superior mesenteric vein/portal vein (SMV/PV) wall in the pre-operation CT examination. Patients with a tumor interface between the vein wall of up to 180 ° circumference had up to 1.97 times higher risk of death than patients without (p=0.131). The results of our work confirmed that in our center, even surgically treated, clearly resectable pancreatic head tumors still have a high occurrence of positive surgical margins (R1 resection) and that tumors with R1 resection had statistically significantly reduced survival compared to R0 resection. A trend for shorter overall survival was found after tumor resection depending on the increasing interface between the tumor and the SMV/PV wall, but this result was not statistically significant.

Radiofrequency ablation in pancreatic cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical study evaluating the impact of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation in pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Patients with histologically proved pancreatic cancer were included. Two groups were defined. In the RFA group (n=24) intraoperative RFA of the pancreatic tumour was performed. In the control group (n=24) only the bypass procedure was indicated (gastroenteric and hepaticojejunal anastomosis). No patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Three-month morbidity and mortality, overall survival, quality of life, pain relief and radiological response were studied. RESULTS: Overall three-month morbidity and mortality were 41.7% and 8.3%, respectively. RFA related morbidity and mortality reached 16.6% and 8.3%, respectively. The overall median survival time was 9.9 and 8.3 months in the RFA group and in the control group, respectively. The survival difference was not of statistical significance (p=0.758). QoL improvement after RFA was not proved. There was no statistically significant analgesic effect of RFA. Postoperative CT scan assessed as per RECIST criteria displayed progressive disease, stable disease, partial response and complete response in 41.6%, 45.8%, 8.3% and 0% cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative RFA of locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer is a feasible palliative method. A survival benefit of this method remains doubtful, even though some positive results have been achieved in patients with localized, well-differentiated tumours. Although RFA was not associated with any impairment of the quality of life, no convincing evidence of a positive impact thereof on QoL was shown, either, during the three-month postoperative period. Pain relief was not achieved during the first 3 months after RFA.

Tumor grade as significant prognostic factor in pancreatic cancer: validation of a novel TNMG staging system.

Aim of the study was to asses the tumor grade prognostic value in the Czech pancreatic cancer patients and to evaluate the accuracy of TNMG prognostic model. Retrospective analysis of 431 pancreatic cancer patients undergoing pancreatic resection in seven Czech oncological centers between 2003 and 2013 was performed. The impact of tumor grade and the accuracy of TNMG prognostic model were evaluated. Lymph node status, tumor size, tumor stage and grade were proved as statistically significant survival predictors. The lower tumor differentiation (grade 3 and 4) was associated with poorer prognosis in all stages (stage I: HR 2.23 [1.14; 4.36, CI 95%] p=0.019, stage II: HR 3.09 [2.01; 4.77, CI 95%] p=0.001, stage III and IV: HR 3.52 [1.73; 7.18, CI 95%] p=0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis verified statistically significant impact of new TNMG stages on survival after resection for pancreatic cancer (p=0.001). In conclusion, we can state that the tumor grade was confirmed as statistically significant prognostic factor in pancreatic cancer. Its incorporation into the current TNM classification enables more accurate prognosis prediction within particular clinical stages. That is why an inclusion of the grade to the standard TNM classification should be discussed.

Rocuronium versus suxamethonium for rapid sequence induction of general anaesthesia for caesarean section: influence on neonatal outcomes.

BACKGROUND: In a previous study we compared rocuronium and suxamethonium for rapid-sequence induction of general anaesthesia for caesarean section and found no difference in maternal outcome. There was however, a significant difference in Apgar scores. As this was a secondary outcome, we extended the study to explore this finding on a larger sample. METHODS: We included 488 parturients of whom 240 were women from the original study. Women were randomly assigned to receive either rocuronium 1mg/kg (ROC n=245) or suxamethonium 1mg/kg (SUX n=243) after propofol 2mg/kg. Anaesthesia was maintained with up to 50% nitrous oxide and up to one minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane until the umbilical cord was clamped. We compared neonatal outcome using Apgar scores and umbilical cord blood gases. RESULTS: Data were analysed for 525 newborns (ROC n=263vs. SUX n=262). There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of Apgar scores <7 at 1min (ROC 17.5% vs. SUX 10.3%, P=0.023) but no difference at 5min (ROC 8% vs. SUX 4.2%, P=0.1) or 10min (ROC 3.0% vs. SUX 1.9%, P=0.58). There was no difference between groups in other measured outcomes. CONCLUSION: The use of rocuronium was associated with lower Apgar scores at 1min compared with suxamethonium. The clinical significance of this is unclear and warrants further investigation.

[Does an Independent Predictor of In-Hospital Mortality Exist for Patients with Isolated Proximal Femoral Fracture? A Retrospective Two-Year Observational Study]. / Existuje nezávislý prediktor nemocnicní smrtnosti pacientu s izolovanou frakturou proximálního konce femuru? Retrospektivní dvouletá observacní studie.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The primary objective of the study was to find out in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing surgery for proximal femoral fracture. The secondary objective was to identify independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective single-centre observational study PROXIMORT of patients operated on for isolated proximal femoral fracture at the University Hospital (FN) Brno in the years 2011 and 2012. The 30-day and overall one-year mortality in the study group and the impact of observed parameters on mortality were also assessed. The observed parameters were: patient age and sex, ASA score, time from injury to surgery (hr), daily (7-20 hr) or night (20-7 hr) time of surgery, type of anaesthesia (general vs spinal), initial haemoglobin and haematocrit levels, intra-operative administration of blood products and vasopressors, and erudition of the anaesthesiologist and surgeon. To evaluate the relationship of in-hospital mortality to the observed characteristics, we used univariate logistic regression modelling and odds ratio, using SPSS 22 software (IBM, USA). RESULTS: Data were obtained from 414 patients and 369 patients were included (male, n = 91; female, n = 278). Due to exclusion criteria, 45 patients were excluded (not an isolated injury). In-hospital mortality was 6.5% (n = 24), 30-day mortality was 8.4% (n = 31) and total mortality of the study group was 35.8% (n = 132). Statistically significant effects on in-hospital mortality included: older age of the patient (p = 0.013), ASA score of 3 or more (p = 0.002) and general anaesthesia administration (p = 0.043). For 30-day mortality, this was older age (p = 0.012), ASA score of 3 and more (p < 0.001), general anaesthesia administration (p < 0.001), lower weight (p = 0.028), lower BMI (p = 0.006) and intra-operative administration of vasopressors (p = 0.023). The influence of other observed parameters on post-operative mortality was not statistically significant. DISCUSSION: In-hospital mortality in the PROXIMORT study was 6.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.2 to 9.5%), which was significantly higher than in-hospital mortality in unselected surgically treated patients in the Czech Republic, as reported in the EuSOS study (2.3% with 95% CI 0.9 to 3.7%). Administration of general anaesthesia was determined as an independent predictor of in-hospital and 30-day mortality, which was concordant with the results of meta-analysis published by Rodgers et al. and Barbosa et al in 2013. Postponing surgery for perioperative optimisation had no effect on mortality according to the PROXIMORT study. Patorn et al. have supported this conclusion by the results of a selected group of patients with surgery delayed for more than 24 hours; the patients mortality, regardless of anaesthesia, was up to 2.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The PROXIMORT study identified the higher patient age, ASA score of 3 and more and general anaesthesia administration as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.

Estimating cancer incidence, prevalence, and the number of cancer patients treated with antitumor therapy in 2015 and 2020 -  analysis of the Czech National Cancer Registry.

BACKGROUND: Cancer burden in the Czech population ranks among the highest worldwide, which introduces a strong need for a prospective modelling of cancer incidence and prevalence rates. Moreover, a prediction of number of cancer patients requiring active antitumor therapy is also an important issue. This paper presents the stage-specific predictions of cancer incidence and prevalence, and the stage- and region-specific patients requiring active antitumor therapy for the most common cancer diagnoses in the Czech Republic for years 2015 and 2020. The stage-specific estimates are also presented with regard to the treatment phase as newly diagnosed patients, patients treated for non-terminal recurrence, and patients treated for terminal recurrence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of the Czech National Cancer Registry from 1977 to 2011 has been used for the analysis, omitting the records of patients diagnosed as death certificate only or at autopsy. In total, 1,777,775 incidences have been considered for the estimation using a statistical model utilizing solely the population-based cancer registry data. All estimates have been calculated with respect to the changing demographic structure of the Czech population and the clinical stage at diagnosis. RESULTS: Considering year 2011 as the baseline, we predict 89%, 15%, 31% and 32% increase in prostate, colorectal, female breast and lung cancer incidence, respectively, in 2020 resulting in 13,153, 9,368, 8,695, and 8,604 newly dia-g--nosed cancer patients in that year, respectively. Regarding cancer prevalence in 2020, the estimated increase is 140%, 40%, 51%, and 17% for prostate, colorectal, female breast and lung cancer, respectively, meaning that more than 100,000 prevalent female breast cancer patients as well as more than 100,000 prevalent prostate cancer patients are expected in the Czech Republic. The estimated numbers of patients requiring active antitumor therapy for prostate, colorectal, female breast and lung cancer in the Czech Republic in 2020 are 23,652, 14,006, 14,759 and 8,272; respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis documents a serious increase in cancer incidence and prevalence in the Czech Republic in years 2015 and 2020 when compared to the situation in 2011. Regarding the estimated numbers of patients requiring active antitumor therapy, the model confirms a continuous increase that must be accounted for in the future planning of health care in the Czech Republic.

Prognostic factors in renal cell carcinoma patients treated with sorafenib: results from the Czech registry.

The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of a large cohort of patients treated with sorafenib in clinical practice and to identify predictive factors associated with prognosis. Patient data were obtained from the national Czech registry (RenIS). Data of virtually all Czech patients receiving targeted therapies are entered into this non-interventional post-registration database. Demographics and clinical data, as well as all treatment sequences and clinical outcomes, are reported in this registry. A total of 836 patients treated with sorafenib before March 2013 were included in the analysis. Median age was 63 years and 70% were men. Most patients had received prior treatment with cytokines, sunitinib or both. Sorafenib was the first-line treatment in 15% of patients. Median overall survival and progression-free survival were 21.7 months and 7.5 months, respectively. Median overall survival and progression-free survival was 26.3 and 8.3 months, respectively, in patients receiving sorafenib as first-line therapy. Cox proportional models identified several parameters associated with poor outcome including time ≤1 year from diagnosis to first-line systemic treatment, performance status ≥2, low hemoglobin, and LDH >1.5 times the upper limit of normal. Our data demonstrate that the outcomes of real-life patients are comparable to those enrolled in clinical trials. Prognostic factors identified in the present study were consistent with previously reported models.

Cancer incidence and mortality in the Czech Republic.

BACKGROUND: The Czech Republic ranks among the countries with the highest cancer burden in Europe as well as worldwide. The purpose of this study is to summarize longterm trends in the cancer burden and to provide up-to-date estimates of incidence and mortality rates after 2011. DATA AND METHODS: The Czech National Cancer Registry (CNCR) was instituted in 1977 and contains information collected over a 34-year period of standardized registration covering 100% of cancer diagnoses within the entire Czech population. The CNCR analysis is supported by demographic data and by the Death Records Database. An overview of the epidemiology of malignant tumors in the Czech population is available online at www.svod.cz. RESULTS: All neoplasms, including nonmelanoma skin cancer, reached a crude incidence rate of almost 802 cases per 100,000 men and 681 cases per 100,000 women in 2011. The annual mortality rate exceeded 258 deaths per 100,000 individuals; in other words, more than 27,000 individuals die of cancer each year. The overall incidence of malignancies has increased with a growth index of +27.6% during the last decade (2001- 2011), while the mortality rate has been stabilized over the time span (growth index in 2001- 2011: - 5.0%). Consequently, the prevalence has significantly increased in the observed period and exceeded 475,000 cases in 2011. In addition to demographic aging of the Czech population, the cancer burden has also increased due to the growing incidence of multiple primary tumors (recently more than 15% of the total incidence). The most frequent diagnoses include colorectal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. Although some neoplasms are increasingly diagnosed at an early stage (e. g. the proportion of stage I or II was 75.3% for female breast cancer and 84.2% for skin melanoma), the numbers of early diagnosed cases are generally insufficient, even in the case of highly prevalent cancers such as colorectal carcinoma (only 46.1% of incident cases are diagnosed at stage I or II, according to recent data). CONCLUSION: Population-based data on malignant tumors are available in the Czech Republic. The data survey can help us define national cancer management priorities. The current priority is to achieve a sustained reduction of cases diagnosed at an advanced stage and reduction of the significant regional differences in diagnostic efficiency.

[Objective need for cancer prevention in the Czech Republic and Europe, and the state thereof]. / Objektivní potreba a stav nádorové prevence v Ceské republice a v Evrope

There is no doubt today of the need for cancer prevention. The growing incidence of cancer itself provides a sufficient justification for prevention programmes. A review of literature presented in this paper also documents the strong background of evidence-based cancer prevention programmes. The article also provides a critical analysis of the current status of primary cancer prevention and cancer screening in the Czech Republic in contrast with available international comparisons. Relevant international data have been obtained from the regularly repeated "Health at a Glance" studies (published by the OECD). Although the Czech Republic is one of the countries with the highest cancer burden in Europe, it has failed to develop and support a cancer prevention policy on a central level, and this also applies to smoking prevention. The Czech population needs an effective national strategy for the support of cancer prevention, as well as a strategy which would ensure equitable cancer care in terms of both quality and correct indication; a strategy which would be sustainable for at least 10 to 15 years to come.Key words: oncology - screening - risk factor - prevention - population burden This study was supported by the project 36/14//NAP "Development and implementation of methodology for the evaluation of effectiveness of personalised invitations of citizens to cancer screening programmes" as part of the pro-gram-me of the Czech Ministry of Health "National action plans and conceptions". The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE "uniform requirements" for biomedical papers.

[Epidemiology of screening-targeted cancers according to new data of the Czech National Cancer Registry]. / Epidemiologie zhoubných nádoru cílených screeningem dle nových dat Národního onkologického registru Ceské republiky.

The Czech Society for Oncology has developed an information system which combines the population-based Czech National Cancer Registry with clinical databases in order to cover the main areas of health care assessment - monitoring of the population burden, prediction of the number of cancer patients, diagnostic and treatment results. The presented data demonstrate a high cancer burden within the Czech population - each year there are approximately 8,000 new cases of colorectal cancer, 6,500 new cases of breast cancer, and 1,000 new cases of cervical cancer. And each year, about 4,000 people die from colorectal cancer, around 2,000 women die from breast cancer, and approximately 400 women die from cervical cancer in the Czech Republic. Population-based screening programmes focus on all of the above-mentioned groups of malignant tumours; therefore, it is essential to monitor epidemiological trends in order to assess the screening impact. Despite the high incidence rates of all three cancer types, the trend in mortality rates has been stable or has even decreased in the long term, which has inevitably led to a significant increase in the total prevalence of cancer patients. In 2011, the prevalence of colorectal cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer amounted to 51,064 people, 67,261 women and 17,398 women, respectively. When compared with the year 2001, there was a 59%, 69% and 25% increase in the prevalence of colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer, respectively. Undoubtedly, taking care of high numbers of cancer patients will continue to require significant financial resources in the near future. As the epidemiological burden is still on the increase, preventive programmes need to be further promoted, including secondary prevention, which is provided through organised screening programmes. Although effective methods exist for timely diagnosis of all three of the above-mentioned cancer types, the epidemiological situation in the Czech Republic is being steadily worsened by a relatively high proportion of primary cancers being diagnosed too late. Each year, more than 50% of new colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed in clinical stage III or higher; in cervical cancer, this proportion is nearly 35%. By contrast, the well-promoted breast cancer screening programme has led to more than 75% of new cases of breast cancer being diagnosed in stages I or II, when the chance of successful treatment is significantly higher.

[Cost analysis of radiotherapy provided in inpatient setting -  testing potential predictors for a new prospective payment system]. / Analýza nákladu na radioterapii v luzkové péci - hledání vhodných prediktoru pro potreby nového prospektivního úhradového modelu.

BACKGROUND: As a part of the development of a new prospective payment model for radiotherapy we analyzed data on costs of care provided by three comprehensive cancer centers in the Czech Republic. Our aim was to find a combination of variables (predictors) which could be used to sort hospitalization cases into groups according to their costs, with each group having the same reimbursement rate. We tested four variables as possible predictors -  number of fractions, stage of disease, radiotherapy technique and diagnostic group. METHODS: We analyzed 7,440 hospitalization cases treated in three comprehensive cancer centers from 2007 to 2011. We acquired data from the I COP database developed by Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses of Masaryk University in cooperation with oncology centers that contains records from the National Oncological Registry along with data supplied by healthcare providers to insurance companies for the purpose of retrospective reimbursement. RESULTS: When comparing the four variables mentioned above we found that number of fractions and radiotherapy technique were much stronger predictors than the other two variables. Stage of disease did not prove to be a relevant indicator of cost distinction. There were significant differences in costs among diagnostic groups but these were mostly driven by the technique of radiotherapy and the number of fractions. Within the diagnostic groups, the distribution of costs was too heterogeneous for the purpose of the new payment model. CONCLUSION: The combination of number of fractions and radiotherapy technique appears to be the most appropriate cost predictors to be involved in the prospective payment model proposal. Further analysis is planned to test the predictive value of intention of radiotherapy in order to determine differences in costs between palliative and curative treatment.

[On the importance of standardization in the assessment of population-based cancer patient survival in the Czech Republic -  methodology and results from the Czech National Cancer Registry]. / Význam standardizace v hodnocení populacního prezití onkologických pacientu v CR -  metodický koncept a výsledky analýzy dat Národního onkologického registru.

BACKGROUND: Calculating 5-year overall and relative survival is the standard method for population-based analyses in oncology. Survival rates based on population data do not, however, guarantee standardized benchmarks for comparison of different patient populations, which is especially true when compared populations differ considerably in age structure and representation of clinical stages. In this paper, we present and compare statistical methods for standardization of cancer survival rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using data of the Czech National Cancer Registry, we estimated 5-year overall and relative survival estimates for periods 2001- 2005 and 2006- 2010. To demonstrate the effect of standardization, we calculated crude and age -standardized survival rates as well as survival rates standardized for both age and clinical stage. RESULTS: Our results show that the particular standardization method influences resulting 5-year overall and relative survival rates regarding both within and between time periods comparisons. In addition, our results document a recent improvement in 5-year relative survival between periods 2001- 2005 and 2006- 2010 for 19 of 20 evaluated diagnoses. All most prevalent cancers including prostate, lung, colorectal, breast, kidney, and uterine cancer and melanoma were observed among the diagnoses with statistically significantly improved patient survival. CONCLUSION: Unless the use of standardization to the age and stage of tumor is limited due to a small number of patients in individual age-  and stage- specific subgroups, this method can be considered as a proper statistical methodology for the population assessment of Czech cancer patient survival rates.

[Standardization of pancreatic cancer specimen pathological examination]. / Standardizace patologického vysetrení resekátu pankreatu.

INTRODUCTION: The frequency of R1 resections for pancreatic cancer in studies where a non-standardized protocol of pathological evaluation of the specimen is used varies from 17 to 30%. The aim of our study is to apply the standardized (so-called Leeds) protocol of resected pancreatic specimen pathological examination, and to evaluate the frequency of R1 resections for pancreatic cancer using this new protocol. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-one patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer were included in the study. This group was divided into two subgroups: patients examined by the Leeds protocol (n=20) and those examined by a non-standardized pathological protocol (n=71). The R1 resection rate was evaluated separately in each group. The positivity rate of every individual resection margin was specified in the Leeds protocol group. The correlation of R1 resection rate and "tumour - resection margin distance" parameter was evaluated. The tumour infiltration of peripancreatic adipose tissue was assessed in the non-standardized group. RESULTS: In the Leeds protocol subgroup, R1 and R0 resection rate was 60% (12/20) and 40% (8/20), respectively. Resection line positivity rates were as follows: dorsal 45% (9/20), ventral 35% (7/20), VMS 20% (4/20), cervical 20% (4/20), AMS 15% (3/20). The correlation between the tumour - resection line distance and R1 resection frequency was the following: direct infiltration 30% R1, tumour-resection margin border 0.5 mm 50% R1, 1mm 60%, 1.5 mm 75% R1, 2 mm 80% R1, >2 mm 80% R1. If the criterion of resection line positivity ( 1mm) was set, the R1 resection rate difference between the two groups was of statistical significance. In the subgroup where the non-standardized protocol was used (n=71), R1 resection was recorded in 25 (35.2%) patients. The main cancer-positive areas were peripancreatic adipose tissue in 26.8% (19/71) of cases, and VMS, AMS or retroperitoneal line in 8.5% (6/71), respectively. R0 resection was achieved in 46 (64.8%) patients. The statistically significant (p=0.046) difference in R0 and R1 resection rates was detected (Leeds protocol and non-standardized one: R0 40.0% vs. 64.8% and R1 60.0% vs. 35.2%, respectively) in the studied groups. CONCLUSION: The rate of R1 resections for pancreatic cancer increased in all studies, including ours, where the standardized (Leeds) protocol of pancreatic specimen pathological examination was used. The higher R1 resection rate when using the Leeds protocol is approaching to the local recurrence rate of pancreatic cancer. Therefore, the Leeds protocol can provide more realistic evaluation of local radicality of pancreatoduodenectomy and can also offer more accurate evaluation of the surgical and adjuvant therapy of pancreatic cancer.

[The effectiveness of anagrelide treatment in patients with Ph negative myeloproliferative diseases: influence on the incidence of thrombosis in the data from the Registry of patients with essential thrombocythemia and thrombocythemia associated with other myeloproliferative diseases treated with Thromboreductin® to the end of 2012]. / Úcinnost lécby anagrelidem u nemocných s Ph negativními myeloproliferativními chorobami: ovlivnení výskytu trombózy ve výstupech Registru pacientu s dia-gnózou esenciální trombocytemie a trombocytemie provázející jiné myeloproliferativní onemocnení lécených Thromboreductinem® ke konci roku 2012.

In the Czech Republic, anagrelide (Thromboreductin®) [29] is used according to the recommendations of the Czech Working Group on Myeloproliferative Disorders (CZEMP) for treatment of thrombocythemia associated with Ph negative myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs). The patient data are collected in the Registry of patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and thrombocythemia associated with other MPDs treated with Thromboreductin®. At the end of 2012, the Registry contained data on 1,161 patients. Out of these, 1,159 patients with the dia-gnosis of a Ph negative MPD were evaluated. In 844 patients, precise WHO based dia-gnosis was known at start of therapy: 442 (52.4%) had ET, 108 (12.8%) had polycythaemia vera (PV) and 243 had primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The median age was 51 years at the time of diagnosis. At the time of the evaluation of the population, the median was 59 years. Every year, the proportion of patients newly treated with anagrelide as a firstline treatment in accordance with the CZEMP guidelines has been increasing. A growing proportion of patients has been treated with an additional cytoreducing drug, such as hydroxyurea and interferon. The majority of the patients received also an antiaggregant (or anticoagulant). More than a half of patients harbors the JAK2 mutation. A prompt decrease of platelet counts (as the response to Thromboreductin® treatment) was documented in most of the patients. After one year, 86.9% of patients had a full or partial response. In poorer responders, combination cytoreductive treatment was administered rather then the escalation of the Thromboreductin® dosage. There were 461 thrombotic manifestations in 363 patients and 61 haemorrhagic events in 57 patients recorded in the patients history. In the course of treatment (followup; F U), thrombosis was diagnosed only 179-times in 136 patients. There were more haemorrhagic events during F U: 109 events in 83 patients. Upon comparison of the number of events during F U to their numbers in history, we found a twofold decrease in arterial thrombosis, an almost twofold decrease in microvascular thrombosis and even a 6.6- fold decrease in venous thromboembolism events. Bleeding episodes increased 1.8-fold during F U. However, the vast majority of these hemorrhagic events were clinically insignificant. In conclusion, the treatment strategy according to the CZEMP guidelines incorporating anagrelide is highly effective in reducing the platelet counts, strongly prevents venous events, reduces arterial events, and leads to an increase of minor hemorrhages.

[Epidemiological and clinico-pathological characteristics of patients with renal carcinoma: a single institution analysis of 544 cases]. / Epidemiologická a klinicko-patologická charakteristika pacientu s renálním karcinomem: analýza 544 prípadu z jednoho centra.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of renal cell carcinoma in the Czech Republic is one of the highest in the world. Curative treatment is still possible only surgically, while in the palliative treatment, partial success was reached using targeted therapies. While prognostic factors and models are commonly used in clinical practice, unfortunately, predictive biomarkers have not been found. The aim of our study was to verify the validity of selected prognostic factors on a consecutive patient cohort from the Czech population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patient cohort consisted of 544 patients with RCC diagnosed and/or treated at our institute from 2003 to 2010. Individual clinical and histological prognostic factors and Heng prognostic model were validated. RESULTS: Median time of follow-up for our cohort was 42 months (range 0.3-326 months), median age at diagnosis was 62 years, and almost 64% of patients were men. Distribution of clinical stages was as follows: 46.5% of I, II. 10.7%, III. 13.1%, IV. 20%. 26.4% of patients in stage I-III relapsed. We diagnosed mainly clear cell (84.6%) and papillary carcinoma (9.2%). Initially, 95.8% of patients underwent surgical treatment, systemic adjuvant and palliative treatment was applied in 3.7 and 37.7% of patients, respectively. Palliative targeted therapy was received by a total of 163 patients (30%). In first-line targeted therapy, the following median TTP was reached (in months): 10.8 for sunitinib, 6.3 for sorafenib and 5.2 months for immunotherapy. The most significant prognostic factors (p < 0.00001) were: stage of disease (HR = 9.61), size of the primary tumor (HR = 5.83), lymph nodes (HR = 8.26), presence of sarcomatoid tumor sections in the tumor (HR = 7.29), and tumor grade (HR = 4.0). Besides these, we also confirmed the prognostic importance of presence of eosinophilic granulations in the tumor (HR = 1.91, p = 0.02). When applying the Heng prognostic model, we achieved similar results for patients treated with targeted therapies. CONCLUSION: The obtained epidemiological and clinico-pathological data are consistent with previously published data. These prognostic factors can be used for a differentiated approach to patients with RCC, both for establishing follow-up plan for patients after surgery as well as indication for targeted therapies.

Skin toxicity and efficacy of sunitinib and sorafenib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a national registry-based study.

BACKGROUND: A retrospective, registry-based analysis to assess the outcomes of metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) patients treated with sunitinib and sorafenib who developed dermatologic adverse events was performed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data on mRCC patients treated with sunitinib or sorafenib were obtained from the Czech Clinical Registry of Renal Cell Cancer Patients. Outcomes of patients who developed hand-foot syndrome (HFS) of any grade and/or grade 3/4 rash during the treatment were compared with patients without HFS and no, mild, or moderate rash. RESULTS: The cohort included 705 patients treated with sunitinib and 365 patients treated with sorafenib. For sunitinib, the median overall survival (OS) was 43.0 months versus 31.0 months (P = 0.027) and median progression-free survival (PFS) 20.8 months versus 11.1 months (P = 0.007) for patients with versus without dermatologic toxicity, respectively. For sorafenib, the median OS and PFS were 27.9 and 24.6 months (P = 0.244), and 12.2 and 8.8 months (P = 0.050), respectively. In multivariable Cox regression, the skin toxicity was significantly associated with longer OS in the sunitinib cohort. CONCLUSION: The presence of skin toxicity is associated with improved OS and PFS in patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib.

[Cost analysis of XELOX and FOLFOX-4 chemotherapy regimens for colorectal carcinoma]. / Porovnání nákladu u rezimu XELOX a FOLFOX-4 v lécbe kolorektálního karcinomu.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to compare healthcare-related costs of treatment with XELOX and FOLFOX4 chemotherapeutic regimens in patients with colorectal cancer. We have evaluated costs claimed to the health insurance by the hospital administering these cancer therapies. This study is a pilot project utilising the new I-COP database developed by the Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses of the Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: First, we estimated the costs based on current prices of procedures, medication, and materials from public sources. Using the I-COP database, we then carried out a matched-pair comparison of 26 patients treated with FOLFOX4 or XELOX for colorectal cancer. We evaluated a period of three months of therapy (i.e. 6 cycles of FOLFOX4 or 4 cycles of XELOX). Statistical analysis was done using the Wilcoxon matched pairs test. RESULTS: The estimated cost for three months of therapy was 148,288 Czech crowns (CZK) for FOLFOX4 (including CZK 101,064 for chemotherapy drugs) and CZK 123,756 for XELOX. The overall costs claimed to the insurance companies were CZK 160,158 and CZK 151,176 for FOLFOX4 and XELOX, respectively (p = 0.221). The XELOX regimen had significantly higher costs for chemotherapy drugs (CZK 131,705 versus 114,531, p = 0.023) whereas other costs were lower than those for FOLFOX4. CONCLUSIONS: FOLFOX4 and XELOX regimens can be considered as equivalent in terms of costs claimed by the hospital administering cancer treatment.

[Femoral lengthening. A critical review of ten-year results]. / Kritické zpracování prodluzování femuru za posledních deset let.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the results of femoral lengthening in the patients treated from 2000 to 2009 in whom complete radiographic data were available and the lengthening procedure involved mainly the use of a Mephisto fixator. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 28 femoral lengthening procedures were carried out in 26 patients,16 girls and 10 boys. The external fixator Mephisto was used in 24 cases; fixators Prospon and Orthofix in one and three cases, respectively. Fifteen patients were treated for congenital short femur, the rest had secondary femoral shortening due to following pathologies: distal femoral epiphysiolysis in five children, proximal femoral osteomyelitis in one child, avascular necrosis of the femoral head in one, diaphyseal femur fracture in one, enchondromatosis of the distal femur with growth plate destruction in one, and contralateral femur overgrowth following a fracture in one child. The average age at the beginning of treatment was 11 (range, 4-16) years. Complications were classified as mild, serious and critical. The results were statistically analysed using several statistical tests. RESULTS: The average parameter values for the group included: total femoral lengthening, 40.2.mm (SD±11.1); osteotomy index (OI), 41 % (SD±9.8); lengthening percentage (LP), 10.9 % (SD±3.8); lengthening index (LI), 14.5 (SD±3.5) days/cm; hea- ling index (HI), 52.6 (SD±20.1) days/cm; and consolidation index (CI), 93.3 (SD±40.0) days/cm. Mild complications were recorded in 11 (39.2 %), and serious and critical in eight patients (28.6 %). Fourteen patients (53.8 %) were free of any complications. Two complications were concurrently found in five patients (17.9 %). There was a statistically significant difference in the LP values related to the number of complications (p=0.019). No significant relationship was recorded on comparison of the HI value with the patient's age at the time of surgery (p=0.836) and patient's gender (p=0.546) (Mann- Whitney test). The relationship of the OI value to the HI value was non-significant (p=0.492), as was the relationship between the osteotomy technique (oscillating or Gigli saw osteotomy) and the occurrence of complications (p=1.000) (Fisher's exact test). Correlation between the LI and HI values was significant (p<0.001). DISCUSSION: The results of healing after lengthening, as assessed by the healing and the consolidation index, were in agreement with other authors' data. The lower number of complications, particularly fractures of bone regenerate, can be explained by the facts that, in our study, the lengthening percentage was lower and that the post-operative care was strictly observed, including dynamic axial loading which stimulates bone consolidation at the lengthened section, with adherence to the proof of three developed cortices. CONCLUSIONS: Our results did not confirm the assumption that slower lengthening will have a favourable effect on the healing index. Key words: femoral lengthening, external fixator, complications.

[The quality of life following laparoscopic fundoplication in correlation with preoperative symptomatology]. / Kvalita zivota po laparoskopické fundoplikaci v závislosti na predoperaní symptomatologii.

AIM: Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) is a serious health problem in the Western world, with prevalence rates between 9 and 42%. The correct preoperative diagnostics including assessment of symptomatology is a prerequisite for the establishment of adequate therapy, including surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life in patients with GERD, based on their preoperative symptomatology. METHODS: From IX/2004 to XII/2008, a total of 237 patients underwent antireflux procedures in the Brno Faculty Hospital (FN Brno) Surgical Clinic. The patients underwent preoperative and postoperative gastroenterological examination, including endoscopy, manometry, pH-metry. The patients were asked to fill in the GIQLI (GastroIntestinal Quality of Life Index) questionnaire. The results were statistically assessed and evaluated. RESULTS: The study included a total of 178 patients. 135 subjects (76.7%) presenting with typical symptomatology and 41 subjects (23.3%) with atypical symptomatology were indicated for surgery. The mean preoperative quality of life index, based on the GIQLI questionnaire, was 101.6 points, while at 6 months after the procedure, the quality of life was evaluated with 106.9 points. There is a statistically significant difference in the quality of life between the patients with atypical and the patients with typical symptomatology, both prior to the procedure (p = 0.002), as well as after the procedure (p = 0.006), with the atypicaly symptomatology patients declaring poorer quality of life than the typical symptomatology ones. The risk of prolonged dysphagia (over 6 weeks after the procedure) is higher in the atypical symptomatology subjects, with statistical significance of p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic antireflux surgery increases the quality of life independent of the preoperative symptomatology. Patients with atypical symptoms must be carefully examined and indicated with caution, considering the higher risk of prolonged postoperative dysphagia.