Although limited by the lack of definitive pathology, population-based FNA studies did not find a statistically significant correlation between HT and PTC. Thyroidectomy studies, which reported a statistically significant positive correlation, are subject to selection bias. More prospective studies with longer follow-up are needed to further elucidate this relationship.

Background: Although tumor hypoxia has been associated with a more aggressive phenotype and lower cure rate, there is no consensus as to the method best suited for routine measurement. Binding of the chemical hypoxia marker, pimonidazole, and expression of the endogenous hypoxia markers HIF-1a and CAIX were compared for their ability to detect hypoxia in tumor biopsies from 67 patients with advanced carcinoma of the cervix.Methods: Two biopsies were taken one day after administration of pimonidazole and were analyzed for pimonidazole binding using flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry. CAIX and HIF-1a expression and degree of colocalization were measured in sequential antibody-stained sections. Patient subsets were examined for tumor oxygen tension using an Eppendorf electrode, S phase DNA content, or change in HIF1a expression over the course of treatment.Results: Approximately 6% of the tumor area stained positive for pimonidazole, HIF-1a, or CAIX. The CAIX positive fraction correlated with the pimonidazole positive fraction (r = 0.60). Weaker but significant correlations were observed between pimonidazole and HIF-1a (r = 0.31) and CAIX and HIF-1a (r = 0.41). Taking the extent of marker colocalization into consideration increased the confidence that all markers were identifying hypoxic regions. Over 65% of stained areas showed a high degree of colocalization with the other markers. Oxygen microelectrode measurements and S phase fraction were not correlated with the hypoxic fraction measured using the three hypoxia markers. HIF-1a levels tended to decrease with time after the start of therapy.Conclusions: Endogenous hypoxia marker binding shows reasonable agreement, in extent and location, with binding of pimonidazole. CAIX staining pattern is a better match to the pimonidazole staining pattern than is HIF-1a, and high CAIX expression in the absence (or low levels) of HIF-1a may indicate a different biology. q

Pelvic asymmetry of >5 mm was uncommon, with a prevalence of approximately 5% in the population studied. CT scanography was found to be a practical and reliable method for the assessment of suspected pelvic asymmetry.

Capsaicin is the main pungent component of chili peppers. Thisis the first case, to our knowledge, that describes prostatespecificantigen (PSA) stabilization in a patient with prostate cancer,who had biochemical failure after radiation therapy. A 66-year-old male underwent radiotherapy treatment for a T2b, Gleason7 (3+4) adenocarcinoma of the prostate, with a PSA level of13.3 ng/mL in April 2001. He had 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapyof 46 Gy in 23 fractions to the prostate and pelvis, and aprostate boost of 30 Gy in 15 fractions. Radiotherapy was completedin May 2001 and PSA nadired in January 2002 (0.57). Dueto the continued PSA rise, the patient was started on bicalutamide(50 mg orally, daily) and leuprolide acetate (1 dose of 22.5 mgintramuscularly) in July 2005 when PSA was 38.5 ng/mL. Due topoor tolerance of androgen ablation therapy, the patient discontinuedtreatment and started taking 2.5 mL of habaneros chilisauce, containing capsaicin, 1 to 2 times a week in April 2006.Prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSAdt) increased from4 weeks before capsaicin to 7.3 months by October 2006. FromOctober 2006 until November 2007, the patient remained oncapsaicin (2.5 to 15 mL daily) and his PSA was stable (between11 to 14 ng/mL). By January 2008, his PSA rose to 22.3 and hehas maintained a PSAdt between 4 and 5 months, where it presentlyremains. Due to the patient’s continued PSA rise, he was restartedon bicalutamide (12.5 mg daily). Apart from PSA relapse, the patientremains free of signs or symptoms of recurrence.