Expression of HMGA2 is not correlated with the regulatory let7 miRNAs. Interestingly, SLC5A5 was down-regulated in FTC and PTC. Its expression could be modulated by hsa-let-7f-5p. ATC showed a loss of SLC5A5/hsa-let7f-5p correlation. SLC5A5, in ATC, needs further investigation to clarify the genetic/epigenetic mechanism altering its expression.

Background: Vessel-preserving spleen preservation (SP) during distal pancreatectomy (DP) is supposed to be beneficial for patients with benign and borderline tumors. This study evaluated the first experiences with robotic-assisted laparoscopic DP (RA-LDP) and its rate of vessel preservation and SP compared to conventional laparoscopic DP (C-LDP). Methods: Patients scheduled for spleen-preserving DP for benign or borderline tumors by either C-LDP or RA-LDP were retrieved from a prospective database and retrospectively analyzed regarding vessel-preservation and SP, conversion rate, blood loss, operating time, complications, perioperative blood transfusion, postoperative hospital stay (PHS) and mortality. Results: Twenty-nine patients underwent C-LDP and 12 patients underwent RA-LDP between September 2009 and May 2015. SP rates were 79% (23 of 29) in the C-LDP and 92% (11 of 12) in the RA-LDP group (p = 0.32). Splenic vessels could be preserved in 17% (5 of 29) of the C-LDP and 50% (6 of 12) of the RA-LDP group (p = 0.052). Operating time, intraoperative blood loss, the number of perioperative red blood cell transfusions, overall morbidity and the rate of postoperative pancreatic fistulas were not different between the groups. PHS was shorter in the RA-LDP group (10.5 vs. 13 days; p = 0.02). Conclusion: RA-LDP for benign or borderline tumors of the pancreas is a safe procedure and tended to be associated with a better vessel-preservation rate, thereby making it a good alternative to C-LDP.

and spindle-cell morphologies, and a diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma (mtc) was made.On baseline positron-emission tomography (pet)/ ct imaging, hypodensities corresponding to hypermetabolic foci in both hepatic lobes were observed [ Figure 1 , and cytokeratin 7, but negative for thyroglobulin, cytokeratin 20, and alpha-fetoprotein, which is consistent with mtc metastatic to the liver. At the time of diagnosis, the patient was not taking medications, and she had an unremarkable personal medical history and no family history of thyroid disease, endocrine disorders, or neoplasm.In March 2008, the patient enrolled in a phase i clinical trial (NCT00599924) of 5-fluorouracil (5fu), leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (folfox) in combination with sunitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with multiple targets, including the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and the rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene, which is often upregulated in neuroendocrine tumors such as mtc 1 . The patient received folfox (leucovorin 400 mg/m 2 ; 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m 2 intravenous bolus, followed by 2400 mg/m 2 infusion over 46 hours; oxaliplatin 85 mg/m 2 ) every 2 weeks and sunitinib 37.5 g daily for 4 weeks, followed by a 2-week rest period. In July 2008, after 4 months of folfox-sunitinib, the patient showed measureable tumor regression in the liver [Figure 1(D)] that qualified as a partial response according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. The folfox was discontinued, and the patient was maintained on single-agent sunitinib, which she tolerated well for 15 months with stable liver metastases. The patient underwent serial pet/ ct imaging without intravenous contrast to monitor her disease.In November 2009 (21 months after diagnosis), the patient developed abdominal bloating, early satiety, and right upper quadrant pain that increased with inspiration. Pulmonary exam demonstrated dullness ABSTRACT Pseudocirrhosis is a rare form of liver disease that can cause clinical symptoms and radiographic signs of cirrhosis; however, its histologic features suggest a distinct pathologic process. In the setting of cancer, hepatic metastases and systemic chemotherapy are suspected causes of pseudocirrhosis. Here, we present a patient with medullary thyroid carcinoma metastatic to the liver who developed pseudocirrhosis while on maintenance sunitinib after receiving 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (folfox) in combination with sunitinib. Cirrhotic change in liver morphology was accompanied by diffusely infiltrative carcinomatous disease resembling the primary tumor. We discuss the diagnosis of pseudocirrhosis in this case and review the literature regarding pseudocirrhosis in cancer. KEY WORDSMedullary thyroid cancer, pseudocirrhosis, carcinomatous cirrhosis CASE DESCRIPTIONA 49-year-old white woman presented in January 2008 with a left-sided cervical mass without associated complaints of neck pain, stridor, dysphonia, dysphagia, malaise, fever, or chills. Physical examination was remarkable for a f...

HighlightsThe prognosis of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is poor with a mean survival time of six months following diagnosis.A generally accepted and effective treatment strategy for ATC has not been established yet.Pre-therapeutic in vitro investigation of novel drugs could succeed for a personalized antitumor therapy in patients affected by ATC.Individualized tumor therapy gives explanation concerning the mechanisms regulating the biology of ATC.In vitro drug evaluation of individual tumor cells might be a promising tool to ameliorate the prognosis of ATC patients.

One hundred and eleven previously untreated patients with extensive small cell lung cancer were included in a prospective randomized study with the aim to assess the efficacy and tolerance of high-dose epirubicin (120 mg/m²) in combination with either cyclophosphamide (800 mg/m²;arm 1) or cisplatin (60 mg/m²; arm 2). Ninety-six patients were evaluable for response and toxicity and additional 12 patients for toxicity only. The overall response rate (CR + PR) in arm 1 and 2 were 61.4 (27/44) and 67.3% (35/52), respectively. The mean duration of remission was 4.4 months (arm 1) and 4.9 months (arm 2). The mean survival time was 6.6 months in arm 1 and 7.7 months in arm 2. WHO grade 4 toxicity was encountered in 25.5 and 15.8% of patients in arm 1 and 2, respectively. One case of cardiotoxicity resulting in the patient’s death was observed in arm 1. Both combinations showed considerable antitumor activity. Toxicity was acceptable.