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To compare the fatty acid composition of tumor tissue from glioma patients with that of normal brain tissue, tissue samples were obtained from 13 glioma patients and from 3 nonmalignant patients. Following lipid extraction, total fatty acid composition was measured using gas-liquid chromatography. samples were further separated into phospholipids and neutral lipids. Representative samples were then separated into phospholipid classes by thin-layer chromatography and the fatty acid composition assayed. Levels of the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were significantly reduced (P = 0.029) in the glioma samples compared with normal brain samples; mean values were 4.8 +/- 2.9% and 9.2 +/- 1.0%, respectively. This reduction in glioma DHA content was also observed in terms of phospholipids (4.6 +/- 2.1% vs. 9.6 +/- 0.8%, P = 0.002). The phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipid classes were reduced in the glioma samples. Differences were also noted in the n-6 PUFA content between glioma and normal brain samples. The glioma content of the n-6 PUFA linoleic acid was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than that observed in the control samples in terms of total lipids. Thus, the fatty acid composition of human gliomas differs from that found in nonmalignant brain tissue.

A considerable proportion of MWCs occur >120 days from surgical resection with preoperative EBRT and skin graft placement independent predictors for MWCs. While an additional source of morbidity, MWC occurrence did not impact tumor control, nor did it predict for chronic toxicity. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:385-391. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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PurposeTo develop a microRNA (miRNA)-based predictive model for prostate cancer patients of 1) time to biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy and 2) biochemical recurrence after salvage radiation therapy following documented biochemical disease progression post-radical prostatectomy.MethodsForty three patients who had undergone salvage radiation therapy following biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy with greater than 4 years of follow-up data were identified. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were collected for all patients and total RNA was isolated from 1mm cores enriched for tumor (>70%). Eight hundred miRNAs were analyzed simultaneously using the nCounter human miRNA v2 assay (NanoString Technologies; Seattle, WA). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportion hazards regression models as well as receiver operating characteristics were used to identify statistically significant miRNAs that were predictive of biochemical recurrence.ResultsEighty eight miRNAs were identified to be significantly (p<0.05) associated with biochemical failure post-prostatectomy by multivariate analysis and clustered into two groups that correlated with early (≤ 36 months) versus late recurrence (>36 months). Nine miRNAs were identified to be significantly (p<0.05) associated by multivariate analysis with biochemical failure after salvage radiation therapy. A new predictive model for biochemical recurrence after salvage radiation therapy was developed; this model consisted of miR-4516 and miR-601 together with, Gleason score, and lymph node status. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was improved to 0.83 compared to that of 0.66 for Gleason score and lymph node status alone.ConclusionmiRNA signatures can distinguish patients who fail soon after radical prostatectomy versus late failures, giving insight into which patients may need adjuvant therapy. Notably, two novel miRNAs (miR-4516 and miR-601) were identified that significantly improve prediction of biochemical failure post-salvage radiation therapy compared to clinico-histopathological factors, supporting the use of miRNAs within clinically used predictive models. Both findings warrant further validation studies.

Cancer diagnosed during pregnancy occurs in approximately 1:1000 gestations, and up to 4000 women per year in the United States receive radiation therapy during pregnancy. This article will review the effects of ionizing radiation exposure on the embryo and fetus, review the most common malignancies that present during pregnancy, review important treatment delivery considerations in those cases when radiotherapy is necessary during the pregnancy, and in a related topic, review fertility issues in females who receive therapeutic radiation before or during their reproductive years.

Objective To report our experience in long-term follow-up of ocular melanoma patients treated with custom OSU-Nag eye plaques utilizing 125I sources. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted for 113 consecutive ocular melanoma patients with follow-up visual acuity data who were treated with OSU-Nag plaque episcleral brachytherapy at The Ohio State University Medical Center from 1994 to 2009. Visual acuity, complication data, and recurrence rates were recorded up to 120 months post-brachytherapy. Results Median age at presentation was 63.0 years (range 22–93). Median follow-up was 65.5 months (range 2–180). Median radiation dose at the prescription point was 85.8 Gy (range 51.8–103.7). Preservation of useful visual acuity, defined as better than 20/200, was noted in 43/74 (58%) of patients in the current study at 36 months compared with 50.1% of COMS participants. By 120 months, 17/30 (57%, 95% CI: 45–69%) progressed to visual acuity worse than 20/200, while 9/30 (30%) retained visual acuity of 20/40 or better, and 4/30 (13%) were 20/50 to 20/200. The rate of retinopathy after radiation was approximately 40% of all those observed by 60 months. Baseline visual acuity, apical tumor height, AJCC tumor category, and distance between the tumor and the fovea were all significantly associated with loss of visual acuity. The local tumor control rate by 60 months of follow-up was 93% (95% CI: 85–97%). Conclusions The OSU-Nag custom 125I plaque is an effective treatment for uveal melanoma, with preservation of useful visual acuity in 58% of eyes 3 years after treatment and 43% of eyes 10 years after treatment.