No abstract

This is the largest study of chemotherapy in advanced SBA. Baseline PS and CEA and CA 19-9 levels were the main prognostic factors. FOLFOX seems to be the most effective platinum-based chemotherapy regimen.

First-line FOLFIRINOX for LAPA seems to be effective and have a manageable toxicity profile. These promising results will have to be confirmed in a phase III randomized trial.

With a long-term follow-up of 10.3 yr, we failed to prove any survival benefit of RAI after surgery in a large cohort of low-risk DTC patients.

Purpose. A better identification of patients who are more likely to benefit from vascular endothelial growth factortargeted therapy is warranted in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). As adipose tissue releases angiogenic factors, we determined whether parameters such as visceral fat area (VFA) were associated with outcome in these patients.Experimental Design. In 113 patients with mRCC who received antiangiogenic agents (bevacizumab, sunitinib, or sorafenib) (n ‫؍‬ 64) or cytokines (n ‫؍‬ 49) as first-line treatment, we used computed tomography to measure VFA and subcutaneous fat area (SFA). We evaluated associations linking body mass index (BMI), SFA, and VFA to time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS).Results. High SFA and VFA values were significantly associated with shorter TTP and OS. By multivariate analysis, high VFA was independently associated with shorter TTP and OS. These results were internally validated using bootstrap analysis. By contrast, VFA was not associated with survival in the cytokine group. In the whole population, interaction between VFA and treatment group was significant for TTP and OS, thereby confirming the results.Conclusion. Our study provides the first evidence that high VFA could be a predictive biomarker from shorter survival in patients given first-line antiangiogenic agents for mRCC. The Oncologist 2011;16:71-81

The cerium γ⇄α transition was investigated using high-pressure, high-temperature angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction measurements on both poly- and single-crystalline samples, explicitly addressing symmetry change and transformation paths. The isomorphic hypothesis of the transition is confirmed, with a transition line ending at a solid-solid critical point. The critical exponent is determined, showing a universal behavior that can be pictured as a liquid-gas transition. We further report an isomorphic transition between two single crystals (with more than 14% of volume difference), an unparalleled observation in solid-state matter interpreted in terms of dislocation-induced diffusionless first-order phase transformation.

The high-pressure phases of solid ammonia have been investigated by x-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell at room temperature. Despite the first-order solid phase transition at 4 GPa, quasi-single crystals of NH 3 and ND 3 could be obtained and compressed to 123 and 62 GPa, respectively. The observed reflections above 4 GPa are compatible with the structure determined by neutron diffraction on ND 3. We found strong evidence for an isosymmetric transition at 12 GPa in NH 3 and 18 GPa in ND 3. This transition is more likely due to rearrangements of the hydrogen atoms, whereas the N atoms remain on their quasi-hcp sites. The experimental equation of state ͑EOS͒ is compared to the one derived from first-principles calculations. A stiffening of the EOS above 55 GPa could indicate the onset of a quantum-disordered regime for some of the H bonds.

BACKGROUND: Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare tumor with poor prognosis. First-line platinum-based chemotherapy is active in patients with advanced SBA, but data regarding second-line chemotherapy are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI regimen) as second-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced SBA. METHODS: We analyzed all consecutive patients who received second-line chemotherapy with FOLFIRI among 93 patients with advanced SBA included from 1996 to 2008 in a previous retrospective multicenter study. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated from the start of second-line chemotherapy using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox models were applied for multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Among 51 patients who received second-line chemotherapy, 28 patients (male, 57%; median age, 54 years; metastatic disease, 96%) were treated with FOLFIRI after progression (n ¼ 24) or limiting toxicity (n ¼ 4) to first-line FOLFOX (n ¼ 19) or LV5FU2-cisplatin (n ¼ 9). Grade 3-4 toxicity was observed in 48% of patients (grade 3-4 neutropenia, 37%). After a median follow-up of 21.5 months, all patients had tumor progression, and 22 patients died. Objective response rate was 20%, and disease control rate was 52%. Median PFS and OS were 3.2 and 10.5 months, respectively. No clinical, biological, or tumor characteristics were associated with PFS or OS by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Second-line chemotherapy with FOLFIRI produced disease control in half of patients with advanced SBA after failure with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Nevertheless, the short median PFS warrants the evaluation of other treatments including targeted therapies.