Clinical trials of interleukin 1α (IL-1α) and IL-1βhave been completed that assess the toxicities of these cytokines as well as their hematopoietic and antitumor effects. Both forms of IL-1 recognize the same cell surface receptors and have similar toxicities and similar biological activities. Toxicities including fever, flu-like symptoms and dose-limiting hypotension can be severe yet manageable, and IL-1 can be given safely to human cancer patients. Most toxicities and biological effects appear to be dose-related. IL-1 alone has little antitumor activity against melanoma, renal cell carcinomas or other malignancies. The hematopoietic effects, including megakaryocytopoietic effects, are modest and are probably not worth the toxicity necessary to achieve them. However, IL-1 seems to endow certain progenitor cells with responsiveness to other hematopoietic cytokines including colony-stimulating factors and IL-3. One potential application of IL-1 is to help expand bone marrow ex vivo following stem cell harvest, which could allow further chemotherapy dose escalations in chemotherapy-sensitive tumors.

Abstract. Clinical trials of interleukin 1α (IL-1α)and IL-1β have been completed that assess the toxicities of these cytokines as well as their hematopoietic and antitumor effects. Both forms of IL-1 recognize the same cell surface receptors and have similar toxicities and similar biological activities. Toxicities including fever, flu-like symptoms and dose-limiting hypotension can be severe yet manageable, and IL-1 can be given safely to human cancer patients. Most toxicities and biological effects appear to be dose-related. IL-1 alone has little antitumor activity against melanoma, renal cell carcinomas or other malignancies. The hematopoietic effects, including megakaryocytopoietic effects, are modest and are probably not worth the toxicity necessary to achieve them. However, IL-1 seems to endow certain progenitor cells with responsiveness to other hematopoietic cytokines including colony-stimulating factors and IL-3. One potential application of IL-1 is to help expand bone marrow ex vivo following stem cell harvest, which could allow further chemotherapy dose escalations in chemotherapy-sensitive tumors.

Even if limited by its retrospective design, the reported experience shows that minilaparoscopic surgery may be a safe and effective approach to colon pathology. The described features make minilaparoscopy a challenging alternative to laparoscopy for colon disease. If proven to be cost effective without undue risk, as long as adequate training is obtained and proper preparation is observed, minilaparoscopy may become a standard surgical approach for selected patients.

Sunitinib is a tyrosine kinase/angiogenesis inhibitor with proven efficacy in gastrointestinal stromal tumor and advanced renal cell carcinoma. We are presenting the case report of a patient with aggressive alveolar soft part sarcoma with lung and bone metastases, who had failed multiple chemotherapy regimens showing significant response to sunitinib. There was not only complete regression of the primary tumor, stabilization of his bone metastases and significant improvement in the quality of life. Our report shows that sunitinib has the capability of playing a pivotal role in the management of non-gastrointestinal stromal tumors like alveolar soft part sarcoma. Further research and trials must be encouraged over the use of this drug as it is most definitely promising.

What constitutes an adequate surgical margin in partial mastectomy is still controversial: intra-operative specimen radiogram is commonly used during partial mastectomy for nonpalpable lesions in order verify the adequacy of the resection but what margin is to be considered “adequate” is still debatable.An intraoperative specimen mammogram was performed during all consecutive conservative resections for nonpalpable DCIS and a 15-mm radiological margin was considered “adequate”. Margins were pathologically assessed and classified as “negative”, “close” or “positive” and the rate of margin involvement constitued the main outcome of the study.Among 272 conservative interventions, 80.51% had negative margins at final pathology, 3.31% had close margins and 16.18% had positive margins.An intraoperative “adequate” margin of 15 mm as defined on intraoperative specimen mammogram granted a high rate of histologically negative margin at primary surgery; this finding was paralleled by confirmation of the treatment as conservative in 95% of cases.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2193-1801-2-243) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.