Our study indicates the constant effect of SG in the acceleration of gastric emptying of solids, which occurs faster, not only in short but also in long-term postoperatively. Such effects on gastric motility, in combination with the reported alterations in gut hormones, may explain how this 'food limiting' operation results in weight loss.

The blood–brain barrier is a major obstacle for the chemotherapeutic drugs to effectively reach primary or secondary brain tumours. Stealth® liposomal drugs are highly accumulated in tumoural tissues. In the present study we investigated the relative accumulation of99mTc-DTPA radiolabelled stealth® liposomal doxorubicin (Caelyx®) in 10 patients with metastatic brain tumours and five patients with brain glioblastoma undergoing radiotherapy. Patients with metastatic brain lesions were treated with 10 consecutive fractions of radiotherapy (whole brain, 3 Gy/fraction, day 1–12) followed by a booster dose of 9 Gy (3 Gy/fraction, day 21–23). Caelyx®, at a dose of 25 mg mg–2was given on day 1 and on day 21. Radiolabelled Caelyx® accumulation was 13–19 times higher in the glioblastomas and 7–13 times higher in the metastatic lesions, as compared to the normal brain. The drug accumulation in the tumoural areas was 40–60% of the accumulation in the bone marrow of the skull bones. The normal brain radioactivity was <4% of the bone marrow, confirming an important shielding effect of the blood–brain barrier in the normal but not in the tumoural tissue. Four of 10 patients with metastatic lesions showed a complete response in CT-scan performed 2 months following therapy. There was no severe toxicity related to radiotherapy or to chemotherapy noted. It is concluded that stealth® liposomal drugs selectively overcome the blood–brain barrier in the tumoural areas. The clinical importance of this observation is now under investigation. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign

We conclude that combination of radiotherapy with Stealth liposomal doxorubicin is feasible. The potential role of such a regimen in the treatment of highly angiogenic tumors requires further investigation.

68Ga-DOTATOC is a promising tool for evaluation of the expression of SSTR2 in NETs. The combination of [18F]FDG and 68Ga-DOTATOC dynamic PET studies provides different information regarding the biological properties of lesions in patients with metastatic NETs in whom 90Y-DOTATOC therapy is planned. While the global 68Ga-DOTATOC uptake is influenced mostly by K1, the global [18F]FDG uptake is mostly influenced by VB. Only patients with enhanced 68Ga-DOTATOC uptake (SUV >5.0) were referred to 90Y-DOTATOC therapy.

SG accelerates gastric emptying and small bowel transit of semisolids. In addition, it delays the initiation of cecal filling and T ICVt. This early and prolonged contact of food with the distal small bowel mucosa may explain the metabolic effects of SG occurring before substantial weight loss.

DOTATOC uptake in NETs is mainly dependent on k (1) (receptor binding) and V(b) (fractional blood volume). Pharmacokinetic data analysis can help to separate blood background activity (V(b)) from the receptor binding (k (1)), which may help to optimise planning of (90)Y-DOTATOC therapy.

Permanent ventricular pacing is associated with alterations in regional myocardial perfusion. Furthermore, abnormalities of microvascular flow, as indicated by reduced coronary flow reserve in the defect-related artery, are at least partially responsible for the uncertain specificity of dipyridamole myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.

The results demonstrated moderate (68)Ga-DOTATOC uptake in primary NSCLC but did not provide any evidence for SSTR2 expression in metastases. This may be caused by loss of the gene expression in metastases as compared with the primary tumours.