The aim of the retrospective study was to evaluate prognostic significance of human papillomavirus (HPV) status and expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2/neu), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD34 antigen, tumor suppressors p63 and p53, and Ki67/MIB-1 in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix (SCCC) treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Seventy-two consecutive patients with SCCC, diagnosed and treated with (chemo-) radiotherapy with a curative intent at the University Hospital Hradec Kralove between August 1998 and August 2008, were enrolled in the study. The median follow-up period was 57 months (range 5-152). The tested biological factors were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (HPV status) and by immunohistochemistry (remaining above mentioned markers) from archival paraffin embedded original diagnostic tumor samples. A statistical significant correlation was observed between low expression of p63 and poor overall survival (p = 0.001), although the complete response probability was influenced with borderline statistical significance (p = 0.05). However, the results could be affected by the statistical error due to the small number of p63 negative patients. HPV positivity and EGFR staining intensity was associated with higher complete response probability (p = 0.038 and p = 0.044, resp.). All other results were not significant. Neither HPV positivity nor EGFR staining intensity were reflected in the overall survival evaluation. In conclusion, the presented study did not confirm any apparently significant association of the suggested markers with prognosis of SCCC in patients treated with (chemo-) radiotherapy.

No abstract

Incorporation of doxorubicin into polyethylene glycol-coated (pegylated) liposomes increases the therapeutic index, prolongs circulation time and enhances tumor localization. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) is an established therapeutic agent in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), breast carcinoma or Kaposi's sarcoma, and PLD administration results in reduction of toxicity. Addition of regional hyperthermia increases liposome extravasation, induces the doxorubicin release from the liposomes, and the combination of hyperthermia and doxorubicin itself may be supra-additive, resulting in enhanced antitumor efficacy in the heated region. Encouraging results have been reported for the combination of PLD and hyperthermia in EOC, breast carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The combination of chemotherapy and hyperthermia (HT) is a promising approach in the treatment of malignant tumors. In the present report we evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a combination of weekly paclitaxel combined with local hyperthermia in breast cancer. Patients and Methods: 7 patients were treated for inoperable local recurrence of breast cancer after mastectomy, irradiation, and chemotherapy or hormonal therapy. They weekly received paclitaxel (60–80 mg/m²) in 3-h infusions followed by local HT 41–44 °C for 45 min for 6–18 cycles. Results: Objective local response was observed in all treated patients (complete response in 4 patients and partial response in 3 patients). There were no grade 3 or 4 toxicities, neurologic toxicity or hypersensitivity reactions. Local tolerance to this regimen was also good, with only 4 patients developing mild transient erythema. Conclusion: Our experience indicates that the combination of weekly paclitaxel and HT may be effective in the treatment of locally recurrent breast cancer after mastectomy.

EGFR may represent a molecular marker predictive for poor response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced gastric carcinoma.