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Biomedical Reports Dec 2020Fluoro-edenite (FE), asbestiform fiber found in Biancavilla (Sicily, Italy), presents various characteristics similar to the asbestos group, in particular two fibrous... (Review)
Review
Fluoro-edenite (FE), asbestiform fiber found in Biancavilla (Sicily, Italy), presents various characteristics similar to the asbestos group, in particular two fibrous phases tremolite and actinolite. Indeed, epidemiological studies have shown that FE fibers have similar effects to those of asbestos fibers. Such studies have reported a high incidence of malignant mesothelioma (MM), an aggressive neoplasm of the serosal membranes lining the pleural cavity, in individuals residing there due to FE exposure in Biancavilla related to environmental contamination. Evidence has led to the classification of FE as a Group 1 human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The aim of this systematic review is to compare the results achieved in , and experimental studies involving FE in order to update the current knowledge on the pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms responsible for FE-mediated MM development as well as the availability of effective biomarkers for MM prevention and diagnosis. This review is focused on the pathophysiological mechanisms mediated by inflammation induced by FE fiber exposure and which are responsible for MM development. This review also discusses the discovery of new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for the management of this pathology. It is known that the risk of cancer development increases with chronic inflammation, arising from enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NO production stimulated by the body to remove exogenous agents, causing DNA damage and enhanced signal transduction that may lead to activation of oncogenes. Studies concerning MM biomarker discovery indicate that several biomarkers have been proposed for MM, but mesothelin is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved biomarker for MM, with limitations. In recent studies, analysis to identify selected miRNAs highly deregulated in cancer samples when compared with normal control have been developed. This approach could represent an effort in the field of biomarker discovery for MM.
PubMed: 33149905
DOI: 10.3892/br.2020.1367 -
Thoracic Surgery Clinics Nov 2020Despite multiple diagnostic toolkits, the diagnosis of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma relies primarily on proper histologic assessment. The definitive diagnosis...
Despite multiple diagnostic toolkits, the diagnosis of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma relies primarily on proper histologic assessment. The definitive diagnosis of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma is based on the pathologic assessment of tumor tissue, which can be obtained from core biopsy sampling, pleurectomy, or other more extensive resections, such as extrapleural pneumonectomy. Given its rarity and overlapping microscopic features with other conditions, the histologic diagnosis of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma is challenging. This review discusses the pathologic features and the differential diagnosis of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma, including select diagnostic pitfalls.
Topics: Biopsy; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Mesothelioma, Malignant; Pleural Neoplasms; Thoracic Surgical Procedures
PubMed: 33012427
DOI: 10.1016/j.thorsurg.2020.08.007 -
Journal of Cancer Research and... Sep 2020The purpose of this study is to study the clinical outcomes of different types of magnetic resonance (MR)-guided ablation for the treatment of liver tumors by performing... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to study the clinical outcomes of different types of magnetic resonance (MR)-guided ablation for the treatment of liver tumors by performing a systematic review and pooled analysis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A comprehensive literature search was performed for clinical trials published from January 1997 to October 2019 in PubMed, the Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Pooled analyses were performed to obtain the complete ablation (CA), complication, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) rates.
RESULTS
Thirty studies were eligible, including four studies on MR-guided microwave ablation (MWA); 14 studies on MR-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA); one study on both MR-guided MWA and RFA; eight studies on MR-guided, laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT); two studies on MR-guided percutaneous cryoablation (PC); and one study on MR-guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). The CA rates in patients who underwent RFA, MWA, LITT, PC, and PEI were 95.60%, 98.86%, 77.78%, 47.92%, and 85.71%, respectively. The most frequent complications were pain (27.66%, 13/47) and postablation syndrome (27.66%, 13/47) in the PC group; pleural effusion (8.11%, 119/1,468) and subcapsular hematoma (2.25%, 33/1,468) in the LITT group; pleural effusion (2.67%, 2/75) in the MWA group; and subcapsular hematoma (4.18%, 20/478) and post-ablation syndrome (2.93%, 14/478) in the RFA group. There were few studies reporting PFS and OS.
CONCLUSIONS
MR-guided ablation is a practicable alternative treatment for liver tumors, especially MR-guided RFA and MWA, which have high rates of CA and low occurrences of complications.
Topics: Ablation Techniques; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Prognosis; Surgery, Computer-Assisted; Survival Rate
PubMed: 33004753
DOI: 10.4103/jcrt.JCRT_1115_19 -
Journal of Bronchology & Interventional... Oct 2020While the efficacy of Indwelling pleural catheters for palliation of malignant pleural effusions is supported by relatively robust evidence, there is less clarity... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
While the efficacy of Indwelling pleural catheters for palliation of malignant pleural effusions is supported by relatively robust evidence, there is less clarity surrounding the postinsertion management.
METHODS
The Trustworthy Consensus-Based Statement approach was utilized to develop unbiased, scientifically valid guidance for the management of patients with malignant effusions treated with indwelling pleural catheters. A comprehensive electronic database search of PubMed was performed based on a priori crafted PICO questions (Population/Intervention/Comparator/Outcomes paradigm). Manual searches of the literature were performed to identify additional relevant literature. Dual screenings at the title, abstract, and full-text levels were performed. Identified studies were then assessed for quality based on a combination of validated tools. Appropriateness for data pooling and formation of evidence-based recommendations was assessed using predetermined criteria. All panel members participated in development of the final recommendations utilizing the modified Delphi technique.
RESULTS
A total of 7 studies were identified for formal quality assessment, all of which were deemed to have a high risk of bias. There was insufficient evidence to allow for data pooling and formation of any evidence-based recommendations. Panel consensus resulted in 11 ungraded consensus-based recommendations.
CONCLUSION
This manuscript was developed to provide clinicians with guidance on the management of patients with indwelling pleural catheters placed for palliation of malignant pleural effusions. Through a systematic and rigorous process, management suggestions were developed based on the best available evidence with augmentation by expert opinion when necessary. In addition, these guidelines highlight important gaps in knowledge which require further study.
Topics: Catheters, Indwelling; Clinical Trials as Topic; Consensus; Delphi Technique; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Palliative Care; Pleural Effusion, Malignant; Pleurodesis; Postoperative Complications; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Pulmonary Medicine; Retrospective Studies; Safety; Societies, Medical; Treatment Outcome; United States
PubMed: 32804745
DOI: 10.1097/LBR.0000000000000707 -
Critical Reviews in Oncology/hematology Sep 2020Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have shown potential as non-invasive breath biomarkers for lung cancer, but their unclear biological origin currently limits clinical... (Review)
Review
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have shown potential as non-invasive breath biomarkers for lung cancer, but their unclear biological origin currently limits clinical applications. This systematic review explores headspace analysis of VOCs in patient-derived body fluids and lung cancer cell lines to pinpoint lung cancer-specific VOCs and uncover their biological origin. A search was performed in the databases MEDLINE and Web of Science. Twenty-two articles were included in this systematic review. Since there is no standardised approach to analyse VOCs, a plethora of techniques and matrices/cell lines were explored, which is reflected in the various VOCs identified. However, comparing VOCs in the headspace of urine, blood and pleural effusions from patients and lung cancer cell lines showed some overlapping VOCs, indicating their potential use in lung cancer diagnosis. This review demonstrates that VOCs are promising biomarkers for lung cancer. However, due to lack of inter-matrix consensus, standardised prospective trials will have to be conducted to validate clinically relevant biomarkers.
Topics: Biomarkers; Biomarkers, Tumor; Breath Tests; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Prospective Studies; Volatile Organic Compounds
PubMed: 32771940
DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.103037 -
Radiotherapy and Oncology : Journal of... Oct 2020Prognosis prediction is central in treatment decision making and quality of life for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, conventional computed... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
Prognosis prediction is central in treatment decision making and quality of life for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, conventional computed tomography (CT) related prognostic factors may not apply to the challenging stage III NSCLC group. The aim of this systematic review was therefore to identify and evaluate CT-related prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) of stage III NSCLC.
METHODS
The Medline, Embase, and Cochrane electronic databases were searched. After study selection, risk of bias was estimated for the included studies. Meta-analysis of univariate results was performed when sufficient data were available.
RESULTS
1595 of the 11,996 retrieved records were selected for full text review, leading to inclusion of 65 studies that reported data of 144,513 stage III NSCLC patients andcompromising 26 unique CT-related prognostic factors. Relevance and validity varied substantially, few studies had low relevance and validity. Only four studies evaluated the added value of new prognostic factors compared with recognized clinical factors. Included studies suggested gross tumor volume (meta-analysis: HR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.05-1.42), tumor diameter, nodal volume, and pleural effusion, are prognostic in patients treated with chemoradiation. Clinical T-stage and location (right/left) were likely not prognostic within stage III NSCLC. Inconclusive are several radiomic features, tumor volume, atelectasis, location (pulmonary lobes, central/peripheral), interstitial lung abnormalities, great vessel invasion, pit-fall sign, and cavitation.
CONCLUSIONS
Tumor-size and nodal size-related factors are prognostic for OS in stage III NSCLC. Future studies should carefully report study characteristics and contrast factors with guideline recognized factors to improve evidence evaluation and validation.
Topics: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Neoplasm Staging; Prognosis; Quality of Life; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 32710990
DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2020.07.030 -
BMC Pulmonary Medicine Jul 2020To systematically evaluate the correlation between percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) and recurrence in stage I lung cancer. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
To systematically evaluate the correlation between percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) and recurrence in stage I lung cancer.
METHODS
The databases of PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data and China Biology Medicine disc were retrieved to collect relevant literatures about the correlation between PTNB and recurrence in stage I lung cancer. The retrieval time was limited from the time of their database establishment to April 30/2020.Screened the literature, extracted the data and assessed the quality of studies included. Then the meta-analysis was performed by using Stata l6.0 software.
RESULTS
A total of 8 cohort studies involving 2760 lung cancer patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that PTNB did not increase the risk of total recurrence and pleural recurrence in the patients with stage I lung cancer. The result of subgroup analysis is according to the tumor location. For stage I lung cancer, PTNB will increase the risk of pleural recurrence in patients with sub-pleural lesions but not in those without sub-pleural lesions.
CONCLUSIONS
To stage I lung cancer, PTNB is not associated with the total recurrence and pleural recurrence but PTNB will increase the risk of pleural recurrence in patients with sub-pleural lesions.
Topics: Biopsy, Needle; Humans; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Neoplasm Seeding; Neoplasm Staging; Pleural Neoplasms
PubMed: 32689974
DOI: 10.1186/s12890-020-01235-2 -
Lung Cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Aug 2020The prognostic role of BRCA1 associated protein-1 (BAP1) expression in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a matter of debate. We aimed to clarify whether MPM... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
The prognostic role of BRCA1 associated protein-1 (BAP1) expression in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a matter of debate. We aimed to clarify whether MPM patients with loss of BAP1 expression have better overall survival (OS) compared to BAP1 positive patients.
METHODS
BAP1 immunohistochemical staining of tumor samples from 60 MPM patients treated at our institution with first-line chemotherapy was evaluated. A systematic literature search was also performed. Only cohort studies that investigated BAP1 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and reported hazard ratio (HR) values for OS obtained through multivariate analysis (or adjusted for histotype) were considered. A dataset comprising 638 MPM patients was added to our cohort and included in the meta-analysis.
RESULTS
In our cohort, 23 samples (38 %) were BAP1 positive/retained (≥1 %) and 37 samples (62 %) were BAP1 negative/loss. BAP1 loss was associated with epithelioid histotype (p 0.01). Median OS times were 14.8 months (95 % CI: 10.7-29.3) and 18.1 months (95 % CI: 11.2-25.8) for negative and positive BAP1 expression, respectively (p 0.2). At multivariate analysis, again no differences were observed among the two groups (p 0.81). Similarly, the meta-analysis consisting of 698 patients showed no difference in terms of OS according to BAP1 status (HR 1.11; 95 % CI, 0·76-1·61; p 0.60).
CONCLUSIONS
BAP1 expression is not an independent prognostic factor for MPM patients and it should not be considered without taking into account tumor histotype. Future studies should investigate its predictive role in patients treated with new emerging therapies such as immunotherapy.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lung Neoplasms; Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma, Malignant; Prognosis; Tumor Suppressor Proteins; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
PubMed: 32622302
DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2020.06.024 -
European Journal of Cardio-thoracic... Jul 2020Recent studies have suggested the usefulness of preoperative bronchoscopic marking techniques for the localization of pulmonary nodules in thoracic surgery. This... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
Recent studies have suggested the usefulness of preoperative bronchoscopic marking techniques for the localization of pulmonary nodules in thoracic surgery. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of preoperative bronchoscopic marking.
METHODS
The PubMed and Cochrane Library databases were searched for clinical studies evaluating preoperative bronchoscopic marking for pulmonary resection. Non-comparative and random effects model-based meta-analyses were conducted to calculate the pooled success and complication rates of bronchoscopic marking.
RESULTS
Twenty-five eligible studies were included. Among these, 15 studies conducted dye marking under electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy, 4 used virtual-assisted lung mapping and 7 used other marking methods. The overall pooled successful marking rate, successful resection rate and complete resection rate were 0.97 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95-0.99], 0.98 (95% CI 0.96-1.00) and 1.00 (95% CI 1.00-1.00), respectively. The overall pooled rates of pleural injury and pulmonary haemorrhage were 0.02 (95% CI 0.01-0.05) and 0.00 (95% CI 0.00-0.00), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
This meta-analysis demonstrated that bronchoscopic marking is very safe and effective. Bronchoscopic marking should be considered, especially if there are concerns about the safety of other localization methods.
Topics: Bronchoscopy; Humans; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted
PubMed: 32563193
DOI: 10.1093/ejcts/ezaa050 -
The European Respiratory Journal Jun 2020The European Respiratory Society (ERS)/European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS)/European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)/European Society for...
The European Respiratory Society (ERS)/European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS)/European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS)/European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) task force brought together experts to update previous 2009 ERS/ESTS guidelines on management of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), a rare cancer with globally poor outcome, after a systematic review of the 2009-2018 literature. The evidence was appraised using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. The evidence syntheses were discussed and recommendations formulated by this multidisciplinary group of experts. Diagnosis: pleural biopsies remain the gold standard to confirm the diagnosis, usually obtained by thoracoscopy but occasionally image-guided percutaneous needle biopsy in cases of pleural symphysis or poor performance status. Pathology: standard staining procedures are insufficient in ∼10% of cases, justifying the use of specific markers, including and () for the separation of atypical mesothelial proliferation from MPM. Staging: in the absence of a uniform, robust and validated staging system, we advise using the most recent 2016 8th TNM (tumour, node, metastasis) classification, with an algorithm for pre-therapeutic assessment. Monitoring: patient's performance status, histological subtype and tumour volume are the main prognostic factors of clinical importance in routine MPM management. Other potential parameters should be recorded at baseline and reported in clinical trials. Treatment: (chemo)therapy has limited efficacy in MPM patients and only selected patients are candidates for radical surgery. New promising targeted therapies, immunotherapies and strategies have been reviewed. Because of limited data on the best combination treatment, we emphasise that patients who are considered candidates for a multimodal approach, including radical surgery, should be treated as part of clinical trials in MPM-dedicated centres.
Topics: Humans; Medical Oncology; Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma, Malignant; Pleural Neoplasms; Surgeons
PubMed: 32451346
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00953-2019