1,721,014 research outputs found
Electroporation in laboratory and clinical investigations
No full textElectroporation is a widespread technique adopted to increase the uptake of molecules by biological targets. This approach is gaining momentum due to its low cost and feasibility both in basic and in applied science. Notwithstanding the raise in interest in this method at scientific and clinical level, there are very few books completely dedicated to this argument. The principal purpose of this book is a comprehensive and up to date overview on electroporation in mathematic modeling, bioengineering, molecular biology, plant biology, pathology, veterinary and human oncology. © 2012 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved
Optical coherence tomography for presurgical margin assessment of non-melanoma skin cancer - a practical approach
No full textIn the clinical setting, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is applicable for the non-invasive diagnosis of skin cancer and may in particular be used for margin definition prior to excision. In this regard, OCT may improve the success rate of removing tumor lesions more effectively, preventing repetitive excision, which may subsequently result in smaller excisions. In this study, we have aimed to evaluate the applicability of OCT for in vivo presurgical margin assessment of non-melanocytic skin tumors (NMSC) and to describe the feasibility of different scanning techniques. A total number of 18 patients planned for excision of lesions suspicious of NMSC were included in this study. Based on OCT, we defined the specific tumor margins on 19 lesions preoperatively using different scanning modalities. Sixty-one margin points and five complete tumor margins were analysed on 18 patients with a total of 19 lesions including 63% basal cell carcinoma (BCC) (n = 12), 16% (n = 3) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 21% of other types of skin tumors (n = 4) were classified. In 84% of the cases (n = 16), the OCT-defined lateral margins correctly indicated complete removal of the tumor. The surgical margins chosen by the surgeon never fell below the OCT-defined margin. Regarding the techniques of marginal definition, punctual tumor border scan in the perpendicular direction, with an extension of free-run scans for unsure cases can hardly be recommended. This study shows that suspected NMSC can effectively be confirmed, and furthermore, resection margin can be minimized under OCT control without reducing the rate of complete removal. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Preclinical models in electrochemotherapy: The role of veterinary patients
No full textElectrochemotherapy is a tumor treatment that adapts the systemic or local delivery of anticancer drugs by the application of permeabilizing electric pulses with appropriate amplitude and waveforms. This allows the use of lipophobic drugs, which frequently have a narrow therapeutic index, with a decreased morbidity for the patient, while maintaining appropriate anticancer efficacy. Electrochemotherapy is used in humans for the treatment of cutaneous neoplasms or the palliation of skin tumor metastases, and a standard operating procedure has been devised. In veterinary oncology, the electrochemotherapy approach is gaining popularity, becoming a first-line treatment in consideration of its high efficacy and low toxicity. This review summarizes the state of the art in veterinary oncology as a preclinical model. © 2012 Future Medicine Ltd
Electrochemotherapy palliation of an oral squamous cell carcinoma in an African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)
No full textA five-year-old female African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) was referred for a one month growing oral mass. The hedgehog was quiet, alert and responsive, with a 1.00 × 1.50 cm ulcerated lesion on the mandible. The patient was staged with total body radiographs, hematological and biochemical analyses and the mass was biopsied under anesthesia. The excised tissue was reported to be a squamous cell carcinoma. At this time, due to the extension of the mass, a surgical excision was not a therapeutic option and the tumor was palliated with electrochemotherapy (ECT). Monthly sessions of ECT were performed using intra-lesional bleomycin injection followed by trains of biphasic electric pulses. The treatment was well tolerated and the patient remained in partial remission for five months until tumor progression. At that time the pet was euthanized. The ECT resulted in improved local control and should be considered as a possible adjuvant treatment in exotic pets with advanced tumors
Adjuvant electrochemotherapy for the treatment of incompletely resected canine mast cell tumors
No full textBackground: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a novel anticancer therapy that combines the delivery of trains of appropriate waveforms with the local administration of chemotherapy agents. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the adjuvant potentials of ECT for the treatment of incompletely excised mast cell tumors (MCT). Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight privately-owned dogs with incompletely removed MCT were treated with intralesional bleomycin (1.5 IU/cm2) followed by the application of trains of biphasic pulses (8 pulses, 1300 V/cm, 50 + 50 μs duration, 1 Hz frequency). Results: The overall response rate was 85% with a mean estimated time to recurrence of 52.76±6.5 months (range: 39.99 to 65.54 months, 95% CI). At the time of writing this report, the median survival time was not reached. Three dogs died of metastatic disease that they developed at the same time of local recurrence, one developed multiple cutaneous nodules at different locations and one with recurrence was re-treated and is currently disease-free after 22 months. No major local or systemic toxicities were noted for the duration of the study. Conclusion: ECT is a safe and effective therapy for incompletely excised MCTs in companion animals. Its ease of administration, lack of toxicities and low cost make it an attractive alternative to standard treatments and warrants further investigation
COX-2 overexpression in canine tumors: potential therapeutic targets in oncology
No full textCyclooxygenases catalyze the initial, rate-limiting steps of prostaglandin synthesis from arachidonic acid. Two isoforms of this enzyme exist in mammalian and avian species: COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 is constitutively expressed and is the major isoform of gastrointestinal tissue. COX-2 is induced in response to inflammatory stimuli. COX-2 has been implicated in carcinogenesis of several neoplasms. Furthermore, COX-2 over-expression has been noted in many solid tumours and has been correlated with a worse prognosis in colorectal cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer, mesothelioma and gastric cancer. In this review, the most recent findings on the mechanisms by which COX-2 promote tumorigenesis are discussed, with particular emphasis on the studies involving spontaneous canine neoplasms
Prostate as Sole Unusual Recurrence Site of Lymphoma in a Dog
No full textA ten-year-old intact male Rottweiler dog was examined for sudden onset of stranguria and pollakiuria. The dog had an intestinal lymphoma treated three years before with chemotherapy. Ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen showed a large dyshomogeneous prostate with an over-distended bladder. Cytological examination of the fine-needle aspirate from the prostate yielded a diagnosis of lymphoma. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination. The dog was treated with multi-drug chemotherapy and achieved a complete remission. The dog remained in complete remission for one year from the re-institution of chemotherapy before dying of recurrence. Lymphoma rarely invades the prostate in the dog. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of prostatic recurrence of lymphoma in a canine patient originally affected by intestinal lymphoma and treated with chemotherapy
Potential role of electrochemotherapy for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma: First insights from preclinical studies in animals
No full textLocal management of soft tissue sarcoma in humans generally involves multi-modality approaches whose cornerstones are surgery combined with radiation therapy. The usual radiation protocols are based on preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative external beam treatment or adjuvant brachytherapy. The aim of these strategies is to maximize tumor control while minimizing side effects, especially in the case of limb sarcomas. Unfortunately, the rate of local wound complication associated with aggressive surgical management and radiation therapy are still elevated. Electrochemotherapy is an anticancer technique that gained popularity over the past 15 years. It involves the administration of anticancer agents to the application of permeabilizing pulses so to increase the uptake of antitumor molecules. Goal of this review is to underline the advances in this field obtained from animal studies in order to point out the possible therapeutic applications of this technique for the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas in humans. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Adjuvant electrochemotherapy in veterinary patients: a model for the planning of future therapies in humans
Full text linkAbstract The treatment of soft tissue tumors needs the coordinated adoption of surgery with radiation therapy and eventually, chemotherapy. The radiation therapy (delivered with a linear accelerator) can be preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative. In selected patients adjuvant brachytherapy can be adopted. The goal of these associations is to achieve tumor control while maximally preserving the normal tissues from side effects. Unfortunately, the occurrence of local and distant complications is still elevated. Electrochemotherapy is a novel technique that combines the administration of anticancer agents to the application of permeabilizing pulses in order to increase the uptake of antitumor molecules. While its use in humans is still confined to the treatment of cutaneous neoplasms or the palliation of skin tumor metastases, in veterinary oncology this approach is rapidly becoming a primary treatment. This review summarizes the recent progresses in preclinical oncology and their possible transfer to humans.</p
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