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- Gkekas, Ioannis, et al.
(författare)
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Microsatellite instability as a prognostic factor in stage II colon cancer patients : a meta-analysis of published literature
- 2017
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Ingår i: Anticancer Research. - : Anticancer Research USA Inc.. - 0250-7005 .- 1791-7530. ; 37:12, s. 6563-6574
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND/AIM: The prognostic role of microsatellite instability (MSI) in stage II colon cancer patients remains controversial despite the fact that it has been investigated in a number of studies. Hazard ratios differ considerably among these studies. We performed a meta-analysis to define the significance of MSI in this group of patients.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies indexed in PubMed presenting separate data on MSI status and survival outcomes for stage II colon cancer patients have been analyzed using fixed-effect meta-analysis of hazard ratio (HR) according to the method of Peto.RESULTS: Analysis was performed on 19 studies including 5,998 patients. A 47.3% of patients received postoperative chemotherapy and included 52.8% males and 47.2% females. Eight studies included some rectal cancer patients although this cohort was not clearly defined in 3 of these. MSI observed in 20.8% (mean) of patients (median 19.9%). HR for overall survival (OS) of MSI vs. microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors for the entire population: 0.73 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.33-1.65); HR for disease-free survival (DFS):0.60 (95%CI=0.27-1.32). No statistical significant difference was found when studies analyzing MSI with genotyping (MG) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were compared separately (MG vs. IHC: HR OS 0.45, 95%CI=0.10-2.05 vs. 0.95, 95%CI=0.57-1.58; HR DFS 0.51, 95%CI=0.14-1.85 vs. 0.67, 95%CI=0.26-1.70). However, numerically MSI determination with genotyping shows significantly lower hazard ratios for both DFS and OS. Separate analysis of studies describing colon cancer patients only showed HR OS 0.72 (95%CI=0.31-1.71); HR DFS 0.60 (95%CI=0.27-1.31).CONCLUSION: No significant relation was found between MSI status and OS or DFS. Routine determination of MSI status to guide postoperative management of stage II colon cancer patients cannot be recommended. New large scale high quality studies are needed to answer this question definitively, since currently analyzed studies vary considerably.
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| 2. |
- Kaltenbaek, Rainer, et al.
(författare)
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Macroscopic Quantum Resonators (MAQRO) : 2015 update
- 2016
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Ingår i: EPJ Quantum Technology. - : Springer Berlin/Heidelberg. - 2196-0763. ; 3:1
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Do the laws of quantum physics still hold for macroscopic objects - this is at the heart of Schrodinger's cat paradox - or do gravitation or yet unknown effects set a limit for massive particles? What is the fundamental relation between quantum physics and gravity? Ground-based experiments addressing these questions may soon face limitations due to limited free-fall times and the quality of vacuum and microgravity. The proposed mission Macroscopic Quantum Resonators (MAQRO) may overcome these limitations and allow addressing such fundamental questions. MAQRO harnesses recent developments in quantum optomechanics, high-mass matter-wave interferometry as well as state-of-the-art space technology to push macroscopic quantum experiments towards their ultimate performance limits and to open new horizons for applying quantum technology in space. The main scientific goal is to probe the vastly unexplored 'quantum-classical' transition for increasingly massive objects, testing the predictions of quantum theory for objects in a size and mass regime unachievable in ground-based experiments. The hardware will largely be based on available space technology. Here, we present the MAQRO proposal submitted in response to the 4th Cosmic Vision call for a medium-sized mission (M4) in 2014 of the European Space Agency (ESA) with a possible launch in 2025, and we review the progress with respect to the original MAQRO proposal for the 3rd Cosmic Vision call for a medium-sized mission (M3) in 2010. In particular, the updated proposal overcomes several critical issues of the original proposal by relying on established experimental techniques from high-mass matter-wave interferometry and by introducing novel ideas for particle loading and manipulation. Moreover, the mission design was improved to better fulfill the stringent environmental requirements for macroscopic quantum experiments.
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