| 1. |
- Bergström, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Dual-headed Coincidence PET vs. Dedicated PET/CT in the Evaluation of Thoracic Malignancies
- 2010
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In: In Vivo. - 0258-851X .- 1791-7549. ; 24:2, s. 235-238
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of coincidence PET imaging as compared with dedicated PET/CT in cancer staging. Patients and Methods: Sixteen patients with thoracic malignancies referred to a PET/CT examination accepted to repeat the acquisition with a coincidence PET system. One experienced nuclear medicine physician compiled a report from the PET/CT examinations and the coincidence PET images. The reports were compared and evaluated according to the degree of agreement: no agreement, unsatisfactory, acceptable or satisfying agreement. Results: Satisfying or acceptable agreement between the PET/CT and the coincidence PET examination was found in 14 out of 16 patients (88%). The main issue for the examining physician was to anatomically locate the FDG uptake in the mediastinum in The coincidence PET images. Conclusion: The data from this small study imply that the staging results obtained with coincidence PET are in most cases concordant with those obtained with dedicated PET/CT.
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| 2. |
- Rao, Shuan, et al.
(author)
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RANK rewires energy homeostasis in lung cancer cells and drives primary lung cancer
- 2017
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In: Genes & Development. - : Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. - 0890-9369 .- 1549-5477. ; 31:20, s. 2099-2112
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. Besides smoking, epidemiological studies have linked female sex hormones to lung cancer in women; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we report that the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB (RANK), the key regulator of osteoclastogenesis, is frequently expressed in primary lung tumors, an active RANK pathway correlates with decreased survival, and pharmacologic RANK inhibition reduces tumor growth in patient-derived lung cancer xenografts. Clonal genetic inactivation of KRas(G12D) in mouse lung epithelial cells markedly impairs the progression of KRas(G12D)-driven lung cancer, resulting in a significant survival advantage. Mechanistically, RANK rewires energy homeostasis in human and murine lung cancer cells and promotes expansion of lung cancer stem-like cells, which is blocked by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration. Our data also indicate survival differences in KRas(G12D)-driven lung cancer between male and female mice, and we show that female sex hormones can promote lung cancer progression via the RANK pathway. These data uncover a direct role for RANK in lung cancer and may explain why female sex hormones accelerate lung cancer development. Inhibition of RANK using the approved drug denosumab may be a therapeutic drug candidate for primary lung cancer.
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| 5. |
- Agnarsdóttir, Margrét, 1970-, et al.
(author)
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Protein Biomarkers in Malignant Melanoma: An Image Analysis-Based Study on Melanoma Markers of Potential Clinical Relevance
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The thickness of a primary malignant melanoma tumor is the most important prognostic indicator for a patient with primary cutaneous malignant melanoma. To optimize the management and treatment of melanoma patients there is an unmet need to identify characteristics that can further stratify melanoma patients into high or low risk for progressive disease. Despite numerous studies no single marker has yet been shown to add significant prognostic information. An algorithmic approach, combining data from several markers provides an attractive model to identify patients of increased risk of dying from malignant melanoma. The primary aim of the present study was to analyze the correlation between clinical outcome and protein expression patterns of multiple proteins in malignant melanoma tumors using immunohistochemistry and tissue microarrays. Candidate proteins were identified based on a selective and differential expression pattern in melanoma tumors and tested in a cohort of 143 melanoma patients. Protein expression was analyzed using both manual scoring and automated image analysis-based algorithms. We found no single marker of prognosis that was independent of tumor thickness. When combining potential prognostic markers we could define a prognostic index, based on RBM3, MITF, SOX10 and Ki-67, that was independent of tumor thickness in multivariate analysis. Our findings suggest that a good prognosis signature can be identified in melanoma patients with tumors showing a low fraction of Ki-67 positive tumor cells and a high fraction of RBM3 positive tumor cells combined with low intensity levels of SOX10 and MITF.
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| 6. |
- Agnarsdóttir, Margrét, et al.
(author)
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SOX10 expression in superficial spreading and nodular malignant melanomas
- 2010
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In: Melanoma research. - 0960-8931 .- 1473-5636. ; 20:6, s. 468-478
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- SOX10 is a transcription factor expressed in nerve cells and melanocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the protein expression pattern of SOX10 in malignant melanoma tumors and to analyze whether the results correlated with clinical parameters and the proliferation marker Ki-67. Furthermore, proliferation and migration were analyzed in three different cell lines employing SOX10 small interfering RNA-mediated silencing. Expression patterns were determined in 106 primary tumors and 39 metastases in addition to 16 normal skin samples and six benign nevi employing immunohistochemistry and tissue microarrays. The immunohistochemical staining was evaluated manually and with an automated algorithm. SOX10 was strongly expressed in the benign tissues, but for the malignant tumors superficial spreading melanomas stained stronger than nodular malignant melanomas (P = 0.008). The staining intensity was also inversely correlated with T-stage (Spearman's rho = -0.261, P = 0.008). Overall survival and time to recurrence were significantly correlated with SOX10 intensity, but not in multivariate analysis including T-stage. With the automated algorithm there was an inverse correlation between the SOX10 staining intensity and the proliferation marker, Ki-67 (rho = -0.173, P = 0.02) and a significant difference in the intensity signal between the benign tissues, the primary tumors and the metastases where the metastases stained the weakest (P <= 0.001). SOX10 downregulation resulted in variable effects on proliferation and migration rates in the melanoma cell lines. In conclusion, the SOX10 intensity level differed depending on the tissue studied and SOX10 might have a role in survival. No conclusion regarding the role of SOX10 for in-vitro proliferation and migration could be drawn. Melanoma Res 20:468-478
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| 7. |
- Anand, Kanwlajeet J. S., et al.
(author)
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Assessment of continuous pain in newborns admitted to NICUs in 18 European countries
- 2017
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In: Acta Paediatrica. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 106:8, s. 1248-1259
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: Continuous pain occurs routinely, even after invasive procedures, or inflammation and surgery, but clinical practices associated with assessments of continuous pain remain unknown.Methods: A prospective cohort study in 243 Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) from 18 European countries recorded frequency of pain assessments, use of mechanical ventilation, sedation, analgesia, or neuromuscular blockade for each neonate upto 28 days after NICU admission.Results: Only 2113/6648 (31·8%) of neonates received assessments of continuous pain, occurring variably among tracheal ventilation (TrV, 46·0%), noninvasive ventilation (NiV, 35·0%), and no ventilation (NoV, 20·1%) groups (p<0·001). Daily assessments for continuous pain occurred in only 10·4% of all neonates (TrV: 14·0%, NiV: 10·7%, NoV: 7·6%; p<0·001). More frequent assessments of continuous pain occurred in NICUs with pain guidelines, nursing champions, and surgical admissions prompted (all p<0·01), and for newborns <32 weeks gestational age, those requiring ventilation, or opioids, sedatives-hypnotics, general anesthetics (O-SH-GA) (all p<0·001), or surgery (p=0·028). Use of O-SH-GA drugs increased the odds for pain assessment in the TrV (OR:1·60, p<0·001) and NiV groups (OR:1·40, p<0·001).Conclusion: Assessments of continuous pain occurred in less than one-third of NICU admissions, and daily in only 10% of neonates. NICU clinical practices should consider including routine assessments of continuous pain in newborns.
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| 8. |
- Asklund, Thomas, et al.
(author)
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Brain tumors in Sweden : Data from a population-based registry 1999-2012
- 2015
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In: Acta Oncologica. - : Informa Healthcare. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 54:3, s. 377-384
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background. The Swedish brain tumor registry has, since it was launched in 1999, provided significant amounts of data on histopathological diagnoses and on important aspects of surgical and medical management of these patients. The purpose is mainly quality control, but also as a resource for research.Methods. Three Swedish healthcare regions, constituting 40% of the Swedish population, have had an almost complete registration. The following parameters are registered: diagnosis according to SNOMED/WHO classification, symptoms, performance status, pre- and postoperative radiology, tumor size and localization, extent of surgery and occurrence of postoperative complications, postoperative treatment, such as radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, other treatments, complications and toxicity, occurrence of reoperation/s, participation in clinical trials, multidisciplinary conferences and availability of a contact nurse.Results. Surgical radicality has been essentially constant, whereas the use of early (within 72 hours) postoperative CT and MRI has increased, especially for high-grade glioma, which is a reflection of quality of surgery. Survival of patients with high-grade glioma has increased, especially in the age group 60-69. Patients aged 18-39 years had a five-year survival of 40%. Waiting times for the pathological report has been slightly prolonged. Geographical differences do exist for some of the variables.Conclusion. Population-based registration is valuable for assessment of clinical management, which could have impact on patient care. As a result of short survival and/or the propensity to affect cognitive functions this patient group has considerable difficulties to make their voices heard in society. We therefore believe that a report like the present one can contribute to the spread of knowledge and increase the awareness for this patient group among caregivers and policy makers.
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| 9. |
- Bergqvist, Michael, et al.
(author)
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Characteristics and Long-Term OS of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Receiving EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Treatment
- 2018
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In: Journal of Thoracic Oncology. - : Elsevier. - 1556-0864 .- 1556-1380. ; 13:10, s. S419-S419
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are important therapeutic agents in treatment of EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, long-term follow-up and knowledge of clinical factors and TKI treatment patterns, which may be associated with longer OS, remains unclear. Using nationwide registry data, the aim was to investigate survival, prognostic factors for OS, and first line TKI treatment pattern of stage IIIB/IV NSCLC patients in Sweden.Method: In this cohort study, data on all patients diagnosed with stage IIIB-IV NSCLC during 2010—2015 from the nationwide Cancer Registry of Sweden were linked with data on dispensed EGFR-TKI drugs, comorbidity, and mortality data from Swedish national health registries. OS was defined as the interval from date of diagnosis until date of death. Survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Assessment of predictive factors for OS was performed in multivariable Cox regression.Result: Of 9,992 stage IIIB/IV NSCLC patients (mean age 70 years, female 49%), 1419 (14%) received first-line TKI treatment. Overall, 59% of TKI treated patients (median age 68 years) were female, 44% had at least one comorbidity, 85% had adenocarcinoma, and 89% were stage IV. Median follow-up time was 15 months and median OS was 16 months; 1- and 3-years survival rates were 62% and 15%, respectively. Predictors of longer OS were younger age at diagnosis, adenocarcinoma, less advanced clinical stage, and less comorbid disease. Furthermore, patients included in the end of the period had a longer OS compared to earlier. TKI treatment switching/re-challenging, as well as prolonged TKI treatment, also predicted longer OS.Conclusion: This is the first nationwide study on NSCLC patients receiving first-line EGFR TKIs in routine clinical practice in Sweden. In addition to the reported prolonged TKI treatment length and TKI switching/re-challenging during the observation period, improvements and extension of EGFR testing targeting the appropriate NSCLC patient population may further have contributed to the observed relatively long overall survival.
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