| 1. |
- Berglund, Anders, et al.
(författare)
-
Social inequalities in non-small cell lung cancer management and survival : a population-based study in central Sweden
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Thorax. - : BMJ. - 0040-6376 .- 1468-3296. ; 65:4, s. 327-333
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives To examine possible associations between socioeconomic status, management and survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods In a population-based cohort study, information was retrieved from the Regional Lung Cancer Register in central Sweden, the Cause of Death Register and a social database. ORs and HRs were compared to assess associations between educational level and management and survival. Results 3370 eligible patients with an NSCLC diagnosis between 1996 and 2004 were identified. There were no differences in stage at diagnosis between educational groups. A higher diagnostic intensity was observed in patients with high compared with low education. There were also social gradients in time between referral and diagnosis in early stage disease ( median time: low, 32 days; high, 17 days). Social differences in treatment remained following adjustment for prognostic factors ( surgery in early stage disease, high vs low OR 2.84; CI 1.40 to 5.79). Following adjustment for prognostic factors and treatment, the risk of death in early stage disease was lower in women with a high education ( high vs low HR 0.33; CI 0.14 to 0.77). Conclusion The results of this study indicate that socioeconomically disadvantaged groups with NSCLC receive less intensive care. Low education remained an independent predictor of poor survival only in women with early stage disease. The exact underlying mechanisms of these social inequalities are unknown, but differences in access to care, co-morbidity and lifestyle factors may all contribute.
|
|
| 2. |
- Eriksson, Hanna, et al.
(författare)
-
Low level of education is associated with later stage at diagnosis and reduced survival in cutaneous malignant melanoma : A nationwide population-based study in Sweden
- 2013
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Cancer. - Oxford : Elsevier. - 0959-8049 .- 1879-0852. ; 49:12, s. 2705-2716
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND:A worse outcome has been reported for cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) patients with low socioeconomic status. We have investigated the association between level of education, clinical stage at diagnosis (stage at diagnosis) and CMM-specific survival in Sweden.METHODS:We identified 27,235 patients from the Swedish Melanoma Register diagnosed with a primary invasive CMM between 1990 and 2007 and linked data to nationwide, population-based, health and census registers with a follow-up to 2010.RESULTS:The odds ratio (OR) of higher disease stage at diagnosis was significantly increased in lower education groups (OR stage II versus I=1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.5-1.7. OR stage III-IV versus I=2.3; 95% CI=1.8-2.9). The risk of dying of CMM, was significantly increased in patients with low (hazard ratio (HR) low versus high=2.02; 95% CI=1.80-2.26; p<0.0001) and intermediate (HR intermediate versus high=1.35; 95% CI=1.20-1.51; p<0.0001) level of education. After adjustment for age, gender, stage at diagnosis and other known prognostic factors, the HRs remained significant for low versus high (HR=1.13; 95% CI=1.01-1.27; p=0.04) but not for intermediate versus high (HR=1.11; 95% CI=0.99-1.24; p=0.08) education. The HR associated with low level of education was significantly higher among female patients, patients <55years, patients with truncal tumours and during the first 5years after diagnosis.CONCLUSION:Lower level of education is associated with reduced CMM-specific survival, which may at least partially be attributed to a more advanced stage at diagnosis. These results emphasise the need for improved early detection strategies.
|
|
| 3. |
- Hallqvist, Andreas, 1973, et al.
(författare)
-
Concurrent cetuximab and radiotherapy after docetaxel-cisplatin induction chemotherapy in stage III NSCLC : Satellite-A phase II study from the Swedish Lung Cancer Study Group
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Lung Cancer. - : Elsevier BV. - 0169-5002 .- 1872-8332. ; 71:2, s. 166-172
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Several attempts to increase the locoregional control in locally advanced lung cancer including concurrent chemotherapy, accelerated fractionation and dose escalation have been made during the last years. As the EGFR directed antibody cetuximab has shown activity concurrent with radiotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, as well as in stage IV NSCLC combined with chemotherapy, we wanted to investigate radiotherapy with concurrent cetuximab in locally advanced NSCLC, a tumour type often over expressing the EGF-receptor. Methods: Between February 2006 and August 2007 75 patients in stage Ill NSCLC with good performance status (PS 0 or 1) and adequate lung function (FEV1 > 1.0) were enrolled in this phase II study at eight institutions. Treatment consisted of 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy, docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) and cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) with 3 weeks interval. An initial dose of cetuximab 400 mg/m(2) was given before start of 3D-CRT to 68 Gy with 2 Gy per fraction in 7 weeks concurrent with weekly cetuximab 250 mg/m(2). Toxicity was scored weekly during radiotherapy (CTC 3.0), and after treatment the patients were followed every third month with CT-scans, toxicity scoring and QLQ. Results: Seventy-one patients were eligible for analysis as four were incorrectly enrolled. Histology: adenocarcinoma 49%, squamous cell carcinoma 39% and other NSCLC 12%. The majority had PS 0 (62.5%), median age 62.2 (42-81), 50% were women and 37% had a pre-treatment weight loss > 5%. Toxicity: esophagitis grade 1-2: 72%; grade 3:1.4%. Hypersensitivity reactions grade 3-4: 5.6%. Febrile neutropenia grade 3-4: 15.4%. Skin reactions grade 1-2: 74%; grade 3: 4.2%. Diarrhoea grade 1-2: 38%; grade 3: 11.3%. Pneumonitis grade 1-2: 26.8%; grade 3: 4.2%; grade 5:1.4%. The median follow-up was 39 months for patients alive and the median survival was 17 months with a 1-, 2- and 3-year OS of 66%, 37% and 29% respectively. Until now local or regional failure has occurred in 20 patients and 22 patients have developed distant metastases. Weight loss, PS and stage were predictive for survival in univariate as well as in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent cetuximab and RT to 68 Gy is clearly feasible with promising survival. Toxicity, e.g. pneumonitis and esophagitis is low compared to most schedules with concurrent chemotherapy. This treatment strategy should be evaluated in a randomised manner vs. concurrent chemoradiotherapy to find out if it is a valid treatment option.
|
|
| 4. |
- Lyth, Johan, et al.
(författare)
-
Prognostic subclassifications of T1 cutaneous melanomas based on ulceration, tumour thickness and Clark’s level of invasion : results of a population-based study from the Swedish Melanoma Register
- 2013
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Dermatology. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0007-0963 .- 1365-2133. ; 168:4, s. 779-786
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Survival and prognostic factors for thin melanomas have been studied relatively little in population-based settings. This patient group accounts for the majority of melanomas diagnosed in western countries today, and better prognostic information is needed.Objectives The aim of this study was to use established prognostic factors such as ulceration, tumour thickness and Clark’s level of invasion for risk stratification of T1 cutaneous melanoma.Methods From 1990 to 2008, the Swedish Melanoma Register included 97% of all melanomas diagnosed in Sweden. Altogether, 13 026 patients with T1 melanomas in clinical stage I were used for estimating melanoma-specific 10- and 15-year mortality rates. The Cox regression model was used for further survival analysis on 11 165 patients with complete data.Results Ulceration, tumour thickness and Clark’s level of invasion all showed significant, independent, long-term prognostic information. By combining these factors the patients could be subdivided into three risk groups: a low-risk group (67·9% of T1 cases) with a 10-year melanoma-specific mortality rate of 1·5% (1·2–1·9%); an intermediate-risk group (28·6% of T1 cases) with a 10-year mortality rate of 6·1% (5·0–7·3%); and a high-risk group (3·5% of T1 cases) with a 10-year mortality rate of 15·6% (11·2–21·4%). The high- and intermediate-risk groups accounted for 66% of melanoma deaths within T1.Conclusions Using a population-based melanoma register, and combining ulceration, tumour thickness and Clark’s level of invasion, three distinct prognostic subgroups were identified.
|
|
| 5. |
- Sadeghi, Arian, et al.
(författare)
-
Rapid expansion of T cells : Effects of culture and cryopreservation and importance of short-term cell recovery
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Acta Oncologica. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 52:5, s. 978-986
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundSuccessful cell therapy relies on the identification and mass expansion of functional cells for infusion. Cryopreservation of cells is an inevitable step in most cell therapies which also entails consequences for the frozen cells.Material and methodsThis study assessed the impact of cryopreservation and the widely used protocol for rapid expansion of T lymphocytes. The effects on cell viability, immunocompetence and the impact on apoptotic and immunosuppressive marker expression were analyzed using validated assays.Results and conclusionCryopreservation of lymphocytes during the rapid expansion protocol did not affect cell viability. Lymphocytes that underwent mass expansion or culture in high dose IL-2 were unable to respond to PHA stimulation by intracellular ATP production immediately after thawing (ATP = 16 ± 11 ng/ml). However, their reactivity to PHA was regained within 48 hours of recovery (ATP = 356 ± 61 ng/ml). Analysis of mRNA levels revealed downregulation of TGF-β and IL-10 at all time points. Culture in high dose IL-2 led to upregulation of p73 and BCL-2 mRNA levels while FoxP3 expression was elevated after culture in IL-2 and artificial TCR stimuli. FoxP3 levels decreased after short-term recovery without IL-2 or stimulation. Antigen specificity, as determined by IFNγ secretion, was unaffected by cryopreservation but was completely lost after addition of high dose IL-2 and artificial TCR stimuli. In conclusion, allowing short-time recovery of mass expanded and cryopreserved cells before reinfusion could enhance the outcome of adoptive cell therapy as the cells regain immune competence and specificity.
|
|
| 6. |
- Ullenhag, Gustav J, et al.
(författare)
-
Adoptive T-cell therapy for malignant melanoma patients with TILs obtained by ultrasound-guided needle biopsy
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-7004 .- 1432-0851. ; 61:5, s. 725-732
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Adoptive cell therapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) can mediate objective responses in up to 50% of malignant melanoma patients with a good performance status refractory to standard treatments. Current protocols for generation of TILs rely on open surgery for access to tumor tissue. We obtained tumor material by ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy or surgery from melanoma patients with progressive disease and were able to isolate >5 × 10(6) TILs from 23 of 24 patients who were subsequently treated with these cells. One-third of the individual TIL-positive cultures displayed interferon gamma activity after stimulation with relevant melanoma cell lines. When expanded TILs were used for treatment in combination with daily low dose s.c. IL-2 after prior lymphodepleting chemotherapy, we observed objective clinical responses in one patient treated with TILs obtained from surgery and 4 patients treated with TILs from core biopsies. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time the potential of core biopsies for generation of relevant numbers of TILs that can mediate objective responses in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy is a robust, safe and inexpensive approach to obtain tumor tissue for TIL generation, and is especially valuable in instances where surgery is contraindicated.
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
