Browsing by Author "Radenkovic, Sandra (36615697100)"

Purpose: To compare arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion technique with the clinically established dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced (DSC) perfusion weighted-imaging (PWI), and to determine its value in routine MRI evaluation of disease progression in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Methods: A prospective intraindividual study was performed in 31 patients with histologically proven GBM who had clinical and/or radiological deterioration after treatment, including surgery, radiotherapy and therapy with temozolomide. Conventional brain protocol with ASL and DSC techniques was performed on 3T MRI unit. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) maps were analyzed by means of regions of interest (ROI). Each ROI average value was normalized to the contralateral normal brain parenchyma ROI value. Neuroradiologists analyzed CBF and CBV maps separately, and classified patients into progression or pseudoprogression group. Radiological diagnosis was confirmed by clinical-radiological follow-up for at least three months after patient deterioration. Results: High linear correlation existed between DSC-PWI and ASL in the tumor ROI (r=0.733; p<0.001). 92% of ASL CBF maps were informative. ASL detected all lesions as well as DSC MRI. Both techniques provided perfusion values closely correlated. Conclusion: ASL allows distinction between GBM progression and pseudoprogression, and it can be used as reliable alternative to DSC-PWI. © 2017 Zerbinis Publications. All rights reserved.

Purpose: To compare arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion technique with the clinically established dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced (DSC) perfusion weighted-imaging (PWI), and to determine its value in routine MRI evaluation of disease progression in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Methods: A prospective intraindividual study was performed in 31 patients with histologically proven GBM who had clinical and/or radiological deterioration after treatment, including surgery, radiotherapy and therapy with temozolomide. Conventional brain protocol with ASL and DSC techniques was performed on 3T MRI unit. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) maps were analyzed by means of regions of interest (ROI). Each ROI average value was normalized to the contralateral normal brain parenchyma ROI value. Neuroradiologists analyzed CBF and CBV maps separately, and classified patients into progression or pseudoprogression group. Radiological diagnosis was confirmed by clinical-radiological follow-up for at least three months after patient deterioration. Results: High linear correlation existed between DSC-PWI and ASL in the tumor ROI (r=0.733; p<0.001). 92% of ASL CBF maps were informative. ASL detected all lesions as well as DSC MRI. Both techniques provided perfusion values closely correlated. Conclusion: ASL allows distinction between GBM progression and pseudoprogression, and it can be used as reliable alternative to DSC-PWI. © 2017 Zerbinis Publications. All rights reserved.

Background and Objectives: The standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) includes neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT), followed by surgery with or without adjuvant chemotherapy (CT). This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of dose-escalated radiotherapy (RT) using the volumetric modulated arc therapy–simultaneous integrated boost (VMAT–SIB) technique in patients with LARC compared to 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT). Materials and Methods: This study prospectively enrolled 75 patients with LARC. All patients received nCRT using VMAT–SIB, delivering a tumor dose (TD) of 54 Gy in 25 fractions, with concomitant CT following the 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (5-FU–LV) protocol. To compare the treatment outcomes and toxicity associated with the increased RT dose, a retrospective cohort of 62 patients treated with the 3D-CRT technique was analyzed. The 3D-CRT group received a TD of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions with the same CT. Outcomes, including pathological complete response (pCR), tumor regression grade (TRG), and sphincter preservation rates, were compared. Results: Among operated patients, the group treated with VMAT–SIB demonstrated improved rates of pCR (20.6% vs. 8.9%), with a statistically significant trend (p = 0.06). Sphincter-preserving surgeries were performed in 49 out of 63 operated patients (77.8%) in the VMAT–SIB group, compared to 35 out of 56 (62.5%) in the 3D-CRT group. Analysis of the definitive postoperative stage revealed a significantly higher prevalence of lower T categories (T0–2) (p < 0.01), negative N status (p < 0.05), and lower stages (I + II) (p < 0.05) in patients treated with the intensified RT approach. However, no significant differences in acute toxicity were observed. Conclusions: The implementation of intensified treatment with a higher dose using the VMAT–SIB technique demonstrated significant benefits in downsizing and downstaging compared to the standard treatment approach. These findings support its integration into clinical practice. However, further prospective, multi-center studies are needed to validate these results and assess long-term outcomes. © 2025 by the authors.

Purpose: Considering that cyclin D1 had a prognostic and clinical value for breast cancer patients, adequate measurement of cyclin D1 is necessary. Methods: In this investigation, we detect cyclin D1 expression in tumour and peritumoral tissue of breast cancer patients by Western blotting method and by immunohistochemistry. Results: Cyclin D1 expression decreased significantly with each advanced clinical stage of disease and tumour size. Also, patients without lymph node involvement, with positive hormone receptors and Luminal A type of tumours had significantly increased the expression of cyclin D1. We show that cyclin D1 expression correlates with longer RFS in the entire group of patients, in the group of ER-positive and in the group of HER2-negative patients. Patients who were both ER and cyclin D1 positive had a better prognosis. Conclusion: Taken together, our results showing correlation of cyclin D1 with clinical stage, tumour size and lymph nodes, suggest that cyclin D1 expression detected by Western blotting could be considered as an additional marker for the staging of breast cancer, as well as a marker for longer RFS and survival in ER-positive breast cancer patients. © 2021 Zerbinis Publications. All rights reserved.

Purpose: Considering that cyclin D1 had a prognostic and clinical value for breast cancer patients, adequate measurement of cyclin D1 is necessary. Methods: In this investigation, we detect cyclin D1 expression in tumour and peritumoral tissue of breast cancer patients by Western blotting method and by immunohistochemistry. Results: Cyclin D1 expression decreased significantly with each advanced clinical stage of disease and tumour size. Also, patients without lymph node involvement, with positive hormone receptors and Luminal A type of tumours had significantly increased the expression of cyclin D1. We show that cyclin D1 expression correlates with longer RFS in the entire group of patients, in the group of ER-positive and in the group of HER2-negative patients. Patients who were both ER and cyclin D1 positive had a better prognosis. Conclusion: Taken together, our results showing correlation of cyclin D1 with clinical stage, tumour size and lymph nodes, suggest that cyclin D1 expression detected by Western blotting could be considered as an additional marker for the staging of breast cancer, as well as a marker for longer RFS and survival in ER-positive breast cancer patients. © 2021 Zerbinis Publications. All rights reserved.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancers represent a highly aggressive breast cancer subtype and are associated with a worse prognosis. This study was designed to investigate the mammography finding of HER2-positive breast cancer and to compare the results with the characteristics of HER2-negative breast cancer patients. From January 2010 to October 2011, mammography findings of 65 patients with pathologically confirmed HER2-positive breast cancers (n 5 22) or HER2-negative breast cancers (n 5 43) were retrospectively reviewed. The authors also reviewed pathological reports for information on the histological type and differentiation grade. Among the two types of breast cancer patients, estrogen receptornegative/PR-negative/HER2-positive breast cancer patients most commonly had associated calcifications (18 of 22) on mammography. On mammography, cases with a cluster of calcifications usually were presented as pleomorphic calcifications (12 of 20) and branching calcifications (4 of 20). Patients with HER2-positive breast cancers showed a histological grade II. HER2-positive breast cancer patients usually had ductal invasive carcinoma (17 of 22). Moreover, postmenopausal patients showed a significantly higher frequency of HER2-positive tumours. Our results suggest that the imaging findings might be useful in diagnosing HER2-positive breast cancer patients. © The Author 2014.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancers represent a highly aggressive breast cancer subtype and are associated with a worse prognosis. This study was designed to investigate the mammography finding of HER2-positive breast cancer and to compare the results with the characteristics of HER2-negative breast cancer patients. From January 2010 to October 2011, mammography findings of 65 patients with pathologically confirmed HER2-positive breast cancers (n 5 22) or HER2-negative breast cancers (n 5 43) were retrospectively reviewed. The authors also reviewed pathological reports for information on the histological type and differentiation grade. Among the two types of breast cancer patients, estrogen receptornegative/PR-negative/HER2-positive breast cancer patients most commonly had associated calcifications (18 of 22) on mammography. On mammography, cases with a cluster of calcifications usually were presented as pleomorphic calcifications (12 of 20) and branching calcifications (4 of 20). Patients with HER2-positive breast cancers showed a histological grade II. HER2-positive breast cancer patients usually had ductal invasive carcinoma (17 of 22). Moreover, postmenopausal patients showed a significantly higher frequency of HER2-positive tumours. Our results suggest that the imaging findings might be useful in diagnosing HER2-positive breast cancer patients. © The Author 2014.

Background: Constitutive activation of STAT3 have been shown in several tumor types including breast cancer. We investigate STAT3 expresion as possible molecular marker for breast cancer early detection, as well as prognostic factor for determination of tumor agressiveness. Methods: In this study we measure p(Y705)STAT3 expression in tumor and adjacent tissue of breast cancer patients by Western blot. For relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) we used Log-Rank test. Results: We show that average expression of p (Y705) STAT3 in tumor tissue is higher compared to adjacent tissue. Moreover, we found that patients with HER2 positive receptors had significantly higher pSTAT3 expression compared to HER2 negative patients. We showed that patients with high mammographic density had significantly higher tumor expression of pSTAT3 compared to patients with low mammographic density. Also, we show that pSTAT3 expression correlates with longer RFS in the entire group of patients, as well as in the group of ER positive, in lymph node positive and in older group of breast cancer patients (with age over 50). Furthermore, in the entire group of patients, in ER positive, in lymph node positive and in older group of patient, high expression of pSTAT3 showed a better survival than low expression of pSTAT3. Conclusion: Considering that the expression of pSTAT3 is associated with longer RFS and survival, it can be used as prognostic tools for determination of group of breast cancer patients with low-risk. © 2018 Elsevier GmbH

Background: Constitutive activation of STAT3 have been shown in several tumor types including breast cancer. We investigate STAT3 expresion as possible molecular marker for breast cancer early detection, as well as prognostic factor for determination of tumor agressiveness. Methods: In this study we measure p(Y705)STAT3 expression in tumor and adjacent tissue of breast cancer patients by Western blot. For relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) we used Log-Rank test. Results: We show that average expression of p (Y705) STAT3 in tumor tissue is higher compared to adjacent tissue. Moreover, we found that patients with HER2 positive receptors had significantly higher pSTAT3 expression compared to HER2 negative patients. We showed that patients with high mammographic density had significantly higher tumor expression of pSTAT3 compared to patients with low mammographic density. Also, we show that pSTAT3 expression correlates with longer RFS in the entire group of patients, as well as in the group of ER positive, in lymph node positive and in older group of breast cancer patients (with age over 50). Furthermore, in the entire group of patients, in ER positive, in lymph node positive and in older group of patient, high expression of pSTAT3 showed a better survival than low expression of pSTAT3. Conclusion: Considering that the expression of pSTAT3 is associated with longer RFS and survival, it can be used as prognostic tools for determination of group of breast cancer patients with low-risk. © 2018 Elsevier GmbH

Proteolytic enzymes comprise five classes depending on their catalytic mechanisms: serine, cysteine, aspartic, threonine, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Proteases play an important role in all stages of cancer progression: cancerogenesis, invasiveness, and metastasis. Level and activation of proteases is associated with progression of breast cancer. Cathepsins are proteases involved in tumor formation, and activity of Cathepsin D (CatD) is considered as an independent tumor marker for breast cancer patients. Processes of apoptosis, cell proliferation, growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis are enhanced by CatD. MMPs represent a family of proteases that are involved in processes of invasion and metastasis through cleavage of basement membrane and remodeling of extracellular matrix. Considering that breast cancer had highly aggressive biology, it has been investigated and found that high activity of MMPs, particularly MMP-2 and MMP-9, is engaged in all stages of tumor progression. As proteases are involved in physiological processes such as immune response and in pathological conditions, it seems that examinations of molecular pathways of breast cancer could define a therapeutic target based on proteases. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017. All rights reserved.

Proteolytic enzymes comprise five classes depending on their catalytic mechanisms: serine, cysteine, aspartic, threonine, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Proteases play an important role in all stages of cancer progression: cancerogenesis, invasiveness, and metastasis. Level and activation of proteases is associated with progression of breast cancer. Cathepsins are proteases involved in tumor formation, and activity of Cathepsin D (CatD) is considered as an independent tumor marker for breast cancer patients. Processes of apoptosis, cell proliferation, growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis are enhanced by CatD. MMPs represent a family of proteases that are involved in processes of invasion and metastasis through cleavage of basement membrane and remodeling of extracellular matrix. Considering that breast cancer had highly aggressive biology, it has been investigated and found that high activity of MMPs, particularly MMP-2 and MMP-9, is engaged in all stages of tumor progression. As proteases are involved in physiological processes such as immune response and in pathological conditions, it seems that examinations of molecular pathways of breast cancer could define a therapeutic target based on proteases. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017. All rights reserved.