The prognostic value of p53 immunostaining in node-negative breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: P53 plays a key role in cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, DNA repair, and angiogenesis. Although some studies have reported as prognostic factor for poor survival in node-positive breast cancer, controversy about possible prognostic index for node-negative still exists. OBJECTIVES: To look for correlations between the expression of the p53 protein and clinicopathological parameters, and to assess its prognostic value in node-negative invasive ductal breast carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Immunohistochemistry using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from 71 node-negative breast carcinomas in Songklanagarind Hospital. Data were analyzed with respect to tumor size, estrogen receptor, and survival. RESULTS: P53 mutations were found in 12 patients (17%). Expression of p53 was not associated with tumor size, estrogen receptor, and overall survival. Mean follow-up time was 164.4 months (median 163 months). CONCLUSION: P53 expression was not a significant prognostic factor for survival in node-negative breast carcinoma.

Phase III trial of 5FU with alfa-interferon in advanced colorectal carcinoma: Preliminary report.

The phase III clinical trial of 5FU with Alfa-interferon in advanced colorectal carcinoma was applied in Songklanagarind Hospital, between January 1991 and August 1993. The patients were randomized in two groups: 10 patients for 5FU alone and 12 patients for 5FU with Alfa-interferon groups. 2 patients (20%) showed partial response in the 5FU with Alfa-interferon treatment regimen. Median survival time in the 5FU group was 9.4 months compared with 18.7 month in the 5FU with Alfa-interferon group. The results of response rate and survival time of both groups were not statistically different.

Surgical treatment of oesophageal cancer: 10–year experiences.

Clinical data from 278 patients with oesophageal carcinoma admitted to Songklanagarind Hospital, Songkla, Thailand between February 1982 and December 1992 were analysed to evaluated the effects on survival of various tumours and surgical techniques. There were 217 males and 61 females, average age 62.4 years (range 30-85 years), mean length of tumour 5.8 cm. (range 5-13.5 cm.). 216 cases were squamous cell carcinoma 14 cases a denocarcinoma, and 7 cases others. There were 4 techniques for surgical resection: 182 cases were operated on by modified Lewis-Tanner method, 40 cases by transmittal blunt resection, 29 cases by 3-stage technique and 27 cases by pharyngo-laryngo-oesophagectomy. Three-year, five-year, and ten-year survival rates from this report were 17.9%, 12.6% and 4.2% respectively. Respected patients stage 3 and 4, with albumin level equal to or less than 3 gm%, FEV1 equal to or less than 70% and anastomotic leakage were significantly associated with lower survival rates. No statistical significance among the techniques of surgical resection was noted.

Combined external beam and intracavitary radiotherapy for advanced carcinoma of the oesophagus: Experience of treatment at Songklanagarind Hospital.

Twelve cases of advanced oesophageal cancer were treated with combined external beam and intracavitary irradiation during the period January 1989 to December 1991. There wee ten males and two females, average age 69 years (range 46-82 years), mean length of tumor 5 cm (range 3-11 cm). Eleven cases were squamous cell carcinoma and one case was adenocarcinoma. All cases were advanced, with regional lymphnode involvement. Complete response was obtained in 4 cases, partial response in 4 cases, minor response in 2 cases and no response in 2 cases. Average survival time was 7.2 months and average time to recurrence 6.5 months. Ten cases in which death has occurred showed uncontrolled recurrent tumor.

Substernal gastric bypass for palliation of oesophageal carcinoma; a report of 10 patients.

A review of 10 patients who underwent substernal gastric bypass with oesophageal exclusion for palliative treatment of carcinoma of the oesophagus is presented. The patients were old (average 67.3 years.); all had pulmonary problems or unresectable oesophageal carcinoma. There was anastomotic leakage in 2 cases. Blowout of oesophageal stump occurred in 4 cases: two at the upper oesophagus and two at the lower oesophagus. Five patients died in the hospital, one from subdiaphramatic abscess, one from aspiration of contrast media, and the others died from progressive cachexia. The longest survival was 18 months in one patient.