Economic evaluation of breast cancer screening for Chinese urban women / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective: To explore the effectiveness and cost of breast cancer screening strategy that is suitable for the current econom-ic conditions in China. Methods: We collected clinical and cost information of breast cancer screening for Chinese women based on previous screening programs conducted from February 2008 to December 2011 and collected the same information about breast can-cer cases diagnosed in hospitals at the same time. Markov models were developed to analyze the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) for 132 breast cancer screening strategies compared to no screening for Chinese women. Results: In 2010, as compared to no screening, the most cost-effective breast cancer screening strategy was biennial screening with clinical breast examination (CBE) and breast ultrasound, in parallel, for women aged between 40 to 64. This screening strategy could save 1,394 quality-adjusted life years (QALY) per 100,000 women, and the cost of saving breast-cancer related QALY would be 91,944 RMB. Sensitivity analysis indicated that in 2016, the most cost-effective breast cancer screening strategy was biennial screening with CBE and mammography (MAM), in parallel, for women aged 40 to 64, with ICER of 159,637 RMB per QALY. Conclusions: Population-based breast cancer screening would be acceptable in the current conditions in China. As the Chinese economy and level of medical care improve, breast cancer screening would be more cost-effective.

TBX2 gene mutation and the clinical significance of related proteins expression in ma-lignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:To detect genomic aberrations and investigate the expression and clinical significance of TBX2,CHK2, and p53 in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) tissues. Methods:We collected 63 cases of MPNST tissue samples, which were re-moved by resection and were confirmed by pathology, from January 1991 to December 2011 in Department of Bone and Sofer Tissue Tumor, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital. Twelve fresh tumor samples with qualified DNA quality were selected from the above 63 cases of tissue samples. Genome abnormalities of 12 MPNST tissues were detected by next-generation sequencing. The protein expression levels of TBX2, CHK2, and p53 in 63 MPNST tissue samples were assessed by immunohistochemistry staining. Results:One case of TBX2 gene mutation was observed out of the 12 MPNST tissue samples. In 63 MPNST tissue samples, the protein expression rates of TBX2, CHK2, and p53 were 60.3%(38/63), 47.6%(30/63), and 30.2%(19/63), respectively. TBX2 expression was sig-nificantly correlated with AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer, AJCC) stage, recurrence, and metastasis (P<0.05). TBX2 expres-sion was directly correlated with that of CHK2 (r=0.254, P=0.045), and CHK2 expression was directly correlated with that of p53 (r=0.343, P=0.006). In terms of the disease-free survival and overall survival time, patients with high expression levels of TBX2, CHK2, and p53 had significantly worse prognosis than patients with low expression levels of TBX2, CHK2, and p53(all P<0.05). TBX2, CHK2, and p53 were independent prognostic factors of MPNST. Conclusion:TBX2 and its associated proteins may play important roles in MPNST development and progression. Detecting TBX2 expression may provide the theoretical basis for estimating the prognosis of patients with MPNST.

Current status of smoking and passive smoking among aged 45 to 65 years old females in five cities of China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the current status of smoking and passive smoking among Chinese females to provide evidence for related strategy development.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Data from 32 720 women aged 45-65 years old who participated in the 2008 to 2010 Chinese Multi-center Women Breast Cancer Screening Project, were used to analyze the prevalence rates of smoking/heavy smoking, daily smoking, smoking cessation, successful smoking cessation, passive smoking, etc.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 913 females, accounted for 2.8% of all the women in the study, had reported the history of smoking. There were significant differences seen regarding the prevalence rates of smoking in different regions (Beijing, 2.8%; Tianjin, 5.9%; Nanchang, 1.7%; Feicheng, 0.9%; Shenyang, 1.8%). The prevalence rates of current smoking, daily smoking, and heavy smoking were 1.8%, 1.0% and 0.2%, respectively. The prevalence rates of smoking and current smoking increased with age but not the prevalence rates of daily smoking and heavy smoking. Among the smokers, the median initiation age of smoking, the median daily cigarette per day, and median year of smoking were 30 years old, 10 cigarette, and 16 years, respectively. And the prevalence rates of smoking cessation and successful smoking cessation were 19.1% and 8.2%. The prevalence rate of passive smoking was 45.7% (12 730/27 874). After combing the number of smokers and the number of passive smokers, the total exposure rate to tobacco was 41.8% (13 670/32 720).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There was a relatively low level of smoking among Chinese females, so as the rate of smoking cessation. However, passive smoking presented a relatively high level among Chinese females.</p>