Inequalities in health? An update on the effect of social deprivation for patients with breast cancer in South East Wales.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer, historically a disease of more affluent women, has increased in incidence for women from areas of greater social deprivation, yet prognosis is worse for these women. This study identifies differences in presentation, treatment and prognostic factors between the socioeconomic groups. METHODS: Patient data obtained from the prospectively maintained Welsh national Cancer Network Information System Cymru, for an 11-year period, were categorised according to Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation quintiles. Quintiles were compared for differences in variables relating to patient characteristics, detection of cancer, tumour biology and treatment. RESULTS: 1570 patients were included. Analysis showed that in the more socially deprived quintiles, there are proportionally fewer women being diagnosed through the NHS breast cancer screening programme and as a consequence greater numbers of women from poorer areas being diagnosed outwith the screening age parameters. Screen detection is strongly associated with better prognosis in terms of Nottingham Prognostic Index. Similarly, increasing levels of social deprivation are associated with higher incidence of oestrogen receptor negative and triple negative tumours, both features associated with a shorter disease free and overall survival. Other variables of tumour biology, rates and type of surgical and adjuvant treatment were similar across social deprivation quintiles. CONCLUSION: There is a trend of reduced early detection of breast cancer in South East Wales in those patients living in areas of higher social deprivation. Given that there is equity in access to treatment within NHS, which is free for patients at the point of care, further study is warranted to address this existing disparity. Population cancer surveillance will need to inform both public health and NHS service responses, to continue to achieve improvements. Health trends may yet alter depending on current and future shifts in governmental health policy.

From PCR to RCA: a surgical trainee's guide to the techniques of genetic amplification.

With the advent of evidence-based medicine and the Calman-Hine Report, more and more surgical trainees are undertaking a period of research, either before entering or during their Specialist Registrar training. Many will encounter concepts in science uncommon in daily clinical settings. This paper will elucidate the techniques of genetic amplification available today with their potential for usage in clinical research.

Lymphangiogenesis and breast cancer metastasis.

Breast cancer is one of the commonest malignancies in women in the western world. It spreads predominantly via the lymphatic system. However, the understanding of the formation of lymphatics, lymphangiogenesis, has been limited. This has been largely due to the previous lack of lymphatic specific markers. The most specific marker used in humans has been the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3). However, this is also found on blood vessel endothelium. The other vascular endothelial factor receptors (VEGFR-1 and -2) are primarily blood vessel receptors. More recently, novel, specific markers for lymphatics have been discovered, such as LYVE-1, prox I and podoplanin, enabling further research into this new field. Each of these new markers is described in detail. The article also outlines the current understanding in breast cancer metastasis, with an emphasis on the more recent research into lymphangiogenesis. Since these specific markers are now available, quantitation of lymphangiogenesis is now possible by using either immunohistochemistry or quantitative PCR approaches. In addition, to breast cancer, research into many other cancers is now possible using these methods and new markers. With this in mind, possible therapeutic strategies for the future are discussed.

Nurse-led direct access endoscopy clinics: the future?

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown that rectal bleeding is a good indicator of underlying colorectal pathology, and that ost of the lesions in patients presenting with rectal bleeding lie in the left side of the colon [1, 5, 9, 12, 23, 26]. The recent acceptance of the nurse-practitioner by the National Health Service may allow the use of nurse-endoscopists to develop throughout the United Kingdom. This study aimed to audit a unique nurse-led direct-access nurse-endoscopy service with regard to its efficacy and cost effectiveness, and to monitor patient satisfaction and direct referrals from the primary health sector. METHODS: A nurse-led open-access flexible sigmoidoscopy (OAFS) service for patients reporting fresh rectal bleeding was established at our center in February 1996. A prospective audit of sigmoidoscopic findings and a retrospective analysis of referral patterns from local general practitioners were conducted. A questionnaire survey of both patient and general practitioner satisfaction also was conducted at the same time. RESULTS: Since February 1996, 706 patients have been referred to our service. Rectal bleeding was by far the most common cause for referral, representing the dominant symptom in 92% of the referrals received. Although 99% of the patients underwent a complete sigmoidoscopic examination, 16% of these examinations were limited because of several factors combined. A cause for bleeding was identified in 91% of the patients, with 24% of them experiencing subsequent significant pathology. Of the patients surveyed, 99% were satisfied with the service provided. The results also show nurse-led OAFS to be a more effective use of financial resources, costing $90 less per patient than general practitioner referrals sent to a consultant for further action. CONCLUSIONS: Rectal bleeding is a good indicator of underlying colorectal disease. Most of the significant lesions presenting with this symptom are found in the left side of the colon. A nurse-led OAFS is safe, effective, and acceptable to patients. It also is more cost effective than a consultant-led service.

Lymphangiogenesis quantification using quantitative PCR and breast cancer as a model.

The detection of lymphangiogenesis (formation of new lymphatics) has previously been difficult to measure, primarily due to the lack of specific markers for lymphatic endothelium. Using conventional PCR (polymerase chain reaction), DNA sequencing, plasmid synthesis, and real-time quantitative PCR (RTQPCR), we report a new approach to enable the measurement of lymphangiogenesis using LYVE-1, a novel, specific lymphatic marker in breast cancer tissue. By using a Scorpion-based probe system with the RTQPCR analyser, a highly sensitive and specific detection and quantitation of LYVE-1 was possible. It was found that lymphangiogenesis occurred in all breast specimens and that higher levels were found in tumours which had spread to the lymph nodes.