WITHDRAWN: PET-CT derived Artificial Neural Network can predict mediastinal lymph nodes metastases in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer patients. Preliminary report and scoring model.

Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher.

Influence of surgical resection on plasma endoglin (CD105) level in non­small cell lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Endoglin is a proliferation-associated antigen on endothelial cells and essential for angiogenesis. Soluble endoglin (s­endoglin), formed by proteolytic cleavage of ectodomain of membrane receptor could be an indicator of tumor­activated endothelium. The aim of present study was to analyze changes of s­endoglin level in plasma of lung cancer patients following surgical resection and to estimate the correlation of s­endoglin with other soluble receptors, sTie2 and sVEGF R1. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 37 patients with stage I of non-small cell lung cancer. Plasma concentrations of s­endoglin, sTie2 and sVEGF R1 were evaluated by ELISA, three times: before surgical resection and on postoperative day 7 and 30. RESULTS: The median of s­endoglin concentration decreased significantly on postoperative day 7 when compared with preoperative level and next increased on 30(th) day and it was comparable with that before surgery. s-Endoglin correlated with another soluble receptors, with sTie2 both before surgery (r=0.44) and on postoperative day 7 (r=0.52) and on 30(th) day (r=0.58), with sVEGF R1 - only on postoperative day 7 (r=0.75). CONCLUSION: The increased level of serum endoglin in lung cancer patients compared to controls and its changes after surgical treatment suggest potential application of soluble form of endoglin as potential tumor marker.

[Muco-epidermoid carcinoma of the lung in a 20-year-old woman]. / Carcinome mucoépidermoïde chez une femme de 20 ans.

INTRODUCTION: Muco-epidermoid carcinoma is a rare primary malignancy of the tracheo-bronchial tree. It presents mainly in young patients and is located in the proximal large airways. The tumour is composed of epithelial cells, mucus-secreting cells and cells of an intermediate type identical to those occurring in the salivary glands. There is no standard treatment for these tumours. The prognosis depends on the histological grade and may be poor, particularly in older subjects. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 20-year-old woman with a tumour in the intermediate bronchus. Mechanical resection of the tumour was performed with the tip of the rigid bronchoscope. Histological examination revealed muco-epidermoid carcinoma. We performed a right middle and lower sleeve lobectomy with mediastinal lymphadenectomy. The patient remains in remission after 12 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Muco-epidermoid carcinoma is a rare primary malignancy of the tracheobronchial tree which is difficult to diagnose by limited biopsy. The prognosis is variable and depends upon the histological type. Owing to its rare occurrence the possibility of a primary muco-epidermoid carcinoma of the salivary glands with pulmonary metastases should be considered.

Real-time PCR quantification of plasma DNA in non-small cell lung cancer patients and healthy controls.

INTRODUCTION: Free-circulating DNA is present in minute amounts in plasma of healthy individuals, whereas increased levels are found in a number of malignant pathologies including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The objective of this research was the evaluation of the plasma DNA quantification capacity to distinguish between healthy subjects and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Plasma samples were collected prospectively from 16 healthy volunteers and 30 untreated NSCLC patients (I-IIIA). Subsequently, free-circulating DNA extraction and quantitative real-time PCR analysis were performed. RESULTS: The values of plasma DNA concentration ranged from 0.9 up to 7.0 ng/ml in healthy individuals and from 1.5 up to 50 ng/ml in NSCLC patients before treatment. Cancer group showed several-fold higher mean free-circulating DNA concentration than that present in healthy subjects (mean 12.00 vs. 2.65 ng/ml; P<0.001). A greater variability of plasma DNA concentrations was observed in NSCLC patients than in controls (SD 14.50 vs. 2.02, respectively). The area under the ROC curve was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.744 to 0.954, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Non-small cell lung cancer is associated with elevated levels of cell-free DNA in plasma with respect to healthy controls. Real-time PCR method proved its utility in effective free-circulating DNA detection and quantification.

[Taking advantage of thoracoscopic techniques for diagnosis and treatment of thoracic diseases]. / Wykorzystanie techniki torakoskopowej w diagnostyce i leczeniu chorób klatki piersiowej.

The authors report their experience in VATS technique employed in the diagnosis and treatment of pleural and mediastinal diseases and lung tumors. Between 1992 and 1996, 50 thoracoscopic procedures were carried out in 48 patients. The following operations were performed: six thoracic sympathectomies, two cases of closing bronchial stump fistulas, six cases of successfully treated spontaneous pneumothorax. In eight cases (16.3%) it was necessary to convert this procedure into thoracotomy because of pleural adhesions. The diagnostic thoracoscopies (35 cases) included: mediastinal and lung tumor biopsies, taking up samples of pleural exudate. There were no complications connected with these procedures. We consider thoracoscopic technique to be a suitable method for the diagnosis and treatment of mediastinal and pleural lesions.

[Gunshot injuries of the thoracic and abdominal cavities in peace time]. / Rany postrzalowe klatki piersiowej i brzucha w czasie pokoju.

Authors present gunshot damage of the chest and abdominal organs. The large number of wounded people particularly young men in the period of 12 years proves to have a widespread problem. They present an important of diagnostic examination, methods of surgical treatment complications and morbidity and mortality in the group of 627 patients.