(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography-computed tomography to diagnose recurrent cancer

Background:

Sometimes the diagnosis of recurrent cancer in patients with a previous malignancy can be challenging. This prospective cohort study assessed the clinical utility of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography-computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT) in the diagnosis of clinically suspected recurrence of cancer.

Methods:

Patients were eligible if cancer recurrence (non-small-cell lung (NSCL), breast, head and neck, ovarian, oesophageal, Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) was suspected clinically, and if conventional imaging was non-diagnostic. Clinicians were asked to indicate their management plan before and after ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT scanning. The primary outcome was change in planned management after ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT.

Results:

Between April 2009 and June 2011, 101 patients (age, median 65 years; 55% female) were enroled from four cancer centres in Ontario, Canada. Distribution by primary tumour type was: NSCL (55%), breast (19%), ovarian (10%), oesophageal (6%), lymphoma (6%), and head and neck (4%). Of the 99 subjects who underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT, planned management changed after ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT in 52 subjects (53%, 95% confidence interval (CI), 42–63%); a major change in plan from no treatment to treatment was observed in 38 subjects (38%, 95% CI, 29–49%), and was typically associated with ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT findings that were positive for recurrent cancer (37 subjects). After 3 months, the stated post-¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT management plan was actually completed in 88 subjects (89%, 95% CI, 81–94%).

Conclusion:

In patients with suspected cancer recurrence and conventional imaging that is non-diagnostic, ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT often provides new information that leads to important changes in patient management.

Number of lymph nodes harvested from a mediastinal lymphadenectomy: Results of the randomized, prospective ACOSOG Z0030 trial

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Background: Lymph node status is a major determinant of stage and survival in patients with lung cancer; however, little information is available about the yield of a mediastinal lymphadenectomy done at the time of pulmonary resection. Methods: The ACOSOG Z0030 trial is a prospective, randomized trial of mediastinal lymph node sampling versus complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy during an operation for early stage lung cancer. Total enrollment from July 1999 to February 2004 was 1,111 patients, of which 1,023 were eligible and/or evaluable. There were 524 patients who underwent complete mediastinal lymph node resection after randomization to this arm that were declared eligible and/or evaluable with lymph node data available. The number of lymph nodes examined from each station was collected beginning in January 2002. Prospectively collected data from these patients was analyzed to determine the number of lymph nodes obtained. Results: Median age was 67 (range 37–87) and 267 (52%) were men. Histology was squamous cell in 141 (27%), adenocarcinoma in 227 (44%), large cell in 22 (4%), bronchoavelolar in 32 (6%) and other non-small cell in 99 (19%). There were 317 right sided cancers and 207 left sided cancers. For lymphadenectomy for cancers in the right lung the yield from station 2R was a median of 2 lymph nodes (range 1 to 15), station 4R was 2 (1 –17), station 7 was 2 (1–24), station 8 was 1 (1–5), station 9 was 1 (1–6) and station 10R was 1 (1–10). For lymphadenectomy for cancers on the left side the yield from station 2L was 2 (1–4), station 4L was 1 (1–12), station 5 was 2 (1–18), station 6 was 2 (1–11), station 7 was 2 (1–16), station 8 was 1 (1–3), station 9 was 1 (1–8) and 10L was 2 (1–12). The total number of lymph nodes or fragments obtained for right sided cancers was a median of 13.5 (range 1 to 56) and for left sided tumors 15 (range 4 to 81). Conclusions: Although high variability exists in the actual number of lymph nodes obtained from various nodal stations, a complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy should obtain one or more lymph nodes from each mediastinal station. Adequate mediastinal lymphadenectomy should include exploration and remove of lymph nodes from stations 2R, 4R, 7, 8, and 9 for right sided cancers and stations 4L, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 for left sided cancers.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma with lymph node metastases

Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma is an unusual benign tumour of uncertain histogenesis. In the past 50 years, hundreds of cases have been described. A case of sclerosing hemangioma with some unusual features, including a false-positive fine needle aspiration biopsy and histological evidence of lymph node metastases, is described.

The role of surgery and postoperative chemoradiation therapy in patients with lymph node positive esophageal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Patients who have undergone resection for lymph node positive esophageal carcinoma are at high risk of disease recurrence and early death. The role of postoperative adjuvant therapy in this population needs to be determined.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all patients with resected esophageal carcinoma between 1991 and 1997 was performed. Lymph node positive (N1) patients who received concurrent or sequential postoperative radiotherapy (50 grays) and chemotherapy (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil with or without epirubicin) were compared with N1 patients who underwent surgery alone. The disease free and overall survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and groups were compared with the log-rank test. Prognostic variables were entered into a Cox regression model controlling for age, weight loss, T status, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score, and treatment received.

RESULTS

A total of 165 patients were reviewed: Twenty-eight N1 patients underwent surgery alone (S group), and 38 N1 patients underwent surgery and received postoperative chemoradiation therapy (CRT group). Preoperative risk factors, tumor characteristics, ECOG scores, and lengths of hospital stay were similar. The disease free survival rates were similar (S group, 10.6 months; CRT group, 10.2 months), although the S group had more local disease recurrences (S group, 35%; CRT group, 13%; P = 0.09). The overall survival rate according to the Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significant survival advantage with postoperative CRT radiation (log-rank test; P = 0.001). The median overall survival for the CRT group was 47.5 months, which was significantly longer than that of the S group (14.1 months). The ECOG score, T status, and treatment received all were found to influence survival significantly on univariate analysis. In the multivariate model, postoperative CRT was a predictor of survival (P = 0.007; risk ratio for mortality, 0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.76) and was correlated with a significantly decreased risk of death in patients with lymph node positive, resected esophageal carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative CRT appears to prolong survival in patients with lymph node positive, resected esophageal carcinoma.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia in esophageal cancer before and after transhiatal esophagectomy

Although dysphagia is the predominant symptom of esophageal cancer, the nature of the swallowing deficit remains unclear, particularly regarding an oropharyngeal motor component. The present study examined the oropharyngeal swallow in patients with esophageal cancer before and following transhiatal esophagectomy. Videofluoroscopic data were obtained from ten patients with esophageal cancer before and following transhiatal esophagectomy as they swallowed 2-, 5-, and 10-cc aliquots of liquid and puree, and 0.5 and 1 tsp of solid. Each swallow was rated on 36 parameters by three independent judges. Swallow-related hyoid bone movement, computed from digitized segments of the videofluoroscopic data, was compared pre- and postsurgically. All patients showed at least mild abnormality of the oropharyngeal swallow preoperatively. Abnormalities involved all stages of swallowing in nine of the ten patients; however, the oral preparatory/oral stage was relatively more impaired than the pharyngeal stage in the majority of patients. Postsurgically, all patients exhibited at least a mild oropharyngeal swallowing impairment. New or increased postoperative deficits involved the pharyngeal stage of swallowing, whereas oral stage abnormalities were generally improved or unchanged following surgery. Swallow-related hyoid kinematics were highly variable both before and following surgery. Anterior hyoid bone excursion was significantly reduced postoperatively in one patient and significantly increased in one patient. Patients with esophageal cancer exhibit oropharyngeal dysphagia, with different profiles of abnormality before and following esophagectomy.

Acute airway obstruction secondary to bilateral broncholithiasis

We report a case of acute airway obstruction secondary to bilateral broncholiths. Successful management was achieved with rigid bronchoscopy.

Surgeons' assessment of symptoms suggesting extrathoracic metastases in patients with lung cancer. Canadian Lung Oncology Group

BACKGROUND

In patients with apparently operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), clinicians often omit investigation for M disease in asymptomatic patients. Previous investigations have not specified in detail what is meant by "symptomatic," and this could differ between surgeons. We have investigated the extent to which surgeons' criteria differ for presence of symptoms.

METHODS

Participating surgeons from seven centers, enrolled patients they judged "asymptomatic" in a randomized trial of investigational strategies for NSCLC. Patients completed a structured questionnaire describing symptoms of the central nervous system (CNS). In 685 patients, we documented CNS symptom recurrence after resectional surgery over 1 year of follow-up.

RESULTS

Two centers enrolled only patients without even the mildest symptoms. Three centers took an intermediate approach, occasionally classifying patients with mild symptoms as "asymptomatic" and thus enrolling them in the trial. Two centers classified an appreciable number of patients with minimal symptoms, and occasionally with more than minimal symptoms, as "asymptomatic." Patients with even mild CNS symptoms were more likely to subsequently present with CNS metastases.

CONCLUSIONS

Thoracic surgeons differ in their ideas of what may constitute the symptoms of M disease. Patients with structured questionnaire results that suggest symptoms of CNS disease are more likely to have CNS symptom recurrence after resectional surgery.

Propranolol for the prevention of postoperative arrhythmias in general thoracic surgery

BACKGROUND

Prevention of postoperative arrhythmias in patients undergoing general thoracic surgery is desirable to prevent morbidity.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial of propranolol (10 mg every 6 hours) for 5 days was undertaken in patients undergoing major thoracic operations to determine whether arrhythmias requiring treatment could be reduced. Secondary outcomes included overall arrhythmia rate, adverse events, and length of stay. Arrhythmias were assessed by 72-hour Holter monitoring. Patients with a history of heart failure, asthma, advanced heart block, preexisting arrhythmias, sensitivity to propranolol, or use of antiarrhythmic drugs were excluded.

RESULTS

Using the intention-to-treat principle there was a 70% relative risk reduction from 20% to 6% in the rate of treated arrhythmias with propranolol (p = 0.071, 95% confidence interval 0.6% to 27.2%). Overall arrhythmias were common but usually benign. Adverse effects were common, although generally mild with hypotension and bradycardia being reported more often in the propranolol group. Length of stay was not different.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a trend to a reduction in the risk of perioperative arrhythmias with propranolol. Moreover, propranolol was well tolerated showing a slight increase in minor adverse events.

Small-bowel necrosis associated with jejunal tube feeding

OBJECTIVES

To report 3 cases of small-bowel necrosis after jejunal tube feeding and to review the literature concerning this condition.

DESIGN

A 5-year retrospective review.

SETTING

A 560-bed university-affiliated tertiary-care teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

Three patients who had bowel necrosis out of 386 who received jejunal tube feedings.

RESULTS

The patients experienced small-bowel necrosis as a consequence of jejunal feeding. The ischemic necrosis was preceded by progressive abdominal pain, distension and high nasogastric output. All 3 patients required extensive small-bowel resection. Although survival was rare in previous reports, our 3 patients survived after prompt surgical intervention and small-bowel resection.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the death rate for this condition approaches 70%, timely recognition and surgical intervention can save the patient's life.

Minithoracoscopy for pleural effusions

The current management of pleural disease often requires direct visualization and biopsy of the pleural space using thoracoscopy. A diagnostic and therapeutic approach to pleural disease is described that uses a new 2 mm rigid thorascope. The technique allows complete visualization, biopsy and drainage of the pleural space with rapid recovery and minimal pain.

The Second Canadian Consensus Conference on the Management of Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

The Second Canadian Consensus Conference on the Management of Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) was organized by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology to address major advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of GERD, to review the new methods of investigation and therapy introduced since the first conference in 1992 and to examine the issue of relevant health economics. The changes that have taken place over the past four years have been sufficiently dramatic to necessitate reassessment of the recommendations made following the first conference. The second conference dealt with the investigation and treatment of uncomplicated GERD and the complex issues of esophageal and extraesophageal complications such as chest pain, Barrett's esophagus, and reflux-related pulmonary and laryngeal disorders. The role of laparoscopic surgery was also discussed. A decision tree for investigation and treatment of patients with GERD was developed. The 38 participants represented a broad spectrum of experience, location of practice and special interests. The distribution of participants conformed to the recommendations of the Canadian Medical Association guidelines for consensus documents in that there should be input from all possible interested parties. A list of the state-of-the-art lectures presented during the conference, the small group sessions, the session chairpersons and participants are appended to this document. CONCLUSIONS. UNCOMPLICATED GERD: GERD with alarm symptoms must be investigated immediately. There was no consensus about when to investigate uncomplicated GERD, ie, whether to perform endoscopy immediately or after initial therapy fails. There was controversy regarding 'step up' (H2 receptor antagonist [H2RA] or prokinetic [PK] first therapy) versus 'step down' therapy (proton pump inhibitor [PPI] first therapy). The majority decision was for short term 'step up' therapy and investigation if symptoms do not improve or recur. Maintenance therapy should be carried out with the initial therapy that was effective. H2RAs and PKs may suffice for maintenance therapy in milder GERD; however, for severe esophagitis, PPIs should be used.

SURGERY

Indications for laparoscopic surgery should be the same as for conventional antireflux operations. NONCARDIAC ANGINA-LIKE CHEST PAIN: After exclusion of nonesophageal causes, the majority decided that eight weeks of therapy with a PPI should be performed, while some suggested work-up before a therapeutic test. In the absence of response or recurrence, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and, depending on the circumstances, 24 h ambulatory pH/motility may be indicated. BARRETT'S ESOPHAGUS: Only patients who, in case of future discovery of cancer or dysplasia, are able or willing to undergo therapy should have surveillance. In the absence of dysplasia EGD should be performed every two years, and in the presence of mild dysplasia every three to six months. All agreed that for severe dysplasia, esophagectomy or poor risk patients, esophageal mucosal ablation is indicated. ESTRAESOPHAGEAL COMPLICATONS (EECs): Asthma, chronic cough and posterior laryngitis were considered EECs. Although PPIs may decrease symptoms, improvement alone is not diagnostic of the presence of EEC. Ambulatory pH studies with two pH probes or ambulatory pH/motility may be useful in establishing causation.

HEALTH ECONOMICS

There are limited data for an economic comparison among the different drugs or between medical and surgical therapy.

Early detection of cancer cachexia in the rat using 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the liver and a fructose stress test

The dynamic metabolic effects of a fructose infusion challenge on hepatic intracellular levels of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), inorganic phosphate (Pi) and phosphomonoesters (PME) were monitored noninvasively by 31P MRS in a remote tumour-bearing rat model. Fisher male rats were inoculated with a methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma. Seventeen rats were randomized into three groups: control (n = 6), low tumour burden (LTB, n = 6), or moderate tumour burden (MTB, n = 5). The LTB group had tumour burdens of 0.2-2.0% while the MTB group had tumour burdens of 2.6-5.7%. All rats were in the pre-clinical phase of cancer cachexia as determined by food intake and body weight. Rats were infused with 1.2 g/kg of fructose i.v. and the metabolic response of the liver was monitored with time over 1 h via 31P MRS. In all groups an immediate increase in hepatic levels of PME was noted, which returned to baseline values over the course of the experiment, reflecting the phosphorylation of fructose to fructose 1-phosphate. For the MTB rats, the return to baseline levels was more rapid than in the control or LTB group. All groups experienced a 20% decrease in hepatic ATP levels which did not return to baseline over the 1 h observation period. As well, all groups experienced an initial fall in Pi, which recovered to prefructose levels or greater. MTB rats demonstrated a 30-40% increase in Pi concentration and a 60-70% increase in Pi/ATP ratio after infusion with fructose as compared to LTB and control rats (ANOVA;p<0.05). This is consistent with cachexia-induced enhancement of hepatic gluconeogenic activity, and hence more rapid release of Pi from the phosphorylated metabolites in the MTB rats. Thus fructose infusion and hepatic 31P MRS permit pre-clinical detection of cancer cachexia as reflected by increased Pi generation and more rapid removal of PME.

Insulin protects against hepatic bioenergetic deterioration induced by cancer cachexia: an in vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

The bioenergetic effects of cancer cachexia on the livers of male Fischer rats inoculated with a methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma were assessed using serial in vivo 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Rats were randomized into three groups: tumor-bearing controls (n = 7); an insulin-treated group receiving 2 units/100 g body weight/day starting 21 days after implantation (n = 8); and a chronic insulin-treated group receiving insulin every day after implantation (n = 3). During the 32-day study, serial measurements of food intake, body weight, and tumor volume were taken, and 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy analyses of the livers were conducted every 7 days after tumor implantation. Neither the short-term nor the chronic insulin treatment regimens stimulated the progress of tumor growth. However, both treatments prevented body weight loss, and the short-term insulin treatment prevented tumor-induced decrease in food intake relative to the control group. Liver bioenergetic deterioration was evaluated from the increase in the ratio of Pi to ATP obtained from the hepatic 31P magnetic resonance spectra. At day 28 postimplantation, control rats exhibited appreciable hepatic bioenergetic deterioration, i.e., a Pi/ATP ratio of 1.41 +/- 0.35 (SE), significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the Pi/ATP ratio for short-term or chronic insulin treatment groups (Pi/ATP 0.92 +/- 0.22 and 0.84 +/- 0.22, respectively) or rats before tumor implantation (Pi/ATP 0.76 +/- 0.14). This insulin-induced bioenergetic protection occurred at any given tumor burden up to at least 10%. Thus, both short-term insulin given just prior to the frank manifestations of cancer cachexia and chronic insulin treatment given throughout tumor growth ameliorated host hepatic bioenergetic deterioration without significantly stimulating tumor growth. Insulin may act by altering the host metabolism (stimulation of liver glucose uptake and utilization, decreased energy-requiring gluconeogenesis, and general protein-sparing action) at the expense of the tumor.

A model for in vivo serial investigation of hepatic metabolism using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

We have developed an animal model which allows serial, in vivo, evaluation of high energy phosphate metabolism in rat liver, using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). In seven rats, the left lobe of the was surgically relocated into a subcutaneous position. The animals recovered quickly from the surgery and continued to thrive. Localization of the liver was obtained using simple surface coil technology. Typical MRS data acquisition times were less than 45 minutes. After the 28 days, the livers showed both normal histology and 31P metabolic measures.

Job's syndrome: a rare cause of recurrent lung abscess in childhood

A clinical syndrome characterized by recurrent staphylococcal infection of the skin and respiratory tract from birth was described in 1966 and referred to as Job's syndrome. Marked hyperimmunoglobulinemia E was later found to be associated with this syndrome. This article describes a case of Job's syndrome as a cause of recurrent lung abscess during childhood necessitating lung resection.

The prognostic significance of tumor ploidy and pathology in adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction

Tumor DNA content has been advocated to be an important prognostic indicator in human malignancies. Paraffin-embedded specimens of 75 resected adenocarcinomas (AC) of the esophagogastric junction were studied by flow cytometric DNA analysis to determine whether tumor ploidy was a significant prognostic variable independent of stage and histologic grade of the tumor. Eighty-one percent of the tumors were aneuploid. More patients with aneuploid tumors had lymph node metastases than patients with diploid tumors (P = 0.007). Patients with aneuploid tumors had poorer 18-month disease-free and overall survival than patients with diploid tumors. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the most important prognostic variables for predicting overall survival were lymph node status, depth of wall invasion, and tumor differentiation. Tumor ploidy was not an independent prognostic variable in predicting recurrent disease or death from AC of the esophagogastric junction. Tumor DNA content is valuable, however, as a marker for patients at increased risk of lymph node metastases, early recurrence, and poorer survival.

The results of esophagogastrectomy without thoracotomy for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction

Between 1980 and 1988, 98 patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction were seen at the University of Western Ontario. Eighty-two patients underwent resection of the celiac lymph nodes, lesser curve and cardia of the stomach, and thoracic esophagus through abdominal and neck incisions avoiding thoracotomy. The esophagus was replaced by a stomach tube in 80 patients or by a colon tube in two patients. Two of 82 patients died while hospitalized. Early postoperative morbidity included anastomotic leaks that closed spontaneously (13), transient hoarseness (10), myocardial infarction (2), pulmonary embolus (6), and atelectasis or pneumonia (13). Late postoperative complications included delayed gastric emptying (4), symptomatic reflux (4), diarrhea (10), and anastomotic strictures (17). The 2-year survival of 30% was significantly affected by the stage of disease (p = 0.003), depth of tumor penetration (p = 0.02), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.001), tumor differentiation (p = 0.008), and tumor DNA ploidy (p = 0.02). Local recurrences appeared initially in 20 patients: anastomotic (3), peritoneal (14), mediastinal (3); distant metastasis occurred in 27 patients: bone (15), liver (5), brain (2), and multiple organs (5). Swallowing was restored and maintained in 75 patients. Esophagogastrectomy without thoracotomy provides a safe, effective method of restoring swallowing in patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction. This technique provides acceptable survival and local recurrence rates.

Effect of cancer on the in vivo energy state of rat liver and skeletal muscle

The effect of increasing tumor burden on host liver and skeletal muscle energy status was studied using P-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), in rats inoculated with a nonmetastasizing methylcholanthrene-induced sarcoma (TB), and compared to nontumor bearing (NTB) and pair-fed (PF) rats. During the 28-day study, serial measurements of body weight, food intake, and tumor volume were obtained. Using a 0.9-cm double-turn surface coil, weekly NMR measurements were obtained from liver and skeletal muscle. An increasing ratio of [Pi]/[ATP] was used as one measure of intracellular energy depletion. [Pi]/[ATP] in NTB rats remained constant over time at 0.78 +/- 0.10 in liver, and 0.30 +/- 0.10 in skeletal muscle. In TB rats, the [Pi]/[ATP] ratio increased significantly in liver (P = 0.00002) and skeletal muscle (P = 0.04) with increasing tumor burden. In PF rats, no significant change occurred in [Pi]/[ATP] in liver or skeletal muscle, indicating that declining food intake was not responsible for the change in [Pi]/[ATP] seen in TB rats. Surface-coil spectroscopy of liver and skeletal muscle permits serial measurement of visceral energy stores. Increasing tumor burden results in early, ongoing depletion of energy stores as reflected by increasing [Pi]/[ATP] in these organs.

A new technique for delivering the stomach or colon to the neck following total esophagectomy

After total esophagectomy, swallowing is usually restored by stomach or colon interposed to the neck. The use of a new technique to facilitate the passage of these conduits to the neck for anastomosis to the cervical esophagus is described.

Gluconeogenesis in the tumor-influenced rat hepatocyte: importance of tumor burden, lactate, insulin, and glucagon

In an attempt to define the relationship between tumor burden (cachexia) and host hepatocyte gluconeogenesis, the following experiments were performed with the use of an F344 male rat bearing a transplantable sarcoma. Food intake of tumor-bearing (TB) rats was constant until day 24 following implant and a tumor burden of 18 +/- 5.2% (mean +/- SD), at which time food intake progressively declined daily. Tumor burden was arbitrarily divided at 12.8% to determine if any measured changes occurred prior to or following the approximate time when a significant decline in food intake occurred. Plasma glucose levels decreased with tumor burden. Whole-blood lactate levels increased with tumor burden. Fasting plasma alanine levels decreased with tumor burden. Plasma 3-methylhistidine levels increased with tumor burden. Plasma glucagon levels increased with tumor burden, whereas plasma insulin levels decreased. Hormone changes were noted at small tumor burdens prior to a decline in food intake. Viable hepatocytes were isolated from 4 groups: non-tumor-bearing (NTB), small tumor burden [(STB) 3.5% total body weight (TBW)], moderate tumor burden [(MTB) 14% TBW], and large tumor burden [(LTB) 23% TBW]. As expected in NTB rats, hepatocytes produced significantly more glucose with 20 mM lactate than 20 mM alanine or than Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS) alone. Hepatocytes from STB rats demonstrated the same basic relationship for lactate, alanine, and HBSS, but they produced significantly more glucose from lactate and HBSS alone than NTB hepatocytes. With alanine as substrate, the rates of glucose production by hepatocytes were not affected by the presence or size of tumor. However, with lactate as substrate, hepatocytes from MTB and LTB rats produced progressively less glucose as tumor burden increased (r = -0.85, p less than .001), which may partly explain the reduction in blood glucose and elevation in blood lactate levels observed. Elevated gluconeogenesis in TB rats occurred early prior to a decline in food intake. The key precursor appeared to be lactate. The balance between glucagon and insulin appeared to promote the abnormal host carbohydrate metabolism observed.

Resting energy expenditure and body cell mass alterations in noncachectic patients with sarcomas

Resting energy expenditure (REE), body cell mass (BCM), and body fat (BF) were measured in six male and seven female volunteers and in a homogeneous group of noncachectic patients with sarcoma, (n = 7). The patients all had large localized tumors, no history or clinical evidence of decreased food intake or weight loss, and had received no prior treatment for cancer. Indirect calorimetry (for REE), K40 analysis (for BCM), and anthropometric measurements (for BF) were performed in accordance with established methods. Physical activity and nutritional status were also assessed. As expected, female control subjects had 50% greater percent BF (p less than 0.001) and 13% less percent BCM (p less than 0.01) than male controls. Male patients with sarcoma had equivalent percent BF, but significantly less percent BCM than controls matched for age, sex, and body surface area (BSA) (p less than 0.05). The REE corrected for BSA was similar in male and female controls but was 25% greater in male sarcoma patients than in male controls (p less than 0.05). This difference was doubled when REE was corrected for BCM (p less than 0.01). In patients with sarcomas, REE/BSA varied inversely with percent BCM (r = -0.782; p less than 0.05) while a similar relationship was not observed in healthy volunteers. We conclude that both REE and vital, functional BCM can be significantly altered in sarcoma patients before any overt signs of cachexia develop. The results support the contention that sarcoma alters host energy metabolism and causes abnormal body composition.

Altered leucine metabolism in noncachectic sarcoma patients

Leucine and whole body protein metabolism were quantitated in 26 human subjects (6 sarcoma patients, 20 age-matched normal controls) using a primed, continuous infusion of [13C]leucine. Plasma samples were analyzed every 15 min for enrichment of [13C]leucine. Plateau enrichment levels were then used to calculate whole-body protein turnover, synthesis, and breakdown rates. Exhaled gas samples were analyzed every 15 min for enrichment of 13CO2, and plateau enrichment levels (as well as CO2 production rates) were used to calculate leucine oxidation rates. Fasting plasma amino acid levels, serum albumin, and total protein levels were also determined. The 6 patients were otherwise healthy but had a large, localized high-grade sarcoma which had not been previously treated. No patient had weight loss. Amino acid, albumin, and total protein levels were equivalent in patients and controls. Whole-body protein turnover rates were significantly greater in sarcoma patients than age-matched controls (15%). Increased protein turnover rates resulted in increased whole-body protein synthesis and breakdown rates in sarcoma patients compared to controls. Leucine oxidation rates were not different in the 2 groups. The results suggest that in humans with high-grade sarcomas leucine metabolic abnormalities are specific to tumor growth and not malnutrition because abnormalities of turnover, synthesis, and breakdown occur prior to any weight loss or measurable change in blood amino acid or protein level.

Water-soluble vitamins in cancer patients on parenteral nutrition: a prospective study

Forty-three patients with mild weight loss were studied prospectively to determine whether the parenteral water-soluble vitamin doses in a commercially available preparation (MVI concentrate; USV Laboratories, Tarrytown, NY) maintained serum, red blood cell (RBC), and urinary concentrations of water-soluble vitamins in stressed cancer patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Patients were divided into three groups: (1) oral diet, no intravenous vitamins given; (2) TPN plus 5 ml MVI; and (3) TPN plus 10 ml MVI. Vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, B6, and niacin were measured initially and weekly during a 6-week study period. Caloric and nitrogen balances were quantified. Most of the patients in all three groups had normal blood or urine levels of all water-soluble vitamins. No clinical evidence of vitamin deficiency or MVI toxicity was detected. The recommended parenteral dosages of vitamin C (100 mg/day) and B3 (15 mg/day) provided measurably adequate levels in all patients. Levels of vitamins B1, B2, B6, and niacin that were less than the normal range were noted in 4-40% of patients receiving the recommended daily dosages of 3 mg, 3.6 mg, 4 mg, and 40 mg, respectively. These deficiencies appeared to improve in group III patients who received twice the recommended parenteral vitamin dosages, although they did not completely disappear. Niacin deficiency appeared to be the most prevalent, occurring in 40% of patients studied. Since intravenous doses of B1, B2, B6, and niacin are safe and well tolerated, it appears that increased daily amounts of these vitamins should be given to cancer patients on parenteral nutrition.

Insulin decreases muscle protein loss after operative trauma in man

Seventy-two hours after major operative trauma, nine patients receiving a constant infusion of calories (1460 kcal/m2/day) and protein (75 gm of amino acid/m2/day) showed a negative nitrogen balance, increased muscle catabolism, as measured by 3-methylhistidine excretion, increased amino acid efflux from muscle, and decreased circulating levels of insulin. When 5 U of insulin/hr were added to the infusate, arterial insulin levels rose significantly from 39.7 +/- 4.1 microU/ml to approximately the pretrauma levels (74.6 +/- 7.7 microU/ml). Despite this normalization of insulin levels, excretion of nitrogen and 3-methylhistidine and the efflux of amino acids from forearm muscle fell but did not return to pretraumatic levels, suggesting some insulin resistance. Visceral gluconeogenesis from amino acids appeared to decrease, since insulin infusion decreased the efflux of alanine from skeletal muscle with no change in its arterial level. Insulin also significantly reduced the efflux of isoleucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, glutamine, and total amino acid nitrogen from forearm muscle. These findings, along with the partial reduction in the excretion of 3-methylhistidine and nitrogen, suggest that insulin, in combination with infused calories and protein, decreases the loss of muscle protein after trauma.

Major operative trauma increases peripheral amino acid release during the steady-state infusion of total parenteral nutrition in man

The effect of major operative trauma on skeletal muscle metabolism was examined in nine patients receiving a constant infusion of calories (1460 kcal/m2/day) and protein (75 gm of amino acids/m2/day) for 5 days before and 4 days after an operation. Compared with the preoperative state, 72 hours after the operation there was a significant rise in arterial levels of glucagon, cortisol, norepinephrine, and inactive triiodothyronine and a drop in concentrations of insulin, active triiodothyronine, and amino acids. Forearm blood flow increased, as well as the efflux from forearm muscle of lactate, taurine, serine, glycine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, lysine, arginine, and total amino acid nitrogen (440%). This loss of muscle protein after trauma is associated with increased muscle proteolysis, as measured by increased urinary 3-methylhistidine excretion (83%), and accounts for increased nitrogen loss (54%) from the body. Increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system is manifested by increased levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine, a relative lack of insulin, and increased levels of glucagon. This hormonal milieu plays an important role in the production of hypoaminoacidemia, increased efflux of amino acids and lactate from muscle, and negative nitrogen balance observed in these traumatized patients.

Evaluation of noninvasive tests for the preoperative staging of carcinoma of the esophagus: a prospective study

A prospective study was undertaken to define the usefulness of conventional full-lung linear tomography, radionuclide liver plus spleen and bone scans, and thoracic and abdominal computed tomography for the preoperative staging of carcinoma of the esophagus. Thirty-three patients with carcinoma of the esophagus were studied. The computed tomographic (CT) scan of the thorax and upper abdomen was the single most accurate noninvasive study. With computed tomography, the relationship of the tumor to the tracheobronchial tree was the feature most useful in predicting local resectability. In all patients with the finding of tracheobronchial compression by the tumor, the tumor could not be resected completely. The predictive value of this CT finding in patients with locally unresectable tumor was high (0.83), indicating its usefulness in assessing unresectability. The CT finding of visible separation between tumor mass and tracheobronchial tree was present in 10 of 14 patients with locally resectable tumor (predictive value, 0.63). However, tumor abutting the tracheobronchial tree without compression was a poor predictor of unresectability (predictive value, 0.36). The radionuclide bone scan was the only other noninvasive study to demonstrate a metastasis not evident by CT scan. The combination of chest and abdominal CT scan, bone scan, and bronchoscopy before operation will accurately stage the majority of patients with esophageal cancer but no noninvasive test is of sufficient reliability to exclude patients from operative resection if otherwise indicated.

Immune response to transplanted pancreas in pigs

Segmental allografts of the body and tail of the pancreas have been carried out in pigs using an open duct technique. Diabetes was induced by total pancreatectomy. Control animals on no immunosuppression survived an average of 17 days while animals receiving CyA survived 30 days. In the CyA group those with adequate serum levels of CyA survived 46 days while those with low levels survived 18 days. Once the animal became diabetic rejection was not reversible. In this model complement dependent cytotoxicity was more useful than lymphocyte mediated cytotoxicity in predicting rejection. However the rejected pancreas showed intensive mononuclear infiltration. Malabsorption resulting from total pancreatectomy used to induce diabetes may have contributed to the erratic CyA absorption. Prolonged and relatively normal pancreatic allograft function is possible, but adequate CyA levels must be achieved and maintained. Monitoring of serum levels is essential.