Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027627 (metastases)
 103,950 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of tyrosinase mRNA has been applied for the detection of melanoma cells in the peripheral blood, lymph nodes and bone marrow of melanoma patients. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of RT-PCR in comparison to standard cytology and immunocytochemistry (ICC) for the identification of melanoma cells in biological fluids other than blood. Tyrosinase expression was evaluated together with standard cytology and ICC (anti-S100, HMB-45 and Melan-A antibodies) in biological fluid samples collected from 17 melanoma patients according to the site of metastatic involvement or clinical suspicion (eight cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples; three pleural effusions; four ascites; one bile sample, one pericardial effusion); 17 samples collected from patients with non-melanoma metastatic cancer were used as controls. Tyrosinase expression in the biological fluid sample was compared with the expression determined at the same time in peripheral blood. Positive tyrosinase expression was found in 12/17 melanoma and 3/17 non-melanoma cancer patients. Cytology/ICC showed the presence of neoplastic cells in only 7/12 melanoma samples with positive tyrosinase expression: radiological evidence of disease involvement was found in all these patients (three meningeal, two pleural, two peritoneal). Clear-cut radiological evidence of disease involvement at the sampling site was found in the five patients with negative cytology/ICC and positive RT-PCR (one CSF; four serous membrane effusions); all patients died of disease progression within four months of sampling. The five patients who were negative for both cytology/ICC and RT-PCR did not show any clinical evidence of disease recurrence at the sampling site. Only five of the 12 metastatic patients with positive tyrosinase expression in biological fluid showed positivity for tyrosinase in the peripheral blood. These preliminary results suggest that the analysis of biological fluids other than blood could be considered as a new potential clinical field of application for the tyrosinase mRNA assay.
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PMID:Tyrosinase mRNA RT-PCR analysis as an additional diagnostic tool for the identification of melanoma cells in biological fluid samples other than blood: a preliminary report. 1583 68

Although malignant melanoma has a great propensity (38-50%) for cardiac involvement, as indicated by autopsy findings, cardiac metastases are rarely identified ante-mortem. The aim of this study was to record abnormal electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings in patients with malignant melanoma. One hundred and eighty-five consecutive patients (male/female, 99/86; mean age, 59.6 years) with histologically proven malignant melanoma (American Joint Committee on Cancer stages II-IV), and with no known history of heart disease, were evaluated prospectively over a period of 11 years. The cardiologic findings considered were an unexpected delayed conduction of an electrical stimulus, recorded by high-resolution signal-averaged electrocardiogram (presence of ventricular late potentials), prolongation of the PR, QRS and QTc segments in a surface electrocardiogram, and abnormal Q waves. Echocardiographic findings comprised pericardial implantation/effusion or presence of intracavitary/intramyocardial metastases. Forty-one abnormal findings were recorded, pertaining to 38 of the 185 patients (19.5%). In particular, PR interval prolongation was found in eight patients (4.3%) and QTc interval prolongation in 11 (6%). Abnormal Q waves were recorded in five patients (2.7%). The filtered QRS interval was prolonged in seven patients (3.8%). Finally, echocardiographic examination showed discrete pericardial implantations and small to moderate pericardial effusion in six patients (3.2%) and intracavitary/intramyocardial metastases in four (2.1%). The median survival of these patients was 33 months (95% confidence interval, 19.9-46.1 months). It can be concluded that abnormal electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings are recorded at the time of diagnosis of the disease in a significant percentage of patients with malignant melanoma.
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PMID:Non-invasive cardiologic findings in patients with malignant melanoma*. 1617 72

Primary tumors of the heart are extremely rare, with a prevalence rate of around 0.01% in collective autopsy studies. Majority of the primary cardiac tumors are benign. Myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor, while angiosarcoma is the commonest primary malignant tumor. We present a case report of a 20-year-old patient with history of breathlessness and hemoptysis. A malignant mass was seen arising in the right atrium, with pericardial effusion and multiple metastases in the lung. A complete autopsy was performed and a diagnosis of cardiac angiosarcoma was confirmed on histology and immunohistochemistry.
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PMID:Cardiac angiosarcoma. 1641 59

This clinical feasibility study was planned to evaluate pericardioscopy as a means of control of the pericardial cavity during drainage for pericardial effusion by a surgical sub xyphoid approach. Seventeen patients who underwent an operation for surgical drainage of the pericardium (11 medical and 6 postoperative pericardial effusions) benefited from a pericardial exploration with a mediastinoscope or rigid thoracoscope (Karl Storz, Germany). In 7 of the 11 medical cases, a severe inflammation of the pericardium associated with false membranes was visualized; in 3 cases, the pericardium was considered as normal; and in 1 case, pericardial metastases were visualized. In the 6 postoperative cases, clots were visualized with a venous bypass graft and the pulmonary cannula of a right ventricular assist device (Thoratec, USA) was also perfectly controlled. The cause of bleeding was reported in one case and suspected in another, but required total sternotomy for repair in both cases. No mortality or morbidity was reported to be directly due to the technique. The peroperative assessment of pericardial cavity is possible by use of pericardioscopy with a satisfactory resolution, but visualization of the left lateral part of the heart remains difficult. The possibility exists to partially remove clots and false membranes, obtain various samples, and control the position of the drains. Improvement in the optic device with the possibility of a flexible device that has a tip protector for optimal visualization, may improve both the technique and results.
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PMID:Pericardial exploration by pericardioscopy during a surgical sub xyphoid approach. 1652 79

Breast cancer rarely metastasizes to the pericardial cavity to cause cardiac tamponade. We have recently experienced a case of pericardial tamponade due to recurrent breast cancer. A 41-year-old woman who underwent modified radical mastectomy for a right breast cancer (T(1)N(3)M(0), Stage IIIA) 8 years and 8 months ago, was admitted for dyspnea and cough. Chest X-ray and CT scan revealed cardiomegaly and right pleural effusion, and cardiac echogram showed marked retention of pericardial effusion. A diagnosis of cardiac tamponade was made, and pericardiocentesis and thoracentesis were carried out immediately. Based on cytodiagnosis of pericardial and pleural effusion, the diagnosis was pericardial and intrapleural metastases of the breast cancer. Dyspnea was improved by pericardiocentesis and thocacentesis. Both intrapericardiac and intrathoracic instillation of CDDP prevented reaccumulation of pericardial and pleural effusion. After local chemotherapy with CDDP, systemic chemotherapy of CPT-11 was started. Thereafter the patient was discharged from the hospital and recovered her daily activities. This case indicates that intrapericardiac application of CDDP was effective for carcinomatous cardiac tamponade without serious side effects.
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PMID:[A case of pericardial tamponade caused by recurrent breast cancer treated with intrapericardial and intrapleural infusion of cisplatin (CDDP)]. 1691 34

A 49-year-old man presented with palpitation and shortness of breath. He was seen to have a massive pleural and pericardial effusion on radiography and echocardiography. Computed tomography (CT) scanning showed that cardiac tumors arose from the right atrium with epicardial and endocardial extension. Pathology examination of samples at pericardiotomy revealed them to be angiosarcoma. Two days after the surgery, he developed left hemiparesis. CT scans showed a large cerebral hemorrhage on the right temporal lobe with midline shift by brain metastases. He died 37 days after the surgery. At autopsy, he had metastases in the brain, multiple bones, and soft tissues but no lung or left-side heart involvement. Primary cardiac angiosarcoma is rare, and mostly arises from the right side of the heart. Common metastatic sites are the lungs and liver. There are only a few reports of brain metastases. In conclusion, this is a rare report of cardiac angiosarcoma presenting with pericardial tamponade. There were rapid brain and multiple bone metastases but no lung or left-side heart lesions.
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PMID:Primary cardiac angiosarcoma: presenting with cardiac tamponade followed by cerebral hemorrhage with brain metastases. 1723 55

Metastatic cardiac liposarcoma is rare. A right ventricular liposarcoma metastasis is described in a 46-year-old man, who was admitted with significant shortness of breath and fatigue, and in whom a large lobulated low attenuation mass occupying most of the right ventricular cavity, with extension through the right ventricular apex and a small-to-moderate pericardial effusion was detected by electrocardiogram-gated cardiac computed tomography. The patient had an antecedent history of a left upper arm liposarcoma treated with surgical resection, chemotherapy, and postoperative radiotherapy 3 years earlier. Surgical resection was performed with the majority of the neoplasm removed though; the right ventricular apex and epicardial extension of tumor could not be fully resected. The histopathologic analysis revealed a liposarcoma, similar to the one resected in the left arm 3 years earlier. Electrocardiogram-gated cardiac computed tomography was able to visualize the metastatic tumor within the heart, accurately evaluate cardiac function and allow for prompt surgical treatment that produced relief of symptoms, and assess for further metastatic disease within the thorax.
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PMID:Metastatic shoulder liposarcoma to the right ventricle: CT findings. 1752 30

A 32-year-old female patient presented with dyspnea and palpitation, and transthoracic echocardiography revealed the presence of pericardial effusion. Pericardiosynthesis was performed for drainage. Because of the rapid accumulation of effusion and the presence of a right atrial mass on follow-up echocardiography, a computed tomography scan was done that revealed a right atrial defect and the presence of advanced pericardial effusion. The patient was prepared for an emergency operation. The mass on the right atrial wall was approached via a midsternal incision with cardiopulmonary bypass. The tumor filled the right atrial cavity, compressed vital structures, extended to the right ventricle, and had local metastases. As the tumor did not appear to be curable with surgery, a palliative approach was adopted. The right atrial free wall and tissues causing cardiac obstruction were totally removed, the tumor itself was partially excised, and local metastases were sampled. The resulting right atrial wall defect was closed with a Dacron patch. The operation ended uneventfully, and the clinical status and vital and hemodynamic findings of the patient returned to normal. The pathological diagnosis based on the samples obtained during the operation was angiosarcoma. The patient had an uneventful postoperative period and was then referred to an oncology center for clinical recovery. No findings of local recurrence or metastases were observed during the postoperative follow-up. The patient completed her combination therapy and currently is free of any clinical problems at her 13th postoperative month. We believe that advancements in radiotherapy and chemotherapy regimes combined with surgery (radical, if possible) for the treatment of cardiac angiosarcomas may provide better survival and quality-of-life results.
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PMID:Right atrial angiosarcoma: a case report. 1759 95

According to previous reports in the literature, the T790M mutation indicates an acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The initial positive effect of combination chemotherapy with erlotinib as the first line of treatment correlates with several positive predictors including the type of carcinoma, non-smoking status, occurrence of rash and the presence of exon 19 EGFR gene mutation. The case of a 32-year-old, non-smoker with non-contributory history patient, who was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in the left lung T4N0M0 stage IIIB is reported. The patient underwent 6 cycles of chemotherapy with erlotinib, gemcitabine and cisplatin, followed by complete remission. Fifteen months after commencing therapy, disease recurred over subsequent therapy with erlotinib and then gefitinib. During that time, bone and cerebral metastases with pericardial effusion were detected. The patient died 7 months later. Genetic examination of tumour tissue collected at the beginning of therapy revealed activating exon 19 mutation in the EGFR gene. Later, during the relapse, the same mutation was still present and, in addition, a T790M mutation in exon 20 of EGFR was found. The subsequently acquired resistance against both erlotinib, as well as gefitinib was most likely a result of tumor cells acquiring the T790M mutations and escaping the drug effect. The authors recommend testing for T790M mutation presence in selected patients prior to targeted therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
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PMID:Acquired resistance of pulmonary adenocarcinoma to initially successful targeted therapy due to EGFR mutation T790M. 1764 87

Based on a case of a patient with angiosarcoma (AS) of the right atrium with superior vena cava syndrome associated with urticaria and polyarthralgias, who died soon after surgery, the authors present a brief review of the subject of cardiac AS, an extremely rare pathology, usually diagnosed late due to its non-specific symptomatology. Several topics are discussed, including mechanisms of clinical manifestations caused by blood flow obstruction and valve dysfunction, local invasion with arrhythmias and pericardial effusion, embolic phenomena and constitutional symptoms. Imaging and histopathologic methods of diagnosis are considered, as well as references to cytogenetic analysis. Surgery is the first treatment choice, but heart AS are frequently not completely resectable and concomitant metastases at the time of surgery are common, both usually leading to a dismal prognosis. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and even heart transplantation do not substantially improve the survival of these patients. Urticaria is not generally assumed by most authors to be associated with malignancy, but there are rare reports of its association with some malignant tumors.
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PMID:Cardiac angiosarcoma--a review. 1769 Dec 82


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