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Plasmatic proteasome (p-proteasome) has recently been described as a new marker for metastatic melanoma. The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic and prognostic values of p-proteasome with three other melanoma serological markers: S100B protein, melanoma inhibitory activity protein (MIA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the plasma of 121 stage I-IV melanoma patients. Laboratory analyses were performed by standardized ELISA (p-proteasome, MIA), immunoluminometric assay (S100B) and colorimetry (LDH). We found that all markers were relevant for discriminating metastatic from nonmetastatic patients but p-proteasome displayed the highest diagnostic accuracy. P-proteasome and S100B were the most sensitive (58.1%) and p-proteasome and MIA the most specific (98.7 and 100%) in detecting metastatic disease. P-proteasome and S100B had the highest area under receiver operating characteristics curve, 0.811 (95% CI: 0.725-0.897) and 0.822 (95% CI: 0.738-0.906), respectively. These two markers were the best in detecting patients with lymph node metastases. S100B, MIA and LDH diagnostic accuracy was increased when these markers were combined with p-proteasome. As shown with univariate analysis, shorter progression-free and overall survival rates were significantly associated with elevated plasma levels of each markers. The multivariate Cox regression analysis identified p-proteasome as the only independent predictor of a poorer progression-free survival (p = 0.030). In conclusion, this comparative study established that p-proteasome quantification in combination with other melanoma biomarkers is an attractive approach for the biological follow-up of melanoma patients.

The most-used prognostic scheme for malignant gliomas included only patients aged 18 to 70 years. The purpose of this study was to develop a prognostic model for patients ≥70 years of age with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.A total of 437 patients ≥70 years of age with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, pooled from 2 tertiary academic institutions, was identified for recursive partitioning analysis (RPA). The resulting prognostic model, based on the final pruned RPA tree, was validated using 265 glioblastoma patients ≥70 years of age from a data set independently compiled by a French consortium.RPA produced 9 terminal nodes, which were pruned to 4 prognostic subgroups with markedly different median survivals: subgroup I = patients75.5 years of age who underwent surgical resection (9.3 months); subgroup II = patients ≥75.5 years of age who underwent surgical resection (6.4 months); subgroup III = patients with Karnofsky performance status of 70 to 100 who underwent biopsy only (4.6 months); and subgroup IV = patients with Karnofsky performance status70 who underwent biopsy only (2.3 months). Application of this prognostic model to the French cohort also resulted in significantly different (P.0001) median survivals for subgroups I (8.5 months), II (7.7 months), III (4.3 months), and IV (3.1 months).This model divides elderly glioblastoma patients into prognostic subgroups that can be easily implemented in both the patient care and the clinical trial settings. This purely clinical prognostic model serves as a backbone for the future incorporation of the increasing number of potential molecular prognostic markers.

This work aimed to prospectively record all primary central nervous system tumor (PCNST) cases in France, for which histological diagnosis is available. The objectives were to (i) create a national registry and a network to perform epidemiological studies; (ii) implement clinical and basic research protocols; and (iii) harmonize the health care of patients affected by PCNST. For 5 years, 25 756 cases of newly diagnosed and histologically confirmed PCNST have been recorded. Histological diagnoses included glioma (48.9%), all other neuroepithelial tumors (5%), meningioma (28.8%), nerve sheath tumors (8.4%), lymphoma (3.2%) and others (5.7%). Cryopreservation was reported for 6018 PCNST specimens. Tumor resections (R) were performed in 78% cases, while biopsies accounted for 22%. Median age (MA), sex, percentage R and number of cryopreserved tumors were detailed for each histology; for example, out of 6053 glioblastomas (MA 63 years, male 59.4%, R 62%, 1611 were cryopreserved), and out of 37 atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (MA 2 years, male 56.8%, R 94%, 17 were cryopreserved). This database or databank dedicated to PCNST cases contains detailed data on clinical, histological and other characteristics, such as the inclusion of data on cryopreserved specimens that are not available in other European registries. Therefore, this is a valuable resource that can be used for planning future epidemiological and clinical research.

Plasmatic proteasome (p-proteasome) also called circulating proteasome has recently been described as a tumor marker. We investigated the diagnostic and prognostic accuracies of p-proteasome levels in a melanoma population classified according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. Using an ELISA test, we measured p-proteasome levels in 90 patients and 40 controls between March 2003 and March 2008. The subunit composition of p-proteasomes was determined in metastatic melanoma by proteomic analysis. The mean p-proteasome levels were correlated with stages (P 4300 ng/ml) were significantly correlated with an increased risk of progression [hazard ratio (HR) = 7.34; 95% CI 3.54-15.21, P < 0.0001] and a risk of death (HR = 5.92; 95% CI 2.84-12.33, P < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, high p-proteasome levels were correlated with a poorer clinical outcome in the subgroup analysis limited to patients with disease stages I, II and III. Proteomic analysis confirmed the presence of all proteasome and immunoproteasome subunits. Taken together, these results indicate that p-proteasomes are a new marker for metastatic dissemination in patients with melanoma.

Background and Objectives The aim of this study was to establish a correlation between a thermal measurement and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal during laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) in liver. Study Design/Materials and Methods Pig liver was irradiated for 15 minutes with a diode laser at two different powers, 0.5 W (450 J) and 1.5 W (1,350 J). Tissue temperature was monitored every 20 seconds using thermocouples. Thermosensitive MRI sequences (T1-weighted Turbo-Flash) were acquired with the same irradiation parameters. Correlation between MRI signals (SI) and temperature measures was defined at two different distances from the fiber (5 and 10 mm). Results At 0.5 W, temperatures rose progressively up to a maximum increase of 9.5°C at 5 mm and 4°C at 10 mm after 15 minutes. The corresponding MRI signal decreased progressively to −27.6 SI at 5 mm and −18.5 SI at 10 mm. At 1.5 W, temperatures rose dramatically at 5 mm, reaching a plateau. The temperature elevation measured at the end of the irradiation was of 30°C whereas at 10 mm it was only 14.5°C. The MRI signal varied accordingly, remaining inversely proportional to temperature (−76 SI at 5 mm and −35.5 SI at 10 mm). Conclusions An inversely proportional relationship was observed between MRI signal in sequential Turbo-Flash and temperature. MRI should allow to analyze heat diffusion in the liver, and thus to monitor real-time LITT treatments. Lasers Surg. Med. 32:54–60,2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The analytical and clinical performances of the new fluorescent immunoassay (CK‐MB mass Vidas‐BioMerieux) were examined and compared to the chemiluminescent test (CK‐MB mass Access‐Sanofi‐Pasteur). Assay precisions of the CK‐MB Vidas test within‐assay or between‐assay were less than 5.4 and 5.3%, respectively. Linearity was tested up to 214 μg/L. The CK‐MB Vidas test was free of interference with CK‐BB, CK‐MM, and macro‐CK. One hundred nineteen blood samples from patients with ischemic myocardial injury (IMI): acute myocardial infarction (AMI), suspected myocardial contusion (SMC), and unstable angina pectoris (UA), were tested using both immunoassays. In AMI, a good correlation was found (Y [CK‐MB Access] = 1.1372 × [CK‐MB Vidas] – 6.3902; r(2) = 0.96). In UA and SMC, low values were observed and both methods were well correlated (Y [CK‐MB Access] = 1.3662 × [CK‐MB Vidas] + 0.0671; r(2) = 0.97). Clinical data were in good agreement with both immunoassays. ROC analysis performed in AMI demonstrated that the clinical performances of the two assays were similar. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 14:43–47, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.