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Cancer of uterine cervix is one of the most common malignancies in women. Metastatic recurrence of cervical cancer in spleen is rare, mostly seen in autopsies. Splenic metastasis from cervical cancer in a living patient without disseminated metastases is rarer. Here, we present the case of a lady aged 46 years with cervical cancer-squamous cell carcinoma-who had undergone radical hysterectomy and postoperative 50 Gy of intensity modulated radiation therapy in 25 fractions and 50 mg of weekly cisplatin for 6 weeks. She was doing well for 17 months. Then, she developed fever and anorexia, and was detected to have splenic lesion and a lesion in the pelvic mesentery in PET/CT (positron emission tomography-computed tomography). Laparoscopy showed enlarged spleen with a mass lesion and a mass in ileal mesentery adherent to the peritoneum over the fundus of bladder and greater omentum. She underwent resection of a segment of ileum with the mesenteric lesion and omentum and bladder peritoneum laparoscopically and splenectomy. Histopathological examination revealed both the mesenteric and splenic lesions to be metastases from poorly differentiated carcinoma, which was from the cervical cancer. Immunohistochemistry was suggestive of squamous cell carcinoma associated with high-risk human papilloma virus. After the postoperative recovery, patient was started on ciplatin with paclitaxel chemotherapy.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has a high propensity for metastasis. The purpose of this study was for us to determine whether serglycin expression can be used to predict distant metastases., Methods: Serglycin expression of tumor tissue of 112 patients with NPC was assessed based on percentage of tumor cells expressing serglycin, staining intensity, percentage of tumor-infiltrated lymphocyte (TIL) expressing serglycin and TIL-staining intensity., Results: Risk factors for distant metastases include sex, smoking status, tumor intensity, and TIL percentage for serglycin. The odds of distant metastases was 4.13 and 0.18 in patients with strong tumor intensity and >50% TIL percentage, respectively. Based on a nomogram incorporating predictors, patients were stratified into 2 prognostic groups. The proportion of distant metastases in the high-risk group (strong tumor intensity and ≤50% TIL percentage) was 78% versus 19% in the low risk group (p < .001)., Conclusion: Patients with NPC with tumors showing strong tumor intensity and low TIL percentage with serglycin may be at high risk for distant metastases., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Aims: After treatment for breast cancer, some patients experience a contralateral lymph node recurrence (CLNR). Traditionally, contralateral nodes are considered a distant site. However, aberrant lymph drainage after previous surgery is common. This might indicate that CLNR is a regional event. This study aimed to review the literature to determine prognosis after CLNR., Methods: PubMed was searched up until July 2014. Articles on CLNR with or without ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence (IBTR), and repeat sentinel node (SN) studies reporting on positive contralateral nodes were included. Exclusion criteria were synchronous contralateral breast cancer and synchronous distant events., Results: 24 articles were included, describing 48 patients. Of these 48, 26 patients had an isolated CLNR, 7 IBTR and clinically detected CLNR, and 15 IBTR with a positive contralateral repeat SN. Isolated CLNR occurred earlier (45.9 months) than IBTR with CLNR (126.6 months, p < 0.001) or with a positive contralateral repeat SN (217.2, p = 0.02). Surgical treatment was described for 38 patients, and consisted of axillary lymph node dissection for 34 (89.5%). Information on adjuvant therapy was available for 27 patients, 21 (77.8%) received chemotherapy. Follow-up information after CLNR was available for 23 patients (47.9%). Mean follow-up was 50.3 months. Overall survival and disease-free survival were 82.6% [95% CI 67.1-98.1] and 65.2% [45.7-84.7] respectively at last follow-up., Conclusions: Although observed in a small population, the survival of CLNR is not comparable to distant disease. Most patients received locoregional and systemic treatment suggesting a curative approach. This indicates that CLNR should be regarded as a regional event., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract that are most commonly found in the stomach. Although GISTs can spread to the liver and peritoneum, metastasis to the skeletal muscle is very rare and only four cases have previously been reported. These cases involved concurrent skeletal metastases of primary GISTs or liver metastases. Here, we report the first case of a distant recurrence in the brachialis muscle after complete remission of an extra-luminal gastric GIST following a wedge resection of the stomach, omental excision, and adjuvant imatinib therapy for one year. Ten months after therapy completion, the patient presented with swelling and tenderness in the left arm. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large mass in the brachialis muscle, which showed positivity for c-kit and CD34 upon pathologic examination. This is the first reported case of a solitary distant recurrence of a GIST in the muscle after complete remission had been achieved.

Background: Diagnosis of WHO grade III anaplastic gliomas does not always correspond to its clinical outcome because of the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) gene status. Anaplastic gliomas without IDH mutation result in a poor prognosis, similar to grade IV glioblastomas. However, the malignant features of anaplastic gliomas without IDH mutation are not well understood. The aim of this study was to examine anaplastic gliomas, in particular those without IDH mutation, with regard to their malignant features, recurrence patterns, and association with glioma stem cells., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 86 cases of WHO grade III anaplastic gliomas. Data regarding patient characteristics, recurrence pattern, and prognosis were obtained from medical records. We examined molecular alterations such as IDH mutation, 1p19q loss, TP53 mutation, MGMT promoter methylation, Ki67 labeling index, and CD133, SOX2, and NESTIN expression., Results: Of the 86 patients with anaplastic gliomas, 58 carried IDH mutation, and 40 experienced recurrence. The first recurrence was local in 25 patients and distant in 15. Patients without IDH mutation exhibited significantly higher CD133 and SOX2 expression (P = .025 and .020, respectively) and more frequent distant recurrence than those with IDH mutation (P = .022)., Conclusions: Patients with anaplastic gliomas without IDH mutation experienced distant recurrence and exhibited glioma stem cell markers, indicating that this subset may share some malignant characteristics with glioblastomas., (© The Author(s) 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Glioblastoma carries a poor prognosis primarily because of its high rate of recurrence. The ability to predict the recurrence pattern and timing would be highly useful for determining effective treatment strategies. We examined the correlation between prognostic factors and the pattern of recurrence in patients with primary glioblastoma. In particular, we examined whether there was a correlation between the expression of CD133 and glioblastoma recurrence., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 112 patients with primary glioblastoma. The timing and pattern (local or distant) of the initial recurrence were obtained from medical records. To identify factors predictive of recurrence, we examined CD133 expression by Western blots and immunohistochemistry, clinical (age, sex, KPS, Ki67 labeling index, surgery, ventricular entry) and genetic (IDH1, 7p, 9p, 10q, MGMT) factors., Results: Of the 112 patients, 99 suffered recurrence. The first recurrence was local in 77 patients and distant in 22 patients. Among the factors to predict the pattern of recurrence, CD133 expression was significantly higher in distant than in local recurrence. Of the factors to predict the timing of recurrence, high CD133 expression was associated with shorter time to distant recurrence in both univariate and multivariate analyses (P = .0011 and P = .038, respectively)., Conclusions: The expression of CD133 may be a predictor of the pattern and timing of recurrence of primary glioblastoma.

Background: The purpose of this study was to clarify important risk factors for distant recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients positive for hepatitis C and without local recurrence., Methods: A total of 212 patients (145 males and 67 females) underwent radiofrequency ablation and transcatheter arterial embolization or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization at initial development of hepatocellular carcinoma. All patients were positive for hepatitis C. Child-Pugh classification was A in 115 and B in 97. The indication for radiofrequency ablation was the presence of up to three tumors ≤ 3 cm. The distant recurrence rate was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and tested by Wilcoxon's method., Results: Cumulative distant recurrence rates at years 1, 3, and 5 were 19%, 62%, and 79%, respectively. On univariate analysis, a ≥ 3 cm tumor, ≥ 50 ng/mL α-fetoprotein level, and < 3.6 g/dL serum albumin level were significant risk factors for distant recurrence, but only a serum albumin level < 3.6 g/dL (P = 0.004) was identified as significant on multivariate analysis. In the group with a pretreatment albumin level ≥ 3.6 g/dL, the distant recurrence rate was compared between patients in whom the albumin level rose, remained unchanged, or decreased by < 0.3 g/dL, and those in whom the level decreased by ≥ 0.3 g/dL. The rate was significantly higher in the latter, with a one-year recurrence rate of 7% versus 15% (P = 0.04)., Conclusion: Distant recurrence was significantly decreased in patients with a high serum albumin level. Distant recurrence was more likely to occur in patients with a decreased albumin level, although the pretreatment level was high. Thus, strict follow-up after treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma is necessary in patients with low serum albumin levels.