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Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) contribute to immune suppression in cancer, but the mechanisms through which they drive metastatic progression are not fully understood. In this study, we show how MDSC convey stem-like qualities to breast cancer cells that coordinately help enable immune suppression and escape. We found that MDSC promoted tumor formation by enhancing breast cancer cell stem-like properties as well as by suppressing T-cell activation. Mechanistic investigations indicated that these effects relied upon cross-talk between the STAT3 and NOTCH pathways in cancer cells, with MDSC inducing IL6-dependent phosphorylation of STAT3 and activating NOTCH through nitric oxide leading to prolonged STAT3 activation. In clinical specimens of breast cancer, the presence of MDSCcorrelated with the presence of cancer stem-like cells (CSC) and independently predicted poor survival outcomes. Collectively, our work revealed an immune-associated mechanism that extrinsically confers cancer cell stemness properties and affects patient outcome. We suggest that targeting STAT3-NOTCH crosstalk between MDSC and CSC could offer a unique locus to improve cancer treatment, by coordinately targeting a coupled mechanism that enables cancer stemness and immune escape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peritoneal metastases (PM) of gastric cancer (GC) are characterized by a particularly poor prognosis, with median survival time of 6 months, and virtually no 5-year survival reported. Conversion therapy for GC is defined as a surgical treatment aiming at an R0 resection after systemic chemotherapy for tumours that were originally unresectable (or marginally resectable) for technical and/or oncological reasons. The aim of the present study was to evaluate early and late outcomes in GC patients with PM who underwent the cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) after neoadjuvant (conversion) chemotherapy. Thirty patients with stage IV GC underwent CRS plus HIPEC. Severe grade III/IV (Clavien-Dindo classification) complications occurred in 13 (43%) patients. The Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) ranged from 8.7 to 100 (median, 42.4). In the multivariate survival analysis, ypT2 and P3 (according to the Japanese classification of the PM severity) were favourable and adverse prognostic factors p = 0.031 and o = 0.035, respectively. Estimated 1- and 3-year survival was 73.9% and 36.6%, respectively. The median survival was 19.3 months. Conclusion: Conversion surgery, including extended gastrectomy and multi-organ resections followed by HIPEC performed after systemic chemotherapy therapy for GC with PM is justified in downstaged patients with ypT2 and limited (less than P3) PM., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Oncoplastic and reconstructive techniques are essential tools in the armamentarium of contemporary breast surgeons. The aim of the study was to identify oncoplastic reconstructive patterns in breast cancer centers across Poland. A questionnaire of 18 questions was sent by email to the members of the Polish Society of Surgical Oncology and the Polish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Esthetic Surgery via their dedicated websites. The numbers of breast cancer patients operated on in each center ranged from 120 to 904 per year. Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) predominated in all but one center (range 50-70%). Immediate breast reconstructions (IBR) accounted for 6-42% of procedures, The most frequent type of IBR was either a two-stage expander followed by a permanent implant or one-stage implant- based with or without synthetic mesh. The most frequent type of delayed breast reconstruction (DBR) was a two-stage expander followed by implant-based reconstruction. None of the surveyed cancer centers performed free flap reconstruction. Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps were performed in the plastic surgery department. Reconstructions based on pedicled flaps were performed in cancer centers. Acellular dermal matrices (ADM) and fat transfer were used in selected centers. In the clinical scenario of adjuvant radiotherapy, delayed breast reconstruction was favored. The full range of oncoplastic BCS was performed. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) and complications were assessed. Our findings can act as a platform for further improvement in skills, certification, data collection and audit, including patient reported expectation measures. There is also an urgent need to address pan-European inconsistencies in procedural reimbursement.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women in well-developed countries. Despite a constant increase in its incidence, the percentage of patients diagnosed with the disease in the non-invasive stage is also rising. This allows more frequently for the use of breast-preserving surgical techniques, involving the breast and the regional lymphatic system. According to current guidelines of expert panels and research societies, the recommended method of identifying the sentinel lymph node is the use of an isotope marker with a dye (a combined isotope and dye method). Cooperation with a nuclear medicine unit is essential (performing a preoperative lymphoscintigraphic scan to identify the lymphatic drainage basin and sentinel lymph node). In the case of smaller centers treating breast cancer, it can be associated with a number of difficulties, including organizational ones, and also increasing general treatment costs. A possible solution to these problems is to use alternative techniques of visualizing the sentinel lymph node, which do not require a radiotracer. In this paper we discuss the currently available methods of mapping the lymphatic system of the axillary region in patients with early breast cancer. The review is limited to reporting on methods of proven (based on clinical research) high diagnostic value.

Aim of the Study: Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) may improve outcome of surgical treatment of recurrent colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility, safety and long-term results of surgical treatment of recurrent CRC with orthovolt IORT., Material and Methods: Fifty-nine consecutive CRC patients with local recurrence (LR), undergoing surgery, were included in the retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. The modified Wanebo classification was used to stage LR (Tr). Twenty-five (43%) patients received IORT using INTRABEAM(®) PRS 500. The complications were classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification., Results: There were 32 males and 27 females, with a median age of 63 years. Multi-visceral resections were performed in 37 (63%) patients. Median hospitalization time after surgery with IORT was 7 days. One (1.7%) in-hospital postoperative death was reported. Grade 3/4 postoperative complications were found in 11 (19%) patients. Intraoperative radiotherapy had no effect on the postoperative hospitalization time, morbidity and mortality. Median survival after R0 resection was 32 months. Complete resection (R0), no synchronous liver metastases (M0), and no lateral and posterior pelvic wall involvement, were significant predictors of improved survival. Stage of LR was found to be an independent prognostic factor in the multivariate analysis (p = 0.03); Cox regression model). In patients with LR stage < Tr5, a 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 52%., Conclusions: Combination of surgical resection and orthovolt IORT is a safe and feasible procedure that does not increase the risk of postoperative complications or prolongs the hospital stay. Despite aggressive surgery supported by IORT, the advanced stage of LR is a limiting factor of long-term survival.

Introduction and Objectives: In the United States, breast cancer (BC) is the most common non-skin cancer. In Poland, it is estimated that the number of new breast cancer cases affects about 13,500 women each year. There are many methods for nutritional status assessment. One of them is bioimpedance analysis (BIA). Direct bioimpedance measures (resistance, reactance, phase angle (PA)) determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) detectf changes in tissue electrical properties. The study was conducted to investigate whether there are any tissue electrical differences in patients with breast cancer., Materials and Methods: The direct bioimpedance measures determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) were performed on 34 patients with BC and 34 healthy volunteers. The measurements were made with ImpediMed bioimpedance analysis SFB7 BioImp v1.55 (Pinkenba Qld 4008, Australia)., Results: Reactance and resistance at 50 kHz was found to be significantly greater in patients with BC than in the control group (53.59° ± 1.53 vs. 47.26° ± 1.25, respectively, p=0.0031; 603.24° ± 15.38 ohm vs. 515.87° ± 11.48 ohm, respectively, p=0.00004)., Conclusion: Pre-surgical patients diagnosed with BC have altered tissue electrical properties. Further observations of a larger patient group would be valuable to calculate survival, validate the prognostic significance of PA, and monitor nutritional and therapeutic interventions in this patient population.

Lichen planus is a chronic mucocutaneous T-cell-mediated disease, the cause of which remains unknown. The first case of lichen planus that transformed into squamous cell carcinoma was reported in 1903. The presented study concerns the case of a 62-year-old woman in whom twice malignant transformation of hypertrophic lichen planus in the dorsal part of the left foot developed. Several studies have pointed out the malignant transformation potential of lichen planus. Epidemiological studies from the last 20 years have revealed a malignant transformation rate of 0.27% per year, emphasizing the importance of the clinical follow-up of lichen planus patients.

Introduction and Objectives: The study was conducted to evaluate soft tissue hydration and mass through pattern analysis of vector plots as height, normalized resistance, and reactance measurements by bioelectric impedance vector analysis (BIVA) in patients with breast cancer., Materials and Methods: Whole-body measurements were made with ImpediMed bioimpedance analysis SFB7 BioImp v1.55 (Pinkenba Qld 4008, Australia) in 68 adult, white, female subjects: 34 adult, white female (age 31-82) patients with breast cancer and 34 healthy volunteers matched by age, gender and BMI as a control group. The measurements were performed prior to oncological and surgical treatment, without the need for active nutritional interventions., Results: Mean vectors of women with breast cancer versus the healthy women groups were characterized by a slight increase of the normalized resistance and reactance components (separate 95% confidence limits, p < 0.05) indicating that there were slight differences of soft tissue hydration and mass., Conclusion: The results observed in the presented study provide valuable information on the nutritional status of the patient prior to surgery. This quick assessment of the patient nutritional status can allow for early corrective intervention. Further observational research investigating these properties in larger groups would be beneficial to elucidate and/or confirm these findings.

Cyclooxygenase inhibitors (COX) are a complex group of pharmacological compounds characterized by significant efficacy in chemoprevention of epithelial origin tumors, especially colorectal ones. It was found that inducible isoform of COX - COX-2 plays an important role in cancer growth and dissemination, e.g., by increase of cellular proliferation, reduction of apoptosis, promotion of local invasiveness and angiogenesis. COX inhibitors decrease prostaglandins' synthesis, but COX-independent mechanisms of their preventive and therapeutical activity were also proven. The influence of COX inhibitors on growth of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its precursor lesions was not completely clear. Most studies based on human cancer cell lines revealed antiproliferative and proapoptotic ability of both nonselective (previously called non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs--NSAIDs) and selective COX-2 inhibitors (coxibs). In in vivo studies performed on animals exposed to chemical carcinogens, the chemopreventive effect was achieved exclusively after administration of experimental selective COX-2 inhibitors, but in the only human trial, supplementation of selective COX-2 inhibitor--celecoxib turned out ineffective. However, many epidemiological data proved effect of prolonged administration of nonselective COX inhibitors, especially acetylsalicylic acid on decreased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Few reports concerning application of selective COX-2 inhibitors in patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma are insufficient for ultimate evaluation of this method of therapy.

Three types of surgical procedure were applied to cover skin defect in locally advanced breast cancer after simple mastectomy. The skin defect was impossible for primary suture. In four cases we used latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap with a very good effect. In two cases skin flap from the abdomen was used, and one case skin graft. The female patients survived 2.1 years with better quality of life.