   MULTICENTER BELGIAN SURVEY ON DONOR MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN ADULT-TO-ADULT LIVING DONOR LIVER TRANSPLANTATION; ; et al in Transplant International (2011, September), 24(2), 13-13 Detailed reference viewed: 9 (0 ULg) Further pharmacological and genetic evidence for the efficacy of PlGF inhibition in cancer and eye disease.; ; et al in Cell (2010), 141(1), 178-90 Our findings that PlGF is a cancer target and anti-PlGF is useful for anticancer treatment have been challenged by Bais et al. Here we take advantage of carcinogen-induced and transgenic tumor models as ... [more ▼] Our findings that PlGF is a cancer target and anti-PlGF is useful for anticancer treatment have been challenged by Bais et al. Here we take advantage of carcinogen-induced and transgenic tumor models as well as ocular neovascularization to report further evidence in support of our original findings of PlGF as a promising target for anticancer therapies. We present evidence for the efficacy of additional anti-PlGF antibodies and their ability to phenocopy genetic deficiency or silencing of PlGF in cancer and ocular disease but also show that not all anti-PlGF antibodies are effective. We also provide additional evidence for the specificity of our anti-PlGF antibody and experiments to suggest that anti-PlGF treatment will not be effective for all tumors and why. Further, we show that PlGF blockage inhibits vessel abnormalization rather than density in certain tumors while enhancing VEGF-targeted inhibition in ocular disease. Our findings warrant further testing of anti-PlGF therapies. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 84 (10 ULg)Outcome of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Listed for Liver Transplantation Within the Eurotransplant Allocation System; ; et al in Liver Transplantation (2008), 14 Although hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become a recognized indication for liver transplantation, the rules governing priority and access to the waiting list are not well defined. Patient- and tumor ... [more ▼] Although hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become a recognized indication for liver transplantation, the rules governing priority and access to the waiting list are not well defined. Patient- and tumor-related variables were evaluated in 226 patients listed primarily for HCC in Belgium, a region where the allocation system is patient-driven, priority being given to sicker patients, based on the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score. Intention-to-treat and posttransplantation survival rates at 4 years were 56.5 and 66%, respectively, and overall HCC recurrence rate was 10%. The most significant predictors of failure to receive a transplant in due time were baseline CTP score equal to or above 9 (relative risk [RR] 4.1; confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-9.9) and alpha fetoprotein above 100 ng/mL (RR 3.0; CI: 1.2-7.1). Independent predictors of posttransplantation mortality were age equal to or above 50 years (RR 2.5; CI: 1.0-3.7) and United Network for Organ Sharing pathological tumor nodule metastasis above the Milan criteria (RR 2.1; CI: 1.0-5.9). Predictors of recurrence (10%) were _ fetoprotein above 100 ng/mL (RR 3.2; CI:1.1-10) and vascular involvement of the tumor on the explant (RR 3.6; CI: 1.1-11.3). Assessing the value of the pretransplantation staging by imaging compared to explant pathology revealed 34% accuracy, absence of carcinoma in 8.3%, overstaging in 36.2%, and understaging in 10.4%. Allocation rules for HCC should consider not only tumor characteristics but also the degree of liver impairment. Patients older than 50 years with a stage above the Milan criteria at transplantation have a poorer prognosis after transplantation. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 43 (12 ULg)Reduction of relapse rates by 18-month treatment in chronic hepatitis C. A Benelux randomized trial in 300 patients.; ; et al in Journal of Hepatology (2004), 40(4), 689-695 BACKGROUND/AIMS: Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with interferon can be ineffective due to relapse. We aimed to reduce the 40% relapse rate of 6 months interferon-ribavirin combination therapy by ... [more ▼] BACKGROUND/AIMS: Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with interferon can be ineffective due to relapse. We aimed to reduce the 40% relapse rate of 6 months interferon-ribavirin combination therapy by prolonging treatment to 18 months. METHODS: Three hundred patients with treatment-naive hepatitis C, were randomized to 18 months combination therapy with interferon (3MU tiw) and ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day), 18 months interferon combined with placebo, or 6 months combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin, in a double blinded manner. All 295 patients who received at least one dose of treatment were included in the intention to treat analysis. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, HCV RNA was undetectable in 55 and 49% of those on 6 and 18 months combination therapy, respectively, versus 26% of those on monotherapy (P<0.001). The relapse rate was 38% for 6 months combination therapy, 38% for 18 months monotherapy, and only 13% for 18 months combination treatment (P=0.002). The sustained response rates were 34% for 6 months combination therapy, 16% for 18 months monotherapy and 43% for 18 months combination therapy (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Reduction of relapse rates to 15% or less is feasible by prolongation of interferon-ribavirin treatment to 18 months. [less ▲] Detailed reference viewed: 6 (0 ULg)BASL guidelines for the surveillance, diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma; ; Delwaide, Jean  et alin Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica (2004), 67(1), 14-25 Detailed reference viewed: 480 (0 ULg) |
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