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... in which they developed DNA expression profiles that can be used to accurately diagnose nine soft-tissue sarcoma subtypes, representing approximately 70 % of these cancers. To develop such profiles, researchers use a gene-expression microarray, or "gene chip. " The chip contains thousands of known gene samples printed onto a quartz wafer in tiny dots. When a gene in a study cell matches one on the chip, it binds tightly, like two pieces of a puzzle. The cellular material causes the matched gene dot to light up.
A computer than analyzes the pattern of luminescent genes that make up the cell's profile. The profiling technique can potentially improve the prognosis for countess patients with more common forms of cancer. "This is a very general technique that will have ramifications for all types of cancer, including the more common ones such as lung, breast, colon, and prostate, " says Robert Maki, a medical oncologist and investigator in the Sloan-Kettering work. "All the common cancers are being investigated. " Scientists from the National Human Genome Research Institute and Lund University in Sweden reported in the 1 June 2001 issue of Nature Medicine that they used genetic profiling to distinguish four childhood cancers that look similar under a microscope: neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Burkitt lymphoma), and Ewing sarcoma. In 2004, about 8, 680 new soft tissue sarcomas will be diagnosed in the United States. Of these, 4, 760 cases will be diagnosed in males, and 3, 920 cases will be diagnosed in females.
During 2004, 3, 660 Americans (2, 020 males and 1, 640 females) are expected to die of soft tissue sarcomas. These statistics include both adults and children. The 5 -year survival rate for people with soft tissue sarcomas is around 90 % if the cancer is found while it is small and before it has spread. In contrast, the 5 -year survival rate is between 10 % and 15 % for sarcomas that have metastasized (spread). The 5 -year survival rate refers to the percentage of people who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Five-year rates are used to produce a standard way of discussing prognosis.
Of course, many of these patients live much longer than 5 years. Five-year relative survival rates exclude patients dying of other diseases. This means that anyone who died of another cause, such as heart disease, is not counted. One has to keep in mind that 5 -year survival rates are based on patients diagnosed and initially treated more than 5 years ago. Improvements in treatment often result in a more favorable outlook for recently diagnosed patients. A complete medical history is necessary to check for symptoms and risk factors.
A physical examination is necessary to provide the physician with other medical signs and symptoms of sarcoma and other health problems. Ultrasound, which uses sound waves to identify the mass. Computed tomography (CT scan) which takes pictures like an x-ray from different angles. This provides the physician with a picture of the inside of your body. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) this type image is similar to the image produced by the CT, however, the MRI shows blood vessels in greater detail and allows the cross-sectional views to be shown in different directions. If one has a history of more than one family member with sarcoma, she / he should discuss genetic testing with your physician.
There are certain family syndromes which predispose to the development of sarcoma. However, these are very, very rare and the vast majority of patients with sarcoma do not risk passing on any increased risk of developing sarcoma to their children. As with concerns for any cancer, in general, you should notify your physician if you discover any lumps or growths. Since the symptoms of sarcoma do not show up until the disease is advanced, one should see your physician if any of the following problems arise:
Any new lump or growing lump appears on your body.
Increasing abdominal pain.
Blood in your stools or vomit (when blood appears in your stool it may not look red but the stool may look black and tarry). To make the diagnosis of sarcoma, and to specifically place any sarcoma in the particular subtype category, it is critical to evaluate the cancer cells and see what they look like under the microscope. A biopsy is a procedure which removes some tissue form the tumor in order to examine it under the microscope and with other lab tests. A biopsy can be a very useful tool, and it is the only way to be certain that the tumor is sarcoma and not some other type of cancer.
In addition, it may reveal non-cancerous disease. A biopsy is also able to determine the type of sarcoma present, as well as the grade of the disease. The grade of the disease determines the severity (how rapid the disease will grow and spread to other parts of your body). Based on the size and location of the tumor, physician will choose a specific type of biopsy to diagnose sarcoma.
Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy: The advantage of this type of biopsy is that it doesn't require surgery. However, sometimes the FNA technique cannot diagnose sarcoma and its grade with certainty. Due to the thin needle technique, you cannot always remove enough tissue to evaluate the disease. Core needle biopsy: This type of biopsy removes a much larger piece of tumor as compared to the FNA. This cylindrical piece of tissue allows physicians to see if sarcoma is present, as well as the grade of the tumor. Excision al or Incision al biopsy: This procedure is performed by a surgeon who makes a cut through the skin to remove the entire mass (excision al biopsy) or a small part of the tumor (incision al biopsy).
Depending on the location of the tumor different forms of anesthesia are used for the management of pain. Gleevec, formerly known as STI- 571, is a novel signal transduction inhibitor that appears to be effective for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), according to the results of phase I and phase II trials presented on Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Previous laboratory investigations have shown that Gleevec inhibits the function of the proto-oncogene c-kit, which promotes cell proliferation in GIST, Dr. Charles D. Blank from Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland told conference participants. In a phase II trial, Dr.
Blank and colleagues administered Gleevec to 148 patients with metastatic or undetectable GIST in doses similar to those given to patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved Gleevec for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. (see Reuters Health report for May 5). Patients were randomized to 400 mg or 600 mg daily oral doses of Gleevec and were evaluated with CT and PET scans and serial tumor tissue biopsy. At baseline, the investigators also confirmed the presence of the c-kit expression in the patients' tumors. A total of 139 patients were available for evaluation. Fifty-nine percent of the patients had tumor shrinkage. "This is notable because there is no standard chemotherapy to help GIST patients, " Dr.
Blank said. During an average follow-up of 4. 5 months, no patients who remained on Gleevec and who had achieved a remission relapsed, he added. Patients with kit mutations benefited more from the treatment than those without this mutation, with 86 % of the patients with kit mutations having a remission rate of 78 %, Dr. Blank noted. "This is the first effective nonsurgical therapy for GIST, " he said. "The way we do cancer research will change; Gleevec is like a "guided missile, specifically targeting the defect that makes the GIST cell cancerous, while sparing most normal cells, " he said. In the second presentation, Dr.
Allan T. Van Oosterom from UZ Gasthuisberg KULeuven, Belgium, and colleagues performed a phase I study with 36 GIST patients and 4 patients with other soft tissue sarcomas. The subjects received Gleevec doses ranging from 400 mg twice daily to 500 mg twice daily. Patients were treated until there was evidence of disease progression or until 1 year had pasted, Dr.
Van Oosterom said. After 8 -to- 12 weeks of therapy, quality of life improved and most patients had resumed working, " Dr. Van Oosterom added. Thirteen patients had a confirmed partial response and 12 patients had an unconfirmed partial response. Only four patients had progressive disease. "However, just last week one of these patients had a confirmed response after 40 weeks of treatment, he added. Bases on tolerability and efficacy, the researchers found that the optimal dose was 400 mg twice daily. "Since 33 of 36 of our patients are still on the treatment, I believe that with Gleevec we have changed the natural course of this disease, " Dr.
Van Oosterom concluded. Works cited: Profiles in Cancer. Contributors: Cynthia Wash - author. Journal Title: Environmental Health Perspectives.
Volume: 110. Issue: 12. Publication Year: 2002. Page Number: 742. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright 2000, Columbia University Press.
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