OBJECTIVE We aimed at analyzing the metastatic involvement in interpectoral (Rotter's) lymph nodes (RLN) in relation to tumor marker CA 15-3. METHODS The study included 177 female patients undergoing surgery for primary breast cancer at the University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia from November 2001 to March 2004. In addition to the standard surgical procedure, interpectoral RLNs were ...

in spite of being histologically benign, sacrococcygeal teratoma (sct) may recur either as a benign or malignant tumor. a total of 26 patients with benign neonatal scts were treated in taleghanee and mofid medical centers from 1986 to 2000. investigations included radiography,abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography (ct) scan and measurement of tumor marker (α-fetoprotein). initial surgical...

background: bax and bcl-2 are the major members of bcl-2 family whose play a key role in tumor progression or inhibition of intrinsic apoptotic pathway triggered by mitochondrial dysfunction. therefore, the balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic members of this family can determine the cellular fate. methods: in this study, the relative level of mrna expression of bax and bcl-2 genes was deter...

The aim of this study was to improve diagnostic efficiency in the detection of gastro-intestinal cancers by using fuzzy logic modeling in combination with a tumor marker panel (CEA, CA72-4, CA19-9) including Tumor M2-PK. In this prospective study histologically confirmed colorectal (n=247), esophageal (n=86) and gastric cancer (n=122) patients were investigated and compared to control (n=53) pe...

The effectiveness of patient monitoring with serum tumor markers is improved when the patient's pretreatment baseline is established, regular serial testing is performed, and a clinically significant change of the marker is determined on the basis of objective criteria. Attention must be directed to (a) ensuring long-term assay precision, (b) timing specimen collection to avoid misinterpretatio...