281. Long-term survival in glioblastoma : methyl guanine methyl transferase (MGMT) promoter methylation as independent favourable prognostic factorUroš Smrdel, Mara Popović, Matjaž Zwitter, Emanuela Boštjančič, Andrej Zupan, Viljem Kovač, Damjan Glavač, Drago Bokal, Janja Jerebic, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: In spite of significant improvement after multi-modality treatment, prognosis of most patients with glioblastoma remains poor. Standard clinical prognostic factors (age, gender, extent of surgery and performance status) do not clearly predict long-term survival. The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate immuno-histochemical and genetic characteristics of the tumour as additional prognostic factors in glioblastoma. Long-term survivor group were 40 patients with glioblastoma with survival longer than 30 months. Control group were 40 patients with shorter survival and matched to the long-term survivor group according to the clinical prognostic factors. All patients underwent multimodality treatment with surgery, postoperative conformal radiotherapy and temozolomide during and after radiotherapy. Biopsy samples were tested for the methylation of MGMT promoter (with methylation specific polymerase chain reaction), IDH1 (with immunohistochemistry), IDH2, CDKN2A and CDKN2B (with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification), and 1p and 19q mutations (with fluorescent in situ hybridization). Methylation of MGMT promoter was found in 95% and in 36% in the long-term survivor and control groups, respectively (p < 0.001). IDH1 R132H mutated patients had a non-significant lower risk of dying from glioblastoma (p= 0.437), in comparison to patients without this mutation. Other mutations were rare, with no significant difference between the two groups. Molecular and genetic testing offers additional prognostic and predictive information for patients with glioblastoma. The most important finding of our analysis is that in the absence of MGMT promoter methylation, longterm survival is very rare. For patients without this mutation, alternative treatments should be explored.
Keywords: glioblastoma, long-term survival, methyl guanine methyl transferase, MGMT, prognostic factor
Published in DiRROS: 30.04.2024; Views: 163; Downloads: 156
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282. The prognostic value of whole blood SOX2, NANOG and OCT4 mRNA expression in advanced small-cell lung cancerEva Sodja, Matija Rijavec, Ana Koren, Aleksander Sadikov, Peter Korošec, Tanja Čufer, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: The data on expression and clinical impact of cancer stem cell markers SOX2, NANOG and OCT4 in lung cancer is still lacking. The aim of our study was to compare SOX2, NANOG and OCT4 mRNA expression levels in whole blood between advanced small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients and healthy controls, and to correlate mRNA expression with progression-free survival (PFS) after first-line chemotherapy and overall survival (OS) in advanced SCLC patients. Patients and methods. 50 advanced SCLC patients treated with standard chemotherapy and followed at University Clinic Golnik, Slovenia, between 2009 and 2013 were prospectively included. SOX2, NANOG and OCT4 mRNA expression levels were determined using TaqMan qPCR in whole blood collected prior to chemotherapy. Whole blood of 34 matched healthy individuals with no cancerous disease was also tested. Results. SOX2 mRNA expression was significantly higher in whole blood of SCLC patients compared to healthy controls (p = 0.006). Significant correlation between SOX2 mRNA expression levels and the number of distant metastatic sites was established (p = 0.027). In survival analysis, patients with high SOX2 expression had shorter OS (p = 0.017) and PFS (p = 0.046). In multivariate Cox analysis, an independent value of high SOX2 expression for shorter OS (p = 0.002), but not PFS was confirmed. No significant differences were observed for NANOG or OCT4 expression levels when comparing SCLC patients and healthy controls neither when analysing survival outcomes in SCLC patients. Conclusions. SOX2 mRNA expression in whole blood might be a promising non-invasive marker for molecular screening of SCLC and important prognostic marker in advanced chemotherapy-treated SCLC patients, altogether indicating important role of cancer stem-like cell (CSC) regulators in cancer spread. Further evaluation of SOX2 as a possible screening/prognostic marker and a therapeutic target of SCLC is warranted.
Keywords: small-cell lung cancer, cancer stem cell markers, prognosis
Published in DiRROS: 30.04.2024; Views: 174; Downloads: 66
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283. Granulomatosis after autologous stem cell transplantation in nonHodgkin lymphoma : experience of single institution and a review of literatureLučka Boltežar, Ivana Žagar, Barbara Jezeršek Novaković, 2016, review article Abstract: Sarcoidosis before and after treatment of malignancy is an important differential diagnosis that has to be distinguished from lymphoma. Patients and methods. Hodgkin lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and aggressive follicular lymphoma are being staged and treatment effect is evaluated with PET-CT. We report three cases of aggressive lymphoma after high dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation with positive lymph nodes on PET-CT, which were histologically diagnosed as sarcoidosis/granulomatosis. In the literature, we found that false positive lymph nodes were more common after allogeneic than after autologous transplantation. Conclusions. Post-treatment PET-CT positive lymph nodes should always be examined histologically prior to any further treatment decision to avoid unnecessary toxic procedures.
Keywords: granulomatosis, nonHodgin lymphoma, PET-CT, differential diagnosis
Published in DiRROS: 30.04.2024; Views: 171; Downloads: 60
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288. Towards the development of a landslide activity map in SloveniaMateja Jemec Auflič, Krištof Oštir, Tanja Grabrijan, Matjaž Ivačič, Tina Peternel, Ela Šegina, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: To create the landslide activity map, we implemented and tested the procedure to fully utilise the 6-day repeatability of the Sentinel-1 constellation in three pilot areas in Slovenia for the observation period from 2017 to 2021. The interferometric processing of the Sentinel-1 images was carried out with ENVI SARScape, while the interpretation of the persistent scatterers InSAR data was done in three steps. In the first step, a preliminary interpretation of the landslide areas was performed by integrating the PS InSAR data into a GIS environment with information that could be relevant to explain the movement patterns of the PS InSAR points. In the second step, a field validation was performed to check the PS InSAR in the field and record the potential damage to the objects indicating the slope mass movements. In the third step, the deformations were identified, and areas of significant movement were determined, consisting of clusters of at least 3 persistent scatterers (PS) with a maximum spacing of 10 m. The landslide activity map was created based on the landslide areas categorised into four classes based on the geotechnical analyses, yearly velocity data obtained by PS InSAR, and validation of annual velocity data obtained by in-situ and GNSS monitoring and field observation. A total of 21 polygons with different landslide activities were identified in three study areas. The overall methodology will help stakeholders in the early mapping and monitoring of landslides to increase the urban resilience.
Keywords: landslides, EO data, sentinel, time series, methodology, Slovenia
Published in DiRROS: 30.04.2024; Views: 218; Downloads: 147
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290. Revealing subtle active tectonic deformation: integrating lidar, photogrammetry, field mapping, and geophysical surveys to assess the Late Quaternary activity of the Sava Fault (Southern Alps, Slovenia)Petra Jamšek Rupnik, Jure Atanackov, Barbara Horn, Branko Mušič, Marjana Zajc, Christoph Grützner, Kamil Ustaszewski, Sumiko Tsukamoto, Matevž Novak, Blaž Milanič, Anže Markelj, Kristina Ivančič, Ana Novak, Jernej Jež, Manja Žebre, Miloš Bavec, Marko Vrabec, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: We applied an interdisciplinary approach to analyze the late Quaternary activity of the Sava Fault in the Slovenian Southern Alps. The Sava Fault is an active strike-slip fault, and part of the Periadriatic Fault System that accommodated the convergence of Adria and Europe. It is one of the longest faults in the Southern Alps. Using high-resolution digital elevation models from lidar and photogrammetric surveys, we were able to overcome the challenges of assessing fault activity in a region with intense surface processes, dense vegetation, and relatively low fault slip rates. By integrating remote sensing analysis, geomorphological mapping, structural geological investigations, and near-surface geophysics (electrical resistivity tomography and ground penetrating radar), we were able to find subtle geomorphological indicators, detect near-surface deformation, and show distributed surface deformation and a complex fault pattern. Using optically stimulated luminescence dating, we tentatively estimated a slip rate of 1.8 ± 0.4 mm/a for the last 27 ka, which exceeds previous estimates and suggests temporal variability in fault behavior. Our study highlights the importance of modern high-resolution remote sensing techniques and interdisciplinary approaches in detecting tectonic deformation in relatively low-strain rate environments with intense surface processes. We show that slip rates can vary significantly depending on the studied time window. This is a critical piece of information since slip rates are a key input parameter for seismic hazard studies.
Keywords: active fault, lidar, photogrammetry, tectonic geomorphology, structural geology, geophysics, electrical resistivity tomography, ground penetrating radar, slip rate, Sava Fault
Published in DiRROS: 30.04.2024; Views: 192; Downloads: 152
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