11. Triple negative breast cancer : prognostic factors and survivalTanja Ovčariček, Snježana Frković-Grazio, Erika Matos, Barbara Možina, Simona Borštnar, 2011, original scientific article Abstract: Background. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined by a lack of expression of both estrogen (ER) and progesteron(PgR) receptors as well as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Our retrospective analysis addressed prognostic factors for short- and long-term outcomes of patients (pts) with TNBC pts treated in routine clinical practice. Patient and methods.Our retrospective study included 269 TNBC treated at Institute of Oncology Ljubljana between March 2000 and December 2006. The collected data included patientsć, tumoursć and treatmentsć characteristics. The survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox proportional hazard model was used in the multivariate analysis. Results. The median age ofour patients was 55.3 yrs (23-88.5) and the median follow-up was 5.9 yrs (0.3-9.6). Six (2%) pts experienced local only, 79 (92%) pts distal recurrenceand 66 (24%) died. The predominant localisation of the first relapsewas in visceral organs (70.4%). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) for the entire group was 68.2% and the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 74.5%.We found a pattern of high recurrence rate in the first 3 years following the diagnosis and a clear decline in recurrence rate over the next 3years. In the univariate analysis age, nodal status, size and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) were found to have a significant impact on DFS as well as on OS. In the multivariate analysis only age (HR=1.79; 95%CI=1.14-2.82; p=0.012) and nodal status (HR=2.71; 95%CI=1.64-4.46; p<0.001) retained their independent prognostic value for DFS and for OS only the nodal status (HR=2.96; 95%CI=1.51-5.82; p=0.002). (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters)
Published in DiRROS: 19.03.2024; Views: 105; Downloads: 32
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12. Influence of geology, hydrogeology, and climate on ground source heat pump distribution in Slovenia and selected European countriesSimona Adrinek, Mitja Janža, Rao Martand Singh, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Shallow geothermal energy (SGE) is a renewable energy that could contribute to the decarbonatization of the heating and cooling sector. SGE is predominantly harnessed through ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems. The choice of which type of GSHP system depends on various factors. Understanding these factors is crucial for optimizing the efficiency of GSHP systems and fostering their implementation. In this paper, we have analysed the spatial distribution of GSHPs in Slovenia. We identified 1073 groundwater and 1122 ground-coupled heat pump systems with a total heat pump capacity of almost 30 MW. We quantitatively assessed the influence of geological, hydrogeological, and climate conditions on their spatial distribution. Using the χ2 test and information value method, we identified hydrogeological conditions as the most influential factor for the GSHP systems’ spatial distribution. We also performed the spatial analysis of geological and hydrogeological data in 22 European countries, including Slovenia. We collected the reported numbers of installed GSHP units in 2020 and were able to distinguish the shares of groundwater and ground-coupled heat pump systems for 12 of these countries. The analysis showed that ground-coupled heat pumps predominate in most countries, even if the natural conditions are favourable for groundwater heat pumps.
Keywords: shallow geothermal energy, renewable heating and cooling, ground-source heat pump, spatial distribution, natural condition
Published in DiRROS: 19.03.2024; Views: 83; Downloads: 44
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13. Study of radiation induced changes of phosphorus metabolism in mice by ▫$^{31}P$▫ NMR spectroscopyIgor Serša, Simona Kranjc Brezar, Gregor Serša, Alenka Nemec Svete, Bojan Ložar, Ana Sepe, Jernej Vidmar, Marjeta Šentjurc, 2010, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 15.03.2024; Views: 94; Downloads: 32
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14. Rituximab affects the prognosis of patients with nonHodgkin's lymphomasBarbara Jezeršek Novaković, Marjeta Vovk, Simona Borštnar, Radka Tomšič, 2004, original scientific article Abstract: Backround. Rituximab - the most widely used monoclonal antibody in the B cell lymphoid malignancies has been applied successfully in the treatment of relapsed and refractory indolent CD20 positive B cell lymphomas and more recently, also in the treatment of aggressive lymphomas in combination with standard chemotherapy. Albeit the chemo-immunotherapy has a wide range of potential applications, there are still several issues that have to be resolved: (1) the optimal scheduling of antibody-chemotherapy combinations, (2) the most active of these combinations, as well as (3) the predictors of response to rituximab. Patients and methods. To facilitate addressing the first two questions, we performed an analysis in 25 patients with different histological types of CD20 positive nonHodgkin's lymphomas (10 aggressive and 15 indolent). Seventeen patients were treated with chemo-immunotherapy for a relapse, and just in 8 patients rituximab was added to first line chemotherapy. Most of the responders received the CHOP regimen, but also otherregimens (FC, BVCPP) were effective in combination with rituximab. Results. The overall response rate was 76%, with 68% complete remissions. The median response duration has not been reached yet. The response was markedly better in the group of previously untreated patients, where the overall response rate reached 100%, with 7 patients in complete and 1 patient in partial remission. Most of the treatment failures occurred in heavily pretreated patients with aggressive lymphomas. No serious adverse effects wereobserved. Conclusion The chemo-immunotherapy improves the treatment outcomes in patients with untreated and relapsed CD20 positive nonHodgkin's lymphomas in comparison to chemotherapy alone. The combined treatment is the most effective when used as soon as possible (preferably as the first line treatment). (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters).
Published in DiRROS: 07.02.2024; Views: 180; Downloads: 41
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15. Effect of electroporation on radiosensitization with cisplatin in two cell lines with different chemo- and radiosensitivitySimona Kranjc Brezar, Maja Čemažar, Alenka Grošel, Živa Pipan Tkalec, Gregor Serša, 2003, original scientific article Abstract: Aim. Radiosensitization with cisplatin can be enhanced by electroporation of cells and tumours. The aim of this study was to extend our previous studies ontwo carcinoma tumour models with different chemo-and radiosensitivity in order to evaluate whether this treatment is effective also on less chemo-and radiosensitive tumour cells. Materials and methods. This in vitro study was performed on carcinoma SCK and EAT-E cells. The cytotoxicity of three-modalitytreatment consisting of cisplatin, electroporation and irradiation was determined by the clonogenic assay. Results. The radiosensitizing effect of cisplatin on the two cell lines was greatly enhanced by electroporation. By this combined treatment, less chemo and radiosensitive EAT-E cells were rendered as sensitive as more chemo and radiosensitive SCK cells. Conclusion. The enhancement of cisplatin-induced radiosensitization of cells by electroporation could be beneficially used in the treatment of intrinsically less chemo- and radiosensitive tumours.
Published in DiRROS: 06.02.2024; Views: 132; Downloads: 29
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16. Cryosurgery combined with radiotherapy of tumors in miceAlbert-Peter Fras, Simona Kranjc Brezar, Maja Čemažar, Gregor Serša, 1999, original scientific article Abstract: Tlle aim of this study zuas to determine antitumor effectiveness of cryosurgery alone and in comhination with radiotherapy. Cryosurgery of subcutaneous fibrosarcoma SA-1 tumors in A/J mice was moderately effective trcatmcnt. Tumor growth delay was 10.3 * 3.8 days after 5 minute treatment with nitrogen filled cryo-prohe. Shorter treatment times induced less, but dose dependent antitumor effect. In combined treat- ment, tumors were either first treated by cryosurgery for 3 minutes and then locally irradiated with 10Gy for 5 minutes, or irradiated first and thereafter treated by cryosurgery.The antitumor effectiveness of com- bined treatrnent was sequence dependent; the irradiation of tumors before cryosurgery resulted in better antitumor effect than the irradiation after cryosurgery. These results indicate that radiosensitization may not be always expected, in spite of some reports demonstrating that cryosurgery may have radiosensitizing effect in vivo, and that some other mechanisms may be involved contributing to radiationdamage when cryosurgery follows irradiation.
Published in DiRROS: 22.01.2024; Views: 174; Downloads: 45
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17. Prognostic relevance of urokinase plasminogen activator and its inhibitors in patients with breast cancerSimona Borštnar, Tanja Čufer, Ivan Vrhovec, Zvonimir Rudolf, 1999, original scientific article Abstract: Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and its inhibitors, PAI-1 and PAI-2, play an important role in iritercellular tissue degradation, thus promoting tumor cell invasion into the adjoining structures and metastasizing. Our studywas aimed to assess a possible prognostic value of uPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 in a retrospective series of 87 patients with breast cancer stage I-III, whosecytosols were stored in the archives of the, Institute of Oncology in Ljubljana. The median follow-up was 35 months. The prognostic value of the established prognostic factors and uPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 were evaluated by means of univariate statistical analysis and partial multivariate models. The obtained uPA values were very low and did not correlate with the disease free survival, whereas PAI-1 and PAI-2 significantly influenced the time to the first recurrence. Patients with PAI-1 values above 5 ng/mg proteins had statistically significantly worse disease free survival than the patients withlower PAI-1 values (58% vs. 85%). In the case of PAI-2, the situation wasjust the opposite: the patients with PAI-2 values exceeding 6.4 ng/mg proteins had statistically significantly better 3-year disease free survival than the patients with lower values (90% vs. 60%). Both, PAI-1 and PAl-2 retained their independent prognostic value, irrespective of the addition of the established prognostic factors to partial multivariate models, and only with locally advanced disease the prognostic value of PAI-1 was greater than that of PAI-2.
Published in DiRROS: 22.01.2024; Views: 187; Downloads: 45
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18. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator, its inhibitors and its receptor - the new prognostic factors in solid cancersSimona Borštnar, Tanja Čufer, Zvonimir Rudolf, 1997, review article Abstract: The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), its inhibitors (PAI-1 and PAI-2) and its receptor (uPAR) play nan important role in the degradation of the intercellular tissue, the process which affects the ability of cancer cells to invade to surrounding tissue and to metastasize. The results of clinical studies performed in the past few years point out a significant influence of uPA, PAI-1, PAI-2 and uPAR on the course of the disease and survival of patients with solid tumours, particularly breast cancer. Hopefullythe categorization of patients according to the content of the serineproteases and its inhibitors in tumour tissues could provide a basis formore rational treatment planning and thus improving patients' survival.
Published in DiRROS: 18.01.2024; Views: 157; Downloads: 43
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20. Differential diagnosis between bone metastases and osteomalaciaBranko Zakotnik, Simona Borštnar, Tadeja Movrin, Boris Jančar, Andreja Zidar, 1996, original scientific article Abstract: In oncology the diagnosis of skeletal metastases is a frequent one, in infact so frequent that other diagnoses such as metabolic bone diseases affecting patients with cancer may be overlooked. In our report two cases of osteomalacia referred to an oncologist are presented; in both of them the diagnosis of diffuse bone metastases of unknown origin was suspected. The differential diagnosis is discussed and the importance of bone marrow biopsy using Yamshidi needle for diagnosis of metabolic bone disease is emphasized.
Published in DiRROS: 16.01.2024; Views: 162; Downloads: 40
Full text (318,84 KB) |
