摘要:

Of 352 patients with colorectal carcinoma followed for a minimum of 5 years after surgery, 39 cases (11.1%; median age 60 years) had mucinous adenocarcinoma, and 4 (1.1%; median age 62 years) had signet-ring cell carcinoma. Mucinous carcinomas were most frequently located in the rectum (61.5%) and in the sigmoid colon (15.3%) and presented with stage C and D disease in 41 and 15% of the cases, respectively. Disease recurrence was more frequently observed in patients with mucinous (51.7%) or signet-ring lesions (100%) as compared with adenocarcinomas. Five-year survival was 45 (median 48 months), 28 (median 27), and 0% (median 15 months) in patients with adenocarcinomas, mucinous adenocarcinomas, and signet-ring cell carcinomas, respectively (p < 0.05). Mucinous carcinomas of the rectum had had a significantly worse prognosis (5-year survival 17%, median 33 months) as compared with adenocarcinomas of the same site (5-year survival 34%, median 25 months; p < 0.05).

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227306

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

We treated 28 patients who had no prior chemotherapy for stage IV breast cancer and 51 patients with extensive prior exposure to other chemotherapeutic agents with a 24-hour infusion of Taxol (paclitaxel) as a single agent. Prophylactic recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was administered routinely to ameliorate the anticipated dose-limiting toxicity of neutropenia. Nonhematologic toxicity was mild to moderate in most cases. Taxol was more active in patients with chemotherapy-naive stage IV disease, but activity was also observed in extensively treated patients as well. There is a strong clinical suggestion of at least partial noncross-resistance with doxorubicin. Taxol is a very promising agent for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer; its optimal application in this disease will be the subject of future trials.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227414

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Over the last 5 years, the ATP cell viability assay (ATP-CVA) has been used to study the in vitro response of cell lines and fresh gynecologic human tumors to a variety of antineoplastic agents including chemotherapeutic agents, hormones and biological response modifiers. This assay measures light production as intracellular ATP interacts with the luciferin-luciferase complex. Quantitation of the light produced has been shown to directly correspond with the number of viable cells. A past criticism is that in the ATP-CVA, when applied to fresh tumor tissue, normal cells (fibroblasts, macrophages and lymphocytes) also produce ATP, and if present in sufficient numbers, could lead to errors in chemosensitivity testing results. This study was designed to evaluate the growth characteristics of various benign cells found in fresh tumors. The cells were studied under multiple plating conditions to show the relative increase or decrease of fractional ATP measured at different time points. We found that agar/McCoy underlayer and agarose-coated wells do not permit the growth of nonmalignant cells. In the culture conditions of the ATP-CVA, nonmalignant cells do not contribute relevant ATP levels when treated samples are compared to controls on day 6. Therefore, results of the ATP-CVA in fresh tumors should not be affected.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227307

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227415

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Over a period of 16 months, a total of 175 patients with newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were evaluated with plain radiography and computed tomography (CT) of nasopharynx and base of skull. 54 of 175 patients (30.9%) had CT evidence of skull base erosion. Plain radiography failed to demonstrate the skull base erosion in 22 of 54 patients (40.7%) and underestimated the extent of bony involvement in another 21 patients (38.9%). In 14 of 54 patients (25.9%), there was also false suspicion of bony erosion in the plain films in one or more regions of the skull base which was not substantiated by CT and subsequent clinical course. The present study shows that plain radiography lacks sensitivity and specificity in detecting skull base erosion by NPC. CT evaluation of NPC patients should include thin CT sections of base of skull for detection of subtle bone erosion, and this would allow better decision concerning the shielding of the pituitary-hypothalamic axis during radiotherapy for improvement in therapeutic ratio. For the investigation of individuals highly suspicious of harboring NPC, even when the plain radiography is negative, CT should still be performed as this may give the only clue to the presence of a small submucosally spreading NPC.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227308

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Expression of the c-erbB-2 oncogene protein was investigated by immunohistochemistry in 110 paraffin-embedded blocks of primary breast cancer. 25 (22.7%) of 110 tumors were stained positively with c-erbB-2 protein antibody. There was no correlation between c-erbB-2 immunostaining and age at diagnosis, menopausal status, hormone receptor status, tumor size, or clinical stage. The tumors with an extensive intraductal component showed a higher incidence of the c-erbB-2 expression than those without. A significantly shorter overall survival was obtained in patients with the expression of c-erbB-2 protein than in patients without. Staining of c-erbB-2 protein is an effective prognostic indicator in patients with breast cancer.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227309

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Most carcinogens are bioactivated by cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and these enzymes within target cells are closely related to susceptibility to cancer. Since extrahepatic CYPs occur typically at much lower levels, the existence and the role of CYP in extrahepatic tissues have been difficult to assess. In this study, we modified the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to evaluate the relative quantities of CYP 2E1 mRNA in human endometrium. Total RNA from human endometrium was reverse-transcribed and coamplif-ied by PCR in the same tube containing both primer pairs of CYP 2E1 and β-actin. The CYP 2E1 and (3-actin PCR products were 298 and 600 bp, respectively. The restriction enzyme Mbol digested these two products to the predicted size for DNA fragments, demonstrating that both PCR products were specific and CYP 2E1 mRNA exists in human endometrium. CYP 1A1 mRNA was also examined, but could not be detected clearly. Adding [α-32P]dCTP to the reaction mixture made it possible to quantify the relative yield of the CYP 2E1 PCR product in comparison with the β-actin product. The ratio of the yield of the CYP 2E1 PCR product to the β-actin PCR product could be calculated at a point of 25 cycles of amplification. This ratio and serum estradiol levels were correlated positively (r = 0.654; p < 0.05), but no relationship to serum progesterone levels was obser

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227310

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The intravenous immunotherapy with interleukin 2 (IL-2) represents one of the most active therapies of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Recently, it has been demonstrated that IL-2 given subcutaneously in association with interferon alpha (IFN) may determine a response rate in RCC comparable to that obtained with an intravenous route of administration, but with a lower toxicity. Moreover, our previous data have suggested that IFN is not essential for IL-2 efficacy. On the basis of these data, we have designed a protocol of immunotherapy with IL-2 alone given subcutaneously in the treatment of metastatic RCC. The study included 48 consecutive evaluable patients. IL-2 was given at a daily dose of 6 million IU for 5 days/week for 6 consecutive weeks, corresponding to one IL-2 cycle. The overall response rate was 14/48 (29%; CR:1; PR: 13). Response rate was significantly higher in nephrectomized than in nonnephrectomized patients, and in patients with a good compared to those with a low performance status. Patients with an interval between the diagnosis of primary renal tumor and of its metastases longer than 1 year did better than those with a lower interval, as did patients with a single metastasis compared to those with multiple metastases, while no significant difference was seen in relation to sex, age and previous IFN therapy. As far as dominant metastasis sites are concerned, patients with liver metastases showed a response rate significantly lower than that seen in patients with metastases in sites other than liver. Toxicity was low in all patients. This study shows that the subcutaneous immunotherapy with IL-2 alone is a well tolerated and effective therapy of metastatic RCC. The evidence of a low PS, disseminated tumor and liver metastases represents the most important negative prognostic factor for the response to therapy.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227311

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Endemic African Kaposi’s sarcoma is a common neoplastic disorder in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. We present a retrospective analysis of 47 black patients with the endemic African (HIV-negative) variant of Kaposi’s sarcoma treated and followed up in the Johannesburg General Hospital between 1980 and 1990. Four patients (8%) presented with simultaneous Kaposi’s sarcoma plus malignant lymphoma, indicating a low but significant association with lymphoproliferative disorders. Of 47 patients seen, 29 presented with localized disease and were treated by means of local radiation therapy. Seventeen patients received chemotherapy. The objective response rate was > 80% irrespective of the treatment modality. We conclude that endemic African Kaposi’s sarcoma is a chemo- and radiosensitive

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227312

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Cisplatin-related diarrhea is a relatively common complication in the clinical management of cancer patients and until now no treatment for this condition has been identified. Octreotide has been reported effective in the treatment of 5-fluorouracil-related diarrhea. To assess the safety and efficacy of octreotide in controlling diarrhea caused by cisplatin, 43 patients who had already had diarrhea during the 24-hour period following a previous cisplating administration were randomized to receive either octreotide or placebo during the next cisplatin course. The patients given octreotide experienced less diarrhea (5 vs. 75%, p = 0.01). There were no side effects. We conclude that octreotide is more effective than placebo in controlling diarrhea following cisplatin chemotherapy.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227313

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1994

数据来源: Karger