摘要:

Long-term survival (≥3 years) was evaluated in 164 patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Thirty-seven patients underwent surgical resection, and 127 did not. All but one resected patient received combination chemotherapy. Of the 20 (12%) long-term survivors, 13 (35%) were resected, and 7 (6%) were not. Eleven of these resected patients had pathologically confirmed stage I disease. All of the 7 nonresected patients achieved complete remission by treatment, 6 of these having presented with limited disease. In addition, all patients received thoracic irradiation combined with chemotherapy. Two of the 20 patients who survived beyond 3 years developed a second malignancy 11.3 and 12 years, respectively, after initial treatment for SCLC. In conclusion, surgical resection for stage I, and probably stage II SCLC followed by chemotherapy may be an appropriate therapeutic approach. For advanced limited disease, thoracic irradiation, in addition to chemotherapy, seems to improve long-term surviva

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226977

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The pineal hormone melatonin (MLT) is able to exert an oncostatic action. Its possible use in the treatment of human tumors, however, has not yet been investigated. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of MLT in patients with metastatic solid tumors resistant to conventional therapies. The study included 54 patients, most of them were affected by lung cancer or colorectal carcinoma. MLT was given intramuscularly at a daily dose of 20 mg at 3.00 p.m. for 2 months; this induction phase was followed by a maintenance period at a dose of 10 mg orally in responder patients or in those with an improvement in performance status (PS). The clinical response was as follows: 1 partial response (cancer of pancreas), 2 minor responses (colon cancer and hepatocarcinoma) and 21 with stable disease. The remaining 30 patients rapidly progressed within the first 2 months of therapy. An evident improvement in PS was achieved in 18 of 54 (33%) cases. These results, by showing an apparent control of the neoplastic growth and an improvement in the quality of life in a reasonable number of cancer patients for whom no other standard therapy is available, would justify further clinical trials to better define the impact of MLT therapy on the survival and quality of life of untreatable advanced cancer patients.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226978

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

l-P-Z)-Arabinofuranosylcytosine-5’-stearylphosphate (fosteabine) was administered orally to patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS); refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB), RAEB in transformation, acute leukemia derived from RAEB and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, in an early phase II study in a multi-institutional study. Among 62 evaluable patients, 2 patients achieved a complete remission, 6 a good response and 8 partial response by daily oral administration of 100–200 mg of fosteabine. The overall response rate was 25.8%. The response rates were almost the same among the four subtypes of MDS. Responses were reached 2–23 weeks (median, 8 weeks) after the start of therapy and continued for 3–50 weeks (median, 10 weeks). Major side effects were myelosuppression and gastrointestinal toxicities. In spite of the disadvantages, such as unpredictable absorption, this newly developed orally administrable cytarabine analogue will be a useful drug in the treatment

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226979

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Starting in January 1984, 63 patients with resistant Hodgkin’s disease received CEP as salvage –usually third-line – chemotherapy. Complete response (CR) was achieved in 3%, partial response (PR) in 51%. The median duration of remission (CR + PR) was greater than 15 months. Treatment was generally well tolerated. Our results confirm that CEP is an effective therapeutic regimen in resistant Hodgkin’s

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226980

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

A total of 51 fully evaluable patients with advanced and intensively pretreated breast cancer were treated with a combination chemotherapy of ifosfamide plus mesna, methotrexate and 5-fiuorouracil. All patients had received at least one series of combined chemotherapy, 30 patients had received more than one combination and 41 patients had had anthracyclines before. Metastatic lesions in more than one site were found in 42 patients, and 24 patients had metastatic liver lesions. Partial remission was achieved in 10 patients (20%) and no change in 16 patients (31%). Survival was almost identical in both groups of responding patients and significantly shorter in treatment failures. Response was favorable in patients without pretreatment with anthracyclines. Two patients who received this protocol directly after progression with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fiuorouracil (CMF protocol) responded with a partial remission. Median time to progression was 7 months for partial responders and 4.5 months for patients achieving a no-change status. Median survival was 8 months for all patients. Toxicity was tolerable. Leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia were treatment-limiting parameters. Overall, this protocol is well tolerable and effective in breast cancer patients with advanced disease and in intensively pretreated patients.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226981

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Immunologic changes were monitored in 5 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma participating in a phase II trial of recombinant interferon gamma (rlFNγ). Treatment consisted of a 4-week period of intravenous infusion of either 0.1 mg/m2 given over 4 h on alternate days (3 times/week) or 2 mg/m2 given over 1 h for 5 days every other week. One minor response was seen at the higher dose level and toxicity was minimal (grades III). Absolute leukocyte counts and lymphocyte subpopulations did not change significantly. Both natural killer cytolytic activity and spontaneous monocyte-mediated tumoricidal activity increased. Prostaglandin E2 synthesis of patient leukocytes was abnormally high and pretreatment levels dropped during treatment. Data suggest that rlFNγ may be potentially useful for enhancing immunologic function in renal cell carcinom

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226982

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The effect of a- and γ-interferon on methotrexate cytotoxicity against human promyelocytic cell line HL-60 has been evaluated. Synergistic inhibition of proliferation is observed with the combination of methotrexate and γ-interferon. Enhanced cytotoxic effect of methotrexate with a- or γ-interferon is removed by adding thymidine to the growth medium. The depletion of folate pools caused by methotrexate is enhanced in presence of interferons, this depletion is also removed by adding thymidine to the growth media. Synchronization of HL-60 cells in ‘S’ phase of cell cycle caused by methotrexate is enhanced in the presence of interferons. These results suggest that specially γ-interferon changes the cellular environment of HL-60 cells in such a way as to make methotrexate more potent cytotoxic agent to HL-60 cells causing cell death. This study also clearly indicates the biochemical role of thymidine in modulating the activity of methotrexate in combination with inte

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226983

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The protective effects of elastase (Ela) and fosfomycin against renal toxicity of cis-diamminedi-chloroplatinum (II) (CDDP) were evaluated in an experimental study using rats. When Ela was used concomitantly with CDDP, the elevation of urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase levels in the early phase and the sharp fall in these levels in the latter phase were prevented. It was also found that the blood urea nitrogen levels and serum creatinine levels were significantly lowered. Histologically, atrophic and necrotic changes in the tubular epithelium were prevented. The total serum platinum levels showed no change with the addition of Ela; however, the platinum levels in the renal tissues were significantly reduced. These results suggested that Ela is effective against platinum deposits in the renal tissues, particularly in the tubular epithelium, thus protecting the kidneys. On the other hand, fosfomycin demonstrated no such positive results suggestive of a protective effect on the renal function parameters or during histological observation

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226984

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Twenty-seven new patients with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma were evaluated by marrow biopsy at diagnosis. The marrow trephines and blood clots were evaluated by morphology and immunohisto-chemical studies for cytokeratin and found negative in all cases. The median follow-up of this group of 27 patients was 22 months, and 7 of them had relapsed in the skeletal system. We conclude, in view of its poor sensitivity, that routine use of marrow biopsy for the staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is not recommended.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226985

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Between 1965 and 1987 the authors studied the survival of 169 patients (130 females, 39 males) suffering from follicular thyroid cancer. It is established that the factors favorably influencing the course of the disease are as follows: age below 40 years, female sex, tumor location inside the thyroid capsule. Radical surgery does not affect the survival, though it prolongs the time to the onset of metastases. In women below 40 years of age, iodine treatment performed within 1.5 months following surgery does not increase the effectiveness; therefore, its routine application is not recommended. In case of local metastases associated with hindered swallowing or respiration, external beam radiotherapy is indicated. Hormone substitution ensuring TSH restriction results in improved prognosis.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000226986

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1991

数据来源: Karger