摘要:

Paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens from the primary breast carcinomas of 653 women were subjected to histopathological assessments of the potential prognostic factors. Histological type, histological grade, nuclear pleomor-phism, tubule formation, intraductal growth pattern, tumour margin circumscription, tumour necrosis and inflammatory cell reaction were semiquantita-tively analysed with special reference to disease outcome during the mean follow-up 12.8 years. Histological grade, nuclear grade and inflammatory cell reaction were related to axillary lymph node involvement at operation (p < 0.001). Intensity of the inflammatory cell reaction was directly correlated to histological grade, histological type, nuclear pleomorphism and tumour necrosis (p < 0.001). Tubule formation and tumour necrosis were significant predictors for tumour recurrence. Recurrence-free survival was related to tubule formation (p = 0.0048), histological grade (p = 0.0208) and intraductal growth pattern (p = 0.0441). Tubule formation accurately predicted the recurrence-free survival in axillary lymph node-negative tumours (p = 0.0386). In small (diameter ≤ 20 mm) axillary lymph node-negative tumours, the inflammatory cell reaction (p = 0.0377) as well as intraductal growth pattern (p == 0.0632) were related to recurrence-free survival. Cancer-related patient survival was predicted in decreasing order of significance by tubule formation (p = 0.0002), nuclear pleomorphism (p = 0.0010), intraductal growth (p = 0.0077), tumour necrosis (p = 0.0117) and histological type (p = 0.0651). In axillary lymph node-negative tumours, tubule formation (p = 0.0409), inflammatory cell infiltration (p = 0.0790) and intraductal growth (p = 0.0958) predicted the cancer-related survival. The results indicate that despite an intense search for a diversity of prognostic factors by increasingly sophisticated techniques (e.g., morphometric measurements, flow cytometry, immunohisto-chemistry, and DNA hybridization techniques), the relatively simple light microscopic assessment of the above morphological features seems to be still advocated in predicting the disease outcome in female breast cance

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227001

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Small cell carcinoma is one of the solid cancers for which chemotherapy is effective and can prolong the survival of patients. There is a general agreement that the standard regimen is PVP (cisplatin/etoposide) or alternating PVP-CAV (cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine) therapy, replacing CAV, which had been considered standard. For the improvement of the treatment results of small cell carcinoma combined modality therapy including radiotherapy and/or surgery is essential, especially against limited disease. The effect of prophylactic cranial irradiation is obscure, because of the relapse to other sites of organs and the late complications of brain radiation. The present status of combined modality therapy for small cell carcinoma is reviewed and the future essential trials are discussed.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227103

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Nineteen human breast tumours were analysed for c-erbβ-2 gene amplification, the over-expression of its mRNA and the production of its protein residue by southern blot, northern blot and western blot techniques respectively. Protein expression was also assessed by immunohistochemistry on paraffin sections. c-erbβ-2 gene amplification was found in 6 of 19 (31%) tumours. Over-expression of c-erbβ-2 mRNA was found in 7 of 19 (37%) tumours. Expression of the 185 kd c-erbβ-2 protein product was detected in 3 of 19 (16%) tumours by western blotting and in 5 of 19 (26%) by immunohistochemistry. In only 4 tumours with an amplified c-erbβ-2 gene was there a clear association between all three parameters. In view of the conflicting reports in the literature concerning c-erbβ-2 gene amplification or protein over-expression (assessed by western blot or immunohistochemistry) and prognosis of breast cancer, studies in which these parameters are correlated individually with prognosis in the same group of patients are n

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227002

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Carboplatin/etoposide is an active combination in small cell lung cancer. In phase II studies, it produces results that appear equivalent to cisplatin/etopo-side, but it has not been compared in a randomized study. It has a better toxicity profile than cisplatin/etoposide when compared in non-small cell lung cancer. The combination of carboplatin/etoposide is very well tolerated by elderly patients. Carboplatin/etoposide lacks important nonhematologic side effects, which has led to its assessment in dose escalation studies with colony-stimulating factors and autologous bone marrow transplantation.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227105

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

In this study the monoclonal antibody ER-ICA (HSpy222) to human estrogen receptor (ER) protein and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method was used to detect the presence of ER in 83 cryostat sections and in 68 paraffin sections pretreated with pronase in a total of 86 primary breast cancers. In 72 out of the 86 studied cases, a comparative evaluation was performed between the semiquantitative ER-ICA method and the quantitative enzyme immunoassay ER-EIA. A good correlation was found between the semiquantitative ER-ICA results in cryostat and paraffin sections (95.38%; p < 0.01) in a total of 65 compared cases, concerning both the percentage of ER-positive or negative cells and the staining intensity. In addition, the overall appraisal of the lesion as ER-ICA-positive or ER-ICA-negative as well as the ER-ICA stainingintensity and the proportion of ER-ICA stained cancer cells, in both cryostat and paraffin sections, correlated significantly with the mean values of fmol ER/mg determined by the enzyme immunoassay ER-EIA. The performance of the ER-ICA method on paraffin sections as used in the present study proved to be a reliable and reproducible immunohistochemical technique.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227003

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

CODE therapy demonstrated high antitumor activity in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Toxicity was acceptable in a regimen with a nine-cycle schedule. The results obtained in this study suggest that CODE therapy improves the outcome of patients with extensive-stage SCLC. The use of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor may well reduce the duration and degree of neutropenia during CODE chemotherapy and increase the dose intensity, leading to further improvement of outcome.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227106

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Thirty-one patients, 13 males and 18 females, with metastatic malignant melanoma were treated with human leukocyte interferon (IFN) alpha. The dose was 3 x 106 IU daily s.c. for 6 weeks followed by 6 x 106 IU/day 3 times a week. Only 1 patient (3%) achieved a partial response (PR) while 14 patients (45%) had disease stabilization for 2-8 months. Three patients experienced mixed responses, where some of the metastases responded, while the others were only stabilized. Interestingly, 1 patient showed regression of lung and disappearance of liver metastases after termination of IFN treatment. Two female patients are still alive without evidence of disease. After IFN they were treated with radiotherapy or surgery. The median survival for all the patients was 48 weeks. Our conclusion is that in IFN therapy long-term follow-up is indicated even in the absence of objective responses. In spite of poor response rate IFN may contribute beneficially to survival in a proportion of patients.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227004

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Carboplatin is one of the most active agents in untreated small cell lung cancer (SCLC; 14% complete response, CR; and 61% CR + partial response, PR). The combination carboplatin/etoposide/vincristine (CEV) (phase II trial) led to an overall remission rate of 84% in patients with limited disease, with 52% CR. The median survival time with this combination was 13 months in patients with limited disease and 9.5 months in those with extensive disease. The 4-year survival rates are 26% in limited disease and 8% in extensive disease, with a plateau of the survival curve. This regimen is highly effective and exhibits low toxicity in SCLC. To evaluate the role of carboplatin in combination chemotherapy in patients with extensive SCLC, a phase III trial was performed. In this ongoing trial comparing CEV and etoposide/vincristine in SCLC patients with extensive disease, CR and overall response rates are higher in the CEV arm (CR 32 vs. 17%, CR + PR 80 vs. 60%), with statistically significant difference. In summary, chemotherapy regimens containing platinum compounds are among the most active in the treatment of SCLC. The use of the new compound carboplatin instead of cisplatin has led to similar or increased remission rates and is preferable because it has fewer side effects. Preliminary results from this ongoing, prospective, randomized phase III trial will be presented.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227107

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

There is growing evidence that the pineal gland has antineoplastic properties which, however, can only partially be attributed to its hormone melatonin. While the in vivo tumor-inhibiting activity of melatonin is established, observations on its in vitro effects have been contradictory. The effect of this substance was investigated on six human cancer cell lines and compared to the activity of a partially purified, melatonin-free low molecular weight pineal extract (UM05R). Melatonin showed hardly any effect but UM05R was capable of inhibiting the growth of all the six cell lines tested. It is therefore concluded that a direct inhibiting action on tumor cells is not a general physiological role of melatonin as opposed to UM05R. It will be worthwhile to purify the yet unidentified pineal antitumor activity since it may have a considerable therapeutic potential.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227005

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Eleven postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer were assessed for their reponse and endocrine changes to low-dose aminoglutethimide (250 mg twice a day) therapy without steroid administration. In 7 cases an objective response was registered; 1 patient had a stabilization of the disease lasting for 9 months. Significant falls in plasma estrogen and rises in plasma androgen levels were observed, while those of Cortisol and ACTH remained essentially unchanged. No serious side effects occurred.

ISSN:0030-2414    

DOI:10.1159/000227006

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger