A study of the humoral immune response of breast cancer patients to a panel of human tumor antigens identified by phage display.

Objective: In this article we provide evidence of a significant spontaneous humoral response in cancer patients.

Methods: A panel of tumor-associated antigens, previously identified through serological screening of phage-displayed cDNA libraries from solid human tumors, breast carcinoma cell lines and human testis by employing breast cancer patient sera, was used in this study to survey sera from 182 patients with known disease histories and clinical stages.

Results: This analysis reveals a statistically significant association between tumor disease and presence in peripheral blood of IgG antibodies against four autoantigens.

A pilot study on the effect of acetyl-L-carnitine in paclitaxel- and cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Aims And Background: In addition to bone marrow suppression and renal toxicity, neurotoxicity is a commonly occurring side effect of widely used chemotherapeutic agents like taxanes, cisplatin and vinca alkaloids. Neurotoxicity can cause antitumor therapy discontinuation or dose regimen modification. The aim of the present exploratory study was to investigate the activity of acetyl-L-carnitine in reversing peripheral neuropathy in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

Induction therapy before surgery for non-small cell lung cancer.

Surgery alone is currently still accepted as the principal therapy for cure for patients with localized non-small cell lung cancer. The optimal therapy in locally advanced and unresectable stage III disease remains unclear. The limited performance of each single therapeutic strategy (surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy) in the treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer accounted for the rationale of the many attempts at improvement by integrating the different approaches.

Identification of a panel of tumor-associated antigens from breast carcinoma cell lines, solid tumors and testis cDNA libraries displayed on lambda phage.

Background: Tumor-associated antigens recognized by humoral effectors of the immune system are a very attractive target for human cancer diagnostics and therapy. Recent advances in molecular techniques have led to molecular definition of immunogenic tumor proteins based on their reactivity with autologous patient sera (SEREX).

Methods: Several high complexity phage-displayed cDNA libraries from breast carcinomas, human testis and breast carcinoma cell lines MCF-7, MDA-MB-468 were constructed.

Effectiveness and safety of an induction therapy with epoetin alfa in anemic cancer patients receiving concomitant chemotherapy.

Background: Epoetin alfa, administered at standard dosages of 10,000-20,000 IU three times weekly or 40,000-60,000 IU once weekly, has been shown to significantly increase hemoglobin (Hb) levels, decrease transfusion requirements, and improve quality-of-life parameters in patients undergoing chemotherapy.Objective. This open-label, nonrandomized, historically controlled study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an induction dose of epoetin alfa in patients with moderate or severe anemia who were receiving chemotherapy.