Breast tumour growth inhibition in vitro through the combination of cyclophosphamide/metotrexate/5-fluorouracil, epirubicin/cyclophosphamide, epirubicin/paclitaxel, and epirubicin/docetaxel with the bisphosphonates ibandronate and zoledronic acid.

Breast cancer has a significant capacity to metastasize to bone. Bisphosphonates are the standard treatment for hypocalcaemia of malignancy (HCM), which is a common complication of bone metastasis. The combination of bisphosphonates with standard anticancer drugs such as paclitaxel or tamoxifen results in a synergistic apoptotic effect greater than that produced by either single agent alone.

[Cellular changes in non-small cell lung cancer after neoadjuvant therapy].

Microscopic analysis of resection specimens of non-small cell lung cancer after neoadjuvant therapy evokes the subjective impression of cytologic changes, especially enlargement of the individual tumor cells and their nuclei. Therefore, objectivization of these changes was tested morphometrically. Corresponding investigations could be carried out in 24 patients who had each received identical neoadjuvant therapy.

[Impact of DNA image cytometry (ICM) parameter and established prognostic factors on disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of node-negative breast cancer (NNBC) patients].

Objective: DNA ICM allows measurement of nuclear DNA content and genotypical grading of malignancy. The aim of this study was to prove the prognostic value of DNA parameter in comparison to established prognostic factors for DFS and OS.

Patients And Methods: Cytological imprints of 177 unselected primary NNBC patients were subjected to ICM.

[Remission rate of mediastinal lymph nodes after multimodal therapy of lung cancer--is it a prognostic factor?].

Objective: General acceptance in the oncologic community has been gained for combined modality treatment of non-small cell lung (NSCLC) cancer in locally advanced stage IIIA and IIIB disease. However, no optimal regimen has been established. This study (chemotherapy and radiochemotherapy followed by operation) assesses feasibility, response, resectability, and survival in patients with stage IIIA and IIIB lung cancer.

[Apoptosis and tumor regression in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer with neoadjuvant therapy].

Dysregulation of apoptosis is closely associated with malignant cell transformation. On the other hand, apoptosis is induced by chemotherapy or irradiation. Therefore, in 54 patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC, 36 squamous cell carcinomas, 18 adenocarcinomas, stage IIIA/IIIB), apoptotic indices were comparatively analysed before onset and after termination of neoadjuvant therapy.

A phase II single-institution study of neoadjuvant stage IIIA/B chemotherapy and radiochemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The relevance of a trimodal strategy in the treatment of lung cancer, consisting of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy followed by surgery, is a subject of ongoing clinical trials. We tested whether improvement of long-term survival can be achieved for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer by this therapeutic approach.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of a single-institution phase II study.

C-myc, not HER-2/neu, can predict recurrence and mortality of patients with node-negative breast cancer.

Background: At present, node-negative, high-risk breast cancer patients cannot be identified with sufficient accuracy. Consequently, further strong prognostic factors are needed.

Methods: Among 181 node-negative breast cancer (NNBC) patients, c-myc and HER-2/neu oncogenes were identified prospectively using double differential PCR.

[Neoadjuvant therapy in non-small cell lung cancer. Prognostic impact of "mediastinal downstaging"].

In the course of a prospective multicenter study, 40 (26 squamous cell and 14 adenocarcinomas) patients with stage IIIA and IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were submitted to surgery after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. Pretherapeutic clinical lymph node status was compared to the lymph node involvement established in the resection specimens. Therapy-induced tumor regression was classified according to a three-step tumor regression grading system.

Grading of tumor regression in non-small cell lung cancer : morphology and prognosis.

Objective: Different types of multimodality therapy, including chemoradiotherapy and surgery, increasingly are being used for the treatment of patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; stages IIIA and IIIB). In this context, the applicability of a morphologic regression grading and its prognostic value were investigated.

Patients And Methods: In a multicenter phase II trial, 54 patients with locally advanced NSCLC received neoadjuvant bimodality treatment (ie, two cycles of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide, followed by twice-daily radiation up to 45 Gy with simultaneous administration of carboplatin and vindesine).

Human papillomavirus genotypes in cervical cancer with different histological features.

We report the case of a 32-year-old woman having developed two cervical cancers synchronously, an adenocarcinoma and a squamous cell carcinoma. Polymerase chain reaction with the general primers GP5/GP6 and a subsequent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect human papillomaviruses (HPV) resulted in isolation of HPV 33 in the squamous cell carcinoma and HPV 18 in the adenocarcinoma. This is the first reported case of two histologically different synchronous cervical cancers with this distinct HPV expression pattern, and further confirms the association of certain 'high-risk' HPV genotypes to different histological features of carcinoma.

Relationship of c-myc and erbB oncogene family gene aberrations and other selected factors to ex vivo chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer in the modified ATP-chemosensitivity assay.

A pilot study on relationships of selected molecular factors [erbB-1, erbB-2, erbB-3, and c-myc oncogene average gene copy numbers (AGCN); steroid receptors and pS2 gene expression; tumor cells' DNA values] to the ex vivo chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer in a modified adenosine triphosphate cell viability chemosensitivity assay (ATP-CVA), was performed. Despite the relatively small number of patients, numerous correlations among the factors tested were found. Nevertheless, only c-myc gene dosage positively affected ex vivo chemosensitivity of tumors tested.

c-myc oncogene gene dosage, serum CEA and CA-15.3 antigen levels, and cellular DNA values in relation to ex vivo chemosensitivity of primary human breast cancer.

A pilot study on relationships of selected molecular factors (c-myc oncogene average gene copy numbers (AGCN); serum CEA and CA 15.3 antigen levels; tumor cells' DNA values), to the ex vivo chemosensitivity of primary female human breast cancer in a modified adenosine triphosphate cell viability chemosensitivity assay (ATP-CVA), was performed. Four drug combinations were tested.

Multicentric metachronous central carcinoid of the lung: a case report.

A 51-year-old female patient with metachronous multiple central typical carcinoid represents the subject of the case discussed. The patient underwent bronchoplastic surgery in order to remove the first carcinoid tumor twelve years ago. She was readmitted to the hospital following a long tumor-free period of disease when two new central carcinoids were diagnosed.

Lack of squamous cell lung carcinoma in vitro chemosensitivity to various drug regimens in the adenosine triphosphate cell viability chemosensitivity assay.

A pilot study on squamous cell lung carcinoma (LC) chemosensitivity in adenosine triphosphate cell viability chemosensitivity assay (ATP-CVA) was performed. Besides the histological investigation, a modified ATP-CVA was used for the analysis of cancer cell chemosensitivity to four drug regimens, including topotecan, a promising agent for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) chemotherapy. Results of in vitro chemosensitivity testing showed chemoresistance or only weak response in the predominant amount of tumors.

[Clinical importance of histology, grading and ploidies in primary breast cancer].

Objective: In order to characterise carcinoma of the breast the determination of ploidy can be used in addition to established prognostic factors such as histology and grading. The aim of the investigation was to establish the association between histology, grading and ploidy and to indicate the prognostic and predictive value of these parameters in relation to disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

Material And Methods: 125 consecutive cases of primary breast carcinoma occurring between the years 1992-1995 were surveyed.

Amplification of erbB-4 oncogene occurs less frequently than that of erbB-2 in primary human breast cancer.

ErbB-4 protein is a recently discovered member of the ErbB family. The role of ErbB-4 protein in mammary-gland tissue has not been definitively established. To date, the expression of erbB-4 in breast tissue has been determined in only a few cases and, to the best of our knowledge, its amplification has not been examined.

Analysis of long-term survival in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Neoadjuvant combined radiochemotherapy followed by definitive tumor resection improved survival in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Fifty-four patients (NSCLC IIIa + IIIb) were treated with combined radiochemotherapy within a phase I/II study. Twenty-six patients had been resected after combined neoadjuvant treatment and this group was evaluated concerning long-term survival.

Activity and Distribution of Methane-Oxidizing Bacteria in Flooded Rice Soil Microcosms and in Rice Plants (Oryza sativa).

The activity and distribution of CH(inf4)-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) in flooded rice (Oryza sativa) soil microcosms was investigated. CH(inf4) oxidation was shown to occur in undisturbed microcosms by using (sup14)CH(inf4), and model calculations indicated that almost 90% of the oxidation measured had taken place at a depth where only roots could provide the O(inf2) necessary. Slurry from soil planted with rice had an apparent K(infm) for CH(inf4) of 4 (mu)M and a V(infmax) of 0.

[Regression grading of neoadjuvant non-small-cell lung carcinoma treatment].

In the scope of a multi-center-study 35 resection specimens from patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation were processed histologically and graded according to the following regression grading system: grade I: no or only slight, in general spontaneous tumor regression, grade IIa: incomplete tumor regression with more than 10% and grade IIb less than 10% vital tumor tissue as well as grade III: complete tumor regression. In 15 patients with grade II a to III tumor regression roughly concentric foci of various size with a sequence of central tumor necrosis, narrow foam cell rim, vascular granulation tissue and peripheral scar formation were demonstrated as characteristic feature of response to neoadjuvant therapy. In patients with grade IIb to III tumor regression ("responders") median survival time of 27.

Tumour regression in non-small-cell lung cancer following neoadjuvant therapy. Histological assessment.

In the scope of a prospective multi-centre study after neoadjuvant combined chemotherapy (carboplatin, ifosfamide, etoposide, vindesine) and radiotherapy (45 Gy) 40 resection specimens of locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer were analysed in order to establish reproducible pathological/anatomical results of tumour regression. Resection specimens of 28 squamous cell carcinomas and 12 adenocarcinomas were investigated using serial sections of the primary lesion. The mean age of the patients was 57 years.

[Chlorinated carbohydrate content of fetal and pediatric organs and tissues].

Organic halogens are used as pesticides and in chemical industries. They are secreted with breast milk and accumulated in fat tissue of infants. Organic halogens can be found already in newborns.

[Prolactin producing hypophyseal carcinoma. Case report of an extremely rare metastatic tumor].

A 59-year-old male patient was transnasally operated on because of a pituitary adenoma with hypopituitarism. A second operation and X-ray therapy followed a half year later due to recurrent tumor. Both neoplasmas were classified as sparsely granulated prolactin cell adenomas.

Prognostic relevance of aberrations in the erbB oncogenes from breast, ovarian, oral and lung cancers: double-differential polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) for clinical diagnosis.

We have determined the average gene copy numbers (AGCN) of the erbB-1 gene, encoding the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), the erbB-2 and the erbB-3 genes in breast, ovarian, oral, and lung cancer tissue by using double-differential PCR (ddPCR). The ddPCR method comprises the co-amplification of the single-copy gene HBB, the erbB-1, erbB-2 and erbB-3 oncogenes and the second single-copy reference gene SOD2 under equal reaction conditions. In a retrospective study the AGCN of the erbB genes and the time up to the appearance of metastases were subjected to life-table analysis in 128 women with primary breast cancer.

Double-differential PCR for gene dosage estimation of erbB oncogenes in benign and cancer tissues and comparison to cellular DNA content.

Competitive and differential quantitative PCR methods circumvent the limiting factors of PCR which cause poor reproducibility. We describe the development and performance evaluation of another quantitative PCR method, double-differential PCR (ddPCR). The ddPCR method comprises the co-amplification of the single-copy gene HBB, the erbB-1, erbB-2 and erbB-3 oncogenes and the second single-copy reference gene SOD2 under equal reaction conditions.

[Necrotizing enterocolitis in the newborn infant. Pathogenetic risk factors in a 3 year analysis].

In a clinical study possible risk factors causing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were studied in 17 preterm infants with NEC and compared with a control group of 17 healthy preterm infants. We found a more frequent rate of blood exchange transfusions and a lower rate of breast milk feeding in patients who later developed NEC than in the control group. But there were no differences between both groups concerning factors promoting hypoxia of the gut, the number of infections, antibiotic treatment, or hyperosmolar enteral feeding.