Resveratrol sensitization of DU145 prostate cancer cells to ionizing radiation is associated to ceramide increase.

Radiotherapy is an established therapeutic modality for prostate cancer. Since it is well known that radiotherapy is limited due to its severe toxicity towards normal cells at high dose and minimal effect at low dose, the search for biological compounds that increase the sensitivity of tumors cells to radiation may improve the efficacy of therapy. Resveratrol, a natural antioxidant, was shown to inhibit carcinogenesis in animal models, and to block the process of tumor initiation and progression.

Adult brain low-grade astrocytomas: survival after surgery and radiotherapy.

In order to identify prognostic factors of survival, twelve elements of disease and treatment have been evaluated for a population of 49 patients with diffuse low-grade astrocytoma treated with surgical resection and radiotherapy. The survival values were inversely correlated with age and major residual portion. On the other hand, KPS, lobar site, grade II Daumas-Duport lesions, protoplasmatic variant, early epilepsy, hyperfractionated radiotherapy and extent of exeresis were prognostic factors correlated with survival.

Current status of surgery for carcinoma of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus.

Hypopharynx and cervical esophagus represent a critical location for a squamous cell carcinoma, a neoplasm that usually requires extensive surgery. Although morbidity and mortality of resection have markedly decreased over the past decade, the major issue in these patients remains quality of life owing to the need for combination with a laryngectomy to provide radical treatment. Chemoradiation therapy has the potential to downstage and even cure the disease without altering quality of life dramatically.

Clinical results of unconventional fractionation radiotherapy in central nervous system tumors.

Malignant brain tumors (primary and metastatic) are apparently resistant to most therapeutic efforts. Several randomized trials have provided evidence supporting the efficacy of radiation therapy. Attempts at improving the results of external beam radiotherapy include altered fractionation, radiation sensitizers and concomitant chemotherapy.

Micronuclei in cytokinesis-blocked lymphocytes may predict patient response to radiotherapy.

We have applied the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay to peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients undergoing radiotherapy in pelvic and pulmonary sites, in order to evaluate the individual cytogenetic response. Our cytogenetic data correlated with the equivalent whole-body dose are homogeneous and compare well with the data presented by other authors. We have used an exponential mathematical formula to calculate the attenuation of the cytogenetic effect with time.

[High-dose-rate brachytherapy in esophageal carcinoma: the Italian experience].

The results are reported of HDR intracavitary brachytherapy in 134 esophageal carcinoma patients (110 men and 24 women) treated in 10 Italian centers. Forty-one patients received radical treatment and brachytherapy was often combined with external irradiation and/or chemotherapy. Clinical response rates follow: 56% complete remissions, 34% partial remissions, 10% no response/disease progression and not assessed.

[Effects of immunomodulation on antineoplastic radiotherapy. A controlled clinical study].

It is well known that thymic hormones can counteract immunodepression due to radiation therapy, preventing and reducing the severity and the number of myelotoxic and hematologic reactions. We tried to confirm these findings in a controlled multicenter clinical study involving 1,060 patients undergoing radiation therapy (580 treated with thymopentin 50 mg s.c.

Carboplatin combined with carmustine and etoposide in the treatment of glioblastoma.

The aim of this study was to verify the tolerability and efficacy of therapeutic chemotherapy protocols, employing different combinations of cisplatin, carboplatin, etoposide and carmustine in primary glioblastoma patients. The purpose was focused on 2 end points: the response index to treatment, the TTP (tumor progression) and the ST (survival time). Eighty-four out of a group of 99 consecutive glioblastoma patients, entered this study.

Primary glial tumor patients treated by combining cis-platin and etoposide.

Thirty eight patients with malignant gliomas (27 GBM and 11 AA) were treated with up to 7 cycles of CDDP + VP16 every month after surgery. Chemotherapy was planned as two cycles before and 5 cycles after radiation (42 Gy) using a three times daily fractionation schedule. No severe toxicity was observed.

Local immunotherapy (beta-IFN) and systemic chemotherapy in primary glial tumors.

Dosage and schedules for the treatment of malignant glial tumors using IFN (interferon) are still uncertain and controversial. In this study we give the preliminary results of treatment in 28 patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). 6 patients were treated with local injection of beta-IFN through an Ommaya reservoir; 4 patients with beta-IFN followed by systemic chemotherapy (Cisplatin + Etoposide), and 18 patients with chemotherapy only.

Cisplatin and etoposide combination therapy for primary glial tumors: preliminary results.

In this preliminary trial we studied 29 patients with primary malignant glial tumors to investigate the effectiveness of cisplatin combined with etoposide on these tumors. Hyperfractionated radiation therapy was given in the course of chemotherapy. The time to tumor progression in these glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients encouraged us to continue this treatment in a phase III study.

[Drug therapy with disodium clodronate combined with radiotherapy of bone metastasis of solid tumors].

The largest portion of a radiation oncologist's practice is aimed at the palliative treatment of bone metastases. This trial investigated the impact of disodiumclodronate on radiation therapy results. Two groups of patients with bone metastases were compared: one (176 patients) treated by radiation therapy alone, the other (242 patients) by combined radiotherapy and disodiumclodronate.

Preliminary data by cis-platin and etoposide using in primary glioblastoma.

In this preliminary study twenty-nine malignant glioma patients after surgery were treated using Cis-platin (CDDP) combined with etoposide (VP16). Superfractionated radiation therapy comes into chemotherapy. The time to tumor progression in GBM patients is encouraging result to continue in this treatment.

Intratumoral beta interferon and systemic chemotherapy. Preliminary data in GBM patients.

Doses and schedules for treatment of malignant glial tumors, using IFN are still uncertain and controversial. In this study preliminary results of treatment of 10 glioblastoma multiforme patients are shown. Six patients were treated with local injection of beta-IFN through an Ommaya reservoir: 4 with beta-IFN followed by systemic chemotherapy (CDDP-VP16); we found that IFN alone was ineffective.

A randomized clinical trial comparing radiation therapy v radiation therapy plus cis-dichlorodiammine platinum (II) in the treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Cis-Dichlorodiammine platinum (II) (cis-DDP) was demonstrated to be a potentiator of radiation therapy (RT) in experimental tumor models and in cultured cells. To assess the effectiveness of a combined modality treatment including RT and a weekly low-dose administration of cis-DDP, from January 1986 to June 1987, 95 patients with unresectable locally advanced non-small cell carcinoma of the lung (stage IIIa, b) were randomized for study. Fifty patients received RT alone at doses of 50 Gy; 45 patients received the same RT plus cis-DDP 15 mg/m2 IV weekly.

Cis-platin and radiotherapy in the treatment of unresectable lung cancer.

The goal of this pilot study was to verify the efficacy of the association of cisplatin plus radiotherapy in the treatment of lung cancer. Thirty-seven consecutive patients entered the study. They were treated with radiotherapy (four weekly doses of 2.

[The radiological symptomatology of primary malignant neoplasia of the kidney (author's transl)].

The radiological signs characteristic of various forms of renal neoplasia are described and the diagnostic value of different radiological techniques is discussed. A rational procedure for the study of primary tumours of the renal parenchyma is proposed, and several cases are presented by way of illustration.