Ovarian cancer and tumor markers: sialic acid, galactosyltransferase and CA-125.

In an effort to correlate the serum values of potential markers, including CA-125, galactosyltransferase, and total sialic acid, with residual tumor mass after initial surgery, 43 patients with FIGO stage IIb and c, III and IV ovarian cancer were studied. The sensitivity of galactosyltransferase and sialic acid levels was sufficient to correlate their serum values with the corresponding residual tumor mass. Furthermore, 28 patients were histopathologically evaluated for their response to chemotherapy.

[Metoclopramide, methylprednisolone and flunitrazepam in cytostatic-induced vomiting].

The antiemetic efficacy of a combination of high-dose metoclopramide, methylprednisolone and flunitrazepam was tested in an open pilot study in 30 tumor patients undergoing strongly emetic chemotherapy. 26 of 30 patients (87%) were partially or completely protected from nausea and vomiting. In 11 of 12 patients receiving the strongly emetogenic cytostatic agent cisplatin in a dose of greater than or equal to 50 mg/m2, the gastrointestinal side effects were partially or completely abolished.

Immediate adjuvant chemotherapy versus observation with treatment at relapse in pathological stage II testicular cancer.

Between 1979 and 1984, 195 evaluable patients were entered in an international multicenter study comparing two regimens for patients with completely resected pathological Stage II testicular cancer (that is, with positive retroperitoneal lymph nodes). All patients had undergone orchiectomy and dissection of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. They were randomly assigned to be treated with two cycles of immediate adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy or to be observed monthly with treatment at relapse.

A comparative study of dibromomannitol and busulfan in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. A study of cancer and leukemia group B.

In a prospective, randomized trial the effectiveness of dibromomannitol (DBM), a brominated sugar alcohol derivative, was compared to busulfan in previously untreated patients. One hundred thirty-one patients were evaluated for response and survival. The effective dose of DBM was 4 mg/kg.

[Hodgkin's disease in a Swiss family].

Hodgkin's disease was found in five members of the same generation in a large Swiss family. At presentation, the patients were between 20 and 30 years old. The histological diagnosis was confirmed in three patients.

[Palliative tumor chemotherapy and quality of life: what is optimal?].

In antitumor chemotherapy the combinations of drugs, dose and schedule are determined by the basic aims of the anticancer treatment. This also applies to the severity of side effects: their acceptability is different for different treatment aims. Where cancer chemotherapy is potentially curative, more side effects and transient reversible impairment of the quality of life must be accepted in comparison to tumor stages where treatment is purely palliative.

Complete remission following endocrine or combined cytotoxic and hormonal treatment in advanced breast cancer. A retrospective analysis.

Among 422 patients with advanced breast cancer treated in a randomized trial we observed 60 complete responses (CR). Sixteen were achieved among 206 patients treated with endocrine therapy alone and 37 among 216 patients treated with concomitant chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. The incidence of CR in women treated with the concomitant modality was higher in those with dominant soft tissue disease, intermediate in those with osseous or pulmonary involvement, and low in patients with liver metastases.

[Acceptable risks in adjuvant therapy].

The definition of acceptable risks in adjuvant therapies has to be based on the evaluation of the cost-benefit relationship. The possible benefit can only be determined by prospective clinical trials for each tumor category. Individually, the possible benefit cannot be weighed as long as no method for the detection of micrometastases is available.

The antiemetic activity of high-dose alizapride and high-dose metoclopramide in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial.

Alizapride is a new substituted benzamide with suggested superior antiemetic efficacy to and fewer side effects than metoclopramide. High-dose alizapride (4 mg/kg X five doses) was compared with high-dose metoclopramide (2 mg/kg X five doses) in a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial in 62 evaluable patients undergoing strongly emetic cancer chemotherapy. Patients receiving metoclopramide experienced significantly fewer vomiting episodes than patients receiving alizapride (median of three episodes vs.

The treatment of ovarian cancer by a multimodality approach: remission induction with chemotherapy--hexa PAMP and PAMP regimens--followed by whole-abdominal radiation.

Seventy-six evaluable patients with ovarian carcinoma stages FIGO IIb, IIc, III, and IV, either received cis-platin (P) (80 mg/m2 iv. day 1), melphalan (PAM) (12 mg/m2 i.v.

Hormono-chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.

The current situation in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer is reviewed. Overall the concurrent use of endocrine treatment and chemotherapy does not improve the therapeutic results as compared to a treatment encompassing only one modality. However, results diverge widely in different subgroups.

[Chemotherapy as primary therapy in non-radically operated ovarian cancer].

Forthwith the results of chemotherapy on advanced ovarian carcinoma are summarized. The following conclusions can be drawn: stages Ia and Ib of low malignancy degrees should receive follow-up treatment. Stages II and I of high malignancy degrees should receive radiotherapy to the whole abdomen.