A critical review of immunotherapy of disseminated renal adenocarcinoma.

Sixty patients with renal adenocarcinoma have been treated with five different immunotherapy trials consisting of 1) Transfer Factor (TF), 2) TF and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), 3) TF, BCG, Chloroethyl-cyclohexy-nitrosurea (CCNU) and megestrol acetate (Megase), 4) BCG, CCNU, and Megase, or 5) BCG. Using strict response criteria for measurable disease, objective responses were seen in 14-22% of cases. While this nonspecific immunotherapy of renal adenocarcinoma has been associated with documented regression of metastases, response rates are similar to that obtained with hormonal therapy alone.

Phase II trial of m-AMSA in hepatocellular carcinoma: a Southwest Oncology Group Study.

Twenty-three patients with heptocellular carcinoma were treated with m-AMSA at a dose of 120 mg/m2 iv repeated at 4-week intervals. Toxicity was primarily hematologic. Partial responses occurred in two of 14 previously treated patients and in one of nine previously untreated patients.

Phase II trial of 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, mitomycin C, and streptozotocin (FAM-S) in pancreatic carcinoma.

Twenty-five patients with unresectable and metastatic pancreatic carcinoma were treated with the combination of 5-fluorouracil, Adriamycin, mitomycin C and streptozotocin (FAM-S). Twelve of 25 patients responded (48%) and four patients demonstrated stable disease. Median survival of all patients was 6.

Mixed beam radiotherapy and combination chemotherapy in localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma-preliminary results.

A pilot study of mixed beam radiotherapy (fast neutrons alternating with photons) followed by combination chemotherapy with SMF (streptozotocin, 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C) in localized pancreatic cancer was performed. Thirteen patients were treated and a median survival of 10.0 months was noted (range 5-30+).

Phase II study of anguidine in gastrointestinal malignancies: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

The Southwest Oncology Group conducted a phase II study of anguidine in 134 patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. Anguidine was administered as a 4-hour infusion at doses of 3.0 and 4.

VP16-213, cisplatinum, and adriamycin salvage therapy of refractory and/or recurrent nonseminomatous germ cell neoplasms.

Eleven patients with recurrent and/or resistant nonseminomatous germinal cell neoplasms refractory to conventional chemotherapy were treated with the combination. VP16-213, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, and adriamycin. One complete response, four partial responses which at surgery were benign teratomas, and six partial responses have been observed.

Hepatic artery infusion with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin-C in metastatic colorectal carcinoma phase II study.

Thirty-two patients with hepatic metastases colorectal carcinoma were treated with hepatic artery infusion (HAI) employing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin-C (mito-C). Catheters were placed percutaneously via the femoral artery. Two schedules were employed: (I) 5-FU 1,200 mg/m2 IA (D1-4) and mito-C 8 mg/m2 IA (D1 + D4); (2) 5-FU 1,200 mg/m2 IA (D1-6) and mito-C 8 mg/m2 IA (D1 + D4).

Influence of estrogen receptor status on response to combination chemotherapy for recurrent breast cancer.

To determine the influence of cytoplasmic estrogen receptor (ER) status on response to chemotherapy among patients with recurrent breast cancer amenable to biopsy, we studied 65 patients who had ER determinations performed on metastatic lesions. The response to combination chemotherapy and duration of survival were determined in 49 of these patients who receive cytotoxic chemotherapy as their sole modality of treatment. Compared to patients with ER levels less than 3 femtomols/mg, patients with an ER concentration greater than or equal to femtomols/mg had a higher response rate (57% vs 21%, P less than 0.

Simultaneous treatment with cisplatin and radiation therapy for advanced solid tumors: a pilot study.

To study the toxicity and efficacy of simultaneous cisplatin chemotherapy and radiation therapy, 13 patients with metastatic solid tumors were treated with cisplatin on a weekly, outpatient basis during palliative radiation therapy. The dose of cisplatin ranged from 20 to 50 mg/m2 weekly, with most patients receiving 40 mg/m2. Radiation therapy was administered in a variety of dose-fraction schedules.

Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in patients receiving chemotherapy for nonmalignant diseases.

The occurrence of acute leukemia in patients receiving chemotherapeutic agents for malignant disease has been well established. Recent reports have suggested that chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat inflammatory conditions may have an oncogenic potential. From 1969 to 1977, 11 patients with a variety of collagen-vascular diseases who developed acute nonlymphocytic leukemia were seen at the Cleveland Clinic.

Phase II trial of Baker's antifol in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a Southwest Oncology Group Study.

Fifteen patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma were treated with Baker's antifol at a dose schedule of 250 mg/m2 iv for 3 days every 3 weeks. One objective response was seen, and toxicity was minimal. No usefulness of Baker's antifol in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma was demonstrated.

Phase II trial of streptozotocin, mitomycin C, and 5-fluorouracil in adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

A phase II study study employing 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C, and streptozotocin in unresectable pancreatic carcinoma was performed. Seven of 22 patients (32%) responded and 4 of 22 (18%) had stable disease. Median survival of the entire group was 6 months, and of responders 9.

Prognostic factors affecting remission, remission duration, and survival in adult acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

The medical records of 94 consecutive patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) were reviewed to identify significant prognostic factors. The data were analyzed using 1) Cox's linear hazard and linear logistic models, 2) chi-square comparison of the groups living longer than 2 years and those living less than 2 years, and 3) the Gehan-Breslow test of equal survival curves. The only statistically significant finding was that the presence of promyelocytic cell type and complete remission correlated with increased survival (p less than .

IgD myeloma. Report of a case with unusual clinical and immunologic features.

A case of IgD myeloma in a 48-year-old Caucasian man is reported. The unusual features of this case included the absence of osteolytic lesions by x-ray, absence of anemia, absence of monoclonal spike on serum electrophoresis, association of kappa light chains, absence of Bence Jones proteinemia and Bence Jones proteinuria, and a remarkable, temporary clinical response to therapy. Immunoelectrophoresis of whole serum yielded a pattern consistent with IgD kappa monoclonal gammopathy.

Combination chemotherapy for islet cell carcinoma and metastatic carcinoid tumors with 5-fluorouracil and streptozotocin.

The results of combination chemotherapy with intermittent courses of 5-fluorouracil and streptozotocin in ten patients with metastatic carcinoid tumors and in eight patients with islet cell carcinoma are reported. Objective responses occurred in two of ten and in two of seven evaluable patients respectively. Biochemical responses occurred in an additional two patients with carcinoid.

Gingival biopsy in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Gingival biopsy has been advocated as a readily available, safe, rapid histologic confirmation of the clinical diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Eighteen gingival biopsies from 16 patients with proven thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura were reviewed. Seven (39%) showed characteristic histologic changes: [1] subendothelial hyalinelike deposits; [2] intraluminal deposits; [3] lack of inflammatory change in vessels and stroma.