Systemic mastocytosis and bone involvement in a cohort of 75 patients.

Objectives: To investigate bone involvement in a large cohort of systemic mastocytosis (SM) patients, and evaluate the efficacy of bisphosphonate therapy.

Patients And Methods: From 2000 to 2004, 75 patients with SM according to WHO criteria underwent skeletal x-rays and bone mineral density (BMD) assessment. Sequential BMD assessments were performed in nine patients treated with bisphosphonate (mean follow-up 65 months).

[Continued complete remission of Merkel cell carcinoma with in-transit metastasis after treatment with isolated limb perfusion regional chemotherapy].

Background: Primitive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma or Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare tumor. It may be large since diagnosis is frequently delayed. The usual treatment is extensive surgical removal and radiotherapy.

Clinical efficacy of irradiation in CLL patients: predictive value of in vitro radio-induced apoptosis.

In order to identify CLL patients for whom irradiation could be beneficial, we investigated the relationship between in vitro radio-induced apoptosis of leukemic cells and response to low-dose splenic or lymph node radiotherapy. Fourteen patients were included in the in vitro study. Leukemic cells were analyzed by Hoechst staining immediately after collection or 24h of culture following in vitro irradiation of 0-10 Gy.