99mTc-Tetrofosmin pinhole-SPECT (P-SPECT) and radioguided sentinel node (SN) biopsy and in breast cancer axillary lymph node staging.

We compared 99mTc-Tetrofosmin P-SPECT with radioguided SN biopsy in 101 T1/T2 BC pts to predict axillary lymph node status. The day before surgery all pts underwent lymphoscintigraphy (LS) to mark the SN, following subdermal injection of 99mTc-colloidal sulphur surrounding the breast lesion. LS was combined with pre and intraoperative gamma probe.

(99)mTc-tetrofosmin SPET in the detection of both primary breast cancer and axillary lymph node metastasis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin single-photon emission tomography (SPET) in the detection of both primary breast cancer and axillary lymph node metastasis. We studied 192 consecutive patients in whom primary breast cancer was suspected on the basis of mammography and/or physical examination. After intravenous injection of 740 MBq (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin, both planar and SPET scintimammography was performed in all patients using a rectangular dual-head gamma camera equipped with low-energy, high-resolution, parallel-hole collimators.

High-dose sequential epirubicin and cyclophosphamide with peripheral blood stem cell support for advanced breast cancer: results of a phase II study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a high-dose intensity and high-dose density multicycle epirubicin and cyclophosphamide regimen with peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) and haematopoietic growth factor (G-CSF) support in advanced breast cancer patients. From August 1994 to September 1999, 56 breast cancer patients (8 stage IIIB and 48 stage IV) received 205 courses of cyclophosphamide 3 g x m(-2) and epirubicin 100 mg x m(-2) every 14 days. G-CSF 5 microg x kg(-1) x day(-1) was administered from day 3 to neutrophil recovery.

Extensive characterization of genetic alterations in a series of human colorectal cancer cell lines.

A number of genetic alterations have been described in colorectal cancers. They include allelic losses on specific chromosomal arms, mutations of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and mismatch repair genes, microsatellite instability in coding repeat sequences of target genes and methylation defects in gene promoters. Since these alterations have been reported by different groups on different tumors and cell lines, the complete repertoire of genetic alterations for any given tumor sample remains unknown.

Gastric metastases from breast cancer: a retrospective series of 12 patients.

Although well described in the literature, gastric metastases are often misdiagnosed in patients with breast cancer. The accuracy of diagnosis is critical because systemic therapy is beneficial, affording symptom palliation and an opportunity to avoid an unnecessary gastrectomy.

Predictors of short-term mortality in critically ill patients with solid malignancies.

Unlabelled: Admission of cancer patients with serious medical complications to the ICU remains controversial primarily because of the high short-term mortality rates in these patients. However, the cancer patient population is heterogeneous regarding age, underlying conditions, and curability of their disease, suggesting that large variations may occur in the effectiveness of intensive care within this subgroup of critically ill patients.

Objectives: To identify factors predicting 30-day mortality in patients with solid tumors admitted to a medical ICU.

Cytokines and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in the blood of patients undergoing HPC mobilization.

Background: The mechanism of HPC mobilization in humans is unclear. In this study, the relationship between PBPC mobilization and blood levels of G-CSF, endogenous cytokines (IL-8, SCF, thrombopoietin [TPO]), and the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was analyzed in patients with malignancy who were undergoing a PBPC mobilization regimen.

Study Design And Methods: Fifty-four patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and 29 with breast cancer (BC) underwent a mobilization regimen combining conventional chemotherapy and G-CSF up to the last day of PBPC collection.

Ecteinascidin-743: a marine-derived compound in advanced, pretreated sarcoma patients--preliminary evidence of activity.

Purpose: To report the activity of the chemotherapeutic agent ecteinascidin-743 (ET-743) in advanced pretreated sarcoma patients observed during a phase I study and a named-patient basis, compassionate use program.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-nine pretreated, advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and bone sarcoma patients consecutively seen in our centers were included, 12 from a phase I trial and 17 from a compassionate use program cohort. Patients were treated every 3 weeks at either 1,200 microg/m(2) (six patients), 1,500 microg/m(2) (the recommended dose, 22 patients), or 1,800 microg/m(2) (the maximum-tolerated dose, one patient), given as a 24-hour infusion every 3 to 4 weeks.

[Unusual case of benign neoplasm of the breast mimicking a carcinoma: granular cell tumor. Case report].

Granular cell tumors are rare, usually benign neoplasms of soft tissues which most commonly occur in the tongue, skin and subcutaneous tissue. Although the histogenesis is still object of debate, recent immunohistochemical studies and ultrastructural findings support the origin of this neoplasm from the peripheral nervous tissue, most likely from Schwann's cells. Occurrence of this neoplasm in the breast, although uncommon, warrants special attention, since its clinical, mammographic and pathological appearances on frozen sections "may often closely resemble" hose of breast malignancy.

[Retrospective multivariate analysis of radio-pathological correlations of nonpalpable breast lesions. Experience of the Hospital Saint-Louis].

Purpose: Several studies have demonstrated that systematic breast cancer screening increases overall survival. We report our experience regarding diagnosis of breast lesions detected using mammography.

Methods: Case reports of patients operated on in either 1992 or 1993 were retrospectively reviewed.

The role of 99mTc-tetrofosmin Pinhole-SPECT in breast cancer axillary lymph node staging.

The number of metastatic axillary nodes represents one of the most important prognostic factors in preoperative breast cancer patients. 99mTc-Tetrofosmin high resolution Pinhole (P)-SPECT was employed in 112 patients, 100 with breast cancer and 12 with benign mammary lesions, to ascertain axillary lymph node involvement. Axillary P-SPECT images were acquired utilizing specific software connected to a circular high resolution, single-head gamma camera equipped with a pinhole collimator with aperture size of 4.

High-dose epirubicin and cyclophosphamide every two weeks as first-line chemotherapy for relapsing metastatic breast cancer patients.

Background: Metastatic breast cancer remains incurable with conventional chemotherapy. For any specific chemotherapy, higher dose intensity may be achieved with either increased doses per cycle, or shortened intervals between courses, or both. We demonstrate here the feasibility and encouraging results of a high-dose combination regimen administered every two weeks.

Optimizing chemotherapy for patients with advanced breast cancer.

Chemotherapy is offered to almost all patients with metastatic breast cancer. Optimization of treatment has four major goals: (1) To improve access to chemotherapy. Orally active chemotherapy is an attractive option for those patients when access to hospital is limited by financial considerations, long journeys or patient reluctance.

[Clinical activity spectrum of irinotecan].

Irinotecan (CPT11), a topoisomerase I inhibitor, is a new cytotoxic agent with a broad spectrum of clinical activity. Two main schedules have been studied and produce similar activity and side-effects: the "european" one--350 mg/m2 every 21 days-, and the "japanese-north american" one where CPT11 is given at a weekly dose of 100-120 mg/m2 for 4 consecutive weeks followed by a 2 week rest period. Activity was initially characterized in advanced colorectal cancers; response rates, disease free-survival and overall survival were 11%, 7-10 months and 8-11 months in patients failing fluoropyrimidine based chemotherapy--statistically improved as compared to best supportive care and infusional fluorouracil-, and 20-30% in patients not previously treated.

Allelic profiles of mononucleotide repeat microsatellites in control individuals and in colorectal tumors with and without replication errors.

We have recently shown that analysis of BAT-26, was sufficient to establish the Replication Error status of colorectal tumors and cell lines without the need for matching normal DNA. BAT-26, a poly(A) tract in the 5th intron of the hMSH2 gene, does not present significant size variation either between the alleles of one individual or between alleles of different individuals. In colorectal tumors without defects in the replication error system (RER- phenotype), BAT-26 is also quasi-monomorphic.

Prospects with docetaxel in the treatment of patients with breast cancer.

Docetaxel (Taxotere) has been shown to be one of the most active cytotoxic agents in patients with breast cancer, achieving response rates of 41% when used as second-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer (34% in anthracycline-refractory patients) and 50-72% when used as first-line therapy. In both situations meaningful response durations of 7-8 months have been obtained. Based on these results, docetaxel is a promising candidate for new therapeutic strategies in patients with breast cancer.

[Second line treatments of cancers of the ovary].

Ovarian adenocarcinomas are among the most chemosensitive tumors. Platinum derivatives are the most efficient agents. The role of the second-line therapy is either to treat the relapse (salvage therapy), or to prevent it (consolidation therapy).

BAT-26, an indicator of the replication error phenotype in colorectal cancers and cell lines.

Instability of microsatellites is a hallmark of the DNA replication error phenotype (RER+) due to the inactivation of mismatch repair genes. In humans, microsatellite instability has first been described in colorectal tumors developing in either hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer or sporadic patients. Colorectal tumorigenesis in RER+ and RER- tumors is probably due to distinct mechanisms, and RER+ tumors have a better prognosis than RER- tumors.

Inverse correlation between RER+ status and p53 mutation in colorectal cancer cell lines.

The high point mutation rate of replication error-prone (RER+) cells could theoretically lead to inactivation of the p53 gene by polyclonal mutations, which might explain the conflicting results that have been published on the p53 status of RER+ colon cancers. To address this issue, we tested the p53 status of 21 human colorectal cancer cell lines, including four showing microsatellite instability (RER+ phenotype). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) followed by sequencing showed that all four RER+ cell lines were wild type for p53 while 15 of the 17 RER- cell lines contained p53 mutations (P=0.

A new approach to the problem of surgical wound infections in clean operations.

A study was made of the risk factors causing a high incidence of surgical wound infections in clean operations. Identification of these factors in the preoperative stage allows the patients to be divided into two categories: a high risk (about 10% of patients for surgery) and low risk. By giving antibiotic prophylaxis only to patients at high risk, the incidence of postoperative infections can be reduced, decreasing the number of extra days in hospital and consequently lowering costs.

[Mammary secretion: retrospective study of diagnostic and therapeutic problems].

Nipple secretion is an important clinical symptom in the context of breast pathology second only, in terms of incidence and diagnostic role, to the presence of a mammary nodule. Its importance derives from its possible association with cancer (from 3% to 47%) of which it may be the earliest sign, even if it is most often in relation to a benign pathology. The authors report their experience from 1988 to the present in 60 cases of mammary secretion out of 1200 patients attending the clinic.