Randomised comparison of weekly bolus 5-fluorouracil with or without leucovorin in metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

148 patients with advanced untreated colorectal cancer were randomised to receive a weekly bolus of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 600 mg/m2 alone, with or without leucovorin (LV) 500 mg/m2. 5-FU plus LV produced a higher response rate than 5-FU alone: 23% (5 complete response, 11 partial response) vs. 8% (2 complete response, 4 partial response) (P = 0.

Role of blood groups as prognostic factors in primary breast cancer.

The role of blood groups as risk factors for breast cancer and their predictive value after radical surgery have been retrospectively evaluated in 315 breast cancer patients. The AB0 group distribution in these breast cancer patients was not significantly different from that of control women. Patients with blood group 0 showed a significantly lower risk of death than those with groups A, B and AB.

Epidermal growth factor in breast cyst fluid: relationship with intracystic cation and androgen conjugate content.

In recent years, several studies focused on the biochemical analysis of breast cyst fluid composition. It has been shown that breast cysts lined by apocrine epithelium contain higher levels of potassium and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate as compared to cysts lined by flattened cells, and that women with apocrine cysts are more likely to develop breast cancer. In the present study, we measured the intracystic levels of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S), and epidermal growth factor (EGF), a factor which could play a role in the autocrine or paracrine control of breast cancer cell growth as recently proposed by some investigators.

Alternating tamoxifen and medroxyprogesterone acetate in postmenopausal advanced breast cancer patients--short and long term endocrine effects.

The endocrine effects of alternating tamoxifen and medroxyprogesterone acetate have been evaluated in 26 post-menopausal patients with metastatic breast cancer. Endocrine evaluations included the RIA determination of plasma levels of sex-hormone binding globulin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, prolactin, cortisol, and testosterone. The evaluation of the study parameters at different intervals during therapy indicates that with this schedule an alternate sequential effect on the endocrine system is achievable because each drug exerts its own endocrine activity that is completely reversed when the other drug is administered.

Sequential combination of tamoxifen and high dose medroxyprogesterone acetate: therapeutic and endocrine effects in postmenopausal advanced breast cancer patients.

A sequential combination of tamoxifen and medroxyprogesterone acetate has been evaluated in 42 postmenopausal untreated patients with metastatic breast cancer. Patients received tamoxifen 10 mg b.i.

Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil combination chemotherapy in advanced and/or metastatic colorectal carcinoma: a phase II study.

The possible synergism of cisplatin (P) and 5-fluorouracil was studied in 38 consecutive patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal carcinoma. Cisplatin 60 mg/m2 i.v.

Combination of amikacin and ceftazidime as empiric treatment of febrile leukopenic patients affected by solid tumors.

A combination of amikacin and ceftazidime was used as initial empiric therapy for the treatment of 25 evaluable febrile episodes (temperature greater than or equal to 38.5 degrees C) in leukopenic adult patients (wbc less than or equal to 1,000/mm3) with solid tumors, characterized by poor prognosis because of low performance status (median Karnofsky score: 50) and progressive disease (76% of cases). Nineteen (76%) of the 25 episodes responded to the initial empiric antibiotic combination.

Hypercoagulable state induced by cytostatic drugs in stage II breast cancer patients.

An increased incidence of thromboembolic complications occurring in cancer patients during chemotherapy was recently reported. In view of this report, a study in 49 patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for Stage II breast cancer was begun in order to determine the effect of antineoplastic drugs on coagulation factors and platelet function. Among the coagulation factors, a significant decrease of thrombin time and partial prothrombin time was observed, whereas platelet function tests were unchanged.

Cardiac arrhythmia: possible complication from treatment with cisplatin.

Cardiotoxicity is rarely observed during cisplatin chemotherapy. A possible synergistic toxic effect of cisplatin with etoposide on cardiac electrical activity is discussed. A case of a 60-year-old woman with squamous cell lung carcinoma who developed paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia during cisplatin chemotherapy is reported.

[Controlled study of the analgesic effect and tolerability of buprenorphine in cancer patients].

The analgesic efficacy and tolerability of a morphine agonist-antagonist buprenorphine are evaluated. The drug is compared to pentazocin. For this purpose, the drugs were randomly administered to 42 patients suffering from pain caused by advanced cancer.

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia during treatment with cisplatin and etoposide combination.

We report a case of a 60-year-old woman affected by squamous lung carcinoma, who developed paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia during cisplatin and etoposide combination chemotherapy. Cisplatin toxicity on cardiac electrical activity is discussed. This observation might suggest caution when cisplatin is used in patients with cardiac disease or pretreated with other potential cardiotoxic antineoplastic agents.

[Treatment of upper limb lymphedema after mastectomy with escine and levo-thyroxine].

Lymphoedema of the upper limb is the most serious and most crippling complication of mastectomy. An account is given of the factors possibly responsible, and a classification of the different forms is proposed. When fibrosis has set in, treatment is followed by very disappointing results, being at best able to bring about a partial, but transitory reduction in limb volume and consistency.