In vitro cytotoxicity of novel platinum-based drugs and dichloroacetate against lung carcinoid cell lines.

Introduction: Chemotherapy for advanced well-differentiated carcinoids is characterised by low response rates and short duration of responses. The present study aimed to assess the in vitro activity of novel platinum-based chemotherapeutic drugs in combination with dichloroacetate (DCA), a sensitiser to apoptosis, against lung carcinoid cell lines.

Methods: Three permanent cell lines (UMC-11, H727 and H835) were exposed to 14 different established cytotoxic drugs and the novel platinum-based compounds as satraplatin, JM118 and picoplatin in combination with DCA, and viability of the cells was measured using a tetrazoliumbased dye assay.

Closed suctioning system reduces cross-contamination between bronchial system and gastric juices.

In this prospective, randomized study, we evaluated whether a closed suctioning (CS) system (TrachCare) influences crossover contamination between bronchial system and gastric juices when compared with an open suctioning system (OS). The secondary aims were an analysis of the frequency of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and an analysis of alteration in gas exchange. Antibiograms were performed from tracheal secretions and gastric juice aspirates on Days 1 and 3 of intubation in 24 patients in a medical intensive care unit.

Inhibition of platelet function by hydroxyethyl starch solutions in chronic pain patients undergoing peridural anesthesia.

The use of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions as a fluid replacement before peridural blockade may compromise blood coagulation, thus increasing the risk of neuraxial bleeding. In this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, we compared the influence of HES 130 (molecular weight in kilodalton), HES 200, and lactated Ringer's solution on platelet function and hemodynamics in chronic low back pain patients scheduled for peridural blockades. Patients received 3 test infusions of 10 mL/kg each administered IV for 30 min.

Health-related quality of life outcomes after kidney transplantation.

With the improvements in short and long term graft and patient survival after renal transplantation over the last two decades Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) is becoming an important additional outcome parameter. Global and disease specific instruments are available to evaluate objective and subjective QOL. Among the most popular global tools is the SF-36, examples of disease specific instruments are the Kidney Transplant Questionnaire (KTQ), the Kidney Disease Questionnaire (KDQ) and the Kidney Disease-Quality of Life (KDQOL).

Rituximab for treatment of advanced extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

Background: Extranodal marginal zone B cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) is a relatively common type of lymphoma. Owing to its B cell lineage, it appears to be a potential target for treatment with the CD20 antibody rituximab. We present an analysis of our experience with rituximab for treatment of patients with advanced MALT lymphoma.

Occurrence of a pulmonary carcinoid following allogeneic stem cell transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia: a case report.

Carcinoid tumors are relatively rare neuroendocrine malignancies with an indolent clinical behavior. The majority of cases arise within the gastrointestinal tract, but they may also be encountered in other organs such as the bronchial system. While occurrence of carcinoid tumors has been reported in association with the multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type I syndrome, no clear-cut risk factors have been established for the development of these malignancies.

Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue of the head and neck area: high rate of disease recurrence following local therapy.

Background: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a distinct entity with specific clinical and pathologic features that may affect diverse organs. MALT-lymphomas remain localized within their original environment for a long period of time. As recent data have demonstrated a relatively high rate of multiorgan involvement at diagnosis, the authors have retrospectively evaluated 36 patients presenting with MALT-lymphoma in the head and neck area.

Complete remission of chronic plaque psoriasis and gastric marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of MALT type after treatment with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine.

A 58-year-old woman with a 15-year history of chronic plaque psoriasis was diagnosed with gastric marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type. Topical treatment and ultraviolet radiation for therapy of psoriasis had been of limited efficacy. The patient received intravenous treatment with 0.

Comparison of spiral-computed tomography with water-filling of the stomach and endosonography for gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type.

Background: Endosonography has been reported as the method of choice for local staging of patients with gastric lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type. As endosonography is still restricted to specialized centers, we have investigated the use of spiral computed tomography of the abdomen with water-filling of the stomach (hydro-spiral CT) for enhanced contrast in patients with gastric lymphoma.

Patients And Methods: Patients with a histological verified diagnosis of gastric lymphoma of MALT-type were included in this prospective series.

Phase II study with docetaxel and cisplatin in the treatment of recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Purpose: Since the combination of cisplatin and docetaxel have demonstrated activity in squamous cell carcinomas of the lung and oesophagus before, promising results in recurrent metastatic head and neck cancer were expected.

Patients And Methods: Between September 1998 and October 2000, 40 patients entered this trial, 38 of whom were evaluable. Six patients were previously untreated, 24 had surgery and/or radiotherapy and 13 had received chemoradiation and/or surgery.

Second-Line Treatment of Advanced Colorectal Cancer with a Biweekly Oxaliplatin plus Irinotecan Combination Regimen.

Background: Both oxaliplatin and irinotecan have demonstrated antitumor activity in pretreated colorectal cancer; experimental and early clinical data suggest that these two drugs may act synergistically. The aim of this study was to document the therapeutic index of a biweekly combination regimen in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer failing prior palliative first-line chemotherapy with raltitrexed.

Patients And Methods: In this study 27 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were analyzed, who progressed while on or within 6 months after discontinuation of palliative first-line chemotherapy with raltitrexed.

Treatment of extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type with cladribine: a phase II study.

Purpose: As chemotherapy has not been extensively studied in patients with lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), we initiated a prospective study to evaluate the activity of the nucleoside analog cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine [2-CdA]) in this disease.

Patients And Methods: Patients with histologically verified MALT-type lymphoma were enrolled. 2-CdA was administered at a dose of 0.

Effective combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel and cisplatin with or without human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and/or erythropoietin in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

A phase II trial was performed to determine the antitumour efficacy and tolerance of combined paclitaxel and cisplatin with or without hematopoetic growth factor support in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Forty-five patients with histologically confirmed metastatic gastric cancer were entered in this trial. Treatment consisted of 2-weekly courses of paclitaxel 160 mg per m2 and cisplatin 60 mg per m2 both given on day 1.

Randomized phase II study of irinotecan plus mitomycin C vs. oxaliplatin plus mitomycin C in patients with advanced fluoropyrimidine/leucovorin-pretreated colorectal cancer.

Introduction: Irinotecan and oxaliplatin are two new agents with promising activity in advanced colorectal cancer. Based on preclinical and clinical evidence that both drugs might act synergistically with mitomycin C, a randomized study using a 'pick the winner' design was undertaken to determine the effectiveness and tolerance of these two combination schedules in patients with fluoropyrimidine/leucovorin-pretreated advanced colorectal cancer.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-four patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, who progressed while receiving or within 6 months after discontinuing palliative chemotherapy with fluoropyrimidines/leucovorin were enrolled onto this study.

Absence of therapeutic efficacy of the somatostatin analogue lanreotide in advanced primary hepatic cholangiocellular cancer and adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder despite in vivo somatostatin-receptor expression.

Background: Carcinoma of the biliary system is a rare tumour entity, and patients with advanced disease face a dismal prognosis. Because of the absence of standard chemotherapy for advanced biliary carcinoma and reports of expression of receptors for somatostatin (SST), we performed a phase II study to evaluate the clinical potential of the long-acting SST analogue lanreotide (LAN) for treatment of this disease.

Methods: Twenty consecutive patients with histologically verified primary hepatic cholangiocellular cancer or primary adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder were enrolled in the study.

Randomized multicenter phase II trial of oxaliplatin plus irinotecan versus raltitrexed as first-line treatment in advanced colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Irinotecan and oxaliplatin are two new agents with promising activity in advanced colorectal cancer. Based on preclinical and clinical evidence that both drugs act synergistically, a randomized phase II study was initiated to investigate the therapeutic potential and tolerance of this combination in the front-line setting.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-two patients with previously untreated, measurable disease were randomized to receive biweekly oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) plus irinotecan 175 mg/m(2) or raltitrexed 3 mg/m(2) given on day 1 every 3 weeks.

Somatostatin-receptor scintigraphy for staging and follow-up of patients with extraintestinal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type.

The majority of lymphomas of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type arise in the stomach, but extragastric locations are also frequently encountered. Due to previous results indicating that somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-expression distinguishes between gastric and extragastric MALT-type lymphoma, we have initiated a study to evaluate the role of SSTR-scintigraphy for staging and follow-up of patients with extragastric manifestations of MALT-type lymphoma. A total of 30 consecutive patients, including 24 with primary extragastric MALT-type lymphoma, 5 patients with dissemination to extragastric sites (including colon, lung, parotid, ocular adnexa and breast) following an initial gastric MALT-lymphoma and one patient with spread to stomach, lung and lymph nodes following parotid lymphoma were prospectively studied.

Beta-2-microglobulin levels in patients with extranodal B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Serum levels of beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) have been reported as a predictor of clinical outcome, prognosis and tumor burden in patients with various types of lymphomas. In case of lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type, no clear data exist to define the role of B2M in terms of staging or prognosis. In a retrospective analysis we investigated the serum B2M-levels in patients suffering from histologically verified MALT-type lymphoma in correlation to stage and response to treatment.

Docetaxel as rescue medication in anthracycline- and ifosfamide-resistant locally advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma: results of a phase II trial.

Background: Metastatic soft tissue sarcoma not amenable to curative surgery has a dismal prognosis. Aggressive treatment with anthracyclines and ifosfamide represents the current therapeutic mainstay in these patients, most of whom succumb to relapses. Thus, the efficacy of subsequent therapeutic approaches has to be weighed against toxicity caused by palliative treatment.

Multicenter phase II trial of dose-fractionated irinotecan in patients with advanced colorectal cancer failing oxaliplatin-based first-line combination chemotherapy.

Background: A multicenter phase II trial was initiated to investigate the efficacy and tolerance of a dose-fractionated administration schedule of irinotecan in patients with advanced colorectal cancer pre-treated with fluoropyrimidine/ oxaliplatin-based first-line combination chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: 38 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, who progressed while receiving or within six months after withholding systemic chemotherapy with oxaliplatin in combination with 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin or the specific thymidilate synthase inhibitor raltitrexed were enrolled in this study. Treatment consisted of irinotecan 175 mg/m2 given on days 1 and 10.

CD5 expression in a lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type as a marker for early dissemination and aggressive clinical behaviour.

Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) developing in response to chronic infection or autoimmune stimuli has been recognized as a possible site of origin for a distinct type of B-cell lymphoma. While preferentially occurring in the stomach, MALT-type lymphomas can be found in virtually all organs. MALT-type lymphomas normally follow an indolent course, with a tendency to remain localized at their site of origin for a prolonged period of time.

Malignancy in slow motion: diagnosis of biochemically apparent, but otherwise occult persistent disease 21 years after resection of a carcinoid tumour of the terminal ileum.

Carcinoid tumors may relapse after a long time span following initial diagnosis, and relapse might be clinically inapparent despite biochemical indications due to a low sensitivity of conventional methods. We present the case of a patient who had biochemical indication for hidden disease persistence for more than two decades. In 1978, a 39-year-old man underwent surgery for a carcinoid tumour of the ileum measuring 3.

Impaired response of gastric MALT-lymphoma to Helicobacter pylori eradication in patients with autoimmune disease.

Background And Aims: Gastric MALT-lymphoma is thought to be related to chronic antigenic stimulation provided by Helicobacter pylori (HP). As clonal expansion of gastric B cells not related to HP has been demonstrated in patients with autoimmune disease (AD), we have analysed whether AD adversely influences response of MALT-lymphoma following HP-eradication.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective analysis of all patients with early stage gastric MALT-lymphoma treated with HP-eradication was performed.