Bone formation markers and pain palliation in bone metastases treated with strontium-89.

In several bone disorders, including those with metastatic involvement, changes in procollagen type I C-terminal and type III N-terminal peptides are detected, as indications of altered bone metabolism. Assessment of bone turnover could play a role in the evaluation of response to Strontium-89 used as palliative treatment in symptomatic bone metastases from various primary tumors. A correlation between bone formation rate markers procollagen I and III and efficacy of ionic Strontium-89 was shown in a group of 13 patients who underwent treatment with 4 mCi of Strontium-89 for painful bone metastases: 5 from breast, 7 from prostate, and 1 from lung carcinoid cancer.

Tamoxifen and medroxyprogesterone therapy for advanced endometrial carcinoma.

We have studied the response rates and survival of a group of 93 patients with Stage III or IV endometrial adenocarcinoma after random allocation to therapy with tamoxifen (TAM) 20 mg twice daily (n = 45) or medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 1 g/wk intramuscularly (n = 48). The patients were examined every 4 months. In the non-responders and in those who relapsed, combination therapy with TAM and MPA was given.

Clinical and histopathological review of 24 cases of sarcoma of the corpus uteri.

The Authors report their experience in 24 cases of sarcoma of the corpus uteri observed between 1971 and 1981. After pointing out that their experiences confirm the extreme rareness of these neoplastic forms they dwell on diagnostic, prognostic and histologic criteria of classification and conclude that sarcomas of the corpus uteri - mostly leiomyosarcomas - of fibromatous origin - are always potentially very malignant with low 5-year survival rates despite combined treatment with surgery + radiotherapy + antiblastic therapy.