Utility of PCR in diagnosis of invasive fungal infections: real-life data from a multicenter study.

Prospective studies addressing the clinical value of broad-range PCR using the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) for diagnosis of microscopy-negative fungal infections in nonselected patient populations are lacking. We first assessed the diagnostic performance of ITS rRNA gene PCR compared with that of routine microscopic immunofluorescence examination. Second, we addressed prospectively the impact and clinical value of broad-range PCR for the diagnosis of infections using samples that tested negative by routine microscopy; the corresponding patients' data were evaluated by detailed medical record reviews.

Oxaliplatin, irinotecan and cetuximab in advanced gastric cancer. A multicenter phase II trial (Gastric-2) of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Medikamentose Tumortherapie (AGMT).

Background: Patients suffering from advanced gastric cancer still have a poor prognosis and treatment options are limited. In our previous phase II trial (AGMT-Gastric-1), we showed that the combination of oxaliplatin and irinotecan was well tolerated and effective. The same chemotherapy regimen was now tested in combination with cetuximab in a multicenter phase II trial.

Plerixafor and granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma previously failing mobilization with G-CSF with or without chemotherapy for autologous hematopoietic stem cell mobilization: the Austrian experience on a named patient program.

Background: Plerixafor in combination with granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been shown to enhance stem cell mobilization in patients with multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Hodgkin's disease who demonstrated with previous mobilization failure. In this named patient program we report the Austrian experience in insufficiently mobilizing patients.

Study Design And Methods: Twenty-seven patients from eight Austrian centers with a median (range) age of 58 (19-70) years (18 female, nine male) were included in the study.

Massive infiltration of bone marrow in colon carcinoma after treatment with activated protein C.

We present an unusual case of localized colorectal carcinoma complicated by sepsis which was treated with activated protein C (APC). Shortly after treatment the patient developed symptomatic metastases to the bone marrow (BM). Destruction of bones by colorectal cancer (CRC) is rare, although BM micrometastases are frequently observed.