Experiments on the efficacy and toxicity of locoregional chemotherapy of liver tumors with 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FUDR) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in an animal model.

For the investigation of locoregional chemotherapy of liver neoplasms we developed a standardized animal model in the rat. Continuous infusion therapy or repeated bolus injections of FUDR or 5-FU were given via the hepatic artery, the portal vein or the vena cava in tumor-bearing animals. The efficacy of the treatment was determined by measuring the tumor volume 3 weeks after tumor cell implantation.

[Reduced nutritional status of the surgical tumor patient--a risk factor for postoperative complications?].

In recent years nutritional status gained greater attention as a surgical risk factor. In 100 patients with solid and operable tumours nutritional assessment with different types of measurements (dietary habits, ideal weight/height, triceps skinfold, arm muscle circumference, creatinine-height index, serum protein, albumin, prealbumin, cholinesterase, transferrin, total peripheral lymphocytes, and skin tests) was performed. Individual abnormal nutritional measurements were compared with the incidence of complications postoperatively, which were found in 32 out of 95 patients.

[Significance of the nutritional status of surgical patients].

In recent years nutritional status gained greater attention as a surgical risk factor. This study analyzes the frequency of malnutrition in surgical patients with solid and operable tumors, the relation to the type of tumor and stage of the disease. In addition, the clinical value of the measurements carried out is discussed.

[Surgical prevention in precancerous conditions and noninvasive cancers of the breast].

The biological significance of precancerous lesions and non-invasive carcinoma of the breast are compared, particularly proliferative mastopathy with cellular atypia (so-called mastopathy grade III), ductal papillomatosis, non-infiltrating intraductal carcinoma (IDC) and lobular in situ carcinoma (CLIS). While biological significance has been described for most tissue pathology choice of therapy is difficult because the clinical course following local excision is not readily assessed. For therapy of individual patients, their pathology, individual situation and risk factors are to be considered.

[Parathyroid carcinoma].

The parathyroid carcinoma is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. It deserves special attention in regard to diagnosis and treatment. Within a period of 10 years we observed 117 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) at the University Hospitals of Ulm and Heidelberg.

[Immediate postoperative enteral tube feeding following resection of the large intestine. Experiences with a controlled clinical study].

In a prospective randomized study 40 patients after elective colonic surgery were investigated to assess the value of early postoperative enteral feeding versus parenteral feeding. Twenty patients received from the first postoperative day until the sixth postoperative morning a diet consisting of carbohydrates, fat, and short-chain peptides via a fine bore feeding tube placed in the proximal jejunum. Twenty patients of the control group were treated with standard intravenous fluids consisting of carbohydrates and aminoacids via infusion into a central vein.

[Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases].

Surgical decision making in inflammatory bowel disease also includes aspect of the patient's general condition. If conservative therapy fails surgical therapy in ulcerative colitis and diverticulitis is a curative procedure. In Crohn's disease the situation is principally different.

[Postoperative enteral feeding following resection of the colon].

We tried to show that feeding via intrajejunal tube with a chemical defined diet (CDD) is an alternative to parenteral nutrition in the early postoperative period. We investigated 40 patients after colon surgery--randomized into two groups (group I: CDD, group II: control: total parenteral nutrition via central veins). It was shown that the patients in the CDD-group tolerated enteral feeding from the beginning without any problems.

[Radical operation and recurrence prevention with azulfidine in Crohn disease: a prospective multicenter study--initial results].

The influence of radical versus more restricted operation and Azulfidine prophylaxis was studied in a controlled, partially randomized double blind multicenter trial (16 centres) in 177 patients over 3 years. Early relapse occurred more frequently in the radically operated group (49 vs. 31%) and less frequently under Azulfidine prophylaxis (34 vs.

Adjuvant chemo(immuno-)-therapy of primary breast cancer with adriamycin-cyclophosphamide (and levamisole)--six-year evaluation.

In a phase II-type study 52 patients with no signs of metastases but with a high risk of recurrence were treated with 6 courses of adriamycin-cyclophosphamide as adjuvant systemic therapy following modified radical mastectomy of primary breast cancer. Half of the patients were randomized to receive additional immunotherapy with levamisole for 2 yr. The scheduled dose and time regimen could be achieved in over 90% of patients.

Effect of fibroblast interferon on colony tumor growth of miscellaneous solid human tumors.

The antiproliferative effect of fibroblast interferon (IF-beta) on the colony tumor growth of 42 miscellaneous carcinomas (15 gastric, 11 breast, eight colon, five ovarian, three bronchial) and two malignant melanomas were assayed in a semisolid, double-layered agar culture system. Of the 44 evaluable experiments only four tumor specimens (three breast-, one gastric carcinoma) showed at least a 30% inhibition of colony formation due to application of interferon at concentration of 1,000 IU/ml or less. In these cases, a dose response relationship of the interferon effect was obvious.

[Growth of tumour-cell colonies from human solid tumours (author's transl)].

In-vitro growth of tumour-cell colonies of various human solid carcinomas was investigated. Cell-colony formation in-vitro was achieved from single cells in 46 of 81 tumour specimens. The proportion of tumour-cell colonies per number of cultured tumour cells ("cloning efficiency") thus was 1-8 per 1000.

Adjuvant 5-fluorouracil and BCNU chemotherapy in gastric cancer: 3-year results.

One hundred-three patients with a potentially curative operation of a histologically proven gastric cancer were randomly assigned to a control and chemotherapy group after stratification according to tumor stage II and III. Chemotherapy courses with 5-fluorouracil (10 mg/kg/day) and BCNU (40 mg/m2/day) for 5 days were administered eight times in 6-8 week intervals. Age, sex, and tumor location were matched in the chemotherapy and control groups.