Expression of genes related to activity of oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil in endoscopic biopsies of primary esophageal cancer in patients receiving oxaliplatin, 5-flourouracil and radiation: characterization and exploratory analysis with survival.

With a goal of identifying relations between gene expression and response (mucosal or pathological) or survival in esophageal cancer patients (stages II to IV) receiving oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and radiation, we measured in endoscopic primary tumor biopsies from 38 patients, the expression of seven genes (gammaGCS, gammaGT, MRP-2, ERCC-1, XPA, TS and DPD) prior to treatment, 1 week following oxaliplatin alone and at the end of the combined radio-chemotherapy cycle using real time QRT-PCR. A higher pretreatment level of XPA was related to shorter survival with a hazard ratio of 2.43 (90% confidence interval 1.

S-phase modulation by irinotecan: pilot studies in advanced solid tumors.

Two studies of irinotecan (CPT-11) followed 24 h later by an antimetabolite were conducted. The objectives of the studies were: (1) to determine whether the increase in S-phase in tumor cells seen 24 h after CPT-11 administration in animal studies is seen in advanced solid tumors in patients, (2) to determine the dose of CPT-11 required to produce this effect, (3) to compare two methods (immunohistochemistry, IHC, for cyclin A, and DNA flow cytometry, FC) for evaluating S-phase in tumor biopsies from patients, and (4) to establish the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of CPT-11, given 24 h before gemcitabine (GEM, 1000 mg/m(2)). In one study CPT-11 was followed 24 h later by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 400 mg/m(2) per week for 4 weeks every 6 weeks.

Hypersensitivity Reactions to oxaliplatin: incidence and management.

Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) is a novel platinum compound that has activity in a wide variety of tumors. Several hypersensitivity reactions distinct from laryngopharyngeal dysesthesia have been described. We retrospectively analyzed 169 consecutive patients who received oxaliplatin for esophageal or colorectal cancer between 1/1/00 and 7/31/02 and reviewed any significant adverse reactions labeled as hypersensitivity reactions.

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of anhydrovinblastine every 3 weeks in patients with refractory solid tumors.

Purpose: Anhydrovinblastine (AVLB) is a novel semisynthetic vinca alkaloid. We conducted a phase I trial to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) and pharmacokinetics of AVLB given as a 1-h intravenous infusion once every 3 weeks in patients with advanced refractory solid tumors.

Patients And Methods: Entered into the study were 24 patients with normal bone marrow, hepatic and renal function, and of these 21 were evaluable.

Oxaliplatin in combination with protracted-infusion fluorouracil and radiation: report of a clinical trial for patients with esophageal cancer.

Purpose: To identify a dose and schedule of oxaliplatin (OXP) to be safely administered in combination with protracted-infusion (PI) fluorouracil (5-FU) and external-beam radiation therapy (XRT) for patients with primary esophageal carcinoma (EC).

Patients And Methods: Eligibility included therapeutically naïve EC patients with clinical disease stages II, III, or IV. Initial doses and schedules for cycle 1 consisted of OXP 85 mg/m(2) on days 1, 15, and 29; PI 5-FU 180 mg/m(2) for 24 hours for 35 days; and XRT 1.