Serum thrombopoietic activity following administration of vinblastine.

A possible role of humoral factors in the pathogenesis of vinblastine-induced thrombocytosis was examined. The thrombopoietic activity in serum of experimental animals was tested for its ability to stimulate the incorporation of 75-Se-selonemethionine into platelets of thrombocythaemic mice. The administration of low doses (0.

The plasminogen activator of the arterial wall.

The plasminogen activator in 645 specimens of various human arteries--thoracic, abdominal aorta, carotic, pulmonary, renal, basilar, coronary - was studied using Todd's histochemical method. 92 cadavers were used, 1--18 hours post mortem from subjects aged from 272 days to 83 years. 45 specimens of pulmonary, renal and splenic arteries were obtained during surgery.

Influence of cytotoxic drugs on platelet functions and coagulation in vitro. IV. Melphalan.

Influence of melphalan on some platelet functions, plasmatic coagulation and fibrinolysis "in vitro" was investigated, using different concentrations of the drug (25, 50 and 250 mug/ml). The lowest concentration slightly inhibited adrenaline and/or collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Following the highest concentration of the drug, strong inhibition of aggregation was recorded, regardless of the inducer used.

Imidazole carboxamide (DTIC) in the treatment of advanced lymphomas. Efficacy of DTIC in cases which fail to respond to conventional chemotherupetic combinations.

15 patients with malignant lymphomas (stage III B or IV) who had become resistant to previous combination chemotherapy were treated with DTIC. The drug was administered intravenously as a single agent in doses of 300 mg/m2 on 5 consecutive days, once a month. The results demonstrate good responses in Hodgkin's disease, while in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas only incomplete and short remissions or failures were recorded.

Influence of some cytostatics on leucocyte function.

Phagocytic activity, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and candidacidal capacity have been studied in a group of normal persons and in three patients with acute leukaemia. The studies were performed in vitro in whole blood to which either a solvent only, or daunorubicin or vincristine had been added. The nuclei of all kinds of leucocytes showed characteristic changes in daunorubicin samples, resembling a beginning necrobiosis.

Chemotherapy of advanced malignant lymphomas comparative evaluation of results with single agent and combination therapy.

86 patients with advanced malignant lymphomas (stage III and IV) were treated either with Vinblastine given as a single agent (49 cases) or with combination chemotherapy MOPP or COP (37 cases). In both, Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, induction of remission, relaps-free survival and prognostic significance of initial clinical stage were evaluated, in relation to the therapeutic modality. In patients with Hodgkin's disease, combination chemotherapy was found to produce significantly more durable remissions, when compared with single agent therapy.

Malignant lymphoma with isolated kidney involvement.

A case of reticulum cell sarcoma with kidney involvement is described. The diagnosis was established by open renal biopsy only when the disease was far advanced. Treatment with combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy brought about very short remission and the patient died in uremia.

Trichlortriethylamine (TS-160 Spofa) in combination chemotherapy of malignant lymphomas.

Thirteen patients with disseminated malignant lymphomas were treated with combination chemotherapy which included trichlortriethyl amine (TS-160), vincristine (Oncovin), procarbazine hydrochloride (Natulan) and prednisone. All patients but two received some form of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy prior to being started on four-drug regimen. Good response to the combination chemotherapy was recorded in 84% of patients, while complete remission was achieved in 23% of cases.

Influence of cytotoxic drugs on platelet functions in vitro. III. Peptichemio.

The influence of Peptichemio (m-dichloroethyl-amino-l-phenyl-alanyl-peptide complex) on the following platelet functions was studied: aggregation, release of platelet factor 4, availability of platelet factor 3, acid phosphatases and reptilase clot retraction. Concentrations of the drug corresponding to that found in plasma of treated patients did not significantly influence platelet functions. Concentrations 10 times higher brought about an inhibition.