Evaluation of Cyfra 21-1 as a marker for lung cancer.

The sensitivity and specificity of Cyfra 21-1 as marker for lung cancer was evaluated in comparison with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). Patients with histologically verified lung cancer and different groups without lung cancer were investigated. Sensitivity of Cyfra 21-1 (cut-off level 2.

Cimetidine and coumarin therapy of renal cell carcinoma. A pilot study.

Thirty-eight patients with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) and 1 patient with a second primary RCC were treated with coumarin and cimetidine. Patients received 400 mg cimetidine p.o.

Phase II study of lonidamine in non-small cell lung cancer: final report.

Lonidamine (LND) is a new anti-cancer drug which interferes with the energy-yielding processes of tumour cells without affecting DNA replication. A total of 69 previously untreated patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) entered this study. LND was given orally as a single agent at doses ranging from 450 to 900 mg day-1 until tumour progression (2 to greater than or equal to 1,402 days).

[Chemotherapy of non-small cell bronchial carcinoma].

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is less responsive to chemo- and radiotherapy than bronchogenic small cell cancer. Until now the results of chemotherapy in NSCLC have been disappointing. In a retrospective study on epidermoid cell lung cancer we can show that there is no increase of the survival time during the last 22 years.

Phase II study of lonidamine in inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer.

31 patients with inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer were treated with Lonidamine at daily doses of 450-900 mg orally. Side effects mostly consisted of myalgias, often severe, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Lonidamine was discontinued in 8 patients because of tumor progression and in 2 on account of side effects.

Intra-arterial infusion therapy for pulmonary tumours.

On a total of 47 patients with pulmonary tumours (45 carcinomas and two pulmonary sarcomas) intra-arterial infusion therapy was performed via the bronchial artery (34 cases), the pulmonary artery (11 cases), the internal thoracic artery (1 case) and the intercostal artery (1 case). Cytostatic drugs were given to 43 patients (mainly in the form of single-drug therapy) and four patients received a preparation of proteolytic enzymes. In the majority of cases (34 of 47 patients) intra-arterial therapy was followed by intravenous cytostatic treatment.

[Ifosfamide versus ifosfamide + CCNU in the treatment of inoperable small cell carcinoma of the lung. A clinical study].

55 selected patients with inoperable small cell carcinoma of the lung have been induced in a randomized prospective trial in order to compare the efficacy of ifosfamide monotherapy with the combination of ifosfamid + CCNU. Initially a control group, treated with symptomatic therapy only, was also included but preliminary analysis revealing that results were unfavourable in comparison to those of the chemotherapy group; this treatment arm was omitted. 53 of 55 patients were evaluable.

[Results of a comparative therapy study for inoperable lung cancer].

In a prospective randomized study 78 selected patients with bronchogenic cancer have been included, and five different treatment modalities have been compared (1. Biologic therapy; 2. Vitamin A + Cytoxan; 3.

[Polychemotherapy for advanced epidermoid cell lung cancer (author's transl)].

The long-term results are presented of cytostatic treatment with a combination of adriamycin + methotrexate + vincristine + trofosfamide in 45 patients with advanced inoperable epidermoid cell lung cancer. The overall response rate (complete + partial remission) was 13/45 = 29%; the survival time from the beginning of therapy ranged from 12 to more than 1023 days, with a median of 166 days. Three patients are still alive.

[Intra-arterial infusion treatment in lung neoplasms].

Intraarterial infusionstherapy was performed with cytostatic agents (10 patients) and proteolytic enzymes (4 patients) in 14 selected cases with malignant lung tumours. Diagnosis was in 8 patients small cell carcinoma, in 3 patients adenocarcinoma, in 2 patients squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and in 1 patient leiomyosarcoma of the lung (relapse). Infusions were performed in 8 cases through the A.

[DTIC in the therapy of solid tumours (author's transl)].

From 1975 to 1977 42 patients with advanced solid tumours were treated with imidazole-carboxamide (DTIC). It was applied in 18 cases as monotherapy: in the remaining patients it was administered in combination with other cytostatic agents. Tumour remission was recorded in 4/22 patients with melanoma, 2/2 with Kaposi sarcoma and 2/7 with soft tissue sarcoma.

[Immune stimulation with vitamin A therapy in patients with pulmonary neoplasms].

Based on a clinical trial, in which patients with unresectable bronchogenic cancer were treated with a combination of vitamin A plus chemotherapy, or vitamin A plus radiotherapy, a study was initiated in which vitamin A alone was given for tumor treatment. 9 male patients with metastatic unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the lung were treated with vitamin A palmitate or 13-cis vitamin A acid. Up to seven treatment courses were given during a period of 60 weeks.

[Local therapy of metastatic pleural effusions with zusammenfassung proteolytic enzymes (author's transl)].

From 1970 to 1976, 268 patients with pleural effusions underwent local therapy with the polyenzyme preparation Wobemugos; 235 patients were evaluable regarding the effectiveness of this therapy. In 115 of the cases, the primary tumour was carcinoma of the bronchus, in 86, carcinoma of the breast, in 9, mesothelioma and carcinoma of the ovary each, and in 16, other malignancies. There was a total remission of pleural effusions in 42% of the cases, a partial one in 41%, and no effect in 17%.

[Clinical experiences with Holoxan in small cell carcinoma of the bronchus (author's transl)].

Clinical experiences obtained until now in the treatment of 47 patients with small cell carcinoma of the bronchus with Holoxan are reported. Special emphasis is laid to the results of a prospective randomized study; two groups of patients, one of them undergoing Holoxan therapy, the other receiving symptomatic treatment, have been investigated in respect of relationship between tumour remission, quality of life and survival time.

[Therapy of inoperable bronchial carcinoma].

The results of a prospective randomized study on carcinoma of the bronchus are reported. In a total of 56 patients polychemotherapy, high-dosage vitamin-A treatment, Endoxan and immunotherapy, as well as the application of proteolytic enzymes in altogether 5 combinations of therapy were tested.

Stimulation of immune response in lung cancer patients by vitamin A therapy.

Based on a clinical trial, in which patients with unresectable bronchogenic cancer were treated with a combination of vitamin A plus chemotherapy, or vitamin A plus radiotherapy, a study was initiated in which vitamin A alone was given for tumor treatment. 9 male patients with metastatic unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the lung were treated with vitamin A palmitate or 13-cis vitamin A acid. Up to seven treatment courses were given during a period of 60 weeks.

Immunestimulation in cancer patients by a new synthetic compound: BM 06 002.

A new synthetic compound 4-imino-1,3-diazobicyclo (3,1,0)-hexan-2-on (BM 06 002) has been shown in animal models to stimulate humoral and cell-mediated immune reactions. In a Phase I study in man a total absence of toxic side effects after intravenous injection of BM 06 002 has been demonstrated. In the present investigation in patients with advanced incurable cancer one single injection of this substance induced a significant stimulation of lymphocyte blastogenesis response to PHA and PWM.

Serum levels of alpha1-antitrypsin and alpha2-macroglobulin in lung cancer.

In untreated patients with inoperable lung cancer, serum levels of alpha1-antitrypsin were found significantly increased in comparison to patients with non malignant diseases of the lung, alpha2-macroglobulin levels were unchanged in both groups of patients. There was also no difference in alpha2-macroglobulins in cancer patients reacting with DNCB and in non-reactors. Thus alpha2-macroglobulin levels do not seem to correlate with the immunestatus of cancer patients.