Lack of Activity of Docetaxel in Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Results of a Phase II Study of the Italian Group on Rare Tumors.

Purpose. The prognosis of advanced soft tissue sarcoma is poor, only a few drugs showing some activity with response rates around 15- 25%. Consequently drug development seems mandatory to improve treatment outcome.

Effects of glycosylated and non-glycosylated G-CSFs, alone and in combination with other cytokines, on the growth of human progenitor cells.

Two recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (rHu G-CSF) are clinically available, a glycosylated (lenograstim) and a nonglycosylated from (filgrastim). Since there is accumulating evidence that glycosylation plays a role in the in vitro activity of the G-CSF molecule, we compared the biological potency of lenograstim and filgrastim on human hematopoietic progenitor cells by colony assay in semisolid medium and ex vivo expansion experiments. Leukapheretic products without further processing and CD34-positive purified cells were used as source of human progenitors.

Four year treatment with a long acting somatostatin analogue in a patient with Verner-Morrison syndrome.

The case is described of a woman with a Verner-Morrison syndrome of extreme severity, caused by an occult VIPoma. Administration of SMS 201-995 (Sandoz) (SMS) at the dose of 150 and subsequently of 250 micrograms daily, decreased plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) from about 500 to 100 pg/ml (highest normal limit 60 pg/ml). This was associated with complete regression of the diarrhea and normalization of serum potassium levels and hence with the return of the patient to a fully normal life.

Effect of sandostatin on CRF-stimulated secretion of ACTH, beta-lipotropin and beta-endorphin.

The influence exerted by somatostatin on the secretion of ACTH and opioid peptides has still to be clarified. To gain further information on this issue, we performed in 10 normal volunteers two CRF tests (100 micrograms i.v.

Effects of salmon calcitonin on the bone loss induced by ovariectomy.

We present the results of a 12-month clinical study assessing the effects of synthetic salmon calcitonin (sCT) on a group of fertile white women who had undergone ovariectomy for uterine fibromatosis. The study was performed to verify whether CT can prevent the loss of bone mass and the changes in calcium-phosphorus metabolism associated with acute estrogen deficiency. The study consisted of an initial double-blind phase of 6 months, followed by a 6-month open period.