Dermatomyositis associated with breast cancer.

An increased risk of underlying malignancy has been found in patients with dermatomyositis (DM). The risk is increased even in patients with DM aged 45 or younger and remains high for many years after diagnosis. Breast carcinoma does not represent the most common solid tumor associated with this autoimmune disorder.

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases from atypical small cell lung cancer: a case report and literature review.

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCM) are usually the result of rapidly progressing systemic malignancy. Lung cancer represents the most common solid tumor associated with the development of ISCM. We describe a 47-year-old female with atypical small cell lung cancer (SCLC) developing ISCM.

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases in breast cancer: report of four cases and review of the literature.

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases (ISCM) are usually the result of rapidly progressing systemic cancer. Breast cancer represents one of the most common solid tumors associated with the development of ISCM at rather advanced stages of disease. In the present report we describe four new cases with advanced breast cancer developing ISCM.

Oxaliplatin plus high-dose leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil (FOLFOX 4) in platinum-resistant and taxane-pretreated ovarian cancer: a phase II study.

Objective: A prospective phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of oxaliplatin plus 5-fluoruracil (5-FU) and high-dose leucovorin (LV) (FOLFOX-4) in patients with platinum-resistant, taxane-pretreated recurrent ovarian cancer.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-eight patients, with a median age of 58 years (range 33-77), were treated with oxaliplatin 85 mg m(-2) as a 2-h infusion on day 1, LV 200 mg m(-2) day(-1) as a 2-h infusion followed by bolus 5-FU 400 mg m(-2) day(-1) and a 22-h infusion of 5-FU 600 mg m(-2) day(-1) for 2 consecutive days. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks.

Oxaliplatin and irinotecan plus granulocyte-colony stimulating factor as third-line treatment in relapsed or cisplatin-refractory germ-cell tumor patients: a phase II study.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of the combination of oxaliplatin and irinotecan in patients with relapsed or cisplatin-refractory germ cell tumors (GCT).

Patients And Methods: Eighteen patients with relapsed or cisplatin-refractory GCT were treated with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 15, followed by irinotecan 80 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8 and 15, every four weeks for a maximum of six cycles.

Results: All patients were assessable for response and toxicity.

Testicular function in patients with testicular cancer treated with bleomycin-etoposide-carboplatin (BEC(90)) combination chemotherapy.

Objective: To investigate the impact of bleomycin-etoposide-carboplatin combination chemotherapy on long-term fertility in patients with testicular germ cell tumors.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with high risk stage I and IM non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT, Group A) and 44 with advanced seminoma or NSGCT (Group B) were treated with bleomycin 30 mg (days 2, 9, 16), etoposide 165 mg/m(2) (days 1-3) and carboplatin 400mg/m(2) or AUC 5 (day 1) (BEC(90)). Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks.

Irinotecan and gemcitabine in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, previously treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. A phase II study.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of irinotecan plus gemcitabine administered every two weeks in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) previously treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Fifty patients with advanced NSCLC, refractory or resistant to cisplatin derivatives, were treated on an out-patient basis with irinotecan 150 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.