Estramustine phosphate: a specific chemotherapeutic agent?

Estramustine phosphate is a nitrogen mustard derivative of estradiol that has been advocated for the treatment of prostatic cancer. The compound was designed with the hope that the estrogen moiety would direct the alkylating moiety to estrogen-dependent malignancies, where the alkylating moiety would be released specifically. Preclinical and clinical data are reviewed to determine to what extent that challenging concept is fulfilled.

Adjuvant chemotherapy in lung cancer: review and prospects.

The results of trials testing combined surgery and chemotherapy in lung cancer are reviewed. Fifteen adjuvant trials using various chemotherapeutic agents were analyzed to determine reasons for their lack of success. Current trials with adjuvant therapy in lung cancer are briefly outlined.

Daunomycin-induced cardiotoxicity in children and adults. A review of 110 cases.

Daunomycin, like its anthracycline analog adriamycin, is a cardiotoxic antitumor antibiotic. Reports on 5,613 patients receiving daunomycin were reviewed for cardiotoxicity. Two distinct patterns of cardiotoxicity were defined, congestive heart failure (cardiomyopathy) and electrocardiographic changes.

5-Azacytidine. A new anticancer drug with effectiveness in acute myelogenous leukemia.

Clinical studies involving 5-azacytidine, a ring analogue of cytidine, began in Europe in 1967 and the United States in 1970, and we review available preclinical and clinical studies here. The drug possesses cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antineoplastic, abortive, and mutagenic activity in various biological systems. 5-Azacytidine is thought to exert its antineoplastic effect through interference with nucleic acid metabolism.

Cyclophosphamide and CCNU in the treatment of inoperable small cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Two hundred and fifty-eight patients with small cell carcinoma and 185 patients with adenocarcinoma were centrally randomized to receive either cyclophosphamide (1000 mg/m2 every 3 weeks) iv or cyclophosphamide (700 mg/m2 every 3 weeks) iv plus CCNU (70 mg/m2 every 6 weeks) orally. Those patients who were initially treated with the single agent were then treated with CCNU (130 mg/m2 every 6 weeks) at the time of cyclophosphamide failure. Objective tumor regression occurred more frequently with the combination regimen in patients with small cell carcinoma (43% vs 22%, P = 0.

De novo Kaposi's sarcoma in renal transplantation. Case report and brief review.

This report describes a de novo development of Kaposi's sarcoma in a Puerto-Rician man 9 months after a cadaveric renal transplant. Progression of the disease was observed despite local irradiation, while the patient remained immunosuppressed with prednisone and azathioprine. This was accompanied by depressed immunologic tests.

Overview of early and investigational chemotherapeutic agents in solid tumors.

A tentative evaluation is proposed for the clinical status of 15 early and investigational drugs in human solid tumors.

Radiation-related eosinophilia. Correlation with delayed hypersensitivity, lymphocyte count, and survival in patients treated by curative radiotherapy.

Abdominal irradiation may produce eosinophilia. The relationship between radiation-related eosinophilia (RRE), reactivity to 2-4 dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), lymphocyte count, and prognosis was evaluated in 98 patients irradiated for tumors below the diaphragm. Forty-two per cent manifested RRE and 62% reacted to DNCB.

Ectopic placental proteins in nontrophoblastic tumors. Serial measurements following chemotherapy.

Four men with metastatic carcinoma (two bronchus, one stomach, one primary unknown) and ectopic placental protein production (one chorionic gonadotropin (hCG and its alpha subunit; one placental lactogen (hPL); one hCG alone; one hCG and hPL) were studied with serial retrospective measurements of the ectopic protein concentrations in serum, correlated with objective assessment of clinical status. The biochemical marker and clinical response were documented during treatment with a variety of agents and during periods without therapy. Of nine assessable periods, seven showed concordance of biochemical marker and clinical responses.

Phase I clinical trial of isophosphamide (NSC-109724).

An initial clinical phase I trial of isophosphamide has been carried out at dose levels of 200-10,000 mg/m2 of body surface area using a single-dose, every-3-week schedule. Significant toxicity was not seen at isophosphamide dose levels less than 2900 mg/m2. At higher doses, nausea and vomiting was nearly universal.

Irradiated lung cancer. An autopsy analysis of spread pattern.

The spread pattern was studied in 48 autopsied cases of irradiated, apparently localized lung cancer. Disease was found in the upper abdomen in 52%, in the brain in 8.7%; in the bones in 20.