Limiting systemic endocrine overtreatment in postmenopausal breast cancer patients with an ultralow classification of the 70-gene signature.

Purpose: Guidelines recommend endocrine treatment for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers for up to 10 years. Earlier data suggest that the 70-gene signature (MammaPrint) has potential to select patients that have an excellent survival without chemotherapy and limited or no tamoxifen treatment. The aim was to validate the 70-gene signature ultralow-risk classification for endocrine therapy decision making.

Long-term effects of a regional care pathway for patients with rectal cancer.

Purpose: Introducing care pathways is seen as a method to realise patient-focussed care conform evidence-based guidelines. The goal of this study is to determine the long-term effects of a regional care pathway for patients with rectal cancer.

Patients And Methods: Data on almost 400 patients with rectal carcinoma from three hospitals were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and the Dutch Surgical Colorectal Audit.

Vaccination of melanoma patients with an allogeneic, genetically modified interleukin 2-producing melanoma cell line.

Thirty-three metastatic melanoma patients were vaccinated according to a phase I-II study with an allogeneic melanoma cell line that was genetically modified by transfection with a plasmid containing the gene encoding human interleukin 2 (IL-2). The cell line expresses the major melanoma-associated antigens and the HLA class I alleles HLA-A1, -A2, -B8, and Cw7. All patients shared one or more HLA class I alleles with this cell line vaccine.

Pharmacokinetics of interleukin-2 in two anephric patients with metastatic renal cell cancer.

Background: Most patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have undergone unilateral- and some bilateral nephrectomy. Because interleukin-2 (IL-2) is thought to be mainly cleared via the kidneys, we investigated whether IL-2 treatment is safe in anephric patients.

Patients And Methods: The pharmacokinetics of i.

Autoimmune neutropenia successfully treated with cyclosporine.

A case history is presented concerning a 59-year-old female patient with chronic autoimmune neutropenia complicated by recurrent skin infections, mucositis, and conjunctivitis. For subjective reasons she refused treatment with prednisone, but eventually cyclosporine led to an important clinical improvement and an increase of the peripheral granulocyte count. Treatment modalities of autoimmune neutropenia are briefly discussed.