Occurrence of beta-hexachlorocyclohexane in breast cancer patients.

The residues of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and neutral organochlorine compounds in breast fat of 44 breast cancer patients and 33 women free of cancer were determined. No statistically significant differences appeared between the two comparison groups with regard to occurrence of PAH compounds. Of the neutral organochlorine compounds, residues of beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) were found more frequently in breast cancer patients.

A new site for totally implanted central venous access system in patients with malignancy: long-term results of 10 cases.

In this study of 10 patients with central venous access system, the reservoir body was implanted in the lower limb. Only one complication was observed per 1,560 days of function time. The anterolateral distal half of the thigh is a good alternative site for the injection port in cancer patients whose jugular veins and veins in the arms are not available owing to a tumour or previous treatments.

Analysis of tamoxifen, N-desmethyltamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen levels in cytosol and KCl-nuclear extracts of breast tumours from tamoxifen treated patients by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using selected ion monitoring (SIM).

Tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen and desmethyltamoxifen levels were measured in cytosolic and 0.5 M KCl extracted nuclear fractions from a small series of breast tumours from tamoxifen treated patients by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using selected ion monitoring (SIM). Tamoxifen and desmethyltamoxifen were the most abundant metabolites.

Analysis of tamoxifen and its metabolites in human plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using selected ion monitoring (SIM).

A method for the analysis of tamoxifen and its metabolites in plasma from tamoxifen treated breast cancer patients, by capillary GC-MS using selected ion monitoring has been developed. Metabolite extraction was carried out on a Sep-pak C18 cartridge and metabolite purification by selective ion exchange chromatographic steps. Satisfactory recovery of radioactive standards through the extraction and purification steps was obtained.