Long-term follow up of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue in adults with Ewing tumor.

Ewing tumors remain of poor prognosis, with 5-year overall survival of 55% to 65% in localized patients and not exceeding 25% in primarily metastatic disease. Several reports, mainly in children, have reported that some patients with poor-risk Ewing tumors may benefit from high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous stem cell rescue. This retrospective study analyzed 46 patients treated in our institution between 1987 and 2000 for localized or primary metastatic Ewing tumors by HDCT followed by stem cell rescue.

Breast cancer associated with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: a single center series of 10 cases.

The aim of this study was to define the characteristics of patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and breast cancer and discuss the relationship between these two diseases. Ten patients treated for breast cancer and presenting with ITP were screened for this study. The diagnosis of breast cancer was confirmed by biopsy or surgical sample.

Can sequential administration minimise the cost of high dose chemotherapy? An economic assessment in inflammatory breast cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the potential cost savings of using sequential high dose chemotherapy (HDC), with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (filgrastim) and stem cell support, rather than single course administration of HDC with bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT).

Perspective: French public hospital perspective.

Methods: Direct medical costs of sequential treatment, estimated on the basis of physical quantities of resources consumed by 95 patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) included in a French pilot multicentric trial (PEGASE 02), were compared with those of historical control groups of patients treated with single course HDC, either with BMT (n = 27) or PBSCT (n = 14).

Prognostic factors for survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in operable breast cancer. the role of clinical response.

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess predictive factors for clinical response to preoperative chemotherapy and prognostic factors for survival. From 1981 to 1992, 936 patients with T2-T3, N0-N1 breast cancer who received 2-6 months (median 4) of preoperative chemotherapy were selected from the Institute Curie database. Preoperative treatment was followed by surgery and/or radiotherapy.

Response to chemotherapy is a major parameter-influencing long-term survival of metastatic breast cancer patients.

Background: In cancer patients, correlation between response to chemotherapy and gain in survival remains debated. We addressed this question in a multivariate analysis evaluating response to chemotherapy as a factor influencing survival of patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: From 1977 to 1992, 1430 patients included in eight consecutive prospective trials of anthracycline-based first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer, were available for assessment.

Effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on outcome in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma treated with first-line doxorubicin-containing chemotherapy.

Background: The objective of the current study was to analyze the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy in comparison with other prognostic parameters on the outcome of a series of patients with breast carcinoma at time of metastatic recurrence.

Methods: Data from 1430 patients accrued in 8 prospective trials of anthracycline-based first-line chemotherapy conducted at the Institut Curie between 1977 and 1992 were reviewed.

Results: Patients who had not received adjuvant chemotherapy had better response rates (66%) than pretreated patients (56%; P < 0.

Predictive factors of response to first-line chemotherapy in 1426 women with metastatic breast cancer.

Since response to chemotherapy is a major determinant of survival in metastatic breast cancer, the purpose of our study was to analyse the predictive factors of response. 1426 patients enrolled into eight consecutive randomised trials of anthracycline-based first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer, between 1977 and 1992, were analysed. A forward stepwise logistic regression analysis was used.

Prognostic value of persistent node involvement after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with operable breast cancer.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is able to reduce the size of the majority of breast tumours and down-stage axillary-node status. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of persistent node involvement after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A total of 488 patients with T2-T3, N0-N1 breast cancer treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by tumour excision and axillary lymph-node dissection between 1981 and 1992 were selected from the Institut Curie database.

ERBB2 overexpression in breast carcinomas: no positive correlation with complete pathological response to preoperative high-dose anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

The predictive value of ERBB2 amplification/expression to doxorubicin use is controversial. Preoperative chemotherapy, followed by the pathological assessment of tumour response to treatment provide optimal conditions for the evaluation of the predictive value of biological parameters. We report here data on the predictive value of ERBB2 in a series of 54 cases of breast cancer treated by preoperative high-dose anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

High-dose sequential chemotherapy with recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and repeated stem-cell support for inflammatory breast cancer patients: does impact on quality of life jeopardize feasibility and acceptability of treatment?

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the quality of life (QOL) of patients enrolled onto the High-Dose Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer Study Group trial (PEGASE 02), a French pilot multicenter trial of the treatment of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) aimed at evaluating (1) toxicity and feasibility of sequential high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (filgrastim) and stem-cell support and (2) response to HDC in terms of pathologic response and survival.

Patients And Methods: QOL measures were performed at inclusion and four times subsequently up to 1 year using an ad hoc side-effect questionnaire (19 physical symptoms) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30).

Results: Of the 95 patients entered, the overall QOL questionnaire completion compliance was 75.

Dose-intense salvage therapy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: feasibility and preliminary results.

Breast cancer patients who, following treatment with primary chemotherapy (FAC 50) present an axillary node involvement of more than 4 nodes together with clinically palpable residual disease (minor response to chemotherapy) and the presence of tumour cell emboli in lymphatics have a very poor outcome. DFS rates of 50 patients treated between 1990 and 1994 were 31% at 5 years. Our aim was therefore to evaluate an entirely different therapeutic regime in these very high risk patients.

First-line high-dose sequential chemotherapy with rG-CSF and repeated blood stem cell transplantation in untreated inflammatory breast cancer: toxicity and response (PEGASE 02 trial).

Despite the generalization of induction chemotherapy and a better outcome for chemosensitive diseases, the prognosis of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is still poor. In this work, we evaluate response and toxicity of high-dose sequential chemotherapy with repeated blood stem cell (BSC) transplantation administered as initial treatment in 100 women with non-metastatic IBC. Ninety-five patients (five patients were evaluated as non-eligible) of median age 46 years (range 26-56) received four cycles of chemotherapy associating: cyclophosphamide (C) 6 g m(-2) - doxorubicin (D) 75 mg m(-2) cycle 1, C: 3 g m(-2) - D: 75 mg m(-2) cycle 2, C: 3 g m(-2) - D: 75 mg m(-2) - 5 FU 2500 mg m(-2) cycle 3 and 4.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in young breast cancer patients: correlation between response and relapse?

The aim of this analysis was to assess how the clinical response to chemotherapy corresponded to long-term prognosis in patients of less than 35 years of age. A retrospective analysis was made of response and survival data of 609 premenopausal patients who had been treated by four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and/or radiotherapy. Patients were stratified into three age groups (group 1, < or = 35 years; group 2, 35-40 years; group 3, > or = 41 years).

[Herceptin, a monoclonal humanized antibody anti-HER2: a major therapeutic progress in breast cancers overexpressing this oncogene?].

HER2 is overexpressed in about 25% to 30% of breast cancers and associated with poor prognosis, resistance to hormonotherapy and lack of sensitivity to CMF-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Herceptin (trastuzumab), a humanized monoclonal antibody, administered as a single agent, produces objective responses in phase II trials in patients with metastatic breast cancers overexpressing HER2. It has shown a substantial benefit in a phase III trial which compares a standard first line chemotherapy (doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide or taxol alone) to the same chemotherapy with Herceptin in metastatic breast cancer.

Is primary chemotherapy useful for all patients with primary invasive breast cancer?

Chemotherapy dose intensification in breast tumours is being evaluated in many multicentre trials, its indication being based on a clinical response in high-risk patients, thus selecting for tumours with rapid proliferation and low resistance. However, results from randomized trials are still pending. Clinical and pathological responses to therapy are valuable surrogate endpoints following primary chemotherapy.

Randomized trial comparing protracted infusion of 5-fluorouracil with weekly doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide with a monthly bolus FAC regimen in metastatic breast carcinoma (SPM90).

Infusional 5-fluorouracil in advanced breast cancer has been associated with improved clinical response rates when compared with conventional bolus therapy. As a first line of chemotherapy in proven metastatic breast carcinoma, 258 women were randomly assigned to receive FAC consisting of 5-fluorouracil (F) 600 mg m(-2) intravenously (i.v.

Phase II trial of doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, etoposide, and cisplatin in advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma.

We have previously reported an overall response rate of 41% and a median survival duration of 14 months in a series of 49 patients with metastatic or recurrent endometrial carcinoma treated by a combination of etoposide, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin. In order to increase response rate and survival duration, doxorubicin was added to this combination. From August 1992 to January 1996, 20 consecutive patients were treated with a monthly combination chemotherapy consisting of doxorubicin 30 mg/m2 i.

Phase II trial of decapeptyl (D-TRP-6), a potent luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue in untreated advanced breast cancer.

Decapeptyl (D-TRP-6), a potent luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue, was administered to 27 premenopausal women with advanced breast cancer; patients were known to have hormone receptor-positive tumors. An overall response rate of 70% was achieved (complete response = 18%, partial response = 52%), with a median time to progression for the whole patient population of 12 months. Toxicity of the schedule was restricted to hot flushes, and the use of a 4-week initial covering period of tamoxifen prevented any flare-up of disease activity from occurring.

First-line protracted venous infusion fluorouracil with CisDDP or carboplatin in advanced colorectal cancer.

A total of 55 patients with measurable colorectal metastatic carcinoma were studied to evaluate the impact on toxicity, response, and survival of protracted venous infusion (PVI) 5-FU 200 mg/m2 per day with Cis-DDP 80 mg/m2 or carboplatin 300 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, 1-hour infusion. Patients received continuous uninterrupted therapy until there were signs or symptoms of toxicity. Both 5-FU and cisplatin were withheld when patients experienced grade II stomatitis and diarrhea, severe nausea or vomiting not controlled by standard antiemetic therapy, and clinically significant hand-foot syndrome.

[Physician-patient relationship in oncologic ultrasonography. The right way to inform the patient].

Purpose: Analysis of the doctor-patient relationship in oncologic sonography.

Material And Method: Two sonographers working in two different cancer institutes, one psychiatrist and one oncologist analyzed the various aspects of the relationship with cancer patients during sonographic examinations.

Results: Sonographers are in close contact with patients and are often the first to discover any abnormalities.

Meningeal carcinomatosis in patients with breast carcinoma. Clinical features, prognostic factors, and results of a high-dose intrathecal methotrexate regimen.

Background: This retrospective study evaluates the results of a regimen of high-dose intrathecal methotrexate and the prognostic factors for the response in patients with meningeal from breast carcinoma.

Methods: From 1979 to 1994, 68 breast carcinoma patients were diagnosed with meningeal carcinomatosis at a mean age of 52 years. All but two had previous metastatic involvement.

Ifosfamide seven-day infusion for recurrent and cisplatin refractory ovarian cancer.

Background: The prognosis of advanced ovarian cancer is very poor, with about 15% of patients surviving at five years. Since most of these patients will relapse and/or progress while on therapy, effective salvage treatments are needed. A phase II trial was designed to evaluate the feasibility, toxicity, and response of a seven-day ambulatory continuous infusion of ifosfamide in patients with recurrent or chemoresistant advanced ovarian cancer.

Protracted continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil in combination with doxorubicin, vincristine, and oral cyclophosphamide in advanced breast cancer.

Several studies suggest that protracted continuous infusion constitutes an important way to optimize the dose and the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in metastatic cancer. Eighty-three women aged 27-76 (median age 55) with metastatic breast cancer were treated every 4 weeks with a continuous ambulatory venous infusion of 5-FU 350 mg/m2/day and oral cyclophosphamide 100 mg/m2/day over 15 days. The continuous therapy was associated with a weekly administration of vincristine (0.

Treatment of advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma with combination of etoposide, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil: a phase II study.

Forty-nine consecutive patients with metastatic or recurrent endometrial carcinoma were treated with a monthly combination chemotherapy consisting of VP 16-213 80 mg/m2 i.v. Days 1-3, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 600 mg/m2 i.