Phase III Study of Pemetrexed in Combination With Cisplatin Versus Cisplatin Alone in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.

Purpose: Patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rapidly progressing malignancy with a median survival time of 6 to 9 months, have previously responded poorly to chemotherapy. We conducted a phase III trial to determine whether treatment with pemetrexed and cisplatin results in survival time superior to that achieved with cisplatin alone.

Patients And Methods: Chemotherapy-naive patients who were not eligible for curative surgery were randomly assigned to receive pemetrexed 500 mg/m and cisplatin 75 mg/m on day 1, or cisplatin 75 mg/m on day 1.

A New Bifidobacteria Expression SysTem (BEST) to Produce and Deliver Interleukin-10 in .

In the last years there has been a growing interest in the use of genetically modified bacteria to deliver molecules of therapeutic interest at mucosal surfaces. Due to the well-recognized probiotic properties of some strains, bifidobacteria represent excellent candidates for the development of live vehicles to produce and deliver heterologous proteins at mucosal surfaces. However, very few studies have considered this genus because of its complexity to be genetically manipulated.

Efficacy and safety of midostaurin in patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis: 10-year median follow-up of a phase II trial.

Patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis (SM) (e.g. aggressive SM (ASM), SM with an associated hematologic neoplasm (SM-AHN) and mast cell leukemia (MCL)) have limited treatment options and exhibit reduced survival.

Post-translational modification of ribosomally synthesized peptides by a radical SAM epimerase in Bacillus subtilis.

Ribosomally synthesized peptides are built out of L-amino acids, whereas D-amino acids are generally the hallmark of non-ribosomal synthetic processes. Here we show that the model bacterium Bacillus subtilis is able to produce a novel type of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide that contains D-amino acids, and which we propose to call epipeptides. We demonstrate that a two [4Fe-4S]-cluster radical S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) enzyme converts L-amino acids into their D-counterparts by catalysing C-hydrogen-atom abstraction and using a critical cysteine residue as the hydrogen-atom donor.

Insights into the catalysis of a lysine-tryptophan bond in bacterial peptides by a SPASM domain radical -adenosylmethionine (SAM) peptide cyclase.

Radical -adenosylmethionine (SAM) enzymes are emerging as a major superfamily of biological catalysts involved in the biosynthesis of the broad family of bioactive peptides called ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). These enzymes have been shown to catalyze unconventional reactions, such as methyl transfer to electrophilic carbon atoms, sulfur to C atom thioether bonds, or carbon-carbon bond formation. Recently, a novel radical SAM enzyme catalyzing the formation of a lysine-tryptophan bond has been identified in , and a reaction mechanism has been proposed.

Carbon-sulfur bond-forming reaction catalysed by the radical SAM enzyme HydE.

Carbon-sulfur bond formation at aliphatic positions is a challenging reaction that is performed efficiently by radical S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) enzymes. Here we report that 1,3-thiazolidines can act as ligands and substrates for the radical SAM enzyme HydE, which is involved in the assembly of the active site of [FeFe]-hydrogenase. Using X-ray crystallography, in vitro assays and NMR spectroscopy we identified a radical-based reaction mechanism that is best described as the formation of a C-centred radical that concomitantly attacks the sulfur atom of a thioether.

[Pulmonary blastoma in an adult].

The authors report the case of a 24-year-old woman in complete remission 4 years after treatment for a biphasic pulmonary blastoma. After a left lower lobectomy, the patient developed a local recurrence that was treated by chemotherapy. In the light of this case, the authors review the clinical, radiological and therapeutic features of this very rare malignant lung tumour.

[Second-line therapy in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. A French retrospective study (2005-2006)].

Background: The role of second-line chemotherapy (SLC) has still not been established in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) but SLC is increasingly used because many patients are still fit at the time of the progression of the disease.

Methods: In this retrospective study, the authors reviewed their experience with SLC in pemetrexed-pretreated patients with MPM at two French thoracic oncology units (institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, and hôpital d'Instruction des Armées Percy, Clamart).

Results: Between January 2005 and December 2006, 84 consecutive patients with progressing MPM after pemetrexed chemotherapy were enrolled.

Combined etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin in the treatment of patients with advanced thymoma and thymic carcinoma. A French experience.

Introduction: The value of a nonanthracyclin regimen in thymic carcinoma and malignant thymoma is not well defined. These regimens may be useful in some patients, particularly with cardiac diseases. The objective of this study is to evaluate the response rate, progression free survival, overall survival and toxicity of combined etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin in patients with advanced thymoma and thymic carcinoma.

[Fever and infectious complications in patient with lung cancer].

The respiratory infections are very frequent during lung cancer. Their diagnosis is often difficult because of the various etiologies (cancer, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) and this complexity can make discuss a preliminary bronchial exploration before any therapeutics. When it is about a located infection, germs in cause are often the same that in the community respiratory infections, in particular bacilli Gram negative, and it is thus logical to treat by the penicillin A.

[Evaluating the nutritional status of a lung cancer patient is an important element in patient management].

Nutritional status assessment during the comprehensive management of patients treated for cancer is becoming increasingly necessary. Various data are currently available which show a relationship between the nutritional status and certain morbidity-mortality parameters. In contrast, there is a paucity of data concerning lung cancer.

[Environmental cancer: malignant pleural mesothelioma].

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) remains an aggressive tumour, but medical interest has recently evolved from almost nihilism to a real interest. Significant advances are observed in the pathologic diagnosis, the staging, the knowledge of the mesothelial carcinogenesis, the identification of biological markers with potential interest in diagnosis or in treatment. Proper management implies the participation of the general population since the implementation of administrative procedures for social and economical compensation.

[Malignant pleural mesothelioma: interrogations and hopes concerning the expected epidemic].

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare incurable tumor. Interest in MPM has increased in recent years due to a steadily increasing incidence subsequent to the intensive use of asbestosis, the main causal agent, but also due to better awareness in the political and scientific communities faced with a serious public health issue. Our knowledge of MPM has improved regularly in terms of pathologic diagnosis and the mechanisms underlying the mesothelial carcinogenesis.

Phase II study of vinflunine in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Purpose: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a disease of increasing incidence for which treatment options are limited. This study reports the clinical efficacy data for vinflunine, a novel microtubule inhibitor, in MPM.

Patients And Methods: Patients with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of MPM were eligible for enrollment onto this multicenter phase II trial if they had not received prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy and had measurable lesions by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria.

[Malnutrition in cancer patients].

Malnutrition is common in cancer patients. Many factors contribute to weight loss: some of them can be related to diminished dietary intake, while others are more associated with metabolic changes induced by systemic inflammatory responses. This is why at a specific phase during the course of development, some cancers will benefit from nutritional support, while in theory, and others will benefit from anti-inflammatory treatment.

[Thymic tumors].

Thymomas and thymic carcinomas are rare and slow-growing tumors, which develop within the anterior mediastinum. Thymomas are often associated with autoimmune disorders and most particularly myasthenia gravis. The treatment of choice remains a complete surgical resection.

[Spinal cord compression from a malignant pleural mesothelioma].

Thoracoscopy-talc led to the diagnosis of epithelial pleural mesothelioma in a 58-year-old man who presented with pleurisy. The course was rapidly unfavorable despite systemic chemotherapy. Dorsal pain revealed invasion of the spine and spinal canal leading to cord compression three months after the diagnosis of mesothelioma.

[Asbestos-related occupational cancers].

Due to its remarkable physical properties asbestos has been widely used in the industry. It is estimated that 25% of present French retired workers have been occupationally exposed to asbestos. A causal relationship between asbestos exposure and respiratory cancers is established since 1955 for lung cancer, and since 1960 for pleural mesothelioma.

[Modalities of radiotherapy in small cell lung cancer: thoracic radiotherapy and prophylactic cerebral irradiation].

Small cell lung cancers (SCC) represent 20% of all lung cancers. After the initial control of the extension, only one third of the patients with SCC will finally have limited disease. The treatment of limited SCC currently relies on chemo-radiotherapeutic combinations that have improved overall survival and survival without metastases over the last few years.

[Management of emesis in cancer patients].

Nausea and vomiting are often seen in cancer patients. They can be acute (induced by chemotherapy or radiotherapy..