Efegatran sulfate as an adjunct to streptokinase versus heparin as an adjunct to tissue plasminogen activator in patients with acute myocardial infarction. ESCALAT Investigators.

Background: Previous clinical studies have shown that direct antithrombins can accelerate clot lysis after treatment with streptokinase in acute myocardial infarction (MI). Efegatran is a new direct antithrombin, which in experimental animals has been shown to enhance thrombolysis, reduce rate of reocclusion, and limit infarct size. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of efegatran plus streptokinase versus heparin plus accelerated tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) in coronary reperfusion in acute MI.

Efficacy of prednisone in refractory multiple myeloma and measurement of glucocorticoid receptors. A Southwest Oncology Group study.

Background: Prednisone is an active drug in the treatment of multiple myeloma. The optimal dose, frequency, and role of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in response to prednisone is unknown.

Purpose: The purposes of this study were (1) to estimate the response rate of alternate-day high dose prednisone in patients with relapsing and refractory multiple myeloma; (2) to measure the rate of GR levels; and (3) to correlate the response of prednisone with GR status.

A phase I trial of combination fludarabine monophosphate and chlorambucil in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

Fludarabine monophosphate is a new antimetabolite with demonstrated activity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We have investigated the practicality of utilizing fludarabine in combination with chlorambucil in a disease-specific phase I trial. Twenty-one patients with advanced and previously treated, relapsed or refractory CLL were treated with chlorambucil plus fludarabine.

Analysis of patient age as an independent prognostic factor for survival in a phase III study of cisplatin-cyclophosphamide versus carboplatin-cyclophosphamide in stages III (suboptimal) and IV ovarian cancer. A Southwest Oncology Group study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of age (i.e., less than 65 years or 65 years of age and older) on survival in a recently completed phase III Southwest Oncology Group study in ovarian cancer patients.

Improved therapeutic index of carboplatin plus cyclophosphamide versus cisplatin plus cyclophosphamide: final report by the Southwest Oncology Group of a phase III randomized trial in stages III and IV ovarian cancer.

Purpose: To compare cisplatin-cyclophosphamide versus carboplatin-cyclophosphamide as primary chemotherapy for stage III (suboptimal) and stage IV ovarian cancer.

Patients And Methods: Three hundred forty-two patients were randomly assigned to treatment with six courses of intravenous (i.v.

A phase II evaluation of esorubicin in ovarian cancer. A Southwest Oncology Group study.

Patients with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of metastatic or advanced epithelial-type ovarian carcinoma were entered into a Phase II trial of esorubicin. Eligibility criteria included measurable disease; performance status (SWOG) 0-2; no more than one prior chemotherapeutic regimen; and no prior doxorubicin therapy. The starting esorubicin dosing schedule was 30 mg/m2 every 3 weeks for good risk patients and 25 mg/m2 every 3 weeks for poor risk patients.

Prognostic correlation of plasma cell acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase in multiple myeloma: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

In 1982 a randomized trial of either alternating or syncopated VMCP/VBAP regimens for the treatment of active multiple myeloma was begun (Southwest Oncology Group Study 8229/30). A concurrent investigation was undertaken to evaluate the clinical importance and significance of cytochemically stainable plasma cell acid phosphatase (AP) and beta-glucuronidase enzymes (BG). Pretreatment bone marrow aspirates were available for analysis from 399 patients for AP and 398 patients for BG.

Phase II study of fludarabine phosphate (NSC-312887) in patients with advanced endometrial cancer. A Southwest Oncology Group Study.

Nineteen evaluable patients with advanced endometrial cancer refractory to one prior chemotherapeutic regimen were treated with a 5-day schedule of fludarabine phosphate. No responses were noted. The major toxicity was grade 2 or greater leukopenia in 45% of patients.

Prognostic value of pretreatment serum beta 2 microglobulin in myeloma: a Southwest Oncology Group Study.

Six hundred twelve eligible, previously untreated patients with active multiple myeloma and at least some data available for analysis were entered into a randomized trial (Southwest Oncology Group [SWOG] Phase III myeloma study 8229/30), in which the prognostic significance of pretreatment serum beta 2 microglobulin levels was evaluated. Because there was no statistically significant survival difference between the alternating and syncopating VMCP/VBAP regimens, it was possible to evaluate serum beta 2 microglobulin for the total population all together. The serum beta 2 microglobulin measurements showed the highest significance of any prognostic factor, both in the bivariate and multivariate regression analyses.

Phase II randomized trial of cisplatin chemotherapy regimens in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic squamous cell cancer of the cervix: a Southwest Oncology Group Study.

Cisplatin has proven to be the most active single agent in the treatment of metastatic and recurrent squamous cell cancer of the cervix. In a previous southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) pilot study, the addition of cisplatin to a mitomycin-C, vincristine, and bleomycin (MVB) regimen resulted in a relatively high percentage of durable complete responses. To gain more experience with cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens, the SWOG initiated a phase II randomized trial of cisplatin, mitomycin-C plus cisplatin (MC), and MVB plus cisplatin (MVBC) in 119 patients with advanced squamous cell cancer of the cervix and no prior chemotherapy exposure.