Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas: a case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas is a rare tumor with poor prognosis and is found in the literature only as case reports. The optimal management course remains poorly defined. We present a case of primary basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the pancreas metastatic to the liver, which was treated with surgery and systemic chemotherapy.

Preoperative downstaging chemoradiation with concurrent irinotecan and capecitabine in MRI-defined locally advanced rectal cancer: a phase I trial (NWCOG-2).

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of neoadjuvant chemoradiation using radiotherapy (RT) combined with concurrent capecitabine and irinotecan for locally advanced rectal cancer before surgery.

Methods: Forty-six patients were recruited and treated on the basis that MRI scanning had shown poor-risk tumours with threatening (< or =1 mm) or involvement of the mesorectal fascia. Conformal RT was given using 3 or 4 fields at daily fractions of 1.

Irinotecan+5-fluorouracil with concomitant pre-operative radiotherapy in locally advanced non-resectable rectal cancer: a phase I/II study.

In the UK, 10% of patients diagnosed with rectal cancer have inoperable disease at presentation. This study ascertained whether the resectability rate of inoperable locally advanced rectal cancer was improved by administration of intravenous irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and pelvic radiotherapy. During phase I of the trial (n=12), the dose of irinotecan was escalated in three-patient cohorts from 50 mg m(-2) to 60 mg m(-2) to 70 mg m(-2) to identify the maximum tolerated dose (60 mg m(-2)).

Weekly fluorouracil at 425 mg/m(2) plus low-dose folinic acid for 24 weeks as adjuvant treatment for colorectal cancer: assessment of toxicity and delivery.

Aims: To assess the toxicity and dose delivery of weekly bolus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) at 425 mg/m(2) plus low-dose folinic acid (FA) for 24 weeks as adjuvant treatment for colorectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Data were collected on toxicity and dose reductions, stoppages, delays and intensity from 100 consecutive patients receiving this adjuvant regimen after curative surgery.

Results: There were 53 men and 47 women (median age: 64 and 65 years, respectively); 77 patients with colon cancer and 23 with cancer of the rectum; 34 patients with Dukes' stage B and 66 with Dukes' stage C.

Microvascular free tissue transfer in the management of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue during pregnancy.

We describe a 36-year-old patient with a stage III carcinoma (pT2N1M0) of the tongue that presented in the second trimester of pregnancy. It was treated by primary excision and reconstruction with a free flap. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of successful microvascular free tissue transfer for oral cancer during pregnancy.

Massive haemoptysis death and other morbidity associated with high dose rate intraluminal radiotherapy for carcinoma of the bronchus.

Four hundred and six patients with primary non-small cell carcinoma of the bronchus causing symptoms due to endobronchial disease, were treated with intraluminal radiotherapy (ILT) using the microSelectron-HDR machine at the Christie Hospital, Manchester, between April 1988 and the end of 1992. An assessment of morbidity for this treatment is presented, particularly with regard to the risk factors and causes of massive haemoptysis death. The most common early side-effect was a mild transient exacerbation of cough which usually resolved within 2-3 weeks.

Long-term survival and symptom palliation in small primary bronchial carcinomas following treatment with intraluminal radiotherapy alone.

Between April 1988 and December 1992, 37 patients with small, previously unirradiated, primary non-small cell carcinomas of the bronchus causing symptoms due to endobronchial disease were treated at the Christie Hospital, Manchester, with a single fraction of high dose rate intraluminal radiotherapy (ILT) using the microSelectron-HDR machine. Small primary (SP) lesions were defined as being less than 2 cm in diameter in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the iridium-192 treatment source. Fifteen patients (41%) were treated to a dose of 15 Gy and 22 patients (59%) to 20 Gy at a distance of 1 cm from the central axis of the source.

High dose rate intraluminal radiotherapy for carcinoma of the bronchus: outcome of treatment of 406 patients.

In April 1988 the Christie Hospital started using the microSelectron-HDR machine to deliver intraluminal radiotherapy (ILT) to inoperable bronchial carcinomas causing symptoms due to endobronchial disease. Results of treatment in the first 406 patients with primary non-small-cell carcinoma are presented. Three main categories of patient were defined.

The effect of pH on the early interaction of West Nile virus with P388D1 cells.

The interaction between the flavivirus West Nile virus (WNV) and cells of the mouse macrophage-like cell line, P388D1, was assayed by transmission electron microscopy, by following the association of [35S]methionine-labelled virus with cells, and by using a radiobinding assay with an 125I-labelled F(ab')2 fragment of a monoclonal antibody directed against the major viral envelope surface glycoprotein. Using electron microscopy, both fusion and endocytosis were observed at pH 6.4, but at pH 8.

The uncoating and infectivity of the flavivirus West Nile on interaction with cells: effects of pH and ammonium chloride.

Infectivity of the West Nile virus (WNV; Flaviviridae) was inactivated on exposure for brief periods (90 s) to pH 6.6 and below. This inactivation was not due to decreased interaction between cells and acid-treated virus.

A new mechanism for the neutralization of enveloped viruses by antiviral antibody.

Despite the considerable research that has been carried out into viral neutralization by antiviral antibody, its mechanisms remain poorly understood. Cases have been reported in which antiviral antibody can inhibit viral replication without inhibiting the binding and uptake of virus by susceptible cells. It has been shown that many enveloped viruses enter their target cells by endocytosis and are subsequently located in cellular compartments of increasing acidity.

pH-dependent fusion between the flavivirus West Nile and liposomal model membranes.

Fusion between purified [3H]uridine-labelled West Nile virus (WNV) particles and liposomes containing RNase, was assayed by degradation of the viral RNA to trichloroacetic acid-soluble material. Fusion of virus with liposomes containing phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingomyelin and cholesterol (at a molar ratio of 1:1:1:1.5) was found to be dependent on pH with maximum fusion occurring at pH 6.

Flavivirus infection enhancement in macrophages: an electron microscopic study of viral cellular entry.

The mode of entry of West Nile virus (WNV) into the macrophage-like cell line P388D1 was investigated at the electron microscopical level using synchronized infections. The presence of the antiviral monoclonal antibody F6/16A at a concentration that enhanced viral attachment to P388D1 cells ninefold made no difference to the entry pathway of WNV. In both the absence and presence of F6/16A the initial uptake of single viral particles was mediated by coated pits, and started within 30 s of warming the cells to 37 degrees C.

Flavivirus infection enhancement in macrophages: radioactive and biological studies on the effect of antibody on viral fate.

35S-labelled West Nile virus was used in radioactive binding, internalization and degradation studies in the macrophage cell line P388D1 in the absence or presence of various concentrations of antiviral antibody. Proteases were used to help distinguish between intracellular and extracellular (bound) virus. It was found that the enhancement in viral infectivity that occurs in the presence of subneutralizing concentrations of antiviral antibody was caused by (i) increased binding of virus to the cell surface and (ii) a higher specific infectivity of antibody-opsonized virus particles, apparently due to a more efficient internalization process.