Clinical, histopathologic, molecular and therapeutic findings in a large kindred with gastrointestinal stromal tumor.

Germ-line mutations in the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase gene have been described in families with a propensity to develop gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). There is limited information from large kindreds regarding median age at diagnosis, detailed histopathology, clinical effects of imatinib therapy and chromosomal abnormalities of the KIT gene. We identified a large kindred with GIST.

Procoagulant synthesis by exudate and bone marrow-derived murine macrophages.

Murine exudate macrophages elicited by different stimuli and bone marrow-derived macrophages were studied for their capacity to synthesize factor VII and tissue factor in a basal state and on stimulation with endotoxin (LPS). Cells elicited by different stimuli varied in their production of both factors. Thioglycollate-elicited cells generally made more, but not significantly more, tissue factor in response to endotoxin than cells elicited with periodate or streptococci.

Long-term effects of cancer chemotherapy.

As the management of advanced malignancy with multimodality therapy becomes more successful, the practicing general physician will see more chronic and late sequelae of therapy in the cured cancer patient. Chronic or late toxicities may occur in nearly every organ system. This article has briefly described the most common late toxicities that the practicing internist, pediatrician, family physician, and obstetrician/gynecologist should be prepared to recognize.

Dermatomyositis associated with malignant melanoma. Parallel occurrence, remission, and relapse of the two processes in a patient.

A young man developed metastatic melanoma and classic dermatomyositis. With surgical extirpation of the metastasis, the dermatomyositis resolved only to reccur simultaneously with further metastases. To the knowledge of the authors, this case represents the best-documented parallel course of these two diseases.