Management of asymptomatic patients on follow-up for ovarian cancer with rising CA-125 concentrations.

In most women who have been treated for ovarian cancer, serum concentrations of the tumour marker cancer antigen (CA)-125 will serially rise on average 4 months before they develop symptoms or signs of relapse. Whether or not early reintroduction of treatment produces a survival advantage is unclear. Although a high chance exists that tumour response can be achieved with chemotherapy, complete cure of these patients is rarely possible.

Phase II trial of vinorelbine and oxaliplatin as first-line therapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Unlabelled: The incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is increasing. Treatment options are limited, although recently published data have offered cause for optimism. We reported a response rate of 24% with low toxicity for single agent vinorelbine.

Hypoxia-induced pathways in breast cancer.

Hypoxia, a common consequence of solid tumor growth in breast cancer and other cancers, serves to propagate a cascade of molecular pathways which include angiogenesis, glycolysis, and alterations in microenvironmental pH. Hypoxia-inducible factors, heterodimeric DNA binding complexes composed of two subunits, provide critical regulation of this response. This review presents a synopsis of the genes induced by hypoxia in the context of breast cancer and discusses how upregulation of HIF-1 activity, and the homologous factor HIF-2, are not only fundamental for the adaptation to hypoxia but also may be critical for tumor progression.

Phase 1/2 study of synchronous methotrexate, cisplatin, vincristine (MOPq10) chemotherapy and radiation for patients with locally advanced bladder cancer.

Purpose: This phase 1/2 study was designed to test toxicity and effectiveness of combination chemotherapy and concurrent radiotherapy in the treatment of invasive bladder cancer.

Methods And Materials: 17 patients with localised muscle-invasive bladder cancer, clinical stages T2-3 N0, M0, were treated with a radiotherapy schedule of 55 Gy in 20 fractions over 4 weeks restricted to the bladder and 3 cycles of concurrent dose-intensive combination chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin 60 mg/m(2), vincristine 2 mg and methotrexate 60 mg/m(2) at 10-day intervals (MOPq10).

Results: The complete remission rate following MOPq10 chemotherapy and radiotherapy was 88% as assessed at first cystoscopy with 82% remaining disease-free at 1 year.

Accidental subarachnoid injection of gallamine. A case report.

Accidental subarachnoid injection of gallamine and its management is reported. Methods of identification of the drug in the c.s.