Adenovirus-mediated p53 gene transfer in sequence with cisplatin to tumors of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: To determine the safety and tolerability of adenovirus-mediated p53 (Adp53) gene transfer in sequence with cisplatin when given by intratumor injection in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with advanced NSCLC and abnormal p53 function were enrolled onto cohorts receiving escalating dose levels of Adp53 (1 x 10(6) to 1 x 10(11) plaque-forming units [PFU]). Patients were administered intravenous cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) on day 1 and study vector on day 4 for a total of up to six courses (28 days per course).

Selective hepatic arterial chemoembolization for liver metastases in patients with carcinoid tumor or islet cell carcinoma.

In many patients with liver metastases from islet cell or carcinoid tumor, vascular occlusion therapy results in prolonged control of symptoms, biochemical response, and also tumor regression. Chemotherapy agents were added to evaluate safety and efficacy. Thirty patients with liver metastases from either carcinoid tumor or islet cell carcinoma underwent sequential vascular occlusion therapy combined with chemotherapeutic agents.

Adenovirus-mediated p53 gene transfer in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Preclinical studies in animal models have demonstrated tumor regression following intratumoral administration of an adenovirus vector containing wild-type p53 complementary DNA (Ad-p53). Therefore, in a phase I clinical trial, we administered Ad-p53 to 28 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose cancers had progressed on conventional treatments.

Methods: Patients received up to six, monthly intratumoral injections of Ad-p53 by use of computed tomography-guided percutaneous fine-needle injection (23 patients) or bronchoscopy (five patients).

Outpatient management of pneumothorax after fine-needle aspiration: economic advantages for the hospital and patient.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and cost savings of outpatient management of post-fine-needle aspiration (FNA) pneumothoraces with small-caliber catheters.

Materials And Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical and hospital billing records from 74 patients with enlarging or symptomatic post-FNA pneumothoraces treated with a small-caliber catheter. Forty patients (54%) were treated on an outpatient basis, 17 patients (23%) were treated on an inpatient basis, and 17 patients (23%) were monitored overnight in the emergency department.

A large lumen microcatheter for oncologic intervention.

A newly available Tracker-325 catheter (Target Therapeutics, Fremont, CA, USA), modified from the Tracker-18 catheter, has the same outer diameter but a larger lumen. This catheter was used in 15 patients during a 7-month period for superselective arterial catheterization when conventional catheters could not be placed successfully. Arterial embolization (n = 7), chemoembolization (n = 5), and chemoinfusion (n = 3), were performed.