Ligand structure influences autologous downregulation of estrogen receptor-alpha messenger RNA.

A series of A- and D-ring substituted estrogen analogues have been examined for their effect on estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) mRNA downregulation. Recently it has been proposed that ERalpha autologous downregulation occurs via transcriptional repression exerted by the binding of the ERalpha-ligand complex to the 5' region of the coding region of the ERalpha gene. Placement of the phenolic hydroxyl group on the various carbons of the aromatic A-ring of estratrien-17betaol (carbons 1-3) produced ligands which diminished the steady state level of ERalpha mRNA in relation to their affinity for receptor.

Phase I trial of concurrent thoracic radiation and continuous infusion cisplatin and etoposide in stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective: Although combined modality therapy appears to be superior to radiotherapy alone for the treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the optimal treatment regimen has not been determined. We designed this trial to determine the maximal tolerated doses (MTD) of continuous intravenous infusion (CI) cisplatin and etoposide that could be administered concurrently with thoracic irradiation.

Methods: 19 patients with stage IIIA or IIIB NSCLC were treated at three different dose levels of CI cisplatin and etoposide with concurrent single daily fraction thoracic radiotherapy to 4500 cGy.

Radiation therapy for a rising PSA level after radical prostatectomy.

With the advent of routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in asymptomatic young men, the number of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy is increasing. Effective therapy for the 30% to 40% of men who recur following radical prostatectomy is essential. Salvage radiation therapy for a rising serum PSA level is an effective therapy for controlling local recurrence.

Effect of zinc supplementation on incidence of infections and hospital admissions in sickle cell disease (SCD).

Zinc deficiency is a common nutritional problem in adult sickle-cell disease (SCD) patients. Hyperzincuria and increased requirement of zinc due to continued hemolysis in SCD are probable bases for zinc deficiency in these patients. Zinc deficiency affects adversely T-helper1 (TH1) functions and cell mediated immunity and interleukin (IL)-2 production is decreased in zinc deficient subjects.

Lung cancer in patients < 50 years of age: the experience of an academic multidisciplinary program.

Objective: To determine if the clinicopathologic features and survival of lung cancer patients < 50 years of age differ from those of older patients.

Design: Retrospective review of patients with primary bronchogenic carcinoma diagnosed at a single, multidisciplinary cancer center.

Setting: A National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in urban Detroit, MI.

Analysis of chromosome aneuploidy in breast carcinoma progression by using fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Nonisotopic fluorescence in situ hybridization by using alpha satellite centromeric probes was performed on intact tissue sections of 12 breast carcinomas to compare the pattern of aneuploidy for chromosomes 7, 8, 16, and 17 between foci of residual in situ carcinoma (DCIS) and a representative area of coexisting invasive neoplasm. Most hybridization pairs (58%) showed a gain in chromosomal copy number between the in situ and corresponding invasive area, whereas 29% showed no apparent change and 13% showed loss in copy number. Hybridizations from areas of invasive carcinoma, thus, were more frequently characterized by tumor cells with trisomy/polysomy (78%) than neoplastic cells from residual DCIS (50%) and less frequently characterized by cells with monosomy (10% versus 16%, p = 0.

Phase II study of hyperfractionated radiotherapy and concurrent weekly alternating chemotherapy in limited-stage small cell lung cancer.

Despite recent advances in combined modality therapy, long-term survival remains elusive in most patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The present study was designed to evaluate the activity and toxicity of concurrent hyperfractionated radiotherapy and weekly, alternating-regimen chemotherapy. Twelve patients with limited-stage SCLC and performance status 0-1 were treated with cyclophosphamide 250 mg/m2, etoposide 100 mg/m2, and cisplatin 50 mg/m2 on day 1 every other week, and vincristine 1 mg/m2 on day 8, and ifosfamide 1.

Induction of apoptosis by a short-chain neuropeptide analog in small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells express a variety of neuropeptides which act as autocrine growth factors. Although several neuropeptide analogs have been reported to antagonize SCLC proliferation, the development of these compounds has been limited by their low potency and the cytostatic nature of their effects. In the present study we evaluated the cytotoxic activity of four short-chain substance P analogs (NY3460, NY3238[-pHOPA], NY3238[Phe1], NY3238[Lys5]) against a panel of five SCLC cell lines.

Tangential irradiation of the intact breast: the ABC of the technique.

This paper describes in detail the setup of breast irradiation using an isocentric tangential technique. This setup method does not require any special devices or calculations beyond simple arithmetic. We will discuss some of the practical problems and pitfalls that result from the oblique incidence of the radiation beams and the slope of the chest wall and provide possible solutions.