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Biomedical subjects

A C Carter

Publications and source records attributed to A C Carter.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The effects of patient delay and symptoms other than a lump on survival in breast cancer.

This study examined the relationship of survival in breast cancer to delay in treatment and the presence of symptoms. Data were analyzed for 664 patients diagnosed from 1975-1979 at 15 hospitals in Brooklyn, New York. Pathologic risk factors were defined to classify breast cancer into less (Class I) or more aggressive (Class III) disease. Delay and survival were not significantly associated among women diagnosed with Class I disease. Delay was associated with poor survival for patients with Class III disease (P less than 0.001). The presence of symptoms other than a lump was associated with longer delay and poorer survival in patients with Class II and III disease. These findings suggest that the contradictory relationship between delay and survival reported by others may be due to variations in the proportions of slow and fast growing tumors and that fast growing tumors must be treated promptly for a successful result.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Five-day storage of platelet concentrates. II. In-vivo studies.

Following in-vitro tests it was concluded that platelet concentrates stored for 5 days at 22 degrees C in polyolefin containers, coded PL732, should be as effective in clinical practice as similar concentrates stored in the standard PVC containers, coded PL146. These predictions have been confirmed by the following in-vivo tests; autologous survival studies in volunteers, determination of recovery, platelet increment calculations 1 and 24 h after transfusion and clinical appraisal after transfusion of haemorrhagic thrombocytopenic patients. Bacteriological cultures of the platelet concentrates were sterile after storage for more than 5 days. It can be concluded that the 5-day storage of platelet concentrates in these containers is a practical proposition.

Blood↗

Pulmonary cryptococcosis and Cushing's syndrome.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis occurred in two patients with Cushing's syndrome, both of whom were successfully treated with amphotericin B and flucytosine. Excessive endogenous production of corticosteroids may have predisposed these patients to the development of opportunistic infection. Persons with Cushing's syndrome and a pulmonary infiltrate should be examined for infection with Cryptococcus neoformans in addition to an examination for ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone production.

Adult↗

Breast self-examination, relationship to stage of breast cancer at diagnosis.

Data from 996 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients indicated a highly significant association (P less than 0.001) between periodic breast self-examination (BSE) and pathologic stage of disease. Among women reporting periodic BSE, only small differences were noted between those who practiced monthly and those who practiced several times annually. Average maximum tumor diameter and frequency of tumors 4 cm or large were significantly greater (P less than 0.01) among women who rarely or never practiced BSE. The relationship between the periodic practice of BSE and the diagnosis of breast cancer before nodal involvement was present even after controlling for a wide variety of variables. The regular practice of BSE was associated with a one-third reduction in the likelihood of diagnosis of disease with positive nodes. This difference translated to a 10% decline in five-year mortality for whites and a 17% decline for nonwhites.

Adult↗

CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen): its role as a marker in the management of cancer.

A consensus Development Conference was held at the National Institutes of Health from September 29-October 1, 1980, to address issues concerning the role of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as a marker in the management of cancer. The panel met following formal presentations and discussions to assess the issues based on the evidence presented. These issues included: Should CEA be used in cancer screening? Is CEA helpful in cancer diagnosis? What does CEA tell about the extent and outcome of cancer? Is CEA helpful in monitoring cancer treatment? This paper constitutes the panel's findings.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗

Immunohistologic and histochemical methods for detection of steroid binding in breast cancer: a reappraisal.

A review of the current literature on immunohistologic and histochemical methods for the detection of steroid hormone binding sites in breast cancer, reveals that many, but not all of the criteria for establishing hormone-receptor binding interactions have been met. These include tissue specificity, binding between labeled ligands and soluble receptor in vitro, correlations between histochemical and biochemical assays, as well as between histologic procedures and tumor hormone responsiveness. However, histochemical binding phenomena do not appear to follow classical receptor dogma in regard to the concentration of ligand required, or specificity of binding as determined by competitive binding assays. It is concluded that these histologic techniques may be detecting classical receptor that may be reacting differently than would be expected from biochemical analyses, Types II and III binding sites, and/or organelle and membrane-bound receptors. Certainly no current method should presently be promoted as a laboratory method for the detection of classical receptor. New immunocytologic procedures employing specific, antireceptor sera currently under development, may obviate many of the criticisms leveled against earlier methods.

Binding Sites↗

Histochemical assay of estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancer: correlation with biochemical assays and patients' response to endocrine therapies.

Estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptors were assayed by histochemistry in primary, recurrent, and metastatic breast cancer. Ligand-conjugates composed of 17 beta-estradiol and 11 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone covalently linked to bovine serum albumin and labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate were employed. Results were compared with those of conventional biochemical receptor assays and correlated for ER in 92% of 314 tumors and for PgR in 86% of 86 specimens. ER and PgR determinations by both assay systems were correlated with clinical response to various endocrine therapies in 40 women with Stage IV disease. The histochemical assay enabled successful prediction of response in 80% of cases including eight which could not be fully analyzed biochemically.

Adrenalectomy↗

Identification of breast cancer patients with high risk of early recurrence after radical mastectomy: III. Steroid hormones measured in urine.

The relationship of the levels of selected urinary steroid metabolites to breast cancer recurrence after radical mastectomy was studied. An analysis of variance of the steroid measurements suggested that the measurements standardized to per gram of creatinine were the appropriate measure to use in exploring these relationships. No significant associations were found for premenopausal patients; however, for postmenopausal patients, low levels of total 17-ketosteroids were associated with a reduced two-year recurrence-free rate whereas low and high levels of OHA and high levels of total estrogens were associated a relatively low high two-year recurrence-free rate. Because of the large number of significance tests performed and the lack of consistent patterns, it is questionable whether the observed associations are of any importance. Including these steroid quantities in a multivariate regression model along with previously determined clinical prognostic factors indicated that the steroid determinations were the least important variables and did not make a significant contribution to the fit of the model.

17-Ketosteroids↗

Histochemical analyses of steroid hormone receptors in breast and prostatic carcinoma.

Histochemical analyses estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptors in breast cancer were statistically correlated with results of dextran-coated charcoal (DDC) and sucrose gradient assays. Correlated for ER was 91% of 363 cases, and for PgR 88% of 255 specimens. Breast cancer ER/PgR positivity by histochemistry correlated with a favorable clinical response to endocrine therapies in 72% of 25 cases, while ER/PgR negativity correlated with a lack of response in 96% of 22 cases with Stage IV disease. Nuclear ER/PgR correlated with a poor response to therapy in 8 of 12 patients. An in vitro technique to detect nuclear translocation of ER revealed two groups of ER positive cases, with 11 of 17 exhibiting translocation and 6 not displaying translocation. In prostatic carcinoma, 72% of 65 men were positive for ER and/or androgen receptor. Comparison of specimens obtained without and with electrocautery revealed a preponderance of nuclear binding in the latter, suggesting heat-induced nuclear translocation of receptor. coumestrol, a naturally fluorescent, entirely unaltered estrogen was also used for histochemical detection of ER. Results correlated with ER by DCC in 87% of 61 breast cancers. Coumestrol was additionally used to visually observe receptor and nuclear translocation of ER in intact whole cells in culture.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Relationship of race to functional status among breast cancer patients after curative surgery.

Analysis of functional status of 197 breast cancer patients three years after curative radical mastectomy indicated a cumulative probability of disability of 25%, whereas the probability of death regardless of prior disability was 40.5%. Analysis of functional status by patient characteristics indicated that nonwhites were three times more likely than whites to experience disability (P less than 0.01) as defined in terms of their ability to carry on normal activities without assistance. Although whites and nonwhites were diagnosed at similar stages of disease, nonwhites were, on average, eight years younger than whites. They younger age may reflect a larger proportion of premenopausal breast cancer cases among nonwhites, which if associated with more rapidly progressing disease could account for their poorer prognosis. Alternatively there may exist factors in the nonwhites' social or economic environment that limited the ability of the family to care for the patient at home. These data reaffirm the need to monitor closely breast cancer patients to diagnose acute complications, and they indicate that most patients can resume normal activities shortly after curative surgery.

Activities of Daily Living↗

An improved histochemical method for detection of estrogen receptors in mammary cancer. Comparison with biochemical assay.

Unselected, consecutive surgical specimens from 120 women with cancer of the breast were subjected to histochemical assay for the presence of estrogen receptor. A fluoresceinated bovine serum albumin--estradiol conjugate was used that linked estradiol at position 17 and contained 5 mol fluorescein and 4 mol estradiol per mole albumin. Simultaneous competitive binding studies with excess unlabeled estradiol, diethylstilbestrol, and the antiestrogen nitromifene citrate were regularly performed. Results were compared to those obtained by the dextran-coated charcoal receptor assay. Three specimens were necrotic, two others thawed, and two lacked sufficient protein for biochemical analysis. One specimen did not contain tumor, and 11 others showed a predominant nuclear staining pattern. Nuclear receptor was not assayed biochemically. Comparison of results in the remaining 101 cases showed agreement in 92%. The precedure is uncomplicated, economical, and could be performed and interpreted in any pathology laboratory.

Binding Sites↗