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Biomedical subjects

A Calciati

Publications and source records attributed to A Calciati.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Teniposide (VM26): an effective treatment for brain metastases of small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Despite good results of chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), occurrence of brain metastases is frequent and unaffected by commonly employed antineoplastic drugs, mainly because they do not cross the blood-brain barrier. We treated eight patients with SCLC and cerebral metastases with VM26 at 120 mg/m2 given on days 1, 3 and 5 and repeated every 3 weeks. Two patients achieved complete response and one had partial response. Mean response duration was 8.2 months and survival was more than 9 months in responding patients. Toxicity was manageable. VM26 is an active drug in SCLC with brain metastases.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Load dependence of isovolumic relaxation in intact heart: facts or artifacts?

In order to study the dependence of left ventricular isovolumic relaxation on preload, afterload, and contractility the effects of infusions of dextran, phenylephrine, and dobutamine were assessed in 10 closed chest anaesthetised dogs. Left ventricular and aortic pressures and left ventricular transverse diameters were measured by micromanometers and a tracking sonomicrometer. Isovolumic relaxation time constant was computed by two different single exponential models: the first (time constant Tw) assumed the horizontal asymptote as equal to zero, whereas the second (time constant Tl) assumed a variable asymptote (Pb). To compare the two models, deviations between observed and predicted left ventricular pressures during isovolumic relaxation were computed for both (average squared difference ARSSQw and ARSSQl respectively). Dextran infusion, although increasing preload indexes, did not affect Tl (from 35.1(2.6) to 38.5(2.2) ms, NS) (mean(SEM], but increased Tw (from 28.4(1.4) to 43.8(2.1) ms, p less than 0.001); Pb was significantly shifted upwards (from -7.9(2.4) to +8.2(2.8) mmHg, p less than 0.01). Pb correlated with left ventricular end diastolic pressure (r = 0.71, p less than 0.001). Phenylephrine infusion did not change the isovolumic relaxation time course (Tl from 36.4(3.5) to 46.2(6.1) ms, NS; Tw from 26.8(2.3) to 30.5(2.9) ms, NS) nor Pb (from -9.5(2.3) to -18.7(2.3) mmHg, NS). Dobutamine infusion reduced Tl significantly (from 35.2(3.7) to 25.3(2) ms, p less than 0.02), but did not change Tw (from 27.5(2.4) to 23.3(3.3) ms, NS) nor Pb (from -7.3(1.8) to -8.8(2.3) mmHg, NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1988

High doses of methylprednisolone with or without alizapride in the prevention of cisplatin-induced emesis. A randomized, double-blind, crossover study.

Fifty-two patients undergoing cisplatin-based chemotherapy were randomized to receive either methylprednisolone (1 g i.v. total dose) or methylprednisolone plus alizapride (800 mg i.v. total dose). Major control of emesis (less than or equal to 2 episodes of vomiting) was obtained in around 30% of patients, without difference between the two arms. The combined antiemetic treatment was significantly superior to the single drug in reducing overall number of vomiting episodes (median: 4 vs. 9), duration of emesis (2 vs. 4.5 h), and number of patients with more than 5 vomiting episodes (47.5 vs. 62.5%). Both antiemetic regimens had negligible toxicity and were easily given to outpatients. Though some superiority has been shown for the combined treatment over the single methylprednisolone, the low rate of major control of emesis does not warrant for further investigations of this regimen in cisplatin-treatment patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Teniposide in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer: the influence of prior chemotherapy.

Fifty patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) were treated with teniposide (VM26) at 120 to 140 mg/m2 on days 1, 3, and 5, every 3 weeks. Twelve elderly patients were administered VM26 as first-line chemotherapy. Toxicity was manageable, myelosuppression being the major side effect. The response rate for 44 evaluable patients was 34% (36% for untreated patients); the median durations of response and survival were 230 and 208 days, respectively. Effectiveness of prior chemotherapy and time from last administration was found to influence patient response to VM26: 42% of responders to prior chemotherapy responded to VM26, while 0% of the nonresponders to prior chemotherapy responded to the new agent. Moreover, among patients pretreated with chemotherapy, 12% of those recently treated (earlier chemotherapy ending less than or equal to 2.6 months before administration of VM26) responded to VM26, while 53% of patients treated greater than 2.6 months earlier responded to VM26. Survival was influenced by common prognostic factors (performance status, weight loss, prior chemotherapy exposure). Selection of pretreated patients by type of exposure to prior chemotherapy may help in the testing of new drugs in this disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Phase II trial of weekly 4-epi-doxorubicin (epirubicin) in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

We tested 4'-epi-doxorubicin (epirubicin) in 15 patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck which progressed after conventional therapy. The drug was administered at the dosage of 25 mg/m2 weekly. No patient achieved objective response. Toxicity was minimal. Epirubicin given at this dose and schedule revealed no activity in heavily pretreated patients with cancer of the head and neck.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1987

Fast microcomputer-based multipurpose filtering routine.

In order to perform high-speed digital signal filtering or differentiating at reduced costs, we developed a 68000 assembler routine which runs on a 68000 coprocessor card in an Apple II computer. It achieves a remarkable saving of computational time and may also be used directly with any 68000-based microcomputer.

Microcomputers↗
PubMed1987

4'-Deoxydoxorubicin, an inactive drug in small cell lung cancer.

4'-Deoxydoxorubicin was administered to 27 evaluable patients with refractory small cell lung cancer. The majority of patients had good initial performance status. One third of patients had never received doxorubicin before, and six had received a single drug alone (VM26). Myelotoxicity was the main side-effect, and leukopenia was more pronounced than thrombocytopenia. No significant non-hematological toxicity occurred apart from skin necrosis due to drug extravasation in one case. Two patients had partial response (7.4%; 95% confidence limits 0-17.2%). The low response rate obtained in this good prognosis patient population does not support further testing of this drug in small cell lung cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Reinduction chemotherapy in small cell lung cancer.

Thirteen patients with small cell lung cancer responsive to chemotherapy were retreated with the same regimen at relapse, after a median off-therapy time of 30 weeks. Fifty per cent responded to reinduction; two out of six patients who had complete response to first chemotherapy obtained complete response again at reinduction. Median survival time from start of any therapy was 94 weeks. When induction chemotherapy has been effective and of short duration, the same chemotherapy can be attempted again with success at relapse and it may affect survival of relapsing small cell lung cancer patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1987

Mitomycin C, vinblastine and cis-platin. An active regimen for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Fifty-one patients with advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma were treated with a combination of mitomycin C, vinblastine and cis-platin (MVP). Most cycles were given on an out-patient basis. Major side effects were leukopenia and peripheral neurotoxicity; one patient died of sepsis while leukopenic. In 44 evaluable patients the response rate was 50%, with one complete response. Overall median survival time was 280 days and median duration of responses was 232 days. A better performance status, disease limited to one hemithorax and no prior exposure to chemotherapy positively influenced the survival. MVP is an effective chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer and further experience with this combination is warranted.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Bone marrow evaluation in small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Bone marrow examination is commonly included in the staging of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). We reviewed marrow samples of 103 patients. Marrow examination was mainly performed by unilateral or bilateral biopsy of iliac crests, using a Jamshidi needle. Only 6 of 97 evaluable cases (6.2 per cent) were positive for marrow metastases at staging, and in 3 cases (3 per cent) bone marrow was the only metastatic site. No focal metastases were found in additional sections made from the blocks of negative samples. In our experience bone marrow biopsy was of little value in staging SCLC. Bilateral biopsy plus aspirate, with the addition of more sophisticated staining techniques might, however, provide a higher yield of positive marrow involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Teniposide in the treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Forty-two evaluable patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer were treated with teniposide at doses ranging from 120 to 180 mg/m2 on Days 1, 3, and 5 every 3 weeks. Thirty-four patients had received no prior chemotherapy. Seven partial responses (16.6%) were obtained (21% in chemotherapy-unexposed patients). Marrow toxicity was the main side effect: life-threatening thrombocytopenia occurred in 9% of patients, and 54.5% experienced severe leukopenia. Teniposide, at the doses and schedule employed, has moderate activity in non-small cell lung cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and fatal pulmonary toxicity to combination chemotherapy containing bleomycin: a case report.

Bleomycin is a commonly used anticancer agent; in particular, it is an important component of multidrug regimens for germ cell tumors. The limiting toxicity of bleomycin is represented by pulmonary interstitial fibrosis; mucocutaneous side effects are common, but usually harmless. We describe a case of a young girl who developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome following the administration of bleomycin in a three-drug regimen containing vinblastine and cisplatin, for an ovarian immature teratoma. The severe dermatologic toxicity was kept under control, but a rapidly evolving respiratory insufficiency due to lung fibrosis developed soon thereafter and caused the patient's death.

Adolescent↗