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Biomedical subjects

A Kramar

Publications and source records attributed to A Kramar.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

A phase II trial of early intensive chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of poor prognosis non seminomatous germ cell tumors.

Twenty-eight patients with poor prognosis, advanced metastatic non seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) were treated with early high dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) rescue. The primary tumor was testicular in 19 patients and extragonadal in nine patients. For 19 patients with a testicular primary, the median probability of complete remission (CR) was 0.05 according to our prognostic mathematical model based on pretreatment levels of serum HCG and AFP. The same prognostic model was used for extragonadal primaries. Treatment consisted of two cycles of a modified double dose of cisplatin, vinblastine, bleomycin, VP-16 regimen (mPVeBV) followed by a high dose cisplatin-etoposide-cyclophosphamide regimen (PEC) followed by ABMT. Of the 28 patients, 17 (61%) achieved CR, one of which was surgical CR (sCR), five died of rapidly progressive disease early during the first cycle of mPVeBV, two had treatment-related deaths, three did not respond and one patient refused treatment. Of the 17 patients initially in CR, three relapsed after 4, 4 and 7 months respectively and have subsequently died. Two other patients died while still in CR: one committed suicide and one died of an infectious complication due to transfusion-related AIDS. Twelve patients are alive in CR after a median follow-up of 66 months (range 7-72 months). The non parametric 3-year survival rate is 40%. To demonstrate the effect of intensive chemotherapy with ABMT, a randomized multicenter French study was set up to evaluate the PVeBV regimen with or without high dose treatment and ABMT in poor risk NSGCT patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1991

Randomised EORTC head and neck cooperative group trial of preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy in oral cavity and oropharynx carcinoma.

Between February 1978 and January 1984, 222 eligible patients were randomised in a multicentre trial of preoperative intra-arterial chemotherapy in the treatment of oral cavity and oropharynx carcinoma. Patients were randomised between either surgery or preoperative chemotherapy. This latter group received vincristine and bleomycin for 12 days. Patients were stratified according to the primary site: floor of the mouth (FM) versus posterior oral cavity or oropharynx (POC) and institution. The FM group received postoperative radiotherapy depending upon quality of the margins and lymph-node pathological involvement, when it was systematically applied in the POC group. Tumour regression after chemotherapy either complete (CR) or partial (PR greater than 50%) was observed in 48% in the FM group and 41% in the POC group, and lymph-node regression (CR + PR) was respectively 15% and 23%. Some discrepancies appeared between clinical regression and pathological response, and the number of cases without histological response was clearly higher than the number of cases without clinical response. The overall survival showed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.048) between FM and POC groups. In the FM group, median survival in the chemotherapy arm was estimated at 7 years compared with 3 years in the surgery arm. In the POC group, median survival was estimated at 3 years in both treatment arms. Chemotherapy lowered the uncontrolled disease and local recurrence in the FM group. These differences do not exist in the POC group, which may be due to the systematically postoperative radiotherapy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1990

Prevalence of cervical dysplasia and HPV infection according to sexual behavior.

A total of 165 uterine cervix smears from Venezuelan women were examined by cytological techniques to identify malignant and pre-malignant cervical changes, as well as to identify Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) DNA types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33 and 35. Of these smears, 119 were from nonmonogamous women who participated in a cervical carcinoma screening program. In this group, HPV-DNA was detected by hybridization in 42 samples (35%) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in 13 (11%). Forty-six monogamous aboriginal women were similarly studied and no evidence of abnormal cytology or HPV-DNA of the types studied here was found in any of them. In the non-monogamous group, age at first sexual intercourse and index of parity were not associated with cervical HPV infection and/or CIN. The rates of HPV infection, however, were significantly different between the two populations, confirming that sexual behavior involving multiple partners is associated with HPV infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Platinum-based combination chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a randomized phase II trial of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B.

The Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) utilized a randomized phase II trial design to evaluate two cisplatin-based combinations, cisplatin-cytarabine (ara-C) and cisplatin-vinblastine, in 151 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Patients entered on study had not received prior chemotherapy. Platinum doses were equivalent in the two treatment programs. The total response rate (complete response, partial response, regression of evaluable disease) for the cisplatin-vinblastine group was 22% (16/73). Failure-free survival at six months for this group was 41%, survival at six months was 63%. The cisplatin-ara-C group had a total response rate of 9% (7/78) with a failure-free survival at six months of 14% and a six-month survival of 47%. Severe or life-threatening toxicity was seen in 73% of cisplatin-vinblastine cases and 59% of cisplatin-ara-C patients. Neither regimen is active enough to warrant designation as "standard therapy" for patients with M1 disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Prognostic factors in advanced nonseminomatous testicular cancer. A multivariate logistic regression analysis.

In order to define prognostic factors for advanced stage of nonseminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) of the testis, the authors reviewed 84 patients treated from 1978 through 1985. The survival rate was 51% at 3 years. Patients with elevated seric levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and/or alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), or the presence of an abdominal mass had significantly worse survival. Only HCG and AFP levels retained their significance when multivariate Cox analysis was performed. The probability that a patient achieves a complete remission (CR) was assessed by a function of certain patient characteristics using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. The significant variables were a function of HCG and AFP values. Since both variables are related to the CR rate and survival the authors define the obtention of a CR as a unique outcome of interest. The probability of a CR greater than 70% adequately separates the patients into two prognostic subgroups. This model currently is being used to enrole NSGCT patients in a prospective modulated clinical trial according to these prognostic factors.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1988

Salvage chemotherapy in refractory germ cell tumors with etoposide (VP-16) plus ifosfamide plus high-dose cisplatin. A VIhP regimen.

Twenty-one patients with refractory germ cell tumors were treated with a chemotherapy regimen containing etoposide (VP-16) (V) 75 mg/m2/day (days 1 to 5), ifosfamide (I) 3 g/m2/day (days 1 and 2) with a 3.6 g/m2 continuous infusion of mesna (days 1 and 2), and high-dose cisplatin (hP) 40 mg/m2/day (days 1 to 5). The regimen is referred to as VIhP. Nineteen patients were evaluable for response. Five patients (26%) achieved a complete remission (CR) with chemotherapy alone, and three patients (16%) were in CR after resection of a residual nonactive tumoral mass (e.g., necrosis and/or fibrosis and/or mature teratoma). Thus, a CR rate of 42% was achieved with the entire treatment. One additional patient achieved a CR after resection of active, bulky disease. Among the responders, five patients (26%) are still alive and disease-free at 6, 7, 9, 10, and 18 months after the initiation of the chemotherapy. However, toxicity was heavy in this protocol. Severe myelosuppression was observed with 10 patients developing aplasia and six patients documented sepsis. Reversible Grade 1-2 renal toxicity occurred in 14 patients, and Grade 2-3 peripheral neurotoxicity occurred in six patients. No hemorrhagic cystitis was encountered. We conclude that a VIhP regimen seems to play an active role in refractory germ cell tumors although the presence of high-dose cisplatin in this regimen does not appear to improve the response rate compared to that of a conventional dose. Toxicity, which seems to be enhanced, is currently under detailed study. However, the contribution of VIhP as a first-line treatment in poor prognosis, advanced germ cell tumors warrants further study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Prognostic factors of adult metastatic renal carcinoma: a multivariate analysis.

In order to define the prognostic factors for metastatic renal carcinoma, we reviewed 134 patients who were treated from 1971 through 1986. Survival rates were 72, 45, and 25% at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively. Seventeen variables were tested using the logrank test. Improved survival was correlated with normal performance status, and an absence of fever, weight loss, hepatic metastasis, and lung metastasis (or, if lung metastasis was present, less than 2 cm in diameter and limited to one site), a disease-free interval, sedimentation rate less than 100, and renal surgery. Four variables retained significant value in the multivariate analysis: hepatic metastasis, lung metastasis, disease-free interval, and a variable combining the sedimentation rate and the weight loss (SWRL). Predictive survival rates based on these variables were calculated from the Cox model. Six subgroups of patients were identified. The estimation of survival is clinically of value for future phase II trials of chemotherapy in patients with adult metastatic renal carcinoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

A phase II study of spirogermanium in advanced large bowel cancer. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study.

Thirty-one patients with advanced colorectal cancer were entered on a phase II study of spirogermanium. Of these, 23 received the drug at the dose of 200 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) over 4 h twice a week every week. There were 2 (9%) partial responses. No complete responses were noted. Two life-threatening and six severe toxicities were observed. We conclude that this drug has some activity against colorectal cancer.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Aminothiadiazole (NSC #4728) in patients with advanced colon cancer. A phase II study of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.

The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) studied 29 patients with advanced measurable colon cancer who were treated with Aminothiadiazole (NSC #4728) 125 mg/m2 intravenously. Allopurinol 300 mg daily was taken by all patients during treatment. Three patients (12%) demonstrated partial responses on this regimen. Hematologic toxicity did not occur. Gastrointestinal toxicity was severe in 16% of patients and consisted primarily of vomiting and diarrhea. No life-threatening toxicity was encountered. A lack of appreciable toxicity together with the few responses seen suggest that further studies at higher dose may be indicated.

Allopurinol↗
PubMed1987

Is it useful to remove internal mammary nodes in operable breast cancer?

From September 1963 to January 1968, 243 patients with operable breast cancer were included in a randomized trial designed to compare classical radical mastectomy (RM) alone to extended mastectomy (EM), i.e. RM plus internal mammary dissection. One hundred and seventeen patients underwent RM, and 126 EM. After a mean follow-up time of 20 years, no significant differences were observed between the two treatment groups for overall survival, for the relapse-free survival rates, nor for distant metastasis, or locoregional recurrence rates. From a regression model, significant interactions were found between risk of death, EM, and both nodal status and site of the tumour. When compared to RM, EM significantly decreased the risk of death for patients with internal or medial tumour and positive axillary nodes (P = 0.05). No beneficial effect of EM was observed for any of the other patients; on the contrary, EM seemed to increase the risk of death for the patients with external tumour and negative axillary nodes (P = 0.07).

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1986

Uterine sarcomas: prognostic factors and treatment modalities--study on 209 patients.

From 1975 through 1984, 209 patients with uterine sarcoma were studied in 13 French Oncology Centers. The repartition by histologic type was the following: 31 patients (PTS) with carcinosarcoma, 81 PTS with leiomyosarcoma, 27 PTS with endometrial sarcoma, and 70 PTS with mullerian mixed mesodermal tumors. The prognostic factors were analyzed using a proportional hazards regression model. The analysis of prognostic factors showed that the strongest predictor of survival was menopausal status. Increasing tumor extension and increasing WHO performance status were also prognostic factors. No significant difference for prognosis was found for histologic type, operability, and age. Two-year survival rates were quite similar for all kinds of treatment, being 58.0% for tumor extension T1 and T2 and 35.0% for tumor extension T3 and T4. Two-year recurrence and metastasis rates were lower with addition of radiotherapy or chemotherapy without any benefit on survival rates. Cooperative clinical trials including all histologic types should be undertaken to improve survival. The knowledge of the prognostic factors can help to refine treatment comparisons.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1986

Consumption of dairy produce and alcohol in a case-control study of breast cancer.

In a French case-control study of 1,010 breast cancer cases and 1,950 controls with nonmalignant diseases, the risk of breast cancer was found to be positively associated with frequency of cheese consumption and the level of fat in the milk consumed. A negative association was found between frequency of yogurt consumption and the risk of breast cancer. No association was found between the consumption of butter and the risk of breast cancer. The positive association between a daily consumption of alcohol and the risk of breast cancer previously reported was not altered when dairy produce consumption was taken into account.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Reirradiation of head and neck cancers. Presentation of 35 cases treated at the Gustave Roussy Institute.

Thirty-five patients with head and neck carcinoma who were treated with a second course of radiotherapy for relapse or second malignancy at the Gustave Roussy Institute between 1973 and 1981 were studied. Immediate tolerance for total doses greater than 80 Gy was good but 37% of patients suffered from delayed necrosis or bleeding. Thirty-seven per cent of lesions were locally controlled at 3 months and 97% of patients showed a subjective improvement to reirradiation. Local control was obtained in 53% of patients aged between 40 and 60 as compared to 19% in other age groups, and was obtained in 55% of patients who were irradiated a second time with a dose greater than 60 Gy as compared to 8% for doses less than 60 Gy. Complications following treatment are related to failure to achieve local control and area of second treatment fields greater than 70 cm2. Survival was worse for those patients having an interval less than 12 months between the two courses of irradiation and those in whom local control was not achieved.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Alcoholic beverage consumption and breast cancer in a French case-control study.

An association between regular consumption of alcohol with meals and breast cancer was found in a French case-control study of 1,010 women with breast cancer and 1,950 women with nonmalignant diseases; the relative risk of breast cancer for women drinking alcoholic beverages with meals compared with nondrinkers was 1.47 (p = 10(-4) allowing for classical risk factors. Detailed information on alcohol consumption was obtained from 500 cases and 945 controls; the risks of breast cancer were greater for women drinking beer and for women drinking wine than for nondrinkers, and the risk increased with the amount of beer, of wine and of total alcohol consumption in grams of pure alcohol.

Alcohol Drinking↗