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Biomedical subjects

A Manganelli

Publications and source records attributed to A Manganelli.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Weekly epirubicin in patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer.

The aim of this study was to investigate the benefit of weekly epirubicin in the treatment of metastatic hormone-resistant prostate cancer. One hundred and forty-eight patients with metastatic hormone-resistant prostate cancer received weekly 30-min intravenous infusions of epirubicin 30 mg m(2) of body surface area. The primary end-point was palliative response, defined as a reduction in pain intensity and an improvement in performance status. The secondary end-points were the duration of the palliative response, quality of life and survival. Fifty-seven (44%) of the 131 evaluable patients met the primary criterion of palliative response after six treatment cycles and 73 (56%) after 12 cycles; the median duration of the response was 9 months (range 1-11). The median global quality of life improved in 52% of the patients after six cycles and in 68% after 12 cycles. The 12- and 18-month survival rates were respectively 56 and 31%, with a median survival of 13+ months (range 1-36). The treatment was well tolerated: grade 3 neutropenia was observed in 8% of the patients, grade 3 anaemia in 7%, and grade 3 thrombocytopenia in 3%. None of the patients developed grade 4 toxicity or congestive heart failure. Weekly epirubicin chemotherapy can lead to a rapid and lasting palliative result in patients with metastatic HRPC, and have a positive effect on the quality of life and survival.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Effects of complete androgen blockade for 12 and 24 weeks on the pathological stage and resection margin status of prostate cancer.

AIMS: To compare the pathological stage and surgical margin status in patients undergoing either immediate radical prostatectomy or 12 and 24 weeks of neoadjuvant hormonal treatment (NHT) in a prospective, randomised study. METHODS: Whole mount sections of 393 radical prostatectomy specimens were evaluated: 128 patients had immediate surgery, 143 were treated for 12 weeks and 122 for 24 weeks with complete androgen blockade. RESULTS: Histopathology revealed organ confined tumours in 40.4% of patients with clinical stage B disease in the immediate surgery group, whereas 12 and 24 weeks of NHT increased the number of organ confined tumours to 54.6% and 64.8%, respectively. Among patients with clinical stage C tumours, pathological staging found organ confined disease in 10.4%, 31.4%, and 61.2% in the immediate surgery, 12 weeks of NHT, and 24 weeks of NHT groups, respectively. Preoperative NHT caused a significant decrease in positive margins both in patients with clinical stage B and C disease. The extent of margin involvement was not influenced by preoperative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant androgenic suppression is effective in reducing both the pathological stage and the positive margin rate in patients with stage B and C prostatic cancer undergoing radical surgery. Some beneficial effects are evident in those patients treated for 24 weeks, and it is reasonable to assume that the optimal duration of NHT is longer than three months.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Urinary calcium excretion in the monitoring of bone metastases from prostatic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: One of the greatest problems in treating advanced prostate carcinoma is monitoring the therapeutic response of bone metastases. As these metastases are mainly osteosclerotic and lead to a markedly increased bone calcium requirement that may give rise to an imbalance in calcium homeostasis, the authors investigated whether changes in calcium balance may be useful for evaluating the response of bone metastases to treatment. METHODS: The study involved 268 prostate carcinoma patients: 142 in Stage A-C2 (International Union Against Cancer [UICC] staging system, 1998) and 126 with bone metastases who had failed to respond to hormone therapy and were receiving chemotherapy. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), calcium and phosphate metabolism, and the main bone formation and resorption markers were all assayed before and after chemotherapy. RESULTS: Of the 126 patients on chemotherapy, 109 were evaluable for response: according to standard criteria, 25 (23%) had improved, 43 (39.5%) were unchanged, and 41 (37.5%) had worsened. All of the improved and 16 unchanged patients had decreased PSA and bone marker levels and an increased urinary calcium/creatinine ratio (UCa/Cr); the worsened patients had increased PSA and bone marker levels, and their UCa/Cr decreased after only six treatment cycles. PSA and UCa/Cr were the biochemical markers whose changes showed the best agreement with treatment response. CONCLUSION: The UCa/Cr ratio was the most useful marker of clinical response, mainly because it allowed an early decision to continue or to stop chemotherapy. Furthermore, UCa/Cr and PSA together identified a percentage of patients classified as unchanged on the basis of standard criteria but whose condition had actually improved.

Bone Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

Mechanical response to electrical field stimulation of rat, guinea-pig, monkey and human detrusor muscle: a comparative study.

The aim of the present investigation was to compare mechanical responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS), as well as cholinergic and non-adrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) neurotransmission in guinea-pig, rat, monkey and human detrusor muscle strips. Responses to EFS (0.05, 0.5 and 1 ms pulse duration, 50 V, 1-15 Hz) of guinea-pig, rat, monkey and human detrusor muscle strips were recorded isometrically before and after blockade of muscarinic receptors and/or P2-purinoreceptors, as well as after desensitisation of P2-purinoceptors or blockade of the nerve impulse propagation. Single pulses of 0.05 ms duration elicited responses, in either guinea-pig or rat detrusor strips, which were abolished by tetrodotoxin (TTX), thus suggesting their neurogenic nature. In monkey and human detrusor strips, however, the same single pulses were not sufficient to generate contractile responses. The response of either rat or guinea-pig strips to single pulses of 0.5 ms and 1 ms duration was mainly myogenic in nature. While in rat and guinea-pig strips the neurogenic response was only partly reduced in the presence of atropine, in monkey and human strips it was abolished. In the presence of atropine, while suramin only partially reduced the EFS response either in rat or guinea-pig detrusor strips, a complete alpha,beta-methyleneATP-sensitive response was evident in guinea-pig detrusor strips. This suggests the involvement of other transmitter(s) beyond ATP in the NANC response of rat detrusor strips.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Effect of complete androgen blockade on pathologic stage and resection margin status of prostate cancer: progress pathology report of the Italian PROSIT study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the pathologic stage and surgical margin status in patients undergoing either immediate radical prostatectomy or surgery preceded by 3 or 6 months of neoadjuvant hormonal treatment (NHT) in a prospective, randomized study. METHODS: Four hundred thirty-one men with prostate cancer were enrolled in the Italian randomized prospective PROSIT study. The whole-mount sectioning technique was used. By May 1999, the reviewing pathologist had evaluated 303 specimens. One hundred seven patients were untreated before radical prostatectomy was performed, and 114 and 82 patients had been treated for 3 and 6 months, respectively, with complete androgen blockade. RESULTS: Pathologic organ-confined disease was found in 63.1% of patients with clinical Stage B disease treated with 6 months of NHT versus 61.0% after 3 months of NHT and 37.5% after immediate surgery. Among patients with clinical Stage C tumors, pathologic staging found organ-confined disease in 62.5%, 32.1%, and 11.1% of patients after 6 months of NHT, 3 months of NHT, and immediate surgery, respectively. Three months of NHT produced a significant increase in negative margins both in patients with clinical Stage B and C disease, but the addition of another 3 months of treatment did not significantly improve this result. A lower degree of benefit was observed in patients with clinical Stage C tumors. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that complete androgen blockade before surgery is beneficial in men with clinical Stage B disease. The effects are more pronounced after 6 months of NHT than after 3 months.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Selection, establishment and characterization of cell lines derived from a chemically-induced rat mammary heterogeneous tumor, by flow cytometry, transmission electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry.

In order to isolate, characterize, and establish culture cell lines with different diagnostic and prognostic significance, derived from multiclonal neoplasms, a ductal infiltrating mammary tumor was induced in rats by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. Clones with different DNA/protein content, being the DI of 1.16, 1.30, and 1.60, respectively, were observed in the primary tumor. Biparametric flow cytometry suggested that the clone at 1.30 is made up of two subpopulations with different protein and slightly different DNA contents. The culture, after a few passages, exhibited the presence of aneuploid cells and the absence of diploid components, demonstrating that only tumor cells survived. The limiting dilution method gave rise to four lines with DI of 1.16, 1.25, 1.30, and 1.50; a mean chromosome number of 45, 46, 47, and 88, respectively; and different morphological and ultrastructural features. These characteristics were stable during the experimental procedure, that is, for about 20 passages. Conversely, the detection of cytoskeletal proteins indicated that the tumor epithelial cells underwent early dedifferentiation into sarcoma-like cells showing markers of stromal cell type and thus exhibiting phenotypic instability in vitro, a feature reported in many advanced human breast cancers in vivo. In conclusion, this cellular model represents the in vivo situation and appears suitable for in vitro studies of tumor cell characteristics and might be used to predict clinical behavior.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Comparison between a cisplatin-containing regimen and a carboplatin-containing regimen for recurrent or metastatic bladder cancer patients. A randomized phase II study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this randomized Phase II study was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of a cisplatin-containing regimen with a carboplatin-containing regimen for patients with recurrent or metastatic bladder cancer. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with recurrent or metastatic bladder cancer were randomized to receive M-VEC treatment (methotrexate, vinblastine, epirubicin, and cisplatin) (n = 29) or M-VECa treatment (methotrexate, vinblastine, epirubicin, and carboplatin) (n = 28). The chemotherapy was scheduled at 28-day intervals. Recombinant granulocyte-colony stimulating factors were administered daily when the absolute neutrophil count fell below 1000/mm3. The development of ototoxicity was evaluated by measuring auditory brain stem response. RESULTS: Of the 57 entered patients, 55 were evaluable for response and toxicity. The overall clinical response rate was 71% (with 25% complete responses) in the M-VEC group and 41% (with 11% complete responses) in the M-VECa group (P = 0.04). M-VEC chemotherapy was associated with more pronounced side effects. There was a statistically significant difference between M-VEC and M-VECa in terms of gastrointestinal toxicity (P = 0.04), nephrotoxicity (P = 0.03), and neurotoxicity (P = 0.02) during Cycle 3 of chemotherapy. Leukopenia and neutropenia were worse in the M-VECa arm, but not significantly so (P = 0.4). Ototoxicity was only detected in one of seven examined M-VEC patients after two cycles of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: M-VECa has a low level of gastrointestinal, renal, neurologic, and otologic toxicity, but is apparently less effective than M-VEC in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic bladder cancer. However, a larger, randomized Phase III trial is needed to confirm these results.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Local staging of prostate carcinoma with endorectal coil MRI: correlation with whole-mount radical prostatectomy specimens.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of endorectal coil MRI in the local staging of prostate carcinoma. A total of 73 patients with biopsy-proven prostate carcinoma were examined at 0.5 T prior being submitted to radical prostatectomy. The gold standard was provided in all patients by findings at whole-mount sectioning of the surgical specimens. At pathology 28 patients had stage T2, 30 had stage T3a/b, and 15 had stage T3c lesions. Overall accuracy of endorectal coil MRI in defining local tumor stage was 82% (60 of 73 patients). Of 73 patients, 5 (7%) were underestimated and 8 (11%) overestimated. The sensitivity and the specificity of endorectal coil MRI in diagnosing capsular penetration were 95% and 82%, respectively. Seminal vesicle invasion was detected with 80% sensitivity and 93% specificity. Our data indicate that endorectal coil MRI is an accurate method for local staging of prostate cancer.

Humans↗
PubMed1993

Weekly chemotherapy in advanced prostatic cancer.

This randomised phase II study was performed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of a weekly chemotherapy regimen in advanced prostatic carcinoma patients (stage D2) refractory to hormonal therapy. Seventy-two cases were studied: they were randomised in a 2:1 ratio to receive either epirubicin (30 mg m-2 weekly) or doxorubicin (25 mg m-2 weekly); 48 patients received epirubicin and 24 received doxorubicin. After 12 courses of chemotherapy, the 45 evaluable patients in the epirubicin arm showed a response rate of 37.7% and the 21 evaluable patients in the doxorubicin arm showed a response rate of 33.3% (P = 0.51). Pain intensity, bone and prostatic tumour markers rapidly and significantly decreased in responders. An improvement in physical symptoms, functional conditions and in emotional well-being was observed in the majority of the treated patients. The histological analysis of bone metastases, performed before and after 12 courses of chemotherapy showed a significant reduction in neoplastic invasion and in new bone formation in responders. Cardiac performance worsened in five out of 45 patients and in ten out of 21 during the first 12 courses of epirubicin or doxorubicin respectively (P = 0.014). The median survival was 12.5 months in the epirubicin arm and 8.0 months in the doxorubicin arm (P = 0.042). Our data indicate that in advanced prostatic carcinoma, a weekly epirubicin regimen may give rapid palliative results, similar to that of doxorubicin, but with less side-effects.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1985

A new technique for insertion of the Tenckhoff peritoneal dialysis catheter.

To eliminate the discomfort caused by surgical methods and the risks involved using the trocar, for 1 year we have been using a new technique for insertion of peritoneal catheters (PC). We devised a steel instrument, vaguely resembling a rhinoscope, composed of two semicones. The handles are connected by a screw to permit dilatation of the semicones. After local anesthesia, an introducer needle is inserted into the peritoneal cavity. A guide-wire is passed through the needle which is then withdrawn and our instrument is placed around the guide and gently pushed into the peritoneal cavity. The guide is now removed and squeezing the handles of the instrument we introduce the PC up to 2 cm beyond the first Dacron cuff. When the catheter is in place, the instrument is removed and a subcutaneous tunnel may be made. We have used this method for 25 patients. 14 were new cases while 11 underwent PC repositioning. For all patients this new method proved to be excellent with practically no leakage and PC were utilized immediately or after only 24 h. We emphasize the brief time for PC insertion, the minimum discomfort and the simplicity of the technique.

Catheterization↗