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Biomedical subjects

B G Leventhal

Publications and source records attributed to B G Leventhal.

113 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Impaired Lymphocyte Transformation and Delayed Hypersensitivity in Sjögren's Syndrome.

In vitro lymphocyte transformation in response to phytohemagglutinin and streptolysin O and in vivo skin sensitization to 2,4-dinitrochloro-benzene has been studied in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and in normal controls of comparable age and sex. Both the in vivo and in vitro responses were significantly impaired in the Sjögren's patients as compared to the controls. This lack of response to mitogenic agents is probably due to an intrinsic defect in the lymphocytes rather than to a serum factor. The abnormalities were less marked in patients whose disease was localized to the parotid and lacrimal glands than in those with generalized disease, i.e., with complicating rheumatoid arthritis or pseudolymphoma.

Journal Article↗

Intensive alternating drug pairs after remission induction for treatment of infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A Pediatric Oncology Group Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: Infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) often enter remission; however, they have a high rate of relapse. To prevent relapse, infants' tolerance of and benefits from early intensive rotating drug pairs as part of therapy were studied. METHODS: After prednisone, vincristine, asparaginase, and daunorubicin induction, 12 intensive treatments (ABACABACABAC) were administered in 30 weeks: A, intermediate dose methotrexate (MTX) and intermediate dose mercaptopurine (MP); B, cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) and daunorubicin (DNR); C, Ara-C and teniposide (VM-26). Triple intrathecal chemotherapy (Ara-C, MTX, and hydrocortisone) was administered for central nervous system prophylaxis. Continuation therapy consisted of weekly MTX and daily MP for a total of 130 weeks of continuous complete remission. RESULTS: Thirty-three infants (1 year old or younger) with newly diagnosed ALL were treated. Two infants did not respond to induction, 1 died from sepsis during continuation, 1 received a bone marrow transplant, and 24 relapsed. Median time to relapse was 39 weeks. The event-free survival rate at 5 years was 17% (standard error +/- 7.7%). The most significant toxicities occurred during intensification and included fever-neutropenia and bacterial sepsis. CONCLUSION: Although early intensive rotating therapy is tolerable, the relapse-free survival rate remains poor for infants treated with the schedule on this protocol.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Use of new biologic agents in clinical immunotherapy.

The design of trials with biologic agents must consider the precise definition of the material (which may vary significantly from one laboratory to another), the formulation of the material (which is often complicated by its physical properties), and the safety of the material. To date, efficacy (defined as complete disappearance of tumor) has been seen only in situations associated with direct contact between tumor cells and adjuvant. The assessment of partial efficacy is most difficult because we know little about the basic changes which must be provoked in the immune system to achieve effective immunotherapy. It is only through careful assessment of the immune reaction of patients to their tumors and the correlation of these reactions with clinical response that we can hope to increase our knowledge.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗