Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D Generali

Publications and source records attributed to D Generali.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Weekly cisplatin plus capecitabine in metastatic breast cancer patients heavily pretreated with both anthracycline and taxanes.

BACKGROUND: Treating patients with anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated metastatic breast cancer is challenging. This study evaluated the activity and safety of a combination of cisplatin and capecitabine in this setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine consecutive patients entered the study. All had experienced failures or relapse after previous treatment with anthracyclines and taxanes plus/minus other chemotherapeutic regimens. The present treatment consisted of intravenous cisplatin 20 mg/m(2) every week for 6 weeks, followed by 1 week of rest, and oral capecitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) twice daily for 14 days, followed by a 7-day rest period. RESULTS: Objective response was obtained in 14 patients (35.9%), with complete remission in 3 (7.7%). Median time to progression was 5.2 months and survival was 10.9 months in the entire population and 8.7 and 16.5 months in the responding patients, respectively. The dose-limiting toxicity for the regimen was leucopenia, while gastrointestinal discomfort was the most frequent cause of capecitabine reduction or delay. CONCLUSIONS: The cisplatin and capecitabine combination regimen is active and manageable. It seems to be non-cross resistant to anthracyclines and taxanes.

Anthracyclines↗
PubMed2005

Paclitaxel, vinorelbine and 5-fluorouracil in breast cancer patients pretreated with adjuvant anthracyclines.

We investigated the activity and toxicity of a combination of vinorelbine (VNB), paclitaxel (PTX) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) continuous infusion administered as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer patients pretreated with adjuvant anthracyclines. A total of 61 patients received a regimen consisting of VNB 25 mg m(-2) on days 1 and 15, PTX 60 mg m(-2) on days 1, 8 and 15 and continuous infusion of 5-FU at 200 mg m(-2) every day. Cycles were repeated every 28 days. Disease response was evaluated by both RECIST and World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Objective responses were recorded in 39 of 61 patients (64.0%) assessed by WHO and in 36 of 50 patients (72.0%) assessable by RECIST criteria. Complete remission occurred in 15 (24.6%) and 14 patients (28.0%), respectively. The median time to progression and overall survival of entire population was 10.6 and 27.3 months, respectively, and median duration of complete response was 14.8 months. The dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression (leucopenia grade 3/4 in 52.5% of patients). Grade 3/4 nonhaematologic toxicities included mucositis/diarrhoea in 13.1%, skin in 3.3% and cardiac in 1.6% of patients. Grade 2/3 neurotoxicity was observed in five patients (7.2%). The VNB, PTX and 5-FU continuous infusion combination regimen was active and manageable. Complete responses were frequent and durable.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity of the single agent epirubicin versus epirubicin plus tamoxifen as primary chemotherapy in human breast cancer: a single-institution phase III trial.

This study was designed to address whether simultaneous primary chemo-hormonal therapy provides additional activity compared with chemotherapy alone in breast cancer patients with operable or locally advanced disease. Between January 1997 and January 2002, 211 consecutive patients with T2-4, N0-1, M0 breast cancer were randomized to receive either epirubicin alone (EPI) or epirubicin plus tamoxifen (EPI-TAM). Ki67 expression was evaluated immunohistochemically in tumor specimens obtained before chemotherapy by incision biopsy and at definitive surgery. Tumor shrinkage of >50% was obtained in 76% of patients randomized in the EPI arm and 81.9% of patients randomized in the EPI-TAM arm (not significant). The corresponding rates of clinical and pathological complete response were 20.2 and 21.9% (not significant), and 4.8 and 6.7% (not significant), respectively. Pathologically complete response was more frequently observed in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative (ER-) tumors (P=0.04) and correlated with elevated baseline Ki67 expression (P<0.01). Both EPI and EPI-TAM treatments resulted in a significant reduction in Ki67 expression, either in overall patients (P=0.000) or in patients with ER+ breast cancer (P=0.000). The reduction in Ki67 immunostaining in the EPI-TAM arm was greater than in the EPI arm, leading to a lower Ki67 expression at post-operative residual histology (P=0.0041). The addition of tamoxifen to epirubicin chemotherapy did not improve the response rate but led to a significantly higher reduction in the Ki67 expression. Baseline elevated Ki67 expression and the ER- status were both associated with a greater chance of obtaining a pathological complete response at residual histology.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Pretreatment haemoglobin levels significantly predict the tumour response to primary chemotherapy in human breast cancer.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether tumour response to primary chemotherapy in human breast cancer is influenced by baseline haemoglobin (Hb) status. A total of 157 patients with T2-4, N0-1 M0 breast cancer were treated with chemotherapy consisting of either the CMF regimen + tamoxifen (the first 76 cases) or the single-agent epirubicin (the subsequent 81) before definitive surgery. In total, 144 patients were fully assessable. Ki67, p53, bcl-2, c-erbB2, steroid hormone receptor, and microvessel density were evaluated immunohistochemically in tumour specimens obtained before chemotherapy and at surgery. Tumour shrinkage >50% occurred in 72.1% of patients. Responding patients had higher baseline Hb levels and red blood cell counts than nonresponders (P<0.01 and <0.003, respectively). The distribution of disease response according to increasing cutoffs of baseline Hb status showed that from 12.5 mg l(-1) onwards, patients with Hb levels above the cutoff obtained a greater response rate than those with lower Hb values. The difference attained the statistical significance at 12.5 (76.1 vs 59.5%, P<0.05) and 13.0 g/dl(-1) (81.0 vs 57.6%, P<0.002) cutoffs, respectively. The predictive role of Hb levels was maintained in multivariate analysis after adjustment for clinical and biological characteristics and treatment regimen. Patients with baseline Hb levels </=13 g dl(-1) showed a lower treatment-induced reduction in Ki67 expression (P<0.04) and a higher Ki67 expression at postoperative evaluation (P<0.02) than their counterparts. In conclusion, low Hb levels may negatively influence the response rate of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Inhibition of antiproliferative activity could be a possible mechanism.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2001

Relationship between tumour shrinkage and reduction in Ki67 expression after primary chemotherapy in human breast cancer.

The association between tumour shrinkage and reduction in kinetic cell activity after primary chemotherapy in human breast cancer is still a matter of investigation. 157 patients with T2-4, N0-1, M0 breast cancer received primary chemotherapy consisting of either the CMF regimen + tamoxifen (the first consecutive 76 cases) or the single agent epirubicin (the subsequent 81). Ki67, p53, bcl2, c-erbB2 and steroid hormone receptors were evaluated immunohistochemically in tumour specimens obtained before chemotherapy and at surgery. Tumour shrinkage of >50% occurred in 72.4% of patients. Ki67 expression significantly decreased after chemotherapy; the reduction correlated with tumour response in both univariate (P < 0.005) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.02). p53, bcl-2, steroid hormone receptor and c-erbB2 immunostaining were scarcely affected. Baseline bcl2 (P = 0.04) and c-erbB2 (P = 0.02) were directly and inversely associated with the reduction in Ki67 immunostaining, respectively. Baseline p53 expression (P < 0.01) was directly related with Ki67 expression at residual tumour, whereas oestrogen receptor expression (P < 0.001) was inversely related. Ki67 at residual tumour was a better predictor for relapse-free survival (RFS) than baseline Ki67. Clinical response (P < 0.03), but not reduction in Ki67, was a significant independent predictor for disease recurrence. Chemotherapy was found to induce tumour shrinkage and to reduce the number of cells in the cell cycle, but its effect on tumour biology/aggressiveness was minimal. Reduction in Ki67 immunostaining correlated with clinical response but failed to be related to RFS. Ki67 expression at surgery rather than at baseline appears to be a better predictor for disease relapse.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Not Available].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

History, Modern 1601-↗