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Biomedical subjects

E Baldini

Publications and source records attributed to E Baldini.

86 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Intraperitoneal infusion of interleukin-2 in patients with malignant ascites: phenotypic and functional effects on tumor-associated lymphocytes.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of intraperitoneal interleukin-2 (IL-2) infusion on tumor-associated lymphocytes (TAL) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in patients with malignant ascites. Six patients were given IL-2 daily for 14 days by intraperitoneal infusion using a delivery system. TAL were isolated from the ascitic fluid before (day 0) and 7 and 14 days after the initiation of the treatment. Although no variations were observed in cytolytic activity and surface markers of PBL, TAL showed an important increase in the percentage of cells expressing IL-2 receptors of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK)-1 antigen (i.e., a surface molecule expressed by human LAK cells and their precursors). Perhaps more importantly, a sharp increase of natural killer activity and the de novo generation of LAK activity were also observed.

Ascites↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A randomized trial of chemotherapy with or without estrogenic recruitment in locally advanced breast cancer. North-West Oncology Group (GONO) Study, Italy.

The present phase III trial was carried out to verify whether a kinetic recruitment induced by low doses of diethylstilbestrol (DES) could increase the killing efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer. One-hundred and seventeen untreated patients with locally advanced breast cancer (stage IIIA/IIIB) were randomized to receive 3 courses of primary chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2 i.v.), doxorubicin (50 mg/m2 i.v.) and fluorouracil (600 mg/m2 i.v.) (CAF) on day 1, or DES-CAF (DES, 1 mg orally days 1-3, CAF on day 4). The courses were repeated every 3 weeks. The patients who achieved an objective response were submitted to mastectomy followed by 3 courses of CAF alternated with 3 courses of CMF (cyclophosphamide, 600 mg/m2 i.v.; methotrexate, 40 mg/m2 i.v.; fluorouracil, 600 mg/m2 i.v.), with or without DES. The two treatment arms were well balanced in terms of clinical and pathologic features. There was no significant difference in response rates to induction chemotherapy between the two treatment arms (objective response rate, 63.3% for CAF and 56.1% for DES-CAF). Median overall survival was 49 and 47 months and median progression-free survival was 24 and 21 months for CAF and DES-CAF patients, respectively. Toxicity was not significantly different in the two groups, with the exception of leukopenia: DES chemotherapy was significantly more myelotoxic than the standard treatment, which resulted in a significant reduction in the actual dose intensity. In spite of the attractive experimental evidence, we conclude that so far there is no clinical advantage in the combination of estrogen and chemotherapy. Further research is needed to investigate different schedules of chemotherapy and hormones, or to test the possibility of combining various mitogens.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical evaluation of CA 15.3 in the post-operative follow-up of breast cancer patients.

In 265 patients operated for breast carcinoma the monoclonal antibody serum test CA 15.3 was predictive of metastatic diffusion of the disease. Its level increased in cases of distant metastasis with no significant difference between multiple and single sites (p = 0.014). The concentration of the marker was higher in 21 (23.8%) patients without nodal involvement and in 19 (27.5%) with nodal involvement (p = 0.193). Our study suggests that CA 15.3 may be an aid in the follow-up of patients with metastatic diffusion of breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic factors in node positive primary breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant CMF.

The influence of various patient and disease-related parameters on survival (S) and disease-free survival (DFS) in 217 node positive primary breast cancer patients treated with surgery followed by adjuvant i.v. cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Five year actuarial S and DFS were 73.3% and 54.8%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that patient age, number of involved axillary nodes and ER status had a significant impact on both S and DFS. PgR positive tumors had improved DFS but no S difference was observed. Menopausal status predicted S but not DFS. Primary tumor size and CMF-induced amenorrhea did not predict disease outcome. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only degree of nodal involvement and PgR status had independent significant impact on prognosis. Both S and DFS are significantly influenced by the number of involved nodes, whereas improved DFS but not S was evident in patients with PgR positive tumors.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alternating chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and cisplatin, etoposide followed by prophylactic cranial and thoracic irradiation for small cell lung cancer (SCLC): long-term results.

Both CAV (Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine) and PE (Cisplatin, Etoposide) are effective and non cross-resistant regimens in the treatment of SCLC. We designed a chemotherapeutic scheme including CAV and PE given in an alternating fashion with the following schedule: Cyclophosphamide 1000 mg/sm, Doxorubicin 50 mg/sm, Vincristine 2 mg/sm I.V. on day 1, alternated every 21 days with Cisplatin 20 mg/sm and Etoposide 80 mg/sm I.V. days 1-5 for 6 cycles. Following chemotherapy (CT) chest radiotherapy in patients (pts) with limited disease (LD) in complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in CRs were given, 32 pts entered the study and 27 were evaluable: 9/27 (33.3%) had CR (8/15 with LD had CR) and 15/27 (55.5%) PR. The overall median survival was 53.71 weeks: 79.85 weeks for LD pts and 32.86 for ED.4 pts with LD were alive after 2 years and 2 of them are still alive without disease at 44 and 46 months. Toxicity was acceptable in all patients. Alternating chemotherapy with CAV and PE followed by chest and brain RT in responding LD pts is an effective induction treatment for SCLC although long-term survival still remains disappointing.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vivo cytokinetic effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in patients with advanced breast carcinoma.

We have investigated the possibility of inducing a kinetic recruitment of breast cancer cells by the in vivo administration of recombinant human Growth Hormone (rhGH). Twelve patients with advanced breast cancer received rhGH i.m. for 2 days immediately before the first course of chemotherapy. The following biological parameters have been evaluated before and 24 hours after rhGH administration: tumor TLI, tumor IGF-I content, serum IGF-I concentration. The mean tumor TLI values before and after rhGH were 1.3% and 2.6% respectively; median tumor and serum IGF-I levels before rhGH were 4.64 ng/g and 63.5 ng/ml respectively; after the administration of rhGH median tumor IGF-I content was 1.8 and median serum IGF-I level was 112 ng/ml. These data suggest that, in vivo, rhGH stimulates breast cancer cell proliferation; the mitogenic stimulus is likely due to the local production of IGF-I induced by rhGH.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A pilot study with cisplatin, ifosfamide and weekly administration of vinorelbine as an outpatient combination chemotherapy for advanced non small cell lung cancer.

The combination of cisplatin and ifosfamide on day 1 plus vinorelbine on day 1 and 8, every 3 weeks, has demostrated a high response rate and acceptable toxicities in advanced NSCLC patients. The present study was designed to analyse the feasibility and toxicity of a similar regimen in which vinorelbine was administered on a weekly basis in advanced NSCLC patients. The scheme consisted of cisplatin 80 mg/sqm, Ifosfamide 3 gr/sqm on day 1, Vinorelbine 25 mg/sqm on days 1,8,15, every 21 days. The dose of vinorelbine on day 8 and 15 was modified according to the absolute neutrophil count. Patients who experienced grade 3-4 neutropenia received G-CSF (300 micrograms total dose subcutaneously) from days 10 to 13 and from 17 to 20 of each subsequent course. Twelve patients were treated and forty-six courses were evaluable for toxicity. Grade 3-4 neutropenia was observed in 63% of the courses; 3 episodes of febrile neutropenia were recorded. Vinorelbine on day 15 was omitted in 52% of the courses and was given at 75% and 50% of the planned dose in 11% and 4.3% respectively; G-CSF was administered in 65.2% of the courses. This scheme is not feasible because of the high incidence of grade 3-4 neutropenia. In spite of G-CSF, the dose of vinorelbine on day 15 was omitted or reduced in the majority of the cycles.

Aged↗