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Biomedical subjects

E Benhamou

Publications and source records attributed to E Benhamou.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Ovarian function after autologous bone marrow transplantation in childhood: high-dose busulfan is a major cause of ovarian failure.

We studied pubertal status and ovarian function in 21 girls aged 11-21 years who had earlier received 1.2-13 years (median 7 years) high-dose chemotherapy and autologous BMT without TBI for malignant tumors. Ten of them were given busulfan (600 mg/m2) and melphalan (140 mg/m2) with or without cyclophosphamide (3.6 g/m2). Eleven others did not receive busulfan. Twelve girls (57%) had clinical and hormonal evidence of ovarian failure. Among nine others who had completed normal puberty, six had normal gonadotropin levels, one had elevated gonadotropin levels and two had gonadotropin levels at the upper limit of normal. The 10 girls who received busulfan all developed severe and persistent ovarian failure. High-dose busulfan is therefore a major cause of ovarian failure even when given in the prepubertal period. These findings emphasize the need for long-term endocrine follow-up of these patients in order to initiate estrogen replacement therapy.

Adolescent↗

Peripheral blood stem cell and bone marrow transplantation for solid tumors and lymphomas: hematologic recovery and costs. A randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation has an advantage over autologous bone marrow transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To compare the hematologic recovery and costs associated with PBSC transplantation with those associated with autologous bone marrow transplantation in patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy for solid tumors or lymphomas. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial. SETTING: French Federation of Cancer Centers, located in cancer facilities or public hospitals with transplantation units. PATIENTS: Children and adults with solid tumors or lymphomas who were candidates for high-dose chemotherapy. INTERVENTIONS: Bone marrow or filgrastim-mobilized PBSCs. MEASUREMENT: The major and point was the duration of thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 50 x 10(9)/L). An economic evaluation of both types of transplantation was done prospectively to measure costs and cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: 129 patients entered the trial; 64 had PBSC transplantation, and 65 had bone marrow transplantation. The median duration of thrombocytopenia was 16 days in the PBSC group and 35 days in the bone marrow group (P < 0.001). All of the other clinical end points studied (time to last platelet transfusion, duration of granulocytopenia, number of transfusion episodes, and duration of hospitalization) favored PBSC transplantation. A cost analysis showed that total cost was decreased by 17% in adults and 29% in children with PBSC transplantation; thus, PBSC transplantation was clearly more cost-effective than bone marrow transplantation for both platelet and granulocyte recovery. CONCLUSION: Transplantation of PBSCs is associated with more rapid hematologic recovery than is bone marrow transplantation after high-dose chemotherapy for solid tumors or lymphomas. Furthermore, global costs are lower and cost-effectiveness ratios are better with PBSC transplantation.

Adolescent↗

Stage IV neuroblastoma in patients over 1 year of age at diagnosis: consolidation of poor responders with combined busulfan, cyclophosphamide and melphalan followed by in vitro mafosfamide-purged autologous bone marrow transplantation.

In an attempt to improve the poor prognosis of poor responders with stage IV neuroblastoma, a new combined high-dose chemotherapy conditioning regimen was tested. Event-free and overall survival, as well as the incidence of complications, were analysed. Twenty-five children aged 12-146 months at diagnosis entered this study. All were in complete remission (CR) at the time of high-dose chemotherapy. Two or three different protocols had been necessary for them to achieve a CR. High-dose chemotherapy consisted of a combination of busulfan (600 mg/m2), cyclophosphamide (4400 mg/m2) and melphalan (140 mg/m2). It was followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). The bone marrow graft was purged in vitro with mafosfamide. The probability of event-free survival (EFS) at 5 years post-ABMT was 34%, compared to < 8% in a historical series. Toxicity was severe but manageable and 2 complication-related deaths were observed. Veno-occlusive disease was the most frequent extrahaematopoietic complication encountered, but its outcome was always favourable. By using a very intensive conditioning regimen consisting of a combination of three alkylating agents, the EFS of poor responders with metastatic neuroblastoma was improved and similar to that of good responders. When compared with a previously published similar series of patients, the improvement in survival appears probably related to intensification of the conditioning regimen.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Basal cell carcinoma of the face: surgery or radiotherapy? Results of a randomized study.

Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are very frequent cutaneous cancers, often located on the face. Cure rates with surgery and radiotherapy are high, but these treatments have never been compared prospectively. A randomized trial was initiated in 1982 to compare surgery and radiotherapy in the treatment of primary BCC of the face measuring less than 4 cm. The primary end point was the failure rate (persistent or recurrent disease) after 4 years of follow-up. The secondary end point was the cosmetic results assessed by the patient, the dermatologist and three persons not involved in the trial. In the course of the trial, 347 patients were treated. Of the 174 patients in the surgery group, 71% had local anaesthesia and 91% frozen section examination. Of the 173 patients in the radiotherapy group, 55% were treated with interstitial brachytherapy, 33% with contactherapy and 12% with conventional radiotherapy. The 4-year actuarial failure rate (95% CI) was 0.7% (0.1-3.9%) in the surgery group compared with 7.5% (4.2-13.1%) in the radiotherapy group (log-rank P = 0.003). The cosmetic results assessed by four of the five judges were significantly better after surgery than after radiotherapy. Eighty-seven per cent of the surgery-treated patients and 69% of the radiation-treated patients considered the cosmetic result as good (P < 0.01). Thus, in the treatment of BCC of the face of less than 4 cm in diameter, surgery should be preferred to radiotherapy.

Adult↗

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease after myeloablative treatment and bone marrow transplantation: value of gray-scale and Doppler US in 100 patients.

PURPOSE: To determine the value of gray-scale ultrasonography (US) and Doppler US in the prediction, diagnosis, and prognostic assessment of hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients (median age, 22 years; range, 18 months to 59 years) receiving total body irradiation or busulfan therapy as intensive treatment before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were studied prospectively. Each patient underwent gray-scale and Doppler US examination before transplantation and weekly thereafter while hospitalized (about four examinations per patient). Seven gray-scale morphologic criteria and seven Doppler criteria were studied, yielding three individual scores: gray-scale score, Doppler score, and total score. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients developed HVOD; nine of these patients died. Positive predictive values of the 14 criteria were 31%-95%, and negative predictive values were 85%-96%. The three scores correlated with the clinical diagnosis of HVOD. Depending on the cutoff value, the positive predictive value of the total score was 44%-89% and the negative predictive value was 91%-98%. The gray-scale and Doppler criteria differed significantly between patients with HVOD and those with graft-versus-host disease of the liver (P = 10(-4)). CONCLUSION: Even if there is overlap in findings between patients with and those without HVOD, gray-scale and Doppler US are valid for positive and differential diagnosis and have predictive and prognostic relevance.

Adult↗

Autologous peripheral blood progenitor-cell transplantation versus autologous bone marrow transplantation for adults and children with non-leukaemic malignant disease. A randomised economic study.

A prospective economic analysis of autologous peripheral blood progenitor-cell transplantation (PBPCT) versus autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was performed as part of a randomised clinical trial in 129 patient (adults and children) receiving high-dosage antineoplastic therapy for non-leukaemic malignant disease. The clinical assessment criteria of the study were the duration of thrombocytopenia (< 30 x 10(9)/L and < 50 x 10(9)/L) and of granulocytopenia (< 0.5 x 10(9)/L). The cost of medical resources used was the primary economic end-point. We also calculated the cost of reaching 2 specified haematological end-points: platelet recovery (> or = 30 x 10(9)/L) and granulocyte recovery (> or = 0.5 x 10(9)/L). Economic analysis was based on the French hospital perspective. Haematological recovery was significantly quicker in the PBPCT groups (adults and children) compared with the BMT groups. Economic study revealed that the PBPCT groups were clearly less expensive with regard to costs up to discharge (17% decrease of the average cost for adults and 29% for children) and those associated with specified haematological end-points. The global costs of PBPCT were lower than those of BMT for these adult and paediatric populations. Economic arguments can clearly be added to clinical ones in favour of substitution of autologous PBPCT for autologous BMT. International comparisons of diffusion of PBPCT could be of great interest for further economic research into medical innovation.

Adult↗

[High-dose chemotherapy in relapse of medulloblastoma in young children].

Craniospinal irradiation is the gold standard treatment used in non metastatic medulloblastoma as prophylaxis against central nervous system (CNS) metastases. However, given the severe late effects caused by this procedure in children under 3 years of age, most pediatric oncologists are currently treating these patients with conventional chemotherapy in order to postpone or even avoid irradiation. In the French Society of Pediatric Oncology (SFOP) this attitude has been adopted since 1990. Among the patients treated without radiotherapy, 20 relapsed while on conventional chemotherapy and were entered in a study of high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Their median age at diagnosis was 23 months (range: 5-71 months) and the relapse occurred at a median time of 6.3 months after the initiation of chemotherapy. Complete surgical removal of the local relapse was the first treatment in 4/20 patients who were not evaluable for response. Sixteen of the 20 patients had measurable disease at the primary site (9 patients), or at metastatic sites (3 patients) or both (4 patients). The conditioning regimen consisted of combination busulfan 600 mg/m2 over 4 days and thiotepa 900 mg/m2 over 3 days. After recovery from aplasia, patients with a local relapse received local radiotherapy limited to posterior fossa. Among the 16 patients with measurable disease, 6 complete responses, 6 partial responses, 3 non response, were observed following HDC (response rate 75%). One patient was not evaluable. For the 20 patients, the event free survival (EFS) is 50%. Among the surviving patients, the median follow-up is 39.5 months post BMT (range: 21-92 months). Ten patients who developed a local relapse or local progression are alive with non evidence of disease (NED) without craniospinal irradiation. Among the 7 patients who developed a metastases or progression of metastases, only 1 is alive. Toxicity was high but manageable. One complication-related death occurred 1 month post BMT. With a 75% response rate, this HDC proved to be very efficient in relapsed medulloblastoma. A longer follow-up is necessary to demonstrate whether, after a local relapse, HDC could replace craniospinal irradiation as prophylaxis against CNS metastases.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Will high dose chemotherapy followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation supplant cranio-spinal irradiation in young children treated for medulloblastoma?

UNLABELLED: Cranio-spinal irradiation is the gold standard treatment used in non metastatic medulloblastoma as prophylaxis against central nervous system (CNS) metastases. However, given the severe late effects caused by this procedure in children under 3 years of age, most pediatric oncologists are currently treating these patients with conventional chemotherapy in order to postpone or even avoid irradiation. In the French Society of Pediatric Oncology (SFOP) this attitude has been adopted since 1987. Among the patients treated without radiotherapy, 20 relapsed while on conventional chemotherapy and were entered in a study of high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) followed by ABMT. Their median age at diagnosis was 23 months (R5-71) and the relapse occurred at a median time of 6.3 months after the initiation of chemotherapy. Complete surgical removal of the local relapse was the first treatment in 4/20 patients who were not evaluable for response. Sixteen of the twenty patients had measurable disease at the primary site (9 patients), or at metastatic sites (3 patients) or both (4 patients). The conditioning regimen consisted of combination Busulfan 600 mg/m2 over 4 days and Thiotepa 900 mg/m2 over three days. After recovery from aplasia, patients with a local relapse received local radiotherapy limited to posterior fossa. RESULTS: among the 16 patients with measurable disease, 6 CR, 6 PR, 3 NR, were observed following HDC (response rate 75%). One patient was not evaluable. For the 20 patients, the EFS is 50%. Among the surviving patients, the median follow up is 31 months post BMT (R12-82). Ten patients who developed a local relapse or local progression are alive with NED without craniospinal irradiation. Among the 7 patients who developed metastases or progression of metastases, only one is alive. Toxicity was high but manageable: the median duration of granulocytopenia < 0.5 x 109/l and thrombocytopenia < 50 x 10(9)/l was 13 and 41 days respectively. Bacteremia was documented in 4 cases. Grade > 2 mucositis and diarrhea were observed in 60% of patients. One complication-related death occurred 1 month post BMT. CONCLUSION: With a 75% response rate, this HDC proved to be very efficient in relapsed medulloblastoma. A longer follow up is necessary to demonstrate whether, after a local relapse, HDC could replace craniospinal irradiation as prophylaxis against CNS metastases.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Phase I study of high-dose continuous intravenous infusion of VP-16 in combination with high-dose melphalan followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation in children with stage IV neuroblastoma.

The purpose of the study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose of continuous infusion of high-dose VP-16 in combination with high-dose melphalan (HDM) for conditioning before autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Thirteen children (median age 27 months) with stage IV neuroblastoma were treated with high-dose VP-16 and HDM followed by ABMT as consolidation treatment. All had previously received conventional chemotherapy with a mean number of six drugs. Surgery of the primary tumor had been performed in 12/13. We performed a dose-escalating study of VP-16 from 1800 mg/m2/72 h with 300 mg/m2/72 h dose increments according to toxicity. VP-16 was administered as a 72-h i.v. infusion. Melphalan (140 mg/m2/day) was administered once as an i.v. push. VP-16 pharmacokinetics were analyzed in 12 patients. Five children received 1800 mg/m2/72 h of VP-16, five received 2100 mg/m2/72 h and three, 2400 mg/m2/72 h. The mean duration of granulocytopenia (< 0.5 x 10(9)/1) was 24 days and thrombocytopenia (< 50 x 10(9)/1) was 36 days. No major infectious complications occurred. Gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity was the dose-limiting toxicity. Five severe manifestations of GI toxicity in three patients led us to consider 2400 mg/m2/72 h as the MTD. The mean VP-16 clearance rate was 17.3 ml/min/m2 with continuous infusion. A mean steady-state plasma concentration of 24.2 micrograms/ml (s.d. = 2) and 28.3 micrograms/ml (s.d. = 1.9) was achieved at the 1800 mg/ml and 2100 mg/m2 dose levels, respectively, GI toxicity is dose limiting when VP-16 at 2400 mg/m2/72 h, is associated with HDM. When given as a continuous i.v. infusion, at 2100 mg/m2/72 h, VP-16 associated with HDM is well tolerated before ABMT in young heavily pre-treated children.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Previous conventional chemotherapy is the principal risk factor for immunoglobulin deficiency during the early post-ABMT period in children.

Humoral immunodeficiency after ABMT may worsen the course of infectious complications as already described in this clinical setting; children with low Ig values of the three isotypes during the first week after ABMT experienced more severe infections during the procedure than those with normal values. The aim of the study was to establish the prevalence, the duration and the risk factors of Ig deficiency after ABMT. Serum Ig levels of 160 children treated with high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) followed by ABMT for solid tumors were studied prospectively before HDCT and weekly from the day after transplantation until the patients were discharged from the unit, as were the associations of the following covariates: patient characteristics, previous conventional chemotherapy (CCT), conditioning regimens, marrow graft and complications following ABMT. Serum Ig deficiency for at least one isotype was already present before HDCT in half of the children and mean serum Ig values decreased after HDCT. Serum Ig deficiency was early (day 7), inconstant, heterogeneous (IgM deficiency was more frequent and lasted longer) and brief (< 1 month). Children with low Ig values before HDCT were at high risk of profound and prolonged humoral immune deficiency. Previous CCT with more than six different drugs was the main risk factor for low serum IgM values before HDCT, on day 7 and on day 21 post-HDCT. This study shows that Ig replacement therapy could be useful after ABMT provided it is given to the patients defined on the basis of these specific risk factors and serum Ig levels before HDCT.

Adolescent↗

Local relapse and contralateral tumor rates in patients with breast cancer treated with conservative surgery and radiotherapy (Institut Gustave Roussy 1970-1982). IGR Breast Cancer Group.

BACKGROUND: Breast conservation is now established treatment for patients with small breast cancers. The authors reviewed a large series of patients with long term follow-up who underwent conservative treatment. Clinical and pathologic factors were analyzed to identify patients at an increased risk of relapse in the breast (local relapse) or development of a contralateral tumor. METHODS: Seven hundred fifty-seven patients with unilateral invasive breast cancer (T0-2, N0-1, M0) were treated conservatively (wide local excision and radiotherapy) at the Institut Gustave-Roussy between 1970 and 1982. The median follow-up was 9 years. The risk of local relapse or development of a contralateral tumor (as first event) was studied by univariate analysis for the main clinical, pathologic, and treatment factors. Those found to be significant were entered into a Cox proportional regression analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients relapsed in the treated breast (actuarial local relapse rates at 5 and 10 years were 5% and 8%, respectively) and 34 in the contralateral breast (actuarial contralateral tumor rates at 5 and 10 years were 3% and 6%, respectively). Multivariate analysis of the risk factors for local relapse showed that only age younger than 40 years (P < 0.02) or inadequate surgical excisioin (P < 0.02) were significant. No particular risk factors for contralateral tumor development were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, for most patients, the risk of local relapse or of developing a contralateral tumor was low. A small number of young patients with inadequately excised tumors are at higher risk of local relapse, need more meticulous surgery, and may merit higher dose radiotherapy.

Actuarial Analysis↗

[High dose chemotherapy followed by autologous bone marrow graft in solid tumors in children: arguments for].

Arguments for the use of high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation in pediatric solid tumors are discussed. The dose effect relationship in pediatric oncology conventional chemotherapy is emphasized. Results of high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation are encouraging in metastatic neuroblastoma and Ewing's sarcoma. The probability of event free survival is increased of about 30% as compared to that of conventional treatments. This therapeutic approach could be of value in other pediatric solid tumors, particularly in some poor prognosis forms of Wilm's tumors. However, until now, the results remain preliminary. On the other hand, the role of this strategy in chemoresistant tumors, such as malignant gliomas, remains under investigation.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Prevention of oral mucositis in patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation: a randomised controlled trial comparing two protocols of dental care.

Between February 1986 and November 1989, 166 patients who were candidates for a bone marrow transplantation entered a randomised controlled clinical trial to compare limited oral hygiene care (LIM) and intensive oral hygiene care (INT) in the prevention of mucositis. Randomisation was stratified on the initial oral status (good vs. bad IOS). Intensive oral hygiene care included an initial treatment of dental lesions and tooth and gum brushing during aplasia. Limited oral hygiene care excluded preventive dental treatment and gingival and tooth brushing. Mucositis was classified as absent, mild, moderate or severe, according to the clinical aspects of the different sites in the mouth and to two scales of pain evaluation. Of the 150 evaluable patients (75 in each group), 134 developed moderate/severe mucositis (64 in the INT group and 70 in the LIM group) (log-rank test P < 0.02). The superiority of intensive oral care was observed both in patients with and without total body irradiation (TBI) and in patients with a good or bad IOS; the observed risk of mucositis was reduced by 70% in each of these four subgroups. Duration of moderate/severe mucositis was, although not significantly, lower in the INT group (17 days, S.D. = 12) than in the LIM group (19 days, S.D. = 13). The median time of mucositis occurrence was 11 days in the INT group and 9 days in the LIM group. Contrary to a widespread belief, the percentage of documented septicaemia was not higher in patients who underwent intensive oral care. We conclude that, although statistically significant, the superiority of intensive oral hygiene care is not clinically impressive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Differential effects of tar content, type of tobacco and use of a filter on lung cancer risk in male cigarette smokers.

BACKGROUND: To date, the effect of tar exposure, the use of a filter and the type of tobacco (light or dark) on the risk of lung cancer have not been studied together. METHODS: Data from a case-control study on lung cancer were used to evaluate the specific effects of these three parameters. Cases of lung cancer and controls were interviewed in hospitals in France from 1976 to 1980. The past tar content of cigarettes distributed by the French Tobacco Monopoly was obtained. The results presented concern an exclusively male population of lifelong smokers of French cigarettes and lifelong smokers of light imported cigarettes. The population comprised 1114 cases of histologically confirmed lung cancer and 1466 hospitalized controls. RESULTS: An increase in risk was found among smokers of both dark and light cigarettes (relative risk [RR] = 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.1-6.5) and among lifelong smokers of dark cigarettes (RR = 1.7, 95% Cl: 0.9-3.2) compared to lifelong smokers of light cigarettes. Similarly, the risk of lung cancer was higher among smokers of both non-filter and filter cigarettes (RR = 1.6, 95% Cl: 0.9-2.7) and among lifelong smokers of non-filter cigarettes (RR = 1.6, 95% Cl: 0.9-2.8) than among lifelong smokers of filter cigarettes. A borderline significant increase in risk was observed for smokers of French cigarettes compared to smokers of light imported cigarettes (RR = 2.6, 95% Cl: 0.9-7.7). No significant difference in the risk of lung cancer was observed among smokers of French cigarettes according to the proportion of years of smoking high tar cigarettes. CONCLUSION: This study tends to demonstrate a separate effect of type of tobacco, use of a filter and tar content in addition to the usual characteristics of cigarette smoking on lung cancer risk.

Case-Control Studies↗

[How to measure the risk of breast cancer in a population?].

One can read that one woman in 11 in France and one in nine in the USA will get breast cancer. This high risk is the result of the irrealistic assumption that all women remain exposed to the risk of breast cancer until age 90, and ignores the risk of death before that age. It is possible to allow for the occurrence of death before age 90. We describe the method, and find a risk of getting breast cancer before age 90 of one in 14 in France. The estimation of the risk of breast cancer over limited periods of life may also be useful. We describe how these estimates can be obtained, and present some results. For instance the risk of breast cancer between age 50 and 69 is one in 29, and the risk between 50 and 79 is one in 19.

Adolescent↗