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Biomedical subjects

E Hannisdal

Publications and source records attributed to E Hannisdal.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Combined intra-arterial chemotherapy followed by radiation in astrocytomas.

Seventy-five patients harboring astrocytomas received 4 cycles of infra-ophthalmic carotid injections of BCNU, combined with vincristine intravenously and procarbazine orally. All of the patients thereafter, received radiation therapy. The five year survival was 73% for all patients. The age of the patients had no significant impact on survival. The treatment results were compared with the results of 57 patients with astrocytomas who were treated with surgery followed by radiation in the same period. These 57 patients had a 5 year survival of 45% with a five year survival in patients < or = 40 years and patients > 40 years of 70% and 22%, respectively (p < 0.05). In multivariate survival analysis of the BCNU group and radiation group together, treatment group and corticosteroid dependency were the only prognostic factors. No leukoencephalopathy was seen during the treatment or in the follow-up of the patients. We conclude that pre-radiation intra-arterial chemotherapy can be given without significant morbidity and produces an improvement in survival in patients older than 40 years.

Administration, Oral

Neuron-specific enolase as a prognostic factor in metastatic malignant melanoma.

Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was measured in 63 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. 20 patients (32%) had elevated serum NSE (> 10 micrograms/l) before the start of treatment. Another 13 patients (21%) developed pathological NSE values during the course of the disease. In many patients, elevated NSE was related to a large tumour burden, and a gradual rise in serum NSE indicated disease progression. Patients with elevated pretreatment NSE had a median survival time of 3 months compared with 12 months for those with normal pretreatment NSE values. NSE thus proved to be a useful prognostic factor in metastatic malignant melanoma.

Biomarkers, Tumor

Chemotherapy with or without high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate in oestrogen-receptor-negative advanced breast cancer. Norwegian Breast Cancer Group.

In a randomised study 142 patients with advanced oestrogen-receptor-negative breast cancer in the tumour tissue received chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy combined with high doses (1000 mg daily) of oral medroxyprogesterone acetate (HD-MPA). Of the 126 fully evaluable for response, the response rates were 46% for chemotherapy alone and 73% for chemotherapy with HD-MPA (P = 0.005). There was no significant difference with regard to duration of response. Of the 138 patients evaluable for survival and toxicity, survival was shorter in the combined treatment group; median survival of 9 versus 13 months (P less than 0.05). Considerable toxicity was seen from HD-MPA, especially weight gain and fluid retention. The present study provides evidence that in concordance with preclinical studies an interaction between chemotherapy and HD-MPA may exist in breast cancer normally resistant to hormone therapy. The side-effects from MPA were substantial, however, and the survival data are of great concern.

Antineoplastic Agents

Combined intra-arterial and systemic chemotherapy for recurrent malignant brain tumors.

Seventy-nine patients harboring recurrent brain tumors received four cycles of infraophthalmic carotid injections of 160 mg of carmustine. Two milligrams of intravenous vincristine and 50 mg of oral procarbazine was also administered three times daily for 1 week in conjunction with each BCNU treatment. The response rate was 60% with a median survival for patients with astrocytomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, and glioblastomas of 32, 20, and 6.5 months, respectively. The median survival of the responding patients was 20 months, and the survival at 30 months was 45%. The survival in patients not responding to treatment was 5 months, reflecting the natural history of the tumor. There have been no deaths related to the treatment procedure. No incidents of severe or permanent eye complications or leukoencephalopathy were observed. Based on multivariate survival analysis, only patients with a good performance status who are not steroid dependent are candidates for this treatment.

Administration, Oral

[Taxicabs for patient transport to national hospitals].

The use of taxis to transport patients to and from the Norwegian Radium Hospital has been studied. 36% of the patients travelled by taxi. This frequency gives an estimated 70,000 trips by taxi annually at a cost of NOK 60 million for four national hospitals in Oslo. Since at present most of the patients travel one in a taxi. There seems to be a large potential for reducing costs.

Insurance, Health

[Use of personal computers for statistical analyses].

We report the range in elapsed time for various statistical analyses and for the same logistic regression analysis in 23 different personal computers (PCs). Without a floating-point coprocessor, the elapsed time increased from ten to 113 minutes in the same PC. Elapsed time ranged from two to 45 minutes from 80486 to 8086 PCs with a floating-point coprocessor. The PC equipment we need strongly depends on the type and frequency of the statistical analyses we are to perform. If a floating-point coprocessor is installed, the 80286/80287 PC family may be fast enough for most users.

Microcomputers

Blood analyses and survival in symptom- and survey-detected lung cancer patients.

Commonly recorded blood analyses as indicators of low- and-high risk patients with lung cancer were studied by comparing symptom- and survey-detected patients. During the period 1976-1985, in 41 of 189 non-small-cell lung cancer patients in Western Norway, lung cancer was detected by chest X-ray survey performed in the preventive tuberculosis screening programme. After adjusting for other variables, including developmental stage, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was the only blood analysis which discriminated symptom-detected patients (high ESR) from survey-detected patients (low ESR). Survey-detected patients had a better short-term survival. In multivariate survival analyses leucocyte count, lactate dehydrogenase activity and ESR were significant prognostic factors, in addition to advanced stage and detection due to symptoms. We conclude that common blood analyses such as ESR provide supplementary information concerning low- and high-risk lung cancer patients.

Alkaline Phosphatase

[Diagnosis and treatment of solitary plasmacytoma].

Solitary plasmacytomas are rare tumours. We report our experience from 25 solitary osseous and 18 solitary extramedullary plasmacytomas. 41 patients were given high voltage radiotherapy, usually 40 Gy in 20 fractions. Two patients with extramedullary plasmacytoma developed generalized disease, while ten patients with osseous plasmacytoma developed myelomatosis. Extramedullary plasmacytomas are usually cured by adequate local treatment, while in solitary osseous plasmacytomas the prognosis is more dubious.

Adult

[Should doctors contribute more to the development of computer-based information systems at hospitals?].

In our X-ray department we have used a commercially available database computer program to design a system for storing information about the X-ray examinations performed. The system runs on a local area network. We have been able to quickly modify the system in the light of feedback from the users. Using modern database programs for personal computers has made it quite easy for doctors to participate directly in the design of information systems for use in hospitals.

Hospital Information Systems

Extramedullary plasmacytomas and solitary plasma cell tumours of bone.

We describe clinical features and treatment results in 25 patients with solitary osseous (SOP) and 18 patients with solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP). 41 patients were treated with high-voltage radiotherapy, median 40 Gy in 20 fractions. Surgery was part of the treatment in 21 and chemotherapy in 5 patients. The median age in both groups was 56 years, with a preponderance of males. Myelomatosis developed in 10 SOP and 2 EMP patients, and this development did not correlate with the presence or absence of an M-component at the time of diagnosis of plasmacytoma. The estimated 5- and 10-y survival was 87% and 76% without a statistical difference between SOP and EMP groups. The patients in the SOP group usually died from myelomatosis while EMP patients died from other causes.

Bence Jones Protein

Prognostic factors in multiple myeloma in a population-based trial.

Prognostic factors have been tested in patients with multiple myeloma treated according to a randomized trial of standard therapy versus 5-drug combination therapy. The following population-based study included 92 patients with a median age of 70 yr. The median survival was 31 months. The Cox regression model was used to search for predictors of survival. The cut-off levels for blood analyses derived in earlier studies tended to select few patients in the high-risk groups, for example only 8% of the patients had hemoglobin (Hb) less than or equal to 7.5 g/dl. Lytic bone lesions in the pelvis or in the long bones, or spontaneous fractures and age greater than 70 yr gave prognostic information in addition to anemia and impaired renal function. The MRC staging system was a better prognostic tool than the Durie & Salmon stages. Palliative treatment regimens which take quality of life into account should be considered carefully in multiple myeloma patients greater than 70 yr.

Aged

Multivariate analyses of factors associated with unemployment in people with multiple sclerosis.

Variables at onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) as predictors of time to unemployment have been studied using multivariate survival (time-to-response) analyses. The study consisted of 79 patients with MS diagnosed in the two most northern counties of Norway between 1974-82. Diagnostic category, age at onset, sex, county, symptom groups, course of disease and occupation groups were identified as possible prognostic variables. Forty one patients (51%) were unemployed at last follow up. None of the 15 patients with probable or possible MS were unemployed due to MS. The multivariate analyses selected the nonremittent course or heavy physical work and age over 30 at onset as high risk factors associated with early unemployment.

Adult

Alterations of blood analyses at relapse of osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma.

Alterations of blood analyses have been studied at relapse of patients with osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. The tests included erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), haemoglobin (Hb), leukocyte and thrombocyte counts, gamma glutamyltransferase (GT), lactate dehydrogenase (LD) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Sixteen relapsing patients diagnosed from 1970 to 1987 were eligible in each sarcoma group. Median age was 16 years (range 9-30) at diagnosis. The blood tests seemed to be of no help in detecting relapse of osteosarcoma, while ESR, LD and GT rose significantly in relapsing patients with Ewing's sarcoma. ESR was best correlated to disease activity.

Adolescent

Blood analyses as prognostic factors in primary lung cancer.

The prognostic value of some pretreatment blood tests was analysed in a follow-up study of 189 patients with non-small cell lung cancer diagnosed in West-Norway between 1976 and 1985. At diagnosis 100 patients had stage III/IV disease. Five-year survival calculated with the life-table method was 12%. In univariate survival analyses significant prognostic factors were stage III/IV disease, weight loss, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, gamma glutamyl transferase, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and alkaline phosphatase, thrombocytosis, leukocytosis and anaemia. In multivariate survival analyses with the Cox's regression model stage III/IV disease, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, thrombocytes and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were significant prognostic factors. It is concluded that these blood analyses at diagnosis in non-small cell lung cancer patients may give additional prognostic information. The need for multivariate analyses is also demonstrated.

Adult

[Malignant lymphoma of the testis].

We review nine patients treated for malignant lymphoma at The Norwegian Radium Hospital. The median age was 67 years. All had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, eight were high-grade malignant. Extragonadal manifestations were diagnosed in five patients. The treatment was orchidectomy and combination chemotherapy. Four patients with only gonadal affection survived, while all who had extragonadal affections died. Patients with only gonadal affection should be treated with adjuvant chemotherapy after orchidectomy. Patients with extragonadal affection are at high risk, and should receive intensive chemotherapy.

Aged

Regression analyses of prognostic factors in metastatic malignant melanoma.

Patients entered into phase II trials in metastatic malignant melanoma should be carefully selected in order to ensure that they live long enough to permit a meaningful evaluation of the efficacy of a given drug. In this selection emphasis has been put on performance status. However, also for patients with a good performance status, survival is often short. The purpose of this study has been to identify supplementary prognostic factors as these could be of help in the design of phase II trials. From 1978-1986, 177 consecutive patients were given various chemotherapy regimens for metastatic malignant melanoma in the Norwegian Radium Hospital. About 92% had a performance status of ECOG 0-2. Median survival was 4.0 months (0-30 months). Multivariate survival analysis selected lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) greater than 450 U/l, presence of brain metastases, leukocyte count greater than 10 x 10(9)/l, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) greater than 15 mm/h as significant prognostic factors indicating short survival with low probability of surviving 3 months. Patients with normal values of LDH, leukocyte count, and ESR had a median survival of 11.5 months with 94% surviving 3 months. We conclude that this information could have an impact on the design of phase II trials.

Adolescent

Colony forming ability of human breast carcinomas: lack of prognostic significance.

To study whether colony growth in vitro reflects the prognosis of breast cancer patients, specimens from a total number of 138 patients with primary breast carcinomas were cultivated in the Courtenay-Mills soft agar method. The plating efficiency (PE) values were related to various clinical and histopathological parameters. No significant correlation was found between colony forming ability and menopausal status, histopathology, TNM-status or steroid hormone receptor status. The crude survival of the patients was not significantly correlated to the in vitro growth of the tumours; neither was there any difference in relapse-free survival between patients whose tumours failed to grow in vitro and those having growing tumours (PE greater than 0). A multivariate survival analysis of 115 patients with primary tumours without distant metastases revealed that the PE was not a significant independent prognostic indicator, as it gave no additional prognostic information above that of node and ER status. It is concluded that routine measurement of colony formation in vitro is not warranted in the management of breast cancer.

Adult