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Biomedical subjects

F Salvati

Publications and source records attributed to F Salvati.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Etoposide versus etoposide plus high-dose cisplatin in the management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Results of a prospective randomized FONICAP trial. Italian Lung Cancer Task Force.

Two hundred sixteen patients with unresectable non-small cell lung carcinoma were randomly allocated to receive etoposide (120 mg/m2, days 1-3) either alone or in combination with high-dose cisplatin (60 mg/m2, days 1-2). The patients' distribution and characteristics were similar in the two treatment arms. The objective response rate for etoposide was 7% versus 25.8% for etoposide plus cisplatin (P less than 0.005). Median progression-free survival in etoposide arm was 3.5 months versus 5 months in the combination arm (P = 0.43). The median survival time for etoposide was 6 months compared with 8 months for etoposide combined with cisplatin (P = 0.87). Significantly more nausea/vomiting (P less than 0.005), serum creatinine elevation (P less than 0.005), hearing loss and/or tinnitus (P less than 0.005), peripheral neuropathy (P less than 0.005), leukopenia (P less than 0.025), and anemia (P less than 0.005) occurred in the etoposide plus cisplatin arm. No statistically significant difference was recorded between the two arms in terms of performance status changes. In conclusion the addition of high-dose cisplatin to single-agent etoposide significantly increases the chance of obtaining tumor response in advanced non-small cell lung cancer at the cost of an increased toxicity without any significant long-term impact on survival and progression-free survival.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Cytokinetic investigation of lung tumors using the anti-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) monoclonal antibody method: comparison with DNA flow cytometric data.

In order to investigate the cytokinetics of malignant tumors and non-malignant lesions of the lung, tissue samples from 57 patients affected by non-small-cell carcinoma (NSCLC), small-cell carcinoma (SCLC), and benign and inflammatory lesions have been analyzed using the BUdR monoclonal antibody (MAb) method. This method is based on the preparation, at the time of surgery, of viable monocellular suspensions (using collagenase and DNase treatment) and the concomitant administration of BudR. The percentage of BudR-labelled cells was monitored by fluorescent microscopy using an FITC-labelled second antibody. In NSCLC, each histological group showed a wide range of labelling index (LI) values. On the contrary, SCLC exhibited a more homogeneous kinetic behaviour as evidenced by a narrowly distributed, higher LI. Tumors shown to be diploid by flow cytometry did not show a lower LI than aneuploid tumors. Furthermore, differences were constantly observed between the S-phase percent calculated using BUdR and that calculated using the DNA flow cytometric (FC) histogram, the latter always showing higher S-phase values. In an attempt to study the intra-tumor proliferative heterogeneity, multiple-site sampling was performed. Proliferative heterogeneity seemed to be higher inter-tumor than intra-tumor. Finally, a positive correlation (p less than 0.05) was found between LI and the actual doubling time (DT) of the primary tumor mass, evaluated using sequential radiographs. In conclusion, the present BUdR method can be considered a useful source of relevant information on in vivo cell growth, in parallel to other clinical (DT) and biological (DNA content) approaches.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Netilmicin in single daily doses for the bacterial bronchopulmonary complications in patients with advanced bronchogenic carcinoma].

In 40 patients with bacterial bronchopulmonary complications during polychemotherapy for advanced bronchogenic carcinoma, once-daily netilmicin (4.5 mg/kg every 24 h) brought about complete resolution of the infective process in 90% of the cases and eradication of the responsible pathogen in 82%. This result must be considered good in view of the patients' precarious condition due to their advanced neoplastic disease.

Adult↗

DNA flow cytometric studies of 66 human lung tumors analyzed before treatment. Prognostic implications.

To investigate the prognostic implications of DNA flow cytometry in human lung tumors, we analyzed specimens from patients with neoplastic and non-neoplastic lung disease. Most non-neoplastic and normal (taken at the resection border) lung samples yielded a single cell population with diploid DNA content (only two normal lung specimens from two cancer patients had aneuploid DNA content). At least one aneuploid cell subpopulation was seen in 91 percent of NSCLC and 50 percent on SCLC. To show intratumor heterogeneity, multiple-site sampling was done whenever possible in both primary tumor and metastatic sites, revealing a high incidence of multiclonality (50 percent). Although diploid tumors were rare, they associated with a higher survival rate than aneuploid monoclonal and multiclonal tumors with hypoploid and/or hypertetraploid clones, which had the lowest survival. Cellular DNA content analysis in patients with lung tumors may be useful in prognostic evaluation.

Aneuploidy↗

Intrapleural natural beta interferon in the treatment of malignant pleural effusions.

Effusion recurrence is a major problem in the palliative care of patients with disseminated cancer. Thirty-two patients with recurrent malignant pleural effusions were treated with intracavitary natural beta-interferon at increasing doses (5-20 million units) for a maximum of three administrations. Among 29 evaluable patients, 11 showed complete (27.6%) or partial (10.3%) remission. No difference in response rate was observed according to sex, age, and histological type. All the responses were observed in patients with an effusion volume less than 1,000 ml (11/16; 68.8%). No side effect was observed. In conclusion, intrapleural beta-interferon is promising as a palliative in the treatment of recurrent malignant effusions.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Etoposide v etoposide and cisplatin in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a FONICAP randomized study.

A multicenter Italian Cooperative Study Group (FONICAP) conducted a prospective, randomized trial comparing cisplatin and etoposide (VP-16) with single-agent etoposide. The national study accrued 216 patients with measurable or evaluable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with either unresectable stage III, or distant metastasis (stage IV). One hundred patients were evaluable for response in the single-agent arm, and 93 in the two-drug combination arm. The overall response rates for the etoposide group and cisplatin/etoposide (VP-16) group were 7% and 26%, respectively (P less than 0.005). Five patients (5.6%) in the combination arm and 1 (1%) in the single agent arm had a complete response. The overall median survival was 236 days for the two-drug arm and 178 days on the single-drug arm (P = 0.2). Treatment-related toxicity (nausea and vomiting, leukopenia, anemia, hearing-loss, peripheral neuropathy, serum creatinine elevation) was significantly more pronounced in the combined arm. The addition of cisplatin to etoposide gave a small non-statistically significant improvement in terms of performance status and thoracic symptoms.

Aged↗

[Monoclonal gammopathies in the aged].

60 cases of monoclonal (benign and malignant) are presented. All the patients are divided into two sub-groups according to the age (until and after 65th years old). They were recovered in the Medical and Geriatric divisions of "Renzetti" civic Hospital in Lanciano. The differences between the two groups with respect to different types of gammapathy, median survival rates, response to therapy, are discussed.

Aged↗

Plasma carcinoembryonic antigen and tissue polypeptide antigen levels in lung cancer: correlation with cell types and stage.

This investigation was carried out to evaluate the plasma CEA and TPA levels in normal subjects and in 140 patients with lung cancer: 116 patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 24 patients with small cell carcinoma (SCLC). The CEA and TPA levels were determined simultaneously by radioimmunoassay. The cutoff limit of CEA was found to be 17 U/SORIN, and the cutoff of TPA was 99 U/L. TPA has shown a sensitivity almost twice that of CEA. The relationship between the mean values of CEA and TPA and the stages of NSCLC was statistically significant (P less than 0.01), whereas only the mean values of TPA significantly (P less than 0.05) correlated with extensive and limited disease in SCLC. The determinations of combined CEA and TPA levels (CEA X TPA) (P less than 0.001) correlated significantly with the stage of disease in patients with NSCLC; conversely, the use of CEA X TPA did not correlate with the stage of SCLC.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗

Ftorafur, adriamycin and mitomycin C (FAM II) for extensive bronchogenic adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma.

Twenty-six patients with advanced bronchogenic adenocarcinoma or large cell carcinoma were treated by combination chemotherapy consisting of Ftorafur, adriamycin and mitomycin C (FAM II). The patients had not received prior chemotherapy and were not eligible for radiotherapy and surgery. The overall response rate was 25% (5 of 20 patients). One patient with adenocarcinoma achieved a complete response, four achieved a partial response and three a minor response. In four patients the disease was stable. The response did not vary strictly with initial performance status as patients with a Karnofsky score of less than 70% also showed a median survival of 7.5+ months. The FAM II combination was very well tolerated, particularly regarding nausea and vomiting; the latter occurred in only one patient. No patient required a reduction in the drug dose because of leukopenia or thrombocytopenia.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Sick sinus syndrome probably caused by cardiac metastases].

A case of Sick Sinus Syndrome probably secondary to cardiac metastasis in a patient affected by metastatic breast cancer is described. The diagnostic and etiopathogenetic aspects in the case under examination are also discussed.

Bone Neoplasms↗