Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Bonadonna

Publications and source records attributed to G Bonadonna.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Hodgkin's disease: the Milan Cancer Institute experience with MOPP and ABVD.

The report includes the essential therapeutic and toxic results following MOPP vs. MOPP/ABVD and MOPP vs. ABVD within a combined modality setting. The findings indicate that in stage IV the alternating regimen is superior to MOPP while in stage IIB-III ABVD plus radiotherapy yielded superior results associated with no treatment-induced sterility and leukemia compared with MOPP plus radiotherapy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

The pathologist and the clinical oncologist: a new effective partnership in assessing tumor prognosis.

During the past 20 years, we have witnessed a progressive radical change in the role of the pathologist vis à vis several aspects of clinical oncology. From the traditional description by light microscopy of resected specimens and study of tumor classifications, the modern pathologist has expanded his domain of action which now results in deeper and more effective interactions with the surgeon, radiotherapist and medical oncologist. The wide application of fine-needle biopsy has substantially improved early diagnosis of primary neoplasms and local and distant recurrences. The histogenetic classification based on type of tissue formed by the tumor rather than type of tissue from which tumor arises, the results of pathologic staging as well as the degree of tumor cell necrosis following primary chemotherapy are now being correlated with treatment outcome. The assessment of tumor grade and ploidy can allow more accurate selection of patient subgroups at high risk of early relapse. Last but not least, the morphologic recognition of certain types of iatrogenic morbidity helps in the reassessment of given drug combinations. During the past decade, pathologists have contributed to the development of several new investigative techniques whose first applications, in most instances, were in laboratories dedicated to basic research. More recently, some pathologists have begun to explore the feasibility of applying these same techniques to clinical cancer research. Modern sophisticated technology, including flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and monoclonal antibodies, can now provide research physicians with important prognostic indicators such as tumor cell proliferative activity, steroid receptor status, occult distant micrometastases, immunologic phenotypes and gene amplification. By fulfilling several new tasks, which have contributed to the knowledge of the natural history of many tumors, the pathologist has become an integral part of the team planning new treatment strategies and evaluating their final outcome.

Humans↗

Cell kinetics as a prognostic indicator in node-negative breast cancer.

The consistency of the prognostic role of cell kinetics (evaluated as the [3H]thymidine labeling index, LI) over a period of years has been assessed in 354 patients with resectable node-negative breast cancer subjected only to Halsted or modified radical mastectomy. The risk of disease recurrence and death was proportional to LI values and the pattern was superimposable, regardless of menopausal status, in the two consecutive case series entered in this retrospective study. In particular, tumors with high LI (greater than 2.8%) had a higher 6-year probability (41% vs. 25%, P less than 0.0001) of manifesting local-regional and distant metastases and of dying (19% vs. 5%, P = 0.0005) as compared to tumors with low LI. In tumors with high LI the risk of relapse within the first 2 years from mastectomy was twofold compared to that of tumors with low LI. Multiple regression analysis showed that LI also retained its prognostic significance in both relapse-free and overall survival when tumor size and estrogen receptor status were considered. The present findings confirm that LI can substantially contribute to the selection of high risk node-negative patients who could be candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy.

Adult↗

First-line chemotherapy with intraperitoneal cisplatin and intravenous cyclophosphamide in ovarian carcinoma. A preliminary report.

Between August 1982 and October 1986, the feasibility and activity of five cycles of intraperitoneal (i.p.) cisplatin (CDDP) (90 mg/m2 in 6 h dwelling) and i.v. cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2) were studied in 24 previously untreated patients with ovarian carcinoma having small or no residual disease after cytoreductive surgery. Six patients (25%) had local complications requiring catheter removal before the end of therapy. Fifteen of the 21 patients (71%) evaluable for activity achieved or maintained a pathologic complete remission. The median disease-free survival was 29+ months (range 18-58+ months). Three patients with tumor progression (two patients previously without evidence of disease, and one patient with minimal residual disease), and three partial responders were documented by laparotomy at the end of therapy. Two patients who achieved pathologic complete response relapsed at 20 and 36 months. All treatment failures (eight cases, 38%) occurred in the peritoneal cavity. Since patients were selected for having the most favorable tumor characteristics to benefit from i.p. treatment, our findings may cast some doubt on the actual contribution of i.p. CDDP at a dose of 90 mg/m2 in the treatment of patients with ovarian carcinoma and small residual disease in the peritoneal cavity.

Adult↗

Minimal residual disease in acute lymphoblastic leukemia detected by immune selection and gene rearrangement analysis.

We have developed an assay for the detection of malignant residual cells in the bone marrow from patients with B- or T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in clinical remission. This assay involves an immune selection step followed by immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor gene rearrangement analysis and allows the detection of one contaminating tumor cell out of 1,000 normal bone marrow cells. We have examined the bone marrow of 11 patients with adult ALL in remission over a 24-month period. Five patients relapsed in the bone marrow and one in the CNS. The assay allowed the detection of minimal residual disease in four of five patients that subsequently relapsed in the bone marrow, 1.5 to 9 months before the relapse became morphologically and clinically manifest. Residual disease was not found in the bone marrow from patients in continuous remission and from the single patient who relapsed in the CNS. We conclude that the ability of the assay described here to detect minimal residual disease with high specificity can provide information for further understanding of the biology of ALL and hopefully for the clinical management of patients with this disease.

Adolescent↗

Systemic therapy in resectable breast cancer.

There is now convincing evidence that adjuvant systemic therapy for high-risk breast cancer can significantly reduce tumor mortality at 5 years. The overall treatment benefit for women with node-positive tumors may be considered moderate but clinically important. The most frequent choices of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy are discussed. In patients with node-negative receptor-negative tumors there is preliminary evidence of benefit from adjuvant combination chemotherapy. Primary (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy can allow conservative surgery in most tumors suitable for mastectomy, but this form of treatment remains, at present, experimental. Potential long-term toxicity from systemic adjuvant therapy should be continuously monitored.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

The Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Pathologic Classification Project. Long-term follow-up of 1153 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To document the long-term prognosis of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated between 1971 and 1975 and to determine how the prognosis varies by histologic subtype and stage. SETTING: Three cancer referral centers in the United States and one center in Italy. PATIENTS: A consecutive sample of 1153 previously untreated patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. At the time of analysis, 71% of the patients had died and the median follow-up for patients still alive was 11.2 years. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The 10-year survival proportions were 45% (CI, 40% to 50%); 26% (CI, 22% to 30%); and 23% (CI, 18% to 30%) for patients with low-, intermediate-, and high-grade lymphomas, respectively. Patients with intermediate- and high-grade lymphomas were curable, but this was not apparent for patients with advanced stage low-grade lymphomas. For the low-grade follicular small cleaved and follicular mixed lymphomas, the Ann Arbor staging system distinguished the prognosis of patients with stage I disease from those with more extensive involvement. For the diffuse large cell and immunoblastic lymphomas, the Ann Arbor staging system distinguished long-term prognosis for patients with stage I disease from patients with stage II disease and those with more disseminated involvement. CONCLUSIONS: The probability of long-term survival for unselected patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma can be substantial. Long-term prognosis depends on the histologic subtype of the tumor and the extent of dissemination. The Working Formulation for non-Hodgkin lymphomas is a simple and useful nomenclature for selecting treatment and reporting results. The Ann Arbor staging system is a useful but imperfect prognostic indicator.

Bone Marrow↗

Activity of a monoclonal antibody-saporin-6 conjugate against B-lymphoma cells.

A monoclonal antibody reactive with the immunoglobulin heavy chain (TEC IgM) has been conjugated to saporin-6 (SAP), which is the major ribosome-inactivating protein from the seeds of the plant Saponaria officinalis. Studies with Burkitt's lymphoma cell line Bjab 113 demonstrate that this immunotoxin is capable of killing 3 logs (99.9%) of clonogenic lymphoma cells after a 2-hour incubation. The presence of human bone marrow inhibits the activity of the conjugate. However, full potency of TEC IgM-SAP immunotoxin is restored by adding 1 mM amantadine to the incubation medium. The reaction is highly specific and is inhibited by the presence of excess anti-mu-antibody or human serum. Clonal growth of other Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines is inhibited to a lesser extent by the immunotoxin. The presence of surface IgM on the different cell lines is directly correlated to target cell killing by TEC IgM-SAP. Isolation of Bjab 113 clones surviving treatment demonstrates that only a minority are truly resistant and that the others randomly escape the treatment. The highly potent and specific activity of this conjugate in the presence of bone marrow buffy coat and its exceptionally rapid onset of action make this conjugate a good candidate for the ex vivo elimination of neoplastic cells from the bone marrow of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

The development of the use of chemotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer is discussed. Its contribution in the primary management of this disease lies not only in the limited but consistent reduction in mortality, but it has helped to elucidate the biological complexity of breast cancer. Also, it has stimulated basic scientists and research physicians to integrate their efforts, which is expected to result in further clinical progress.

Antineoplastic Agents↗