Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H Biller

Publications and source records attributed to H Biller.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Fulminant disseminated carcinomatosis arising from squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue tends to be an indolent disease. Tumors that present as small, localized lesions of the anterior tongue have a median five-year survival greater than 70 percent whether treated by irradiation or surgery. Distant metastases occur in only 7.5 percent. This report describes a well-differentiated T1N0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior tongue that progressed from diagnosis to death of the patient in less than nine months. At autopsy, the tumor had disseminated widely, including simultaneous metastases to all layers of the heart. It is concluded that factors other than morphology and anatomic extent at presentation may modify prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1985

Combination chemotherapy with high-dose methotrexate, bleomycin, and cisplatin in management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Fifty-nine patients with stage IV head and neck squamous cell cancer were treated with an intensive induction chemotherapy consisting of high-dose methotrexate-leucovorin, bleomycin, and cisplatin. Forty-five patients had recurrent disease following surgery and/or radiation therapy. The response rate in this group was 22%, with a median response duration of 10 weeks and a median survival of 19 weeks. The median survival in responders was 20 weeks and in nonresponders 18 weeks. Fourteen previously untreated patients (13 T4 and one T2) received identical chemotherapy followed by radiation and/or surgery. The response to chemotherapy in previously untreated patients was impressively higher (93%). These patients had a median survival of 48 weeks, and 30% survived 2 years. The initial chemotherapy did not compromise the succeeding radiation therapy or surgery. Toxicities were frequent, but generally well tolerated. It is concluded that prior surgery and/or radiation therapy compromises the efficacy of subsequent chemotherapy in head and neck cancer. Responses to intensive chemotherapy prior to surgery and/or radiation therapy are excellent in patients with T4 tumors and provides a basis for further intensive treatment in attempts to augment cure rates.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Bleomycin infusion followed by cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil in advanced squamous carcinoma of the head and neck.

Twenty-seven patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with bleomycin 7.5 U/m2/day continuous infusion X 3 days (days 1-4, 8-11), followed by cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m2, methotrexate 30 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil 300 mg/m2 on days 5 and 12 (bleo-CMF). Treatment was repeated every 28 days. All but two had a performance status of 0-2 and all but 3 patients had received prior surgery, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy. Of 24 evaluable patients, 1 had a complete remission (1.9 months) and 4 had partial remissions (3.7, 3.9, 3.9, 4.1 months, respectively) for an overall response rate of 21%. If one excludes 7 patients with prior chemotherapy, the response rate is 5 of 17 (29%). All responders had received both radiotherapy and surgery. The median survival was 4.4 months for the responders and 3.5 months for the nonresponders. Marked hematologic toxicity occurred in eight patients, and contributed to the death of two. Severe pulmonary toxicity occurred in two patients and caused the death of one. Bleo-CMF did not produce a higher response rate than historical single-agent trials and caused significant toxicity. Furthermore, there was no important difference in the survival of responders and nonresponders.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Ultrastructural studies on the effect of roentgen rays and quinacrine (atebrin)--alone or in combination--on Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in monolayer culture].

Already two days after an X-ray irradiation with 8 Gy performed during the phase of exponential growth, the cells of an Ehrlich ascitic carcinoma in monolayer culture showed remarkable ultrastructural modifications, e.g. a markedly vacuolized endoplasmic reticulum, swollen mitochondria, increase of lysosome-like structures, and a decrease of microvilli in number and size. Ehrlich ascitic carcinoma cells submitted to an X-ray irradiation with 8 Gy and subsequently incubated with quinacrine (Atebrin) in a concentration of 4 x 10(-6) M, which alone had no significant effects on growth or ultrastructure, showed severe cellular lesions. The endoplasmic reticulum was still more vacuolized, the mitochondria were severely damaged, lysosome-like structures and residual bodies were increased, and the cellular surfaces had still less microvilli. Microtubules and microfilaments, however, seemed rather increased. The effects of quinacrine (Atebrin) on cells exposed to X-rays were discussed with respect to the known inhibiting action of this substance on DNA synthesis, especially with regard to DNA reparation. The modifications of the microtubule-microfilament system could be correlated to increased intracellular digestive processes involved in the catabolism of radiodamaged structures.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

[Influence of x-rays and quinacrine (atebrine) or chloroquine (resochine)--alone or in combination--on growth and melanin formation of Harding-Passey melanoma cells in monolayer culture].

Harding-Passey melanoma cells in monolayer culture (HPM-73 line) were treated during exponential growth phase with single doses of X-rays (85 kV) from 2 up to 16 Gy (200 to 1600 rd). While 2 or 4 Gy resulted in a growth retardation (up to 2 days) followed by resumption of proliferation thereafter, 8 Gy, and still more pronounced 16 Gy, resulted in a significant decrease of the survival rate (till about 5 to 10% after 8 Gy). In the course of several days after 8 or 16 Gy numerous large cells--in comparison with controls--were formed, and following exposure to 8 Gy the average cellular protein content had more than doubled (and after 16 Gy more than tripled) in the course of 11 days. The inhibitory effect of X-irradiation on cell multiplication was significantly augmented by continuous incubation in culture media containing either quinacrine (atebrine) or chloroquine (resochine) in concentrations (3-6 X 10(-6)M) which in itself were not or only little inhibitory. Especially noteworthy was the death of all cells in cultures irradiated with 8 Gy and incubated for several weeks with 6 X 10(-6)M quinacrine or chloroquine. Also, treatment with 6 X 10(-6)M chloroquine of cultures irradiated with 4 Gy resulted in death of all cells. The specific melanin content (E400/10(6) cells or E400/mg cell protein) of cultures significantly increased several days after X-ray irradiation. Also, treatment with chloroquine (but not with quinacrine) resulted in an increased melanin content which was most strikingly increased after the combined treatment of irradiation and chloroquine. The effects of quinacrine and chloroquine on pre-irradiated cells were discussed under the aspect of the well-known inhibitory action of these substances on DNA-synthesis, especially in connection with DNA repair processes.

Cell Survival↗
PubMed1981

[Concentration of neuraminic acid in the serum of tumor patients (author's transl)].

The neuraminic acid level in the serum of 588 patients was determined. The patients suffered from bronchial carcinomas other malignant diseases (mastocarcinoma, carcinoma of the cervix and the body of the uterus, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), and benign pulmonary diseases (tuberculosis of the lungs and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases). The average level of 162 patients with bronchial carcinomas is 3,449 mumol/ml of serum; thus it is significantly higher than the average level of 98 sound control persons (2,336 mumol/ml) and 88 patients with benign pulmonary diseases (2,733) mumol/ml). The other patients with malignant diseases also presented an increased concentration of neuraminic acid in the serum, however, this increase was not as significant as for the patients with bronchial carcinomas. The possible role of neuraminic acid as biological "marker" is discussed.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1979

[ECG-changes following postoperative irradiation of patients with mammary carcinoma (author's transl)].

Systematic ECG-analyses and determinations of serum creatin-kinase were performed in 32 patients with mammary carcinoma of the left, prior to and immediately after postoperative radiation therapy. Treatment was done with a gammatron, during this, the average load to the anterior cardiac wall amounted to 3600 rd. Eleven cases exhibited coronary-negative T-waves in at least two chest leads after treatment, seven other cases had flat negative or isoelectric T-waves. Two patients additionally revealed prolongation of the relative QT-period by more than 115%. These changes are interpreted as a sign of radiation-induced myopericarditis. Pericardial effusions did not appear during the follow-up period, furthermore no modifications of creatin-kinase activity. Clinical injury to the patients developed in no case.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

[Unusual infectious diseases in a municipal hospital (author's transl)].

UNLABELLED: The most important criteria for differential diagnosis are presented with reference to case histories: Falciparum malaria: relapsing fever, hemolytic anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, leucopenia; Kala-azar: insidious course with fever, pancytopenia, macrocytic anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, enlargement of lymph nodes; echinococcosis: symptoms of a benign tumor with displacement. DIAGNOSIS: by identification of the pathogen in malaria and kala-azar, serologically in all three diseases and also radiologically in echinococcosis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Atypical granular cell tumor of the larynx: an unusually aggressive tumor clinically and microscopically.

A 36-year-old man presented with a recurrent, rapidly enlarging laryngeal tumor causing upper airway obstruction. Microscopic study revealed a granular cell tumor (GCT) with marked atypia, pleomorphism, and pagetoid spread to the overlying epithelium. Histologic pleomorphism occurs rarely and is usually mild in laryngeal GCT. Malignant granular cell tumor (MGCT), a very unusual entity, can be diagnosed with confidence when there is clinical evidence of malignancy (i.e., metastasis). We support the concept of "atypical" GCT when marked pleomorphism is present, yet no metastasis has occurred. This will indicate to the otolaryngologist and pathologist the possibility of greater potential for aggressive clinical behavior.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

A patient with a moderately advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (T2, glottic) is presented. The consultants discuss their preferred diagnostic and treatment options. All consultants agree that the chances for cure (5-yr survival) are 80-85%, but they differ as to the preferred treatment approach to preserve phonation. Drs. Biller and Pearson predict that 80-90% of patients would be alive and have usable voice, with surgical treatment, whereas Dr. Bryce believes the chances of voice preservation are 65% after radiotherapy only. In his opinion an additional 10% would be helped by conservation partial laryngeal surgery.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗