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I Evans

Publications and source records attributed to I Evans.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The effect of chemotherapy dose intensity on the hematological toxicity of the treatment for Wilms' tumor. A report from the National Wilms' Tumor Study.

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between hematological toxicity and actual dose intensity of treatment of patients randomized to therapy during the first 28 months of the National Wilms' Tumor Study-4. METHODS: The mean minimum white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count (PLT), hemoglobin, and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) during the first two courses of chemotherapy and the mean number of days of hospitalization for toxicity were compared between standard and "pulse-intensive" regimens for all randomized patients entered on National Wilms' Tumor Study-4 between August 6, 1986 and December 31, 1988. The mean dose intensity of dactinomycin, vincristine, and doxorubicin received during the first two courses and the entire course of treatment was compared between standard and "pulse-intensive" regimens. RESULTS: The mean minimum WBC, PLT, and ANC were all significantly lower during the first two courses of chemotherapy for stage I patients treated with the standard regimen, compared with the "pulse-intensive" regimen. The mean dose intensity of dactinomycin and doxorubicin was significantly higher for patients treated with the "pulse-intensive" regimens, compared with the appropriate standard regimen. CONCLUSIONS: The "pulse-intensive" administration schedule for the treatment of children with Wilms' tumor permits administration of chemotherapy at a higher dose intensity without an increase in hematological toxicity.

Adolescent↗

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Carbon Monoxide↗

Outcomes in low-risk babies treated with half-dose chemotherapy according to the Third National Wilms' Tumor Study.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the 50% dose reduction of all chemotherapeutic agents recommended for babies (less than or equal to 12 months of age) by the Third National Wilms' Tumor Study (NWTS-3) produced acceptable toxicity without sacrificing any survival benefit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 365 babies enrolled in NWTS-3 had tumors of varying histologies and stages. The present analysis was restricted to the 256 infants who had tumors of favorable histology, were free of metastasis at diagnosis, and received treatment according to NWTS-3 guidelines. RESULTS: Despite the recommended attenuation of drug doses observed in 75% of the chemotherapy courses received, outcomes for these babies were comparable to those obtained in older children given full doses of chemotherapy. Four-year survival rates for 256 babies with stages I (n = 199), II (n = 38), and III (n = 19) favorable-histology tumors were 96%, 95%, and 90%, respectively. The figures for 498 stage I, 342 stage II, and 373 stage III older children with favorable-histology lesions were 92%, 94%, and 91% in that order. There were no deaths from hematologic toxicity or infection among babies who received half-dose chemotherapy. The death rates for their older NWTS-3 counterparts was 1%. CONCLUSION: Less aggressive therapies advocated for babies in NWTS-3 provide acceptable levels of morbidity without compromising the excellent results previously reported for low-risk patients of all ages.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Surgical complications after nephrectomy for Wilms' tumor.

We reviewed the charts of 1,910 children enrolled in the Third National Wilms' Tumor Study who underwent primary nephrectomy. Four hundred and ninety-five surgical complications occurred in 379 children (19.8 percent). Patients with inoperable tumors, bilateral renal tumors, peroperative therapy and those who refused treatment were excluded from this review. The most common complication was intestinal obstruction, which occurred in 132 patients (6.9 percent). This was followed by extensive intraoperative hemorrhage (112 patients), defined as blood loss exceeding 50 milliliters per kilogram of body weight. Intraoperative injuries to other visceral organs (including intestine, liver and spleen) occurred in 21 children and extensive vascular injuries were reported in 27 patients. There were nine deaths attributed to surgical complications (0.5 percent), only one of which was intraoperative. Survival of patients with complications was similar to patients without complications when stratified by histologic study and stage. Factors associated with the development of surgical complications included advanced local tumor stage at diagnosis, intravascular tumor extension and resection of other visceral organs at the time of nephrectomy. Complete removal of the tumor is important, but not at the expense of radical removal of adjacent structures, because of gross appearances at operation. They are often not invaded by the tumor, but rather are compressed, distorted or adherent without tumor infiltration. Identification of these groups will aid the surgeon in choosing the appropriate management for these patients at high risk. When initial exploration and precise surgical staging indicate that only a formidable operation will achieve total excision, shrinkage of the tumor with selective use of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or both, may facilitate removal and decrease surgical morbidity. Preoperative therapy may also be the preferred approach for children with extensive intravascular tumor.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Late effects of treatment for Wilms' tumor. A report from the National Wilms' Tumor Study Group.

The National Wilms' Tumor Study (NWTS) was initiated in 1969. One of its objectives was to modulate treatments according to risk factors to minimize the number and severity of treatment-related short-term and long-term iatrogenic complications. The NWTS has therefore incorporated a Long Term Follow-up Study (LTFS) within its framework to monitor late effects. The LTFS is confined to relapse-free survivors alive 5 years or longer after initial surgery, and data are collected using specifically designed forms. A total of 787 patients registered on NWTS-1 or NWTS-2 (1969 to 1979) were eligible, of whom 680 (86%) were available for analysis regarding musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and neuropsychologic status, and the presence of benign and malignant tumors. Patients with early-stage disease who were treated with radiation had scoliosis reported, along with other musculoskeletal abnormalities (32 versus 2), nearly seven times as often as did the members of the cohort population who did not undergo radiation (35 of 57 versus 5 of 53, respectively). The difference in cardiovascular problems recorded in survivors who did and did not receive Adriamycin (Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH) (2.4 versus 1.1 per 100-person years at risk) had borderline statistical significance (P = 0.06). No excess in neuropsychologic events was reported for those given the neurotoxin vincristine. When considering patients with disease of all stages, all 5 second malignant tumors occurred in the 623 patients who underwent radiation (RT patients); benign tumors were also more frequent in RT patients than in those patients who did not undergo radiation (41 of 486 or 8% versus 4 of 194 or 2%). Continuing study of this unique body of patients is needed, especially for those given Adriamycin, because of the known long interval needed for latent cardiomyopathy to become clinically manifest in some patients.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

Identification of human herpesvirus 6-specific DNA sequences in two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a recently discovered virus which has not been causally linked to any particular disease. In order to investigate the possible role of this virus in the pathogenesis of lymphoid malignancies, we examined tissue samples from 117 patients for the presence of HHV-6-specific DNA sequences. Two cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were found to be positive. One patient had a T cell lymphoma and a preceding history of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy; the other had a B cell lymphoma occurring in the context of Sjögren's syndrome. HHV-6 has been isolated previously from a patient with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy, and viral sequences have been identified in another patient with Sjögren's syndrome and B cell lymphoma. The relationship between HHV-6 and these conditions therefore warrants further investigation.

Aged↗

The distribution of lung damage in children with cystic fibrosis and its relationship to colonisation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Ventilation-perfusion lung scans were performed with 81mKr inhalation and 99mTc-albumin injection in 33 children with cystic fibrosis. It was found that both ventilation and perfusion scans yielded more information than radiographs of the chest in assessing lung damage. Using a scoring system, it was demonstrated by statistical methods that in the worst affected patients the disease was worse in the upper zones of the lungs, which changes were not detectable on chest radiographs. Pseudomonas was present in the sputum of these patients.

Adolescent↗

Phenylthioalkylamines in experimental tumor treatment in mice.

Two phenylthioalkylamines, phenylthioethylamine (PTEA) and phenylthiopropylamine (PTPA), were prepared and tested for cytotoxicity in vitro and as antitumor agents in (C57BL X DBA/2)F1 (BDF1) mice. Low concentrations of PTEA (median effective concentrations of 8.0, 12.0, and 1.3 micrograms PTEA/ml) inhibited the growth of P388 murine lymphoma, L1210 leukemia, and B16 melanoma cells in culture. PTPA was more effective; concentrations of 0.80, 0.56, and 0.35 micrograms PTPA/ml inhibited the growth of P388, L1210, and B16 in vitro by 50%. PTEA and PTPA treatment increased survival times in BDF1 mice bearing the P388 lymphoma, L1210 leukemia, B16 melanoma, and Lewis lung tumors. Multiple daily administrations of the test compounds were more effective than single daily injections in increasing the life-span in mice bearing the P388 lymphoma and B16 melanoma. Both PTEA and PTPA inhibited the enzyme copper-zinc superoxide dismutase.

Animals↗

Late onset Alzheimer's disease and apolipoprotein association in the Irish population: relative risk and attributable fraction.

BACKGROUND: Familial and sporadic late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) shows a consistent genetic association with APOE epsilon4. AIMS: To examine the role of APOE in the AD Irish population. METHODS: One hundred and ten Irish LOAD patients and 217 ethnically-matched controls were genotyped for APOE marker as described by Crook et al. Chi square test was used to compare allelic and genotypic frequencies between patients and controls samples. Attributable fractions were calculated as described by Levin. RESULTS: A highly significant association between AD and APOE epsilon4 was observed (chi2=37.9, p=0.0000000, RR=2.18). Further, the influence of APOEepsilon4 seems to follow a dose-dependent manner whereby individuals with the genotype APOEepsilon4/4 have a higher relative risk than those heterozygous for the epsilon4 allele (RR=4.03 and 1.76 respectively). The relative risk and the attributable fraction calculated for APOE epsilon4 are consistent with those reported for other European populations. This places the influence of this locus on AD development in the Irish population between those of the Spanish and New York white populations. CONCLUSION: These findings provide further evidence for the importance of APOE in the development of AD.

Aged↗