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Biomedical subjects

J A Cavins

Publications and source records attributed to J A Cavins.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Breast cancer skin test antigens of increased sensitivity prepared from vesicular stomatitis virus-infected tumor cells.

Crude membrane (CM) extracts were prepared from five cultured breast tumor lines (MDA-MB-157, MDA-MB-231, ZR75-1, HS0578T, and MCF-7) which had been infected with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) to augment their antigenicity. In skin test trials, CM extracts of uninfected MCF-7 cells elicited positive response in 0 of 13 (0%) tests in breast cancer patients, while VSV-MCF-7 elicited positive responses in 11 of the same 13 patients (84.6%). CM extracts of VSV-ZR75-1 and VSV-MCF-7 elicited greater delayed hypersensitivity responses (mm induration at 48 hr) in breast cancer patients than in patients with lung carcinoma or melanoma. Although the sensitivity of VSV-ZR75-1 was too low (ten of 28, or 35.7% of tests positive) to be useful as a skin test antigen, VSV-MCF-7 elicited positive responses in 30 of 38 (78.9%) tests in breast cancer patients, as compared to two of 15 (13.3%) and two of 13 (15.4%) of tests in patients with lung carcinoma and melanoma, respectively. The "virus-augmented" CM extract of cultured MCF-7 cells exhibited markedly greater sensitivity as compared to control MCF-7 extracts (P less than .005), with a high degree of specificity for breast cancer patients as compared to patients with the other neoplasms (P less than .00001). The results of skin testing with VSV-MCF-7 CM extracts demonstrated antigenic cross-reactivity with a large number of breast cancer patients, a finding of great importance for any potential immunotherapy and/or immunodiagnosis.

Adult↗

Renal malacoplakia.

A case of malacoplakia of the kidney is presented. The incidental finding of asymptomatic pyuria focused attention on the urinary system. Urologic evaluation concluded an avascular renal mass. The diagnosis of malacoplakia was established only after histologic studies of the surgical specimen were completed. Purulent perinephritis complicated the postoperative outcome.

Humans↗

The "turban" nevoid basal cell syndrome. Current management with surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

"Turban" nevoid basal cell syndrome is a congenital disease that presents with multiple subepidermal epitheliomas, primarily on the scalp. Other secondary findings may be present such as cysts in the mandible and bifid synostotic rib. A combination of treatments proved beneficial in this disease. Surgical excision was used for treatment of large symptomatic lesions such as painful ulcerating and enlarging tumors. Chemotherapy was used to arrest and cause regression of small and dormant lesions. Immunotherapy was used to control the primary disease. Such treatment cured most of the disease and offered a fruitful life to the patient, who is presented to illustrate this multiple disciplinary approach.

Adult↗