Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

J H Glick

Publications and source records attributed to J H Glick.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Comparison of melphalan and prednisone with vincristine, carmustine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone in the treatment of multiple myeloma: results of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study E2479.

BACKGROUND: The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performed a Phase III comparison of melphalan and prednisone (MP) with vincristine, carmustine (BCNU), melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone (VBMCP) in an attempt to determine which of these regimens should be the standard treatment for multiple myeloma. METHODS: Four hundred seventy-nine previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma from 23 ECOG institutions were enrolled. Treatment, assigned by randomization, consisted of either 4-week cycles of MP or 5-week cycles of VBCMP. After 1 year of induction therapy, patients received MP or VBMCP maintenance therapy at 6- and 8- week intervals, respectively, until relapse. Patients who experienced treatment failure with MP were eligible for crossover therapy with VBMCP. RESULTS: Objective responses were obtained for 51% of patients receiving MP, as compared with 72% of patients receiving VBMCP (P < 0.001). Response duration was also longer with VBMCP (median, 18 months with MP vs. 24 months with VBMCP; P = 0.007). Overall survival was not significantly different between MP and VBMCP (P = 0.30). The 5-year survival for VBMCP was 26%, as compared with 19% for MP. VBMCP was associated with more nausea, peripheral nerve toxicity, alopecia, and neutropenia, but the infection rate was equal to that observed with MP. Both regimens were generally well tolerated. The main exception was that elderly patients who were confined to bed had a higher risk of death with VBMCP. The two regimens produced a similar incidence of late secondary myelodysplastic syndrome and acute leukemia. Crossover VBMCP for patients failing with MP was only minimally effective, with an objective response rate of 20% and median survival of 11 months after crossover. CONCLUSIONS: VBMCP is more effective than MP in producing and sustaining remission of multiple myeloma. It is associated with a marginal survival advantage and an apparently greater chance of surviving 5 years for patients who can tolerate moderately intensive combination chemotherapy. Cancer 1997;79:1561-7. 1997 American Cancer Society.

Adult

Tamoxifen's impact on the management of breast cancer: the oncologist's perspective.

Breast cancer treatment has evolved greatly within the last 25 years. Tamoxifen was first introduced for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in the 1970s and later became accepted as standard adjuvant therapy. The emergence of tamoxifen as first-line hormonal therapy for metastatic disease and in the adjuvant setting occurred due to its efficacy in achieving prolonged overall survival as well as improved disease-free survival, the latter of which improves the psychological and physical quality of life of the patient. Tamoxifen is currently being studied for the prevention of breast cancer. Completion of this important trial is eagerly awaited.

Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic

The effects of sequence and type of chemotherapy and radiation therapy on cosmesis and complications after breast conservation therapy.

PURPOSE: Chemotherapy plays an increasingly important role in the treatment of both node-negative and node-positive breast cancer patients, but the optimal sequencing of chemotherapy and radiation therapy is not well established. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the interaction of sequence and type of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy given with radiation therapy on the cosmetic outcome and the incidence of complications of Stage I and II breast cancer patients treated with breast-conserving therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of 1053 Stage I and II breast cancer patients treated with curative intent with breast-conserving surgery, axillary dissection, and radiation therapy between 1977-1991 were reviewed. Median follow-up after treatment was 6.7 years. Two hundred fourteen patients received chemotherapy alone, 141 patients received hormonal therapy alone, 86 patients received both, and 612 patients received no adjuvant therapy. Patients who received chemotherapy +/- hormonal therapy were grouped according to sequence of chemotherapy: (a) concurrent = concurrent chemotherapy with radiation therapy followed by chemotherapy; (b) sequential = radiation followed by chemotherapy or chemotherapy followed by radiation; and (c) sandwich = chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemotherapy and radiation followed by chemotherapy. Compared to node negative patients, node-positive patients more commonly received chemotherapy (77 vs. 9%, p < 0.0001) and/or hormonal therapy (40 vs. 14%, p < 0.0001). Among patients who received chemotherapy, the majority (243 patients) received concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy with two cycles of cytoxan and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) administered during radiation followed by six cycles of chemotherapy with cytoxan, 5-fluorouracil and either methotrexate (CMF) or doxorubicin(CAF). For analysis of cosmesis, patients included were relapse free with 3 years minimum follow-up. RESULTS: The use of chemotherapy had an adverse effect on cosmetic outcome compared to no chemotherapy, which was of borderline significance at 3 years (92% excellent or good cosmetic outcome vs. 96% respectively, p = 0.057); however, cosmesis was not different at 5 years (91 vs. 93% respectively, p = 0.67). Cosmesis was not significantly different between patients treated sequentially and those treated concurrently (3 year: 87 vs. 93% respectively, p = 0.33), nor was it different between patients who received CMF vs. CAF (3 year: 92 vs. 93% respectively, p = 0.89). Hormonal therapy did not influence cosmetic outcome (p = 0.78). The incidence of Grade 4 or 5 arm edema (> or = 2 cm difference in arm circumference) was 2% without chemotherapy vs. 8% with chemotherapy (p = 0.00002). However, the incidence of arm edema was not affected by sequencing or type of chemotherapy (all p > or = 0.52). Patients treated sequentially had a 10% incidence of Grade 4 or 5 arm edema vs. 7% in the patients treated concurrently (p = 0.52). The incidence was 7 vs. 9% in patients treated with CMF vs. CAF (p = 0.73). The incidence of clinical pneumonitis and rib fracture was not influenced by use of chemotherapy, sequence of chemotherapy or use of hormonal therapy (all p > or = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Chemotherapy can be given concurrently with radiation therapy in the treatment of Stage I and II breast cancer with breast-conserving therapy without seriously compromising cosmetic outcome or incidence of complications compared to patients receiving other sequences of chemotherapy. Hormonal therapy did not affect cosmesis or complications. The chemotherapeutic regimen of cytoxan and 5-FU concurrent with radiation therapy followed by more chemotherapy is one reasonable option for breast conservation therapy in patients requiring chemotherapy.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols

Fluorouracil plus levamisole as effective adjuvant therapy after resection of stage III colon carcinoma: a final report.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of two adjuvant therapy regimens in improving surgical cure rates in stage III (Dukes stage C) colon cancer. DESIGN: Randomized, concurrently controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Major cancer centers, universities, and community clinics affiliated with the North Cancer Treatment Group, the Southwest Oncology Group, and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. PATIENTS: Those who had had curative-intent resections of stage III colon cancer in the previous 1 to 5 weeks. INTERVENTION: Patients were assigned to observation only, to levamisole alone (50 mg orally three times/d for 3 days, repeated every 2 weeks for 1 year), or to this regimen of levamisole plus fluorouracil (450 mg/m2 body surface area intravenously daily for 5 days and then, beginning at 28 days, weekly for 48 weeks). MEASUREMENTS: Rates of cancer recurrence and death. Early- and late-treatment side effects. RESULTS: With all 929 eligible patients able to be followed for 5 years or more (median follow-up, 6.5 years), fluorouracil plus levamisole reduced the recurrence rate by 40% (P < 0.0001) and the death rate by 33% (P = 0.0007). Levamisole reduced the recurrence rate by only 2% and the death rate by only 6%. With few exceptions, toxicity was mild and patient compliance was excellent. No evidence of late side effects was seen. CONCLUSION: Fluorouracil plus levamisole is tolerable adjuvant therapy to surgery; it has been confirmed to substantially increase cure rates for patients with high-risk (stage III) colon cancer. It should be considered standard treatment for all such patients not entered into clinical trials.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols

Intergroup study of fluorouracil plus levamisole as adjuvant therapy for stage II/Dukes' B2 colon cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of fluorouracil plus levamisole administered postoperatively to patients with resected stage II (Dukes' B2) colon cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial (INT-0035) was performed by National Cancer Institute-sponsored cancer clinical trials cooperative groups. Patients were assigned to observation only or to fluorouracil (450 mg/m2 intravenously [IV] daily for 5 days and, beginning at 28 days, weekly for 48 weeks) plus levamisole (50 mg orally three times daily for 3 days repeated every 2 weeks for 1 year). Cancer recurrence, survival, and treatment side effects were assessed. RESULTS: Three hundred eighteen eligible patients were analyzed with a median follow-up time of 7 years. Fluorouracil plus levamisole reduced the recurrence rate by 31%, although this trend was not statistically significant (P = .10). A total of 87 patients died: 43 on observation and 44 on fluorouracil plus levamisole. Disparity between effects on recurrence rate and overall survival is partially explained by a higher rate of non-colon cancer-related deaths on fluorouracil plus levamisole (15 v seven) and by the effects of salvage surgery with curative intent. Of seven patients with recurrence who were rendered disease-free by salvage surgery, six were on the observation arm. As was observed in patients treated with fluorouracil plus levamisole for stage III disease, toxicity was acceptable and compliance was excellent. CONCLUSION: Fluorouracil plus levamisole is tolerable and accepted as standard surgical adjuvant therapy for patients with stage III colon cancer, but the data from this study in stage II patients suggest a decreased relapse rate without a significant improvement in survival.

Adenocarcinoma

The influence of young age on outcome in early stage breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of young age on outcome in women with early stage breast cancer undergoing conservative surgery and radiation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1981 and 1991, 980 patients with Stage I and II breast cancer underwent excisional biopsy, axillary dissection, and radiation. The median follow-up was 4.6 years, with a range of 1 month to 11 years. The patients were divided into three groups, based on age at the time of diagnosis: (a) age < or = 35 years--64 patients, (b) age 36-50 years--363 patients, and (c) age > 50 years--553 patients. The comparability of the groups was assessed in terms of clinical factors (tumor size and race), histopathologic factors (histologic subtype, final resection margin, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, pathologic nodal status), and treatment related factors (reexcision, median total dose to the primary, region(s) treated with radiation, and the use of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy and/or tamoxifen). Outcome was evaluated for overall, relapse-free, and cause-specific survival and patterns of first failure (breast, regional nodes, and distant metastasis). RESULTS: There were no significant differences among the three groups in terms of race, clinical tumor size, pathology of the primary tumor, pathologic nodal status, final margin of resection, progesterone receptor status, median total dose to the primary tumor, or the regions treated. However, younger women were significantly more likely to have estrogen receptor negative tumors, undergo reexcision, and receive adjuvant systemic chemotherapy without tamoxifen. Younger women were found to have a statistically significantly decreased 8-year actuarial relapse-free survival (53% vs. 67% vs. 74%, p = 0.009), cause-specific survival (73% vs. 84% vs. 90%, p = 0.02), freedom from distant metastasis (76% vs. 75% vs. 83%, p = 0.02), and a significantly increased risk of breast recurrence (24% vs. 14% vs. 12%, p = 0.001), and regional node recurrence (7% vs. 1% vs. 1%, p = 0.0002). The patients were further divided on the basis of their pathologic nodal status. There were no statistically significant differences among the three age groups for axillary node-positive patients for overall survival (75% vs. 80% vs. 74%), relapse-free survival (73% vs. 73% vs. 62%), cause-specific survival (76% vs. 85% vs. 80%), and freedom from distant metastasis (75% vs. 75% vs. 72%), or breast recurrence (0% vs. 9% vs. 6%). The findings were identical when the analysis was restricted to node-positive patients who received chemotherapy. However, for axillary node-negative women, young age was associated with a statistically significant decreased overall survival (71% vs. 83% vs. 92%), relapse-free survival (51% vs. 65% vs. 76%), cause-specific survival (71% vs. 86% vs. 93%), freedom from distant metastasis (77% vs. 76% vs. 88%), and a statistically significant increased risk of breast recurrence (40% vs. 16% vs. 13%), and regional node recurrence (3% vs. 1% vs. 0%). The risk of a breast recurrence in axillary node-negative young women was decreased by the addition of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy but not by the use of reexcision. CONCLUSIONS: The present analysis demonstrates that young women with early stage breast cancer do significantly worse when compared to older women in terms of relapse-free survival, cause-specific survival, distant metastasis and breast and regional node recurrence. However, the adverse effect of young age on outcome appears to be limited to the node-negative patients. These findings suggest that node-negative early stage breast cancer in young women is a more aggressive disease, with an increased risk for all patterns of failure and a decreased survival.

Adult

A phase III comparison of CHOP vs. m-BACOD vs. ProMACE-CytaBOM vs. MACOP-B in patients with intermediate- or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: results of SWOG-8516 (Intergroup 0067), the National High-Priority Lymphoma Study.

BACKGROUND: CHOP is a four-drug, first-generation combination chemotherapy regimen that has cured approximately 30% of all patients with advanced stages of intermediate- or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in national cooperative group trials. Initial single-institution studies of third-generation regimens such as m-BACOD, ProMACE-CytaBOM, and MACOP-B suggested that 55%-60% of these patients might be cured. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In order to make a valid comparison between these regimens, the Southwest Oncology Group and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group initiated a randomized phase III comparison of CHOP vs. m-BACOD vs. ProMACE-CytaBOM vs. MACOP-B. Endpoints of the study were response rate, time to treatment failure, overall survival, and severe or life-threatening toxicity. Received dose intensity calculations and subset analyses were also performed. RESULTS: 1138 patients were registered on this clinical trial. Each treatment arm contained between 218 and 233 eligible patients. Known prognostic factors were equally distributed. The initial results of this study were recently published. There were no significant differences in either the partial or complete response rates between treatment arms. Now after a median follow-up of 49 months and a maximum follow-up of 84 months, there is still no difference in time to treatment failure (p = 0.40) or overall survival (p = 0.68). No subset of patients was found to have significantly improved survival with the third-generation regimens. The received dose intensity data were comparable to previously published data for these regimens. Fatal toxicity was 1% for CHOP, 3% for ProMACE-CytaBOM, 5% for m-BACOD, and 6% for MACOP-B. CONCLUSION: Based on similar failure-free and overall survival with lower cost and lower severe toxicity, CHOP remains the standard chemotherapy for patients with advanced-stage, intermediate- or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. New treatment strategies need to be developed to improve the prognosis of these patients.

Aged

An aggressive high dose cyclophosphamide and prednisone regimen for advanced multiple myeloma.

There is strong evidence that corticosteroids contribute to the objective and subjective response rate observed following treatment with several cytotoxic chemotherapy agents, and that there is a dose response effect for treatment of multiple myeloma with alkylating agents. Therefore, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) studied cyclophosphamide 600 mg/M2 given for four consecutive days intravenously combined with prednisone 100 mg orally daily in 57 patients who had progressed following or failed to respond to standard doses of these drugs. Forty eight patients met the eligibility criteria for evaluation of response and toxicity. Fourteen patients (29%) had an objective response (OR) and an additional 2 (4%) had a subjective response (SR) only. The median duration of objective response was 3.1 months and estimated median survival was 8.6 months. These results are identical to our prior experience with high dose cyclophosphamide alone. The addition of prednisone does not appear to enhance results either through increased remissions or greater survival. Therefore, this study indicates that the preferred form of high dose cyclophosphamide for multiple myeloma is as a single agent given in intravenous four day courses.

Administration, Oral

Long-term follow-up of a CHOP-based regimen with maintenance therapy and central nervous system prophylaxis in lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) conducted a phase II trial in adult patients with lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Thirty-nine patients with no central nervous system (CNS) involvement were treated with an induction cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP)/L-asparaginase regimen and CNS prophylaxis that included intrathecally administered methotrexate given 6 times and 24 Gy midplane cranial radiation in 12 fractions. Thirty-one patients (79%) achieved a complete remission (CR). Of the 31 patients with CRs, 12 relapsed (39%). CNS relapse occurred in three patients. All patients who entered a CR were treated with maintenance CHOP, cytosine arabinoside (AraC), and methotrexate and subsequently with Ara-C and methotrexate. Life-threatening leukopenia or thrombocytopenia was experienced in 69% of patients in the induction phase and in 70% in the maintenance phase. Nineteen of 39 patients (49%) remain in CR with a followup to 9 years. Bone marrow involvement was associated with a significantly worse survival (P = 0.03).

Adolescent

Comparison of a standard regimen (CHOP) with three intensive chemotherapy regimens for advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: CHOP is a first-generation, combination-chemotherapy regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone that has cured approximately 30 percent of patients with advanced stages of intermediate-grade or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in national cooperative-group trials. However, studies at single institutions have suggested that 55 to 65 percent of such patients might be cured by third-generation regimens such as ones consisting of low-dose methotrexate with leucovorin rescue, bleomycin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dexamethasone (m-BACOD); prednisone, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide, followed by cytarabine, bleomycin, vincristine, and methotrexate with leucovorin rescue (ProMACE-CytaBOM); and methotrexate with leucovorin rescue, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and bleomycin (MACOP-B). METHODS: To make a valid comparison of these regimens, the Southwest Oncology Group and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group initiated a prospective, randomized phase III trial. The study end points were the response rate, time to treatment failure, overall survival, and incidence of severe or life-threatening toxicity. Dose intensity was calculated and analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 1138 patients registered for the trial, 899 were eligible. Each treatment group contained at least 218 patients. Known prognostic factors were equally distributed among the groups. There were no significant differences among the groups in the rates of partial and complete response. At three years, 44 percent of all patients were alive without disease; there were no significant differences between the groups (41 percent in the CHOP and MACOP-B groups and 46 percent in the m-BACOD and ProMACE-CytaBOM groups; P = 0.35). Overall survival at three years was 52 percent (50 percent in the ProMACE-CytaBOM and MACOP-B groups, 52 percent in the m-BACOD group, and 54 percent in the CHOP group; P = 0.90). There was no subgroup of patients in which survival was improved by a third-generation regimen. Fatal toxic reactions occurred in 1 percent of the CHOP group, 3 percent of the ProMACE-CytaBOM group, 5 percent of the m-BACOD group, and 6 percent of the MACOP-B group (P = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: CHOP remains the best available treatment for patients with advanced-stage intermediate-grade or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Adolescent

Age and Hodgkin's disease: the impact of competing risks and possibly salvage therapy on long term survival: an E.C.O.G. study.

A detailed review of factors associated with survival was carried out in a cohort of 560 patients treated in two successive E.C.O.G. studies on advanced Hodgkin's disease. The study was undertaken to explore the impact of age on survival and to attempt to identify reasons for any observed differences. Data from two E.C.O.G. studies of patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease were examined separately and then pooled together. A special data request form was developed to capture additional information on treatments utilized for patients who were treated at relapse. The complete remission percentages were identical in both studies (72%) with no significant difference between the three age groupings (< 40, 40-59, and > 60 yr). This was true as well for disease-free survival. Nevertheless, overall survival was significantly better for the under aged 40 group and this difference was narrowed but not eliminated by competing risks. Our analysis of salvage therapy revealed a marginally significant difference in the CR% between the three groups, favoring the youngest cohort (< age 40 yr). The identical remission rate is probably a reflection of the entry criteria eliminating poor risk patients. Among the small number of patients who received radiation therapy, the response rate was 75% (9/12) in the young cohort. Elderly patients appeared to receive less salvage therapy and certainly fewer responses. Survival after relapse showed a similar pattern with the best survival in the youngest group of patients followed closely by the 40-59 yr group, with a poor outcome for those over age 60 yr. We conclude that a variety of conditions, both age and non-age dependent, impact on the survival of patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease who fulfill the rigid criteria for entry into cooperative group trials.

Adult