Biomedical subjects

J L Weese

Publications and source records attributed to J L Weese.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radical resection with intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT): improved treatment for gastric adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinoma of the stomach and gastroesophageal junction results in substantial morbidity, locoregional recurrence, and death. Surgical procedures, even with adjuvant therapy, have not significantly improved survival. This study evaluated the toxicity, response rate, locoregional control, and survival of patients with locally advanced gastric cancer that was treated with neoadjuvant multimodality therapy. METHODS: Patients with stage IIIA or early stage IV gastric adenocarcinoma received neoadjuvant 5-fluorouracil, Leucovorin, Adriamycin, and Cisplatin and underwent gastrectomy or esophagogastrectomy with intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT; 1000 cGY) to the gastric bed and postoperative radiation therapy. RESULTS: Nine of 15 patients (60%) with transmural extension and/or nodal metastases received IORT. There were 2 pathologically complete responses at the primary site. Eleven of 15 patients (73%) had tumor in perigastric lymph nodes; however, 9 of 15 patients (60%) had mucin-filled nodes without tumor cells. Neoadjuvant treatment did not increase operative morbidity rates. Ten of 15 patients (67%) remain free of disease (median, 27 months; range, 6-60 months). Five patients died 13 to 41 months (median, 17 months) after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant multimodality therapy with neoadjuvant 5-fluorouracil, Leucovorin, Adriamycin, and Cisplatin, radical resection with IORT, and postoperative radiation therapy is safe, can downstage tumors, provides improved locoregional control, and appears to cause significant tumor regression that may result in long-term survival or cure.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1998

Phase II trial of preoperative radiation therapy and chemotherapy for patients with localized, resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study.

PURPOSE: A prospective, multiinstitutional trial was initiated in 1991 to examine the tolerance to and efficacy of a program of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CTRT) and surgical resection for patients with localized adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-three patients were assessable for analysis, with a median follow-up of 52 months for survivors. Radiation therapy (RT) totaling 5,040 cGy in 180 cGy fractions with mitomycin 10 mg/m2 day 2 and fluorouracil (5-FU) 1,000 mg/m2/d continuous infusion days 2 through 5 and 29 through 32 were given as preoperative adjuvant therapy. Twelve patients did not proceed to surgery (one death, one toxicity, three local progression, six distant metastases, one intercurrent illness), whereas 41 patients underwent surgery. Of these, 17 patients did not have resection (11, hepatic and/or peritoneal metastases and six local extension that precluded resection). Twenty-four patients had tumor resection (19 Whipple, four total pancreatectomy, one distal pancreatectomy). RESULTS: Treatment toxicity was primarily hematologic, although a comparable number suffered biliary tract complications, either from obstruction or cholangitis as a result of an occluded stent or the primary tumor. There was one postoperative death. Median survival for the entire group and for the 24 patients with resection was 9.7 and 15.7 months. This survival rate reflected the advanced state of most resected cancers (positive peritoneal cytology, three patients; margins within 2 mm, 13 patients; involved lymph nodes, four patients; and need for superior mesenteric vein (SMV) resection, four patients). Tumor progression was most frequent at metastatic sites. CONCLUSION: This preoperative CTRT protocol was feasible and safe in a cooperative group setting. Entry of patients with advanced tumors probably accounted for the suboptimal resectability and survival results.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1996

Modulation of colon tumor oncogene expression by cancer patient-derived lipids.

In an effort to understand the role of specific fats on carcinogenesis, we have studied the effects of lipids derived from cancer patients on components associated with the regulation of proliferation. The treatment of tumor cells with patient-derived fats produced increased cell proliferation, as indicated by shorter doubling times. The effects of patient-derived lipids on the expression of ras, c-jun, c-erbB-2, and p53 gene products were examined. The cellular expression of the ras proto-oncogene product was increased in both colon tumor cell lines, following lipid treatment. However, c-jun proto-oncogene expression was elevated in HT-29 cells and appeared unchanged in SK-Co-1 cells after lipid treatment. Treatment of HT-29 tumor cells with patient-derived fats produced an enhancement of the p53 gene product, whereas fat treatment reduced p53 expression in SK-Co-1 tumor cells. Further separation of the patient-derived fats indicated that the amplification of p53 gene expression in HT-29 cells could be achieved primarily by addition of the diacylglycerides fraction. Addition of the purified fatty acids, comprising the diglyceride fraction, indicated that the fatty acids, 16:1, 18:0, and 18:1, induced the most significant increases in p53 expression by HT-29 cells. These alterations caused by cancer patient-derived fats are consistent with the loss of normal growth regulation and may explain the epidemiologic association between certain fats and carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗

PubMed1995

Long-term follow-up of local excision and radiation therapy for invasive rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: Little is known regarding the long-term outcome of patients with rectal cancer treated by local excision and radiation therapy. We updated our institutional experience with this approach. METHODS: From January 1986 to December 1991, 23 patients (median age, 64 (range, 30-80) years) with mobile, moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the rectum were offered transanal excision. Two patients with large T3 tumors, who were judged intraoperatively to be unsuited for a local procedure, received radical resection and were excluded from analysis. Twenty-one patients underwent transanal excision en bloc (14) or piece-meal (7) through a resectoscope. Seven patients (74 percent) had either extensive medical problems or refused a colostomy. Patients received a median of 5,040 cGy postoperatively, and 15 also received 500 cGy preoperatively on protocol. Two patients received concomitant chemotherapy. Median follow-up is 56 months for all patients and 67 months for survivors (range, 27-92 months). RESULTS: There were 2 T1, 15 T2, and 4 T3 tumors. The distance from the anal verge was a median of 4 (range, 1-7) cm. The median tumor size was 3 (range, 2-7) cm. Sixteen patients had more than one-third of the wall involved. Four patients (19 percent) developed a local recurrence at 26, 30, 33, and 48 (median, 31.5) months. Three were salvaged (abdominoperineal resection = 2; low anterior resection = 1) and remain disease-free 18, 36, and 37 months postoperatively. Four patients (19 percent) developed metastases (lung = 3; liver = 1) at 3, 22, 25 and 44 months after initial treatment (median, 23.5 months). The actuarial five-year overall, disease-free and recurrence-free survival are 77, 75, and 58 percent, respectively. Twelve patients (57 percent) have no evidence of disease while retaining their rectum. There was one postoperative death. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term follow-up confirms that local excision and radiation therapy is of value in patients with mobile tumors of the rectum. It suggests that this treatment can be offered to those patients who refuse a colostomy or are medically compromised and may be an acceptable option for selected patients with T2 or T3, mobile adenocarcinomas of the rectum.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1995

A pilot study of preoperative chemoradiation for patients with localized adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that delivering adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) preoperatively with chemotherapy might enhance local control of the cancer and patient tolerance for the intervention. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with localized pancreatic cancer (24 head, 8 head and body, 2 body and tail) were treated during the past 6 years with an intramural protocol consisting of 5-fluorouracil (1,000 mg/m2 on days 2 to 5 and 29 to 32) and mitomycin-C (10 mg/m2 on day 2) given with preoperative external beam RT (median 5,040 cGy). Nine patients did not have surgery: 1 refused, 1 died of cholangitis, and 7 were noted to have distant (5) or unresectable local cancer (2) after RT. Of the 25 patients who underwent celiotomy, 11 had liver (8) or peritoneal (3) metastases and 3 had palliative pancreatectomies (2 with liver metastasectomy and 1 with hepatic artery and portal vein replacement). The remaining 11 patients (44% of the cohort with surgery, 32% of all patients) had potentially curative (PC) resections (5 total pancreatectomy, 5 Whipple, 1 distal pancreatectomy). Median tumor diameter by computed tomographic scan was 3.75 cm (range 3 to 5) for the 11 patients who received PC resections and 4.5 cm (range 3 to 7.5) for all patients. Of the 11 patients with PC resections, 8 had evidence of superior mesenteric, portal or splenic venous involvement and 4 had been deemed unresectable at previous celiotomies. RESULTS: One patient developed respiratory failure and one died postoperatively, yielding a 9% rate of major morbidity and mortality. Median follow-up of the surviving patients with curative resection is 33 months (range 14 to 70). Their median survival from the time of tissue diagnosis is 45 months with a median disease-free survival of 27 months. The product limit estimate of 5-year survival is 40% (95% confidence bounds +29%, -30%). One patient had a microscopically positive resection margin, which was a falsely negative frozen section margin at the pancreatic neck. Two patients had positive regional lymph nodes. Five patients have been diagnosed with recurrent cancer. Only 1 has had a local/regional component to the recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative RT and chemotherapy followed by resection is well tolerated and safe for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. This approach provides tumor free resection margins and offers prolonged survival to patients with truly localized pancreatic cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1993

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation in pancreatic and duodenal carcinoma. A Phase II Study.

BACKGROUND: Low resectability rate and high locoregional recurrence are major factors contributing to the failure of surgical treatment for localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma. A Phase II study involving preoperative 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C and radiation therapy was evaluated. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with biopsy-proven carcinoma (24, head of pancreas; 2, body; 5 duodenum) were treated with preoperative radiation therapy, 5040 cGy (180 cGy/fraction, 5 days/week), concurrent with 5-FU, 1000 mg/m2/day continuous infusion (days 2-5, 28-32) and mitomycin C 10 mg/m2 bolus (day 2). Ten patients had previous laparotomy or bypass surgery and were deemed unresectable; 21 had percutaneous, endoscopic retrograde choleangiopancreatic, or transhepatic stent biopsies. RESULTS: Toxicity included neutropenic fever (2 patients), biliary sepsis (2 patients), and nausea and vomiting requiring total parenteral nutrition. One patient died of biliary sepsis before completion of chemoradiation and 11 patients showed evidence of metastatic disease (clinical or occult). Resectability rate was 38% (10/26) for pancreatic carcinoma and 80% (4/5) for duodenal carcinoma. Pathology of the resected specimens revealed extensive necrosis and hyalinization with clear margins in all cases. Lymph node metastases were found in one case of pancreatic carcinoma. The four resected duodenal carcinomas contained no residual tumor in the specimens. At a median follow-up of 29 months, the median survival time for those with pancreatic carcinoma was not yet reached in the resection group and was 8 months in the nonresection group. The corresponding actuarial 5-year survival rates were 58% and 0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy was given safely to patients with pancreatic and duodenal carcinoma. It facilitated complete resection in 38% of patients with pancreatic carcinoma and 80% of those with duodenal carcinoma. A significant downstaging of positive margins and regional lymph nodes occurs as a result of preoperative chemoradiation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1993

Enhancement of antitumor effects of combined chemoimmunotherapy.

The spontaneously metastatic murine pancreatic tumor, PAN 2, was used to evaluate established regimens of combined chemoimmunotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and levamisole and new protocols based on the immunomodulator, thymopoietin pentapeptide (TP-5). The combination of 5-FU and levamisole reduced the final tumor size by 32% and the mean number of lung metastases by 71%. Based on flow cytometric analysis, the combination treatment increased the percent of helper/inducer (CD4+) lymphocytes and reduced the number of effector (suppressor/cytotoxic) lymphocytes (CD8+). A second combination using 5-FU and TP-5 produced a reduction in tumor growth rate of 52%, with an 88% suppression of lung metastases with TP-5/5-FU (vs. levamisole/5-FU) treatment. The TP-5 treatment also increased splenic T-lymphocyte responsiveness to nonspecific mitogens by 2.3-fold. These results suggest a correlation between enhanced T-lymphocyte functional parameters and reduced tumor growth and metastatic spread produced by these combination therapies. Since TP-5 has been demonstrated to be a superior immunomodulator compared to levamisole, the greater therapeutic effect of TP-5 vs. levamisole further supports the postulated role of immunopotentiation in the success of combined chemoimmunotherapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1993

A single institutional experience with preoperative chemoradiotherapy for stage I-III pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

In order to determine whether preresectional chemoradiotherapy (CTRT) would influence resectability, local control, and survival of patients with localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a 5 1/2-year prospective study of 39 patients treated with preoperative radiation therapy, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), and Mitomycin C has been performed. Thirty patients had celiotomy after CTRT (1/39 died while receiving CTRT, one refused surgery, and seven had extrapancreatic disease progression). Seventeen (57%) had resections (seven total, two distal subtotal, and eight Whipple pancreaticoduodenectomies). All had clear margins of excision, and only one had any positive lymph nodes in the resected specimen. Eleven patients with resection had Stage I cancers (5 T1b, 6 T2), five had Stage II, and one had a Stage III lesion. Previous bypass surgery, age, clinical response to CTRT, and tumor size had no influence on resectability. Two patients died postoperatively (12%) early in the series. Three others suffered major morbidity (chylous ascites requiring peritoneovenous shunt, ARDS, and prolonged afferent loop obstruction leading to a fatal liver abscess 5 months after surgery). Two patients with resection are alive without recurrence at 48 months after tissue diagnosis, and six others are also alive without recurrence, after from 6 to 23 months. In summary, resectability is probably enhanced and nodal metastases and resection margins are downstaged by preoperative CTRT. Demonstration of an improved survival benefit awaits further observation and phase III trials.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1993

Radiation-induced intestinal injury.

Radiation therapy is administered to approximately one third of patients with cancer as part of their treatment plan. Radiation-induced bowel injury is a major cause of morbidity in these patients. The pathophysiology of this condition as well as recommendations for the management of acute and chronic radiation enteritis are discussed. In general, except for patients presenting with signs of an acute abdomen, conservative management yields the best clinical results.

Colitis↗

PubMed1992

Conservative management of extensive low-lying rectal carcinomas with transanal local excision and combined preoperative and postoperative radiation therapy. A report of a phase I-II trial.

Between 1986 and 1990, 16 patients were enrolled in a prospective Phase I/II study of transanal local excision and combined preoperative and postoperative radiation therapy (RT). All patients had biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma extending to within 6 cm of the anal verge and involvement of at least one third of the rectal circumference with tumor. Five of 16 patients (32%) had T3 tumors, and only two patients had T1 tumors. Patients received a single 500 cGy fraction of RT to the pelvis within 24 hours before surgery and underwent transanal excision followed by postoperative RT (median dose, 5040 cGy). With a median follow-up of 33 months, overall 3-year actuarial survival was 94%. Two patients had isolated local recurrences (both successfully salvaged), and four had distant metastases but maintained local control. The 3-year actuarial rates of continuous freedom from any relapse, continuous local control, and no evidence of disease at last follow-up were 53%, 80%, and 71%, respectively. Only three of 16 patients required colostomy, resulting in a 3-year actuarial colostomy-free rate of 77%. There was a trend toward a higher rate of relapse (P = 0.066) in patients with T3 tumors than those with T1 and T2 tumors. Sphincter-preserving therapy for low-lying rectal carcinomas using local excision and combined preoperative and postoperative RT is feasible, although improved local and adjuvant therapy is needed for patients with T3 lesions.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1992

Intratumoral rIL2-based immunotherapy in B16 melanoma.

Limiting factors in systemic recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL2) therapy may be overcome by intratumoral (IT) administration. A series of experiments was conducted to assess the efficacy of IT rIL2 alone and in combination with LAK cells and IFN-gamma. C57BL/6 mice bearing B16-F10 subcutaneous tumors were randomly assigned to treatment groups including: noninjected controls, IT placebo (NaCl, D5W), IT bovine serum albumin (BSA), IT rIL2 (centrally and peripherally), IT rIL2/LAK, IT rIL2/IFN-gamma, and intraperitoneal (IP) rIL2. A tumor size-dependent dose of cytokine was injected daily and LAK cells were given weekly. Systemic immune response was assessed by splenocyte mitogenesis and T-cell subset distribution using thymidine radioassay and flow cytometry, respectively. In terms of survival and tumor growth rate, IT rIL2 was superior to noninjected control, IT placebo, IT BSA, and IP rIL2 (P less than 0.05). The addition of IT LAK cells conferred no therapeutic advantage. The combination of rIL2 and gamma IFN-gamma had a slight survival benefit over rIL2 alone (30.8 days vs 20.4 days). Histologic analysis demonstrated an increase presence of intratumoral macrophages in the IT rIL2-treated tumors (P less than 0.05). Lymphocyte mitogenesis and L3T4+ subset were not altered by any treatment. In vitro thymidine uptake by tumor cells was not affected by rIL2 nor IFN-gamma alone but the combination of rIL2 and IFN-gamma resulted in significant tumor cell growth inhibition. Spontaneous lung metastases were more prevalent following central IT rIL2 (75% vs 29%, P = 0.07) not accountable by needle trauma but avoidable by the use of peritumoral injection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Lymphokine-activated killer cell suppressor factor in malignant effusions.

We examined the possibility that tumor-released products inhibit lymphokine-activated killer cell activation. Lymphokine-activated killer cells from human peripheral blood lymphocytes were activated with recombinant interleukin 2 for 4 days in the presence of malignant effusions or conditioned media from cultured cell lines (10% vol/vol). Eight of 10 malignant effusions/media suppressed the induction of lymphokine-activated killer cell cytotoxicity, as measured in a 4-hour sodium chromate release assay. Seven of 10 effusions/media inhibited lymphokine-activated killer cell proliferation. Suppression was both dose and time dependent. A representative suppressive effusion was fractionated by agarose gel chromatography, treated with detergents disruptive of ionic bonds and lipids, and refractionated using polyacrylamide gel chromatography. Seven suppressive fractions ranging in molecular weight from 1 x 10(5) to 3 x 10(5) d were isolated. It is speculated that this suppressor factor may represent a large multimeric structure with ionic-bonded individual suppressive components.

Cell Division↗

PubMed1991

Development of lung metastases after curative intraperitoneal chemotherapy in a rat colon cancer model.

A model of colon peritoneal carcinomatosis was developed by injecting 5 x 10(7) viable tumor cells intraperitoneally into Fisher 344 rats. All 40 control rats developed bulky abdominal tumor with ascites and died of peritoneal carcinomatosis and bowel obstruction (median survival 5 weeks). One day after tumor implantation, treatment group rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of single agent or combination chemotherapy. The most active intraperitoneal single agents were 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and etoposide. The most active combination was 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin. Combination chemotherapy produced a significant increase in median, 10-week, and 20-week survival (vs control and single agent). Six of 11 (55%) rats treated with intraperitoneal combination chemotherapy dying between 10-20 weeks died of lung metastasis with cure of intraperitoneal tumor. The increased ability of intraperitoneal combination chemotherapy to cure intraperitoneal disease was offset by the development of lung metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1991

Contribution of patient history to the glutathione S-transferase activity of human lung, breast and colon tissue.

Overexpression of the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and their involvement in the detoxification of anticancer agents has prompted numerous investigations of the enzyme activity of human tumor tissue. This study represents an in-depth evaluation of the contribution of patient history and pathological status to the GST activity of various human tissues. GST activity was elevated significantly in tumors of the lung, breast and colon as compared to unmatched and matched normal tissue from the same organ. The GST activity of primary breast tumors varied significantly with the stage of the tumor. Breast tumors previously treated with both radiation and chemotherapy had significantly lower levels of GST activity than untreated tumors. Neither progesterone nor estrogen receptor content was associated with the GST activity in primary breast tumors. Colon metastases possessed higher levels of GST activity than primary colon tumors but enzyme activity was independent of the Duke's classification of the tumor. Only tumors of the left colon had levels of GST activity that were higher than those of adjacent normal mucosa. No relationship was evident between either age or sex and the GST activity of any of the tissues examined. GST activity levels may reflect the site-specific ability of tissues to provide cellular protection against xenobiotics.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMed1991

Aerosolized gamma-interferon and lipopolysaccharide enhances cytotoxicity of murine pulmonary alveolar macrophages.

In vivo stimulation of pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) may enhance tumor cell cytotoxicity. A model using aerosolized gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was developed to induce enhanced PAM activation in vivo in C57BL/6 mice. Mice received four doses of aerosol (2 doses/day) consisting of gamma-IFN (10(4) microU/mouse) and LPS (100 micrograms/mouse). Other groups received either gamma-IFN alone, LPS alone, or saline (control). Cells were harvested by bronchoalveolar lavage. Macrophage cell count demonstrated an increase in macrophage recruitment in the gamma-IFN and LPS group. PAMs were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against B16-F10 melanoma cells. Treatment groups demonstrated enhanced cytotoxicity over controls, and the combination (gamma-IFN plus LPS) was significantly better in cell killing than either treatment modality alone (p less than or equal to 0.02). Activated PAMs selectively killed tumor cells, but did not kill the 3T3 fibroblast cell line. Peritoneal macrophages from mice treated by inhalational gamma-IFN + LPS were enhanced (indicating a systemic effect), but not to the same extent as PAMs. These studies suggest that inhalation of gamma-IFN + LPS can selectively enhance in vivo cytotoxicity of murine PAMs. This may potentially be applicable to human tumor management.

Aerosols↗

PubMed1991

Risk factors for immediate prosthetic postmastectomy reconstruction.

The charts of 44 women who underwent 47 immediate postmastectomy prosthetic breast reconstructions (IPMPBR) with subpectoral prostheses (long-term implant, long-term expandable implant or tissue expanders followed by long-term prosthetic placement) were retrospectively reviewed. Follow-up was from 3 to 49 months (median 18 months). Patient ages ranged from 31 to 77 years (median 42) but 82 per cent were under 60 years old. Indications for mastectomy were infiltrating cancer in 30 patients, intraductal cancer in 11, lobular carcinoma in situ in two and prophylaxis in one. There were 11 patients with pathologic Stage I, 15 with Stage II, three with Stage III and one with Stage IV breast cancer. Adjuvant chemotherapy (CTX) was given to 17 women, adjuvant hormonal treatment to nine, and radiation therapy (RT) to five. One patient had prosthesis extrusion and removal. Two patients had late periprosthetic infections (PPI) with consequent prosthesis removal. CTX did not have a significant association with PPI (two of 14 with CTX vs 0 of 29 without, P = 0.1). However, fill port migrations, prosthesis deflations, and greater than 1 complication were significantly associated with these infections (two of three vs 0 of 38, P = 0.004; two of two vs 0 of 45, P = 0.001; two of four vs 0 of 43, P = 0.006). Skin flap cellulitis and postoperative seroma were also associated with PPI (P less than 0.003 and less than 0.006, respectively). These factors were all also significantly associated with involuntary prosthesis loss (n = 3).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1990

In vitro killing of human malignant mesothelioma by photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy was investigated as a potential new modality for the treatment of human malignant mesothelioma (HMM) utilizing the H-MESO-1 HMM cell line and the photosensitizing agent, Photofrin-II (PF-II). Up-take of PF-II by H-MESO-1 was documented by incubating H-MESO-1 cells with PF-II and measuring the fluorescence at 625 nm following excitation at 400 nm. Cytotoxicity of photodynamic therapy was determined by incubating H-MESO-1 cells (2 X 10(5)) in microtiter plates for 24 hr with concentrations of PF-II varying from 0 to 10 micrograms/ml. The wells were exposed to gold vapor laser light (628 nm) in doses ranging from 0 to 24,000 J/m2. Twenty-four hours following treatment, [3H]thymidine (1 microCi) was added to each well. Cells were harvested 24 hr later and counted for tritium incorporation. Five replicates were performed for each combination of light and drug. Peak absorption of PF-II by H-MESO-1 was reached within 8 hr. Maximal doses of light alone caused minimal cell killing. PF-II without light was cytotoxic only at the highest concentrations. However, the combination of PF-II at concentrations at or above 2.5 micrograms/ml and light produced a significant increase in cytotoxicity. These data demonstrate that photodynamic therapy can effectively kill human malignant mesothelioma cells in vitro.

Cell Survival↗

PubMed1990

CT-guided needle localization for intraoperative biopsy of the head and neck.

Needle-localized intraoperative biopsy was first described for the nonpalpable breast mass using mammography for needle placement. This technique can be adapted by substituting CT (or MRI) for mammography. It can be a valuable tool in localizing the nonpalpable areas of concern in the head and neck, especially when the location is obscure or the patient has undergone previous radiation and/or surgical therapy.

Biopsy, Needle↗