Liposome-encapsulated dichloromethylene diphosphonate (clodronate) is known to deplete macrophages. We examined the effect of clodronate on xenoreactive antibody production and xenograft rejection. Hamster cardiac grafts were transplanted into Lewis rats. Clodronate (4 mL/kg) was injected intravenously on the day before transplantation. In some groups, cyclosporine A (CsA) at a dose of 15 mg/kg was given daily intramuscularly until the end of each experiment. Untreated Lewis rats rejected the grafts at 2 and 3 days after transplantation. Neither CsA treatment alone nor clodronate treatment alone prolonged graft survival. Five of 7 Lewis recipients treated with clodronate and CsA did not reject hamster hearts for 100 days. Antibody production in the CsA plus clodronate-treated group was suppressed compared with control groups.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term survival in hamster-to-rat cardiac xenotransplantation using cyclosporine A alone.

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Animals↗

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Olfactory neuroblastoma as a second malignant neoplasm in a patient previously treated for childhood acute leukemia.

Various kinds of second malignant neoplasms after sucessful treatment for childhood acute leukemia have been reported. The authors describe an unusual case of an olfactory neuroblastoma in a patient previously treated for childhood acute leukemia including autologous bone marrow transplantation. The prophylactic cranial irradiation and the total body irradiation during autologous bone marrow transplantation may have induced the development of their patient's olfactory neuroblastoma. Although a second primary olfactory olfactory neuroblastoma is rare is rare, it should be added to the list of second malignant neoplasms in the sinonasal region.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hypercalcemia in children with rhabdomyosarcoma.

PURPOSE: Hypercalcemia complicating malignancy is a serious and frequent occurrence in adults but rare in children. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, symptoms, outcome, and cause of hypercalcemia in children with rhabdomyosarcoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among 93 children with rhabdomyosarcoma, six with hypercalcemia were identified and their clinical course, pathologic findings, treatment, and outcome were evaluated. In addition, serum and intratumor parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) concentrations were measured to ascertain the potential of hypercalcemia. RESULTS: All six patients with hypercalcemia had bone metastasis, and four with severe hypercalcemia had multiple bone metastases. Serum PTHrP levels were moderately elevated. There were no significant trends detected based on age, gender, primary site, and pathologic type. All patients achieved transient resolution of hypercalcemia after treatment. However, none survived for a long period of time because their original tumor eventually recurred. CONCLUSIONS: Hypercalcemia is not an uncommon complication in patients with rhabdomyosarcoma. Bone absorption seems to be the predominant factor that induces the hypercalcemia in rhabdomyosarcoma. However, PTHrP may be a powerful stimulator of bone absorption, which contributes to the growth of bone metastasis.

Adolescent↗