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Biomedical subjects

M Bamberg

Publications and source records attributed to M Bamberg.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

[Effect of antineoplastic agents and ionizing radiation on a human testicular cancer heterograft].

Chemotherapy has afforded a high percentage of definitive cures in advanced testicular cancer. Nevertheless some patients with large tumor burden still succumb to chemorefractory disease. Therefore preclinical and clinical evaluation of new drugs and agents not primarily used against this type of disease are still mandatory. For preclinical drug screening purposes heterotransplantation of specific human tumors yields a model with high validity for tumor markers and drug response. Heterotransplantation of a human embryonal testicular cancer was used for simultaneous testing of established agents such as cisplatin, melphalan, bleomycin, vinblastine, etoposide and adriamycin and some newer derivatives such as PHM or mafosfamide. Furthermore agents such as procarbazine, dacarbazine and methyl-CCNU that cross the blood-brain-barrier displayed some interesting activity. The results hint at a unique chemosensitivity pattern of the xenograft line, with some accordance between clinical response to vinblastine and bleomycin and good response of the xenografts to bleomycin but not to vinblastine. Radiotherapy was also effective against this tumor line, but there was not much difference in response when the schedule of fractionation was changed. It is concluded that a combined modality approach might salvage patients with residual, chemorefractory disease.

Animals↗

[Bone marrow transplantation in panmyelopathies and leukemias with special regard to gnotobiotic measures].

Bone-marrow transplantations were performed in 71 patients, 11 with panmyelopathy, 17 with recurrence of acute leukaemia, 25 with acute leukaemia and remission, 18 with chronic myeloid leukaemia. The transplantation was allogenic in 67, autologous in 2, isologous in 2. Eight patients each survived in the panmyelopathy and chronic myeloid leukaemia groups. In the group of patients with acute leukaemia only one patient of those in a recurrence survived the transplantation for several years, but after 6 years there was another recurrence. Of the 20 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia who received the transplantation during their first remission, 11 are still alive. Retransplantation because of the recurrence was employed in one case each of acute and chronic myeloid leukaemia. Main cause of death was interstitial pneumonia with an overall risk of 23%. Only 5% of patients developed severe acute graft-versus-host reaction, grades III-IV. The low incidence of this reaction is possibly due to the strict gnotobiotic measures which in most of the patients led to decontamination of the intestinal tract.

Adolescent↗

Endodermal sinus tumor of the pineal region. Metastases through a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

This case report concerns an endodermal sinus tumor (EST) arising in the pineal region of a 16-year-old boy who died 3 months after radiation. He developed extensive abdominal metastases through a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, whereas the primary tumor and a suprasellar metastasis could be controlled by radiotherapy, demonstrated by autopsy. The histologic diagnosis was supported by an elevated level of alpha-fetoprotein in serum and the demonstration of this marker in the tumor tissue by immunoperoxidase method. The poor diagnosis of all previously reported cases with pineal EST requires a combined modality of surgical approach, radiotherapy, and concomitant chemotherapy.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

[Granulosa cell tumor. The results of postoperative irradiation].

Postoperative irradiation was done in 12 female patients with granulosa cell tumours between 1962 and 1981. The average follow-up period was 10 years and 10 females were alive without evidence of renewed tumour growth. A further patient died of cardiac infarction after 7 years. At the time of death she was free of recurrence or metastases. Only in one case multiple filiae developed in the lung, liver and skeleton 8 months after cessation of irradiation. The progression of these could not be arrested. Following the first therapeutic step, i.e. abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral adnectomy , radiotherapy represents an important additional therapeutic measure. Thus the unfavourable long-term prognosis of granulosa cell tumours can be beneficially influenced particularly in far-advanced cases or in recurrences.

Adnexa Uteri↗

Laminar air flow versus barrier nursing in marrow transplant recipients.

Forty-eight patients with acute leukaemia in relapse (n = 14), acute leukaemia in complete remission (n = 19), chronic myeloid leukaemia (n = 8) or severe aplastic anaemia (n = 7) received a marrow transplant. The first 26 patients were nursed in laminar-air-flow plastic isolators while the next 22 patients were treated in barrier nursing rooms. Gnotobiotic parameters and morbidity in the 2 groups are compared. Good decontamination of the gastro-intestinal tract was obtained using either of the 2 isolation techniques. The incidence of bacterial and mycotic infections, as well as the supportive care required by the patients was almost equal in both groups. Our results also suggest that the incidence of graft versus host disease may decrease with efficient decontamination of the patients.

Anemia, Aplastic↗

[Diagnosis of primary non-Hodgkin lymphomas of the central nervous system].

In literature, primary malignant lymphomas (PML) of the central nervous system (CNS) have been known for many years under different names, although diagnosis was almost exclusively made via autopsy. It is only since the existence of computed tomography (CT) that there is a possibility of identifying or at least presuming intra vitam such malignancy and of securing the diagnosis via brain biopsy. This is most important because it enables an early treatment of patients by means of radiation and chemotherapy. We are documenting a new approach to identify the PML of CNS by four case histories of our own patients. This consists in the specific manner in which these tumours react to high doses of corticosteroid therapy. Under this treatment they diminish in size or even disappear completely. This can even be seen in other diseases, but when such behaviour of an intracerebral lesion is seen in a CT scan it should be of help in the evaluation of differential diagnosis and should be regarded as an important pointer towards achieving early diagnosis of PML of the CNS.

Adult↗

Radiotherapy of soft tissue sarcomas with neutrons or a neutron boost.

A cooperative trial of neutron therapy for soft tissue sarcomas was started in 1978. 112 unselected and not previously irradiated patients (62% T3 tumours, 35% recurrent tumours) were treated up to June 1982 with neutrons alone. An analysis of these cases with a mean follow-up period of 22 months (range 12 to 45 months) is given in this report. Very preliminary results are presented for 60 patients treated with a neutron boost only. These showed a substantially lower complication rate. The major results of this phase II trial are: The survival rate of 3.5 years was strongly dependent on the stage of the tumour; for 8 patients with T1 tumours it was 100%, for 35 patients with T2 tumours, 77%, and for 69 patients with T3 tumours, 45%. The survival rate at 3.5 years was strongly dependent on surgery before the beginning of radiotherapy; for 54 patients after surgery without clinical evidence of residual tumour it was 73%, for 58 patients with inoperable primary or recurrent tumour, 47%. The survival rate of 31 patients with recurrence after neutron therapy was only 36%. The overall rate of serious complications was 28.6% after neutron therapy, but only 5% after neutron boost therapy (mean follow-up period: 12 months, range 5 to 48 months).

Follow-Up Studies↗

[Therapy of brain stem tumors--palliative concept with a curative perspective?].

From 1969 to 1981, 23 patients with tumors in the pons region were irradiated at the Department of Radiotherapy of the West German Tumor Center in Essen. The age of the patients ranged from 18 months to 50 years. Fifteen patients (65%) were younger than 18 years, one was 25 years old, and seven were between 40 and 50 years old. In two cases the histologic diagnosis of an astrocytoma I and astrocytoma II could be confirmed by exploratory excision and cyst punction, respectively. Nineteen patients received a shunt system (ventriculoatrial shunt) prior to radiotherapy in order to achieve a pressure reduction. After a follow-up period of 1.5 to 12 years, eleven patients are alive, and twelve patients died from a local recurrence or from progressive tumor growth. The five-year survival rate is 47%. Five of the surviving patients show no or only slight adverse effects on their general condition and are able to attend school or carry out their profession (in Karnofsky: 90 to 100%). Four other patients suffering from marked remaining neurologic symptoms are able to take care of themselves (Karnofsky: 70 to 80%). Two patients need permanent nursing (Karnofsky: 50 to 60%). Because of the local propagation tendency of pons tumors, radiotherapy should be locally restricted to the brain stem and the adjacent brain structures, e.g. cerebellum and proximal neck marrow. The authors recommend target volumes of 55 to 60 Gy, which must be applied within 6 to 8 weeks, taking into account the age of patients. This palliative therapy conception should be applied routinely in the hope of bringing about a curative treatment to this group of patients.

Adolescent↗

An approach to the individualization of cancer therapy--determination of DNA, SH-groups and micronuclei.

Localization and histo-pathology are the basis for the decision, which modality of therapy is used to treat a tumour today. The great variety of biological factors in human tumours is generally largely neglected. The variety of such factors is shown by measuring the DNA content in tumour cell lines, their distribution in the cell generation cycle and the content of bound SH-groups in the cell nuclei. Further the micronuclei which are an expression of cytogenetic damage and which can be used as an indicator of cell loss have been determined. These parameters have been studied in primary and secondary tumours in the brain as well as in rectal adenocarcinoma. It was found that primary brain-tumours had only diploid and tetraploid cell lines while in almost 50 per cent of metastases in the brain and of the rectum adenocarcinoma aneuploid cell lines appeared. These latter cell populations had a higher number of cells in S-phase. The cells in the primary brain-tumours had less micronuclei and appeared as comparatively stable cell lines. Also a difference in the content of nuclear SH-groups could be demonstrated between primary brain-tumours and brain-metastases. In one recurrent tumour, which could be compared with the original tumour, the amount of bound nuclear SH-groups increased by a factor of about 15. In several cases biopsies from adenocarcinoma of the rectum could be studied before and after preoperative radiotherapy. In aneuploid tumours the reduction of the tumour cell line could be demonstrated, at the same time the number of micronuclei increased. However this was not consistent in all investigated cases.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Interstitial afterloading therapy. Principles, practical application and first clinical experiences].

The principle and practical application of an afterloading system for interstitial therapy is reported. The system works with a single Ir-192 source with high dose rate and achieves the optimum dose distribution by gradual displacement and variable position times. A specially developed computer program serves to calculate the stopping times of the source. The implantation is performed with hollow needles made of refined steel, which are held in parallel position by means of jigs fixed to the patient. 28 patients with 36 tumors have been treated. The dose was determined according to the experiences in gynecologic afterloading therapy with high dose rate sources and dosage prescriptions in teletherapy. The authors present the therapeutic results of this pilot study, discuss the new system and show practicable possibilities for further development.

Brachytherapy↗

[Diagnosis and therapeutic aspects of epithelial thymomas].

The authors present histopathology, clinical course, and therapy results of seven patients with epithelial thymomas who have been irradiated subsequently to operation between 1971 and 1981. Four patients are alive without tumors two to twelve years after radiotherapy. One patient died ten years after treatment without any sign of recurrence, two patients died from a local recurrence or metastases eight months and four years after diagnosis, respectively. The therapy of choice is a resection of tumorous tissues performed as completely as possible which succeeds mostly in sano in case of encapsulated thymomas. Our experiences show that an irradiation is indicated for inoperable or incompletely resected thymomas in order to decrease the high risk of local recurrences and to obtain favorable long-term results.

Adult↗

[Bone marrow transplantation for aplastic anaemia and acute leukaemia (author's transl)].

Twenty-six bone marrow transplantations were performed at the West Germany Tumour Centre at Essen between December 1975 and December 1981. Three patients had aplastic anaemia, 23 acute leukaemia. Of the leukaemia patients 13 had a recurrence and ten were in full remission at the time of the transplantation. Two of the patients with a recurrence received deep-frozen autologous marrow from the remission phase. One patient with aplastic anaemia had an identical twin as donour, while all other patients received allogeneic marrow from histocompatible family members. Eleven patients are still alive, all three of those with aplastic anaemia, one of those with leukaemia in a recurrence, and seven of those with acute leukaemia in full remission. Two of the survivors have a chronic graft-host reaction, but the others are symptom-free, after an observation period of up to four years. Main causes of death were leukemic recurrence (6), infection (5), and graft-host reaction (2). It would seem that at present bone marrow transplantation offers the best chance of a cure for severe aplastic anaemic and acute leukaemia in adults, but only if transplantation is undertaken early and not in the end-stage of the disease.

Acute Disease↗

[Postoperative radiotherapy of astrocytomas grade 3 and 4 with the radiosensitizer misonidazole. -End results of a multicentric controlled German study].

102 patients entered a multicentric randomized study from May 1978 till December 1980. After an operative removal of a supratentorial astrocytoma grade 3 or 4 all patients were treated by radiotherapy of the whole brain with 40 Gy, and after a rest of 1 to 2 weeks with a boost dose of 20 Gy to the tumor region. By randomization the patients got misonidazole (400 mg/m2) to each of the 30 fractions or a placebo. The overall tolerance was good. A mild transient peripheral neuropathy was seen only in 2 patients. The median of survival time was not significantly different for both groups with 16 months (grade 3) and 10 months (grade 4). Thus a radiosensitizing effect of misonidazole was not proven.

Adolescent↗