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Biomedical subjects

M Krulik

Publications and source records attributed to M Krulik.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Bimonthly high dose leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil 48-hour infusion with interferon-alpha-2a in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. Groupe d'Etude et de Recherche sur les Cancers de l'Ovaire et Digestifs (GERCOD).

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND; The rationale for the modulation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with interferon-alpha (IFN) is inhibition of 5-FU catabolism and 5-FU resistance. Clinical trials have shown debatable results when IFN is given in high doses with 5-FU used as a bolus alone or in combination with leucovorin (LV). A first-line Phase II study was performed in 50 patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma who were given a bimonthly combination of high dose LV, a high dose 48-hour infusion of 5-FU, and a low dose of IFN. METHODS: The regimen was comprised of a 2-hour infusion of LV, 500 mg/m2, on each of 2 consecutive days, and a 48-hour infusion of 5-FU, 1.5 to 2 g/m2/24 hours, starting after Day 1 of LV treatment every 2 weeks until there was evidence of disease progression. IFN was administered subcutaneously three times weekly at a dose of 3 MU (body surface area [BSA] < 1.75 m2) or 4.5 MU (BSA > OR = 1.75 m2). RESULTS: World Health Organization toxicity Grade 3-4 occurred in 21 patients (42%): diarrhea in 6%, mucositis in 12%, neutropenia in 30%, and alopecia in 8%. The overall response rate was 44%; 1 patient had a complete response (2%), 21 had partial responses (42%), 23 had stable disease (46%), and 5 had disease progression (10%). The median progression free survival was 9 months, and median survival was 25 months. CONCLUSIONS: Bimonthly high dose LV, a high dose 48-hour infusion of 5-FU, and a low dose of IFN had good activity in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. However, as in other schedules of LV and 5-FU, IFN induces high grade toxicity.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Bimonthly high dose leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil 48-hour continuous infusion in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. Groupe d'Etude et de Recherche sur les Cancers de l'Ovaire et Digestifs (GERCOD).

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that there is a relationship between 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) dose levels and response rates. A bimonthly 2-day regimen of leucovorin (LV) and 5-FU bolus plus infusion has been found to be superior to a monthly 5-FU bolus with low dose LV. Based on these reports, a first-line Phase II study was performed in 101 patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma who were given a bimonthly combination of high dose LV and a high dose 48-hour infusion of 5-FU. METHODS: The selected regimen included a 2-hour infusion of LV, 500 mg/m2, on each of 2 consecutive days and a 48-hour infusion of 5-FU, 1.5 to 2 g/m2/24 hours starting after Day 1 of LV treatment every 2 weeks until there was evidence of disease progression. Evaluation was performed every six cycles. This study reports the treatment of 101 patients with measurable disease. RESULTS: World Health Organization toxicity Grade 3-4 occurred in 15% of patients, nausea in 2%, diarrhea in 5.1%, mucositis in 4%, neutropenia in 4% (Grade 4: 2%), hand-foot syndrome in 2%, alopecia in 4%, and encephalopathy in 1%. The overall response rate was 33.7%. Five patients had a complete response (5%), and 29 had a partial response (28.7%). In 45 patients disease was stable (44.6%), and in 19 patients there was disease progression (18.8%). Three patients (3%) could not be evaluated. The median progression free survival was 8 months and median survival was 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, bimonthly high dose LV and a high dose 48-hour infusion of 5-FU had activity in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. Toxicity is notably low, and the regimen is suitable for use in combination with other drugs.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Modulation of 5-fluorouracil with folinic acid in advanced colorectal cancers. Groupe d'étude et de recherche sur les cancers de l'ovaire et digestifs (GERCOD)].

The rational of leucovorin modulation of 5-fluorouracil and the clinical results in colorectal cancer are reviewed with special emphasis on the monthly schedule of low dose leucovorin and 5FU bolus for 5 consecutive days (NCCTG-Mayo Clinic regimen) and the bimonthly schedule of high-dose leucovorin and 5FU bolus plus continuous infusion for two consecutive days (LV5FU2) which is now considered as a new standard.

Antidotes↗

[Oxaliplatin, folinic acid and 5-fluorouracil (folfox) in pretreated patients with metastatic advanced cancer. The GERCOD].

Preliminary studies suggest synergy between oxaliplatin and fluorouracil (5-FU). To assess this issue, we performed a study in pretreated patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) resistant to leucovorin and 5-FU. Regimen consisted of oxaliplatin day 1, 130 mg/m2 every two cycles (folfox 1) or 100 mg/m2/cycle (folfox 2) or 85 mg/m2/cycle (folfox 3) and leucovorin 500 mg/m2 as a 2-hour infusion, followed by 5-FU 22 h infusion 1.5-2 g/m2 for two consecutive days every 2 weeks. One hundred and thirteen patients have been treated. One complete response (CR) and 32 partial responses (PRs) were observed for an overall response rate of 29.2%. Sixty-seven patients had prior documented progression while receiving the same schedule of leucovorin and 5-FU than the one used in the folfox regimens, among them 18 had PRs (26.9%). The best response rate was observed in patients treated with the folfox 2 regimen: 41.7%. From start of folfox, median progression-free survival was 6 months and median survival 13 months. Limiting toxicities were peripheral neuropathy and neutropenia. Fifty-four percent of the patients experienced WHO toxicity > or = grade 3 with the folfox1 regimen, 45% with the folfox2 and 40% with the folfox3. The folfox regimens achieve a high response rate in pretreated patients with CRC. Further studies are needed to determine the best oxaliplatin dose-intensity.

Adult↗

Long-term follow-up after adjuvant chemotherapy in completely resected early stage ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of standardized staging, surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy on survival of patients with completely resected early ovarian carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a multicentric retrospective analysis of 283 patients with early stage ovarian carcinoma consecutively treated between 1977 and 1993. Borderline tumours were excluded. A comprehensive staging was performed during initial laparotomy. Patients were treated by standardized surgical resection and all excepted stage IA received a 6-course adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Eighty patients were excluded because of incorrect substaging, inadequate surgery and adjuvant therapy. The analysis was performed on 203 patients with completely resected early stage ovarian cancer (139, stage I; 64, stage II). Relapse-free survival and overall survival rates for stage I were 66 and 69%, respectively. Relapse-free survival and overall survival rates for stage II were 57 and 61% respectively. Median time of relapse was 18 months (range, 1-107 months). Sites of relapse were peritoneum (45%), retroperitoneal lymph nodes (37%) and distant metastases (18%). Relapses occurring within 18 months had a median survival after relapse of 9 months while later relapses had a median survival of 22 months (P = 0.005). There was no significant difference in relapse-free and overall survival according to the age, performance status and pathology. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy improved the 10-year overall survival of patients with stage IIB and IIC as compared to chemotherapy without cisplatin (oral melphalan. CMF regimen); 91 vs. 33% (P = 0.012) and 75 vs. 42% (P = 0.05), respectively. Cisplatin-based regimens did not improve survival in stage IA, IB and IIA. CONCLUSIONS: Early ovarian cancers have a good prognosis after comprehensive staging, complete surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Cisplatin-based regimens compared to melphalan and CMF showed a significant increase of survival in stage IIB and IIC. Prognosis of relapse depends on the relapse-free interval duration.

Adult↗

Oxaliplatin with high-dose leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil 48-hour continuous infusion in pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer.

Oxaliplatin has shown in vivo cytotoxic activity against colorectal cell lines. Preliminary studies suggest potentiation of fluorouracil (5-FU). To assess this issue, we performed a phase II study in pretreated patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) resistant to leucovorin and 5-FU. The regimen (FOLFOX2) consisted of oxaliplatin 100 mg/m2 as a 2-h infusion on day 1; leucovorin 500 mg/m2 as a 2-h infusion, followed by 5-FU 24-h infusion 1.5-2 g/m2 for two consecutive days every 2 weeks. The initial 5-FU dose was 1.5 g/m2 for two cycles and increased to 2 g/m2 in case of no toxicity > grade 2. 46 patients were treated, all with disease progression on leucovorin and 5-FU therapy for metastatic disease, or relapse less than 6 months after the end of adjuvant therapy. One complete response (CR) and 20 partial responses (PRs) were observed for an overall response rate of 46%. 22 patients had prior documented progression while receiving the same schedule of leucovorin and 5-FU as the one used in the FOLFOX2 regimen, and among them, 10 had PRs (45%). From the start of FOLFOX2, median progression-free survival was 7 months and median survival 17 months. WHO toxicity > or = grade 3 per patient was: peripheral neuropathy 9%, nausea 4%, diarrhoea 9%, mucositis 13%, neutropenia 39%, thrombocytopenia 11%, alopecia 9%, and allergy 2%. Overall, 21 patients (46%) experienced grade 3-4 toxicity. This combination of leucovorin, 5-FU and oxaliplatin achieves a high response rate in pretreated patients with CRC resistant to leucovorin and 5-FU. Limiting toxicities are neutropenia and peripheral neuropathy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Early debulking surgery after chemotherapy in advanced cancer of the ovary].

The main prognostic factor in advanced ovarian cancer is the volume of residual disease after the initial laparotomy. Early debulking surgery after several cycles of chemotherapy, before the emergence of resistant cell lines, could improve the prognosis of patients with bulky residual disease. This study concerns patients with advanced ovarian cancer entered into three prospective trials including IV cisplatin and anthracycline-based chemotherapy, early debulking surgery after three cycles of chemotherapy in case of initial residual disease superior 2 cm and intraperitoneal consolidation chemotherapy. Among 160 patients with stage III or IV, 80 (50%) had at least a residual tumor of more than 2 cm in diameter. Early debulking surgery was effectively performed in 54 patients (67.5%), leaving 39 patients with no residue over 2 cm. Twenty-one patients had no macroscopic residual disease. The median survival of all patients with initial residual disease over 2 cm was 23 months. Patients with no macroscopic residual disease at early debulking surgery had a median survival of 44 months. Early debulking surgery appears useful in advanced ovarian cancer with bulky residual disease. The objective of this operation is to achieve no macroscopic residual lesion.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

[Chemotherapy of colorectal cancers with metastases].

The chemotherapy of metastatic colorectal cancer has demonstrated a symptomatic benefit and a prolongation in survival. The modulation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by leucovorin is the current standard treatment. The best protocols include 5-FU 24 or 48 hour continuous infusion on a weekly or bimonthly schedule. The response rate is about 30%, the median progression-free survival is 6 to 8 months and the median survival 10 to 15 months. The toxicity is moderate. New drugs are available or under evaluation: 5-FU prodrugs, raltitrexed, CPT11, oxaliplatin, trimetrexate. Synergisms with 5-FU allow to consider more effective polychemotherapies.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Metastatic cancers of unknown primary site].

It is relatively common to observe metastatic cancer of unknown origin. In approximately 20% of the cases, the primary cancer is later identified during the lifetime of the patient. In others, even necropsy does not reveal the origin. The most frequently identified origins are pancreas or bronchogenic cancer. Initially search is guided by the pathology report of the tumor: well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (60% of the cases), squamous cell cancer (5-10% of the cases), undifferentiated cancer (1/3 of the cases). Immunoperoxydase tumor staining is indispensable to detect specific tumors (1/5 of the cases). Subgroups of adenocarcinomas have been distinguished as for squamous cell carcinoma of unknown origin allowing specific treatment and better results. Recent reports on undifferentiated cancers have demonstrated their increased sensitivity to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Prognosis remains poor, nevertheless, mean survival does reach approximately one year. Progress has been especially achieved in individualized groups. Chemotherapy remains the basic treatment.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Dual modulation of 5-fluorouracil with folinic acid and hydroxyurea in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) can be further modulated with hydroxyurea. Sixty-eight patients with advanced colorectal cancer received every 2 weeks hydroxyurea per os 1.5 g to 2 g days -1, 1, and 2; leucovorin 200 mg/m2 iv over 2 hours started at least 1 hour after hydroxyurea and per os 100 mg/m2 12 hours later, on days 1 and 2; 5-FU, bolus 400 mg/m2 during leucovorin infusion and 24 hours continuous infusion 600 mg/m2, repeated on days 1 and 2. Two complete responses (7%), 8 partial responses (30%), 12 no change (44%), and 5 progressions (19%) were observed among 31 nonpreviously treated patients. Four partial response (11%), 15 no change (43%), and 16 progressions (46%) were observed among 37 pretreated patients. Nineteen were treated after progression on the same regimen without oral leucovorin and hydroxyurea, 1 achieved PR and 10 showed no change. Among them, 6 experienced response or stabilization of longer duration than with previous treatment. Twelve-month survival was 61% in non-pretreated and 43% in pretreated patients as of the start of chemotherapy. Toxicity was mild with nausea in 46%, diarrhea in 37%, and mucositis in 36%. The first-line response rate is in the range of leucovorin and 5-FU alone. Some pretreated patients benefited from this regimen.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The French experience with infusional 5-fluorouracil in advanced colorectal cancer.

The French contribution to the development of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) infusion in advanced colorectal cancer includes five randomized trials and specific researches on the 48-hour bimonthly regimen, chronotherapy, and individual dose adaptation. The bimonthly 48-hour LV5-FU bolus and infusion is the standard treatment outside the research protocols and the control arm of the ongoing trials.

Antidotes↗

Cytogenetic study in multiple myeloma at diagnosis: comparison of two techniques.

Cytogenetic studies in multiple myeloma (MM) have been disappointing due to the low mitotic index of plasma cells. Recently the detection of clonal chromosomal abnormalities at diagnosis seemed to be improved by addition of cytokines (IL-6 and GM-CSF) in the culture medium. We performed two parallel total bone marrow cells culture types in 33 stage I, II and III multiple myeloma patients at diagnosis: 3 d without any cytokine, and 4-7 days stimulated with IL-6 and GM-CSF. No clonal chromosomal abnormality was detected in the 12 stage I and II patients either in 3 d or in 4-7 d culture. In stage II patients, abnormalities were observed in 18/21 (85.7%) and in 8/18 (44.4%) in the 3 d culture and the 4-7 d stimulated cultures respectively. Our results suggest that in stage III multiple myeloma at diagnosis, 3 d culture without cytokine may be the better technique to detect clonal chromosomal abnormalities, and, before using cytokines as a reference condition, this 3 d unstimulated culture should be considered.

Aged↗

[Adjuvant treatments of early breast cancer without lymph node involvement].

Lymph node status remains the most important prognostic factor in breast cancer. However, only 70% of the node negative breast cancer patients are alive at 10 years. Several randomized trials have shown that systemic adjuvant therapy, either chemo or hormonotherapy, increases survival in these patients. A recent meta-analysis confirms these findings. In 1992, a consensus conference recommended no therapy in low risk patients (tumor size less than 1 cm), tamoxifen in good risk patients (tumor less than 2 cm, oestrogen or progesterone receptors positive, well differentiated) and chemotherapy in premenopausal or hormonotherapy in postmenopausal high risk patients (receptor-negative less than 1 cm tumor or high pathological grade).

Breast Neoplasms↗

Folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil bolus and infusion and mitoxantrone with or without cyclophosphamide in metastatic breast cancer.

60 patients with metastatic breast cancer were entered in a phase II study using folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil bolus and infusion and mitoxantrone with or without cyclophosphamide. 47 had measurable visceral metastases and 13 had exclusively bone metastases. 36 had received previous adjuvant or metastatic treatment (33/36 with anthracycline-based regimens). Overall response rate in visceral metastatic patients was 57.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 35.4-78.8%]; 45.5% and 70% in previously and non-previously treated patients, respectively; duration of response was 9 and 13 months, respectively. 10 out 13 patients with exclusive bone metastases improved for a median time of 18 months. Median survival was 22 months for the 60 patients; 18 and 31 months for previously and non-previously treated patients, respectively. Cyclophosphamide was scheduled only in the absence of nadir grade 4 neutropenia. However, this toxicity occurred in the first 7 patients. For this reason, we chose to avoid cyclophosphamide in patients over 60 years, or with a performance status of 1-2, or who had received previous chemotherapy. Overall, cyclophosphamide was stopped due to nadir grade 4 neutropenia in 17/24 patients for whom this drug was planned. When mitoxantrone, 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid were used at the doses scheduled, the addition of cyclophosphamide appeared feasible in only about 25% of the patients. Furthermore, survival was identical for patients receiving or not receiving cyclophosphamide. Therefore, cyclophosphamide does not contribute substantially to this regimen. This study confirms the value of folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil and mitoxantrone in metastatic breast cancer.

Adult↗

[Toxicity of levamisole in adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer].

We studied the levamisole toxic effects in adjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer. The therapy toxic effects on 127 patients were statistically more important in the levamisole-treated group compared to patients treated with folinic acid and 5-fluorouracil alone. Randomized studies in progress will demonstrate the real therapeutic value of levamisole.

Adenocarcinoma↗