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N Choi

Publications and source records attributed to N Choi.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Gastrin-releasing peptide gene expression in small cell and large cell undifferentiated lung carcinomas.

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP; mammalian bombesin) is present in the neuroendocrine cells of human fetal lung and in small cell lung carcinomas (SCLCs), where it may act as a growth factor. Considering the potential importance of GRP as a tumor marker, we have conducted a retrospective immunohistochemical analysis of 176 lung tumors for markers of GRP gene expression, as well as several other markers of neuroendocrine cell differentiation: chromogranin A, neuron-specific enolase, and calcitonin. The majority of carcinoids contained mature GRP, in contrast to only a minority of SCLCs and large cell lung carcinomas (LCLCs). However, a majority of SCLCs and LCLCs contained proGRP immunoreactivity. In situ hybridization did not add any information beyond what was obtained using proGRP antisera. In spite of sharing these neuroendocrine cell markers, SCLCs are associated with a graver prognosis than LCLCs. No prognostic significance was associated with immunostaining for GRP or several other markers of neuroendocrine cell differentiation.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

A phase II trial of cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and cisplatin with combined chest and brain radiotherapy in limited small-cell lung cancer: a Cancer and Leukemia Group B Study.

Limited-extent small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) remains a therapeutic problem with little improvement in complete response (CR) rates and long-term survival in the past 5 years. From June 1984 through January 1985, 56 patients with limited-extent SCLC were enrolled in a Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) phase II study using five cycles of cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2 intravenously [IV] day 1), etoposide (80 mg/m2 IV days 1 to 3), and cisplatin (33 mg/m2 IV days 1 to 3) administered at 3-week intervals (CEP), with radiation therapy (50 Gy to chest and 30 Gy to brain) administered concomitant with cycles 4 and 5, followed by three cycles of cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2 IV day 1), etoposide (80 mg/m2 IV days 1 to 3), and doxorubicin (50 mg/m2 IV day 1). Of 49 patients evaluable for response, the overall response rate was 88%, with 57% CRs. The median overall survival was 14 months; the median duration of CR was 10 months, and nine CRs remain disease free at a median follow-up of 23 months. Toxicity was significant: 56% patients experienced WBC less than 1,000 microL, 32% platelets less than 25,000 microL and 10% hemoglobin less than 7 g/dL. There was one treatment-related septic death. These results are as good as the best previous CALGB study of SCLC, despite a reduction in duration of treatment from 18 to 5 months. We are currently using a variant of this multimodality treatment approach as our standard management for patients with limited-extent SCLC.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Treatment and survival in diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma; a study of 83 cases from the Massachusetts General Hospital.

The influence of treatment on clinical outcome in pleural mesothelioma (PM) is uncertain. We studied 83 patients with PM treated at our institution to evaluate the impact of treatment modality on survival, Methods. Medical records of 83 patients with PM treated between 1978 and 1994 were reviewed. The following data were tabulated for each patient; age, sex, date of diagnosis, history of asbestos exposure, smoking history, method of diagnosis, histologic subtype, type of treatment and survival from diagnosis. Four treatment groups were analyzed; chemotherapy (C), surgery (S), combined modality (CM i.e. S + C with or without radiation therapy) and supportive care alone (SC). Survival curves were calculated and adjustment made for age. Survival curves were compared using Wilcoxon Chi-square analysis. Results. Seventy-one males and 12 females with a mean age of 67 years were analyzed. Seventy-five percent were smokers and 74% reported definite or probable asbestos exposure. Treatment groups did not vary according to smoking or asbestos history. The CM group and SC groups contained similar proportions of patients with epithelial tumors (54% v 56%). Median survival for patients in the CM group was 23.9 months versus 4.5 months among those receiving SC (p < 0.01). Discussion. This analysis suggest prolonged survival among patients with PM receiving CM versus SC or single modality treatment.

Adult↗