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Biomedical subjects

N Thatcher

Publications and source records attributed to N Thatcher.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Genetic predisposition to human lung cancer.

The influence of polymorphic variants of the human c-Ha-ras gene on predisposition to lung cancer has been investigated. The human c-Ha-ras gene has been shown to reside on a polymorphic BamH1 restriction fragment. This restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) results from variation in the size of a region of repetitive DNA 3' to the gene. An attempt has been made to characterise and compare the c-Ha-ras RFLP's in a normal population and in a group of cancer patients. DNA was extracted from the white blood cells of 101 normal donors and four common Ha-ras alleles identified, with occasional rare alleles of various sizes. The allele frequencies were examined in 132 lung cancer patients, comprising 66 individuals with small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL) and 66 with non-small cell carcinoma of the lung (non-SCCL). An abnormal allele distribution was found in individuals with non-SCCL compared to both control and SCCL values suggesting a degree of genetic pre-position to non-SCCL. In addition, analysis of the Ha-ras RFLP's in solid samples inferred a deletion of material from the short arm of chromosome 11 in two of 16 informative samples.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Clostridial myonecrosis in association with etoposide therapy presenting as severe thigh pain.

The case is described of a 68 year old man who was immunosuppressed as a result of receiving chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer and who presented with severe right thigh pain. This proved to be due to clostridial myonecrosis with none of the classical clinical features of clostridial infection. This is believed to be the first reported case of spontaneous clostridial infection associated with etoposide administration.

Aged↗

Three months' treatment with cyclophosphamide, VP-16-213 followed by methotrexate and thoracic radiotherapy for small cell lung cancer.

One hundred eleven patients with inoperable but limited-stage small cell lung cancer were treated with three courses of cyclophosphamide (1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 g/m2, respectively) and VP-16-213 followed by methotrexate and thoracic radiotherapy. The total duration of treatment was 3 months. Patients were included who had pleural effusions, contralateral neck nodes, and bone marrow infiltration. The complete response (CR) rate was 56%, the majority confirmed by repeat bronchoscopy, with an 81% overall response rate. The minimum follow-up was 14 months. Median survival for all 111 patients was 11 months and 14 months (1-34+) for complete responders; the median survival was also 11 months for the 91 patients with conventional limited-stage disease, although 15 of the 19 patients alive at 14 months or more were from this subpopulation. There was no significant difference in the survival of those CR patients whose response was confirmed bronchoscopically and patients whose CR was assessed only radiologically and clinically. Forty-four patients with leukopenia (less than 1000 cells/microliter) received intravenous antibiotics for malaise and suspected infection. Close monitoring between treatments and direct access of patients to the hospital was encouraged. The majority of patients improved symptomatically as assessed by Karnofsky and Respiratory scores. These results support the view that short but intensive treatment without long-term or maintenance chemotherapy is beneficial.

Adult↗

In vivo distribution studies of radioactively labelled platinum complexes; cis-dichlorodiammine platinum(II), cis-trans-dichlorodihydroxy-bis-(isopropylamine) platinum(IV), cis-dichloro-bis-cyclopropylamine platinum(II), and cis-diammine 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylate platinum(II) in patients with malignant disease, using a gamma camera.

The in vivo distribution in man of the four platinum derivatives cis-dichlorodiammine platinum(II) (DDP), cis-trans-dichlorodihydroxy-bis-(isopropylamine) platinum (IV) (CHIP), cis-dichloro-bis-cyclopropylamine platinum(II) (CP), and cis-diammine 1, 1-cyclobutanedicarboxylate platinum(II) (CBDCA) has been observed. The availability of these compounds labelled with the radioactive isotope of platinum, platinum-191, has made serial in vivo imaging of their distribution possible. Injection of 17-35 MBq (5-28 mg) of the labelled compound IV was followed by imaging, using a gamma camera, with particular reference to the kidneys, liver, and tumour site. Hepatic and renal clearances were observed in all nine patients, but no unequivocal evidence of tumour uptake was found. The left kidney uptake was estimated at times up to 7 days after injection. Mathematical analysis of some of the uptake curves failed to show any significant difference between the clearance times observed. However, the two patients who received CBDCA did show a higher initial renal uptake, falling within the 1st day to levels comparable with those of the other compounds, and the three patients who received DDP showed consistently liver uptake.

Adult↗

Three months treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy for small cell lung cancer.

Fifty-five patients with inoperable but limited stage small cell carcinoma of the bronchus and a further 15 patients with contra lateral neck nodes, pleural effusions and marrow involvement were entered into the study and treated. The 3 month treatment regimen comprised 3 courses of etoposide with cyclophosphamide at 2.5 gm-2 followed by methotrexate and radiotherapy, no maintenance treatment was given. The complete response rate in the total patient group was 54% and the partial response rate 21%. The median survival was 11 months for the 70 patients, 15 months for the complete responders, and those patients with a bronchoscopically confirmed complete response survived significantly longer. There was no significant difference between the patients with strictly limited stage disease and those in the broader category. Eight patients are tumour free and alive one year or more after the end of treatment. The median followup is 17 months. Twenty-four patients were delayed 1-2 weeks during treatment because of chemotherapy induced toxicity. Six patients died probably of infection associated with leucopaenia. The majority of the patients' Karnofsky performance improved with the treatment as did their breathlessness assessed on a respiratory score. The short intensive chemotherapy regimen of 3 months produced similar results to those following more prolonged treatment regimens.

Adult↗

Upper abdominal lymphadenopathy as first presentation of relapse, identified by ultrasonography, in patients treated for small cell (oat cell) bronchogenic carcinoma.

Ten patients treated for 'limited' stage small cell lung cancer presented during follow-up with epigastric or back pain together with nausea and/or vomiting. Upper abdominal lymphadenopathy was shown to be the first symptomatic site of relapse. A single fraction of radiotherapy provided a convenient, effective form of palliation. Ultrasound scanning proved an accurate, readily available technique for the diagnosis of this form of intra-abdominal disease.

Abdomen↗

Treatment of malignant pleural effusions with intrapleural Corynebacterium parvum or tetracycline.

Thirty two patients with malignant pleural effusion were randomly allocated to treatment with intrapleural Corynebacterium parvum or tetracycline hydrochloride in an attempt to prevent symptomatic recurrence of pleural fluid. Success in preventing recurrence of fluid at one month, using up to 2 doses of each drug, was 14 of 16 cases for Corynebacterium parvum, 5 of 9 for tetracycline given via an intercostal needle, and 6 of 7 for tetracycline given through an intercostal tube. These difference were not statistically significant. Corynebacterium parvum was significantly more likely to produce pyrexia equal or greater than 38 degrees C (P less than 0.001) and pain requiring analgesia (P less than 0.05) than tetracycline hydrochloride. Corynebacterium parvum is a useful agent for the management of malignant pleural effusion, but is associated with more side effects than tetracycline.

Bacterial Vaccines↗

Activity of JM9 in advanced ovarian cancer: a phase I-II trial.

Thirty-nine patients with advanced solid tumors, including 28 with ovarian cancer, were entered in a phase I-II trial of a new platinum analog, JM9. Twenty-three patients had received prior chemotherapy which did not include cisplatin. Based on preliminary information from an ongoing study, our starting dose was 180 mg/m2. The total dose of JM9 was administered in 1 L of saline infused over 1 hour, with no additional hydration or electrolyte supplementation. Courses were repeated at 3-week intervals or after full recovery from thrombocytopenia. One hundred thirty-nine courses (range, one to six per patient) were administered at four dose levels: 180 mg/m2 (13 courses); 240 mg/m2 (64 courses); 300 mg/m2 (45 courses); and 350 mg/m2 (17 courses). The dose-limiting toxic effect was thrombocytopenia, which was dose-related and cumulative. Median platelet count nadirs were 50, 47, 25, and 28 X 10(9)/L for previously treated patients at dose levels of 180, 240, 300, and 350 mg/m2, respectively. For patients who had not received prior chemotherapy, the corresponding values were 403, 61, 44, and 36 X 10(9)/L. The nadir was predictable at Day 14 with recovery by Day 21 in earlier courses, but with delay of recovery to Days 28-42 in later courses and at higher dose levels. Twenty-five courses of chemotherapy in 15 patients were associated with a platelet count nadir of less than 20 X 10(9)/L, but despite this, serious hemorrhage was rare. Leukopenia was dose-related and mild; the median wbc count (X 10(9)/L) was 2.2 (range, 1.0-7.3) at the highest dose level of 350 mg/m2. The leukocyte count nadir was later than that for the platelet count (Days 21-28), and recovery was often not complete by the time of retreatment. All patients showed a progressive rise in mean corpuscular volume in successive courses, often accompanied by a fall in hemoglobin. Transfusions were required in 14 patients, 12 of whom had received prior chemotherapy. Nausea and vomiting, starting within 1 hour of drug administration, occurred in all patients, but appeared to be less severe and prolonged compared to that occurring with cisplatin. Diarrhea occurred in most patients at the two higher dose levels. There was no evidence of significant renal impairment, electrolyte disturbance, hearing loss, or peripheral neuropathy. Two patients had mild allergic reactions shortly after drug infusion and two others developed vasculitic rashes which were self-limiting.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗

A phase I toxicity study of human rDNA interferon in patients with solid tumours.

This study was designed to evaluate the clinical tolerance to multiple IM injections of rDNA-produced human alpha-2 interferon (IFN) (Schering-Plough 30500) in patients with solid tumours. IFN was administered in escalating IM doses in separate groups of patients daily for 14 days and then twice weekly for a further 10 weeks. The dosage levels were 1, 3, 10, and 30 million U/injection. Subjective toxicity could be divided into two types, acute and chronic. The acute reactions took the form of an influenza-like syndrome consisting in chills, rigors, headache, tremor, nausea, vomiting, and myalgia. These symptoms were dose-related but tachyphylaxis developed with continued dosing. The chronic toxicity consisted of malaise, lethargy, fatigue, anorexia, and confusion. These symptoms were not so dose-dependent and tended to become more severe with prolonged treatment. Objective toxicity consisted of myelosuppression and liver dysfunction. Granulocyte counts below 1.0 X 10(9)/l were seen in three patients at the 30-million-U level, with platelet counts less than 100 X 10(9)/l in two of these. Elevation of the liver enzymes were seen in all five patients treated at 30 million U, but returned to normal after 1 week without IFN in all but one patient. A tolerable dose (IM) for phase II/III studies lies between 3 and 10 million U for daily scheduling and between 10 and 30 million U for twice-weekly injections.

Blood↗

Moderate to high dose cyclophosphamide and intercalated Corynebacterium parvum in patients with metastatic lung cancer.

Thirty-nine patients with histologically proven widely metastatic bronchogenic carcinoma were treated with cyclophosphamide and Corynebacterium parvum. The dosage of cyclophosphamide was higher than conventional as previous work had indicated better results with increased dosage. Experimental work had suggested that the addition of Corynebacterium parvum would increase the antitumour effect and possibly reduce the cyclophosphamide induced granulocytopenia. A short treatment programme using three i.v. injections of cyclophosphamide, 1.5 g/m2, 2.5 g/m2 then 3.5 g/m2, at 3 week intervals were given. Four days after each cyclophosphamide injection, C. parvum 2 mg/m2 i.v. was administered. An overall 38% tumour response rate was observed, 18% for patients with non-small-cell carcinoma and 65% for small-cell carcinoma patients. The median survival for the 39 patients was 5 months (range 1-16+ months). These results, particularly for the non-small-cell patient group are comparable to those obtained with intensive combination chemotherapy regimens administered intermittently over much longer periods. An important consideration, objectively assessed in the present study, was the effect of treatment on quality of life and breathlessness. Improvement was noted not only in those patients with tumour response but also in a proportion of those who did not fulfil the criteria of response. Toxicity was also carefully assessed and, although the cyclophosphamide dosages were higher than conventionally used, no undue problems were noted. The addition of C. parvum did not have any noticeable beneficial effect. Cyclophosphamide given at dosages higher than is usual but which do not require bone marrow rescue is worthy of further study.

Adult↗

Etoposide infusions for treatment of metastatic lung cancer.

Etoposide was given by three weekly 24-hour infusions (600 mg/m2) to 35 patients with extensive-stage lung cancer. Only two partial responses were achieved; both were of short duration. Pharmacokinetic data suggested that low peak serum concentrations of etoposide were obtained, and it is suggested that if this method of administration is used, higher doses of etoposide be employed.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

Pharmacokinetics of high-dose cyclophosphamide in patients with metastatic bronchogenic carcinoma.

Cyclophosphamide (CP) was administered to eight patients with metastatic bronchial carcinoma in escalating doses of 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 g/m2 at intervals of 3 weeks. The proportion of the administered dose converted into alkylating metabolites was similar for each dose and there was no evidence to suggest that the enzyme system responsible for activating CP was saturated even with the highest dose. Considerable between-patient variation in drug metabolism was observed, but within each patient the fraction metabolised remained constant.

Adult↗

Blood clearance of radioactively labelled cis-diammine 1,1-cyclobutane dicarboxylate platinum (II) (CBDCA) in cancer patients.

The blood and urinary clearances of cis-diammine 1,1-cyclobutane dicarboxylate platinum(II) (CBDCA, JM8) were determined in four patients with malignancy. A 40 muCi iv injection of 191 Pt/193 Pt (3:1)-labelled CBDCA was followed by serial blood and urine sampling to 72 h. The blood clearance was triphasic, mean values for the fast, intermediate, and slow phases being 10.8 min, 2.5 h, and 125 h, respectively. The fraction of activity excreted in the urine within the first 6 h had a mean value of 66.7%, contrasting with 26.4% for cisplatin. There was only a small fraction of CBDCA excreted by the slow phase (1.5%) as against an average of 20% for CHIP and 27% for cisplatin. The early and rapid renal clearance of CBDCA may account for reduced nephrotoxicity.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

A comparison between a single agent short course chemotherapy regimen and a quadruple prolonged course regimen for small-cell bronchogenic carcinoma of limited extent.

Sixty-eight patients with inoperable but 'limited' stage small-cell carcinoma of the bronchus were treated with two different chemotherapy regimens. Thirty-four patients received methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, procarbazine and vincristine in standard dose over a 2-year schedule. Thirty-four patients received cyclophosphamide alone over a period of 3 months. The groups were evenly balanced with respect to clinical details which are fully described. Toxicity was acceptable. The median actual survival for the whole group was 11 months, the 1-year, 2-year and 4-year survival being 48%, 30% and 1.5% respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in survival between those classified as responders and those as non-responders, nor between the groups treated with the two different regimens. There was a high local recurrence rate.

Adult↗

VAC (vincristine, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy for metastatic carcinoma from an unknown primary site.

Twenty patients presenting with metastatic carcinoma from an unknown primary site were studied. All patients were treated with a triple chemotherapy regimen of vincristine, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide repeated at three-week intervals. The response rate was 50%, and the four patients achieving complete response are alive and disease-free at 13, 16, 36 and 39 months. Toxicity was minimal and the majority of patients' performance status improved with the chemotherapy. VAC chemotherapy is indicated for patients with metastases, particularly of soft tissues originating from a carcinoma from an unknown primary site.

Adult↗

Intermittent high-dose cyclophosphamide with and without prednisolone: a study of the relationships between toxicity, response and survival in metastatic lung cancer.

Fifty-seven patients with metastatic lung carcinoma were treated with either high-dose cyclophosphamide (Cy) alone or with a combination of high dose Cy and prednisolone (Pred) 100 mg/m2 orally daily for two days. The Cy was given IV on three occasions, at 1.5 g/m2, 2.5 g/m2 and 3.5 g/m2 with three-week intervals between courses. The overall response rate was 57% (18% CR), a median survival of 24 weeks (range, 6--130) for Cy alone, and 24% (3% CR), a median of 14 weeks (range, 1--94) for Cy + Pred. Patients with small cell carcinoma given Cy alone had a 69% response rate (19% CR), a median survival of seven months, and with non-small cell pathologic conditions 42% (16% CR), a median survival of 16 weeks. Performance scores and survival were better for responding patients. Addition of Pred did not improve the therapeutic efficacy of high dose Cy or ameliorate toxicity. No marked or unexpected toxicity was observed with the high-dose Cy regimen. The blood counts had returned to normal by three weeks in the great majority of patients. A short course of high-dose Cy was not associated with unacceptable side effects and the therapeutic results obtained were superior to those described for Cy at conventional dosage. High-dose Cy is of value to patients with metastatic lung cancer, and the incorporation of the regimen into chemotherapeutic combinations could be advantageous.

Adult↗

11-week course of sequential methotrexate, thoracic irradiation, and moderate-dose cyclophosphamide for "limited"-stage small-cell bronchogenic carcinoma. A study from the Manchester Lung Tumour Group.

55 patients with inoperable but "limited"-stage small-cell carcinoma were treated sequentially with methotrexate, radiotherapy, and high doses of cyclophosphamide. The treatment was completed over 11 weeks and no maintenance chemotherapy was given. Follow-up lasted 9-29 months. Toxicity was acceptable, despite doses of cyclophosphamide of 1.5-3.5 g/m2. The complete response rate was 53%. Median survival for the total patient group was 12 months, range 2-29+. Patients who attained a complete response had a 17 month median survival; 17 patients remained in complete remission, 9 of whom first underwent treatment 14-29 months previously. Karnofsky performance scores improved after treatment and most patients were able to resume normal activity. The results are similar to those obtained with prolonged combination chemotherapy.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗