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Biomedical subjects

P Lasser

Publications and source records attributed to P Lasser.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

[Epidermoid cancers of the operated esophagus. High incidence of associated neoplasia].

In a retrospective study we counted the number of neoplasias associated with oesophageal epidermoid cancer, as we thought that their frequency and influence on treatment had been underestimated. Between 1982 and 1990, 181 patients underwent surgery of oesophageal epidermoid cancer. The global actuarial 5-year survival rate was 20.7 percent (28.8 percent after complete excision of the tumour). The mean follow-up period was 4.2 +/- 2.6 years. These 181 patients had a total of 324 cancers, 97 percent of which were cancers of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts. The frequency of associated cancers was 56 percent (102 out of 181), and 50 percent of the patients presented with at least one associated head and neck cancer. Twenty-two percent of the patients had been treated for another cancer before the oesophageal epidermoid cancer, and in 19 percent of the cases this was a head and neck cancer. Thirty-five percent had a malignancy that was contemporary with the oesophageal cancer (this malignancy affected the head and neck in 18 percent of the cases and consisted of multiple lesions in 25 percent). During the short period under study, in only 10 percent of the patients did a cancer develop after the oesophageal one, and 6 percent of these affected the head and neck. This high incidence of associated neoplasia was due to tobacco and alcohol abuse. The presence of multiple cancers should alter as least as possible the treatment required by each associated cancer in order to optimize the chances of complete cure. Close surveillance of the high-risk population may result in the early discovery of a 2nd cancer at a curable stage. For the time being, the prevention of such associated cancers relies more on daily administration of retinoids than on alcohol and tobacco abstinence which is difficult to obtain.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Induction of hypertrophy of a small left hepatic lobe by preoperative right portal embolization, preceding extended right hepatectomy].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the compensatory hypertrophy of the left lobe of the liver, induced by a preoperative right portal embolization (PORPE), and then the feasibility of a right extended hepatectomy. The small size of the left lobe did not initially permit such a resection. Eight patients (mean age: 62 years) underwent PORPE for cancer between September 1987 and December 1991. They represented 4% of the 187 patients undergoing hepatectomy for liver cancer during the same period. The PORPE was conducted by percutaneous access and puncture of the left portal vein (Rex's recessus). The clinical and laboratory safety were good, with fewer adverse effects than with arterial chemo-embolization. The mean increased volume of the left lobe, four weeks after PORPE, was 54% (range: 32-100%) allowing hepatectomy to be performed. The post-operative course of these right extended hepatectomies was uneventful. In conclusion, we think that PORPE needs a careful technique but that it is well tolerated and effective to induce hypertrophy of the future remnant left lobe. It allows resection of some initially unresectable tumors. This technique warrants further development.

Aged↗

[Gastric metastases. Apropos of 17 cases].

Seventeen cases of gastric metastases are reported; some of them appeared after a long latency period. Two cancers prevail from an aetiological standpoint: melanoma (7 cases) and breast cancer (4 cases). Endoscopic appearance is often typical in melanoma, but suggests a primary carcinoma or radiation-induced lesions in breast cancer. Surgery is reserved to located lesions, but seems to have no incidence on prognosis. Overall mean survival is 11 months with a range of 3 months to 5 years.

Adult↗

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: the specific limited place of surgery defined by a prospective multivariate study of prognostic factors after surgical approach.

From 1982 to 1990, 181 patients underwent surgery for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, for which 14 prognostic parameters were prospectively recorded in order to perform a multivariate study. A squamous cell head and neck cancer was associated with the esophageal tumor in 40% of the cases (synchronous 18% and metachronous 22%). Resection was curative (i.e. macroscopically complete) in 128 cases, palliative (i.e. with residual tumor) in 24 cases and not possible in 29 cases. There were 21 deaths in hospital (hospital mortality was 11.7%). One hundred and twenty-two patients received preoperative chemotherapy and 77 received postoperative radiotherapy according to different phase II prospective studies. The 5-year survival rate according to the Kaplan-Meier method was 15.8% (+/- 3.4) for all patients and 23.5% (+/- 4.8) for the patients who had a curative resection. A palliative resection or the invasion of a neighbouring organ was synonymous with incurability, but positive lymph nodes were not considered proof of incurability. The multifactorial study concerning all the patients highlighted two main prognostic parameters: the histological staging according to the Japanese classification (P = 0.0006) and the type of resection (curative or not) (P = 0.006). An objective response to preoperative chemotherapy was the third and last parameter revealed by Cox's model. The multivariate study, which was limited to the 112 patients who were alive after a curative resection, showed that only the stage was an important prognostic factor (P = 0.003), with stages 2 and 3 carrying a worse prognosis. We propose a therapeutic scheme, based on these prognostic data and on the usual pre-therapeutic workup with three additional exams: CT scan measurement of tumor diameter, ultrasound examination +/- fine needle aspiration cytology of supra-clavicular lymph nodes and echo-endoscopy. The aim of this scheme is to limit surgery to the subgroup of patients for whom this modality is really beneficial.

Adult↗

Polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid as an adjuvant in resectable colorectal carcinoma: a 6 1/2 year follow-up analysis of a multicentric double blind randomized trial.

In a double blind study, patients with operable carcinoma of the colon and the upper rectum, who have undergone a macroscopically complete resection of their tumor, were randomized to receive either (i) polyadenylic-polyuridylic acid (AU), one i.v. injection of 60 mg (in 50 ml of solution) once a week for 6 weeks, or (ii) a placebo (P) one i.v. injection of 50 ml of a saline solution with the same schedule. From January 1983 to December 1986, 288 patients were enrolled: 145 in AU group and 143 in P group. The main clinical and pathological characteristics were equally distributed throughout the two groups. There was a significant difference (P < 0.02) in the overall survival (OS) between the two groups, in favor of the P group. The 5-year OS rate was 68% (SD = 4%) in the AU group versus 81% (SD = 3%) in the P group. Thus, AU as a single adjuvant, appears to be ineffective and therefore has no indication in the treatment of colorectal carcinoma.

Aged↗

[Another failure in the attempt of definition of the indications to the resection of liver metastases of colorectal origin].

Many discordances can be found in the literature of the last ten years, about the definition of the main prognostic factors after resection of LM from colorectal cancers. Indications of liver resections depend on these prognostic factors. We prospectively enregistred the parameters of 97 patients which had undergone 119 hepatectomies from 1983 to 1990, and we have done a prognostic study. The mean number of resected LM was 2.3, nineteen patients had at least four LM, 22 patients had extrahepatic localization, and 16 had a 0-1 mm free margin. Only one patient died during the postoperative course. The overall five years survival was 33 +/- 8% and the disease free survival was 26 +/- 7%. Unfortunately none prognostic factor significantly influenced the survey in this series, and notably nor the staging of the primitive tumor, nor the synchronous or metachronous happening, nor the number of LM, nor the extrahepatic localizations, nor the free margin. We conclude that: 1) a greater number of patients and a more important follow-up could permit to define clinical or paraclinical prognosis factors but they will be only secondary prognosis factors; 2) it is necessary to prospectively study some new biologic, histologic and immunologic parameters in order to discover the fundamental prognosis factors.

Adult↗

Prolonged intermittent clamping of the portal triad during hepatectomy.

From 112 consecutive hepatectomies for malignant tumours performed with intermittent portal triad clamping, we have retrospectively selected the 20 cases in which clamping exceeded 90 min. Intermittent portal clamping of prolonged duration was used because of abnormal liver texture in 13 cases (mainly patients who had received intra-arterial chemotherapy) and/or because of technically difficult hepatectomy. The mean(s.d.) duration of intermittent portal clamping was 109(18) min and in two cases it exceeded 140 min (148 and 150 min). There was no postoperative mortality and the rate of postoperative morbidity was 35 per cent. Postoperative changes in biochemical liver tests were not major and transient hepatic failure occurred in only one patient following subtotal resection of the liver. We conclude that intermittent portal clamping is a useful manoeuvre in partial hepatectomy when resection is difficult or prolonged, or when the liver parenchyma is abnormal. Such clamping may be used for longer than 120 min without major complications.

Adult↗

Preoperative segmental localization of hepatic metastases: utility of three-dimensional CT during arterial portography.

To evaluate the accuracy of a fast three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technique in determining the segmental location of hepatic metastases, 14 patients (40 metastases) were prospectively investigated before surgery with dynamic two-dimensional (2D) computed tomography during sequential arterial portography (CTAP). All patients underwent subsequent hepatic tumor resection within 4 days. After computer-generated mapping of hepatic venous structures with high attenuation and metastases with low attenuation, 3D reconstruction was performed. Thirty-six of the 40 lesions (90%) were detected with 2D and 3D CTAP. The accuracy in determining the segmental location of hepatic metastases was 78% (28 of the 36 metastases) for 2D CTAP and 94% (34 of the 36 metastases) for 3D CTAP. The difference in localization rates between 2D CTAP and 3D CTAP was statistically significant. The 3D CTAP technique provides vital data unattainable with other imaging modalities that improve the preoperative assessment of the resectability of hepatic metastases and allows planning a safer surgical approach.

Adult↗

[Biodistribution of murine XF-8 monoclonal antibody in patients with colonic cancer].

We describe a biodistribution study using a radiolabelled anti-tumor murine monoclonal antibody F(ab')2 in XF-8 in 6 patients with colorectal carcinoma. One patient had an isolated rectal carcinoma. Five patients had hepatic metastasis of colorectal carcinoma. Among them three had also the primary colorectal carcinoma. Double-label method using simultaneous injection of 131-Iodine monoclonal antibody XF-8 F(ab')2 and 125-Iodine control monoclonal antibody was performed to evaluate the specificity of monoclonal antibody localization in the tumor. Each patient received 4-8 mCi of 131-I XF-8 F(ab')2 infused at doses 0.5-5 mg. Simultaneously 200 microCi of 125-I non relevant antibody were infused. Before each administration, immunoreactivity of antibodies preparations was checked before labelling by immunohistological methods and, after labelling, by cell-binding tests. In biodistribution studies, patients were scanned with a scintillation camera each day since the infusing day to the surgery day (3-6 days). To study specificity of XF-8 F(ab')2 antibody localization we measured by means of scintillation counting in tumors and normal tissues recovered after surgery. In vitro immunoreactivity of monoclonal antibody batches was safe. All our data in vivo are negative but correlated. We concluded that criteria for screening the monoclonal antibodies considered for detection of human tumors are not really known.

Adult↗

[Is the aggressive treatment of locoregional recurrences of colorectal cancers justified?].

Fifty-two local recurrences (LR) of colonic (n = 31) or rectal (n = 21) cancers, with synchronous metastases in 19 cases, were treated aggressively between 1981 and 1989. Treatment consisted of extended surgical resection combined with transcutaneous radiation therapy. Intravenous chemotherapy (5 fluorouracil and folinic acid) was delivered to the last 42 patients. The synchronous metastases were resected in all cases, except one. A sufficient high-dose radiation therapy (45 Gy after complete excision and 60 Gy after incomplete excision) was performed in 23 cases only. The majority (29 cases) of the patients underwent a second operation, and some 3, 4, or 5 operations. Global survival and survival without recurrence were 60 percent and 42 percent at 3 years. These good results were not stable and decreased progressively with time. The excision required usually surgery of large magnitude. Postoperative mortality was null but morbidity and functional disorders were important. After complete excision of the LR, radiation therapy doubled the rate of local control when it was greater than 45 Gy. The benefit of radiation therapy was doubtful after incomplete excision, even with high-dose irradiation. The role of systemic chemotherapy could not be analyzed in this study. Study of prognostic factors showed that resectable synchronous metastases and rectal or colonic location of primary tumors were not correlated with survival, Survival was correlated with the local control of LR (P = 0.012) and the presence of invaded neighbouring organs (P = 0.006) which reflected the tumor volume. In conclusion, it was difficult to conclude if aggressive treatment of LR should be mandatory or not.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Surgical and chemotherapeutic treatment of hepatic metastases from carcinoma of the breast.

To date, no five year survival rates have been reported for patients with hepatic metastases (HM) from breast origin treated by chemotherapy or hormone therapy. This study was done to evaluate whether or not surgical excision of such metastatic disease associated with chemotherapy has any effect on such a poor prognosis. Between May 1985 and September 1988, 22 patients with a diagnosis of isolated (solitary or multiple) HM have been surgically treated. The therapeutic approach also included systemic preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy. Laparotomy findings for those 22 patients are presented. There were benign hepatic lesions in four patients (four different histologic types) and hepatectomy was done in two patients. Diffuse metastatic disease contraindicated any attempt at hepatic resection in six patients. Hepatectomy was possible in 12 patients. There was no postoperative mortality and minimal morbidity. One-half of the patients with metastases had one or more positive lymph nodes at the hepatic pedicule. Median survival time for 12 patients treated by hepatectomy was 37 +/- 9 months after hepatectomy and 42 +/- 3 months after the discovery of HM. Eleven patients had other metastases after an average period of 11.8 months after hepatectomy, and the liver was the first site of recurrence in eight. One patient underwent a hepatectomy twice. Two patients were free of disease 29 to 46 months postoperatively in spite of poor prognostic features on the excised specimen. Although the median survival time was two times better than with usual treatment, we believe this procedure is of doubtful benefit. In this situation, hepatectomy acts as cytoreductive surgical treatment, with the main limiting factor being the relatively low effectiveness of chemotherapy. This type of therapy can be applied only to a restricted number of patients, and if we decide to proceed with this study, we will have to modify the protocol of chemotherapy radically.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

[Synchronous cancers of the esophagus and of the ORL area: results of combined treatments with esophagectomy (28 cases)].

Twenty-eight patients with synchronous esophageal and head and neck epidermoid cancers have been treated by a combined protocol including esophagectomy. Seventy-nine percent received pre-operative chemotherapy, 50% had resection of the head and neck lesion at the same time as the esophagectomy and 79% received post-operative irradiation. Two patients died during the post-operative period (7%), and 1, 2 and 3-yr survival rate (Kaplan-Meier) was respectively 64, 32 and 27%. Contrary to our initial assumption, there was no significant decrease in survival compared to patients operated on for an isolated esophageal cancer. The patients were divided into 4 very simple prognostic groups based on the T and N stages of the clinical pre-therapeutic TNM classification: T1 or T2 for esophageal lesions and different T or N stages according to the prognosis for head and neck lesions. A study of each group tended to show that esophagectomy was beneficial except in cases of synchronous T2 esophageal cancer and locally advanced head and neck cancer (there was 2-yr survival in this group). The 28 patients studied represent a particular population which presented 91 cancerous localisations during the duration of the study (mean: 3.25 localisations per patient).

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

[Evaluation of the risk of pulmonary complications after abdominal surgery].

Pulmonary complications are frequent after abdominal surgery. The object of this study was to evaluate the incidence and the predisposing factors of the postoperative pulmonary complications with a particular attention to their definitions. It included 146 patients. The respiratory complications were separated into clinical complications (bronchitis), radiological complications (atelectasis) and hypoxaemia (PaO2 less than 70 mmHg). Clinical complications (23%) were correlated neither with radiological complications (57%) nor hypoxaemia (46%). They particularly occurred in patients with a preoperative history of respiratory disease. Preoperative risk factors were males, low PaO2 and decreased FEV1. Radiological complications were strongly correlated with postoperative hypoxaemia. Their incidence was not affected by a previous history of respiratory disease. Both radiological complications and hypoxaemia were predicted by age.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Intra-arterial hepatic chemotherapy with pirarubicin. Preclinical and clinical studies.

Intra-arterial hepatic chemotherapy (IAHC) with adriamycin (ADM) has not increased its therapeutic index. For our preclinical studies, we selected pirarubicin (THP), an ADM derivative with faster cellular uptake. In rabbits with VX2 tumor in the liver we compared plasmatic and cellular pharmacokinetics of ADM and THP after i.v. and IAH therapy. For ADM, there were no differences in plasma and heart concentrations, with only a slight increase in tumoral levels after IAH compared to i.v. administration; on the other hand, with IAH THP, there was important reduction in systemic exposure with a major increase in tumoral drug distribution. In the phase I study, involving nine patients with implanted catheters, the starting dose of THP was 30 mg/m2 with a 10 mg/m2 intrapatient escalation every 3 weeks in the absence of toxicity. Pharmacokinetics were compared for i.v. and IAH administration in seven patients. The limiting toxicity was neutropenia and the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) ranged from 50 to 110 mg/m2. Moderate nausea-vomiting (grade 1-2) and alopecia (grade 1) occurred at the MTD. No arterial occlusion, gastroduodenal ulcer, hepatitis, or sclerosing cholangitis were seen. In the phase II study, in colorectal cancer patients (CRC) with metastasis confined to the liver, patients were enrolled until June 1990. THP (40 min infusion every 3 weeks) was initiated at 60 mg/m2 with 10 mg/m2 increment until grade 2 hematotoxicity. The median MTD was 85 mg/m2 (range of 60-120 mg/m2), and the median number of cycles was 7 (range of 2-11) with cumulated doses from 180 to 1,030 mg/m2. Grade 2-4 neutropenia was reached in 15 patients. Other toxicities included two arterial occlusions, one episode of gastritis, but no hepatic toxicity and no heart failure. Antitumor effect (in 18 patients) included 1 CR, 5 PR, 3 MR, 6 NC, and 3 PD. The median survival was 18+ months and 1-year survival was 73% +/- 12%. Seven patients had extrahepatic progression at this time. In conclusion, besides 5-FU or Fudr, THP is active in IAHC (probably in relation with high local extraction) on CRC liver metastases usually unresponsive to ADM. It can be given in an outpatient setting with minimal toxicity.

Animals↗

[Primitive digestive localizations of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Prognostic factors of locally advanced disease: stage II. Report of 67 cases].

Sixty-seven patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the digestive tract with locally advanced disease (stage II) were analyzed to determine the main factors influencing survival. There were 19 patients with stage II E1 and 48 with stage II E2 disease (Musshoff classification). According to the Kiel classification, 46 percent were low grade, 46 percent were high grade, and 8 percent were unclassified. The principal sites involved included the stomach: 11 cases, small intestine: 21 cases, colon: 12 cases, and mesentery: 11 cases. Lymphoma was unique in 45 cases (67 percent). Treatment consisted of laparotomy in 61 of 67 cases: partial resection was achieved in 21 cases, complete resection in 27 cases, and exploration only in 13 cases. Chemotherapy, according to histopathological subtypes, was employed in 90 percent of cases. Radiation therapy was applied in 25 patients (37 percent), essentially when there was residual disease after surgery (17 patients). Therapeutic indications were dependent on histological subtype, extension, and the therapy regimen in use at the time of treatment. Five patients were treated by surgery only, 2 by surgery and radiation therapy, 37 by surgery followed by chemotherapy, and 23 by all three treatment modalities. Overall survival was 62 percent at 5 years. Univariate analysis showed that 5-year survival rates were not influenced by sex, age, histopathological subtype (low grade: 69 percent; high grade: 59 percent; NS) or local extension (stage II E1: 76 percent vs stage II E2: 59 percent; NS). In contrast, complete surgical excision (p = 0.06) and radiation therapy in case of local residual disease (p = 0.02) seemed to improve survival. The main prognostic factor was the achievement of a complete therapeutic response (CR) (p = 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗