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Biomedical subjects

R S Berkowitz

Publications and source records attributed to R S Berkowitz.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

HL-A antigen frequency distribution in patients with gestational choriocarcinoma and their husbands.

HL-A (A,B,C, and DR) antigen frequency distribution was determined in 29 patients with choriocarcinoma and in their husbands, as well as in a matched control population of 21 healthy couples. All 29 patients had achieved complete sustained remission with chemotherapy. The HL-A antigen frequency distribution was normal in the choriocarcinoma patients and in their husbands and there was no abnormal HL-A antigen sharing between patients and their husbands. This study does not exclude the possibility that the pathogenesis of resistant choriocarcinoma may be dependent upon tumour-host histocompatibility.

Choriocarcinoma↗
PubMed1981

Cerebrospinal fluid human chorionic gonadotropin levels in normal pregnancy and choriocarcinoma.

We measured human chorionic gonadotropin levels simultaneously in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 36 normal pregnant women and of six patients with choriocarcinoma. During normal pregnancy, human chorionic gonadotropin levels in the cerebral spinal fluid correlated well with those in the serum in both the first and third trimesters. A serum-cerebral spinal fluid human chorionic gonadotropin ratio of less than 60 has previously been reported as a sensitive diagnostic test for trophoblastic central nervous system involvement. However, we found this ratio to be less than 60 in one patient undergoing first trimester abortion and in one patient with nonmetastatic choriocarcinoma. Furthermore, two patients with documented trophoblastic cerebral metastases had serum-cerebral spinal fluid human chorionic gonadotropin ratios in excess of 60. Results of our study, thus, indicate that determination of a single serum-cerebral spinal fluid human chorionic gonadotropin ratio may not conclusively prove or exclude trophoblastic central nervous system metastases. Unless it is corroborated by other diagnostic means, a single decreased serum-cerebral spinal fluid human chorionic gonadotropin ratio is insufficient evidence to initiate multimodality treatment for presumptive central nervous system involvement.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1980

Methotrexate with citrovorum factor rescue: reduced chemotherapy toxicity in the management of gestational trophoblastic neoplasms.

The comparative systemic toxicity of methotrexate (MTX) with citrovorum factor rescue (CF), MTX alone and actinomycin-D (Act-D) in the treatment of gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (GTN) was evaluated in the present study. Treatment with MTX-CF was associated with only a 4% incidence (1 of 25 patients) of hepatic and/or hematologic toxicity and total absence of either a generalized rash or marked alopecia. In contrast, both MTX alone and Act-D were associated with a 48% incidence (12 of 25 patients) of hepatic and/or hematologic toxicity. Actinomycin-D also induced a generalized rash and marked alopecia in 24% (6 of 25 patients) and 52% (13 of 25 patients) of the patients respectively. We found that MTX-CF is the least toxic single agent chemotherapeutic regimen in the management of GTN.

Bone Marrow↗
PubMed1980

Natural history of recurrent molar pregnancy.

Seven patients with recurrent molar pregnancy were managed at the New England Trophoblastic Disease Center (NETDC) between July 1965 and December 1978. Recurrent molar pregnancy was associated with a worsening histology and an increased incidence of proliferative trophoblastic sequelae in the successive episodes of hydatidiform mole. While none of the initial 7 patients with molar pregnancy required any further treatment after evacuation, 5 of the 7 patients needed chemotherapy to achieve complete sustained remission of the recurrent episodes of hydatidiform mole. None of the patients with recurrent hydatidiform mole had normal viable pregnancies after 2 or more consecutive molar gestations. The literature regarding recurrent molar pregnancy is reviewed in the context of the authors' current observations.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Methotrexate with citrovorum factor rescue for nonmetastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasms.

Fifty-one patients with nonmetastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (NMGTN) were treated with either 4 or 6 mg/kg methotrexate (MTX) and citrovorum factor (CF) rescue to determine if the higher dosage could reduce the number of courses of chemotherapy required to achieve remission. Thirty-six of 41 patients treated with 4 mg/kg MTX achieved complete remission with 1 course of chemotherapy. Increasing the initial dose of MTX to 6 mg/kg in 10 patients did not reduce the need for subsequent courses of chemotherapy but did increase associated toxicity. The rate of fall in the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) titer following the initial course of MTX-CF was found to be an accurate predictor of therapeutic response. The need for further chemotherapy may be anticipated if the hCG titer has not fallen by 1 log within 18 days.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Central nervous system involvement by ovarian carcinoma: a complication of prolonged survivial with metastatic disease.

Six patients with epithelial ovarian cancer had clinical diagnoses of central nervous system (CNS) metastases during a four-year period. A thorough review of the literature shows that involvement of the CNS by ovarian cancer is a rare phenomenon. Four of the six patients developed parenchymal brain metastases whereas carcinomatous meningitis was detected in the other two. These patients were younger and survived longer from initial diagnosis than the majority of women with ovarian cancer. Five of the six patients had previously received chemotherapy and had developed metastatic spread to extraperitoneal sites. Following extensive surgical resection, chemotherapy may provide intraperitoneal and systemic control, thereby extending survival and permitting occult CNS metastases to become apparent.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1978

Endometrial stromal sarcoma arising from vaginal endometriosis.

The present case reports the concurrence of endometriosis of the vaginal cuff with endometrial stromal sarcoma in association with high-dose estrogen. This case raises the question of whether chronic high-dose estrogen might be associated with malignant transformation of endometrial stroma. Although there is no definitive evidence of a causal relation between estrogen and endometrial stromal sarcoma, the possibility should be explored further. Therapy of this neoplasm is discussed and salient clinical and pathologic features are reviewed.

Endometriosis↗
PubMed1977

Corynebacterium parvum as an immunotherapeutic agent in an ovarian cancer model.

Corynebacterium parvum, an anaerobic diptheroid, has been demonstrated to be therapeutic in several tumor models by stimulating immunologic defenses. Formalin-killed C. parvum was investigated in the present study as an immunotherapeutic agent in the treatment of murine ovarian cancer, a model that closely simulates the activity of clinical disease. C. parvum successfully prolonged survival in murine ovarian cancer and its effectiveness improved with increasing dosage. The efficacy of C. parvum was further enhanced by a multiple-dose regimen. A previous report demonstrated the efficacy of heterologous tumor antisera in the serologic treatment of murine ovarian cancer. At the dosages investigated, the combination of C. parvum and heterologous tumor antisera (SG-200) provided longer survival than either modality independently. C. parvum is an effective anti-cancer agent in murine ovarian cancer and may find utility in a clinical setting.

Animals↗