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Biomedical subjects

S B Murphy

Publications and source records attributed to S B Murphy.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Cyclosporine therapy for advanced Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Prompted by evidence that Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a nonmalignant disorder of immune regulation, we used cyclosporine (12 mg/kg/d orally) to treat three young children with advanced multisystem LCH. All three patients had partial responses to cyclosporine within 2 months of therapy, as evidenced by complete resolution of organ dysfunction and regression of the majority of lesions. Complete responses were attained by adding relatively nontoxic chemotherapy (ie, prednisone and vinblastine). Toxicity from cyclosporine comprised mild and reversible elevations of the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. These results indicate that further evaluation of cyclosporine for the treatment of patients with advanced LCH is warranted.

Cyclosporins↗
PubMed1990

Tumors of smooth-muscle origin in HIV-infected children.

We report the occurrence of multiple leiomyomata and leiomyosarcomata in three children with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The children were infected with human immunodeficiency virus as infants (one perinatally and two through transfusions) and each was profoundly immunosuppressed (absolute CD4 cell count, less than 75/mm3). They experienced multiple infections prior to the diagnosis of neoplasms at ages 4, 5, and 8 years, respectively. The tumors in each case were mainly involving the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. The smooth-muscle origin of the tumors was proved by light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemical staining for muscle-specific actin and desmin. Leiomyomata and leiomyosarcomata are rare tumors in childhood, suggesting a nonrandom association of tumors of smooth-muscle origin and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We postulate that human immunodeficiency virus infection may play a direct or indirect role in tumor formation.

Child↗
PubMed1990

Results of treatment of childhood localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with combination chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy.

Combined radiotherapy and intensive chemotherapy have led to improved prognosis in children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but the toxic effects of these forms of treatment are additive and seriously limit the benefits of their use. In an effort to limit the adverse acute and late effects of treatment, we conducted a randomized, controlled trial to determine whether irradiation of primary sites of involvement could safely be omitted from the treatment of children with localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Stages I and II) who have a favorable prognosis. In addition, the chemotherapy regimen was less intense and shorter (eight months) than usual. A total of 129 patients were randomly assigned to receive either chemotherapy (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone, mercaptopurine, and methotrexate) with irradiation (27 Gy) of the involved field (combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy) or chemotherapy alone. Half the patients have been followed for more than 38 months (range, 13 to 68), and the projected disease-free survival (+/- SE) at four years among patients assigned to chemotherapy alone is 87.9 +/- 8.8 percent, as compared with 87.3 +/- 9.4 percent among patients assigned to combined therapy (P = 0.44). The majority of patients tolerated therapy very well, although the toxic effects of treatment (myelosuppression, mucositis, and infection) were significantly worse among patients who received the combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We conclude that most children with localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can be cured by a chemotherapy regimen of reduced intensity and duration. Radiotherapy can be safely omitted from the therapy of such children without substantially jeopardizing their excellent chance of cure.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1990

Surgical implications of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma of childhood.

Our purpose was to summarize information from a large single institution's experience regarding the role of surgical resection in the management of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children and adolescents. Fifty-eight children were treated for primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The tumors usually presented in the ileocolic region (n = 54). Twenty-one children presented with intussusception. Complete surgical resection of tumor was accomplished in 32 patients, partial resection in 20, and biopsy only in 6. All patients were given lymphoma protocols employing chemotherapy and irradiation. Forty-four (76%) of 58 patients are surviving from 1 year to greater than 20 years from diagnosis. Thirty-one of 32 patients who underwent complete resection followed by protocol management are surviving, compared with 13 of 26 children with residual gross disease. The results indicate that children with primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma benefit from complete surgical resection when feasible.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in a program of intensive sequential chemotherapy for children and young adults with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in first remission.

Eighty-seven consecutive children and young adults with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) were treated uniformly with induction chemotherapy based on daunorubicin and cytarabine (ara-C), with the addition of etoposide (VP-16) and azacytidine (5-Az) for refractory patients. Of the 65 patients who entered complete remission, 42 were eligible for assessment of response to intensive chemotherapy consisting of four pairs of drugs administered in sequential fashion. Nineteen others with available histocompatibility locus antigen (HLA)-compatible donors were assigned to receive allogeneic bone marrow transplants within 16 weeks from their dates of complete remission. Durations of continuous complete remission (CCR) in the two groups were not significantly different at a median follow-up time of 6 years (P = .30 by log-rank analysis). Kaplan-Meier estimates of CCR probabilities (+/- SE) at 6 years were 43% +/- 13% (transplantation) and 31% +/- 7% (sequential chemotherapy). Postremission failures in the sequential chemotherapy group resulted from bone marrow relapse in 23 of 29 patients (79%), whereas in the transplantation group, failures were equally divided between marrow relapse and transplantation-related complications of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or infection due to the immunosuppressive effects of ablative chemotherapy. Comparison of hematologic remission curves indicated a significant advantage for marrow transplantation in terms of systemic leukemia control (P = .06). Thus, in programs of intensive chemotherapy of the type described here, allogeneic marrow transplantation should be seriously considered as alternative therapy for patients in first remission who have an HLA-matched sibling donor, provided that effective methods for control of transplant-related complications are available.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Acetabular dysplasia in the adolescent and young adult.

Hip dysplasia is a major cause of osteoarthrosis in adults. Early aggressive osteotomy has the potential of preventing the development of arthritis, but carries with it significant risks. The problem is further complicated because the surgeon has no means of quantifying the dysplastic deformity or of predicting what a particular combination of osteotomies would do to correct the deformity. This study describes methods of quantifying hip-joint geometry in three dimensions based on computed tomography and magnetic resonance studies, and of simulating pelvic osteotomy to correct the deformities. The study analyzes 49 normal hip joints and 20 dysplastic hip joints. The results show that the normal acetabulum is nearly a full hemisphere, which is anteverted 20 degrees and abducted 53 degrees. The normal lateral center-edge angle is 37 degrees. The dysplastic acetabulum is not anterolaterally maldirected, as has been assumed, but is globally dysplastic. Analysis of the individual dysplastic hip joints showed a wide variability. Some patients were deficient globally, some anterolaterally, and some posterolaterally. Methods of analyzing a patient's hip joint, quantifying abnormalities, simulating surgery, and predicting results are demonstrated in a case example.

Acetabulum↗
PubMed1989

Secondary acute myeloid leukemia in children treated for acute lymphoid leukemia.

We studied the risk of the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) during initial remission in 733 consecutive children with acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) who were treated with intensive chemotherapy. This complication was identified according to standard morphologic and cytochemical criteria in 13 patients 1.2 to 6 years (median, 3.0) after the diagnosis of ALL. At three years of follow-up, the cumulative risk of secondary AML during the first bone marrow remission was 1.6 percent (95 percent confidence limits, 0.7 and 3.5 percent); at six years, it was 4.7 percent (2 and 10 percent). The development of secondary AML was much more likely among patients with a T-cell than a non-T-cell immunophenotype (cumulative risk, 19.1 percent [6 and 47 percent] at six years). Sequential cytogenetic studies in 10 patients revealed entirely different karyotypes in 9, suggesting the induction of a second neoplasm. In eight of these patients, the blast cells had abnormalities of the 11q23 chromosomal region, which has been associated with malignant transformation of a pluripotential stem cell. There was no evidence of loss of DNA from chromosome 5 or 7, a karyotypic change commonly observed in cases of AML secondary to treatment with alkylating agents, irradiation, or both. We conclude that there is a substantial risk of AML in patients who receive intensive treatment for ALL, especially in those with a T-cell immunophenotype, and that 11q23 chromosomal abnormalities may be important in the pathogenesis of this complication.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Diffuse small noncleaved cell lymphoma in children, Burkitt's versus non-Burkitt's types. Results from the Pediatric Oncology Group and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The clinical relevance of a morphologic distinction between Burkitt's (B) and non-Burkitt's (NB) types of small non-cleaved cell (SNC) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has been controversial. Numerous attempts to discern an important clinical difference between the subtypes have failed to provide a convincing reason to maintain this distinction for other than descriptive purposes. Because of conflicting reports in the literature, the authors have analyzed 183 cases of SNC NHL in children from the Pediatric Oncology Group and 129 from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis, TN). The results from both series, which consist of approximately the same proportions of B and NB subtypes, (i.e., approximately 54%-58% B, 36% NB, and 6%-10% not otherwise specified) show no significant differences in age at presentation, extent of disease, primary site of involvement, or survival. The authors conclude that the morphologic distinction between B and NB types of SNC NHL in children lacks demonstrable clinical importance.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗
PubMed1989

Effective reinduction therapy for childhood acute nonlymphoid leukemia using simultaneous continuous infusions of teniposide and amsacrine.

The combination of teniposide (VM-26) and amsacrine (AMSA) was evaluated in a dose-finding and efficacy study in 58 patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia. Both agents were given as simultaneous continuous infusions for 72 h through separate i.v. lines. All patients were evaluable for toxicity and 57 were evaluable for response; only 2 of 20 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute mixed-lineage leukemia, or chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis achieved a complete remission (CR). More encouraging was a second-remission rate of 43% (13 complete and 3 partial) in the 37 patients with acute nonlymphoid leukemia (ANLL). Responses occurred only in patients who received VM-26 doses of greater than or equal to 200 mg/m2 per day and AMSA doses of greater than or equal to 100 mg/m2 per day. Thus, the CR rate for relapsed ANLL patients who received the higher doses of both agents was 40% (13 of 33). All responders had previously received epipodophyllotoxin therapy and 40% had also received AMSA. All but one patient had severe leukopenia (less than 2.0 x 10(9) leukocytes/l) and thrombocytopenia (less than 50.0 x 10(9) platelets/l) as a results of therapy. Severe mucositis (grade 3 or 4) was the dose-limiting toxicity. Our results indicate that VM-26 plus AMSA, given by continuous infusion, is effective in the treatment of ANLL. Further phase II studies should consider using VM-26 at 200 mg/m2 per day and AMSA at 100 mg/m2 per day, but the best administration schedule remains unclear.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

An 11-year follow-up of a network of cocaine users.

This paper presents findings from an exploratory 11-year follow-up study of a small network of cocaine users. These findings suggest that while serious abuse potential exists, addiction is not a uniform outcome of sustained use and that long-term controlled use is possible. In all, four types of career use pattern are described, in addition to one case of regular abuse. These data also suggest the importance of user norms and informal social controls in mitigating against the force of pharmacological and physiological factors leading toward dependence or addiction.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Clonal analysis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia with "cytogenetically independent" cell populations.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is generally regarded as a clonal disease in which a single abnormal progenitor cell gives rise to neoplastic progeny. Five of 463 cases of childhood ALL with adequately banded leukemic cells were found to have two cytogenetically independent cell populations. In addition, two of the four cases tested had more than two rearranged immunoglobulin genes and (or) T cell receptor genes. To investigate the clonality of these unusual leukemias, we examined the neoplastic cells for X-linked markers extrinsic to the disease. Leukemic cells from each of the three patients heterozygous for an X-linked, restriction fragment length polymorphism showed a single active parental allele, suggesting that both apparently independent cell populations developed from a common progenitor. These cases provide evidence that leukemogenesis involves a multistep process of mutation and suggest that karyotypic abnormalities may be a late event of malignant transformation.

Alleles↗
PubMed1989

Variability in the disposition of intraventricular methotrexate: a proposal for rational dosing.

Despite the clinical experience with Ommaya reservoir-facilitated intraventricular methotrexate (MTX) therapy, established age-related dosage guidelines do not exist. In an attempt to design such a schedule, 49 courses of intra-Ommaya MTX (median dose, 6 mg) administered to 12 patients were studied. Using a fluorescence polarized immunoassay (TDx; Abbott, Dallas, TX), the median peak intraventricular CSF MTX concentration (CSF [MTX]) was 423 mumol/L. Median CSF [MTX] at 24 hours was 4.6 mumol/L, and at 48 hours was 1.05 mumol/L. Median MTX half-life (t1/2) was 5.7 hours. A CSF [MTX] greater than 1 mumol/L was maintained for 24 hours in all but one course and for 48 hours in half of the courses. No correlations were found between MTX dose, patient age, [MTX], t1/2 or prior therapy. Considerable intra- and interpatient variability was seen in MTX disposition, emphasizing the need to monitor [MTX] with each course. A schedule for intraventricular MTX with an initial dose of 6 mg and supplemental doses of 6, 4, or 2 mg at 24 and 48 hours according to serial measurements of intraventricular [MTX] should be initiated to provide a minimum CSF [MTX] of 1 mumol/L for 72 hours.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of childhood: an analysis of the histology, staging, and response to treatment of 338 cases at a single institution.

Between 1962 and 1986, a total of 338 consecutive newly diagnosed children and adolescents with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) were evaluated and treated at St Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH). Median follow-up is 6.6 years (range, 1.8 to 23 years). The patients ranged in age from 7 months to 21 years (median, 10 years), and 71% were males. All cases were staged (I to IV) by a clinical staging system. Eighteen percent were stage I, 21% stage II, 43% stage III, and 18% stage IV. Cases frankly leukemic at diagnosis (ie, greater than 25% marrow blasts) were excluded from the analysis. Pathologic material from all cases was reviewed and classified according to the Working Formulation. The histologic distribution of cases was as follows: 38.8% diffuse small non-cleaved cell (undifferentiated, Burkitt's and non-Burkitt's); 26.3% diffuse large-cell, mainly immunoblastic; 28.1% lymphoblastic; and 6.8% other. Treatment policy evolved over time to a stage- and histology-specific strategy for treatment assignment, and overall results significantly improved by era from 37% (+/- 5%) 2-year event-free survival (EFS) for patients treated before 1975 to 77% (+/- 4%) since 1978. By univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, the era of treatment (hence, the protocol-specific treatment itself), the stage, and the log of the initial serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) emerged as the most powerful prognostic indicators, while histology per se was not significantly related to outcome. For the 154 patients treated since 1978, the 2-year EFS by stage was 97% (+/- 3%) for stage I, 86% (+/- 6%) for stage II, 73% (+/- 6%) for stage III, and 47% (+/- 11%) for stage IV (P less than .0001). Compared with our previous experience, we conclude that the cure rate of childhood NHL has doubled in the last decade with modern management.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Childhood non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involving the testis: clinical features and treatment outcome.

Among 131 boys with advanced (stage III or IV) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) consecutively treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, testicular involvement was present at the time of diagnosis in six and as an isolated site of relapse in three. Testicular involvement was not seen in any patient with localized (stage I or II) disease. Four of the six patients with involvement at presentation are free of disease 2.9+ to 8.3+ years after diagnosis, following chemotherapy alone (three patients) or chemotherapy plus orchiectomy. Overt testicular relapse while on therapy resulted in death from progressive disease in two patients; the third relapsed after completing therapy for Burkitt's lymphoma and is in second remission after chemotherapy, orchiectomy, and scrotal irradiation. The prolonged remissions seen in children with testicular involvement at diagnosis suggest that scrotal irradiation may not be necessary in chemosensitive disease. By contrast, testicular relapse on therapy appears to indicate drug-resistant disease and a poor prognosis, despite testicular irradiation and chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗