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V Boneschi

Publications and source records attributed to V Boneschi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Treatment of classical Kaposi's sarcoma with gemcitabine.

BACKGROUND: Several drugs are active in aggressive classical Kaposi's sarcoma (CKS); chemotherapeutic agents with fewer side-effects, more rapid response and able to overcome resistance to previous treatment are advisable when treating patients in a second line. Gemcitabine, an analogue of deoxycytidine with cytotoxic activity in the treatment of solid tumours, has been found to have no serious side-effects. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of treating patients affected by aggressive CKS with gemcytabine. METHODS: Twelve patients with a recurrent aggressive form of CKS previously treated with chemotherapy were treated with gemcitabine. The drug was administered intravenously at the dose of 1.2 g/week for 2 weeks, followed by a 1-week interval, until maximal response was reached. Objective responses and toxicity were evaluated according to WHO criteria. RESULTS: Eleven evaluable patients achieved an objective response: CR in 1/11 and PR in 10/11. Toxicity was limited. CONCLUSION: This study shows the usefulness of treating patients affected with aggressive CKS with gemcitabine, in order to obtain control of the disease and to reduce the related symptoms as well as to overcome a possible resistance to previous treatments.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Author reply

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Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Human herpesvirus-8 infection among heterosexual partners of patients with classical Kaposi's sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: DNA sequences of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8) are found in lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). OBJECTIVES: To verify the hypothesis of the sexual transmission of HHV8 infection. METHODS: We used the immunoperoxidase assay to study the prevalence of serum antibodies to HHV8-related antigens in 27 consorts of patients with classical KS, and in a control group of 25 healthy women. RESULTS: Forty-four per cent of the study group were positive, compared with 8% of the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The sexual route may be one of the possible ways of transmission of the HHV8 virus.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Human immunodeficiency virus negative Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoproliferative disorders.

BACKGROUND: The concomitant occurrence of more than one primary neoplasm in the same individual has led researchers to seek possible common etiopathogenetic factors. Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a multicentric neoplasm of vascular origin and perhaps viral etiology. Four forms of KS are known: classic or Mediterranean, endemic or African, posttransplant, and epidemic or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated KS. In its classic form KS mainly affects elderly people and often has a long and indolent course that occasionally allows other malignancies to appear. Previous studies of the possible association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative KS and lymphoproliferative disorders (LDs) have produced discordant results. METHODS: To verify a possibly significant association between HIV negative KS and LDs, data relating to 250 evaluable Italian patients with HIV negative KS were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 250 KS patients, only 6 (2.4%) were found to have had an LD: 2 with Hodgkin lymphoma, 1 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 1 with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, 1 with acute promyelocytic leukemia, and 1 with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia. CONCLUSIONS: No significant association was found between HIV negative KS and LDs in the patient population in the current study. The authors believe that age, LD, or therapy-related immunodepression played a role in the cases in which KS appeared after the LD by determining the passing to the lytic phase of the herpes-virus HHV8 already present in anatomic sites of latency/persistence.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Vinorelbine therapy for Kaposi's sarcoma in a kidney transplant patient.

We report the case of a patient with Kaposi's sarcoma after kidney transplantation. Despite the discontinuation of azathioprine and a reduction in the cyclosporin dosage, the disease continued to evolve, and antineoplastic treatment became necessary. After 14 cycles of vinorelbine chemotherapy, there was a 75% regression of the initial lesions, despite the continuation of cyclosporin A.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
PubMed1997

Posttransplantation cutaneous B-cell lymphoma with monoclonal Epstein-Barr virus infection, responding to acyclovir and reduction in immunosuppression.

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) represent an important complication of solid organ transplantation. The main causative factor of PTLDs seems to be the intensity and type of immunosuppressive therapy and the frequent occurrence of Epstein-Barr virus infection. PTLDs that are disseminated at diagnosis or present late after transplantation generally share an unfavorable prognosis and are unlikely to regress in response to reduction in immunosuppressive therapy. We describe a case of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma occurring 4 years after heart transplantation in which molecular analysis revealed a monoclonal pattern of Epstein-Barr virus infection and immunoglobulin gene rearrangement. In spite of its monoclonal nature and late occurrence, the lymphomatous lesions regressed completely after antiviral treatment and a reduction in immunosuppressive therapy.

Acyclovir↗
PubMed1994

Mediterranean Kaposi's sarcoma in the elderly. A randomized study of oral etoposide versus vinblastine.

BACKGROUND: This Phase III trial was performed to compare the roles of oral etoposide and intravenous (i.v.) vinblastine in the treatment of Mediterranean Kaposi's Sarcoma (MEKS) in elderly patients with severe disease (Stages II, Ac/B, III, and IV). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients were randomized to receive either oral etoposide (60 mg/m2 on Days 1-3 during the first course; 60 mg/m2 on Days 1-4 during the second course, and 60 mg/m2 on Days 1-4 during the second course, and 60 mg/m2 on Days 1-5 during the third course; the courses were recycled every 3 weeks) or an i.v. bolus of vinblastine (3 mg/m2 weekly for 3 weeks, and then 6 mg/m2 every 3 weeks). RESULTS: No significant difference between the two drugs was observed in terms of response rates (etoposide, 73.5% vs. vinblastine, 58%; P = 0.3), duration of response, or survival (median not yet reached at a median follow-up of 38 months). Side effects of both treatments were limited, although myelotoxicity was more evident in the vinblastine arm. CONCLUSIONS: Although it is feasible and well tolerated, the oral administration of etoposide at these doses and in this regimen does not appear superior to vinblastine in the treatment of MEKS. Further evaluation of a more intensive schedule in large cooperative clinical trials is needed to establish the role of this drug in comparison with reference treatments.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

[Erosive lichen planus of the glans penis. Treatment with cyclosporin A].

After suffering from chronic and steroid-resistant erosive lichen planus of the glans penis for 2 years, a 42-year-old patient presented to our Institute. The clinical picture was of an erythematous and erosive lesion, superficially covered with sero-fibrinous exudations. Lichen planus was diagnosed by clinical and histological examination. Control routine serum analysis and urinalysis gave normal results, and ciclosporin A was given at a dosage of 3 mg/kg daily. After 2 weeks of therapy, significant regression of erythema and infiltration was seen, so that the patient could be circumcised as planned. After leaving our Institute the patient continued the therapy with ciclosporin A and the monthly controls of kidney and liver function had shown no abnormalities during the 6-month follow-up that had elapsed up to the time of writing.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Multiple miliary osteomas of the face.

We report an exceptional case of multiple miliary osteomas of the face in an elderly woman, which developed in the absence of previous inflammatory or neoplastic skin disease. Excellent aesthetic results were achieved by surgical removal of about 90 miniature stones present in the facial skin of the patient.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Immunohistological evaluation of basal cell carcinoma immunoinfiltrate during intralesional treatment with alpha 2-interferon.

We investigated the peritumoral and intratumoral immune infiltrate in 6 basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) treated with recombinant alpha 2b-interferon. Each BCC was injected intralesionally three times a week for 3 weeks with 1.5 x 10(6) IU of interferon per injection (total dose 13.5 x 10(6) IU). The immunohistological study was done before the start of interferon therapy and 15 days afterwards, using a series of monoclonal antibodies and an immunocytochemical technique. Before therapy the infiltrate consisted mainly of CD3+ (T) cells, with prevalence of CD4+ (helper/inducer) T cells. The percentage of T cells expressing interleukin-2 receptor (CD25+ cells) was higher in the tumor nests than in the peritumoral infiltrate (20% and 11% respectively). CD1+ (Langerhans) cells and CD14b+ cells (monocytes/macrophages) were present in the peritumoral infiltrate in all cases (9% +/- 5% and 14% +/- 7% respectively). Very few CD56+ (natural killer), CD15+ (granulocytes) and CD20+ (B) cells were observed in the peritumoral infiltrate and none at all in tumor nests. After 15 days of interferon therapy, we observed an increase in peritumoral and intratumoral CD4+ cells. There was a decrease in the number of CD25+ cells and of CD1+ cells in the peritumoral infiltrate. The number of intratumoral CD25+ increased. No variations were seen in CD14b, CD15, CD20, and CD56 positive cells. Eight weeks after completion of therapy, two BCCs were cleared and the remaining four showed clinical and histological improvement. These results may indicate a direct effect of interferon against BCC; in addition the immunohistological findings suggest that intralesional interferon enhances T cell mediated immune response, especially in tumor nests.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1990

[Structural and ultrastructural study of an isolated case of pili annulati].

A case of pili annulati in an eighteen year old woman is described. The hairs show bright spots along hair shafts when viewed in daylight. The transmission and scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the bright spots are due to small cavities into the cortex. The plasmatic measurement of copper, zinc and of the most important hormone, such as the dosage of plasmatic, urinary and hair aminoacids, allowed the Authors to exclude any influence of metabolic systemic alterations on the pathogenesis of pili annulati. Neither cutaneous nor internal anomalies were detected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Late secondary syphilis].

A case of late secondary syphilis characterized by morphologically and topographically typical papulo-nodular and nodulo-ulcerative lesions is described. In the course of the late secondary stage nodular and ulcerous lesions arise as precursors of the tertiary stage. Therapy with penicillin caused the rapid regression of the disease with slight residual atrophy and dyschromia.

Humans↗