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Biomedical subjects

V S Lucas

Publications and source records attributed to V S Lucas.

47 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

DTIC, CCNU, bleomycin and vincristine (BOLD) in metastatic melanoma.

Treatment of 91 consecutive patients having metastatic, Stage IV melanoma who had not received any previous chemotherapy was begun between January 1977 and April 1978. The therapy included bleomycin (B) at 7.5 units subcutaneously in the first course and 15 units in subsequent courses on days 1 and 4; vincristine or Oncovin (O) at 1 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1 and 5; CCNU or lomustine (L) at 80 mg/m2 p.o. on day 1 and DTIC (D) 200 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1 through 5. Evaluable patients (72) were those who had measurable tumours in the viscera and on the skin. Seven patients (9%) responded with complete tumor regression (CR), 22 (31%) with partial regression (PR) (50% or more tumor regression), 12 (17%) with stabilization of disease, and 31 (43%) with progression of the disease. Patients who responded with CR, PR, and stable disease (41 patients) had a median survival of 67 weeks, while those who did not respond (31 patients) had a median survival of 20 weeks (P < .0001). Overall median survival was 31 weeks. The bleomycin-Oncovin-lomustine-DTIC (BOLD) regimen is an effective alternative treatment for metastatic melanoma; there is good tumor response and prolongation of survival in the responding patients. Its overall toxicity is mild to moderate.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1980

A trial of outpatient chemotherapy for recurrent head and neck tumors.

A four-drug combination chemotherapy (bleomycin-methotrexate-vinblastine-CCNU) had been used in 38 evaluable patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region on an outpatient basis. A large number of these patients had carcinoma of the oral cavity (45% of total). Nineteen patients (50%) responded to this regimen with a greater than or equal to 50% regression of their measured tumors. The median survival of all patients was 34 weeks. There was one chemotherapy-related death and the overall toxicity was mild. This convenient regimen can be considered a useful alternative to more aggressive therapy.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol for refractory vomiting induced by cancer chemotherapy.

Fifty-three patients receiving antineoplastic chemotherapy who had experienced severe nausea and vomiting refractory to standard antiemetic agents were treated with delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). These patients were given THC 8 to 12 hours before, during, and for 24 hours after chemotherapy. Ten patients (19%) had no further nausea and vomiting; 28 (53%) had at least a 50% reduction of nausea and vomiting compared to previous courses with the same agents. No appreciable reduction of nausea and vomiting was seen in 15 patients (28%). Toxic reactions were generally mild, with only four patients experiencing reactions that necessitated stopping THC therapy. We suggest that, since THC is a useful antimetic agent in patients having refractory chemotherapy-induced vomiting, existing restrictions prohibiting its therapeutic use should promptly be eased.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Sudden death during doxorubicin administration.

Three patients are described who either died suddenly or had severe, life-threatening arrhythmias during or immediately after doxorubicin administration. Since doxorubicin and daunorubicin administration is known to be associated with acute EKG abnormalities, the acute decompensation in these patients appeared to be caused by the administration of these agents. The importance of careful observation of patients receiving doxorubicin, because of the possibility of acute cardiac arrhythmias, is stressed.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antiemetic effect of intramuscular levonantradol in patients receiving anticancer chemotherapy.

Positive results of investigations of the antiemetic activity of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy have led to the development of levonantradol, a synthetic derivative of THC. We assessed both the antiemetic activity and toxicity of intramuscular levonantradol in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy who were refractory to conventional antiemetic therapy. An open dose-finding study was conducted using initial doses of 0.5 mg. Doses were escalated by 0.5 mg when an incomplete response with no toxicity was observed. Of the 28 patients initially treated, 25/28 (89 per cent) achieved a complete or partial antiemetic response at doses ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mg. There was no difference in response rate with respect to age or patient size. Of the 31 patients evaluable for toxicity, six reported none. Dysphoria, the dose-limiting toxicity, occurred in five patients (16 per cent) at 1.0 to 1.5-mg doses. The most commonly reported side effects were somnolence (48 per cent) and dry mouth (32 per cent). We conclude that intramuscular levonantradol is an effective antiemetic at doses as low as 0.5 mg.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Levonantradol for chemotherapy-induced emesis: phase I-II oral administration.

Thirty five patients were enrolled into a Phase I-II study of oral levonantradol being tested as an antiemetic for chemotherapy patients who were refractory to the aggressive use of standard antiemetic agents. Sixty-nine total courses were given. Dysphoric reactions (fear, anxiety, hallucinations) were the most serious side effects, and were most prevalent at the highest dose tested (2.0 mg q4h). Somnolence, a "high" feeling, hypotension were also noted. Antiemetic responses were seen at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg dose levels: the two intermediate doses gave responses comparable to those previously reported for oral THC. It is suggested that a combination of oral and parenteral levonantradol may prove to be a very effective program to relieve the otherwise disabling problems of persistent nausea and vomiting.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dental disease and caries related microflora in children with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate dental caries, bacterial dental plaque, gingivitis and caries related oral microflora in children with predominantly autosomal recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (DEB). METHODS: Thirty children with DEB from The Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and 31 control children matched for age, gender and ethnicity were included in the study. RESULTS: The main findings were: 1. A significantly greater mean dmft in the DEB children (p < 0.05). 2. A significantly greater mean plaque score for the DEB children for both the primary (p < 0.001) and permanent teeth (p < 0.02) compared with the control children. 3. A significantly greater mean gingivitis score for the DEB children for both the primary (p < 0.002) and permanent teeth (p < 0.0001) compared with the control children. 4. A significantly greater salivary total anaerobic count for the control children compared with the DEB children (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results reflect the difficulties that children with DEB have with basic oral hygiene procedures combined with slow oral clearance.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dental disease indices and caries related oral microflora in children with phenylketonuria.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dental caries, plaque and gingivitis indices and caries related oral flora in children with classic phenylketonuria. Forty-one children at The Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and controls were included in the study. The main findings were: No significant difference in the decayed, missing and filled surfaces of the primary and permanent teeth between the phenylketonuria children and the controls. A significantly greater mean plaque score for the control children compared with the phenylketonuria children (p < 0.01) for the permanent teeth only. A significantly greater number of white opacities in the permanent teeth of the phenylketonuria group compared with the control group (p < 0.02). No significant differences in the caries related microflora.

Candida albicans↗