Anticancer research
-
Anticancer research · Jul 2007
Immunophenotypic profile of biomarkers related to anti-apoptotic and neural development pathways in the Ewing's family of tumors (EFT) and their therapeutic implications.
Ewing's family of tumors (EFT) comprises a broad spectrum of tumors composed of primitive committed cells with neuroectodermal capacity. The degree of neural differentiation within EFT, as measured with morphological features and expression of neural markers, delimits two members: Ewing's sarcoma (ES) and peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (pPNET). Molecules such as c-kit and its ligand (Stem cell factor, SCF), CD95 (FAS), CD95L (FASL), IGF-IR, protect EFT cells from apoptosis, whereas c-erb-B2, erythropoietin (EPO) and its receptor (EPO-R) participate in the maturation of primitive committed neuroectodermal cells and in the normal embryonal brain development. The aim of the present study was to analyse the expression of these molecules in paraffin-embedded material from a series of EFT. ⋯ C-kit/SCF and EPO/EPO-R seem to participate in the pathway of anti-apoptotic and proliferative advantage, while c-erb-B2 does not play an important role in the neuroectodermal differentiation pathway in EFT cells.
-
Anticancer research · Jul 2007
Phase I study of combination therapy with S-1 and weekly docetaxel for advanced gastric cancer.
The primary objective of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), the toxicity profile and the recommended dose (RD) for phase II of a combination of S-1 and weekly administration of docetaxel. ⋯ RD was level 2 (80 mg/m2 of S-1 for 3 weeks and 20 mg/m2 of docetaxel on day 1, 8 and 15, every 5 weeks). Dose intensities of S-1 and docetaxel were 48 mg/m2/week and 12 mg/m2/week, respectively. This regimen showed promising activity for advanced gastric cancer.
-
Anticancer research · Jul 2007
Performance status (PS): a simple predictor of short-term outcome of cancer patients with solid tumors admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Admission of cancer patients with serious medical complications to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the 30-day all-cause mortality in cancer patients with solid tumors admitted to the ICU and to identify factors predicting 30-day mortality. ⋯ ECOG PS 3-4 prior to hospitalization was found to be a simple negative predictor of short-term outcome of cancer patients with solid tumors admitted to the ICU.
-
Anticancer research · Jul 2007
Predictive value of thymidylate synthase and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase expression in tumor tissue, regarding the efficacy of postoperatively administered UFT (tegafur+uracil) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
UFT (tegafur + uracil) has been reported to be effective as an adjuvant in postoperative chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a randomized prospective study. Thymidylate synthase (TS) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) expression were investigated in resected tumors and the relationship between their expression and clinical factors in NSCLC patients was examined. ⋯ The oral administration of UFT after surgery might improve the survival of NSCLC patients when TS levels in tumor tissues are low. Immunohistochemical evaluation of TS and DPD expression may be useful for predicting the efficacy of UFT after complete resection in NSCLC.
-
Anticancer research · Jul 2007
A phase II trial of weekly irinotecan in cisplatin-refractory esophageal cancer.
This study investigated the efficacy and toxicity of weekly single-agent irinotecan in patients with metastatic disease relapsing after cisplatin-based chemotherapy. ⋯ Single-agent irinotecan has moderate activity in cisplatin-refractory esophageal cancer.