Anticancer research
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Anticancer research · Sep 2008
Multicenter StudyMulticentre phase II trial of paclitaxel and carboplatin with concurrent radiotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
To evaluate weekly induction chemotherapy followed by weekly concomitant chemoradiotherapy in a multicentre phase II study of patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; stage wet IIIB excluded). ⋯ Induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy with weekly cycles of paclitaxel and carboplatin is feasible and generates moderate toxicity. Efficacy is comparable to other recently published regimens. However, prognosis remains, in general, poor for this group of patients and further work to develop better therapy is required.
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Anticancer research · Sep 2008
Clinical utility of a combination of tumour markers in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of the tumour markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigens CA 125, CA 15.3, CA 19.9 and tumor-associated glycoprotein 72 (TAG 72) in the pleural fluid (PF) of patients with pleural effusions of different etiologies. ⋯ The combined measurement of CEA, CA 15.3 and TAG 72 in pleural fluid is a useful complementary test in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusions of malignant origin.
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Anticancer research · Sep 2008
Growth inhibition of human MDA-mB-231 breast cancer cells by delta-tocotrienol is associated with loss of cyclin D1/CDK4 expression and accompanying changes in the state of phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene product.
Tocotrienols, a subgroup within the vitamin E family of compounds, have shown antiproliferative and anticancer properties, however, the molecular basis of these effects remains to be elucidated. In this study, the effect of 3-tocotrienol on cell cycle arrest was assessed by studying the retinoblastoma protein (Rb) levels and phosphorylation status, levels of E2F (a transcription factor critically involved in the G1/S-phase transition of the mammalian cell cycle; originally identified as a DNA-binding protein essential for early region 1A-dependent activation of the adenovirus promoter designated E2), and other cell cycle controlling proteins in estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The cell growth assay demonstrated that exposure of the MDA-MB-231 cells to 6-tocotrienol (1-20 microM) resulted in a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of cell growth as compared with vehicle treated cells and the magnitude of growth inhibition was higher at 10 and 20 microM treatment for 48 and 72 h. ⋯ In addition, delta-tocotrienol also reduced the expression of E2F that occurred simultaneously with the loss of Rb phosphorylation and inhibition of cell cycle progression. Interestingly, delta-tocotrienol also caused a marked reduction in the expression of G2/M regulatory proteins including cyclin B1 and CDK1. To the best of our knowledge, this study was the first to reveal that the target of cell proliferative inhibitory action of delta-tocotrienol in a model estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 is mediated by the loss of cyclin D1 and associated suppression of site-specific Rb phosphorylation, suggesting its future development and use as an anticancer agent.
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Anticancer research · Sep 2008
Clinical TrialBladder and rectal toxicity of BeamCath application in radiotherapy of prostate cancer.
Patient-reported toxicity in two radiotherapy regimens for early stage prostate cancer was investigated. In 2003, the Swedish BeamCath technique was adapted for Northern Norway. ⋯ Eighty patients responded, which represents 89% of all patients. The treatment group (23 patients) had received 76 Gy with the BeamCath technique and the control group (57 patients) received 70 Gy employing a conformal technique. The BeamCath technique was associated with a lower median rectal (p=0.004; 50.6 Gy versus 56.2 Gy) and bladder dose (p=0.017; 48.5 Gy versus 61.5 Gy). There were no differences in scores on masculinity and sexual function. In conclusion, the BeamCath technique did not increase rectal or bladder toxicity.
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Anticancer research · Sep 2008
ProGRP and NSE in therapy monitoring in patients with small cell lung cancer.
The usefulness of serum pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) as a tumor marker in patients with small cell lung cancer has recently drawn the attention of many research centers. The aim of the study was the evaluation of ProGRP, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), soluble fragment of cytokeratin 19 (CYFRA 21-1) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels at the time of diagnosis and during chemo- and radiotherapy of small cell lung cancer patients with limited disease (SCLC-LD). The studies were performed on a group of 64 patients with SCLC-LD who had received no prior therapy. ⋯ Differences in NSE levels were only significant for the first two courses and follow-up. Univariate analysis showed significant relationships between disease-free survival and the initial levels of NSE and CYFRA 21-1 as well as between overall survival and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) and the initial ProGRP, NSE and CYFRA 21-1 levels. Changes of ProGRP level seem to be more precise than NSE as a tool for monitoring therapy in SCLC patients with limited disease, but for prediction of relapse, in addition to NSE determinations of ProGRP seem to be optimal.