Anticancer research
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Anticancer research · Jan 2005
High-dose alkylating agents with autologous hematopoietic stem cell support and trastuzumab in ERBB2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer: a feasibility study.
ERBB2 overexpression predicts a worse outcome for patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy (HDC). Trastuzumab improves response rate and survival in ERBB2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer patients (MBC). We investigated the feasibility of combining high-dose alkylating agents with autologous hematopoietic stem cell (AHSC) support and trastuzumab in ERBB2 overexpressing MBC. ⋯ Combining alkylating agent-based HDC and trastuzumab appears to be feasible in ERBB2 overexpressing MBC and warrants further investigation in a larger cohort.
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Anticancer research · Jan 2005
Clinical TrialA new dose-intense epoetin alfa regimen effective in anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: an open-label, non randomized, pilot study.
Chronic anemia is a well-recognized complication of both cancer and cytotoxic treatments and is associated with symptoms (e.g., fatigue, dyspnea) that may induce or exacerbate functional deterioration. The use of recombinant human erythropoetin (rHuEPO epoetin alfa) clearly increased haemoglobin (Hb) levels, decreased transfusion needs and allowed recovery of quality of life in anemic cancer patients (pts) undergoing chemotherapy (CT). The purpose of this open-label, non randomized, pilot study was to assess the safety and efficacy of an intensive 19-day epoetin alfa treatment in anemic patients with solid tumors receiving chemotherapy. ⋯ The results of the present study suggest that an induction dose of 40,000 IU of epoetin alfa, followed by 8 maintenance doses of 20,000 IU each, may improve the standard response in terms of both time to response and Hb increase. Moreover, the Hb levels seemed to increase after epoetin therapy discontinuation (d22-29).
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Anticancer research · Nov 2004
Polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferase and arylamine N-acetyltransferase enzymes and susceptibility to colorectal cancer.
Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) and N-acetyltransferases (NATs) are involved in the metabolism of a wide range of carcinogenic chemicals. Allelic polymorphism of these enzymes is associated with variations in enzyme activity, hence it may affect the concentration of activated carcinogenic chemicals in the body. Previous studies suggest a possible cancer risk-modifying effect of these allelic polymorphisms, but the results are still controversial. We evaluated the effect of GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, NAT1 and NAT2 enzymes on individual susceptibility to colorectal cancer, with particular attention to possible interactions between the studied genotypes. ⋯ The genotype of certain metabolizing enzymes affects the risk for colorectal cancer. This effect is particularly important when certain allelic combinations are studied. In the near future, individual level risk assessment may be reached by further increasing the number of studied polymorphisms, combining them with traditional epidemiological risk factors.
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Anticancer research · Sep 2004
Comparative StudyComparison of bone scintigraphy with bone markers in the diagnosis of bone metastasis in lung carcinoma patients.
This study was designed to evaluate the utility of the bone markers total alkaline phosphatase (TAP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), aminoterminal propeptide of type I collagen (PINP), carboxyterminal propeptide of type I collagen (PICP), pyridinoline crosslinks (PYD), deoxypyridinoline crosslinks (DPD), cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx, beta-CrossLaps) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP 5b) in comparison with bone scintigraphy for the diagnosis of bone metastasis in lung carcinoma patients. The study population consisted of 49 patients with bone metastasis confirmed by plain radiography and/or computed tomography, 89 patients without bone metastasis, 12 patients with benign lung diseases and 18 healthy persons. All patients were of male gender. ⋯ There was also a steady increase in T scores of the markers PINP, PYD, DPD and ICTP with the extent of the metastatic bone disease. It is concluded that the currently available bone markers cannot replace bone scintigraphy, either for screening or in the diagnosis of bone metastasis, in lung carcinoma patients. However, a panel consisting of TAP, BAP, PINP, PYD, DPD and ICTP may be of some value as an adjunct tool to bone scintigraphy for this purpose.
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Anticancer research · Sep 2004
Inhibitory effect of STI571 on cell proliferation of human malignant fibrous histiocytoma cell lines.
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is one of the most common high-grade sarcomas in bone and soft tissue and, due to its chemo-resistance, the prognosis of the disease is poor. ST1571 is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that was initially developed as a BCR/ABL inhibitor for chronic myeloid leukemia patients. STI571 also selectively inhibits platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) and c-kit. We examined the expression of PDGFRs and c-kit in human MFH cell lines, and the effect of STI571 on cell proliferation. ⋯ STI571 significantly inhibited proliferation of the three human MFH cell lines that expressed mRNAs of target receptor tyrosine kinases. The inhibitory effect of ST1571 on cell proliferation in these three cell lines might be due to decreased tyrosine kinase activity. STI571 might be a potent chemotherapeutic agent for human MFHs.