Anticancer research
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Anticancer research · Nov 1999
Cytotoxicity of L-cycloserine against human neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma cells is associated with the suppression of ganglioside expression.
Human neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma express abnormal ganglioside patterns especially GD2 and GM2 which are important for tumour growth. We tested the effects of L-cycloserine (L-CS), a potent inhibitor of synthesis of glycosphingolipids, on the growth, viability and expression of GD2 and GM2 in neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma cells. ⋯ L-CS is a selective antitumoral agent for neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma cells with the ability to reduce expression of tumour associated gangliosides. In vivo experiments suggest that L-CS may be effective drug for treatment of neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma.
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Anticancer research · Nov 1999
ReviewThe role of molecular discreteness in normal and cancerous growth.
The physicochemical events that underlie biological processes are inevitably either/or events. Either a growth factor molecule binds to a cell, or it doesn't. Either a site on a cyclin molecule is phosphorylated, or it isn't. ⋯ In fact, as will be outlined here, such discrete modeling may allow us to see how the normal cellular populations of the body can grow to predictable sizes, at predictable times, and to predictable shapes. Such modeling can also allow us to gain insight into how normal cellular populations may become cancerous cellular populations. Indeed, such an approach allows us do a sufficiently good job of imitating the growth and spread of tumors as to be able to make estimates the most effective ways to both detect and treat cancer.
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Anticancer research · Sep 1999
Tumor blood flow modifying effect of electrochemotherapy with bleomycin.
Electrochemotherapy combines administration of the chemotherapeutic drug, followed by application of electric pulses in order to increase drug delivery into the cells. The aim of this study was to determine the tumor blood flow modifying effect of electrochemotherapy with bleomycin and correlate it with its antitumor effectiveness and extent of tumor necrosis. ⋯ The results indicate that Patent blue staining technique is a simple and reliable method for estimation of tumor blood flow and that antitumor effectiveness of electrochemotherapy with bleomycin could be partly attributed to its tumor blood modifying and anti-vascular effect.
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Anticancer research · Sep 1999
Concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer--a pilot study by using daily low-dose cisplatin and continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil.
Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) has recently become a promising treatment for esophageal cancer. However, most investigators have adopted the conventional or modified Wayne-State PF (cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil) regimen, which is inevitably associated with moderate to severe treatment-related toxicities. In this pilot study, we incorporated a daily low-dose regimen of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil into CCRT in order to improve the compliance of the patients. ⋯ We suggest that for locally advanced esophageal cancer CCRT with the aforementioned daily low-dose regimen, is a treatment with good patient compliance.
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Anticancer research · Jul 1999
A new prognostic indicator for head and neck cancer--p53 serum antibodies?
p53 antibodies are a new serological parameter of unknown potential in patients with malignancies. Their occurrence has been described in various types of cancer patients and several studies in head and neck cancer patients and other cancer patient groups have indicated its prognostic value. ⋯ These results indicate that the occurrence of p53 antibodies does not correlate with the most relevant prognostic factors, rate of regional metastasis and primary tumor size, in patients with head and neck cancer.