British journal of cancer
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British journal of cancer · Jun 1998
Toxicity to neuroblastoma cells and spheroids of benzylguanidine conjugated to radionuclides with short-range emissions.
Radiolabelled meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is selectively taken up by tumours of neuroendocrine origin, where its cellular localization is believed to be cytoplasmic. The radiopharmaceutical [131I]MIBG is now widely used in the treatment of neuroblastoma, but other radioconjugates of benzylguanidine have been little studied. We have investigated the cytotoxic efficacy of beta, alpha and Auger electron-emitting radioconjugates in treating neuroblastoma cells grown in monolayer or spheroid culture. ⋯ In contrast, the Auger electron emitters were ineffective in the treatment of larger spheroids, while the beta emitter showed greater efficacy. These findings suggest that short-range emitters would be well suited to the treatment of circulating tumour cells or small clumps, whereas beta emitters would be superior in the treatment of subclinical metastases or macroscopic tumours. These experimental results provide support for a clinical strategy of combinations ('cocktails') of radioconjugates in targeted radiotherapy.
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British journal of cancer · Jun 1998
Plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor and its soluble receptors correlate with clinical features and outcome of Hodgkin's disease patients.
A prospective study was performed to assess the use of plasma measurement of tumour necrosis factor (TNF), lymphotoxin alpha (LT alpha) and their soluble receptors (p55 and p75) for prognostic risk assignment in 61 patients with Hodgkin's disease. Plasma levels of TNF, p55 and p75, but not of LT alpha, were higher in Hodgkin's disease patients than in healthy controls. ⋯ Finally, elevated TNF ligand receptor plasma markers were associated with a lower incidence of complete response to therapy and predicted shorter free-from-progression survival and overall survival of the patients. These results indicate that the plasma levels of TNF and its soluble receptors correlate with clinical features and outcome of patients with Hodgkin's disease.
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British journal of cancer · Jun 1998
Thrombin promotes platelet-mediated melanoma cell adhesion to endothelial cells under flow conditions: role of platelet glycoproteins P-selectin and GPIIb-IIIA.
We investigated the role of platelets in human melanoma cell (line 397) interaction with vascular endothelial cells (ECs) under flow conditions. The ability of the tumour cells to adhere to the EC monolayer was significantly reduced by application of flow at a shear rate of 250 s(-1). A 2.2-fold increase in tumour cell adhesion to ECs under flow was observed upon addition of thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRAP)-activated platelets but not resting platelets. ⋯ Blockade of GPIIb-IIIa inhibited both platelet-EC and platelet-tumor cell interactions. Our results indicate that tumour cell adhesion to the endothelium under flow is enhanced by platelets under conditions that allow platelet adhesion to ECs. Inhibition studies suggest that activated platelet adhesion to ECs is mediated by P-selectin and GPIIb-IIIA, and tumour cell adhesion to EC-bound platelets--mainly by GPIIb-IIIa.
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British journal of cancer · May 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of antiemetic efficacy of granisetron and ondansetron in Oriental patients: a randomized crossover study.
A double-blind randomized crossover trial was performed to compare the antiemetic efficacy of two 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, granisetron and ondansetron, in Chinese patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil) for breast cancer. Twenty patients were randomized to receive chemotherapy with either granisetron on day 1 and ondansetron on day 8 of the first cycle followed by the reverse order in the second cycle, or vice versa. The number of vomiting episodes and the severity of nausea in the first 24 h (acute vomiting/nausea) and the following 7 days (delayed vomiting/nausea) were studied. ⋯ However, complete response for delayed vomiting was observed in only 21 (52.5%) cycles with granisetron and 22 (55%) cycles with ondansetron (P = NS), and delayed nausea was completely controlled in only 11 (27.5%) and ten (25%) cycles respectively (P = NS). In conclusion, both granisetron and ondansetron are effective in controlling acute nausea and vomiting in Chinese patients, with equivalent antiemetic efficacy. Control of delayed nausea and vomiting is less satisfactory.
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British journal of cancer · Apr 1998
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialImproving survival in recurrent medulloblastoma: earlier detection, better treatment or still an impasse?
Early detection of relapse has been advocated to improve survival in children with recurrent medulloblastoma. However, the prognostic factors and the longer term outcome of these patients remains unclear. Pattern of recurrences were analysed in three consecutive protocols of the Société Française d'Oncologie Pédiatrique (1985-91). ⋯ The median survival time after progression was 5 months (<1-41 months), and only two patients remained alive at time of follow-up. Length of survival is primarily related to some specific patterns of relapse (time from diagnosis to recurrence, circumstances of relapse, extent of relapse) and to the response to salvage therapy. No evidence of long-term benefit appeared from any form of treatment.