Tumori
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Platinum-based therapy is considered the standard treatment for patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Carboplatin has a more favorable toxicity profile than cisplatin; however, hypersensitivity reactions to carboplatin have been reported occasionally. We reviewed 112 cases of ovarian cancer treated with carboplatin at our institute to identify the hypersensitivity reactions to this chemotherapeutic agent. ⋯ No deaths occurred, but the reactions were judged severe in three of the 112 patients (2.6%). In our own experience with patients showing idiosyncrasy to carboplatin we observed successful resolution after retreatment with cisplatin. Since patients who relapse after initial treatment with carboplatin often respond to it a second time, it is important to continue this treatment.
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To evaluate feasibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NA-CT) followed by CT + radiotherapy (RT) in locally advanced or unresectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). ⋯ The preliminary results of this study are encouraging, despite the toxicity. Adequate follow-up is required to evaluate efficacy in terms of local-regional control and overall survival.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic role of several clinical variables in a patient population undergoing neoadjuvant hormonotherapy (NHT) with external beam radiotherapy (ERT) to identify subsets of patients with an unfavorable prognosis who require intensified therapy. Eighty-four patients (mean age, 68.2 +/- 6.1 years; range, 52-81 years) underwent ERT (45 Gy to pelvic volume; 65 Gy mean dose to prostate volume) and NHT (oral flutamide: 250 mg three times daily for 30 days; LH-RH analogue: one vial every 28 days starting two months before radiotherapy and for its entire duration). The distribution according to clinical stage was T2: 46.4%, T3: 50.0%, T4: 3.6%. ⋯ At multivariate analysis (Cox) the correlations between clinical stage and metastasis (P = 0.0175), local progression (P = 0.0200) and disease-free survival (P = 0.0175) were confirmed. Gleason score and pretreatment PSA levels did not show any significant correlation with these endpoints. These results confirm the indications of the recent literature, which, in prostate carcinoma at higher clinical stages, suggest the use of prolonged hormonal therapy after radiotherapy.
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Long-term intravascular access catheters with reservoirs are a common requirement for cancer patients. Complications resulting from the use of these devices have been studied in several single-institution investigations, the consensus being that they are safe and have a low complication rate. However, extravasation may occur especially in obese patients due to accidental infusion of the subcutaneous tissue. To prevent this problem we describe an easy method that could be an alternative to the widely used ultrasonography-guided injection method.