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Biomedical subjects

A Amodio

Publications and source records attributed to A Amodio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Docetaxel in patients with anthracycline-resistant advanced breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To better determine docetaxel activity in patients with well-defined anthracycline-resistant breast cancer. METHODS: From October 1996, we carried out a phase II trial in 69 heavily pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer with docetaxel 100 mg/m(2) by a 1-hour infusion on day 1, with cycles repeated every 3 weeks. Patients were classified as having primary anthracycline resistance (n = 32), secondary anthracycline resistance (n = 7), anthracycline pretreatment (n = 22) or no anthracycline pretreatment (n = 8). RESULTS: Among 68 evaluable patients, we observed 6 (9%) complete responses and 27 (40%) partial responses, for an overall response rate of 49% (95% confidence interval 37-61%); the disease remained stable in 17 patients (25%). Responses according to the above subgroups were as follows: primary anthracycline resistance 41%, secondary anthracycline resistance 43%, anthracycline pretreatment 64% and no anthracycline pretreatment 43%. The median time to response, median time to progression and median overall survival were 2, 7 and 10 months, respectively. Myelosuppression was the dose-limiting toxicity, with grade 4 neutropenia occurring in 47% of the patients and neutropenic fever in 12%. G-CSF was added in the case of grade 4 febrile neutropenia; a 25% reduction in the dose of docetaxel was required in 4 patients. Other side effects were mild. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present trial confirm the high activity of docetaxel in heavily pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer, including those with strictly defined anthracycline resistance.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland in childhood].

BACKGROUND: The authors report the results of ten years' activity at the Pedodontic Surgery Unit in the Institute of Maxillofacial Surgery at the Second University of Naples and analyse the possibility of conservative treatment of pleomorphic adenoma in childhood. METHODS: The study includes 614 cases of salivary gland pathology. The authors illustrate the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of this type of lesion in childhood, emphasising that the data emerging from this study do not differ from the clinical and therapeutic management of pleomorphic adenoma in young patients reported in the literature. RESULTS: In particular, they emphasise that satisfactory therapeutic results can be achieved using conservative techniques, like conservative superficial parotidectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative superficial parotidectomy has the advantage of being less radical and traumatic for a young patient, without provoking a significant increase in recidivation.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗
PubMed2000

First-line chemotherapy with vinorelbine and paclitaxel as simultaneous infusion in advanced breast cancer.

Based on preclinical data showing a synergistic activity of simultaneous administration of vinorelbine and paclitaxel, we carried out a phase II trial in previously untreated advanced breast cancer patients. Treatment consisted of vinorelbine 25 mg/m(2) and paclitaxel 150 mg/m(2), both drugs given by intravenous infusion over 3 h on day 1, with cycles repeated every 3 weeks. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, 300 microg subcutaneously, was given on days 7-12 to the first 10 patients. From October 1995 to January 1997, 43 patients with advanced breast cancer entered the study, and 41 were evaluable for response. We obtained 2 complete responses (5%) and 18 partial responses (44%), for an overall response rate of 49% (95% CI 34-64%). Median time to response, time to progression and survival were 2, 7 and 22 months, respectively. Myelosuppression was the dose-limiting toxicity, with G4 neutropenia in 21% and neutropenic fever in 7% of the patients. Other toxicities were mild. Simultaneous infusion of vinorelbine and paclitaxel is a well-tolerated and active regimen in metastatic breast cancer, with overall results similar to those reported with more toxic regimens; furthermore, it may be a good option in patients with anthracycline contraindications.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vinorelbine and mitomycin C in anthracycline-pretreated patients with advanced breast cancer.

At present, there is no satisfactory treatment for advanced breast cancer patients who have become refractory to anthracyclines. Vinca alkaloids and mitomycin C (MMC) are among the drugs most frequently used in this setting. Recently, vinorelbine (VNR) has been reported to be highly active in advanced breast cancer. Sixty advanced breast cancer patients previously treated with anthracyclines have been exposed to VNR 25 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 and 8, and MMC 10 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, with cycles repeated every 4 weeks. There were 3 complete and 21 partial responses for an overall response rate of 40% (CI 95%: 28-52%). Median duration of response and median survival were 7 and 10 months, respectively. Myelosuppression was the dose-limiting toxicity, but it was generally mild to moderate. Although this combination appears to be effective and well tolerated, every effort should be made to further improve treatment results in anthracycline-pretreated advanced breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Paclitaxel activity in anthracycline refractory breast cancer patients.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: We investigated the efficacy and tolerability of two doses of paclitaxel, 175 mg/m2 and 135 mg/m2, over a 3-hr infusion, without prophylactic G-CSF, in heavily pretreated patients with anthracycline-resistant breast cancer. Although paclitaxel may share with anthracyclines a common mechanism of drug resistance, there is evidence that the two drugs are not completely cross resistant. METHODS: From July 1994 to January 1996, 42 patients were treated every 3 weeks, for a maximum of 6 cycles; paclitaxel dose was established according to pretreatment extension. RESULTS: In 41 assessable patients we observed 9 partial responses, for an overall response rate of 22% (95% CI, 10-34%). There was no difference in response rate between the two dose levels. Median duration of response was 9 months, median time to progression 5 months, and median survival 9 months. The dose-limiting toxicity was neutropenia, which was grade 3-4 in 40% (135 mg/m2) and 62% (175 mg/m2) of the patients (P = 0.28); neutropenic fever occurred in 24% of the patients, without significant differences between the two dose levels. Other toxicity was mild to moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Paclitaxel at doses of 175 mg/m2 or 135 mg/m2 is active and well tolerated in advanced breast cancer patients resistant to anthracyclines. The prophylactic use of colony-stimulating factors seems appropriate in heavily pretreated patients given the higher dose level.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Single-agent ifosfamide in the treatment of anthracycline-refractory adult sarcomas.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this trial was to assess the therapeutic activity and toxicity of ifosfamide (IFO) with mesna uroprotection as salvage therapy in patients (pts) with soft tissue sarcomas (STS) who had failed high-dose epirubicin treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: IFO was administered at a dose of 2.0 g/m2 daily for 5 consecutive days by a 2-h i.v. infusion every 3 weeks. RESULTS: Partial responses were observed in 5/31 (16%) evaluable patients, whereas in other 5 pts the disease remained stable. The median duration of response was 8 months. The median overall survival was 6.5 months. The most common toxicity was hematologic with grade 3 or 4 neutropenia occurring in 47% of the pts. Neurologic toxicity was infrequent, but in 1 patient treatment discontinuation was needed because of severe mental confusion and disorientation. CONCLUSIONS: Although IFO can be of value in a minority of pts with anthracycline-refractory STS, more active agents and new salvage cytotoxic regimens should be investigated in this disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Gemcitabine in peritoneal mesothelioma: a case report].

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare tumor whose prognosis is poor. We report a case history of a 57-year old woman with large peritoneal masses and ascites refractory to several chemotherapeutic regimens. The patient benefited of a dramatic regression of disease with symptomatic improvement during chemotherapy with gemcitabine. Serum CA-125 values declined consensually to tumor regression. The duration of response was 12 months. The activity of gemcitabine in malignant mesothelioma has been already confirmed in phase II studies. Data are also available suggesting that better results can be obtained combining this agent with cisplatin, and a multicenter phase II study is now exploring the activity of this combination.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Gemcitabine in advanced stage soft tissue sarcoma: a phase II study].

PURPOSE: To assess the activity and toxicity of gemcitabine in locally advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma patients (pts). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Gemcitabine was administered on days 1, 8, 15 every 4 weeks at a dose of 1.000/1.250 mg/m2, respectively, in pretreated or not pretreated pts. RESULTS: Eighteen pts entered this phase II trial; sixteen had been previously treated with anthracyclines and ifosfamide. A partial response was observed in a woman with fibrous malignant istocytoma, whereas in 7 pts the disease remained stable. Median time to progression was 4 months. The treatment was well tolerated. Grade 4 toxicity was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results do not suggest that gemcitabine, in the dose and schedule used in this trial, may be of value in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Chemotherapy of advanced stage melanoma using cisplatin, epirubicin and alpha-interferon].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the activity and toxicity of cisplatin (DDP), epirubicin (EPI) and interferon alfa-2a (a-IFN) in patients (pts) with metastatic melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven pts with histologically-proven metastatic melanoma were treated with DDP 75 mg/m2 e.v. and EPI 90 mg/m2 e.v. on day 1 + alpha-IFN 9 MUI/die s.c. on days 4 to 8 and 18 to 22. Cycles were repeated every 4 weeks. RESULTS: Characteristics of the patients were the following: median age 55 years (range, 24-75), median WHO performance status 1 (range, 0-2), prior chemotherapy 9, prior immunotherapy 16 (adjuvant/advanced 11/5), sites of disease: soft tissue only 10, lung 22, liver 11, bone 1, brain 3. In 35 evaluable patients we have obtained 3 complete and 10 partial responses, for an overall response rate of 37%. Dose-limiting toxicity was myelosuppression with grade (G) 4 neutropenia in 59.5% of patients and G4 thrombocytopenia in 11% of patients. Other toxicities were generally mild to moderate with nausea and vomiting in 67.5% of patients, flu-like syndrome in 78.5% and fatigue in 48.5% of the patients. Median time to response, median time to progression and survival were 3 (range, 2-6), 7 (range, 2-45+) and 10 months (range, 4-45+), respectively. CONCLUSION: This combination is active and well tolerated in metastatic melanoma. Toxicity was manageable and has enabled us to conduct this trial on an outpatient basis.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A case of soft tissue alveolar sarcoma localized in the tongue].

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma is a rare form of malignant tumour. It is generally localized at the limb muscles, rarely in the head and neck. Its histogenesis is still uncertain but its specific cellular characters make the diagnosis easier. The case of a woman with an ASPS of the tongue is described. The morphological aspects and the immunohistochemical results seem, according to the data reported in literature, suitable with the diagnosis of alveolar soft-part sarcoma; however, it is difficult to explain the presence of local positivity to specific neuronal enolase.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Renal carcinoma: effective modulation of low-dose interferon-alpha and interleukin-2 with medroxyprogesterone acetate and 13-cis retinoic acid].

We report a case history of a patient with clear renal carcinoma. After surgical treatment of primary tumor patient had been treated with medium-high doses IL-2 and alpha IFN for lung metastasis and paraaortic nodes, without significant response. Subsequently, low doses alpha IFN/IL-2 produced a response, and further response have been obtained by the combination of low-doses alpha IFN/IL-2 plus medroxyprogesterone acetate and cis-retinoic acid. We can therefore conclude that in immunogenic tumors, such as renal cancer, various immunologic strategies are justified, also employing in combination drugs not active as single agents, or modifying doses and schedules.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Unusual case of hypercondensing malignant osteodysplasty: osteopetrosis].

Osteopetrosis, known also as Albers-Schonberg disease, is a genetic disorder causing a generalized sclerosis of the bones and the reduction of the marrow. The diagnosis is often secondary to pathologic processes and its usually observed through specific X-ray researches. The principal cause of osteopetrosis is to attribute to a deficit of bone resorption and remodelling. Osteomyelitis is a complication of osteopetrosis. The purpose of this article is based on several point: 1) to know the cause of osteopetrosis, then to classify and check it; 2) to present the case who did not respond to of a patient with osteopetrosis complicated by maxillary and phalanx osteomyelitis common therapies and give an accurate analysis.

Child↗