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Armando Santoro

Publications and source records attributed to Armando Santoro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Are interleukin-16 and thrombopoietin new tools for the in vitro generation of dendritic cells?

The effects of interleukin 16 (IL-16) on dendritic cell (DC) generation from human CD34(+) progenitor cells are not known. Here, we show that IL-16 added to a basal cocktail comprised of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-4, Flt-3 ligand (Flt3L), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) does induce the CD34(+) hematopoietic cells to proliferate in vitro and to differentiate into phenotypically and functionally mature DCs. IL-16 exerts this function more efficiently than stem cell factor (SCF) as a control, thrombopoietin (TPO), or IL-16 plus TPO. Moreover, we show that the combination of IL-16 plus TPO induces the generation of tolerogenic DCs, able to induce an anergic state in T cells that persists when T cells are rechallenged with immunogenic DCs. An altered pattern of cytokine production, a reduced expression of the C-type lectin DC-SIGN, and an increased surface expression of the inhibitory molecules immunoglobulin-like transcript 2 (ILT-2), ILT-3, and ILT-4 may all contribute to confer the tolerogenic properties of these DCs. Generation of tolerogenic DCs may aid the exploration of new therapeutic strategies to promote tolerance to autoantigens and prevent disease development.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed2004

Cetuximab monotherapy and cetuximab plus irinotecan in irinotecan-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which participates in signaling pathways that are deregulated in cancer cells, commonly appears on colorectal-cancer cells. Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody that specifically blocks the EGFR. We compared the efficacy of cetuximab in combination with irinotecan with that of cetuximab alone in metastatic colorectal cancer that was refractory to treatment with irinotecan. METHODS: We randomly assigned 329 patients whose disease had progressed during or within three months after treatment with an irinotecan-based regimen to receive either cetuximab and irinotecan (at the same dose and schedule as in a prestudy regimen [218 patients]) or cetuximab monotherapy (111 patients). In cases of disease progression, the addition of irinotecan to cetuximab monotherapy was permitted. The patients were evaluated radiologically for tumor response and were also evaluated for the time to tumor progression, survival, and side effects of treatment. RESULTS: The rate of response in the combination-therapy group was significantly higher than that in the monotherapy group (22.9 percent [95 percent confidence interval, 17.5 to 29.1 percent] vs. 10.8 percent [95 percent confidence interval, 5.7 to 18.1 percent], P=0.007). The median time to progression was significantly greater in the combination-therapy group (4.1 vs. 1.5 months, P<0.001 by the log-rank test). The median survival time was 8.6 months in the combination-therapy group and 6.9 months in the monotherapy group (P=0.48). Toxic effects were more frequent in the combination-therapy group, but their severity and incidence were similar to those that would be expected with irinotecan alone. CONCLUSIONS: Cetuximab has clinically significant activity when given alone or in combination with irinotecan in patients with irinotecan-refractory colorectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2003

A new human cell line, PDSS-26, from poorly differentiated synovial sarcoma, with unique chromosomal anomalies.

Permanent synovial sarcoma cell lines are invaluable tools for understanding of the biology of this tumor. The present study reports the establishment of a new human cell line, PDSS-26, derived from a surgical specimen of a poorly differentiated synovial sarcoma. PDSS-26 has a doubling time of a 72 hours and grows as a monolayer of spindle cells that retain immunoreactivity for bcl-2 and vimentin. Karyotypic analysis revealed a rearrangement involving chromosomes 17 and 18, at the breakpoints q11.2 and q11.2, respectively, as the only structural aberrations. Analysis by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed the presence of the SYT-SSX1 fusion transcript in both the primary tumor and the cell line. Cytoplasmic PTEN staining was detected by immunohistochemistry in both the PDSS-26 cell line and in original tumor, whereas no mutation was identified by automatic sequencing. Thus, PDSS-26 cells could be useful for future functional studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Minidose warfarin prophylaxis for catheter-associated thrombosis in cancer patients: can it be safely associated with fluorouracil-based chemotherapy?

PURPOSE: The use of prophylactic low-dose oral warfarin in cancer patients with a central venous catheter (CVC) in place has an established role in the prevention of thrombotic complications and is associated with a low hemorrhagic risk. Despite the literature indicating an adverse interaction between warfarin and fluorouracil (FU), the frequency of this interaction and whether it occurs when minidose warfarin is used is unknown. We analyzed the incidence of alterations in the International Normalized Ratio (INR) and bleeding in cancer patients given minidose warfarin during treatment with continuous-infusion FU-based regimens. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between July 1999 and August 2001, 95 cancer patients were evaluated. Forty-one patients (43%) had liver metastases. Seventy-nine patients (83%) had a Groshong CVC (Bard Access System, Salt Lake City, UT), and 16 (17%) had a Port-a-Cath device (Bard Access System). All patients received oral warfarin at a dose of 1 mg/daily as prophylaxis beginning the day after the catheter was positioned. An INR of more than 1.5 was considered significantly elevated. RESULTS: INR elevation occurred in 31 patients (33%), with 18 patients (19%) having an INR more than 3.0. Twelve (39%) of the 31 patients had liver metastases. Bleeding was observed in eight patients (8%); seven of these patients had elevated INR levels. We observed INR elevations in 12 of 21 patients treated with a FU, folinic acid, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) regimen, 11 of 40 treated with a de Gramont regimen (FU and folinic acid), and five of 19 treated with a FU, folinic acid, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) regimen. CONCLUSION: A high incidence of INR abnormalities was observed in our cohort of patients, especially those treated with FOLFOX regimen. Clinicians should be aware of this interaction and should regularly monitor the prothrombin time in patients receiving warfarin and FU.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

Feasibility and toxicity of high-dose therapy (HDT) supported by peripheral blood stem cells in elderly patients with multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: survey from a single institution.

The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the feasibility of high-dose therapy (HDT) followed by peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) in elderly patients with hematological malignancies. From April 1998 to November 2001, 40 elderly patients (defined as > or =60 years) with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (12 patients) and multiple myeloma (28 patients) were evaluated. Seven lymphoma and one myeloma patients were in complete remission (CR), 27 in partial remission (PR), two had stable disease (SD), and three progressive disease (PD). The median age was 65 years (range 60-71). Thirty-nine patients were mobilized with chemotherapy plus granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and one with G-CSF alone. Patients received HDT including melphalan alone in 32 cases or combined with other drugs in six and BEAM in two. The median number of collected CD34(+) cells was 12.4 x 10(6)/kg (range 2.0-68.9). The median number of re-infused CD34(+) cells was 9.9 x 10(6)/kg (range 2.0-68.9). All patients engrafted after PBSC and the median time to neutrophil recovery (N > 500/micro l) and platelet recovery (PLT > 20,000/micro l) was 8 days (range 5-18) and 6 days (range 5-18), respectively. Nonhematological toxicity was mild and no patient died from transplant-related toxicity (TRM). Median duration of hospitalization was 18 days (range 12-24). To date, 32 patients are alive and eight died from disease progression at a median follow-up interval of 24 months. HDT supported by PBSC is a feasible procedure in selected elderly patients, and an age of more than 60 years should not be considered a contraindication for HDT.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Epidermal growth factor receptor targeted therapy by ZD 1839 (Iressa) in patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PURPOSE: We report four cases of Brain Metastases (BM) from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) responding to ZD 1839 therapy after standard therapy failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four patients with BM from NSCLC, pretreated with two or more lines of chemotherapy, received ZD 1839 (Iressa), on a compassionate use basis, at the daily dose of 250 mg until disease progression. Three patients received Iressa after whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) failure. RESULTS: After 3 months of ZD 1839 therapy, one patient had complete response on the brain with stabilization of extracranial disease, while the other three patients had partial response both on the brain and on extracranial sites. At the time of this analysis, two patients discontinued the treatment after 5 and 7 months for disease progression, while two patients are still on treatment with no evidence of treatment failure after 3+ and 12+ months. ZD 1839 was generally well tolerated, with skin toxicity recorded in two patients. CONCLUSION: ZD 1839 may be effective in NSCLC patients with pretreated BM. Large and prospective trials need to clarify the role of ZD 1839 in the treatment of BM from NSCLC.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Unexpected low efficacy of stealth liposomal doxorubicin (Caelyx) and vinorelbine in metastatic breast cancer.

In this phase II study, 23 patients with metastatic breast cancer were treated with a combination of Caelyx (40 mg/m2 on day 1) and vinorelbine (20 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8) every 4 weeks. According to the statistical design, enrollment was closed after the first stage due to the low response rate observed (four partial remissions, 12 stabilizations). Toxicity was acceptable, however, grade 3-4 neutropenia was not negligible. Our study does not support the development of this combination in advanced breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Lymphomas.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2002

High-dose chemotherapy in poor-prognosis adult small round-cell tumors: clinical and molecular results from a prospective study.

PURPOSE: The prognosis of metastatic/high-risk localized small round-cell tumors (SRCTs) treated conventionally is dismal. In this phase II study, we explored a high-dose chemotherapy (HD-CT) approach and analyzed the clinical significance of fusion transcripts detection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 1997 to November 1999, 28 SRCT patients (median age, 26 years; 14 peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors [pPNETs], seven rhabdomyosarcomas [RMSs], and seven desmoplastic small round-cell tumors [DSRCTs]) received induction chemotherapy with ifosfamide, epirubicin, and vincristine followed by HD-CT. Local treatment (radiotherapy and/or surgery) was performed when possible. Molecular analysis was performed on peripheral-blood and leukapheresis products by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Overall response (OR) was 65% (18 of 28), with 40% complete response and 25% partial response. According to histology, the OR rate was 86% in pPNET and 43% in both RMS DSRCT. With a median follow-up of 35 months, median overall survival was 16 months and median progression-free survival (PFS) was 10 months. PFS was statistically better in pPNET than other histologic types (P =.0045). No correlation was found between the fusion transcript and clinical outcome during follow-up. Furthermore, transcript detection in leukapheretic products was not of prognostic significance. CONCLUSION: Intensive HD-CT seems to enhance the response rate and survival when compared with conventional treatment in poor-prognosis pPNET. The poor results of this treatment in RMS and DSRCT do not support the inclusion of such an approach in these patient subsets. No definitive conclusions can currently be drawn concerning the clinical implications of the detection of fusion transcripts during treatment or follow-up.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Ten-year survival with chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

BACKGROUND: The effects of multimodality treatment on the survival of patients with esophageal carcinoma are unclear. The authors performed a prospective, Phase II study to assess the long-term results of chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (RT) on patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Of 106 consecutive patients who were recruited between 1985 and 1992, 101 patients were evaluable. Cisplatin (100 mg/m2 per day) on Day 1 and fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2 per day) on Days 1-4 were given for two cycles, with concomitant RT (30 grays [Gy] in 15 fractions) over 19 days. Patients with potentially resectable tumors were then assessed for curative surgery; the other patients received two more courses of chemotherapy and further RT (20 Gy in 10 fractions). RESULTS: Of 40 patients who were candidates for surgery, 32 patients underwent surgery, and 24 patients had complete resection; 8 patients (25%) had no residual tumor in the specimen, and 12 patients (37%) had microscopic foci only. Surgical mortality was high (22%). Of 61 nonsurgical patients, 37 patients (61%) achieved complete clinical remission, and 14 patients (23%) achieved partial remission. The median survival for the entire series was 15 months (range, 1-136 months). The overall survival rate was 22% at 5 years and 12% at 10 years. At 10 years, freedom from disease progression was similar in the two groups (24%), whereas the median survival (22 months vs. 12 months) and the overall survival rates (17% vs. 9%) were better in nonsurgical patients compared with surgical patients, respectively, probably in relation to high surgical mortality. The larynx was preserved in 28% of 32 patients with cervical disease sites, with a 10-year disease free survival rate of 31%. Three deaths were attributed to nonsurgical treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Careful multidisciplinary pretreatment evaluation can identify patients who are ineligible for surgery without compromising long-term results. For patients with inoperable disease, chemoradiotherapy can produce relatively good long-term results. The combined approach without surgery can permit laryngeal preservation in a useful fraction of patients.

Adult↗