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Biomedical subjects

B C Pestalozzi

Publications and source records attributed to B C Pestalozzi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Transarterial chemoembolization as a bridge to liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: an evidence-based analysis.

The aim of this review was to assess the impact of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) as a neoadjuvant therapy prior to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). An electronic search on the Medline database (1990-2005) was used to identify relevant articles. The studies were reviewed and ranked according to their quality of evidence using the grading system proposed by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine. As a bridge to OLT, pretransplant TACE does not improve long-term survival (grade C). There is currently no convincing evidence that TACE allows to expand the current selection criteria for OLT, nor that TACE decreases dropout rates on the waiting list (grade C). However, TACE does not increase the risk for postoperative complications (grade C). There is insufficient evidence that TACE offers any benefit when used prior to OLT, neither for early nor for advanced HCC. Well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to define the role of TACE in OLT patients.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed2006

Identifying breast cancer patients at risk for Central Nervous System (CNS) metastases in trials of the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG).

BACKGROUND: We sought to determine whether a high-risk group could be defined among patients with operable breast cancer in whom a search of occult central nervous system (CNS) metastases was justified. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated data from 9524 women with early breast cancer (42% node-negative) who were randomized in International Breast Cancer Study Group clinical trials between 1978 and 1999, and treated without anthracyclines, taxanes, or trastuzumab. We identified patients whose site of first event was CNS and those who had a CNS event at any time. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 13 years. The 10-year incidence (10-yr) of CNS relapse was 5.2% (1.3% as first recurrence). Factors predictive of CNS as first recurrence included: node-positive disease (10-yr = 2.2% for > 3 N+), estrogen receptor-negative (2.3%), tumor size > 2 cm (1.7%), tumor grade 3 (2.0%), < 35 years old (2.2%), HER2-positive (2.7%), and estrogen receptor-negative and node-positive (2.6%). The risk of subsequent CNS recurrence was elevated in patients experiencing lung metastases (10-yr = 16.4%). CONCLUSION: Based on this large cohort we were able to define risk factors for CNS metastases, but could not define a group at sufficient risk to justify routine screening for occult CNS metastases.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2006

Downstaging colorectal liver metastases by concomitant unilateral portal vein ligation and selective intra-arterial chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Although selective intrahepatic arterial chemotherapy successfully downstaged irresectable colorectal liver metastases in a previous study, curative resection was rarely possible, as the remnant healthy liver volume was inadequate. This pilot study evaluated the efficacy of concomitant unilateral portal vein ligation and selective intrahepatic arterial chemotherapy in downstaging such tumours. METHODS: The study included 11 patients with irresectable colorectal liver metastases. Selective intrahepatic arterial chemotherapy was delivered using a subcutaneous pump, and each patient underwent concomitant unilateral portal vein ligation of the hemiliver judged to have the higher tumour load. Chemotherapy involved serial administration of floxuridine for 2 weeks every 4 weeks. RESULTS: All patients developed significant atrophy of the hemiliver subjected to portal vein ligation and contralateral hypertrophy. There was no increase in tumour load within 6 months of therapy, and the load decreased by 60 per cent in the hemiliver ipsilateral to the ligated vein. At 3 months, six of 11 patients showed a significant response to chemotherapy. In four patients, downstaging allowed curative resection after only three cycles of chemotherapy. These patients survived at least 20 months afterwards. CONCLUSION: Combined unilateral portal vein ligation and selective intrahepatic arterial chemotherapy produced substantial atrophy of the ipsilateral hemiliver along with contralateral hypertrophy, without increased tumour growth in the regenerating hemiliver.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Molecular targeted therapy].

Until recently, cancer therapy was based on three modalities: surgery, radiotherapy, and cytostatic chemotherapy. In most instances treatment of solid tumors was a surgical domain. For patients with incomplete resection or relapse after surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy usually offered only partial response and mostly of limited duration. By the mid-1990s visions of antibody-based therapies, vaccination strategies, and even gene-specific therapies existed but seemed far from clinical practice. United States Federal Drug Administration approval of the humanized antibody rituximab (1997) and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib (2001) has changed perceptions of oncologic treatment. These drugs turned visions into reality and led the pharmaceutical industry, clinicians, and patients to new perspectives. This article gives an overview of the development of this fourth modality in cancer therapy, so-called targeted therapy.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Therapeutic advances in breast cancer].

The treatment of breast cancer has made significant improvements during the past ten years. For early breast cancer with a clinically negative axilla sentinel node biopsy has become the preferred approach. For endocrine therapy of postmenopausal patients the selective aromatase inhibitors have become standard in metastatic as well as in early breast cancer. Trastuzumab (Herceptin) plays an important role in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer in the metastatic and since 2005 also in the adjuvant setting. When chemotherapy is used to treat metastatic breast cancer drug combinations are superior to monotherapy only in terms of response rates. By contrast, in the adjuvant setting combination drug therapy is the standard. New methods of tissue analysis including expression patterns of mRNA and proteins are promising research strategies to further advance the field.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Current diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer].

Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (pancreatic cancer) is the most frequent tumor entity in the pancreas. While the results of surgical therapy of pancreatic cancer were disappointing in the past due to high perioperative mortality rates, resection of pancreatic cancer nowadays represents the standard treatment for non-metastatic cancer with a mortality rate below 5%. This decrease in perioperative mortality of the Whipple operation is inversely correlated to the case load of the hospital and the responsible surgeon, and is mainly related to improvements in the intensive care management, the surgical technique and patient selection. In particular, the perioperative use of octreotide resulted in a significant decrease in the rate of pancreatic fistula. Furthermore, modern staging examinations such as diagnostic laparoscopy, PET, or endoscopic ultrasound resulted in improved patient selection. In addition, the long-term results of the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer has been improved by adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the past 10 years. Similar progress has been made in the palliative treatment of metastatic or locally advanced cancer. Nowadays, endoscopic procedures can replace surgical palliation of obstructive jaundice in most cases and sometimes even gastric outlet obstruction. Moreover, systemic chemotherapy using gemcitabine-based protocols has resulted in a significant prolongation of survival. However, further progress in the treatment of pancreatic cancer can only be achieved by an interdisciplinary management of this disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2005

[Systemic therapy for colorectal cancer].

Drug treatment of colorectal cancer has made impressive progress during the past 10 years. In addition to the traditional 5-fluorouracil, newer anticancer drugs are available including irinotecan and oxaliplatin. Monoclonal antibodies like bevacizumab and cetuximab have been integrated into modern treatment regimens. Based on randomized clinical trials we can formulate rational treatment strategies as outlined in this article.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2004

[New antibodies in cancer treatment].

Since the development of hybridoma technology in 1975 monoclonal antibodies with pre-defined specificity can be produced. Only twenty years later did it become possible to make therapeutic use of monoclonal antibodies in oncology. To this end it was necessary to attach the antigen-binding site of a mouse antibody onto the scaffold of a human antibody molecule. Such chimeric or "humanized" antibodies may be used in passive immunotherapy without eliciting an immune response. Rituximab and trastuzumab are such humanized antibodies. They are used today routinely in the treatment of malignant lymphoma and breast cancer, respectively. These antibodies are usually used in combination with conventional cytostatic anticancer drugs.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[New drugs for colorectal cancer].

Drug treatment of colorectal cancer has made impressive progress during the past 10 years. In addition to fluorouracil new anticancer drugs like irinotecan and oxaliplatin have become available. The activity of fluorouracil was optimized by using schedules of prolonged infusion. Capecitabine is an oral pro-drug of fluorouracil. When colorectal metastases are limited to the liver they should be resected if possible. Sometimes they can be reduced in size by primary chemotherapy (downstaging) and resected later. Very new and exciting are reports with the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy. Bevacizumab blocks angiogenesis. So far it is available only in the USA.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2004

Critical evaluation of the different staging systems for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic and therapeutic options for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have improved substantially in recent years. A number of new palliative and potentially curative treatment strategies are now available. However, evaluation of the therapeutic modalities and assessment of the prognosis of HCC remain difficult owing to the lack of consensus on a single staging system and the availability of a number of new staging systems, each claiming to be the most appropriate. METHODS: The most frequently used staging systems for HCC are presented here. Their ability to stratify patients into different treatment groups and to define prognosis are discussed. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of each system are analysed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: None of the currently used staging systems fulfils all the requirements for stratification of patients with HCC into groups of different prognosis and therapeutic recommendations. An international agreement on a single staging system is urgently needed in order to permit comparable randomized clinical trials. Only in this way will the outcome for those with HCC be improved.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed2001

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor with CNS involvement.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT) represent a spectrum of neoplasms that occur in the mesentery and retroperitoneum and less frequently in the mediastinum of children and young adults. Transformation into inflammatory fibrosarcoma and metastases are rare. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 16-year-old patient with an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the mesentery with mediastinal metastases. Partial remission was obtained by chemotherapy with ifosfamide, dactinomycine, and vincristine. Two months later, relapse with infiltration of the meninges developed, and the patient died. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates unusual features of an IMT: presentation with metastases, excellent response to chemotherapy, dissemination to the CNS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Trastuzumab in CSF.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1998

[Muscle metastasis as initial manifestation of adenocarcinoma of the stomach].

BACKGROUND: The presentation of gastric carcinoma with a metastasis in skeletal muscle is a distinct rarity. CASE REPORT: In a 72-year-old male patient a soft tissue mass behind the knee was biopsied rather late. Histology showed a metastasis of adenocarcinoma. The patient mentioned a slight feeling of strangulation, which led to endoscopy and the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma. Palliative chemotherapy was initially successful but the patient died after 21 months. DISCUSSION: Based on this case history, three points are discussed: how to biopsy a peripheral soft tissue mass, how to proceed when a metastasis of an unknown primary tumor is diagnosed, and the epidemiology of metastases to skeletal muscle.

Adenocarcinoma↗