Biomedical subjects

C Garbe

Publications and source records attributed to C Garbe.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

PubMed1989

[Growth inhibition of melanoma cells by interferons in vitro. Similar antiproliferative effects of 100-1000 times lower concentrations of nIFN-beta in comparison with rIFN-alpha-2a].

The type I interferons (IFNs) rIFN-alpha 2a and nIFN-beta showed a significant dose-dependent antiproliferative effect on melanoma cell monolayer cultures in vitro compared with untreated controls (P less than 0.01 at 10 IU/ml; P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.001 at 1,000 IU/ml). The antiproliferative effect of a single IFN dose lasted for a maximum of 4 days, after which uninhibited proliferation of melanoma cells was again observed. In all experiments nIFN-beta showed a similar antiproliferative effect to rIFN-alpha 2a on the two melanoma cell lines (StML-11, SKMel-28) tested, when used in concentrations 100-1,000 times lower. At concentrations of 10,000 IU/ml rIFN-alpha 2a and 100-1,000 IU/ml hIFN-beta cytotoxic effects were observed.

Cell Division↗

PubMed1989

[Adjuvant therapy with recombinant interferon alfa-2a in metastasized malignant melanoma].

Recombinant alpha-2a interferon (IFN alpha-2a; Roferon-A) was administered as adjuvant therapy in 21 patients with malignant melanoma stage IIa or IIb after surgical removal of all detectable metastases. Patients received 9 x 10(6) units of IFN alpha-2a s.c. 3 times weekly over 6 months. One patient was treated over 12 months. Relapses occurred in 5 of the 21 patients during therapy, and 10 patients developed new metastases a few weeks or months after the end of therapy. Of the 15 patients with recurrent disease, 9 have since died. One patient without any relapse died of a myocardial infarction 5 months after the start of therapy. Comparison of the 21 treated patients with an untreated historical matched control group did not show any prolongation of the recurrence-free period in the interferon-treated group.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

[Local recurrence and metastasis of thin malignant melanomas (less than or equal to 1mm)].

A total of 704 patients with malignant melanoma (MM) were documented in our clinical registry at the Department of Dermatology in Berlin from 1969 to 1987. At the time of first diagnosis 631 patients in this group were found to have clinical stage I disease, and complete histological reports were available for 516 of these cases. Of the 516 patients, 191 had thin MM (less than or equal to 1 mm) and in 10% of this group local recurrences or distant metastasis were seen. Nevertheless, recurrences were delayed in patients with thin MM compared with those with thicker MM (greater than 1 mm) (mean: thin MM 37 months, thicker MM 17 months), and patients with thin MM died of distant metastasis after longer time periods (mean: thin MM 67 months, thicker MM 33 months). The thinnest tumours followed by distant metastasis and death measured 0.40 mm and 0.45 mm in male and 0.63 mm and 0.72 mm in female patients. For thin MM, wide surgical total excision with safety margins (3-5 cm) was performed in 151/191 patients. No local recurrences were observed in this group, but primary lymphogenous and/or haematogenous metastasis was recorded in 12 patients (= 8%). Narrow surgical excision (less than or equal to 1.5 cm safety margin) was performed in 37/191 patients with thin MM; 6 patients (= 16%) in this group developed local recurrences, and in 2 of those lymphogenous or haematogenous metastasis occurred later. Another patient in this group showed primary haematogenous metastasis. Of 6 patients with local recurrences, 1 died of MM 13 years after the first diagnosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Follow-Up Studies↗

PubMed1988

[Cutaneous B cell lymphoma in chronic Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Report of 2 cases and a review of the literature].

Low-grade malignant B-cell lymphomas of the skin can be distinguished from lymphadenosis benigna cutis (Bäfverstedt) by immunohistological methods developed in the last few years. Its coexistence with Borrelia burgdorferi infection can be shown by clinical and serological findings. In the chronic stage of this infection, lymphocytic cell infiltrations consistent with histological and immunohistological findings of malignant B-cell lymphoma can be found. Predominantly at the extremities, multiple plaque-shaped or nodular lesions are seen, showing a follicular pattern in their periphery. The tumors do not respond to antibiotic therapy. They regress totally after X-ray treatment, but local recurrences are rather common. They show a long persistent course with only slow progression and seem to be of low-grade malignancy independent from the cytological findings. In most cases the tumors remain limited to the skin and to one anatomical site; nevertheless, the development of systemic involvement has been reported. We present two cases of malignant B-cell lymphoma of the skin in patients with chronic B. burgdorferi infection. Both cases showed the typical clinical and histological features of this entity. Similar reports from the literature indicate close relationships with the chronic stage of Borrelia infection, with the simultaneous presence of acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans as an indicator. We conclude that an elevated titer indicating Borrelia infection is an important finding for the diagnosis and prognosis of this particular type of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

[Adjuvant chemotherapy of malignant melanoma with DTIC. Lack of effect in stage I. Possible improvement of the prognosis for survival in stage IIb].

Out of more than 600 melanoma patients on whom records have been kept in the clinical registry of our department since 1969, 153 were treated by adjuvant chemotherapy with dacarbazine from 1977 to 1984. In 50 patients treatment was discontinued after 1-3 cycles of chemotherapy; all of the others underwent 4 or more cycles. From the latter group (n = 103) patients with the primary tumour alone (stage I) or with macroscopic nodal involvement of one region (stage IIb) were selected for evaluation. In stage I the overall survival rates were significantly better in 143 untreated controls than in 72 patients treated with dacarbazine; no significant differences were found for disease-free intervals. In the treated group the major prognostic factors were more significant (tumour thickness, localization, sex). Statistical analysis of 26 matched pairs corresponding in respect to tumour thickness, sex and anatomical site of the primary tumour revealed no significant differences in survival rates or disease-free intervals. Also, no difference was found when 23 patients with thick tumours (greater than or equal to 3 mm) adjuvantly treated with dacarbazine were compared with an untreated control group of 48 patients. In stage IIb 26 patients were treated and were compared with 64 untreated controls; they seemed to benefit from DTIC chemotherapy, showing a 5-year survival rate of 40% versus 18% for the untreated control group (P = 0.028).

Combined Modality Therapy↗

PubMed1987

Acute nongonococcal epididymitis. Aetiological and therapeutic aspects.

In this study, 20 men suffering from acute nongonococcal epididymitis were treated with ofloxacin 200mg bid given orally for 2 weeks. Patients were re-examined after 2, 6, and 12 weeks. The outcome was assessed both clinically and microbiologically. Two weeks after start of therapy, the causative agent (Chlamydia trachomatis) was still present in only 1 patient, although local painful swelling of the epididymis persisted in 14 men. During the follow-up period, local signs of epididymitis decreased. After 12 weeks, an eradication of the causative micro-organisms was found in 16 of 20 cases. In 4 men, infection by the primary pathogen persisted: Escherichia coli (2); Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1) and C. trachomatis (1). Local pain and swelling was still detected in 6 of 20 men.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1987

[Malignant melanoma in German-speaking countries in the 80's. Initial results of the central registry for malignant melanoma of the Germany Society of Dermatology in cooperation with the federal health office].

From July 1983 to April 1987, 2834 reports of malignant melanoma (MM) were received by the Central Registry of the German Dermatological Society in Berlin from 22 departments of dermatology in the German-speaking countries. Of these, 2277 reports were documented in a data bank and evaluated. Compared to earlier reports from the 1960s and 1970s the percentage of male patients with MM was found to be increased: 41% males, 59% females. Also, the tumor occurs today at a slightly younger age: 63% of all males and 56% of all females with MM were adults 30-60 years of age. In 10% of all MM patients, MM metastases were found during their first visit (stages II-IV). In addition, 37% of all patients in stage I without metastasis had MMs that were thicker than 1.5 mm. This indicates that there is a necessity for further information and early recognition of the MM in German-speaking countries. Regarding the therapeutic approach, considerable differences were noted among the various departments. Half of the primary MM excisions were conducted under local anesthesia, the rest with general anesthesia. In about 40% of all cases, a second surgical procedure was performed for larger excisions: half of the patients were operated on with safety margins of less than 3 cm. Twenty-seven percent of the patients in stage I MM received some type of adjuvant therapy, including chemo- and/or immunotherapy. However, postsurgical management varied greatly among the different departments. The additional results regarding possible risk factors, such as sun exposure and preexisting pigmented moles, are remarkable.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

[Malignant melanoma: increase in incidence and mortality in West Germany].

Based on official statistics of causes of deaths and data from regional cancer registers as well as clinical epidemiological data from our clinic, incidence and mortality of malignant melanoma of the skin (MM) in Germany has been analysed. Between 1970 and 1980, the mortality rate of MM according to age rose by 20% for both men and women; the regional incidence in the Saarland, for example, increased by more than 50% (men: 3.4 to 4.6; women: 3.2 to 6.0 per 100,000 inhabitants a year). The earlier development of the MM mortality can be estimated by analysing the mortality of skin cancers in general. In the age groups between 30 and 69 years, the skin cancer mortality was nearly exclusively caused by MM; the mortality rates according to age increased between 1955 and 1980 by more than 100% for men and by more than 75% for women. According to all available data, the MM incidence in West Germany in 1980 was estimated to be 5 per 100,000 inhabitants for men and 8 per 100,000 inhabitants for women. Assuming a continuous increase of incidences, we expect 5,500 new MM cases in 1985.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

[Prognosis-oriented therapy of malignant melanoma. New concepts].

Similar to other countries, the incidence of malignant melanoma (MM) is significantly increasing in the Federal Republic of Germany. In established MM, curative therapeutic measures are limited. Current worldwide effort is therefore being directed toward its early recognition and the immediate surgical removement of the primary tumor, with a safety margin of at least 3 cm from the edge of the tumor in all cases. General anesthesia seems preferable and is used in most German university departments of dermatology. Another essential requirement is to subdivide clinical stage I into several risk groups since the 5-year survival rate of each individual case included in this stage may vary from greater than 90% to less than 50%; this can be accomplished by analyzing two main prognostic criteria that will largely determine the final outcome: tumor thickness, and tumor localization. Sex may also play a role in some cases. Other prognostic factors should also be considered. The selection of postoperative therapeutic measures (including prophylactic immunotherapy, prophylactic chemotherapy, and prophylactic regional lymphadenectomy) will then depend on the prognostic risk expected for each patient. This approach means that all of the main individual parameters must be carefully evaluated, and this is time-consuming, but it seems to be more appropriate than any other method for achieving optimal therapeutic results. When MM are in the late metastasizing clinical stages only palliative measures are currently possible, and there is little hope, if any, for a final cure.

Adult↗

PubMed1985