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Biomedical subjects

D J Glover

Publications and source records attributed to D J Glover.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

New approaches to the chemotherapy of melanoma.

Several new investigational agents have shown some promise in the treatment of patients with disseminated melanoma. While earlier studies of combination chemotherapy led to increased toxicity without improved anti-tumor effect, more recent combination regimens have produced responses up to 50%. One of these is a dose-intensification regimen using high-dose cisplatin and the chemoprotective drug WR-2721. Other treatments under study include autologous bone marrow transplantation plus thiotepa, a combination regimen of chemotherapy and interferon, and newer agents such as taxol, tauromustine, and detrorubicin.

Alkaloids

Thoracic radiotherapy variables: influence on local control in small cell lung cancer limited disease.

In limited small cell lung cancer (LSCLC), the high local failure rate of chemotherapy by itself (60-100%) and with the addition of external beam radiotherapy (approximately 30%) has led to investigation of methods to improve local control. To that end, we integrated Platinum 60 mg/m2, d. 1, 22 and Etoposide 120 mg/m2, d. 4, 6, & 8; 25, 27 & 29 with concurrent twice-daily 150 cGy (total dose: 4500 cGy). Of 32 consecutively referred patients, 4 with variant histology, 31 were evaluable for toxicity, response, and survival. Two of 4 variant histology patients responded, and 27 of 27 pure small cell responded, p = 0.005. CT scans were inaccurate at forecasting survival. Of 17/32 patients considered "positive," 59% of these were survivors; of those considered "negative," 47% were survivors, p = N.S. Radiation portals were volumetrically conservative; the supraclavicular fossa was included infrequently and the contralateral hilum not at all. Local failure occurred in only 1/27 patients (4%). All four variant patients failed locally, p = 0.001. With a median follow-up of 43 months, the actuarial disease-free survival remains nearly 50%. Variant histology is more predictive of local control than the physical factors of dose or volume.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols

Cisplatin neuropathy. Risk factors, prognosis, and protection by WR-2721.

A prospective study of patients receiving cis-diaminedichloroplatin II (DDP) was carried out to determine if risk factors could be identified related to the patient's living habits or past medical history that would predict in which patients DDP neuropathy might develop. Sixty-nine patients receiving six different combinations of chemotherapeutic agents, including DDP were examined. Twenty-eight of these patients received DDP in combination with the radioprotective agent S-2-(3-aminopropylamino)-ethylphosporothioic acid (WR 2721). No risk factors were identified relating to personal habits or past medical history of the patients. However, patients receiving DDP (40 mg/m2) on 5 consecutive days had a significantly higher incidence of neuropathy. Patients receiving DDP in combination with WR 2721 had a significantly lower incidence of neuropathy, and the mean dose at onset was significantly higher than the mean dose at onset of neuropathy for all other groups. In addition, five of six patients who were available for long-term follow-up demonstrated nearly complete reversal of the signs and symptoms of neuropathy.

Amifostine

Phase II trials of 5-day vinblastine infusion (NSC 49842), L-alanosine (NSC 153353), acivicin (NSC 163501), and aminothiadiazole (NSC 4728) in patients with recurrent or metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

One hundred and forty-four evaluable patients with recurrent or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were treated with vinblastine infusion (n = 35), L-alanosine (n = 36), acivicin (n = 27), or aminothiadiazole (n = 46). Observed objective response rates of 9%, 3%, 4%, and 2%, respectively indicate that noe of these agents has significant antineoplastic activity in recurrent or metastatic RCC. Multivariate analysis of survival data suggests that initial performance status, time from initial diagnosis to study entry, and the presence or absence of lung metastases are important prognostic factors for survival. After adjustment for these factors, treatment assignment was also seen to be of prognostic value. All four treatments were generally well tolerated. There were no reports of life-threatening or lethal toxicities; however, 37% of the patients experienced severe reactions to treatment, primarily myelosuppression, anemia, neuropathies, and mucositis.

Adult

Response to Seydel.

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Combined Modality Therapy

A preliminary report: concurrent twice-daily radiotherapy plus platinum-etoposide chemotherapy for limited small cell lung cancer.

From July 1984 through March 1987 23 patients with small cell lung cancer have entered a trial at the University of Pennsylvania. Concurrent Platinum (DDP) Etoposide (VP-16) chemotherapy and twice-daily, 150 cGy radiotherapy to a total dose of 4500 cGy in 3 weeks was used. Besides the twice-daily radiotherapy, multiple field arrangements attempted to minimize normal tissue exposure while concentrating on the target volume. Sophisticated CT-assisted treatment planning employing beams-eye-view technology was used. Esophagitis occurred in 73% (13% severe); hematologic toxicity occurred in 65% (17% WBC less than 1000). Response--100% in pure small cell carcinoma, 91% overall. Median follow-up is 22 months with an actuarial projection of 56% 2-year survival. Median survival is not yet reached. This is a highly effective therapy with substantive but tolerable toxicity. Accrual and follow-up continues. This is a preliminary report. We expect 30 patients before closing the study. A parallel study is underway in the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, with a randomized prospective trial in the design stage.

Aged

Unusual presentation of cis-platinum neuropathy.

Symptoms and signs of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II (DDP) neuropathy usually develop during treatment and stabilize or improve when DDP is stopped. We report three patients whose symptoms began 3 to 8 weeks after the last dose of DDP and progressed over 1 or 2 months to moderate-marked disability. The clinical picture in each was consistent with DDP neuropathy, and no other cause could be identified. Two of the patients improved over 8 and 27 months to become asymptomatic; the other died 2 months after presentation. It is important to recognize that DDP neuropathy can present after treatment has been discontinued since the clinical picture mimics the paraneoplastic dorsal root ganglionitis, which has a different prognosis.

Adult

Integration of full-dose adjuvant chemotherapy with definitive radiotherapy for primary breast cancer: four-year update.

Controversy exists over the effect of definitive radiotherapy on the ability to administer full doses of adjuvant chemotherapy in primary breast cancer. Ninety-six consecutive women with clinical stage I and II breast cancer were treated with radiotherapy plus chemotherapy. Three combinations of drugs were used: cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil (CF); cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF); or cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, and prednisone (CMFP). Chemotherapy consisted of two cycles of CF (cyclophosphamide at a dosage of 100 mg/m2 orally on days 1-14+5-fluorouracil at 600 mg/m2 iv on days 1 and 8) during concurrent radiotherapy, followed by six cycles of CMFP (same CF dosages+methotrexate at 40 mg/m2 iv on days 1 and 8+prednisone at 40 mg/m2 orally on days 1-14). The study included 63 premenopausal and 33 postmenopausal patients; 72 had 1-3 positive nodes, had greater than or equal to 4 positive nodes, and 9 had negative nodes and negative estrogen receptors. The mean CF doses delivered during concurrent radiotherapy were 95% of the optimal doses, and the mean CMF doses administered during the six cycles after radiotherapy were 89%. The CMF was delivered at level I (greater than or equal to 85% of optimal doses) to 73% of the patients. With a median follow-up of 36 months, 16 relapses have been observed. Two of these patients had treatment failure only in the breast or axilla and are disease free after mastectomy. Of the 72 patients with 1-3 positive nodes, 10 relapsed in distant sites, while 4 of 15 patients with greater than or equal to 4 positive nodes have had distant failure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols

Human pharmacokinetics of WR-2721.

The pharmacokinetic properties of WR-2721 were investigated in 13 cancer patients given a 150 mg/M2 intravenous bolus dose of the drug. An average plasma clearance value of 2.17 L/min was obtained. Very little of the drug or the two metabolites, WR-1065 and WR-33278, were excreted in urine obtained after the blood collection schedule. Plasma concentrations of WR-2721 decreased by 94% within 6 minutes of drug administration. The mean value of 6.44 L obtained for the steady-state volume of distribution indicates that the extravascular space occupied by the drug is small. These observations suggest that in human cancer patients, WR-2721 is rapidly taken up by tissues and converted to metabolites.

Amifostine

Final report of the phase I trial of single-dose WR-2721 [S-2-(3-aminopropylamino)ethylphosphorothioic acid].

Two hundred one patients were entered in a single-dose phase I trial of WR-2721 [S-2-(3-aminopropylamino)ethylphosphorothioic acid]. Major toxic effects included emesis and hypotension. The observed minor toxic effects were somnolence and sneezing. Two infusion schedules were tested: long-infusion time, which fixed the rate, but varied total time; and short-infusion time, which varied the rate, but fixed the time to 15 minutes. Emesis was significantly influenced by infusion time; the long schedule caused a 57% incidence whereas the short schedule caused only a 28% incidence. Within the long-infusion group, higher-dose patients and women were more likely to vomit. Although only 15% of the entire group had hypotension, the long-infusion schedule had a hypotension incidence of 23%; the short schedule had an incidence of only 3% (P less than 0.0005). Within the long-infusion group, dose and tumor site significantly influenced the incidence of hypotension. No factors were associated with these toxic effects in the short-infusion schedule. However, certain toxic effects were too infrequent to detect significant differences. For future trials we recommend 740 mg/m2 infused in 15 minutes. With this schedule, vomiting was seen in 25% of infusions and hypotension was seen in only one of 68 infusions. To date, no delayed toxic effects have been detected in any organ system, and the trial resulted in no toxic deaths.

Adult

Treatment of hypercalcemia in parathyroid cancer with WR-2721, S-2-(3-aminopropylamino)ethyl-phosphorothioic acid.

The chemoprotective and hypocalcemic agent WR-2721, S-2-(3-aminopropylamino) ethyl-phosphorothioic acid, inhibits parathyroid hormone secretion in vivo and in vitro. We report the first clinical use of WR-2721 in refractory hypercalcemia secondary to parathyroid cancer. After several days of saline diuresis the patient received WR-2721, 740 mg/m2 over 15 minutes, resulting in a fall in serum calcium from 11.76 to 9.06 mg/dL within 24 hours. Serum parathyroid hormone levels decreased from 675 to 140 microLeq/mL 2 hours after the infusion was complete. When hypercalcemia recurred the patient was retreated with differing doses and infusion rates to determine the optimal method of drug administration to provide a satisfactory hypocalcemic response without adverse effects. In this patient, WR-2721 in intravenous boluses of 150 mg/m2 was effective without adverse effects. Using high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, plasma pharmacokinetic studies showed that WR-2721's distribution half-life is 0.55 minutes.

Adenoma

Toxicity of WR-2721 administered in single and multiple doses.

Two hundred forty-three patients have received WR-2721 in Phase I-II studies. Separate studies were conducted in which patients with advanced malignancies received WR-2721 before single or multiple doses of radiotherapy or in single doses prior to cyclophosphamide, nitrogen mustard or cis-platinum. Single doses were escalated from 25 to 1330 mg/m2. An Acceptable Tolerated Dose (ATD) of 740 mg/m2 infused in 15 minutes has been established and is currently used in Phase II studies. Significant persistent hypotension (greater than 20 torr systolic) as a dose-limiting toxicity has occurred in 5% of patients in the single dose study. Fifty-five patients have been entered in the multiple dose trial. Dose levels of 340 mg/m2, four times a week for three weeks, and 250 mg/m2, four times a week for six weeks have been reached. There were five idiosynchratic reactions (fever, chills, rash, hypotension), one of which was severe. Some patients withdrew from the multiple dose study because of vomiting after each injection, or fear. No deaths nor any long-term untoward effects were observed. There is no suggestion of tumor protection.

Amifostine

A method for the collection of lymph from the prescapular lymph node of unanaethetized sheep.

A method for cannulating the efferent duct of the prescapular lymph node of sheep was developed and carried out on over 100 occasions so that lymph could be collected from unanaesthetized sheep under physiological conditions. On average the lymph flowed at 9 ml/h and contained 15 X 10(6) lymphocytes/ml. The surgical procedure and relevant anatomical details are described.

Animals

Metabolic disposition of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene.

Three pseudomonas-like organisms have been shown to metabolically oxidize 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). Capability for this oxidative dissimilation varied with each organism. Of the three, isolate "Y" was the most proficient, isolate "I" was less, and isolate "II" was the least. For accelerated TNT degradation, addition of glucose or a nitrogenous substance was essential. Complete dissimilation within 24 h by isolate "Y" cultures supplemented with 0.5% yeast extract is presumed since no TNT was detectable.

Amines