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D Mauger

Publications and source records attributed to D Mauger.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Prognostic influence on survival of increased ornithine decarboxylase activity in human breast cancer.

Although considerable experimental evidence suggests an important role of polyamines in breast cancer biology, compelling supportive data in patients are lacking. To address this issue, we measured ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, and spermidine/spermine acetyltransferase (the three key polyamine metabolic enzymes) in a cohort of 50 primary human breast cancers and related their levels of activity to disease-free survival and overall survival. The major finding of our study was that ODC activity level was a negative independent prognostic factor for both end points. With regard to overall survival, the adverse influence of ODC expression was superior even to that provided by the number of positive nodes. Furthermore, the statistical significance of the ODC effect on survival was enhanced when breast cancer-specific mortality was included in the analysis as opposed to death from any cause. In addition, high tumor ODC activity may predict a shorter time from recurrence to death, although this effect was of only borderline statistical significance. In summary, these results provide the first concrete evidence supporting the prognostic role of ODC in human breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1995

Estradiol induces both qualitative and quantitative changes in the pattern of gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion during the presurge period in the ewe.

The follicular phase rise in circulating estradiol causes a suppression of GnRH pulse amplitude and an increase in pulse frequency before stimulation of the preovulatory GnRH surge in the ewe. Studies in which samples were collected at 10-min intervals were found unsuitable to determine whether GnRH secretion is exclusively pulsatile at this time or whether estradiol induces additional qualitative changes in the pattern of GnRH secretion that, combined with the quantitative changes, result in generation of the surge. To address these issues, GnRH was measured in pituitary portal blood and LH in peripheral blood collected at 1- and 10-min intervals, respectively, in ewes receiving no estradiol (n = 5), a luteal phase level of circulating estradiol (n = 5), or a peak follicular phase concentration of estradiol (n = 5). The results provide evidence that, in a dose-dependent manner, estradiol induces the secretion of significant amounts of GnRH between pulses and alters the shape of GnRH pulses by reducing the slope of the rising and falling phases of each pulse. These findings lead to the conclusion that during the presurge period in the ewe, estradiol induces qualitative change in the pattern of GnRH release in addition to stimulating GnRH pulse frequency and reducing pulse amplitude.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Treatment with MOPP or ChlVPP chemotherapy only for all stages of childhood Hodgkin's disease.

Fifty-three children with Hodgkin's disease were clinically staged and treated with chemotherapy alone. Forty-six received mechlorethamine (Mustargen; Merk Sharpe & Dohme, West Point, PA), vincristine (Oncovin; Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis), procarbazine, and prednisolone (MOPP) and 7 chlorambucil, vinblastine, prednisolone, and procarbazine (ChlVPP). There were four events in the 38 children with stage I and II disease. One patient with massive mediastinal disease failed to remit and subsequently failed mantle irradiation and changes of chemotherapy. Another relapsed at the site of local disease and was salvaged with involved field irradiation and further courses of MOPP. Two other children died as a result of acute graft-v-host disease (GVHD) following transfusion. At autopsy there was no evidence of Hodgkin's disease. Fifteen children had stage III and IV disease and 14 achieved complete remission (CR) and none have relapsed. The child who failed to achieve remission died of virus infections. A mediastinal mass greater than 1/3 the thoracic width was present in 19 children of whom 18 achieved remission and none relapsed. An infradiaphragmatic presentation occurred in eight, all achieved remission and none relapsed. Overall at a median follow-up time of 45 months survival was 94%; the percent of patients without treatment failure was 92; and the percent without relapse was 98.

Adolescent↗