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F Corso

Publications and source records attributed to F Corso.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Preoperative paclitaxel and radiotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer: surgical aspects.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 15% of breast cancer patients present with large tumors that involve the skin, the chest wall, or the regional lymph nodes. Multimodality therapy is required, to provide the best chance for long-term survival. We have developed a regimen of paclitaxel, with concomitant radiation, as a primary therapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer. METHODS: Eligible patients had locally advanced breast cancer (stage IIB or III). After obtaining informed consent, patients received paclitaxel (30 mg/m2 during 1 hour) twice per week for 8 weeks and radiotherapy to 45 Gy (25 fractions, at 180 cGy/fraction, to the breast and regional nodes). Patients then underwent modified radical mastectomy followed by postoperative polychemotherapy. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were enrolled. Of these, 28 were assessable for clinical response and toxicity, and 27 were assessable for pathological response. Objective clinical response was achieved in 89%. At the time of surgery, 33% had no or minimal microscopic residual disease. Chemoradiation-related acute toxicity was limited; however, surgical complications occurred in 41% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative paclitaxel with radiotherapy is well tolerated and provides significant pathological response, in up to 33% of patients with locally advanced breast cancer, but with a significant postoperative morbidity rate.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Decreased activity of scavenger enzymes in human hepatocellular carcinoma, but not in liver metastases.

To investigate the role of oxygen free radicals in hepatocellular carcinoma we assayed tissue scavenger enzymes (superoxide dismutase and selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase) in liver homogenate, plasma concentrations of vitamins A and E and the serum selenium level from 19 control patients, 23 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and 18 cases of metastases to liver from different carcinomas. In hepatocellular carcinoma tissue the enzyme activities were all significantly lower than in control liver and in metastases-bearing liver; the enzyme activities of the latter tissues were not different from control liver. In contrast, normal liver adjacent to the hepatocellular carcinoma had decreased activity of superoxide dismutase. Serum selenium concentrations were significantly decreased in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and those with liver metastases, while vitamin A was significantly decreased only in the former. These findings suggest that hepatocellular carcinoma develops in liver with severe impairment of cellular antioxidant systems, since, in patients with liver metastases from different cancers, despite low selenium concentrations, cellular scavenger enzymes have normal activities.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Free radicals in human pathology].

The role of free radicals has been suggested in many different diseases; the molecular mechanisms of radical-induced damage have been widely investigated: the main effects on cellular components are lipid peroxidation, protein denaturation and DNA damage causing alteration in membrane functions, impaired enzyme activity and genetic alterations, including cancer. Since oxidative metabolism produces some radicals, aerobic organisms acquired a complex defensive system against radical attack, based on localization of oxidative reactions, enzymes that scavenge free radicals or their products and antioxidant vitamins. Diseases may arise from increased exposure to radicals or from impaired efficiency of protective systems. The role of oxygen radicals in cancerogenesis, alcoholic liver disease and the aging process is also briefly discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Serum copper and ceruloplasmin in early and in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: diagnostic and prognostic relevance.

To evaluate the prognostic value of serum copper (S-Cu) and ceruloplasmin and their pathophysiologic significance in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we studied 49 patients with HCC (20 of which were submitted to partial hepatectomy) compared with 110 patients with liver cirrhosis. In HCC both S-Cu and ceruloplasmin were higher than in cirrhosis; moreover, S-Cu was correlated with the extension of HCC, evaluated by instrumental data and by surgical inspection. In cirrhotic patients, mean S-Cu was 122.9 micrograms/dl (SD, 29.3), in early HCC, 153.0 micrograms/dl (SD, 34.5), and in advanced HCC, 193.1 micrograms/dl (SD, 37.7). Variance analysis gave F = 59.4. In HCC patients S-Cu was positively correlated with ceruloplasmin and with fibrinogen. Survival, evaluated by Mantel's test stratified for surgical therapy, was longer in patients with S-Cu levels lower than 175 micrograms/dl and in those at an earlier stage. We therefore conclude that S-Cu has a relevant diagnostic value in detecting HCC also in early stage and allows prognostic evaluation as regards survival.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Activation of NADPH-dependent superoxide production in plasma membrane extracts of pig neutrophils by phosphatidic acid.

Phosphatidic acid (PA), a molecule that is rapidly produced by the stimulated turnover of phospholipids in a variety of cells including blood neutrophils, elicited NADPH-dependent superoxide anion (O2-) production in detergent extracts from membranes of resting pig neutrophils. The stimulatory effect of PA was independent of cytosolic factors, differing from arachidonic acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate which, on the contrary, absolutely required the presence of cytosol to elicit the same result. The O2(-)-forming activity of the detergent extract activable by PA, as that by sodium dodecyl sulfate and arachidonic acid plus cytosol, was found in the chromatographic fractions containing cytochrome b558 and presented a chromatographic profile identical to that of the activated NADPH oxidase, which was obtained from neutrophils prestimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The PA-induced NADPH-dependent O2(-)-forming activity showed kinetic properties and sensitivity to the inhibitors similar to the classical ones of the activated neutrophil NADPH oxidase. The data suggest that, in this cell-free system, PA may stimulate O2- formation by direct interaction with latent NADPH oxidase of neutrophils or with some of its regulatory components.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fibronectin is related to prealbumin in plasma of decompensated cirrhotics.

In a group of 23 patients with advanced liver cirrhosis we have found a statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.746; p less than 0.0001) between fibronectin and prealbumin levels measured in plasma by immunonephelometric methods and found significantly lower than in healthy controls (p less than 0.001). On the contrary, no correlation of fibronectin neither to albumin nor to the presence of an enlarged spleen was observed. Since the sensitivity of prealbumin as an index of liver function is believed to be higher than that of albumin, our results support the view that the decreased fibronectin in advanced cirrhotics is mainly due to their liver failure, an enlarged spleen playing only a minor role.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Gardner's syndrome: a case report].

The Gardner syndrome (GS) is a dysplasia in which neoformations in the intestines, soft tissue and osseous tissue are associated. Since extra-intestinal manifestations, in particularly osteomas, appear promptly even in infants, and above all in the light of the possibility of malignant degeneration, the presence of mandibular osteomas indicates the necessity of carrying out investigations in order to ascertain the eventual existence of an intestinal polyposis typical of GS. This study describes a typical case of GS diagnosed merely upon suspicion of the existence of the syndrome in a patient who came to our Department with a mandibular osteoma. The study underlines the importance not only of carrying out investigations in order to ascertain the presence of GS (rectocolonoscopy), but also that of studying the relatives of the patient in light of the fact that this particular dysplasia is transmitted genetically.

Colectomy↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Advantages of topical therapy with polydeoxyribonucleotide in reparative processes after cauterization: experience at a center for early diagnosis of genital neoplasms].

This paper evaluates the common practice of a topic medical treatment following cautery (or other kinds of microsurgery) of the uterine cervix. Firstly, a controlled clinical trial on 116 patients treated with kanamycin sulphate alternated to polydeoxyribonucleotide vaginal suppositories, and 124 controls has been conducted. Subjective parameters (leukorrhea, bloody discharge, odorous discharge, more than three weeks vaginal discharge, itching, pain, burning) and colposcopy (Schiller test reactivity, squamo-columnar junction location, abnormal transformation zones, vascular striae, deepithelialized areas or frail epithelium) appeared more favorable in the treated group, the colposcopic finding of phlogosis being the only unfavorable finding more frequent among the treated patients. Successively, a controlled double blind clinical trial with kanamycin sulphate alternated to placebo vs PDRN at different dosages has shown an increase in number of epithelial cells in the treated patients and a better stimulation of fibroblasts by higher dosages of active substance. These results show the efficacy of the studied post cautery treatment schedule, and of PDRN in particular.

Administration, Topical↗