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Biomedical subjects

F Eschwege

Publications and source records attributed to F Eschwege.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[5-fluorouracile and cisplatinum combination chemotherapy for metastatic squamous-cell anal cancer].

Anal cancers (AC) represent rare gastrointestinal tumors and there are only a few studies dealing with the treatment of AC at the metastatic stage. We report here the results of one chemotherapy regimen based on the experience of the Gustave-Roussy Institute. Between 1985 and 1996, 19 patients: 3 males, 16 females, have been treated with a combination of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and cisplatinum (CDDP) (FUP regimen). Their median age was 58, their performance status (WHO grade: G) was G0-1 in 68% and G2 in 32% of the cases. Metastasis were synchronous in 6 cases and metachronous in 13 cases. Metastatic sites were the liver (10 cases), the lymph nodes 11 cases (paraaortic 5, iliac 4 and inguinal 2) and pulmonary in 3 cases; in 9 cases the lymph nodes metastasis were isolated, in 7 cases the liver metastasis were isolated. One patient received FUP as an adjuvant treatment has been only considered for toxicity and survival. The FUP regimen combined an IV 5FU continuous infusion (1 g/m2/d (5 days) and a short infusion of CDDP (100 mg/m2) on day 2, every 4 weeks: 10 patients received further local treatment. According to WHO criteria, 18 patients were evaluable for the efficacy and 19 for the tolerance. The median number of cycles was 4. The response rate was 66% (standard error : 22%) with 1 complete response and 11 partial response; there were also 4 stabilisations and 2 progressions. Toxicity rate was neutropenia grade (G) 3-4 in 13% of the patients without febrile neutropenia, G3 nausea in 30%, no G2 or 3 mucositis or diarrhoea, and 2 patients experienced a nephrotoxicity G1-2. The actuarial survival was 62.2% at 1 year and 32.2% at 5 years and the median survival was 34.5 months. Three patients are still alive at 4, 5 and 7 years and benefited from additional local treatment (the patient treated with adjuvant chemotherapy after hepatic resection and 2 patients treated after response to the FUP regimen, by surgery or radiotherapy). The FUP combination gave a high response rate with an acceptable toxicity in patients with metastatic anal cancer. Combined with local treatment it does allow prolonged survivals for some patients.

Actuarial Analysis

Variations in tumour oxygen tension (pO2) during accelerated radiotherapy of head and neck carcinoma.

The study was performed to assess the effect of accelerated radiotherapy on oxygenation of primary tumours and metastatic nodes in patients with advanced head and neck tumours. In 14 patients with head and neck tumour, oxygen tension (pO2) was evaluated in normal tissues and tumours (primary tumour or metastatic neck node) before (0 Gy) and after 2 weeks (32 Gy) of accelerated radiotherapy (70 Gy in 3.5 weeks, with three daily fractions). Radiotherapy was combined with carbogen breathing in 5 patients. pO2 was measured using a polarographic technique. For pooled normal tissues, median pO2 was 38 mmHg before treatment and 46 mmHg after 2 weeks. For tumours, very low values (< 2 mmHg) represented 20% of the recorded values before treatment and 10% after 2 weeks. The relative increase in tumour oxygenation was more pronounced for primary tumours (median pO2 12 mmHg before treatment versus 26 mmHg after 2 weeks, P < 0.05) than for metastatic nodes (respectively, 20 and 27 mmHg P = 0.1). For the 5 patients who breathed carbogen during accelerated radiotherapy, the median pO2 was 44 mmHg at 2 weeks, compared with 13.5 mmHg before treatment (P = 0.05). Very low pO2 values, corresponding to tumour hypoxia, were found in the tumours (primary and metastatic neck nodes) prior to accelerated treatment. During the first 2 weeks of accelerated treatment, an increase in median pO2 was found in nine of the 14 tumours, together with a decrease in the frequency of very low values.

Aged

Full-dose reirradiation for unresectable head and neck carcinoma: experience at the Gustave-Roussy Institute in a series of 169 patients.

PURPOSE: To review our experience using full-dose external reirradiation given with a curative intent for patients with unresectable head and neck carcinoma (HNC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1980 and December 1996, 169 patients who presented with unresectable nonmetastatic HNC in a previously irradiated area were included in this series. The median time between the first and the second irradiation was 33 months. Reirradiation protocols were as follows: radiotherapy alone (65 Gy over 6.5 weeks at 2 Gy/d), 27 patients; Vokes protocol, ie, five to six cycles of radiotherapy (median total dose, 60 Gy; 2 Gy/d) with simultaneous fluorouracil (5-FU) and hydroxyurea, 106 patients; and bifractionated radiotherapy (median total dose, 60 Gy; 2 x 1.5 Gy/d) with concomitant mitomycin, 5-FU, and cisplatin, 36 patients. The median cumulative dose of the two irradiations was 120 Gy. Eighty-five percent of the tumors were squamous cell carcinoma, 14% undifferentiated carcinoma of nasopharyngeal type, and 1% adenocarcinoma. Forty-four percent were local recurrences, 23% nodal recurrences, 14% both local and nodal, and 19% second primary tumors. RESULTS: Mucositis grade 3 (World Health Organization [WHO]) was found in 32% and grade 4 in 14% of cases. Four patients presented with neutropenia or thrombocytopenia (grade 3 or 4 WHO). Late toxicities (> 6 months) were as follows: cervical fibrosis (grade 2 to 3 Radiation Therapy Oncology Group [RTOG]), 41%; mucosal necrosis, 21%; osteoradionecrosis, 8%; and trismus, 30%. Five patients died of carotid hemorrhage, apparently in complete remission. Six months after the onset of reirradiation, 37% of patients were in complete response. Patterns of failure were local only (53%), nodal only (20%), metastatic only (7%), and multiple (20%). Median follow-up time was 70 months. Overall survival rate (Kaplan-Meier) was 21% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15% to 29%) at 2 years and 9% (95% CI, 5% to 16%) at 5 years. Median survival time was 10 months for the entire population. Thirteen patients, of whom 12 were treated with the Vokes protocol, were long-term disease-free survivors. In a multivariate analysis, the volume of the second irradiation was the only factor significantly associated with the risk of death: relative risk=1.8 (95% CI, 1.13 to 5.7) (P=.01). CONCLUSION: Full-dose reirradiation combined with chemotherapy was feasible in patients with inoperable HNC. The incidence and severity of late toxicity was markedly increased in comparison to that observed after the first irradiation. Median survival was better than that generally obtained using palliative chemotherapy alone. A small proportion of patients were long-term disease-free survivors.

Adult

[Importance of a multidisciplinary approach to metastatic cancer of the rectum].

Management of rectal cancers with synchronous metastasis is difficult. We evaluated in 23 patients a combination of pelvic radiotherapy at the dose of 45 Gy in 5 weeks and 25 fractions with chemotherapy by 5-fluorouracil (350 mg/m2/day) and folinic acid (20 mg/m2/day) for 5 days at the time of the first and the fifth week of the irradiation. Surgery was indicated firstly in cases of stricture or secondarily for resection of the primary location and, when possible, of the metastasis. General state of health of the patients improved in 35%, symptomatology in 86% and comfort in 72% of the cases. Response rates for the primary tumor were 41% of partial response and 50% of stable disease. For the metastatic lesions, they were 9% and 59% respectively. Sixty-one per cent of patients were secondarily operated with resection of the primary tumor in 12 cases and of hepatic metastases in 2 cases. The median survival and the median survival without progression were respectively 13 and 9 months. Radiochemotherapy combination as the first treatment was beneficial in 4/5 of the patients presenting a rectal cancer with synchronous metastasis and allowed us to select those that would secondarily benefit from a surgical resection.

Adult

Predictive assays of radiation response in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a review of the Institute Gustave Roussy experience.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to present the updated Institut Gustave Roussy experience of the predictive value of three biological parameters in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the Head and Neck (HNSCC) treated with radiation therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Three parameters have been investigated independently: tumor cell kinetics (TS, Tpot and LI), oxygen tension measurements (PO2) and intrinsic radiosensitivity (SF2Gy). RESULTS: No relationship has been found between local-regional control and Tpot or LI in a series of 74 patients. Our data also support that the surviving fraction at 2 Gy, (SF2) was unlikely to predict the clinical outcome in a series of 92 patients. Differences in PO2 measurements have been observed between tumors, and tumor oxygenation was lower than that of normal tissue for the majority of patients. However PO2 measurements did not predict clinical outcome, but further investigations are needed to draw definitive conclusions, given the limited number of patients entered in our study (35 patients). In addition, we were able to measure the three parameters in 10 patients showing no correlation between PO2, SF2 and Tpot. CONCLUSIONS: The method used to evaluate Tpot and SF2 did not provide clinically relevant predictive parameters for this type of cancer. Further investigations are needed to assess the predictive value of PO2 measurements and of new biological parameters in a multiparametric approach, taking into account other possible clinical and biological confounding factors.

Adult

Abdominoperineal resection combined with pre- and postoperative radiation therapy in the treatment of low-lying rectal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: A series of patients with rectal carcinoma irradiated by a sandwich technique combined with surgery is retrospectively analyzed. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 1978 to 1991, 155 patients with low or mid rectal carcinoma received abdominoperineal resection combined with a preoperative irradiation regimen of 35 Gy delivered in 14 fractions of 2.5 Gy each over a period of 3.5 weeks. The dose was increased to 45 Gy in the case of tumor fixation. According to histopathological findings, this irradiation was complemented in 87 cases by a postoperative dose of 25 Gy delivered in 10 fractions, for a total dose of 60 Gy delivered in the posterior pelvis. RESULTS: Five-year survival was 66.8% for the entire population. The 5-year actuarial local control rate was 77.6%. Carcinologic results and toxicity were analyzed according to the pathological findings and the modalities of radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative boost after a preoperative moderate dose of irradiation seems to have no utility. Thus, this sandwich technique is not recommended.

Adult

Ischemic heart disease and alcohol-related causes of death: a view of the French paradox.

PURPOSE: In France the low rates of death due to ischemic heart disease have been attributed to the high consumption of alcohol. However, the question remains: are the higher death rates for causes associated with alcohol consumption an explanation? METHODS: Diseases were defined according to the International Classification of Diseases, revision 9. World Health Organization data on country- and age-specific death rates were used. RESULTS: Official causes-of-death statistics for men 40-74 years of age show that in 1990 French men under 50 years old had low death rates from ischemic heart disease but a relatively high all-cause mortality rate, in contrast to low rates for men 60 to 74 years of age. Among French men aged 40-44 years in 1960, 34% had died before reaching the age of 70-74 years. In comparison, 37% in the United States and 36% in England and Wales, had died by this age, with 4.5%, 14.1%, and 15.2% of deaths, respectively, due to ischemic heart disease. If all of the men who died early of causes associated with alcohol had died of ischemic heart disease, there would still be a lower rate in France (21%) than in the United States (26%) or in England and Wales (25%). CONCLUSION: Thus, although some of the chronic heavy drinkers in France die early of causes associated with excessive alcohol consumption, this is not the only reason for the low ischemic heart disease death rates.

Adult

Status of accelerated fractionation radiotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Considerable interest has been shown in recent years about hyperfractionated and accelerated radiation therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. The first randomized trial showing an advantage for hyperfractionation in terms of tumor control was the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer 22791 trial. More recently, accelerated radiotherapy has been tested in many studies showing that high total doses of radiation could be delivered in overall treatment time shorter than conventional radiation therapy. The benefit of accelerated radiation therapy has been reported in some recently completed randomized trials, which suggests that rapid repopulation of surviving tumor cells during radiation therapy is a major determinant to obtain cure in this type of cancer.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

Concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy is superior to radiotherapy alone in the treatment of locally advanced anal cancer: results of a phase III randomized trial of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Radiotherapy and Gastrointestinal Cooperative Groups.

PURPOSE: To investigate the potential gain of the concomitant use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in improving local control and reducing the need for colostomy, a randomized phase III trial was performed in patients with locally advanced anal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1987 to 1994, 110 patients were randomized between radiotherapy alone and a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The patients had T3-4NO-3 or T1-2N1-3 anal cancer. Radiotherapy consisted of 45 Gy given in 5 weeks, with a daily dose of 1.8 Gy. After a rest period of 6 weeks, a boost of 20 or 15 Gy was given in case of partial or complete response, respectively. Surgical resection as part of the primary treatment was performed if possible in patients who had not responded 6 weeks after 45 Gy or with residual palpable disease after the completion of treatment. Chemotherapy was given during radiotherapy: 750 mg/m2 daily fluorouracil as a continuous infusion on days 1 to 5 and 29 to 33, and a single dose of mitomycin 15 mg/m2 administered on day 1. RESULTS: The addition of chemotherapy to radiotherapy resulted in a significant increase in the complete remission rate from 54% for radiotherapy alone to 80% for radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and from 85% to 96%, respectively, if results are considered after surgical resections. This led to a significant improvement of locoregional control and colostomy-free interval (P = .02 and P = .002, respectively), both in favor of the combined modality treatment. The locoregional control rate improved by 18% at 5 years, while the colostomy-free rate at that time increased by 32% by the addition of chemotherapy to radiotherapy. No significant difference was found when severe side effects were considered, although anal ulcers were more frequently observed in the combined-treatment arm. The survival rate remained similar in both treatment arms. Skin ulceration, nodal involvement, and sex were the most important prognostic factors for both local control and survival. These remained significant after multivariate analysis. The improvement seen in local control by adding chemotherapy to radiotherapy also remained significant after adjusting for prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis. Event-free survival, defined as free of locoregional progression, no colostomy, and no severe side effects or death, showed significant improvement (P = .03) in favor of the combined-treatment modality. The 5-year survival rate was 56% for the whole patient group. CONCLUSION: The concomitant use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy resulted in a significantly improved locoregional control rate and a reduction of the need for colostomy in patients with locally advanced anal cancer without a significant increase in late side effects.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols

Analysis of p53 serum antibodies in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Mutation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene (also known as TP53) often leads to the synthesis of p53 protein that has a longer than normal half-life. Mutant p53 protein that accumulates in tumor cell nuclei can be detected by means of immunohistochemical staining techniques. Serum antibodies directed against p53 protein (p53-Abs) have been detected in some cancer patients. PURPOSE: We assayed serum samples from 80 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) for the presence of p53-Abs, and we evaluated potential associations between the presence of these antibodies and other histopathologic and clinical features. METHODS: Serum was collected from each patient at the time of diagnosis. In addition, tumor biopsy specimens were obtained before the initiation of treatment. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect p53-Abs. The accumulation of p53 protein in tumor cell nuclei was assessed immunohistochemically by use of the anti-p53 monoclonal antibody DO7. Patient treatment consisted of radiotherapy alone, primary chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy, or surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. Relapse-free and overall survival from the beginning of treatment were estimated by use of the Kaplan-Meier method; survival comparisons were made by use of the logrank statistic. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with survival. Reported P values are two-sided. RESULTS: Fifteen (18.8%) of the 80 patients had p53-Abs. Tumor cell nuclei in 43 (58.9%) of 73 assessable biopsy specimens exhibited strong p53 immunostaining. Patient treatment method and the accumulation of p53 protein in tumor cell nuclei were not associated with increased risks of relapse or death. In univariate analyses, advanced tumor stage (> T1 [TNM classification]) and the presence of p53-Abs were significantly associated with an increased risk of death (P for trend = .007 and P = .002, respectively), whereas advanced tumor stage, substantial regional lymph node involvement (> N1), and the presence of p53-Abs were associated with an increased risk of relapse (P for trend = .002, P = .02, and P < .0001, respectively). In multivariate analyses, advanced tumor stage and the presence of p53-Abs were significantly associated with increased risks of relapse (p for trend = .04 and P = .003, respectively) and death (P for trend = .04 and P = .03, respectively). At 2 years of follow-up, the overall survival proportion was 63% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 47%-80%) when no p53-Abs were detected compared with 29% (95% CI = 4%-54%) when p53-Abs were detected. Relapse-free survival at 2 years was 62% (95% CI = 49%-76%) if no p53-Abs were detected compared with 13% (95% CI = 0%-31%) if p53-Abs were detected. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The proportion of patients with HNSCC who have serum p53-Abs is smaller than that of patients exhibiting tumor cell accumulation of p53 protein. The presence of p53-Abs is significantly associated with increased risks of relapse and death.

Aged

Potential doubling time and clinical outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with 70 GY in 7 weeks.

PURPOSE: To study the predictive value of pretreatment potential doubling time and labeling index, as measured by flow cytometry in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with conventional radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: 70 patients with a squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx and 4 patients with another involved head and neck site were entered in this prospective study. The duration of the S phase (TS), the labeling index (LI), and the potential doubling time (Tpot) were obtained by flow cytometry measurements of a tumor biopsy obtained after i.v. injection of 200 mg bromodeoxyuridine to the patient. The treatment consisted of 70 Gy in 7 weeks, 2 Gy per fraction and five fractions per week. RESULTS: The mean and median LI were 7.7% (standard deviation, SD: 5.0) and 6.3%, respectively. The mean and median TS were 9.3 h (SD: 3.6) and 8.3 h, respectively. The mean and median Tpot were 5.6 days (SD: 5.4) and 4.6 days, respectively. No significant relationship was found between the Tpot or LI and the tumor stage (T), nodal status (N), histological grade, and the site of the primary within the oropharynx. The only parameter significantly associated with an increased risk of local relapse was the tumor stage (p < 0.001). The mean Tpot for the group of tumors that relapsed locally was 5.3 days (SD: 3.3), compared to 6.1 days (SD: 4.08) for those who did not relapse locally (NS). Two parameters were significantly associated with a decrease in disease-free (DFS) and overall survival, namely the tumor stage (p < 0.005, and p < 0.001, respectively, for DFS and overall survival) and nodal involvement (p = 0.02 and (p < 0.005, respectively, for DFS and overall survival). The TS, LI, DNA index, and Tpot were not significantly associated with local relapse, DFS, and survival, either in the univariate or in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The method used to evaluate tumor cell kinetics did not provide clinically relevant kinetic parameters for this type of cancer. The classic prognostic factors (tumor stage and nodal status) were strongly associated with clinical outcome.

Bromodeoxyuridine

Intensive concomitant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a phase II study of radiotherapy with cisplatin and 7-week continuous infusional fluorouracil.

PURPOSE: To evaluate an intensive concomitant chemoradiotherapy protocol of conventional radiotherapy with intermittent cisplatin (CDDP) and continuous-infusion fluorouracil (5-FU) in unresectable, locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with unresectable stage IV MO disease (International Union Against Cancer [UICC]/American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC], 1987) received radiotherapy 70 Gy followed by CDDP 80 mg/m2 and 5-FU 300 mg/m2/d. Response was assessed 2 months after treatment completion. RESULTS: Thirty patients (52%) received the full treatment schedule; 53 (93%) received full-dose radiotherapy, while 48 (84%) were given at least 75% of the planned chemotherapy doses. Severe mucositis (World Health Organization [WHO]) grade 3 to 4 was the limiting toxicity and was seen in 79% of patients. The median time for mucositis resolution was 8 weeks. Other toxicities were generally manageable, but there were four treatment related deaths (7%). Fifty patients were assessable for activity, with an overall response rate of 70% (95% confidence interval [CI], 58% to 82%). Complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) rates were 42% and 28%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This simultaneous combined-modality regimen was feasible at the cost of severe mucosal toxicity, which required hospitalization with nutritional, parenteral, and hydroelectrolytic support. The high response rate achieved (70%) did not translate into improved survival, probably due to patient eligibility. The likelihood of cure of this high-tumoral-volume patient population remains low (approximately 10%), despite the association of two therapeutic modalities at full standard therapeutic intensity.

Adult

[Gene transfer and radiotherapy].

Recent studies have shown that experimental tumors could be treated more efficiently with ionizing radiation if genetic material was transfered into tumor cells. Several approaches have been reported, and among them, the first one consisted of increasing the apoptotic response to radiation by modulating genes involved in the regulation of the apoptotic pathway. Indeed the modulation of p53 and bcl-2 gene expression has recently been used successfully in several experimental models to increase the apoptotic death after radiation. A second approach consisted of taking advantage of the conditional expression of some genes after exposure to ionizing radiation. Indeed, some genes exhibit a radio-inducible promoter which can be combined to a gene, able to enhance or decrease the biological effect of radiation. The irradiation of such a transgene under the control of a radio-inducible promoter can lead to a second biological effect, concomitant to the irradiation, as reported for the TNF alpha under the control of the EGR (early growth response) promoter. A third approach consisted of enhancing the effect of radiation induced tumor cell death by the expression of a suicide gene in these cells, as suggested recently for the HSV-tk (herpes virus thymidine kinase gene). These preliminary results obtained in experimental models appear to be very promising and might improve the efficacy and specificity of radiation therapy in a not too distant future.

Animals

[Accelerated radiotherapy: initial results in a series of locally very advanced carcinomas of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts].

From 1992 to 1993, 46 patients with very locally advanced (74% T4) head and neck carcinomas and extensive cervical involvement (82% N2-3) were treated at the Institute Gustave Roussy with a very accelerated radiotherapy regimen: 62 Gy in three weeks with two daily 1.75 Gy fractions. Early mucosal reactions were severe but manageable in this population of patients with frequent alteration of initial performance status. Nearly every patient experienced a grade 3 or 4 (WHO) mucositis and 80% required tube feeding. Follow-up is not sufficient to draw firm conclusion about late reactions but they do not seem different from those induced by conventional radiotherapy. The overall 2-year survival rate of 49.4% and loco-regional control rate of 67% seem superior to the results of conventional radiotherapy for such advanced tumors. These results have led to a multi-center randomized controlled trial comparing this regimen of accelerated radiotherapy with conventional fractionated radiotherapy.

Adult

Undifferentiated nasopharyngeal cancer (UCNT): current diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx (UCNT) is a particular head and neck epidermoid lineage tumor related to the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). It has geographically selective endemic epidemiologic features, without relation to external carcinogens. Its systemic agressiveness is the source of most disease-related demises, because radiotherapy achieves excellent local control and a significant percentage of cure in patients with exclusive locoregional disease. Difference in the staying systems currently in use, the recent changes in imaging and radiotherapy technology, and the lack of distinction between UCNT and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the nasopharynx in Western literature reports make for some difficulty in therapeutic results evaluation when analyzing available literature. Its chemosensitivity is a relatively recent acknowledged fact, and its use in metastatic patients results in a high percentage of objective responses, many of long duration. Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy seems to be of benefit, but outstanding controversies in this regard will be soon answered through ongoing phase III trials. After a review of the current literature of all the above-mentioned aspects of this fascinating nosologic entity, our own experience, both in metastatic and locoregional disease patients is analyzed.

Adolescent