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Biomedical subjects

F Larra

Publications and source records attributed to F Larra.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Bone metastases of colorectal cancers: apropos of 8 cases].

Having found, in the same medical centre, an abnormally high (15%) frequency of bone metastases from colorectal carcinoma, the authors report a series of 8 cases and review what is now known of this reputed rare (4%) metastases. Their clinical and imaging features are not very different from secondary bone lesions of other origins. They usually appear approximately 5 years after the primary tumour has been diagnosed; and they are rarely isolated, being part of a diffuse metastatic disease; their prognosis is in fact conditioned by visceral metastases (liver, lung, peritoneum). Concerning treatment, pain relieving radiotherapy is crucial, as witnesses by the authors. Chemotherapy must always be prescribed for its proven effectiveness against visceral lesions. The other medicinal treatments (e.g. analgesics, bisphosphonates) are very useful. Surgery must be reserved to emergency situations (spinal cord compression) and to patients in good general condition. To our 8 patients these treatments brought comfort and increased survival. Survivals of at least 6 to 9 months were obtained, and one patient is still alive 14 months after the diagnosis of bone metastasis. These results compare favourably with the 4 months median survival observed in other series.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Paraneoplastic syndromes (1)].

Although not rare, paraneoplastic syndromes develop in a minority of cancer patients. Their exact frequency seems to be underestimated. These syndromes are hereby described. Their clinical usefulness is of great importance: they can be the first sign of a malignancy and can be used as tumor markers. The diagnosis of paraneoplastic syndromes is often difficult. A "diagnosis score" is proposed in order to make the diagnosis easier.

Carcinoid Heart Disease↗
PubMed1993

[Paraneoplastic syndromes (2)].

Although not rare, paraneoplastic syndromes develop in a minority of cancer patients. Their exact frequency seems to be under estimated. These syndromes are hereby described. Their clinical usefulness is of great importance: they can be the first sign of a malignancy and can be used as tumor markers. The diagnosis of paraneoplastic syndromes is often difficult. A "diagnosis score" is proposed to establish this diagnosis easier.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1992

[Cancerology training in France].

During the last years, training in cancerology in France has been developed extensively. The importance of training as a major element in the fight against cancer is now widely recognized. Cancerology teaching has been improved in the curse of clinical science for medical students as well as the training of general practitioners. Special courses qualifying for the Diploma of Specialised Complementary Studies in Oncology are available to Cancerologists. While appreciating the positive aspects of cancerology training at these different levels, we must stress a certain number of weak points that need to be corrected. Several propositions tending to further improve cancerology training are proposed. The implementation of these recommendations should allow France to maintain its rightful place in cancerology within the European Community.

Education, Medical, Graduate↗
PubMed1992

[Analysis of cellular DNA content by flow cytometry in epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus].

Flow cytometric DNA analysis was performed in 35 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. The aim of this study was a) to establish a tumoral DNA pattern, b) to determine an objective parameter correlating with tumoral response to chemotherapy (5 FU-cisplatin). DNA analysis was performed in perendoscopic ranged tumoral biopsy specimens to determine the DNA ploidy (DNA index) and S phase fraction. Tumor diameter and length were evaluated by computed tomography (CT) before and after chemotherapy in 24 patients. The relative variation of this product determined a CT index. Before chemotherapy, 82 percent (76/93) of the specimens were available for assessment; 72 percent (26/36) of the tumors were aneuploid. In these tumors, the DNA index ranged from 1.23 to 2.80. Five tumors had two distinct and simultaneous aneuploid populations. CT index values were not significantly different according to the ploidy (diploid, aneuploid), the S phase fraction (low, high), the DNA content modification after chemotherapy (absent, present). In this study, DNA analysis did not allow to select patients with higher response to chemotherapy. The inter- and intratumoral phenotypic heterogeneity may be one of the responsible factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Acute cardiac toxicity of 5-fluorouracil: pharmacokinetic correlation].

High-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) continuous infusion over a 4-day period seems to dramatically increase the frequency of cardiac complications, which were however extremely rare in the past when it was injected in bolus form (1.6%). In order to evaluate their real incidence we looked for a relation between cardiac toxicity and clinical or 5 FU pharmacokinetic parameters. One hundred and thirty-three patients were followed up from January 1989 to March 1990, treated for head and neck, breast and colorectal cancers by high-dose 5-FU infusion (1,000 mg/sqm/d x 4 d) and cis-platinum (20 mg/sqm/d x 4 d). During each treatment course, daily electrocardiogram and 5 FU plasma assays were performed by high performance liquid chromatography, at 8 am and 8 pm. Twenty-eight patients presented 36 ischemic cardiac manifestations which were sometimes severe. Of these, 29 were asymptomatic. Cardiac toxicity frequency was not increased in the group treated for head and neck cancers. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed wide variations in 5-FU plasma levels in the 133 patients under study (from 20 to 1,200 ng/ml). Cardiac manifestations always appeared during the hours following very high 5-FU plasma levels (greater than 450 ng/ml). Cardiotoxicity seems to be linked to 5-FU plasma levels. Cis-platinum probably increases toxicity in this regimen. These findings indicate the advisability of a close follow-up by daily ECG when 5-FU is administered at high doses in continuous infusion and associated with cis-platinum. We are continuing to study 5 FU cardiac toxicity, especially in other regimens containing 5 FU and aim to evaluate the contribution of cardiac isotopic exams.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1989

Flow cytometric analysis of DNA abnormalities in colorectal carcinomas.

We report a flow cytometric study on ploidy in 117 colorectal cancers. An aneuploid cell population was found in more than 70% of adenocarcinomas. Ploidy was found to be stage-related; aneuploid tumors with DNA index greater than or equal to 1.4 were found mainly in Dukes' C and Dukes' D stages (P less than 0.02). Tumors of the caecum and of the ascending colon were more often found to be diploid than those of the other sites. There was a progressive increase in the proportion of cells in S-phase depending on whether they were from normal tissue, inflammatory mucosa or adenocarcinomas. The proportion of cells in S-phase was significantly larger in aneuploid tumors (P less than 0.001). The data presented above suggest that aneuploidy and the proportion of non-resting cells could be important prognostic factors for colorectal cancers. The latter are independent of the stage of the disease and histological differentiation.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

Computed tomography in radiotherapy of prostatic carcinoma.

Hundred forty-four correlations are reported between radiological simulation and CT-scan in cases of prostate adenocarcinoma without metastases treated from 1980 to 1986 exclusively by transcutaneous radiotherapy using the box technique with 25 MV photons. Forty-eight percent of the cases were intracapsular forms. On the basis of correlation criteria defined, the prostatic boost volume was shifted in the sagittal plan in 18% of the cases. Suspect seminal vesicles were found in 60% of the cases. Our treatment plans were considered "correct" in 65% of the cases, "acceptable" in 26% of the cases and "unsatisfactory" in 29% of the cases. The corrections applied to the treatment plan do not vary according to grade but according to stage and concern mainly the posterior limit of the boost volume and to a lesser extent the superior and anterior limits. The boost volume should be determined specifically for each case. CT-scans thus seem indispensable in establishing treatment plans in prostate cancer.

Carcinoma↗
PubMed1986

Flow DNA analysis in human lung cancer: potentiality and limitations due to sampling methods.

Flow DNA analysis was performed on samples from 71 surgically removed lung cancers and from 145 patients undergoing bronchoscopy. Abnormal DNA stem lines, characterized by their DNA index (DI), were frequently observed in operated lung carcinomas (87%). Two or three abnormal DNA stem lines were discovered simultaneously in 10% of the samples. The mean DI of all abnormal tumor stem lines was lowest for rare tumor cell types and highest for adenocarcinomas. Intermediate mean DI values were found for epidermoid and small cell carcinomas, which were among the most proliferative tumors. The high rate of false negative results suggests poor diagnostic reliability of flow DNA analysis on bronchoscopic samples. However, the method appears to provide a promising objective tool capable of evaluating tumor behavior and prognosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1984

[What value should be given to assays of serum ferritin in breast cancers? Correlation with various biological parameters].

The aim of this study is to determine the value of serum ferritin assay alone or combined with CEA and beta-2-M. For the diagnosis of breast cancer, serum ferritin is of little value, with 23% false positive and 41% false negative results. Furthermore, combination with CEA and beta-2-M assays does not improve the diagnosis of malignancy. However, mean ferritin concentrations and percentage of positive results increase with tumor volume, number of involved lymph nodes, distant metastases, and exacerbations. During follow up, variations in serum ferritin concentrations parallel clinical course in 77% of patients, as compared to 62% for the three proteins. Ferritin can be involved in biological exchange processes. Association with hepatic, hematological or inflammatory disorders must therefore be considered in interpreting an increase in serum ferritin in cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Comparative flow DNA analysis of different cell suspensions in breast carcinoma.

This study compared three methods of dissociation of breast lesions for DNA flow cytometry. Eleven benign lesions and 66 cancers were dissociated using mechanical, Ficoll, or enzymatic methods. DNA flow analysis showed that the DNA index did not vary from one method of dissociation to another. All benign lesions were diploid and 67% of all cancers were aneuploid. Enzymatic dissociation gave a lower percentage of aneuploid cells with a diminution of the proportion of cells in the G2 + M phase (13.2% enzymatic against 17.6% Fi-coll); on the other hand, it provided cell populations of greater viability than the other methods (32.6% enzymatic, 17.2% Fi-coll; P less than 0.01). The mechanical and Ficoll suspensions did not differ significantly when they were analyzed on the basis of their DNA content and their cellular viability. When compared with mechanical preparation, Ficoll suspension showed a lower recovery of tumor cells, but this inconvenience was compensated for by a more homogeneous aspect where the contribution of aggregates and debris was clearly lessened. Therefore, this study led us to choose Ficoll suspension for subsequent flow analysis of breast tumors.

Adult↗