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Biomedical subjects

G Daugaard

Publications and source records attributed to G Daugaard.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A prospective study of PET/CT in initial staging of small-cell lung cancer: comparison with CT, bone scintigraphy and bone marrow analysis.

BACKGROUND: Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15%-20% of all lung cancer cases. Accurate and fast staging is mandatory when choosing treatment, but current staging procedures are time consuming and lack sensitivity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was designed to examine the role of combined positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) compared with standard staging (CT, bone scintigraphy and immunocytochemical assessment of bone marrow biopsy) of patients with SCLC. Thirty-four consecutive patients were included. Twenty-nine patients received initial PET/CT. RESULTS: PET/CT caused change of stage in 5/29 (17%). Excluding patients with unconfirmed findings or pleural effusion, the sensitivity for accurate staging of patients with extensive disease was the following: for standard staging 79%, PET 93% and PET/CT 93%. Specificity was 100%, 83% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results from this first study on PET/CT in SCLC indicates that PET/CT can simplify and perhaps even improve the accuracy of the current staging procedure in SCLC. A larger clinical trial, preferably with consequent histological confirmation in case of discordance, however, is warranted.

Aged↗

Magnesium depletion enhances cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

PURPOSE: Nephrotoxicity and magnesium (Mg)-depletion are well-known side effects to cisplatin (CP) treatment. The purpose of this present study was to investigate the role of Mg on CP induced changes in renal function. CP induced renal dysfunction was achieved by treatment with CP or vehicle (2.5 mg/kg) once weekly for 3 weeks. Since the CP-induced renal damage, including tubular reabsorption defects, is most prominent within the outer medulla (OM), changes in the expression pattern of OM aquaporins and sodium transporters including the Na,K-ATPase (alpha-subunit), type III Na,H-exchanger (NHE3), aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and 2 (AQP2) and the Na,K,2Cl-cotransporter (NKCC2) were investigated by semi-quantitative Western blotting. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Rats had access to either a diet with standard Mg or to a Mg-depleted diet. Cisplatin was administered to female Wistar rats once a week for 3 weeks according to four regimens: (1) Cisplatin 2.5 mg/kg body weight i.p., to rats on a diet with standard Mg, (2) Cisplatin 2.5 mg/kg body weight i.p., to rats on a diet with low Mg, (3) Isotonic NaCl 2.5 ml/kg body weight i.p., to rats on a diet with standard Mg, (4) Isotonic NaCl 2.5 ml/kg body weight i.p., to rats on a diet with low Mg. RESULTS: CP had no effect on plasma creatinine or urea in rats with standard Mg intake, but the expression of all five transporters was significantly reduced when compared to vehicle treated rats on standard Mg-intake. Vehicle treated rats on low Mg-intake had a significant reduction in the expression of Na,K-ATPase, NHE3 and NKCC2, but unchanged expression levels of AQP1 or AQP2 when compared to standard treated controls. Forty percent of the CP-treated rats on low Mg-intake died during the experiment and the remaining animals had marked increased plasma creatinine and urea. Furthermore, the Western blot analysis revealed an almost complete disappearance of all four transporters, suggesting a dramatic synergistic effect of CP and Mg-depletion on renal function including the expression pattern of outer medullary sodium transporters and aquaporins. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates a substantial additive effect of Mg-depletion on cisplatin induced renal toxicity as evidenced by significant changes in plasma creatinine and urea, renal failure induced mortality and loss of renal transporters. This should give cause for concern since the nephrotoxicity observed during cisplatin treatment might be substantiated by the known Mg-loss associated with cisplatin treatment especially in patients suffering from intense gastro-intestinal side effects.

Animals↗

Carcinoma in situ testis, the progenitor of testicular germ cell tumours: a clinical review.

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT), including seminomas, embryonal carcinomas, teratomas and yolk sac tumours, have a common precursor, the carcinoma in situ (CIS) cell. Recent gene expression studies displaying close similarity of CIS cells to embryonic stem cells support the longstanding theory that CIS most likely originates in utero from fetal gonocytes. The clinical association between the testicular dysgenesis syndrome components (TGCT, cryptorchidism, genital malformations, some forms of decreased spermatogenesis) also implies a prenatal origin. Despite high cure rates of TGCT, efforts should be made to obtain diagnosis at the CIS stage, as intervention is possible before an invasive tumour develops, thus reducing the necessity for intensive therapy. CIS may be suspected in patients with an assumed extragonadal GCT or cryptorchidism, and in intersex patients and selected cases with infertility (presenting with atrophic testes and ultrasonic microlithiasis). Surgical testicular biopsy seems the only reliable diagnostic method. The management of choice of unilateral CIS is orchidectomy, or localised irradiation in bilateral cases. At least 5% of TGCT patients present with contralateral CIS; therefore, contralateral biopsy is recommended at the time of orchidectomy. Further research is warranted to identify causal factors explaining the increasing incidence of TGCT and to obtain a method of non-invasive CIS detection.

Carcinoma in Situ↗

Magnesium and potassium homeostasis during cisplatin treatment.

PURPOSE: Administration of cisplatin causes changes in magnesium and potassium metabolism. The purpose of this study was to investigate day-to-day changes in renal and intestinal homeostasis of magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) during repeated cisplatin treatments in rats to provide guidelines for human supplementation studies. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Rats were housed in metabolic cages with access to a diet containing excess Mg and K. Treatment was administered once a week for 3 weeks and comprised either cisplatin 2.5 mg/kg body weight i.p or, as sham treatment, isotonic NaCl 2.5 ml/kg body weight i.p. Urine and feces were collected every 24 h. Blood samples for measurement of plasma Mg and K were obtained from a permanent arterial catheter prior to each treatment cycle and at the termination of the study. RESULTS: Cisplatin exerted a significant negative effect on total Mg balance. This effect was cumulative with repeated doses of cisplatin. The observed difference was mainly due to the difference in Mg balance between the treatment day and the following 2-3 days. The cumulated urinary excretion of Mg did not differ significantly between the two groups at the end of follow-up. A significant decrease was observed in cumulated intestinal absorption in treated rats compared to control rats at the end of follow-up. Lowered intestinal absorption accounted for 90% of the difference in total Mg balance between the two groups as compared to the renal loss. Cisplatin treatment also exerted a negative effect on total K balance, although the difference between cisplatin-treated and control rats was not significant at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The Mg loss associated with cisplatin treatment was mainly the result of lowered intestinal absorption and not, as presently thought, the result of increased renal elimination. Instead, an increased renal reabsorption capacity was observed in response to decreased intestinal absorption. The study further showed that Mg and K metabolism are subject to predictable changes in intestinal absorption and renal excretion with each cisplatin treatment, and that knowledge of these changes can be used in planning supplementation. Thus, the experimental observations support intravenous supplementation on the day of treatment and 2-3 days after treatment followed by oral supplementation until the next treatment.

Animals↗

Somatic mutations of KIT in familial testicular germ cell tumours.

Somatic mutations of the KIT gene have been reported in mast cell diseases and gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Recently, they have also been found in mediastinal and testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs), particularly in cases with bilateral disease. We screened the KIT coding sequence (except exon 1) for germline mutations in 240 pedigrees with two or more cases of TGCT. No germline mutations were found. Exons 10, 11 and 17 of KIT were examined for somatic mutations in 123 TGCT from 93 multiple-case testicular cancer families. Five somatic mutations were identified; four were missense amino-acid substitutions in exon 17 and one was a 12 bp in-frame deletion in exon 11. Two of seven TGCT from cases with bilateral disease carried KIT mutations compared with three out of 116 unilateral cases (P=0.026). The results indicate that somatic KIT mutations are implicated in the development of a minority of familial as well as sporadic TGCT. They also lend support to the hypothesis that KIT mutations primarily take place during embryogenesis such that primordial germ cells with KIT mutations are distributed to both testes.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗

Outcome of patients with HIV-related germ cell tumours: a case-control study.

Testicular germ cell tumour (GCT) is not an AIDS-defining illness despite an increased incidence in men with HIV infection. We performed a matched case-control study comparing outcomes in HIV-positive men and the general population with GCT, using three age and stage matched controls for each case. There was no difference in the 5-year GCT-free survival between cases and controls. However, overall survival was significantly decreased in the cases (log rank P=0.03). HIV was responsible for 70% of this mortality. The relapse-free survival for stage I patients treated with orchidectomy and surveillance was not affected by HIV status (log rank P=0.68). There was no difference in disease free survival in patients with metastatic disease (log rank P=0.78). The overall survival has not improved since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (log rank P=0.4). Thus, HIV-related GCT is not more aggressive than GCT in the general population.

Adult↗

RFS2000 (9-nitrocamptothecin) in advanced small cell lung cancer, a phase II study of the EORTC New Drug Development Group.

Camptothecins have shown efficacy in terms of response rate in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). RFS2000 is a new camptothecin derivative, which has shown objective responses in various tumour types. The aim of this phase II study was to determine the objective response rate of RFS2000 in patients with sensitive and refractory SCLC. RFS2000 was given orally at 1.5 mg/m(2) per day for five consecutive days (five days on - two days off) on a continuous basis. Patients were evaluated weekly for toxicity and every six weeks for response. Thirty seven patients were included, 36 patients (14 with sensitive and 22 with refractory SCLC) were evaluable for toxicity, and 35 patients were evaluable for response. No objective responses were observed. Toxicity was acceptable, with myelosuppression, nausea/vomiting, and diarrhoea as the main toxicities. RFS2000 therefore has an acceptable toxicity profile but is not active as a single agent in SCLC.

Aged↗

European consensus on diagnosis and treatment of germ cell cancer: a report of the European Germ Cell Cancer Consensus Group (EGCCCG).

Germ cell tumour is the most frequent malignant tumour type in young men with a 100% rise in the incidence every 20 years. Despite this, the high sensitivity of germ cell tumours to platinum-based chemotherapy, together with radiation and surgical measures, leads to the high cure rate of > or = 99% in early stages and 90%, 75-80% and 50% in advanced disease with 'good', 'intermediate' and 'poor' prognostic criteria (IGCCCG classification), respectively. The high cure rate in patients with limited metastatic disease allows the reduction of overall treatment load, and therefore less acute and long-term toxicity, e.g. organ sparing surgery for specific cases, reduced dose and treatment volume of irradiation or substitution of node dissection by surveillance or adjuvant chemotherapy according to the presence or absence of vascular invasion. Thus, different treatment options according to prognostic factors including histology, stage and patient factors and possibilities of the treating centre as well may be used to define the treatment strategy which is definitively chosen for an individual patient. However, this strategy of reduction of treatment load as well as the treatment itself require very high expertise of the treating physician with careful management and follow-up and thorough cooperation by the patient as well to maintain the high rate for cure. Treatment decisions must be based on the available evidence which has been the basis for this consensus guideline delivering a clear proposal for diagnostic and treatment measures in each stage of gonadal and extragonadal germ cell tumour and individual clinical situations. Since this guideline is based on the highest evidence level available today, a deviation from these proposals should be a rare and justified exception.

Europe↗

The role of nuclear medicine in the diagnosis of cancer of unknown origin.

Cancer of unknown origin (CUO) is defined by the absence of any primary tumour in biopsy-proved metastatic cancer. CUO accounts for a 5-10% of all malignancies. These tumors have a specific biology with clinical characteristics of rapid progression and atypical metastases. Diagnostic evaluation is directed at the identification of treatable subset. Accurate diagnostic workup is crucial because both prognosis and survival rates depend mainly on detection of the primary tumor site. Although these patients undergo extensive imaging procedures, nuclear medicine techniques are under-utilized despite their ability of providing molecular information. Positron emission tomography has an emerging role in this clinical challenge along with other nuclear medicine methods including, bone scan, thyroid scintigraphy.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Severe intracellular magnesium and potassium depletion in patients after treatment with cisplatin.

The purpose of this study is (1) to evaluate skeletal muscle magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) during treatment with cisplatin; (2) to evaluate the predictive value of plasma (P)-Mg for intracellular Mg during cisplatin treatment; and (3) to evaluate whether changes in intracellular K influence skeletal muscle Na,K-ATPase. In all, 65 patients had a needle muscle biopsy obtained before and 26 patients both before and after cisplatin treatment. Biopsies were analysed for Mg, K, and Na,K-ATPase concentrations, and P-Mg and P-K determined. Treatment with a total dose of approximately 500 mg (270 mg m(-2) surface area) cisplatin over 80 days was associated with reductions in muscle [Mg] (95% CI) (8.95 (8.23-9.63) to 7.76 (7.34-8.18) mumol g(-1) wet wt. (P<0.01), and muscle [K] (90.81 (83.29-98.34) to 82.87 (78.74-87.00) mumol g(-1) wet wt. (P<0.05), as well as in P-Mg 0.82 (0.80-0.85) to 0.68 (0.64-0.73) mmol l(-1) (P<0.01 but not in P-K (4.0 (3.8-4.1) vs 3.8 (3.7-4.0) mmol l(-1)). No simple correlations were observed between P-Mg and muscle [Mg], or between P-K and muscle [K], either before (n=65) or after (n=26) treatment with cisplatin. The changes in [Mg] and [K] were not associated with changes in the muscle Na,K-ATPase concentration. Following treatment with cisplatin, an approximately 15% decline in P-Mg was accompanied by an approximately 15% loss of muscle [Mg], as well as an approximately 10% reduction of muscle [K] and fatigue and muscle weakness previously ascribed to hypomagnesaemia may therefore also be well explained by muscle K depletion observed despite normal levels of P-K. There was no correlation between P-Mg and SM-Mg or between P-K and SM-K. Thus, P-Mg and P-K are not reliable indicators for Mg and K depletion during treatment with cisplatin. However, the majority of patients will present Mg and K depletion after cisplatin therapy and of these only very few patients will present a low P-Mg or P-K. Therefore, routine supplementation should be considered in all patients receiving cisplatin.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Multicenter study of human immunodeficiency virus-related germ cell tumors.

PURPOSE: Testicular germ cell tumors (GCT) occur at increased frequency in men with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This multicenter study addresses the characteristics of these tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with HIV-related GCT were identified from six HIV treatment centers. The incidence was calculated from the center with the most complete linked oncology and HIV databases. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients with HIV-related GCT were identified. The median age at GCT diagnosis was 34 years (range, 27 to 64 years). The median CD4 cell count was 315/mm3 (range, 90 to 960/mm3) at this time. The histologic classification was seminoma in 26 patients (74%) and nonseminomatous GCT in nine patients (26%). Twenty-one patients (60%) had stage I disease and 14 patients had metastatic disease. Overall six patients relapsed, three died from GCT, and seven died from HIV disease, resulting in a 2-year overall survival rate of 81%. HIV-related seminoma occurred more frequently than in the age- and sex-matched HIV-negative population, with a relative risk of 5.4 (95% confidence interval, 3.35 to 8.10); however, nonseminomatous GCT did not occur more frequently, and there was no change in the incidence of GCT since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy. CONCLUSION: Testicular seminoma occurs significantly more frequently in HIV-positive men than in the matched control population. Patients with HIV-related GCTs present and should be treated in a similar manner to those in the HIV-negative population. After a median follow-up of 4.6 years, 9% of the patients died from GCT. Most of the mortality relates to HIV infection.

Adolescent↗

Whole-body FDG-PET in patients with stage I non-seminomatous germ cell tumours.

Relapse occurs in 30% of patients with stage I non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT) within 1 year after orchiectomy. Whole-body positron emission tomography with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) may detect small metastases when standard staging with computed tomography (CT) and tumour markers is negative. In this study, 46 patients underwent FDG-PET after staging with normal CT and tumour markers. To exclude diagnostic test bias and workup bias, all patients had routine follow-up with repeated CT and tumour marker evaluation, even though the initial FDG-PET was positive. Thirty-six patients have remained disease free with a median follow-up of 48 months (range 24-76). Ten patients (22%) suffered disease relapse after a median of 2 months (range 1-8), and of these, seven had a true positive initial PET with increased uptake of FDG indicating metastatic disease. There were three false negative and no false positive PET scans. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of PET were 70%, 100% and 93%, respectively. The sensitivity of detecting small retroperitoneal metastases was 88%. The negative and positive predictive values were 92% and 100%, respectively, whereas the negative predictive value of standard staging procedures was 78%. FDG-PET thus seems to be superior to conventional staging (P=0.06) in stage I NSGCT. This non-invasive method may improve the overall management of patients with NSGCT.

Adolescent↗

Testicular carcinoma in situ in patients with extragonadal germ-cell tumours: the clinical role of pretreatment biopsy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of testicular carcinoma in situ (CIS) in patients with a malignant extragonadal germ-cell tumour (EGGCT) and the incidence of metachronous invasive testicular cancer (TC) in relation to the pretreatment demonstration of CIS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with EGGCT (53 retroperitoneal, 15 mediastinal) had pre-chemotherapy histological assessment of one (13) or both (55) testicle(s). A total of 123 testicles were examined for the presence of CIS. RESULTS: Testicular CIS was found in 21 patients (31%) (18 retroperitoneal EGGCT, three mediastinal EGGCT). Two patients had bilateral CIS. Five patients, four of them with proven pretreatment CIS, developed a metachronous TC. The 10-year invasive-free TC survival rate for all 68 patients was 88%, but only 65% for those with proven pretreatment CIS. The overall 10-year survival rate for all patients was 82%. CIS was demonstrated in seven of 48 trans-scrotal core biopsies, in 10 of 56 trans-scrotal surgical biopsies and in five of 11 orchiectomy specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-third of patients with EGGCT present with testicular CIS, predominantly those with a retroperitoneal tumour. These patients have a considerable risk of metachronous TC development in spite of chemotherapy. The pretreatment demonstration of testicular CIS in patients with EGGCT gives the possibility of individualised counselling and safe follow-up, and is therefore highly recommended. The data are in agreement with a multi-site development of malignant germ-cell tumours, but do not exclude the possibility that the retroperitoneal EGGCTs in particular represent metastases from a burned-out TC.

Adult↗

18F-FDG whole body positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with unknown primary tumours (UPT).

The management of patients with unknown primary tumours (UPT) often includes a large number of radiographical studies and invasive procedures, but the occult primary tumour is detected in less than 25%. In this prospective study we explored whether non-invasive whole body PET scans using FDG (18-F-fluorodeoxyglucose) are of clinical value in detection of UPT. Whole-body FDG-PET scans were performed in 20 patients following standard staging procedures according to histology. PET results were verified either histologically or by the clinical course of the disease. 11 patients had neck metastases (5 squamous cell, 5 adenocarcinomas and 1 poorly differentiated carcinoma). The remaining patients had metastases located in bone (3), bone marrow (1), brain (1), pericardium (1), skin (1), pleura (1) and chest wall (1). All metastatic lesions were visible with PET. In 13 patients PET suggested the site for the primary tumour and this was verified in 9 (45%), either histologically or by the clinical course of disease. 8 of these had primary lung cancer and 1 had carcinoma at the basis of the tongue. In most patients PET had no treatment related implications. 3 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) received chemotherapy prompted by the PET result. The rest received either radical radiotherapy to the head and neck region (7), palliative radiotherapy to the metastatic lesion (8), chemotherapy based on signet ring cell carcinoma in bone marrow (1) or no therapy (1). These results indicates that PET is useful in UPT preceding expensive and invasive diagnostic procedures and can result in a faster diagnosis in approximately one third of the patients who then avoid unnecessary extensive procedures. Furthermore, a larger proportion of patients will receive treatment aimed at the correct diagnosis. A prospective cost-effectiveness analysis of PET in this setting is warranted.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Cisplatin and hypomagnesemia.

Hypomagnesemia is a well known side-effect in patients receiving cisplatin-containing chemotherapy. Cisplatin induces hypomagnesemia through its renal toxicity possibly by a direct injury to mechanisms of magnesium reabsorption in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle as well as the distal tubule. Since the magnesium reabsorption process still remains to be fully characterized, the effect by cisplatin on this process remains uncertain. Hypomagnesemia is a frequent complication to chemotherapy with cisplatin affecting up to 90% of patients if no corrective measures are initiated. The clinical importance of this hypomagnesemia remains uncertain. Possible symptoms of hypomagnesemia can be impossible to distinguish from symptoms related to the underlying disease or the treatment with chemotherapy. Existing studies on how to supplement magnesium during treatment with cisplatin have focused mainly on the effect on serum magnesium values and erythrocyte magnesium concentrations but both parameters are poor indicators of body magnesium stores. As long as the relationship between hypomagnesemia and possible complications thereof remains poorly elucidated, it seems reasonable to try to avoid hypomagnesemia. The best results seem to be provided by adding magnesium to the pre- and posthydration fluids.

Absorption↗

Impaired testicular function in patients with carcinoma-in-situ of the testis.

PURPOSE: To elucidate the biologic association between germ cell neoplasia and testicular dysfunction, through investigation of Leydig cell function and semen quality in men with carcinoma-in-situ (CIS) of the testis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined two groups of men, unilaterally orchidectomized for testicular cancer. Biopsy of the contralateral testis had showed CIS in a group of 24 patients and no evidence of CIS in the other group of 30 patients. Semen quality and serum levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were compared in these two groups of men after orchidectomy but before further treatment for testicular cancer. RESULTS: Significantly higher LH levels (median, 8.1 IU/L v 4.8 IU/L; P < .001) and generally lower testosterone levels (median, 12.5 nmol/L v 15.5 nmol/L; P = .13) were found in the CIS group. The proportion of patients with Leydig cell dysfunction was higher in the group of patients with CIS (11 of 24) than in the group of patients without (two of 30) (P = .01). Sperm concentration and total sperm count were significantly lower (P < .001) in patients with CIS (median, 0.03 x 10(6)/mL and 0.10 x 10(6), respectively) than in patients without (median, 9.1 x 10(6)/mL and 32 x 10(6), respectively), whereas the levels of FSH were significantly higher (P < .001) in the former group of men (median, 19.6 IU/L v 9.0 IU/L). CONCLUSION: Not only spermatogenesis but also Leydig cell function is impaired in testes with CIS. This impairment could be due to common factors in the pathogenesis of germ cell neoplasm and testicular dysfunction. Alternatively, CIS cells may have a negative impact on Leydig cell function.

Adult↗