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Biomedical subjects

H J Weinstein

Publications and source records attributed to H J Weinstein.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

HiC-COM: a 2-month intensive chemotherapy regimen for children with stage III and IV Burkitt's lymphoma and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

We designed a protocol that included 2 months of intensive Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide; Bristol-Myers Co, Evansville, IN), high-dose methotrexate (MTX), high-dose cytarabine (ara-C), and vincristine (HiC-COM) to improve event-free survival (EFS) for patients with advanced-stage Burkitt's lymphoma and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We also wished to test the feasibility of rapidly cycling Cytoxan and high-dose ara-C based on signs of early marrow recovery. Twenty patients including 12 with stage III Burkitt's lymphoma and eight with stage IV Burkitt's lymphoma or B-cell ALL were entered onto this pilot study. The rate of complete remission was 95%. Four patients have relapsed. The 2-year actuarial EFS was 75% (median follow-up, 37 months). Two of the initial five patients developed transverse myelitis, which we believe may have been secondary to the concomitant administration of intrathecal (IT) and high-dose systemic ara-C. We conclude that this short but intensive regimen is highly effective for patients with advanced Burkitt's lymphoma and B-cell ALL. EFS has improved over previous less intensive regimens, and is comparable to regimens of longer duration.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Renal insufficiency after total body irradiation for pediatric bone marrow transplantation.

Between 1980 and 1987, 59 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or stage IV neuroblastoma (NB) underwent allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Thirty-nine of these patients were alive and in remission 6 months post BMT and were evaluable for this analysis. Sixteen have developed renal dysfunction. Eight were transplanted for relapsed ALL and received an autologous transplant. Preparation included tenopiside (VM 26), cytosine arabinoside, and cyclophosphamide followed by total body irradiation (TBI). One patient received 850 cGy in a single fraction, while all other patients received fractionated TBI (1200-1400 cGy in 6-8 fractions over 3-4 days). Eight of 11 evaluable patients who received a BMT for NB have developed late renal problems (4-7 months after BMT). The preparation for neuroblastoma patients included VM 26, cis-platinum, melphalan, cyclophosphamide and fractionated TBI (1200-1296 cGy). All 8 neuroblastoma patients had received cis-platinum as induction treatment prior to transplantation. All patients presented with anemia, hematuria and elevations of BUN and creatinine. Renal biopsies were consistent with radiation nephropathy. In conclusion, a high incidence of renal dysfunction has occurred after BMT in children with neuroblastoma and ALL. The clinical and laboratory features are consistent with either radiation nephropathy or hemolytic-uremic syndrome. The relatively young age of these patients and conditioning with intensive multi-agent chemotherapy may decrease the tolerance of the kidney to radiation injury.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1990

Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma: results of therapy in 18 cases.

The management of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma has evolved more slowly than that for testicular germ cell tumors, mainly due to its lower incidence and the lack of standardized treatment protocols. With gradual refinements in staging and therapy the prognosis has improved. Between 1960 and 1988, 18 patients 2 to 18 years old were treated at the Children's Hospital. Management consisted of inguinal orchiectomy, staging evaluation and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy according to the stage of the disease. In 11 patients (61%) the disease was confined to the scrotum, while 7 presented with spread to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes, including 3 children with more distant metastases. Histological study revealed predominantly embryonal characteristics except for 1 alveolar cell type. Chemotherapy consisted of actinomycin D in 2 patients, vincristine, actinomycin D and cyclophosphamide in 2, pulse vincristine, actinomycin D and cyclophosphamide in 10, and doxorubicin plus vincristine, actinomycin D and cyclophosphamide in 4. A total of 17 patients remain free of disease (median followup 4 years) with 1 death. The actuarial survival without relapse and over-all survival rate are 89 and 94%, respectively. We conclude that paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma represents a favorable subgroup of rhabdomyosarcoma.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1990

Bone marrow transplantation for myelodysplasia and secondary acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia.

Twenty-three patients with primary myelodysplasia (MDS) or secondary myelodysplasia/acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (MDS/ANLL) were treated with allogeneic or syngeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Only one patient was in a chemotherapy-induced hematologic remission. Graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis included methotrexate, methotrexate plus cyclosporine, cyclosporine, or T-cell depletion using one of two anti-CD5 monoclonal antibodies. For patients with primary MDS, the median age was 19 years (range, 11 to 41 years) and the actuarial disease-free survival was 56% +/- 21% (median follow-up, 2 years; range, 0.8 to 5 years). There were three graft failures (two with autologous recovery) and two early deaths. Outcome appeared to be related to French-American-British (FAB) classification. For patients with secondary MDS/ANLL, the median age was 28 years (range, 3 to 16 years) and the actuarial disease-free survival was 27% +/- 13% (median follow-up, 5 years; range, 2.5 to 8.5 years). There were no graft failures, two relapses, and four early deaths. The presence of marrow fibrosis per se did not predict for graft failure (P = .21); however, the use of T-cell depleted marrow in patients with marrow fibrosis resulted in graft failure in three of five individuals. Our results suggest that in patients with primary MDS or secondary MDS/ANLL, BMT should be considered early in the course of the disease, and that attempts at inducing a remission prior to BMT appeared to be unnecessary. In MDS patients with marrow fibrosis, T-cell depletion should be avoided.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1989

Genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma in children.

Although rhabdomyosarcoma of the genitourinary tract occurs infrequently in children, it presents a challenging problem to the surgeon, radiotherapist, and oncologist. Thirty-six children with genitourinary rhabdomyosarcoma were treated at our institutions from 1957 to 1985. The primary site of tumor involved the bladder, prostate, or both in 15 patients, the paratesticular structures in 12, and female reproductive organs in nine. Although treatment modalities and philosophies of care varied over the past 27 years, the majority of patients were treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The event-free survival for all patients is 74%. Patients with paratesticular tumors had the best prognosis (88% event-free survival). Regional nodal radiation therapy is not necessary in this favorable group if the retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is negative. Of 15 children with bladder/prostate tumors nine had initial conservative surgery. Of these nine six are long-term survivors, but only three patients have intact bladders. The girls with tumors of the reproductive organs had an event-free survival of 63%; all patients in this group had hysterectomies. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have not substituted for radical surgical procedures in most children with bladder or prostate rhabdomyosarcomas. Innovative therapeutic approaches are necessary for this group of patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Chest wall tumors in infancy and childhood.

The chest wall is an infrequent site of malignancy in infancy and childhood. Management of these tumors, however, is of particular concern because of their aggressive behavior and the functional impairment which may result from local treatment. From 1976 to 1987 we have treated seventeen infants and children with tumors of the chest wall. Askin's tumors and Ewing's sarcoma were considered as a single entity, malignant small round cell tumor (MSRCT), and account for the majority (11 of the 17 patients). Other tumors represented were infantile fibrosarcoma (1), undifferentiated spindle cell sarcomas (2), osteogenic sarcoma (1), large cell lymphoma (1), and synovial sarcoma (1). Nine of 17 patients have survived (median follow-up of survivors 5 years); six patients died of disease and two from complications of therapy. All four patients with MSRCT and metastasis at diagnosis died of disease despite chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Four of the seven patients with localized MSRCT, who received combined modality therapy including resection (two after initial chemotherapy), radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, were continuously disease-free 16 months to 10 years following diagnosis. One of the three patients who failed died of complications of surgery to her extensive primary. A second patient had a relapse of disease in a hilar node four years after finishing vincristine, actinomycin, and cytoxan (VAC) chemotherapy; she was retreated with Adriamycin (doxorubicin, Adria Laboratories, Columbus, Ohio), vincristine, and cyclophosphamide as well as radiotherapy to her hilum and remains in second remission 56 months following her recurrence. The third patient suffered a distant relapse in bone and, before succumbing to his MSRCT, developed acute monocytic leukemia and died during a remission induction attempt. Mixed results were obtained for the patients with other tumor types.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Bone marrow transplantation for children with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Therapeutic options for children with de novo or secondary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) are limited. We report the outcome of eight pediatric patients (median age 12 years, range 3 to 19 years) with myelodysplasia who underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation between 1984 and 1987. Two of the eight children had developed secondary myelodysplasia after alkylating agent-based combination chemotherapy. Five patients had clonal chromosomal abnormalities, including four patients with monosomy 7. Seven of eight patients engrafted. Two of these seven subsequently died of complications of acute or chronic graft-v-host disease (GVHD), and a third patient died at 21 months of pulmonary fibrosis. None of the patients have had recurrence of disease. The four surviving patients remain in complete remission at a median follow-up of 19 months (range 10 to 44 months).

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1989

Monoclonal and oligoclonal gammopathy after bone marrow transplantation.

Serial serum protein electrophoreses were performed on 60 patients undergoing allogeneic and syngeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). More than 50% of patients (31 of 60) developed transient oligoclonal and monoclonal gammopathies that appeared an average of 84 days posttransplantation (range 27 to 336 days) and persisted an average of 175 days (range 14 to 652 days). Immunofixation analysis revealed 82% of the M components to be of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) type and 18% to be IgM; 56% were kappa and 44% were lambda. A strong correlation between development of graft versus host disease (GVHD) and appearance of M components was observed (73% incidence in GVHD patients v 27% in non-GVHD patients, P = .0003). Two of the three syngeneic graft recipients also developed monoclonal gammopathies. Evidence of oligoclonal circulating B-cell populations was found in 68% of patients posttransplantation by flow cytometric B-cell clonal excess assay. No correlation of recovery of particular B- or T-lymphocyte subsets and development of M components was seen. The development of transient oligoclonal and monoclonal gammopathies after transplantation may be a ubiquitous finding reflecting recapitulation of early B-cell ontogeny.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1988

Late onset of renal dysfunction in survivors of bone marrow transplantation.

Between 1980 and 1986, 44 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or Stage IV neuroblastoma (NB) underwent allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Twenty-nine of these patients were alive and in remission 3 months post BMT and were evaluable for this analysis of whom eleven have developed renal dysfunction. Six of 17 (35%) evaluable ALL patients developed renal dysfunction (3.5 to 6 months post BMT). This group was transplanted for CALLA positive ALL and received an autologous transplant. Preparation included tenopiside (VM 26) cytosine arabinoside, and cyclophosphamide followed by total body irradiation (TBI). One patient received 850 cGy in a single fraction, while all other patients received fractionated TBI (1200-1400 cGy in 6-8 fractions over 3-4 days). Five of 7 (71%) evaluable patients who received a BMT for NB have developed late renal problems (4-7 months after BMT). The preparation for NB patients included VM 26, cis-platinum, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and fractionated TBI (1200-1296 cGy). All seven NB patients had received cis-platinum as induction treatment prior to transplantation. All patients presented with anemia, hematuria, and elevations of BUN and creatinine. Two patients underwent renal biopsies which were consistent with radiation nephropathy or hemolytic uremic syndrome. In conclusion, a high incidence of renal dysfunction has occurred 3 to 7 months after BMT for children with NB and ALL. The clinical and laboratory features are consistent with either acute radiation nephropathy or hemolytic-uremic syndrome. These patients were prepared for BMT with multiple chemotherapeutic agents as well as TBI. The relatively young age of these patients and conditioning with intensive multi-agent chemotherapy may decrease the tolerance of the kidney to radiation injury.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Intravascular hemolysis and renal insufficiency after bone marrow transplantation.

Renal disease has not been considered a major late complication of bone marrow transplantation. Of 31 evaluable pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation for neuroblastoma or acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 14 developed a hemolytic anemia, microscopic hematuria, and renal insufficiency at a median of 5 months (range, 3 to 7 months) posttransplant. Renal biopsies were performed in two patients at the onset of kidney disease and showed mesangiolysis with intraglomerular capillary aneurysm formation, mesangial proliferation, and focal thickening and splitting of the glomerular basement membranes. The clinical presentation, time to onset of renal disease, and biopsy material are consistent with a diagnosis of radiation nephritis, a previously uncommon finding in this patient group. The high incidence of this syndrome in the current report may have been due to the combination of intensive chemotherapy and total-body irradiation in the conditioning regimens.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Prognostic factors in childhood acute myelogenous leukemia.

The prognostic significance of initial clinical and laboratory parameters was evaluated in 125 children with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) treated on two consecutive protocols (VAPA and 80-035). Both protocols used an anthracycline with cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) for induction therapy followed by 12 to 14 months of intensive sequential postremission chemotherapy. Results are similar for the two treatment regimens. Seventy-two percent of patients achieved a complete remission, with 42% projected 5-year disease-free survival for the complete responders. Monocytic or myelomonocytic leukemic subtype (French-American-British [FAB] types M4 and M5), WBC count less than 100,000/microL, and age less than 2 years at diagnosis all predicted increased risk of relapse and decreased overall survival in univariate analyses. FAB subtype and high white count continued to predict for an increased risk of relapse in multivariate analyses and only M5 leukemic subtype independently predicted for poor survival. Patients with M4 or M5 leukemic subtype had a higher incidence of initial relapses in the CNS. The addition of intrathecal cytosine arabinoside in the second protocol, 80-035, decreased the percentage of patients with initial failure in the CNS, but did not improve overall survival. Improved CNS prophylaxis, better systemic therapy, and/or different treatment strategies are needed to improve therapy in these high-risk patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1986

The medical and surgical management of typhlitis in children with acute nonlymphocytic (myelogenous) leukemia.

The treatment of acute leukemia in childhood has been increasingly successful. Infectious complications are the major cause of morbidity and mortality among these patients receiving aggressive chemotherapy. In particular, neutropenic enterocolitis or typhlitis has had a reported mortality of 50% to 100%. The authors reviewed a series of 77 previously untreated patients with acute myelogenous leukemia begun on treatment from March 1976 to June 1984 to better define the characteristics of typhlitis and its optimum management. Twenty-five patients had episodes of typhlitis, characterized by fever, abdominal pain, and tenderness, occurring during periods of neutropenia. Ten of these patients had watery diarrhea as a major additional symptom, and nine patients had a significant episode of gastrointestinal bleeding. In seven instances, blood culture results were positive, all for intestinal flora. The episodes of typhlitis occurred most frequently during the induction therapy (19 patients). Five patients experienced typhlitis during maintenance therapy, and one patient had acute appendicitis. Two patients had typhlitis during their reinduction therapy, and of note, one had had abdominal symptoms during her initial induction. All patients were treated initially with broad-spectrum antibiotics and bowel rest. Four criteria have been used for surgical intervention: (1) persistent gastrointestinal bleeding after resolution of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia and correction of clotting abnormalities; (2) evidence of free intraperitoneal perforation; (3) clinical deterioration requiring support with vasopressors, or large volumes of fluid, suggesting uncontrolled sepsis; and (4) development of symptoms of an intra-abdominal process, in the absence of neutropenia, which would normally require surgery. Using these criteria, five patients required surgical intervention for typhlitis or its sequelae and one for acute appendicitis. There was one perioperative death resulting from miliary tuberculosis. Among the 21 patients managed medically, there was 1 death resulting from typhlitis in a patient in whom surgery was deferred because of her multiple failures to enter remission.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Cytogenetic evidence for involvement of erythroid progenitors in a child with therapy linked myelodysplasia.

A 6-year-old male with prior metastatic retinoblastoma developed a therapy linked myelodysplastic syndrome. Whole bone marrow cytogenetics showed monosomy 7 and a marker chromosome. To determine the progenitor level of origin of the malignant clone, we studied the karyotypes of marrow erythroid and granulocyte/macrophage colonies grown in methyl cellulose. All erythroid and granulocyte/macrophage colonies had an abnormal karyotype with 45 chromosomes (monosomy 7) and several colonies contained the marker chromosome. These findings give direct evidence that this patient's myelodysplastic syndrome involved an early stem cell which was capable of both erythroid and granulocyte differentiation.

Child↗
PubMed1986

Primary lymphoma of bone in children: analysis of treatment results with adriamycin, prednisone, Oncovin (APO), and local radiation therapy.

Primary lymphoma of bone is an unusual extranodal presentation of pediatric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Treatment with radiotherapy alone has resulted in a disease-free survival rate of approximately 50% in most adult series. Between January 1973 and April 1985, 11 children with biopsy-proven NHL of bone were seen and treated at our institutions. The minimal clinical staging included chest and bone radiographs, a radionuclide bone scan, complete blood cell counts and serum chemistries, and a bone marrow aspirate and biopsy. The age range was 9 to 17 years with a median age of 14 years. Histology included diffuse lymphoblastic lymphoma in four patients and diffuse histiocytic lymphoma in seven. Each patient was treated with the Adriamycin/prednisone/Oncovin (APO) protocol and ten patients received concomitant radiation to the whole bone when possible and a boost to the primary lesion(s). The median tumor dose was 5,000 rad (range, 3,600 to 5,600). The median follow-up was 8 years. There have been no relapses, but two patients have developed second bone tumors 5 and 7 1/2 years after beginning therapy. Each second tumor arose directly in the radiation field. The overall 8-year actuarial survival is 83%. We conclude that APO and local radiation results in excellent overall survival for children with primary NHL of bone. The occurrence of two second bone tumors, however, raises questions regarding dose and/or the role of radiation for this disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Emergency prebiopsy radiation for mediastinal masses: impact on subsequent pathologic diagnosis and outcome.

From 1968 to 1983, 19 patients were treated at the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy for symptomatic mediastinal masses before a biopsy was obtained. This study evaluates the impact of radiation on the ability to establish a pathologic diagnosis and the results of subsequent empirical therapy if no diagnosis was established. Eight of the 19 (42%) patients were not able to have a histologic diagnosis established at the time of biopsy. Seven of these eight patients went on to receive empiric therapy for what was thought to be the most likely diagnosis on clinical grounds. Four of the seven have not relapsed; three who have relapsed were found to have the diagnosis for which they were empirically treated. The untreated patient relapsed with seminoma. Thus, the use of emergency irradiation for mediastinal masses is sometimes associated with the loss of pathologic diagnosis. These patients likely have a radioresponsive disease (ie, lymphoma or seminoma) that may be treated successfully on the presumed clinical diagnosis even when the histologic diagnosis is lost secondary to prebiopsy irradiation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Unusual thoracic radiographic findings in children treated for Hodgkin's disease.

Mantle irradiation is often part of the treatment for Hodgkin's disease. Localized pneumonitis and fibrosis are well-known sequelae of this treatment. We report nine patients with unusual thoracic radiographic findings following treatment for Hodgkin's disease. All nine had mediastinal widening. Seven of these patients received combined modality therapy in which prednisone was given with their MOPP. In these seven patients, an increase in mediastinal width developed at the same time as the radiographic changes of radiation pneumonitis. Two patients developed bilateral infiltrates extending beyond the field of radiation to the lung periphery. In one of these patients, a spontaneous pneumomediastinum developed. One patient underwent mediastinal biopsy that revealed inflammatory changes similar to those seen in radiation pneumonitis. All patients either responded to steroids or had spontaneous regression of radiographic abnormalities supporting the presumed diagnosis of treatment related changes. Recognition of these unusual sequelae of mantle irradiation will aid in differentiating them from infection or tumor and lead to prompt, appropriate treatment.

Adolescent↗