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Biomedical subjects

J L Breau

Publications and source records attributed to J L Breau.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Interferon and interleukin 2 in metastatic cancer of the kidney. Apropos of 18 cases].

Eighteen patients with advanced renal cancer received a combination of IFN alpha 10 x 10(6) U/m2/Day (D) x 5D followed by Interleukin 2 (IL2) 18 x 10(6) UI/m2/D x 5 D. The median follow-up is 10 months. Four partial responses were observed lasting 7 to 13 months (22.2%). The clinical safety was satisfactory. The survival for responding patients is 12 months (median). The safety of treatment is an argument in favour of future trials in an attempt to demonstrate the benefit of combinations of biomodulators.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

[The blood-brain barrier: implications for chemotherapy in brain tumors].

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is located between the blood and the extracellular space of the brain. This barrier is formed by the brain capillaries whose endothelial cells have tight intercellular junctions. Transcellular passage of drugs from the bloodstream to the brain occurs selectively, in a manner dependent on the ability of the molecules to penetrale through cell membranes. The blood-brain barrier is one of the main factors of chemotherapy failure in central nervous system tumors. Penetration of a molecule from the bloodstream to the brain is dependent on the compound's liposolubility, expressed by the octanol-water separation coefficient. Following intravenous administration, most drugs fail to achieve adequate levels in the central nervous system for a sufficiently long period of time. A variety of techniques have been used in an attempt to increase CNS penetration of drugs normally shut out by the blood-brain barrier: high-dose chemotherapy, intrathecal injections, intraarterial injections, induction of hyperosmolarity to make the blood-brain barrier permeable. The best results are obtained using liposoluble drugs with optimal octanol-water separation coefficients, such as fotemustine. This compound given as single drug therapy in brain metastases from malignant melanomas has yielded response rates of up to 28.2%.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1991

[Metastasis of prostatic cancer. Mechanisms and sites, therapeutic management and review of published results. Strategies of prevention of metastases during initial treatment].

Cancer of the prostate is the leading cause of death from cancer in men over 75 years of age, and the second cause in younger men. Metastases are present at the time of diagnosis in 40% of cases. The existence of growth factors and the role of male hormones, as well as the relationship between tumor cells and stroma now provide a clearer picture of why prostate cancer metastases have an affinity for bone and produce osteoblastic lesions. The treatment of these metastases depends primarily on the suppression of androgen activity which can be achieved at several levels. Although hormone therapy can influence the course of the tumor in 80% of cases, the objective response rate for first line therapy rarely exceeds 50%. In most cases, resistance to hormone therapy occurs in the first 18 months. In such cases chemotherapy can be expected to produce a 30-35% objective response rate. The modalities of hormone therapy (single agents or "complete hormonal blockade") and the role of chemotherapy are still controversial issues. Measures designed to avoid metastatic spread at the time of initial therapy are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Brain metastases of malignant melanomas].

Cerebral metastases of malignant melanoma are correlated with a very poor prognosis. Surgery of an isolated metastase can lead to a long survival but the brain lesions are frequently numerous and associated with an extracerebral diffusion. Dacarbazine (DTIC) gives a mean response rate of 21% on visceral localisations but doesn't cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). Neither do the biological response modifiers like Interleukin 2 (Il2) that leads to 25% response rate in disseminated melanoma. Nitrosoureas like carmustine (BCNU) and semustine (CCNU) have been investigated in different non randomised studies and the clinical results didn't illustrate their theorical ability to cross the BBB. Radiotherapy is also used as a palliative therapy with 7 to 16 weeks survival. Fotemustine (muphoran), a new amino acid linked nitrosourea, can give a response rate up to 28.2% in patients with cerebral metastases and the increased survival of responding patients is significant. The availability of this new drug may suggest associations with surgery and radiotherapy in the future to improve the survival of such patients.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1989

[Regression and slowing of the growth of human pulmonary metastases induced by piroxicam, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis].

The action of piroxicam, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, was evaluated in 31 cases of measurable pulmonary metastases of several primary cancers. In each case, the spontaneous doubling time was measured prior to and after a minimum of 3 months of treatment with piroxicam as a single drug, 20 mg daily po. The doubling time of metastatic lung nodules was significantly increased in 18/31 cases (58%) of which 10 cases had their spontaneous doubling time multiplied by two. Minor regressions were observed in 5/31 cases (16%) and one case of metastatic fibrosarcoma had a complete radiologic response. No effect was observed in 8/31 cases (26%). Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors may be useful for treating metastatic cancer. Possible mechanisms of action are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer with a cis-dichloro-diammine platinum, cyclophosphamide, and bleomycin combination.

Twenty-five consecutive patients with previously untreated stage III (18) and IV (7) epithelial ovarian carcinoma underwent maximum surgical tumor reduction followed by cyclophosphamide, cisplatinum, and bleomycin chemotherapy, given 5 days every 3 weeks for a total of 6-8 courses. Patients were then submitted to second-look surgery, and complete responders to a 1-year additional chemotherapy with L phenylalanine mustard and hexamethylmelamine. The median survival is 23 months for the whole group, and 31+ months for 13 patients found in microscopically assessed complete remission (CR) at the time of second-look surgery. The possible significance of these results and of the addition of bleomycin to a well-known combination are discussed, together with the limitations of a phase II study.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Sweat gland carcinoma with bone and visceral metastases. Prolonged complete remission lasting 16 months as a result of chemotherapy.

Sweat gland carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor considered to be radio- and chemo-resistant. A case affecting a labium majorum recurred after surgical resection and was accompanied by bone and visceral metastases. After four cycles of combination chemotherapy consisting of doxorubicin, mitomycin C, vincristine and cisplatin, complete remission lasting 16 months and prolonged survival (50 months) were obtained. A review of the literature also is presented.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗