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Biomedical subjects

L Roveda

Publications and source records attributed to L Roveda.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

How to study boron biodistribution in liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate boron distribution for a safe and effective BNCT (Boron Neutron Capture Therapy) of liver metastases. Samples both from healthy and tumour liver parenchyma were analysed, after i.v. boron administration, by: alpha particles counting under neutron irradiation; morphological analysis by standard haematoxylin-eosin staining; neutron autoradiography. Our method was unaffected by the cytological heterogeneity inside tumour nodules; it demonstrated selective boron distribution in tumour tissue and predicted estimated mean therapeutic doses in tumour and safety doses in healthy tissue. The time interval for efficient BNCT was 2 to 4 hours after i.v. boron administration.

Animals↗

Feasibility and safety of a new technique of extracorporeal photochemotherapy: experience of 240 procedures.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) is a therapeutic approach based on the biological effects of ultraviolet light (UV) - A and psoralens on mononuclear cells collected by apheresis. Recently, ECP has been under investigation as an alternative treatment for various immune and autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of a new three-step ECP technique, in terms of reproducibility, acceptance, tolerability, and short and long term side effects. DESIGN AND METHODS: Seventeen patients affected by acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), pemphigus vulgaris, or interferon-resistant chronic hepatitis C and one patient being treated for prevention of heart transplant rejection underwent 240 ECP procedures. MNC collection and processing parameters were recorded, biological effects of UV-A/8 methoxy-psoralen (8-MOP) were evaluated, and short and long term side effects were monitored. RESULTS: At a mean follow up of 7 months (range 2-19) 240 ECP had been completed, a mean of 7,136 mL (range 1,998-10,591) of whole blood having beenprocessed per procedure. The mean of total nucleated cells collected per procedure was 6.5x109 (range 0.65-23.8), with a mean MNC percentage of 85% (41. 4-98%) in a mean final volume of 115.5 mL (37-160). No severe side effects were documented and no infectious episodes occurred throughout the course of the treatment. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: The new ECP technique was highly reproducible as regards the collection and each processing step. Short and long term side effects were mild. No increase in infectious episodes was recorded. All patients willingly underwent ECP, demonstrating an excellent tolerability for the procedure even after several courses.

Adolescent↗

Radioimmunoassisted surgery for lung metastases from colorectal cancer: results and perspectives.

The high incidence of resectable lung metastases from colorectal cancer and the very poor prognosis of untreated patients (less than 24-month survival) has promoted the surgical approach to treatment. Since the main aims of this kind of surgery are the complete resection of the tumor, the preservation of tumor-free parenchyma, and a minimal surgical trauma, innovative surgical techniques have been developed. We report on our experience in the radioimmunoassisted pulmonary metastasectomy by the use of a hand-held gamma-detecting probe (GDP) and describe the application of the intraoperative radioimmunolocalization of tumor to video-assisted minimally invasive surgery.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Potentials of liposomes in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary metastases: an experimental study in the rat.

OBJECTIVE: The ultimate goal of the therapy of lung metastases is to destroy all malignant cells while sparing normal ones. Liposomes represent a novel approach for the selective transport of tracers and therapeutic agents to cancer cells because of their flexibility, low toxicity, wide range of possible variants, simplicity to make, and because agents can be entrapped in them in their native states in large amounts. We have studied the biodistribution of "Stealth" liposomes in the experimental model of lung metastases in the rat. METHODS: The secondaries were induced by i.v. injection 20. 10(6) cancer cells (DHD/K12/TRb line) in BD-IX rats. The study of the liposome biodistribution in the rat was carried out by the use of unilamellar liposomes with homogeneous size distribution (0.1 microns), the liposomes were labeled with Cholesteryl-Bodipy. The rats were sacrificed at scheduled times after the injection; blood, urine, metastatic and healthy lung, colon, liver and spleen were analysed by a microcytofluorimetric examination. RESULTS: Liposomes prolonged the circulation time of Cholesteryl-Bodipy. Only spleen and lung metastases exhibited an accretion of fluorescent liposomes. CONCLUSIONS: The biodistribution of such formulation of liposomes in rats with lung metastases, may be of considerable importance in diagnosis and therapy of the secondaries, for increasing the concentration of tracers and therapeutic agents in tumor tissue while minimizing the likelihood of aspecific distribution and toxicity to non target tissue.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Tumors of the breast in old age].

After reviewing the literature on this topic the authors studied all patients admitted to the Institute of Surgical Pathology I at the University of Pavia for breast cancer between 1-1-1974. An analysis of the findings revealed that: (a) Out of 993 patients with breast cancer, 204 (20.54%) belonged to the geriatric age group (> 65 years old) and of the latter 135 (66.17%) belonged to the 3rd age group and 69 (33.82%) belonged to the 4th age group (> 75 years old). (b) In the 3rd age group 25 (18.51%) were benign tumours and 110 (81.48%) were malignant, whereas in the 4th age group 4 (5.79%) were benign and 65 (94.20%) were malignant. (c) Familial patterns were also examined and were found to be positive in 47 (23.03%) cases in the 3rd age group and in 30 (14.71%) in the 4th age group. (d) In the physiological anamnesis it is interesting to note that there was 1 menarche before 12 (0.9%) in the 3rd age group; delayed menopause (after 50) in 66 cases (60%) in the 3 rd age group and in 29 cases (44.61%) in the 4 th age group. (e) In the pathological anamnesis of the patients in question it was observed that the most frequent site of previous tumours was the breast (72 cases, equivalent to 10.9% in the 3rd age group; 9 cases, 13.8% in the 4th age group). (f) In the next pathological anamnesis and at EOL it was observed that the tumours was most often found in the supero-external quadrant, in the right breast in the 3rd age group (66 cases, 48.89%) and in the left one in the 4th age group (42 cases, 60.87%). (g) Test included breast cancer scan, mammography, aspirated needle and biopsy where required. (h) Surgery in the form of Halsted's mastectomy was the preferred therapy and as early as possible. Some Authors use conservative therapy. (i) Histological tests were performed in all patients and revealed that the most frequent malignant tumour was ductal carcinoma. (j) Postoperative complications took the form of wound suppuration. (k) Only one tumour (carcinoma) was observed in male patient aged 83 years old, without metastasis. From the above findings it can be concluded that the most evident risk factor for breast cancer is the influence of the estrogen hormone.

Age Factors↗

Radioimmuno-guided endoscopy (RIGE) in the detection of primary and recurrent rectal tumor.

The usefulness of radioimmunoguided endoscopy in the detection of primary and recurrent rectal cancer was investigated. Of the 15 patients included in our study, 4 with suspected primary rectal cancer were examined preoperatively, while the remaining 11 were studied after radical resection of rectal carcinoma with the aim of detecting local recurrence. Radioimmunoguided endoscopy was performed employing a hand-held gamma-detecting probe (mod. 2 Oris, France), after the administration of a 111In labeled monoclonal antibody to CEA. Radioimmuno-guided endoscopy results detected the presence of primary or recurrent periluminal cancer in seven cases. In four it modified the preoperative stage based on the findings of conventional investigation and it influenced the surgical decision in five cases. No toxicity was noted and none of the patients developed HAMAs.

Adult↗

Radioimmunolocalization of pelvic recurrences from rectosigmoid cancer employing 111In anti-CEA F(ab')2.

Thirty-two immunoscintigraphic studies have been performed in 26 patients previously operated upon for rectosigmoid cancer, for an early detection of pelvic recurrence, employing 111In anti-CEA, F(ab')2. The sensitivity was 1, specificity 0.76 and accuracy 0.84, leading to a positive predictive value of 0.69 and a negative value of 1. The combined use of a non-imaging surgical probe in 6 of the 10 patients who underwent second look surgery, detecting the 111In radioactivity used for RIS, improved diagnostic accuracy, ruling out the presence of tumors in 3 patients with false positive RIS.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

High-resolution protein patterns of human expressed prostatic secretion: a new tool for the diagnosis of prostatitis.

Expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) obtained from 62 infertile and urological patients have been analyzed for their protein content by sodium dodecylsulfate electrophoresis and isoelectrofocusing. Independent cytological and bacteriological screening on the same EPS samples was carried out to detect prostatic inflammation. EPS from both urological and infertile patients without inflammation had simple and characteristic protein patterns. Important qualitative and quantitative differences in the protein composition of EPS from patients with severe dysspermia or prostatic inflammation were found. The comparison of EPS protein patterns with those of seminal plasma obtained from the same patients led to the detection of a characteristic group of low-molecular-weight bands that were not of prostatic origin.

Adult↗

Boron-loaded liposomes in the treatment of hepatic metastases: preliminary investigation by autoradiography analysis.

Boronophenylalanine (BPA)-loaded conventional and stabilized liposomes were prepared by the reversed phase evaporation method to treat liver metastases by boron neutron capture therapy. Conventional vesicles were composed of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol, molar ratio 1:1. To obtain stealth liposomes, GM1 or PEG were included in the lipidic bilayer at a concentration of 6.67 or 5 mol%, respectively. Large unilamellar vesicles were formulated encapsulating BPA in the liposome aqueous compartment as a complex with fructose; BPA free base also was embedded into the lipidic bilayer. In vivo experiments were carried out after intravenous injection of liposome suspensions in BD-IX strain rats in which liver metastases had been induced. Alpha particle spectroscopy associated with histological analysis was performed to visualize boron spatial distribution in liver. Simultaneously, tissue boron concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. Results showed that PEG-modified liposomes accumulated boron in therapeutic concentrations (> 30 micrograms boron/g tissue) in metastatic tissue. The PEG-liposomes could be further explored in enhancing boron delivery to tumor cells.

Animals↗

[Radioimmunoscintigraphy with monoclonal antibodies in recurrences and metastases of colorectal tumors].

An experimental follow-up plan based on immunoscintigraphy was evaluated in 48 patients, who had undergone resection for colorectal cancer. The results were compared with those concerning other 317 patients submitted to a traditional follow-up (physical examination, blood analysis, endoscopy, ultrasonography, CT scan, barium enema, etc.). Immunoscintigraphy was performed with Iodine 131--or Indium 111--labeled anti-CEA and-19.9 monoclonal antibody, using a gamma-detecting probe (GDP) enabling to perform radioimmunodetections. In addition, radioimmunoguided surgery was performed in two cases of highly suspected recurrence, and radioimmunoguided endoscopy was made in two cases of suspected recurrence after anterior resection for tumor of the rectum. Our gamma-detecting probe differs from the other ones because of its collimator which enables to detect all the radioisotopes that are used for external scanning and because of its particular shape that enables to perform endoscopic radioimmuno detections. The experimental follow-up plan showed cancer recurrence in 27% of the patients vs. 13% of extensive instrumental investigations. Radioimmunoguided surgery appears to provide a higher level of radicality. The same GDP used for intraoperative immunoscintigraphies seems to be effective in the endoscopic study of the pelvis after anterior resection, a clinical occurrence which can hardly be investigated by means of other instrumental diagnostic procedures.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Radioimmunoassisted follow-up and surgery vs traditional examinations and surgery after radical excision of colorectal cancer.

The authors report their experience in the radioimmunodetection of recurrent colorectal cancer in comparison with traditional examinations. 485 patients were studied after radical surgery for colorectal cancer: 168 (Group 1) were studied with a radioimmunoassisted follow-up plan including: Immunoscintigraphy (IS), serum markers assays, Radioimmunoguided Endoscopy (RIGE), Intraoperative Radioimmuno-localization (IORIL) in case of reoperation; 317 (Group 2) underwent a protocol with traditional examinations. In 24 patients of Group 1 IS was performed even at the time of their admission for primary cancer. 7 patients underwent RIGE for primary cancer and 16 in the follow-up. IORIL was performed in 12 patients with primary cancer and in 16 in the course of reoperation. The radioimmunodiagnostic methods were performed after a single administration of the radiolabeled MAb (111In F(ab')2 a-CEA and 111In B72.3). The radioimmunoassisted follow-up plan detected a greater number of recurrences than traditional examinations (27% vs 13%). The rates of radical reoperation in Group 1 and 2 were 61% and 37% respectively. 33% of the patients of Group 2 were alive 24 months after radical reoperation vs 62.5% of the patients of Group 1. Immunoscintigraphy demonstrated a good sensitivity and specificity, mainly in the detection of pelvic recurrences (sens. 92%, spec. 84%). The radioimmunoassisted follow-up plan was well accepted by the patients. RIGE led to the detection of 3 periluminal recurrences of rectal cancer that traditional investigations failed to demonstrate and in 5 cases influenced the patients management. IORIL detected minimal tumor foci (2 mm.) where pre and intraoperative study were negative, while the histopathologic examination gave evidence of tumor. Considering that the costs of the radioimmunodiagnostic methods and of traditional examinations are very similar, we can conclude that the radioimmunoassisted follow-up plan has a favorable cost/benefit rate and a remarkable impact on the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer.

Aged↗