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Biomedical subjects

M Cantonetti

Publications and source records attributed to M Cantonetti.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Treatment of multiple myeloma: a randomized study of three different regimens.

The results of an Italian multicentric trial for treatment of symptomatic Multiple Myeloma (MM) are reported. One hundred and thirty-three previously untreated patients were singled out at random for three different chemotherapy schedules: Melphalan plus Prednisone (M.P.) X 6 monthly cycles; Vincristine plus Melphalan plus Cyclophosphamide plus Prednisone (VMCP) X 6 monthly cycles; Peptichemio, Cyclophosphamide, BCNU. Drugs in this latter schedule were administered sequentially, for a period of six months. Criteria for response, progression and relapse were those of the Southwestern Oncology Group. Fifteen patients in MP chemotherapy (35%) and 20 patients in VCMP chemotherapy (46%) achieved an objective response (decrease of at least 50% in the synthesis index of Monoclonal Component (M.C.], while only 3 out of the other 21 patients assigned to the third schedule responded to treatment. No significant differences were noted in the survival curves in either of the three treatment groups. The 38 responding patients did not receive maintenance therapy; no significant difference was found in remission duration between patients in MP and VCMP arms, with a median duration of 16 months for the whole group. No statistical difference was observed between survival and remission curves of patients with a 'response' (M. spike reduction greater than 75%) and those with 'improvement' (M. spike reduction between 75 and 50%). The authors conclude that the inclusion of Vintristine in a combination chemotherapy does not produce clear survival benefits; a longer induction period (12 cycles) could allow a better differentiation between MP and VMCP regimens.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Soluble factors levels in the initial staging of high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Plasma levels of several soluble factors were assayed in 31 untreated patients with high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). The results showed statistically significant higher average levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2r) and transferrin receptor (TF-r) in NHL patients compared to controls (p = 0.045, p = 0.047, p = 0.020, p = 0.026 and p = 0.033 respectively). IL-2, IL-2r and TF-r levels were found more elevated in Stages III/IV than in Stages I/II (p = 0.031, p = 0.016 and p = 0.048 respectively), whereas IL-6 concentrations were higher in patients presenting B symptoms (p = 0.011). Significant correlations were found between the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and IL-6 (r = 0.681), and between beta 2 microglobulin (B2-m) and IL-2r (r = 0.622).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intermediate stage Hodgkin's disease: preliminary results on 210 patients treated with four ABVD chemotherapy cycles plus extended versus involved field radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: To improve long-term survival by reducing toxicity in intermediate stage Hodgkin's disease patients, we compared the effects of involved field (IF) versus extended field (EF) irradiation administered after four cycles of ABVD regimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and ten Hodgkin's disease patients, at clinical stage II with risk factors and III without risk factors, were enrolled in the randomized study HD94. After four courses of ABVD regimen, patients who achieved complete remission (CR) or partial remission (PR) were randomly assigned to the IF or EF arm. The Kaplan-Meier method was adopted to estimate overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 78 months (range 13-111 months), OS was 98% and 96%, respectively, in the EF and IF arms; RFS was 94% and 91%, respectively, in the EF and IF arms. CONCLUSION: We confirm the efficacy of four cycles of ABVD regimen, with suitable dose intensity, and radiotherapy as consolidation therapy, in intermediate stage Hodgkin's disease patients (CR = 99.5% and OS = 95%). We also found that involved field radiotherapy results were as effective as extended field, without acute toxicity.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bone marrow processing with a gravity sedimentation technique: experience of 13 cases.

The experience of 13 bone marrow processings is reported: 7 patients were affected by Acute Leukemias, 4 by Non Hodgkin's Lymphomas, 1 by Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia in complete remission after induction chemotherapy, 1 by Ewing's Sarcoma. Gravity sedimentation technique with 6% hydroxyethyl starch was used in all cases. A mean value of 0.754 x 10(8)/kg body weight mononuclear cells was harvested after sedimentation, with a mean recovery of 74.554%. Mean CFU-GM value was 0.543 x 10(4)/kg body weight. Only one evaluable patient, affected by ANLL, underwent Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation and a full engraftment was noted on day +14. Results are discussed and further studies are proposed to clarify the relationship between the in vitro CFU-GM growth and the bone marrow engraftment.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mitoxantrone in combination with etoposide and cytarabine for treatment of poor prognosis acute non lymphoid leukemia patients.

BACKGROUND: The proved effectiveness and relatively low extrahematological toxicity of Mitoxantrone, Ara-C and Etoposide as single agents and in combination in the treatment of acute non lymphoid leukemia (ANLL) are well established. In a phase II study the efficacy and toxicity of an induction combination regimen with Mitoxantrone, Ara-C and Etoposide were evaluated for treatment of poor risk ANLL patients. METHODS: Twenty-seven poor prognosis ANLL patients were treated with Mitoxantrone, 7 mg/sm days 1-3; VP16, 150 mg/sm days 1-3; Ara-C, 200 mg/sm continuous infusion days 1-5. Median age of treated patients was 63 (17-78): 10 de novo leukemias (4 greater than 65 yrs 3 with cardiomyopathy); 12 secondary leukemias (5 secondary to a myelodysplastic syndrome, 5 to myeloproliferative syndrome, 2 to other neoplasias); 3 relapses; 2 refractory. RESULTS: Fifteen patients (55.5%) achieved CR (8 de novo leukemias, 3 relapses, 4 secondary leukemias); 7 died in induction, 5 progressed. Median remission duration was 27 weeks (range 5-70 wks) and overall median survival 13 weeks (range 4-80). Extraematological toxicity was low, but five patients died from infections and two from hemorrhages. CONCLUSIONS: The combination tested in this trial proved effective in the treatment of "poor risk" ANLL, but the results need to be confirmed on greater numbers of patients, mainly in the group of de novo leukemias that can't be treated with more aggressive regimens.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗