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Biomedical subjects

M Fiorentino

Publications and source records attributed to M Fiorentino.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Extramedullary plasmacytoma: clinical behaviour and response to treatment.

The clinical features and response to treatment of 35 patients (pts) with extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) were retrospectively analysed. The median age at diagnosis was 49 years (28-72). Twenty-two pts (63%) had stage I disease (localized to the primary site) 12 of whom (34%) had stage I-E (locally extended). Three pts (9%) had stage II (regional lymph nodes involved) and 10 (29%) stage III (disseminated disease). In locoregional disease (stages I, I-E, II) complete local control was achieved in 22 of 25 pts (88%), while in diffuse disease (stage III) complete remission (CR) was obtained in 5 of 10 pts (50%) (p = 0.05). In 9 of 18 pts treated with surgery, local control was achieved, and in 8 of the 9 patients with incomplete resection local control was obtained with additional radiation and/or chemotherapy. In 8 (66%) of the 12 pts treated with radiation complete local control was achieved. In 11 (58%) of 19 pts evaluable for initial chemotherapy CR was obtained. Three of these pts were treated with chemotherapy only and were alive and disease-free after a minimum follow-up of 8 years. The median time to relapse in local disease was 48 months versus 13 in disseminated disease. For pts with local disease the median survival time was 114 months and for disseminated disease 16 months (p = 0.0000). We conclude that in stage I chemotherapy is curative per se. In local stages (I, I-E and II) adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered, while in stage III only palliative therapy is feasible.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

LH-RH analogue Zoladex in the treatment of pre- and perimenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer (results of the Italian Cooperative Study).

From May 1987 to May 1989 sixty one pre- and perimenopausal women with advanced or recurrent breast cancer entered in an open non comparative study. They were treated, as a first-line therapy, with goserelin (Zoladex ICI-118630) a long acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (LH-RH)-analogue in a depot formulation. Fifty three patients were evaluable for response; median age at entry was 41 years (range 28-56). Serum concentrations of 17 beta estradiol, LH and FSH were significantly suppressed within the first four weeks of therapy and remained suppressed for the whole duration of treatment. Subjective responses were observed, such as pain reduction and/or performance status improvement in 58% of patients. Overall objective response (CR + PR) occurred in 16 (30.2%) patients in all major sites of disease with a median time to response of 12 weeks (range 8 to 48 weeks) and a lifetable median duration of response of 36 weeks (range 16 to 76 weeks). The lifetable median time to progression was 17 weeks (range 5 to 76 weeks). Goserelin depot was well tolerated with no withdrawal due to possible adverse reactions. The observed subjective and objective response rates are comparable to those induced by surgical oophorectomy. Goserelin provides a well tolerated medical alternative to ovarian ablation, without the morbidity associated to surgery. In conclusion the present paper suggests that this innovative chemical estrogen deprivation, in premenopausal breast cancer patients, might be favorably investigated as an adjuvant therapy in future clinical trials.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, and urinary thioethers in nurses handling antineoplastic drugs.

In this study we examined the structural chromosomal aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) of 12 nurses handling moderate quantities of antineoplastic drugs. Urinary thioethers were also measured to assess the potential exposure to alkylating drugs. Two control groups with similar mean age and smoking habits and working in the same hospital were also studied: 1) control clerks and 2) control nurses. Our study did not show any clear increase of chromosomal damage in exposed nurses as compared to controls. However, CA in control nurses were significantly increased (p = 0.05) with respect to control clerks. The results of baseline urinary excretion of thioethers were statistically higher (p less than 0.02) in exposed subjects than in control clerks.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1990

Effects of in vivo exposure to antineoplastic drugs on DNA repair and replication in human lymphocytes.

In peripheral blood lymphocytes of 12 nurses and 3 patients exposed to antineoplastic drugs we determined the ability to repair DNA after UV irradiation and DNA replicative synthesis after stimulation by PHA. In nurses the levels of unscheduled DNA synthesis and DNA replication were not different than in a control group, whereas in patients significant changes were observed during and after chemotherapy in the level of both types of DNA synthesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Phase III randomized study of fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide v fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide in advanced breast cancer: an Italian multicentre trial.

From February 1983 to January 1985, 497 patients with advanced breast cancer were randomly allocated to receive either epirubicin or doxorubicin in the following combination chemotherapy regimen: fluorouracil (5-FU) 500 mg/m2 intravenous (IV) on days 1 and 8; epirubicin or doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 IV on day 1; cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 IV on day 1 (FEC or FAC). Cycles were repeated every 21 days until progression or to cumulative doses of 700 mg/m2 for epirubicin and 550 mg/m2 for doxorubicin. Dose reductions were applied according to the standard criteria. Activity was evaluated in 443 patients (222 in the FEC arm and 221 in the FAC arm). The two experimental groups were comparable in age, performance status, menopausal status, histology, previous treatments, and site of the disease. The overall response rate (complete response and partial response [CR + PR]) was not significantly different: 53.6% for FEC and 56.5% for FAC. The median time to progression was 273 days for FEC and 314 days for FAC; the median survival time was 591 and 613 days, respectively. Leukopenia, anemia, nausea, and vomiting were significantly lower in patients treated with FEC. As for cardiotoxicity, four cases of congestive heart failure (CHF) were recorded among patients treated with FAC while only one was observed in the FEC group. These results indicate that epirubicin in a combination chemotherapy regimen is as active as doxorubicin and is significantly less toxic.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Accessory to the Talairach's apparatus for orthogonal approaches. Technical note.

A stereotactic device is described which, without modifying the main characteristics of the Talairach's stereotactic apparatus, increases its flexibility in orthogonal approaches. This accessory, which replaces the double-grid system, permits any orthogonal access on the X and Y coordinates and insertion of any type of electrode, catheter or probe, without the constraints of the double grid holes. Its use in different stereotactic operations (brain tumor biopsy or curietherapy, implantation of intracerebral depth electrodes for stereo-EEG recording) proved its wide working capability and great reliability.

Humans↗
PubMed1987

Modification of muscle proteins IEF patterns in a fish Lebistes reticulatus, related to diet, immunization and genetic selection.

The effects of some environmental and genetic factors on the isoelectric focusing (IEF) patterns of muscle proteins from a fish Lebistes reticulatus (Cyprinodonts) were investigated. Of two diets applied the restricted one resulted in a loss of bands in the IEF patterns of the treated fishes muscle homogenate. Instead immunization gave an increase in both number and intensity of IEF bands in (4.0-6.0; 7.0-7.9) pH ranges which are typical of immunoglobulins. Lastly IEF patterns from random and assortative mating animals were compared, resulting in loss of IEF-bands in the inbred lines. Results showed that IEF of muscle proteins could be an excellent method to evaluate the response by fish phenotypes to environmental or genetic factors.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Phase II study of cisplatin, 5-FU, and allopurinol in advanced esophageal cancer.

Forty patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were treated with a combination of cisplatin, 5-FU (by continuous 5-day infusion), and allopurinol; 37 are evaluable for response. Thirteen remissions (35%) were obtained, including three complete and ten partial, with a median duration of 9 months. After chemotherapy, seven responding patients underwent a surgical procedure, which was radical in four. The most frequent side effects were nausea and vomiting. This regimen is effective and can be included in a multimodality approach.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Stereotaxic device for polar approaches in orthogonal systems. Technical note.

A special stereotaxic device is described which was conceived and built to integrate the peculiar orthogonal approach of the well known Talairach apparatus with a polar approach. The device is useful to reach small and deep-seated brain targets, particularly those located on or close to the midline. Its use in several different stereotaxic operations, such as thalamotomy, brain-tumor biopsy, or radiotherapy, proved its flexibility, safety, and reliability.

Stereotaxic Techniques↗
PubMed1982

Behavior of antithrombin III, determined as protein concentration and biologic activity, in subjects with neoplastic disease.

Antithrombin III (AT III), the primary inhibitor of plasma protease coagulation proteins, was evaluated in groups of patients with different neoplastic disease. When compared with that of 25 health subjects, the mean value of AT III biologic activity was elevated in all groups, significantly in gastrointestinal (p less than 0.02) and lung (p less than 0.001) tumors, lymphoma (p less than 0.02) and in the group with various primary cancers (p less than 0.05). No difference was found between 46 patients tested under chemoradiotherapy and 216 patients who had not undergone therapy for at least 1 month. Four patients with clinical thrombosis had normal ATIII biologic activity. Of the 262 patients studied, 14 had low AT III biologic activity without clinical thrombosis and normal protein concentration. In 71 patients (27%) an excess of immunoassayable protein of 20% or more over biologic activity was found. Double immunoelectrophoresis performed in 5 of these showed for 3 patients an enlarged second are of precipitation. Moreover, no correlation was observed between the activity and protein AT III concentration (r = 0.05). The likelihood of the presence of circulating AT III-protease complexes is discussed.

Antithrombin III↗
PubMed1981

A planned prospective study of combined treatment in stage III epithelial ovarian cancer.

In a planned prospective study 39 consecutive patients with stage III ovarian cancer have been admitted in two years. All patients have received initial extensive surgery followed on as out patients basis by 5 courses of A-Cy chemotherapy and by a second operation and further non cross resistant chemotherapy with Platinum, Hexamethyl-Melamine, Polymelphalan; 24 have been found pathologically free of disease at second surgery, and 34/39 are clinically free of disease while reporting. These data, exactly collected and evaluated are consistent with our (previously reported) empyrical observation that adjuvant surgery interspersed with courses of aggressive chemotherapy may render free of disease the majority of patients, prolong survival, and possibly cure a portion of this population.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1980

Tamoxifen treatment for advanced renal cell cancer.

Twelve patients with metastatic clear cell renal cancer received a course of tamoxifen. Three showed stable disease for a period from 2 to 12 months and 1 a mixed response for a short time. It does not appear that tamoxifen may be a useful agent in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1980

[Toxicity of high-dose bleomycin administered by continuous infusion].

Fifteen patients with nonseminomatous testicular cancer underwent multidrug treatment which included cis platinum, Velban and bleomycin. The latter drug was administered in monthly 5 day courses of 100 mg/m2. No impairment of antitumor effect resulted since 12 of 15 patients had remissions (10 complete and 2 partial). Pulmonary toxicity was practically abolished: a median dose of 675 mg per patient (range 450 to 1050) was followed by normal lung X-ray and normal or near normal functional parameters after completing treatment. Median arterial oxygen pressure was 78 mm Hg (range 62 to 89), and median Tiffeneau index was 84 (range 64 to 87). Only 2 of 15 patients had skin marks from bleomycin toxicity at the end of treatment, so that cutaneous toxicity was also very low. Oral mucosa reversible damage was prominent in 2 patients. On the contrary, alopecia was a common finding.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

False positive bone scan in bone tumors of the lower limb.

When examined using bone scanning agents, eight out of nine patients with lower limb malignancy, and neither of two affected in the upper limb showed a pathologic focus of isotope uptake in an area distal to the tumor. On pathologic examination the positive findings proved false. Such misleading results were found to be avoidable if a tumor-seeking agent instead of a bone scanning one is used.

Adolescent↗