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Biomedical subjects

O Glidewell

Publications and source records attributed to O Glidewell.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

DNA content as a prognostic factor in endometrial carcinoma.

Two hundred thirty-three cases of endometrial carcinoma were analyzed for DNA content using flow cytometry of cell nuclei extracted from archival paraffin blocks. The median follow-up time for the cases was 8.7 years. Aneuploidy, present in 18% of tumors overall, was associated with adverse histologic type, high grade, and depth of invasion in the uterus. Aneuploidy was not detected in low-grade carcinomas. A DNA index greater than 1.5 strongly predicted death from disease. For endometrial adenocarcinoma and papillary serous carcinoma, this finding appeared independent of stage or tumor grade. The percentage of cells in S phase or G2 + M of the cell cycle did not predict clinical outcome in diploid tumors. Application of DNA analysis to low-stage endometrial cancers of high grade or of papillary serous type may be useful for selecting a subgroup of patients for adjuvant therapy.

Adenocarcinoma

Recombinant interleukin-2 by continuous infusion and adoptive transfer of recombinant interleukin-2-activated cells in patients with advanced cancer.

Twenty-five patients with disseminated cancer (nine with renal cell carcinoma, five with melanoma, three with Hodgkin's lymphoma and chronic myelocytic leukemia [CML], two with soft tissue sarcoma, one each with large-cell lymphoma, breast cancer, and colon cancer), 13 males and 12 females, aged 25 to 68, were treated with recombinant human interleukin-2 (rIL2) by continuous infusion and adoptive transfer of autologous lymphocytes activated in vitro with IL2. Patients underwent leukapheresis on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 of the treatment. Cells, bulk activated for 20 hours in serum-free culture medium with 1,000 U IL2/mL in transfusion transfer packs as culture vessels, were transfused the following day. The infusion of IL2 by continuous infusion for six days started immediately after each adoptive transfer for 4 weekly courses. The dose of IL2 was escalated weekly in each patient; starting doses of IL2 were also escalated in subsequent cohorts of patients until maximally tolerated doses were reached. Nine patients had objective tumor regressions (three with renal cell cancer, two with Hodgkin's lymphoma, and one each with melanoma, sarcoma, breast, and colon cancer). Six responses were partial, two were minor, and one was mixed. Responding patients were maintained with IL2 by continuous infusion for six days every 6 to 8 weeks, without adoptive cell transfer. The median duration of responses was 16 weeks (3 to 60 + weeks). Tumor regression was related to the dose of IL2 (greater than or equal to 3.4 x 10(6) U/m2/d for six days) and to the in vivo lymphoproliferative effects of the lymphokine, but not to the total number of cells adoptively transferred. Side effects of treatment were transient and quickly reversible. Renal, hepatic dysfunction, and dyspnea were directly related to the dose of IL2 and to lymphocytosis. Other toxicities were mild hypotension with mild fluid retention, oral mucositis, anemia, thrombocytopenia, fever, and fatigue.

Adult

Pinocchio cells: morphologically atypical immunologically heterogeneous lymphocytes induced by treatment with interleukin 2.

We describe a novel cell type, the Pinocchio cell, that appears in the peripheral blood of all patients receiving treatment with interleukin 2, up to 20,000 cells/microliter. This cell is characterized by a prominent and granular proboscis with which it attaches to tumor cells and mediates tumor cell lysis. Pinocchio cells are immunologically heterogeneous and express antigens of both T and NK cells; Pinocchio cells are adherent in culture and are more cytolytic than non-adherent cells against NK-sensitive and resistant tumor cells. Incubation of normal whole human blood for 1 h induces Pinocchio morphology of mononuclear white blood cells.

Antigens, Differentiation

Lymphocyte subsets and activation antigens in a reference population: a flow cytometric study using single and double antibody staining.

The transferrin receptor (TR), the HLA DR antigen (DR), and the antigen binding OKT10 (T10) are present on activated lymphocyte populations. The authors have studied their expression and that of antigens defined by eight commercial monoclonal antibodies on peripheral blood lymphocytes of 50 healthy hospital workers aged 23-60 years. A whole blood lysis technique was employed and cells were enumerated on a flow cytometer. The percentage of cells bearing the three activation antigens were generally low: mean values for T10 being 7.2%; for TR 1.8%; and for DR 8.8%. There was, however, considerable variability, with occasional subjects having 20% or more cells positive for one of the three antigens. High values of one activation antigen did not correspond with high values of another in the same subject. Nor was there correlation of the presence of activation antigens with the occurrence of cells bearing T11, T4, T8, Leu 1, Leu 2a, Leu 3a, or Leu 7. Double labelling with the following pairs of fluorescein (FITC) and phycoerythrin (PE) labeled antibodies: Leu 2a, DR; Leu 3a, DR; Leu 3a, Leu 2a; TR, DR, indicated that simultaneous expression of the corresponding antigens do not normally occur on lymphocytes of healthy individuals. Double labelling with B1 and DR in five subjects indicated the presence of B1 (+) DR (-) cell population. No pattern of relationship could be detected among common clinical variables or HLA type and an increased expression of activation antigens.

Age Factors

Cytosine arabinoside with daunorubicin or adriamycin for therapy of acute myelocytic leukemia: a CALGB study.

A randomized comparison of the relative efficacy and toxicity of daunorubicin (DNR) at 30 or 45 mg/sq m or adriamycin (ADM) at 30 mg/sq m, given on the first 3 days of a 7-day continuous infusion of cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) at 100 mg/sq m/day, shows the outcome to be dependent on anthracycline, dose, and patient age. DNR 45 is significantly better than DNR 30 or ADM 30 for inducing complete remissions (CR) in patients younger than 60 yr, (72%, 59%, 58% CRs, respectively). DNR 30 is better than DNR 45 or ADM 30 for inducing CR in patients older than 60 yr (47%, 31%, 35%, respectively). There was a corresponding shift in the induction mortality for the age, dose, and anthracycline groups. Adriamycin was significantly more toxic to the gastrointestinal tract than daunorubicin. The duration of complete remission, with cyclic courses of maintenance therapy, was independent of the patient's age, the dose, or choice of anthracycline used in induction, and of whether the maintenance courses were given every 4 wk or every 8 wk.

Adolescent

A randomized combined modality trial in small cell carcinoma of the lung: comparison of combination chemotherapy-radiation therapy versus cyclophosphamide-radiation therapy effects of maintenance chemotherapy and prophylactiv whole brain irradiation.

A randomized trial of combined modality therapy employing combination chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide (CTX) and methotrexate (MTX), CTX, MTX and Vincristine (VCR) and CTX, VCR and high-dose MTX with citrovorum rescue) and radiation therapy was compared to cyclophosphamide and radiation therapy in 258 patients with pulmonary small cell carcinoma. Patients were also rendomized: 1) to determine the effects of prophylactic whole brain irradiation; and 2) to establish the effects of maintenance chemotherapy. Survival, frequency of response and site of relapse were different in patients with limited disease (LD) (disease confined to lung, mediastinum and supraclavicular lymph nodes) when compared with disease spread beyond these sites (extensive disease) (ED). No survival advantage was seen in LD when combination chemotherapy was employed, although the frequency of complete remission was greater with three drugs than with one or two drugs (40% vs. 32%). In ED frequency of response was greater for three drugs than for one and two drugs (60% vs. 40%), but there was no survival advantage. The median survival time for complete responders was similar for limited or extensive disease (12.1 months), but 23.8% were alive at 24 months with LD compared to none with ED. Maintenance chemotherapy significantly prolonged survival by 16.8 months with 33% alive at 24 months compared to 9% who were unmaintained. Prophylactic while brain irradiation prevented brain metastases with only 4% developing this complication as compared to 18% of control subjects, but did not influence survival.

Antineoplastic Agents

Combination chemotherapy for terminal-phase chronic granulocytic leukemia: cancer and leukemia group B studies.

A 34% response was obtained in 202 evaluable patients in the terminal phase of chronic granulocytic leukemia using combinations of hydroxyurea, 6-mercaptopurine, and corticosteroids. Twelve percent of responses were complete and 22% partial. Overall median survival was 12 wk. A 30 wk median survival for responding patients was statistically superior to the 7-wk survival for nonresponders (p less than 0.001). Response was inversely correlated with toxicity. No responses were obtained in patients sustaining both severe infectious and bleeding complications. No benefit could be demonstrated from the addition of vincristine in induction and daunorubicin for consolidation. Although the response frequency and duration of survival with this combination chemotherapy were generally superior to those previously reported by our group, the terminal phase of chronic granulocytic leukemia still remains a formidable and generally refractory disease.

Daunorubicin

Adverse effect of radiotherapy on adjuvant chemotherapy for carcinoma of the breast.

Twenty-seven women with primary carcinoma of the breast with greater than or equal to 4 metastatic axillary nodes received prophylactic radiotherapy in addition to adjuvant vincristine, prednisone, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil chemotherapy. When compared with 73 women who received chemotherapy alone, the relapse rate per month for the patients with radiation therapy was fourfold greater, p = less than 0.0001. Recurrence in 17 of 27 contrasts with relapse in 13 of 73 patients who did not undergo irradiation. By eight years, 14 of 27 patients who received radiotherapy had died, contrasted with nine of 73 who received chemotherapy alone. The results for the irradiated subset were found not to be due to patient selection nor to shortening or underdosing of chemotherapy. Immunosuppression from radiation and systematic delay in initiating chemotherapy remain among the possible explanations. These data support the use of adjuvant chemotherapy and argue against the prophylactic use of radiotherapy following mastectomy for carcinoma of the breast.

Adult

A comparative study of a BCNU containing 4-drug program versus MOPP versus 3-drug combinations in advanced Hodgkin's disease: a cooperative study by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B.

A prospective randomized trial by CALGB examined the relative value of four chemotherapy regimens in 537 patients with stage III B and IV Hodgkin's disease. A new combination BOPP, derived by substitution of BCNU for nitrogen mustard in the MOPP regimen, was compared to MOPP and to two 3-drug regimens, derived by removing the procarbazine in BOPP (BOP) or removing the alkylating agent (OPP). The 4-drug programs gave significantly higher frequency of complete remissions (BOPP 67%, MOPP 63%) than the 3-drug regimens (BOP 40%, OPP 42%), and significantly longer duration of remission and survival. BOPP had a therapeutic activity equal to MOPP, and was accompanied by less toxicity. After 6 cycles of induction chemotherapy, responding patients, both CR and PR, were continued on maintenance chemotherapy for 3 years. No significant difference in relapse rate was demonstrated following maintenance treatment with either vinblastine, chlorambucil, or chlorambucil plus monthly vincristine + prednisone doses. Nor could a reinforcement phase late in the maintenance program be shown to influence the relapse rate. The median survival for all patients entered on the 4-drug programs was 5 years, while the median has not yet been reached at 6 years for those patients, who obtained CR.

Adult

Long term follow-up of combination chemotherapy-radiotherapy of stage III Hodgkin's disease: a Cancer and Acute Leukemia Group B study.

The Cancer and Acute Leukemia Group B studied the effect of combination chemotherapy-radiotherapy on Stage III Hodgkin's disease. Chemotherapy consisting of 4 weekly doses of vinblastine and one dose of mechlorethamine hydrochloride was followed by no therapy (CT), radiation to involved fields (CTIF) or total nodal radiation (CTTN). Two other treatment arms included total nodal radiation alone (TN) or total nodal radiation followed by chemotherapy (TNCT). Maximum follow-up is ten years. Complete remission percentages were 36 (8/22) for CT, 71 (17/24) for CTIF, 100 (21/21) for CTTN, 86 (19/22) for TNCT and 89 (16/18) for TN. Disease-free survival in patients receiving radiation +/- chemotherapy is 23% (19/73) at 5 years, but even after 9 years relapses were observed in two patients. Forty-one percent of all patients are alive and 32% have survived for five years. Ability to administer adequate therapy was the main determined for response duration and survival. Factors influencing the outcome of the disease include histology, age, splenectomy, initial white blood cell count and performance status, whereas symptomatology, initial absolute lymphocyte count and sex played no role on survival.

Adult

Improved remission rates and remission duration in young women with metastatic breast cancer following combined oophorectomy and chemotherapy: a study of Cancer and Leukemia Groupe B.

One hundred fifty-seven premenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer were prospectively randomized to treatment consisting of oophorectomy + vincristine, prednisone, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil (VPCMF) (Reg. I) or oophorectomy + cyclophosphamide (Reg. II) or oophorectomy followed by an observation period (Phase 1), followed by VPCMF (Phase 2) (Reg. III). Complete plus partial response rates were 72% on Reg. I, 65% on Reg. II, 18% on Reg. III, Phase 1 and 50% on Reg. III, Phase 2. Median duration of response for Reg. I was 17 months, for Reg. II 16 months, and for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of Reg. III, respectively, 5 months and 8 months. The response rate for patients treated with oophorectomy plus chemotherapy is significantly higher than the response rate achieved with oophorectomy alone as first treatment following the appearance of metastases in premenopausal women.

Adult

Adjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer.

One hundred women with primary breast cancer with 4 or more metastatic axillary nodes were treated for 9 months postoperatively with vincristine, prednisone, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (VPCMF). Sixty-five women have been observed for a minimum of 5 years or until failure and the rest for 3 years or more. For 73 women who received adjuvant chemotherapy only, observed for 5 1/2 years median, disease-free status by life table analysis is 68% at 8 years. No significance difference was found between response of pre- and postmenopausal women in disease-free interval or survival. Mortality compared to expectation was sharply reduced; only 9 of 73 have died. These findings demonstrate the long term effectiveness of relatively short-term surgical adjuvant combination chemotherapy in pre- and post-menopausal patients with breast cancer at high risk.

Adult

Combination chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphomas: a ten year follow-up study.

In 1968 the Cancer and Acute Leukemia Group B (CALGB) demonstrated optimal control of disseminated non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) with vincristine-prednisone induction followed by cyclophosphamide maintenance. A study was then begun to determine whether four drugs in combination or sequence could achieve greater control. NHL patients at each participating CALGB institution were randomly assigned to one of three regimens:I) Cyclic vincristine-streptonigrin alternating every 2 weeks with cyclophosphamide-prednisone up to 155 days; II) Sequential treatment with the same 4 drugs taken singly up to 182 days; and III) Vincristine-prednisone induction for 6 weeks followed by cyclophosphamide maintenance. Results are now reported after a 10 year follow-up period. The 203 evaluable patients are those on whom Rappaport histopathologic classification was available. Frequency of complete-response did not differ significantly among the three regimens: I) 38%; II) 30%; and III) 45%. Remission durations were significantly longer among patients receiving maintenance therapy. After ten years, two patients from Regimen I, one from Regimen II, and five from Regimen III remain alive and well. It was concluded that neither of the four-drug regimens conferred a significant advantage in terms of response rate or survival time over the standard treatment.

Antineoplastic Agents

Comparison of methyl-CCNU and CCNU in patients with advanced forms of Hodgkin's disease, lymphosarcoma nad reticulum cell sarcoma.

In May 1972, the Cancer and Leukemia Group B initiated a randomized study comparing the effectiveness of CCNU and methyl-CCNU in patients with advanced malignant lymphomas, including Hodgkin's disease (HD), lymphosarcoma (LYS) and reticulum cell sarcoma (RCS). A single dose of 100 mg/m2 of CCNU or 150 mg/m2 of methyl-CCNU was given orally every 6 weeks. In patients with leukopenia or thrombocytopenia, due to prior treatment, this dose was reduced to 70 mg/m2 of CCNU and 100 gm/m2 of methyl-CCNU. Of 109 evaluable patients, 60 received CCNU and 49 received methyl-CCNU. Response rates (complete and partial) to CCNU and methyl-CCNU were respectively 42% (14/33) and 15% (3/20) in HD, 21% (3/14) and 21% (3/14) in LYS, 15% (2/13) and 27% (4/15) in RCS. Responses to methyl-CCNU, but not to CCNU, were seen only in patients who developed significant hematologic toxicity. Responses to both drugs were generally of short duration due to the advanced stage of the disease. Renal, hepatic or neurological toxicity was not observed. In conclusion, CCNU proved to be superior to methyl-CCNU for the treatment of advanced HD. CCNU was also observed to be of higher activity in Hodgkin's than in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Clinical Trials as Topic

Guidelines for protocol studies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The treatment of any malignant disease requires appropriate criteria for diagnosis of the disease, appropriate methods for study, and techniques for evaluating response to treatment. In the past five years, there have been a number of proposed guidelines for studies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These submitted guidelines represent a further re-evaluation of concepts in CLL, and are currently in use by Cancer and Leukemia Group B for protocol studies. It is clear that revisions will continue to be make as new knowledge accumulates. In the meantime, these are submitted for publication for use by other investigators.

Drug Therapy

Combination chemotherapy of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

A randomized therapeutic trial of three induction regimens for patients with lymphosarcoma and reticulum-cell sarcoma was conducted by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) (formerly Acute Leukemia Group B.) Addition of streptonigrin, but not cyclophosphamide, to the combination of vincristine and prednisone improved the complete remission rate achieved after a 42-day induction program. The duration of the subsequent remission and survival was not influenced by the induction combination assigned. Remission maintenance with cyclophosphamide was superior to maintenance with methotrexate. The results of this study are compared with others in which advantages for three or four drug treatment regimens have been reported.

Antineoplastic Agents