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Biomedical subjects

O Merimsky

Publications and source records attributed to O Merimsky.

107 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Does vinblastine add to the potency of alpha interferon in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma?

The combination of alpha interferon and vinblastine has been reported to yield a response rate of 30-40% in previously untreated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. This combination was given to nine patients with advanced metastatic renal carcinoma after they failed or relapsed on alpha-interferon alone, to attempt to evaluate the role of vinblastine in this combination. Neither complete nor partial response was observed. Two patients had disease stabilization for two and seven months. Our preliminary results suggest that vinblastine did not add to the efficacy of interferon in this group of patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Metastatic disease of the cavernous sinus: contribution of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging to diagnosis.

The clinical presentation of metastatic disease to the cavernous sinus includes ophthalmoplegia, pain and sensory deficit along the optic or maxillary branches of the trigeminal nerve. The role of a CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis is discussed. It was found that magnetic resonance imaging is superior to CT scan in demonstrating the cavernous sinus and pontine borders, especially in lymphomatous involvement of these structures.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Endobronchial metastasis of ovarian cancer. A case report.

An 83 years old woman with known ovarian carcinoma complained of dyspnea, dysphagia and hoarseness. Clinical and radiological investigations revealed a mediastinal metastasis involving and penetrating the right main bronchus. Palliation of dyspnea was achieved by laser therapy.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary↗
PubMed1990

Recurrent solitary metastasis of renal cell carcinoma in skeletal muscles.

Metastatic carcinoma to skeletal muscle is uncommon and may originate from breast, colon, lung, pancreas and other sources. Recurrent solitary metastases of renal cell carcinoma in the biceps femori and gluteus muscles are described in a 69 year-old man. The tendency of metastases to occur merely in muscles could not be explained in our case. The relative immunity of muscle to the metastatic process should be further investigated.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Interferon-related mental deterioration and behavioral changes in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Five out of 38 patients (13%) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma had mental deterioration 3 weeks to 13 months after the start of treatment with recombinant interferon alpha-C. Metastatic spread to the brain, paraneoplastic effect of the tumor on the central nervous system and other causes of dementia were excluded. Computed tomography of the brain in these patients was normal and the width of the cerebral sulci and ventricles did not correlate with the severity of dementia. Specific patterns of atrophy were not seen. General deterioration, assessed by the change in Karnofsky performance status, was associated with dementia. The dementia may have been caused by a neurotoxic effect of interferon.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Phase II study of recombinant interferon alpha-C in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Recombinant interferon alpha-C is a new strain of the alpha interferon family. It was given to 33 patients with measurable metastatic renal cell carcinoma of whom 31 were evaluable. Protocol consisted of 3 million U/d for 2 weeks, then 3 million U/m2 every other day until progression. No complete response was observed. Three patients (9.7%) had partial response for a mean duration of 5.6 months and eight patients (25.8%) were stabilized for a mean of 4.3 months. Responsive sites were mainly lung, bone, and kidney, while side effects were generally mild. better results were observed in previously nephrectomized patients who had not received chemotherapy or hormonotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease (p less than 0.05), and also in patients with a brief disease-free interval and short delay from presenting symptoms of the primary tumor until interferon treatment (p less than 0.05). Median survival was significantly longer in responders than in progressors (p less than 0.05). We suggest that the efficacy of recombinant interferon alpha-C in a low-dose regime versus other types of interferon as first-line therapy for inoperable, metastatic, or locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma should be investigated in a prospective, controlled, randomized study.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Sequential treatment of melanoma patients who progressed on interleukin-2 and dacarbazine by alpha-interferon and dacarbazine--a preliminary report.

alpha-Interferon, 3 x 10(6) U/m2 every other day, and dacarbazine, up to 800 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, were given to nine patients with metastatic malignant melanoma who had progressed on a combination of interleukin-2 and dacarbazine. Partial response was documented in two patients for 9 and 4 months. Responsive sites were the lungs, lymph nodes, liver, and skin. Failure to respond to one biologic response modifier does not predict the response to another modifier.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma arising in a congenital solitary kidney. Treatment with interferon-containing combinations. A case report and a review of the literature.

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) in a single kidney is a rare occurrence, more so when it concerns agenesis of the kidney. Chemotherapy of metastatic renal cell carcinoma has a poor effect. We report a case of a man, 49 years of age, with agenesis of one kidney, admitted with a metastatic RCC of his only kidney. Survival of 15 months duration was achieved by therapy combining Provera, Vinblastine and Alpha-C-Recombinant Interferon.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic importance of advanced age in aggressive non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma.

The importance of age as a prognostic factor in aggressive non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma (NHL) remains controversial. It is not clear whether age is an independent factor, reflecting the limited physiologic reserves of the patient, and leading in any treatment conditions to the poorer treatment outcome. This study was aimed at assessing the influence of age on treatment results in NHL patients. Therefore, the records of 40 patients with histologically confirmed NHL of intermediate and high-grade malignancy, according to the Working Formulation, who were treated by Adriamycin-containing chemotherapy, were retrospectively reviewed. There were 25 patients above 60 years of age and 15 patients below this age. Myelotoxicity was observed in 60% of the patients in the younger and in 48% patients in the older age group. The median time to dose-limiting toxicity, average percentage of projected dose intensity for all drugs, and percentage of projected dose intensity did not differ significantly in the two groups. Complete remissions (CR) were obtained in 67 and 64% of the younger and older groups, respectively. Progressive disease was observed during the treatment in 20% of the patients in each age group. Median survival was 36.5 and 32 months in the younger and older group, respectively. In conclusion, age alone is not an absolute predictor of survival of treated elderly patients with aggressive NHL. Dose rate, tolerance of treatment and achievement of CR are additional important prognostic factors. Dose intensity should not be automatically reduced at the beginning of the treatment, especially now that growth factors are available.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vascular invasion in high grade sarcoma of the extremity is associated with short overall survival.

Intravascular sarcoma thrombi were histologically evident in 2% of 470 patients with soft tissue or bone sarcoma treated during the last 3 years. Vascular invasion by sarcoma in our series was associated with an aggressive disease and short-term overall survival. In all the cases there was a large or locally advanced primary high grade sarcoma, and in all but one case, where preoperative chemotherapy was administered, the response was far from satisfactory. The post-operative course in 70% of the patients was characterized by early systemic spread, and a median overall survival of 9.5 months. The gloomy prognosis of our patients does not necessarily stem only from the presence of vascular invasion, but may also be related to other factors as histologic grade and tumor size. However, as compared to similar cases in our patient population, which did not show vascular invasion, the course here was more violent and short.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adriamycin-ifosfamide induction chemotherapy for extremity soft tissue sarcoma: comparison of two non-randomized protocols.

Chemotherapeutic cytoreduction of soft tissue sarcomas may permit less radical operation. In cases of large or multi-compartmental masses, deeply seated tumors or involvement of a neurovascular bundle, down-sizing of the mass is required before limb sparing surgery can be considered. We have applied a combination chemotherapy consisting of intravenous adriamycin and ifosfamide with intra-arterial cisplatin for patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the extremity as induction treatment, and switched to an intravenous-only protocol due to toxicity and management difficulties. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy were given after limb-sparing surgery in both regimens. Fresh tumor specimens were obtained and were examined for tumor size, surgical margins, percent of necrosis, evidence of vascular or perineural invasion, and the presence of Pgp, Ki-67, p53, PCNA and bcl-2-oncoprotein. Our results in terms of percentage of tumor necrosis were comparable and even better in favor of the second regimen [38% good histological response with intravenous (i.v.)-only versus 12.5% for combined i.v. + intra-arterial (i.a.]. The clinical and radiological responses were also better for the second (i.v. only) regimen (45%) than for the first (i.v. + i.a.) regimen (12.5%). The toxicity and the inconvenience to the patients and to the treating staff were greater in the first regimen that combined intra-arterial and intravenous infusions. In the first group the failure rate is 75% within 32 months of follow-up, while it is 33% within 12 months follow-up in the second group. The immunohistochemical markers did not correlate with disease control nor with the patient outcome. Intravenous administration of ADR-IFX induction chemotherapy was more feasible than combined i.v. ADR-IFX plus i.a. cisplatin and achieved better results.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Failure of thalidomide to inhibit tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo.

Thalidomide was recently suggested to be angiogenesis-inhibitor following the demonstration of its activity in a rabbit cornea micropocket model. The purpose of the present study was to test its efficacy in solid tumors in mice. B16-F10 melanoma and CT-26 colon carcinoma cells were injected subcutaneously, intravenously and intraperitoneally, and mice received daily gavage of 0.3-1.0 mg thalidomide starting either two or 10 days following tumor cell injection. The tumors were measured and compared with controls. There was no growth retardation in CT-26 bearing mice nor in mice with pulmonary or peritoneal metastases of B16-F10 melanoma. In 3/7 groups of mice with SC B16-F10 tumors, growth retardation was demonstrated, however the difference was not statistically significant. All tumors eventually reached maximal size, similar to controls. Morphological evaluation of the blood vessels oriented towards the tumor revealed that in both thalidomide and control groups, all mice had developed an intact network of new blood vessels. In our model for the oral administration of thalidomide inhibition of tumor growth and angiogenesis did not occur. We hypothesize that the lack of sustained antiangiogenic response was either due to immune modulation or to tumor heterogeneity and adaptation.

Animals↗