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P Losardo

Publications and source records attributed to P Losardo.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

High-dose-intensity combination chemotherapy for advanced sarcomas: a pilot study.

A new polychemotherapy schedule involving high dose intensity and shortened intervals has been developed for patients with advanced sarcomas. Mesna at 2500 mg/m2 for 3 days, epidoxorubicin at 60 mg/m2 on day 1, ifosfamide at 2500 mg/m2 for 3 days, and dacarbazine at 450 mg/m2 for 2 days were given every 2 weeks to a consecutive series of 20 patients. All patients received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; Filgrastim) subcutaneously at 300 microg from day 5 to day 12 of each cycle. The treatment was feasible and toxicity was acceptable, with grade IV myelotoxicity being observed only in one case. In all, 6 of 14 evaluable patients had an objective response; the median survival was 12 months. Toxicity was milder than that observed for the classic combination MAID, and the planned dose intensity was maintained in the majority of cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

What do advanced cancer patients know of their disease? A report from Italy.

The aim of this work was to investigate the awareness of diagnosis, prognosis and meaning of palliative treatment in Italian patients with advanced, incurable cancers. A group of 100 patients, referred to a Medical Oncology facility, were interviewed. Only 38 patients were aware of the malignant neoplastic nature of their disease. The remaining patients believed they had a benign neoplasia, non-neoplastic disease, or were unable to define their illness. No patient had a correct idea of the poor prognosis of the disease. Only 11.5% of 87 patients receiving chemotherapy had a correct perception of the palliative intent of the treatment, while most believed that the chemotherapy was "preventive". Dissatisfaction with the information received was expressed by a minority of patients. The awareness of diagnosis was better among women and patients with a higher educational background. Withholding the truth from cancer patients still seems very common in Italy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radiotherapy plus carboplatin and teniposide in patients with brain metastases from non small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The role of chemotherapy alone or added to radiation treatment for the palliation of multiple, unresectable brain metastases from non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), is not yet well defined. Carboplatin and teniposide, however, are an interesting combination in this setting since they are active in NSCLC and because of encouraging results against brain metastases in other tumor types. METHODS: Twenty patients with brain metastases from NSCLC were treated with whole brain irradiation (total dose of 45 Gy) and chemotherapy (carboplatin, 300 mg/sm on day 1 and teniposide, 60 mg/sm on days 1, 2 and 3). RESULTS: Nine patients (45%) showed a complete remission of neurologic symptoms, and 7 (35%) an improvement. Neurologic signs disappeared in 8 patients (40%) and improved in 7 (35%). Three patients (15%) had partial (50%) regression of brain metastases at CT scan, and also showed response in other tumor sites. One other patient had a response of chest and liver lesions, while the cerebral metastases remained stable. Median survival was 7 months with a range of 1-9 months. Toxicity was mild, with no toxic deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive treatment can be taken into consideration also in the case of NSCLC patients with brain metastases and negative prognostic features. Their participation in clinical trials should be encouraged, since this will allow definition of the contribution of combined radiotherapy, chemotherapy and supportive care to the quality and duration of the patient's life.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Biochemical modulation of 5-fluorouracil with methotrexate in advanced colorectal cancer patients pretreated with adjuvant 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin.

PURPOSE: 5-fluoracil (5-FU) remains the standard treatment in advanced colorectal cancer patients. An increasing number of recurring patients, however, have already received this drug as adjuvant after surgery. An attempt to increase 5-FU cytotoxicity through biochemical modulation is justified in this setting. In our study, a combination regimen of methotrexate followed by 5-FU, with leucovorin rescue, was employed. METHODS: Patients were required to have symptomatic, measurable, inoperable lesions from colorectal cancer, recurring after adequate radical surgery of the primary tumor and adjuvant 5-FU + leucovorin concluded at least 3 months before recurrence. Patients received methotrexate. 250 mg/m2 as a 2-hour i.v. infusion, followed by two doses of 5-FU, 500 mg/m2 as i.v. bolus 1 hour and 21 hours after the end of methotrexate infusion. Leucovorin rescue, 15 mg orally every six hours for 7 times, was started 1 hour after the second 5-FU dose. The cycle was repeated every 2 weeks. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients entered the trial, and 21 were evaluable. An objective response was observed in one patient (4.8%), 7 patients (33.3%) obtained tumor regression < 50% or disease stabilization. Thirteen patients (61.9%) progressed. Median survival in the whole group was 11 months. Subjective responses were observed in 7 patients (33.3%). Toxicity was mild. CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical modulation with methotrexate does not seem a satisfactory means of increasing 5-FU activity, when the patient has been previously exposed to 5-FU plus leucovorin. On the other hand, any possible advantages in terms of quality and prolongation of life with this schedule were obtained at the cost of very acceptable toxicity.

Adult↗