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Biomedical subjects

P Marchei

Publications and source records attributed to P Marchei.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Gemcitabine as single agent therapy in advanced non small cell lung cancer and quality of life in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to test the efficacy of gemcitabine as single agent therapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer in the elderly by the evaluation of the clinical response, the survival increase and the quality of life. METHODS: Nineteen patients (age >65 years) with a PS >2, bearing an advanced non-small cell lung cancer (IIIb-IV) not treated with chemotherapy before, were charged between December 1996 and December 1998. Sixteen patients were treated with gemcitabine at the dose of 1000 mg/mq 1-8-15 every 28 days. CT scan, X-rays and skeletal scintigraphy were used in the evaluation of the therapeutic response. The toxicity was estimated by following WHO indexes. The quality of life and the modification of the specific symptoms were estimated by particular tests (Spitzer Index, IADL, EORTC-LC13). RESULTS: One complete response (6%), 4 partial responses (25%), 7 cases of illness stabilization (43%), 4 cases of illness progression, were shown. One year of survival was found in 43% of cases with a 14 week of therapeutic response and a global survival ratio of 12.4 weeks. Only 2 cases (12.5) of medium grade G3-leucopenia were found. All patients improved their quality of life (IADL and Spitzer indexes) with reduction of symptoms, (EORTC-LC13) and increase of self-agin and relationships. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of gemcitabine as single agent therapy as not yet been tested due to the scanty number of patients, nevertheless it must be considered in relation to the improvement of the patient s quality of life.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Combined treatment of thymoma. State of the art and our experience].

Thymoma is the most common neoplasm of the anterior mediastinum and is frequently associated with paraneoplastic syndromes. Surgery is the first therapeutic option, but in advanced disease a multidisciplinary approach is feasible, because of chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity of the disease. The natural history of thymoma after surgery points to local recurrence. Adjuvant radiotherapy seems to improve local control and survival. Chemotherapy based on cisplatin plus anthracyclines could be performed in advanced and metastatic disease. The optimal sequence of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery is yet to be defined. In our experience, primary chemotherapy seems to give best results in advanced thymoma with good tolerability.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1998

[Role of the oncologist in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of neoplasms].

Oncological pathology represents a topic of particular interest and importance owing to both its rising frequency (151,690 deaths in Italy in 1992) and the continuous progress made in the diagnostic and therapeutic field. The steady growth of this pathology has led to the need to identify a new professional figure: the cancer physician capable of bringing together all the skills required to optimise the diagnosis and treatment of oncological patients. As it is now universally accepted in theory, but not always put into practice, the treatment of oncological pathologies calls for a multidisciplinary approach. The optimal treatment is based on the integration of the roles of all the various specialists: oncologist, surgeon, radiotherapist and expert in pain therapy. In this therapeutic strategy, the cancer physician should manage the starting phase of the disease and subsequently should manage its course together with the surgeon and radiotherapist, returning in the terminal phase to sole management of the cancer patient with the help of other qualified professional figures. In short, the authors feel that it is not exaggerated to state that the cancer physician plays a central role in resolving the needs posed by the problem of cancer, needs which may take the form of diagnosis, therapy and care.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

[Prognostic significance of desmoplasia in breast carcinoma. A preliminary clinical study].

This study carried on 61 patients with breast cancer confirmed the biological assumption of a higher malignancy in tumors with strong desmoplastic reaction. Patients in stage II A, II B and III presenting a marked desmoplastic reaction have a shorter DFS (disease free survival). Therefore, desmoplastic reaction may be considered a marker of local malignancy and metastatic process.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

HTLV-I and HIV-1 infection in patients with lymphadenopathy syndrome detected during routine breast screening at a tumor prevention center.

Lymphadenopathy with no apparent cause had been reported in a group of women participating in a mammary tumor prevention program. A screening for retrovirus infection was organized to detect the virus as possible etiological agents. Data show a high percentage of positivity for HIV-1 among these lymphadenopathy patients, and surprisingly for HTLV-I, while no such positivity for either virus was found in matched controls or in patients where a different causal agent for lymphadenopathy was found. Of 26 seropositives, 23 deny any risk factor for HIV-1 and do not come from a HTLV-I known endemic area, but while it is impossible to exclude their knowledge of risk factors, it is worth noting that none of them presented a HTLV-I/HIV-1 double infection, which is very frequent in intravenous drug abusers, the major risk group in Italy. On the basis of these data spread of HTLV-I and HIV-1 appears to be more important in Italy than previously thought, and not confined to well-defined groups or, at least, among those who believe they do not belong to a risk group and therefore can represent a major vehicle for virus diffusion. Institution of screening for HTLV-I in blood donors should be taken immediately, and retrovirus infection risk criteria must be revised.

Adult↗