Biomedical subjects

P Ruffie

Publications and source records attributed to P Ruffie.

43 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1985

Alternating radiotherapy and chemotherapy schedules in small cell lung cancer, limited disease.

Sixty-three evaluable patients with limited small cell lung carcinoma were entered into two pilot studies alternating 6 cycles of combination chemotherapy (Doxorubicin 40 mg/m2 d 1; VP16213 75 mg/m2 d 1, 2, 3; Cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m2 d 3, 4, 5, 6; and Methotrexate 400 mg/m2 d 2--plus folinic acid rescue--or Cis-Platinum 100 mg/m2 d 2) with 3 courses of mediastinal radiotherapy as induction treatment. The first course of radiotherapy started 10 days after the second cycle of chemotherapy; there was a 7 day rest between chemotherapy and radiotherapy courses. This 6 month induction treatment was followed by a maintenance chemotherapy. The total mediastinal radiation dose was increased from 4500 rad in the first study to 5500 rad in the second. Both protocols obtained a complete response (CR) rate of greater than 85% (with fiberoptic bronchoscopy and histological verification). Local control at 2 years was 61% in the first study and 82% in the second. Relapse-free survival at 2 years was 32 and 37%, respectively. Toxicity was acceptable. We conclude that our results justify further clinical research in alternating radiotherapy and chemotherapy schedules.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

PubMed1981

[Etiological and histological study of 448 cases of lung cancer (author's transl)].

The study of this series of hospitalized patients extended over a period of 8 years, and the number of cases was estimated to be 1/8 of the total lung cancer population seen in the area serviced by the hospital. Distribution according to sex was in the ratio 18.6/1 and the mean age (60 to 62.8 years) was identical whatever the sex, smoking habits, presence or a absence of exposure to asbestos, and the histological type. The epidermoid type was more frequent, both in men (77.6 p. cent) and women (39.1 p. cent). A significant relationship with smoking was observed in the epidermoid form but not with adenocarcinomas. In men who smoked there were 78.6 p. cent of epidermoids against 53.8 p. cent in women, in whom the percentage of undifferentiated types (15.3 p. cent) exceeded that of the men (5.7 p. cent). In nonsmokers, adenocarcinomas represented 70 p. cent in women against 37.5 p. cent in men. In 9 p. cent of the cancers the patient had been exposed to asbestos during their occupation, the degree of exposure being low or moderate in 78 p. cent. The cancers were more frequently proximal (73 compared with 54.2 p. cent), bilateral (8 compared with 3.4 p. cent), derived from the inferior lobe (superior to inferior lobe ratio: 1.2 to 2.75), more often undifferentiated (20 against 4.2 p. cent), and less frequently of the epidermoid type (65 compared with 80.1 p. cent). The histological type is discussed as a function of the methodology of the histological diagnosis, and of the etiological factors, particular smoking and exposure to asbestos.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1981

[Diagnostic value of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in pneumopathies in immunodeficient adults: a report on 59 examinations (author's transl)].

Fifty-nine fiberoptic examinations with endobronchial sampling, brushings, distal bronchial biopsy, and alveolar lavage were conducted during the course of recent pneumopathies in immunodeficient adults with malignant hemopathies (41 cases), solid tumors (7 cases), and other affections (11 cases). Diagnosis was established by fiberoptic bronchoscopy in 4 cases with specific locations of hemopathy or cancer, after bronchial biopsy, in 5 cases of mycoses, after bronchial biopsy, aspiration and/or alveolar lavage, in 4 patients with bacterial pneumonia after bronchial aspiration, and in 1 case of pneumocystosis, after distal biopsy. Diagnosis was not confirmed in the other cases. Mortality (50 p. cent) was similar in the diagnosed group and the group without confirmation of diagnosis. No significant complications due to the examination were observed, except for worsening of the respiratory condition in 7 patients with hypoxemia. The role of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in causing these alterations cannot be excluded. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy appears to be a safe examination except in patients with hypoxemia (PaO2 less than or equal to 50 mmHg). Distal biopsy appeared to be of less value than bronchial biopsy in these patients, as there was a positive correlation between the results of the latter examination and the macroscopic lesions observed in all cases.

Adult↗

PubMed1980

A review of the treatment of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma.

When the disease is diagnosed early, pleurectomy or intrapleural inoculation of colloidal radioactive compounds may be effective. However, most mesotheliomas are already diffuse by the time they are diagnosed; and no treatment has been shown to be effective. Metastatic involvement of the chest wall results from any surgical procedure; however, pain may be controlled by pleurectomy and/or external-beam radiotherapy. Of the chemotherapeutic agents tested, doxorubicin appears to be the most promising. Large, cooperative, controlled trials are needed to evaluate the usefulness of one or a combination of the treatment methods described.

Asbestos↗

PubMed1980

[Efficiency of bronchial and trans-bronchial lung biopsies in 45 cases of sarcoïdosis (author's transl)].

Forty five patients with suspected sarcoïdosis underwent bronchial and trans-bronchial lung biopsies in the course of fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Specific histologic lesions were found in 51% of the bronchial biopsies (23/45) and in 67% of trans-bronchial biopsies (30/45). The combination of these two different technics of biopsy has significantly increased the efficacity of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of sarcoïdosis (87%: 39/45). [P. < 0,01]. The presence of specific histologic lesions in the trans-bronchial biopsy was independent of the presence or absence of pulmonary parenchyma in the biopsy. The results were classified according to the radiologic stages of the disease. The trans-bronchial lung biopsy, which is described, is well tolerated. Only one complication was observed (partial pneumothorax).

Adolescent↗

PubMed1979

Pleural effusion: laboratory tests in 300 cases.

The cause of pleural effusion was studied in 300 consecutive patients by clinical examination and laboratory tests. The three most common causes were found to be cancer 117 cases (metastatic 65, bronchogenic 34, mesothelioma 10, lymphoma 7, other 1); tuberculous infection 53; and bacterial infection 38. The cause was not found in 62 patients. Cancer diagnosis was established by cytological examination of pleural fluid (63), closed pleural biopsy (37), and open pleural biopsy (11). Tuberculosis was diagnosed by culture of pleural fluid (12), closed pleural biopsy (38), and open pleural biopsy (3). In cases of empyema 12 Gram-positive and two Gram-negative cocci and two anaerobes were identified. The various causes and the usefulness of the different investigative procedures are discussed, and the data evaluated in the light of current knowledge about mechanisms of transfer through the pleural space.

Empyema↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Small cell lung cancer: patients surviving longer than thirty months. Groupe d'oncologie de langue française.

The long-term survivors of SCLC are described in 3 different types of study: analysis of prognostic factors of phase II and III chemotherapy trials (3,4,5,6,7,17,18), epidemiological studies (8) and medical registries of LTS (9,10). A small number of patients with small cell lung cancer achieve long-term survival. Most of these patients have a disease limited to the chest at the time of diagnosis. The major concerns of these LTSs are: the relapse of the SCLC, the occurrence of a second primary tumour and the occurrence of a disease related to tobacco consumption. About 20% of the LTSs die of non-cancer related causes and this exceeds the age adjusted mortality. There is a high risk of relapse in the first 4 years after the diagnosis; this risk decreases later, but relapses may be seen until 7 years. Nearly 8% of LTSs developed a SPTs are alive at 8 years; this indicates that cure is possible in SCLC, however, these patients account for less than 3% of the overall population.

Aged↗