PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Cannizzaro

Publications and source records attributed to R Cannizzaro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Utility of combined use of plasma levels of chromogranin A and pancreatic polypeptide in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal and pancreatic endocrine tumors.

BACKGROUND: Chromogranin A (CgA) is considered the most accurate marker in the diagnosis of gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) endocrine tumors. Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) has also been proposed to play this role, but then not used due to its low sensitivity. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the assessment of PP would improve the diagnostic reliability of CgA in patients with GEP tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Both markers were assessed in 68 patients [28 functioning (F), 40 non functioning (NF)]. Twenty-seven patients disease-free (DF) after surgery, and 24 with non-endocrine tumors (non-ETs) were used as control groups. RESULTS: CgA sensitivity was: 96% in F, 75% in NF, 74% in pancreatic, and 91% in gastrointestinal (GI) tumors. Specificity was 89% vs DF, and 63% vs non-ETs. PP sensitivity was: 54% in F, 57% in NF, 63% in pancreatic, and 53% in GI tumors. Specificity was 81% vs DF, and 67% vs non-ETs. By combining the two markers a significant gain in sensitivity vs CgA alone was obtained: overall in GEP tumors (96% vs 84%, p = 0.04), in NF (95% vs 75%, p = 0.02), and in pancreatic (94% vs 74%, p = 0.04). More specifically, a 25% gain of sensitivity was obtained in the subgroup of NF pancreatic tumors (93% vs 68%, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The combined assessment of PP and CgA leads to a significant increase in sensitivity in the diagnosis of GEP tumors, particularly in pancreatic NF.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma and B-cell lymphoma patients show a different profile of major histocompatibility complex class II alleles.

Comparison of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) frequencies in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and in patients with HCV-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has not been addressed previously. To this aim, we investigated the distribution of HLA class II alleles in two selected groups of HCV-infected patients. Group 1 included 50 patients with HCV-associated NHL; group 2 included 29 patients with HCV-associated HCC. A control group included 144 hospitalized patients without NHL or HCC and who were negative for HCV, hepatitis B virus, and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies. Polymerase chain reaction sequence DRB1 and DQB1 specific-primer methods were used. DRB1*1101/DQB1*0301 haplotype, which mainly favors the spontaneous clearance of HCV infection, was lower in HCC subjects than in controls, whereas HLA-DRB1*1104/DQB1*0301, was higher in NHL patients. These findings suggest different pathogenic pathways in HCC and in NHL development. In patients with HCV-associated HCC, a major protective role of DQB1*0301 allele, rather than DRB1*11, was found, probably because of a better HLA class II-associated virus clearance. By contrast, the same allele as HLA-DRB1*04 showed an increase in HCV-associated NHL. These data suggest that NHL and HCC development may be associated to a different response with respect to chronic HLA class II-restricted antigen presentation (perhaps a switch toward CD4+Th2 response in NHL?) or, alternatively, that these alleles could be in linkage disequilibrium to unrelated gene(s), or are in synergy with other immunomodulatory genes that may confer increased risk for NHL.

Alleles↗
PubMed2003

Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy versus chromogranin A assay in the management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors of different types: clinical role.

BACKGROUND: Current diagnosis and staging of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are significantly improved by the introduction of the chromogranin A (CgA) assay in plasma or serum as a tumor marker, and by the use of somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS) for tumor localization. However, the clinical role of CgA assay compared with SRS in the management of NETs has not been well elucidated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-three consecutive patients with a histological diagnosis of NET underwent plasma CgA assay and SRS for tumor staging (23 cases), evaluation of tumor response (18 cases) and evaluation of tumor recurrence on follow-up (22 cases). Twenty-one patients had well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (WDNETs: 18 gastroenteropancreatic tumors and three lung NETs); 22 patients had well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (WDNECs: 17 gastroenteropancreatic carcinomas, two lung neuroendocrine carcinomas and three neuroendocrine carcinomas of unknown origin) and 20 patients had poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (PDNECs: 14 extra-pulmonary small-cell carcinomas and six Merkel cell carcinomas). Almost all (58 of 63) NETs were non-functioning. The quantitative determination of CgA was performed in plasma using an enzyme immunoassay with a cut-off value fixed at 34 U/l. Scintigraphies with indium 111-DTPA-octreotide ((111)In-pentetreotide) included whole-body images and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans of the chest and abdomen. RESULTS: SRS results were compared with CgA findings and final clinical data. The overall sensitivity of SRS and CgA, based on the final clinical data, was 77% and 55%, respectively, whereas the specificity of both SRS and CgA was 94%. Concerning tumor type, SRS accuracy was 95% for WDNETs, 86% for WDNECs and 60% for PDNECs; CgA accuracy was 76% for WDNETs, 68% for WDNECs and 50% for PDNECs. With regard to disease extent, SRS sensitivity was 100% for limited disease and 72% for advanced disease; CgA sensitivity was 43% for limited disease and 57% for advanced disease. CONCLUSIONS: In our NET series, SRS proved to be more sensitive than CgA, with equivalent specificity. Tumor differentiation influences the sensitivity of SRS and CgA analysis. In addition, the plasma CgA level is related to tumor secretory activity. Nevertheless both SRS and CgA should be considered useful tools in the diagnostic work-up of NET patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Digestive neuroendocrine tumours: diagnosis and treatment in Italy. A survey by the Oncology Study Section of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology (SIGE).

BACKGROUND: New insights in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive neuroendocrine tumours have prompted a renewed interest in these rare and complex diseases. AIM: To establish how many new cases of digestive neuroendocrine tumours were diagnosed, and how they were treated, at gastroenterological centres across Italy during a two-year period (1997-1998). METHODS: The 12 centres taking part filled in a data collection form reporting type of tumour, methods of diagnosis and therapeutic strategies adopted in each case. Data were collected and analysed by the authors of the present report. RESULTS: Data refer to 98 patients, 22 with functioning and 76 with non-functioning digestive neuroendocrine tumours [50 carcinoids, 48 pancreatic endocrine tumour syndromes]. Primary tumours were localised in 96% (38% with metastases) of non-functioning and 81% (50% with metastases) of functioning tumours. These were surgically removed in >80% of patients in both groups. Somatostatin analogue treatment, with or without interferon, was administered in 35% of patients, while chemotherapy was used in 9% and 23% of functioning and non-functioning tumours, respectively. The imaging study always included a computed tomography scan (20% helical computed tomography). Magnetic resonance and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy were also performed, the former in 41% and 21% of the two (functioning and non-functioning tumour) groups, the latter in 45% and 30%. CONCLUSIONS: The number of functioning digestive neuroendocrine tumours reported was lower than expected. Surgery plays a major role in the treatment of these tumours in all centres. Overall, in only a small number of patients was a multidisciplinary approach applied.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Pre-malignant and malignant lymphoproliferations in an HCV-infected type II mixed cryoglobulinemic patient are sequential phases of an antigen-driven pathological process.

Type II mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by the presence in the serum of a monoclonal cryoprecipitable IgM with rheumatoid factor (RF) activity. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been recognized as its major etiologic factor. Because MC frequently evolves into overt B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), chronic HCV infection is hypothesized to lead to both benign and malignant lymphoproliferative disease. In this study, we investigated mutations in the V(H) and V(K) genes of the B-cell clone originating the overt B-cell lymphoma in a subject with MC. Mutational patterns were analyzed longitudinally in two bone marrow biopsies obtained at the stage of MC, as well as in multiple involved tissues (bone marrow, liver, and peripheral blood cells) at the stage of overt NHL. Hybridization of variable-diversity-joining (VDJ) PCR products with a probe specific for the neoplastic clone indicated that the lymphoma originated from one of the clones over-stimulated during MC. This clone producing an IgM highly homologous to a protein with RF specificity may explain the MC syndrome in the patient. Moreover, the presence of an IgH ongoing mutation process and the expression of an Ig antigen receptor significantly homologous to an anti-HCV protein support the hypothesis that the MC syndrome and the subsequent evolution to NHL are antigen-driven lymphoproliferative processes possibly sustained by HCV. Furthermore, the marked reduction in intra-clonal diversity in the last bone marrow biopsy obtained at the stage of overt NHL points out a minor dependence of the cells on the antigen-driven mechanism, although an intrinsic propensity of the neoplastic cell to undergo replacement mutations cannot be excluded.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Pharmacokinetics of oral etoposide in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Etoposide dosage in patients with liver dysfunction remains controversial. Since etoposide has a hepatic component to its clearance (CL) and shows a high degree of protein binding, hepatic impairment could affect etoposide disposition. However, the empiric recommendation that the dose of etoposide be decreased in such patients may reduce systemic exposure and be detrimental to its antitumor activity. To address these issues we studied the pharmacokinetics (PK) of etoposide in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and underlying cirrhosis (n = 17) treated with daily oral etoposide. Unbound etoposide was obtained by ultrafiltration. Etoposide concentrations (total and free drug) were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and analyzed by noncompartmental equations. The patients had mild or moderate liver dysfunction. Albuminemia was in the normal range for all the patients. Creatininemia was normal in all but two patients. PK results (mean and range) showed that etoposide disposition was unchanged in patients with liver dysfunction. We found slightly high etoposide bioavailability [F, 61% (17-95%)] and clearance [CL, 1.1 (0.7-2.3)l h(-1) m(-2)] resulting in a normal degree of systemic exposure (AUC(oral) 27 microg h ml(-1)). Normal protein binding [PB 93.2% (84.4-98.1%)] contributed to a normal level of exposure to free drug (AUC(f, oral) 1.9 microg h ml(-1)). The distribution volume [V(SS) 8.4 (6.1-13.2) l/m2] and the effective half-life [t1/2eff, 5.1 (3.0-9.6) h] were normal. Median CL and protein binding did not differ in the seven patients with total bilirubin value of > 1.2 mg/dl as compared with the ten patients with total bilirubin levels of < or = 1.2 mg/dl (1.3 versus 1.01 h(-1) m(-2) and 92.5% versus 93.4%, respectively). In agreement with this PK finding, we observed no clinical evidence of increased toxicity in patients with hyperbilirubinemia as compared with patients with normal bilirubinemia (mean WBC decrease 38% versus 47%). The only case of severe (grade 4) hematological toxicity was observed in one patient with reduced glomerular filtration. Since the pharmacological effects of etoposide correlate with the level of systemic exposure to the free drug, our data suggest that no dose reduction is needed in patients with HCC. It is even possible to increase the dose intensity in patients with favorable PK parameters under appropriate hematological and therapeutic drug monitoring.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1998

Hepatitis C virus, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and hepatocellular carcinoma.

In a case-control study in northeastern Italy hepatitis C virus infection seemed to increase by about 50-fold the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involving the liver and major salivary glands (i.e. larger than that for hepatocellular carcinoma) and by about fourfold the risk of lymphomas at other sites.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Palliative treatment of upper intestinal obstruction by gynecological malignancy: the usefulness of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

The usefulness of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) for decompression in patients with unresolving intestinal obstruction by gynecological malignancy is examined. Between April 1993 and August 1995, 34 consecutive patients with small-bowel obstruction by gynecological cancer, heavily pretreated with surgery and chemotherapy, were admitted to our prospective study. PEG was performed in 32/34 patients (94.1%). Failure in the placing of the tube occurred in 2 patients (5.9%). Twenty-seven patients (84.4%) experienced symptomatic relief after a few days from PEG and tolerated soft and liquid foods. All of these patients were discharged from the hospital and underwent parenteral nutrition at home. The median postoperative hospital stay was 7 days (range 3-45). No major complications due to PEG placement itself occurred in our patients. Only 4 patients (12.5%) had postprocedure nausea and vomiting that was unresponsive to the conventional therapy. The use of Octreotide (0.6 mg/24 hr) obtained relief from symptoms until death. The gastrostomy remained in place for a median of 74 days (range 5-210). Relief from symptoms after PEG placement and total parenteral nutrition permitted continuation of palliative chemotherapy in 8 patients (25%). We suggest percutaneous endoscopic drainage gastrostomy technique as the procedure of choice for long-term drainage of unresolving small bowel obstruction in patient with metastatic abdominal gynecologic malignancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Pharmacokinetics of vinorelbine in patients with liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: The main elimination pathway of vinorelbine is hepatic metabolism, and the clearance of vinorelbine could be reduced in patients with liver metastases. OBJECTIVES: To study the pharmacokinetics of vinorelbine in patients who have advanced breast cancer with or without liver metastases and to study the relationship between hepatic function and vinorelbine clearance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 29 patients with advanced breast cancer: 19 with liver metastases and 10 control patients with extrahepatic metastases (mean age, 61 years; age range, 38 to 81 years). The vinorelbine dose was 30 mg/m2 as a short intravenous infusion; the dose was reduced by 50% in patients with bilirubin > 2 mg/dl. Patients were classified by ultrasonographic estimation of the liver volume replaced by tumor (%LVRT). Standard liver function tests and a monoethylglycinexylidide test (a quantitative liver function test based on lidocaine metabolite formation) were performed. Vinorelbine was assayed in plasma by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Vinorelbine determination was impossible in two patients with more than 75% LVRT because of interferences. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with a noncompartimental method and compared by means of the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: A lower vinorelbine clearance rate was observed in the five patients with more than 75% LVRT (22.9 L/hr/m2) compared with the 10 patients with no liver metastases (48.0 L/hr/m2) and the 12 patients with 25% to 75% LVRT (45.3 L/hr/m2). Terminal elimination half-life and apparent volume of distribution were not significantly different among groups. The monoethylglycinexylidide test had a significant correlation with vinorelbine clearance. (r2 = 0.70; p = 10(-4). CONCLUSIONS: These results support vinorelbine dose reduction in patients with severe liver failure but not in patients with moderate secondary liver involvement. The monoethylglycinexylidide test may prove to be useful for vinorelbine dose individualization.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy as a decompressive technique in bowel obstruction due to abdominal carcinomatosis.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a simple method of achieving nonsurgical gastric decompression in patients suffering from metastatic abdominal tumors and upper gastrointestinal tract obstruction. The aim of this prospective study was both to evaluate the efficacy of PEG for intestinal decompression in patients with disseminated abdominal cancer and to compare two catheters with different diameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over a one-year period, 22 consecutive female patients (mean age 53.7, range 29-73) were referred to us and a PEG was successfully placed in 21. In four patients with unsatisfactory endoscopic trans-illumination of the anterior abdominal wall, an ultrasound unit was used to identify an adequate site for PEG placement. RESULTS: All patients experienced substantial symptomatic relief after a few days: vomiting and nausea completely resolved, and abdominal pain persisted in one patient only. No gastrostomy-related additional morbidity was noticed. We randomly inserted a 15-French or a 20-French tube: no statistically significant difference was noticed between the two in the symptomatic relief provided. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the hypothesis that PEG is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated method of achieving gastric decompression in cancer patients; ultrasound guidance was an interesting option in positioning a tube in difficult situations; a standard nutritional tube, namely 15 or 20 French in diameter, may be large enough to obtain excellent clinical results.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1995

DNA flow cytometric evaluation of cell cycle distribution in ulcerative colitis: a proposed method for assessing severity of disease.

The assessment of disease severity in ulcerative colitis depends mainly on subjective variables, and an objective method of assessing mucosal inflammation is needed. Determination of the synthetic phase of the cell cycle is an accurate expression of inflammatory activity in the colonic mucosa. The aim of the study was to find out if the proliferative index or the synthetic phase (S phase) of the colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis, as evaluated by DNA flow cytometry, is a reliable and reproducible marker of disease activity. Sixty consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis of different degrees of activity were entered into the study and submitted to colonoscopy plus multiple rectal biopsies. Disease severity was defined for each patient by means of a clinical, endoscopic, and histological score. Flow cytometry was used to calculate the proliferative index and the S phase of the cell cycle. A statistically significant correlation (p < 0.001) was found between all indices of severity. It is suggested that flow cytometric evaluation of the cell cycle in the rectal mucosa may be an efficient method of assessing severity of disease and efficacy of medical treatment in ulcerative colitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs for cancer pain: comparison between misoprostol and ranitidine in prevention of upper gastrointestinal damage.

PURPOSE: The prophylactic strategy of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced upper gastrointestinal (UGI) damage has largely been studied in arthritic patients, but not in cancer patients. The efficacy of misoprostol and ranitidine in the prevention of gastroduodenal damage in patients taking diclofenac for their cancer pain has been compared in this study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who needed high-dose (200 to 300 mg/d) diclofenac for cancer pain and without mucosal lesions at baseline gastroduodenal endoscopy were randomized to receive misoprostol (200 micrograms twice daily; M group) or ranitidine (150 mg twice daily; R group). UGI endoscopy was repeated after 4 weeks. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients treated with misoprostol and 26 treated with ranitidine concluded the study. The M group showed a significantly (P < .02) lower incidence of gastroduodenal lesions (two patients; 8.7%) than the R group (10 patients; 38.5%). Gastric ulcers occurred in one (4%) misoprostol-treated patient and in six (23%) ranitidine-treated patients. Six of seven patients with ulcers were asymptomatic. Seventy-one percent and 86% of ulcers occurred in patients older than 60 years and in those who received greater than 3.1 mg/kg of diclofenac, respectively. CONCLUSION: Misoprostol was significantly more effective than ranitidine in the prevention of gastroduodenal lesions in cancer patients receiving diclofenac.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Gastroduodenal involvement in staging of nodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas: a clinical and endoscopic prospective study of 235 patients.

OBJECTIVES: The gastrointestinal tract is often the site of involvement of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The aim of this endoscopic prospective study was to verify the prevalence of the gastroduodenal involvement in patients in staging for NHL and to assess its impact on the choice of therapeutic strategies. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-five consecutive patients were included in the study. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed, and biopsy samples were taken on every mucosal lesion and on macroscopically illness-free duodenal and gastric mucosa. The samples were submitted to histological examination, and the clinical stage of NHL was reevaluated. RESULTS: Sixty-one of the 235 patients exhibited histological involvement of gastric (40), duodenal (7), or both (14) mucosae. Endoscopic lesions were recorded in 51 patients, but the involved mucosa appeared macroscopically normal in 10 patients (16.3%). In 13 patients, the gastroduodenal involvement modified the clinical stage from I and II to III, indicating a different therapeutic approach. No difference was detected in the frequency of gastrointestinal involvement among the high, intermediate, and low grades of lymphoma malignancies. Thirty-five positive patients underwent a further endoscopic examination after the chemotherapy treatment. Although clinical remission was expected in all cases, 42.8% of them subsequently exhibited NHL. CONCLUSIONS: Upper digestive endoscopy plus biopsy sampling plays a necessary diagnostic role, not only when major clinical signs (hemorrhage) are present, but also in earlier stages of NHL (I and II), when a reevaluation of the therapeutic strategy may be indicated. In stages III and IV of illness, it may also prove useful in evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1993

Effect of short- and long-term treatment with omeprazole on cell cycle distribution in the gastric mucosa. Results of a flow cytometric study.

Omeprazole may exert an effect on gastric mucosal proliferation by inhibiting gastric acid secretion and increasing serum gastrin levels. It may also influence the kinetics of endocrine cells and the oxyntic mucosa. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cell cycle in different gastric compartments following short- (1 month) and long-term (6 months) administration of two different dosages of omeprazole by means of a flow cytometric method. We also determined serum gastrin levels at the same time. No differences in cell cycle distribution of the antrum, body, and fundus were found in the two different dosage groups after 1 month of therapy, considering the synthetic phase (S-phase) of the cell cycle. A statistically significant increase in S-phase was reported after long-term therapy in the mucosa of the fundus and body of the stomach in both groups. Gastrin levels showed no clear correlation with cell cycle distribution variables. We postulate a proliferative adaptation of the oxyntic mucosa to long-term drug administration not mediated by gastrin influence.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Adjuvant therapy for primary breast cancer in a female patient affected by autoimmune liver disease: does it cure breast cancer and primary biliary cirrhosis?

Polychemotherapy (CMF or CMF-like regimens) is the treatment of choice in premenopausal breast cancer patients with 1-3 positive nodes. In clinical practice, patients with abnormal biochemical tests of liver function are usually excluded from this potentially curative methotrexate-containing regimen in order to avoid worsening of hepatic damage. On the other hand, recent reports have shown a beneficial effect of methotrexate in a particular autoimmune liver disease such as primary biliary cirrhosis. We discuss the case of a female patient with breast cancer and primary biliary cirrhosis whose biochemical tests of liver function and the titer of antimitochondrial antibody persistently improved after treatment with 3 cycles of CMF. In conclusion, we suggest that the CMF regimen is potentially useful in patients with breast cancer and primary biliary cirrhosis.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗