PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Catane

Publications and source records attributed to R Catane.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Radiation pneumonitis: a complication resulting from combined radiation and chemotherapy for early breast cancer.

Described is a patient with early breast carcinoma who developed clinical radiation pneumonitis during primary radiation therapy and concomitant chemotherapy that included prednisone. This syndrome developed three days following abrupt steroid withdrawal. Retrieval of steroids brought complete resolution of the clinical and radiological findings. Although this syndrome is rare, it is recommended that steroid therapy in a patient previously irradiated to the chest be avoided.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Secondary myelofibrosis with metastatic breast cancer simulating agnogenic myeloid metaplasia: report of a case and review of the literature.

A patient with carcinoma of the breast, who developed a clinical syndrome resembling agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, is described. She was found to have secondary myelofibrosis with metastatic carcinoma of the marrow, extensive extramedullary hematopoiesis resulting in massive splenomegaly, and leukoerythroblastosis. These findings are rare and myeloid metaplasia with striking extramedullary hematopoiesis causing massive splenomegaly and mimicking agnogenic myeloid metaplasia is seldom seen in patients with metastatic carcinoma. Previous case reports of secondary extramedullary hematopoiesis simulating agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (AMM) in patients with solid tumors are also reviewed.

Adult↗

High-dose metoclopramide as an antiemetic in patients receiving cis-platinum-based combination chemotherapy.

Thirty-seven patients with advanced malignancies, who received cis-platinum-based combination chemotherapy, were evaluated for the antiemetic efficacy of high-dose metoclopramide. Most of the patients suffered from ovarian carcinoma. The dose of metoclopramide was 7.5 or 10 mg/kg per course. A total of 69 courses were given to 37 patients and in 22% of the courses, nausea and vomiting were eliminated altogether. In an additional 48% of the courses, a partial protection from chemotherapy-induced emesis was evident. No serious side effects were observed. The administration of high-dose metoclopramide is recommended for prevention of cis-platinum chemotherapy-induced emesis.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma developing in irradiated sacral chordoma.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), arising at the site of a sacral chordoma 8 years after massive radiotherapy, is described. Initially, the patient received 7000 rad to the sacral area and, on recurrence, 5 years later, an additional 4000 rad. Two years later, a sacral mass was noted again. Biopsy then revealed MFH; chest x-ray showed multiple lung metastases. A combination chemotherapy, consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, adriamycin (doxorubicin), and DTIC, resulted in a 6 month partial response. Subsequently, the patient died because of progressive metastatic disease. At autopsy, 8 years after diagnosis, both the sacral lesion and the lung metastases proved to be MFH, and no residual chordoma was found.

Aged↗

Procarbazine, CCNU and vincristine (PCV) combination chemotherapy for brain tumors.

12 patients with brain tumors were treated with a combination of procarbazine, CCNU (bis-2-chloroethyl-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea) and vincristine. 3 of 8 patients (37.5%) with primary brain tumors responded to chemotherapy, with a mean duration of 9.3 months. The mean survival of responders was 11.7 months, versus 3.6 months for nonresponders. 4 patients with metastatic brain tumors were also treated with the same combination chemotherapy; only 1, suffering from a lymphoma of the brain, responded partially.

Adult↗

A call for caution in the use of aminoglutethimide: negative interactions with dexamethasone and beta blocker treatment.

Two case reports are described, both breast carcinoma patients with metastatic disease. One of the patients had a dexamethasone dependent brain metastatic condition. The second patient suffered from high blood pressure, which was controlled with beta-blocker drugs. Both patients developed severe complications when treated with aminoglutethimide as a cancer hormonal therapy. The case reports are described and possible drug interaction mechanisms are discussed.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

Oral estramustine phosphate (Estracyt): a broad phase II study.

Thirty-five patients with advanced cancers were treated with estramustine phosphate tablets (Estracyt). Doses ranged between 420 mg and 700 mg daily. One partial response was documented in a hormone resistant prostatic cancer patient. Four minor responses (less than 50% responses, or less than one month more than 50% response) were obtained; one in a hormone resistant prostatic cancer, two in metastatic colorectal cancers; and another in a malignant melanoma. Toxicity phenomena included nausea (9/35 - 25%), water retention (4/35 - 11.5%) and mild elevation of alkaline phosphatase (2/35 - 6%). Other toxicity effects were vaginal bleeding in two women, acne in one woman and mild pruritus in another patient. Myelosuppression and immune suppression were not significantly detected.

Adult↗

Successful chemotherapy of recurrent intracranial germinoma with spinal metastases.

A recurrent CNS germinoma with subependymal and spinal metastases was treated by combination of cis-platinum, bleomycin, and vinblastine, resulting in disappearance of intracranial and spinal tumor. Second intracranial relapse responded again to the same combination chemotherapy. Response of spinal metastases to this combination chemotherapy has not been reported previously.

Adult↗

Treatment of febrile granuloycytopenic cancer patients receiving antineoplastic therapy with a combination of carbenicillin, cefazolin and gentamicin.

A three drug regimen of carbenicillin, cefazolin and gentamicin was used for the treatment of patients with solid tumors, who developed fever while granulocytopenic following chemotherapy. Thirty-five (8%) of 426 cancer patients receiving various combinations of antineoplastic chemotherapy qualified for the antibiotic treatment. Nine patients (26%) had bacteriologically confirmed infections, all with gram negative microorganisms. Twenty-four patients (69%) recovered and eleven (31%) died. All deaths occurred within five days of antibiotic therapy; in patients who recovered, the fever subsided within six days. Mortality was not influenced by the presence of a positive bacterial culture, age, or the cytotoxic agents used. It was, however, strongly related to metastatic spread: nine out of 14 patients with liver metastases (64%) died from the infection, while only two of 11 patients (18%) with other metastatic sites failed to respond to the antibacterial therapy. No death occurred in 10 patients who had local disease or received adjuvant therapy. This combined antibiotic therapy was as effective as reported for other combinations, with no serious side effects.

Adolescent↗

Small cell lung cancer: analysis of treatment factors contributing to prolonged survival.

Seventy-one consecutive patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were treated in the Radiation Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute using six different radiation regimens in combination with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and doxorubicin chemotherapy. Patients treated with concurrent chemotherapy-irradiation (CT-RT) experienced better local tumor control than patients treated with sequential CT-RT. Maximum survival with minimum toxicity occurred in the group given a three-week course of concurrent CT-RT. Although concurrent therapy appeared more toxic than sequential therapy, it also appeared to result in more effective tumor control. Precise details of the timing of CT and RT represent important variables in study design of combined modality therapy for SCLC. Carefully controlled clinical trials should be undertaken to define the optimal timing and sequencing of CT-RT, as well as the optimal dose of RT.

Adult↗

Selected anticancer drugs in Phase I trials in the United States (1979--1980).

Phase I trials in 1979 include some drugs representing totally new structures, new schedules of old compounds undergoing reevaluation, and second generation compounds. The rational development of analogs based on structure-activity relationships and on overcoming pharmacologic or toxicologic problems of parent compounds requires much future emphasis; two such examples (pentamethylmelamine and AZQ) are cited here. For all drugs, a plan of clinical development should ensure a more thorough initial evaluation as well as validation of concepts and systems that have prompted their introduction into the clinic. Establishment of clinical usefulness for the new structures, and particularly for three compounds herein reintroduced after a long period of oblivion, would constitute tangible proof of methodological and technological advances that have taken place in the development and clinical evaluation of anticancer drugs.

Animals↗

Current status of chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced carcinoma of the thyroid gland.

An extensive review of the literature was undertaken to identify single agents and chemotherapeutic combinations active against advanced thyroid carcinoma. The two most intensively studied agents were Adriamycin and bleomycin, both of which appear to have definite activity against advanced disease. Studies of 25 other single agents and 17 drug combinations were also reviewed but most of the studies suffered from extremely poor patient accrual, thus precluding statistical analysis. Two cooperative group protocols are in progress which will hopefully accrue enough patients for meaningful interpretation. Physicians treating advanced thyroid carcinoma patients are urged to participate in these studies.

Drug Therapy, Combination↗