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R Paridaens

Publications and source records attributed to R Paridaens.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Role of nurses in cancer chemotherapy administration. Retrospective record analysis to improve role performance.

The purpose of this quality assurance project in the University Hospitals in Leuven, Belgium, was to describe, analyse and improve the actual routine practice of chemotherapy administration. The article focuses on analysis and improvement of role performance of nurses. The process of chemotherapy was systematically assessed by means of a retrospective analysis of patient records. This was done for 61 patient records receiving 453 chemotherapy administrations. Five aspects of the role of oncology nurses were described and analysed: data collection for prescription of chemotherapy, communication of instructions, preparation of the cytotoxic treatment, administration of cytotoxics and post-chemotherapy assessment. Data analysis showed variability in relation to several role aspects. Standardization of procedures and information was introduced to improve role performance in several areas.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Mitomycin C in combination with orchiectomy for newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer: preliminary results on a randomized trial.

The preliminary results of a randomized trial comparing orchiectomy versus orchiectomy and mitomycin C in 119 newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer patients are presented. Of 109 evaluable patients 57 were treated with orchiectomy alone and 52 received adjuvant intravenous mitomycin C. Mean interval to progression was 13 months in the orchiectomy group versus 11 months in the mitomycin C group. Preliminary analysis did not demonstrate a favorable effect of the combination with this chemotherapeutic agent compared to orchiectomy alone (p = 0.3).

Aged↗

Compassionate use of tropisetron in patients at high risk of severe emesis.

Tropisetron is a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist which suppresses nausea and vomiting induced by cancer chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, tropisetron was evaluated on a compassionate-need basis in 545 cancer patients who had either proved refractory to antiemetic treatment during previous chemotherapy or who were at high risk of emesis as a result of current therapy. Tropisetron (5 mg or 10 mg) was administered as a 15-minute infusion prior to chemotherapy, with the further possibility of an additional dose, either orally or parenterally, on one or more subsequent days. In some patients the drug was administered orally on the day before treatment. On Day 1 of Course 1, 64.7% of patients had a complete response to tropisetron, i.e. no nausea or vomiting, and 26.9% of patients had a partial response. More than 80% of patients with a complete response in Course 1 had a complete response in Course 2 and of the partial responders in Course 1, 37% achieved a complete response in Course 2. Of the 7.6% failures in Course 1, a further 26% achieved a complete response in Course 2. Tropisetron was well tolerated, with adverse effects recorded in only 45 (8%) patients.

Adolescent↗

Assessment of estrogenic recruitment before chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer: a double-blind randomized study. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Breast Cancer Cooperative Group.

PURPOSE: In the present phase III study, the specific effect of estrogenic recruitment was assessed by comparing two groups of patients with advanced breast cancer receiving either ethinylestradiol (EE2) or placebo (PL) before chemotherapy (CT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The therapeutic regimen consisted of (1) estrogen suppression by aminoglutethimide (AGL) 1 g/d plus hydrocortisone (HC) 40 mg/d, with surgical castration performed on premenopausal patients; (2) fluorouracil (5-FU) 500 mg/m2, doxorubicin 50 mg/m2, and cyclophosphamide (CPA) 500 mg/m2 (FAC) intravenously (IV) every 3 weeks; (3) following randomization, patients were double-blinded to receive either PL or EE2 50 micrograms exactly 24 hours before receiving FAC. All patients had advanced breast cancer presumably sensitive to endocrine therapy (estrogen receptor-positive [ER+] and/or progesterone receptor-positive [PgR+] status) with measurable lesions; none had received prior systemic antineoplastic therapy for metastatic disease; prior adjuvant hormonal therapy (HT) or CT (without anthracyclines) was allowed if interval since completion was longer than 1 year. RESULTS: Among 154 patients treated according to the protocol, tolerance, response rates, time to progression, and median survival duration were identical in the PL and EE2 groups. Only performance status, dominant metastatic site, and menopausal status seemed to influence response (overall response, 64%), with the highest levels of partial remission (PR) and complete remission (CR) being achieved in premenopausal women (CR plus PR, 26% plus 55%) and in those with dominant soft tissue lesions (CR plus PR, 45% plus 28%). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the validity of the hormonal recruitment concept has not yet been established in clinical practice so that this approach remains experimental. The results achieved by combining (near) complete estrogenic suppression and cyclical FAC chemotherapy are not significantly different from those to be expected with the more conventional use of HT followed by CT in presumably hormone-responsive (ER+) patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Compassionate use of a 5-HT3-receptor antagonist, tropisetron, in patients refractory to standard antiemetic treatment.

The efficacy of tropisetron in the prevention of nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy of varying emetogenic potential was evaluated in 545 patients with a variety of malignancies who had either proved refractory to antiemetic treatment during previous chemotherapy courses or who were considered to be at high risk of nausea and vomiting. Tropisetron 5 or 10mg was administered intravenously just before chemotherapy, with the possibility of additional oral or intravenous doses on the day before chemotherapy and on 1 or more subsequent days. On day 1 of the first course of chemotherapy, a complete response (no nausea and no vomiting) was achieved in 62% of patients and a partial response (1 to 4 vomits and/or episodes of nausea) in 29%. Among the 325 patients who received a second course of chemotherapy, more than 80% of those with a complete response on day 1 of course 1 also had a complete response on day 1 of course 2; 37% and 26%, respectively, of patients with a partial response or failure (1 or more vomits and/or episodes of nausea) on day 1 of course 1 then had a complete response on day 1 of course 2.

Adolescent↗

[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil, in operable breast cancer of intermediate stage: first results of a phase II study in 40 patients].

Forty patients with intermediate stage (T2 > 3 cm-T3, N0-N1) operable breast cancer received neoadjuvant chemotherapy by MCF (mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil). Four cycles were administered at 3-week intervals. The obvious hematological toxicity (64% of grade III for the leucocytes and up to 34% of grade IV for the granulocytes) was rapidly reversible and did not hinder completion of the treatment. Ten patients showed a complete remission and a tumor volume regression of more than 50% was observed in 12 other patients. Tumor shrinkage allowed breast-saving surgery in 50% of the cases. A complete sterilisation of the surgical specimen was found in only two of the 40 patients and a few persisting neoplastic cells were found in ten other cases. A positive response at the level of the axillary lymph nodes was also obtained in more than 50% of the cases. In 25 of the 36 cases examined, the primary chemotherapy induced cellular lesions (fibrosis, necrosis) at the tumor level. A feasibility study was undertaken in order to determine quantitatively several biochemical parameters (steroid hormone receptors, cathepsin D, c-erbB-2 oncoprotein) in very small tumor samples obtained by Tru-Cut before any treatment and in surgical specimens. In the future, these micromethods will be used systematically with the aim of estimating the value of these potential prognostic factors for therapeutic follow-up of the patients.

Adult↗

[Value of CEA levels and of immunoscintigraphy (using CEA-marked antibodies) for the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of breast cancer: apropos of a case].

A 33-year-old woman, who at 29 underwent mastectomy for a localised breast cancer (TINOMO), presented a relapse shown by a rapid rise in seric level of CEA. The classical complete work-up was negative. The location of the relapse was demonstrated by anti-CEA immunoscintigraphy. Radiotherapy, hormonotherapy and chemotherapy allowed to achieve a complete remission with normalization of CEA level and of immunoscintigraphy.

Adult↗

Assessment of estrogenic recruitment before chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer: preliminary results of a double-blind randomized study of the EORTC Breast Cancer Cooperative Group.

We investigated whether estrogenic recruitment could enhance the antitumor effect of chemotherapy in 165 patients with advanced breast cancer, presumably sensitive to hormonal treatments (ER + and/or PgR + lesions). The therapeutic regimen consisted of: (a) estrogenic suppression by aminoglutethimide 1 g/day + hydrocortisone 40 mg/day; surgical castration in premenopausal patients only; (b) FAC (5FU 500 mg/m2; ADM 50 mg/m2; CPA 500 mg/m2) for 3 weeks; (c) following randomization, exactly 24 h prior to chemotherapy, patients had to take 1 tablet of either placebo (PL) or 50 microgram ethinylestradiol (EE2). Tolerance, responses, time to progression and median survival were identical in both groups. Thus, EE2 before chemotherapy did not contribute to the efficacy of this particular therapeutic regimen, which yielded an overall response rate of 64%. We conclude that the validity of the hormonal recruitment concept has not yet been established in clinical practice, so that this approach remains experimental.

Aminoglutethimide↗

Psychosocial correlates of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancer.

Psychosocial correlates of hormone receptor status in primary breast cancers were investigated in 93 consecutive patients. Life event, coping style, and psychological adjustment self-report scales were completed. The 75 patients with receptor-positive (oestrogen and/or progesterone) tumours were better adjusted psychologically than the 18 patients with receptor-negative lesions. These findings may explain the relations that have been found between psychosocial variables and survival.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Experience of the Belgian Society of Medical Oncology with single-administration 5 g/m2 ifosfamide with mesna as second- or third-line therapy in advanced breast cancer.

In an ongoing phase II trial conducted in advanced breast cancer, we tested a therapy schedule consisting of continuous, 24-h infusion of 5 g/m2 ifosfamide (IFO) in 3 1 dextrose saline with mesna (MSN), repeated every 3 weeks until disease progression. Since September 1988, 16 heavily pretreated patients with advanced disease (11 with visceral lesions) considered refractory to standard chemotherapy (regimens always including cyclophosphamide) have been included. Objective partial remissions were observed in two cases (one in liver and one in soft-tissue and pleural lesions), and disease stabilization for at least 3 months occurred in four cases. No treatment-related death was recorded and tolerance was judged to be excellent (six cases) or acceptable in all instances. The haematological toxicity consisted mainly of transient leucopenia (nadirs evaluated by WHO scale as grade 3 in 43% and grade 4 in 29%), sometimes associated with thrombocytopenia (grade 3 in 7% and grade 4 in 7%). Other side effects included nausea and/or vomiting (grade 3-4 in 33%); worsening of preexisting alopecia (five cases); haemorrhagic cystitis (one case); mild, transient somnolence (two cases); and moderate fluid retention (two cases). We concluded that infusion of 5 g/m2 IFO over 24 h with MSN rescue might represent an acceptable second- or third-line salvage regimen. Close monitoring of haematological and renal function parameters is recommended. A larger number of patients will be treated in a continuation of this study to evaluate the true response rate within narrower confidence limits.

Adult↗

Lethal anuria complicating high dose ifosfamide chemotherapy in a breast cancer patient with an impaired renal function.

A sixty-year-old woman with advanced breast cancer, previously treated with cisplatin, developed an irreversible lethal renal failure with anuria, the day after 5 g/m2 bolus ifosfamide. Postrenal failure was excluded by echography. A prerenal component could have contributed to renal failure because of a transient hypotension, due to an increasing ascitis, occurring just before anuria. However, correction of the hemodynamic parameters did not improve renal function. Ifosfamide is a known nephrotoxic drug with demonstrated tubulopathies. We strongly suspect that this lethal anuria was mainly due to ifosfamide, occurring in a patient having received previous cisplatin chemotherapy and with poor kidney perfusion due to transient hypotension. We recommend careful use of ifosfamide in patients pretreated with nephrotoxic chemotherapy and inadequate renal perfusion.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Argyrophilic breast carcinoma, single metastasis to the pituitary gland.

Five years ago, a 44 year-old woman presented with an apparently localized cancer of the right breast, initially treated by surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After a 4 year disease-free interval, she developed bi-temporal hemianopsy, due to a suprasellar tumor causing compression of the optic chiasma. The tumor was resected by the transsphenoidal route and histological examination revealed neuroendocrine characteristics described as "argyrophilic breast carcinoma". The exceptional association of this peculiar histology for breast cancer with a rare pattern of recurrence (single pituitary metastasis) is worthwhile reporting.

Adult↗

Correlation between nuclear cytomorphometric parameters and estrogen receptor levels in breast cancer.

The authors studied the relationships existing between various cytomorphonuclear parameters recorded on 25 primary breast cancers and their estrogen receptor (ER) content. Cell image analyses of Feulgen-stained imprint smears, allowing determination of morphologic, densitometric, as well as textural parameters, were assessed by using the SAMBA 200 system (TITN, France). The ER levels were measured by the conventional dextran-coated charcoal assay. The authors then divided the 25 cancers into three categories: (1) "ER-negative or poorly positive tumors," i.e., those having less than 50 fmol ER/mg protein; (2) "ER-positive tumors," i.e., those containing between 50 and 150 fmol ER/mg protein; and (3) "ER highly positive tumors," i.e., those having more than 150 fmol ER/mg protein. The authors' results show that ER-negative or poorly positive breast cancers possess cells with bigger nuclei and higher DNA content, related to higher proliferation index than ER-rich tumors. Furthermore, the chromatin pattern of cells from ER-negative or poorly positive breast cancers is significantly more condensed than the thinly textured chromatin of ER highly positive tumors. Cell image analysis of Feulgen-stained imprints is proposed as an additional tool for grading malignancy.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Influence of pituitary grafts or prolactin administrations on the hormone sensitivity of ovarian hormone-independent mouse mammary MXT tumors.

The sensitivity of MXT mouse mammary tumors to ovarian hormones was assessed by the following parameters: growth in vivo; presence or absence of estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors; and histological differentiation. A spontaneous evolution from hormone sensitivity (HS) to hormone independence (HI) was observed when the tumors underwent monthly transplantation onto intact recipient mice, with the tumors fulfilling the criteria of HI tumors after the 12th transplantation. In contrast, the tumors recovered most of the criteria of hormone sensitivity when pituitary isografts were placed under the kidney capsules of HI tumor-bearing animals or when these animals received daily administrations of prolactin over several months. Sensitivity to 17 beta-estradiol, progesterone, or prolactin was further assessed by actinomycin binding on the nucleus and thymidine labeling index, both measured by autoradiography. These technical approaches revealed that 17 beta-estradiol and prolactin stimulated the thymidine labeling index of both HI (despite the lack of detectable estrogen receptors) and HS MXT tumors whereas progesterone influenced only that of HS cancers. The three hormones significantly stimulated [3H]actinomycin D binding within HS tumors but not within HI ones. However, such "HI" tumors were characterized by increased actinomycin binding and thymidine labeling index in comparison with HS neoplasms. Thus, all the data presently reported strongly suggest that prolactin is able to restore the hormone-sensitive phenotype within so-called MXT hormone-independent tumors.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Inhibitory action of androstenedione on the proliferation and cell cycle kinetics of aromatase-free MXT and MCF-7 mammary tumour cell lines.

The effects of androstenedione (AD) on cell proliferation and kinetics have been measured in MXT mouse and MCF-7 human mammary cancer cell lines using SAMBA 200 cell image analysis of Feulgen-stained nuclei. At a concentration of 0.01 microM AD inhibited the proliferation of both cell lines whereas a higher dose (1 microM) was inhibitory on MCF-7 cell proliferation but stimulatory in MXT cells. It is unlikely that these effects are due to aromization of AD into oestrogen since (a) both cell lines were devoid of aromatase and (b) both cell lines were similarly affected by oestradiol (E2), being stimulated at low concentrations and inhibited at high doses. Furthermore, inhibition by AD seems to occur, at least in part, by blockade of the cell cycle whereas that by E2 appears to be cell cycle independent.

Androstenedione↗