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S Nasca

Publications and source records attributed to S Nasca.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Multicenter non-randomized phase II study of raltitrexed (Tomudex) and oxaliplatin in non-pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: This multicenter, phase II, open-label study evaluated the antitumor efficacy and safety of oxaliplatin and raltitrexed (Tomudex) in non-pretreated advanced colorectal cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-one patients received oxaliplatin 130 mg/m(2) and raltitrexed 3 mg/m(2) intravenously on an outpatient basis every 3 weeks. All patients had histologically proven metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma, performance status <or=2 and good baseline organ function. Most (56%) had only one disease site. All patients were assessed for safety, and 66 of 69 eligible patients were assessed for response. RESULTS: A total of 404 cycles were administered, with a median of six cycles per patient (range 1-12 cycles). Relative dose intensities were 0.98 and 0.98 for oxaliplatin and raltitrexed, respectively. The most common grade 3-4 toxicities (National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria) among treated patients were as follows: neutropenia (21 patients, 30%), asthenia (eight, 11%), diarrhea (12, 17%), liver function test abnormalities (24, 34%), nausea (nine, 13%) and vomiting (nine, 13%). Two treatment-related deaths occurred (hematotoxicity in one patient and gastrointestinal toxicity in the other) and two further deaths were possibly related to treatment (hepatic dysfunction in one patient and neuropathy in the other). Thirty-seven objective responses (one complete) were obtained [objective response rate 54%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 42% to 65%] in eligible patients. The median response duration was 8.5 months (95% CI 6.7-12.2 months), while median progression-free and overall survival among eligible patients were 6.2 (95% CI 5.1-6.9 months) and 14.6 months (95% CI 11.0-18.9 months), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirms the feasibility of the raltitrexed plus oxaliplatin combination and its activity in non-pretreated advanced colorectal cancer patients.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

Phase II trial of oxaliplatin as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer patients. Digestive Group of French Federation of Cancer Centers.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the objective tumor response rate and safety profile of oxaliplatin when administered to patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 39 patients were entered onto this phase II trial. One patient was excluded for having had a second cancer, so the study was based on 38 patients. Patients were treated with oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 as a 2-hour infusion on day 1, every 21 days. Patients were assessed for response every three courses. All clinical and radiologic data were reviewed by an external panel of experts, with their assessment being considered definitive. RESULTS: Nine partial responses (PRs) were observed (response rate, 24.3%; 95% confidence interval, 11.8% to 41.2%). The median duration of response was 216+ days. Fifteen patients (40.5%) had stable disease and 13 (35.2%) had progressive disease. The median progression-free survival time for all patients was 126+ days (range, 21 to 447+). The main toxicity was peripheral sensory neuropathy. Grade 3 neurotoxicity (National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria [NCI-CTC]) was reported in 13%. Hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicities were mild. The incidence of grade 3 neutropenia was 5.2%, while that of grade 3 or 4 thrombopenia was 7.9%. Vomiting (grade 3 or 4) occurred in 7.9% of patients and grade 3 diarrhea in 2.6%. CONCLUSION: This phase II study provides clear evidence of the safety and efficacy of oxaliplatin monotherapy at this dose and schedule in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Preliminary results of a phase II study of high-dose radiation therapy and neoadjuvant plus concomitant 5-fluorouracil with CDDP chemotherapy for patients with anal canal cancer: a French cooperative study.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil-mitomycin C) concomitant with radiotherapy (RT) increases local control and colostomy-free survival in advanced anal canal carcinomas (ACC). The purpose of this prospective trial was to analyse the toxicity of and response to an induction chemotherapy combining 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and CDDP administered concomitantly with irradiation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients (24 F/6 M, mean age 60, range 38-74) with an advanced ACC > 40 mm and/or with node involvement were prospectively treated (1 T1, 16 T2, 8 T3, 5 T4, 10 N1, 1 N2, 8 N3) from November 1994 to January 1996. Two induction and two concomitant cycles of 5-FU (800 mg/ m2 D1-4 infusion) and CDDP (80 mg/i.v./m2 at D1) were delivered. RT consisted of 45 Gy (1.8 Gy/fr, 5 fr/w) on pelvis +/- inguinal nodes or 30 Gy (3 Gy/fr, 4 fr/w) by direct perineal field. A boost (15-20 Gy) was delivered six weeks later. RESULTS TOXICITY: one patient died of a pulmonary embolism on D4. The remaining 29 received the entire treatment, with reduced 5-FU doses in 11 patients because of acute toxicity. The RT boost was delayed for one patient (aplasia). In 109 cycles, 3 grade 4 and 17 grade 3 toxicities were observed; there were no toxic deaths. Tumor response: the complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) rates were, respectively, 11% and 61% after induction chemotherapy, 59% and 31% after concomitant radiochemotherapy and 96% and 0% two months after completion of the treatment. No tumor progression was observed. CONCLUSION: the treatment was well tolerated and there was good compliance. After induction chemotherapy, most of the patients were in PR, with some even in CR. After completion of the treatment all but one were in CR. The tumor response and the long term results of 50 patients will be analysed before initiation of a randomised trial is considered.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Palliative therapy of inoperable oesophageal carcinoma with radiotherapy and methotrexate: final results of a controlled clinical trial.

Between May 1976 and January 1982, 170 patients were entered in a randomized study comparing a combined treatment consisting of methotrexate followed by irradiation versus radiotherapy alone in patients with non metastatic inoperable oesophageal cancer. Methotrexate was administered subcutaneously in 4 days to a total dose of 24 mg/m2. Radiotherapy was performed, in both groups, at a dose of 56.25 Gy in 25 fractions (5 weeks). The administration of methotrexate did not lead to an increased intolerance to radiotherapy but severe hematological toxicities were observed in 7.8% of the cases. No difference in the duration of survival was detected. Initial performance status of the patients and their weight loss prior to entry on trial were the factors that were most predictive of the patient's prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Immunoscintigraphy with indium-111 labeled monoclonal antibodies: the importance of a good display method.

A major drawback of In-111-labeled monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) is the presence of intense liver, renal, and bone marrow nonspecific activity. This makes the display of the images hardly optimal and their visual interpretation difficult. In this study, the "intrinsic color scale" (which consists of selecting the limits of the color scale as the highest and the lowest pixel value of the image) was compared to a new, simple algorithm for the determination of the limits of the color scale. This algorithm was based on the count density in the iliac crest areas. OC-125 or anti-CEA In-111 MoAb F(ab')2 fragments were used in 32 patients with suspected recurrence of ovarian (19 patients) or colorectal cancer (13 patients). Final diagnosis was assessed by surgery (21 patients), biopsy (five patients), or followup (six patients). A 10-minute abdomino-pelvic anterior view was recorded two days after injection. These views are displayed using the two methods and interpreted by two observers. Using their responses in each quadrant of the pelvis, the authors calculated two ROC curves. The comparison of the ROC curves showed better performances for the new method. For example, for the same specificity (73%), the sensitivity of the new method was significantly better (78% versus 68%). This result confirmed the importance of a good methodology for displaying immunoscintigraphic images.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1988

Sequential trial of initial chemotherapy for advanced cancer of the head and neck. DDP versus DDP + 5-fluorouracil.

The study, which compares DDP to DDP + FU, was planned to detect an increase by 60% in efficacy and by 5% in toxicity (2a = B = 5%) for DDP + FU. In a previous trial DDP produced 15% of responders and 5% of high-level toxic manifestations. The eligible patients with an advanced head and neck cancer were paired off successively on the basis of the tumour site and the UICC stage. DDP (100 mg/m2; day 1) was administered with hyperhydration, alone in the first protocol and followed by a 5-day continuous infusion of 5-FU (1 g/m2) in the second one. Courses were repeated every three weeks. Assessment was carried out after three courses or two, in cases of toxic manifestations. Seventy-four patients, who were paired off, entered the trial. The median age was 55 years and the median Karnofsky index was 90. The tumor site was as follows: 28 hypopharynx, 28 oropharynx, 8 oral cavity, and 10 multiple primary cancers. According to the UICC stage, there were 14 T1/T2 N3, 60 T3/T4 with among them 45 N3, and they were all MO. Comparisons were made through sequential closed plans. The combination chemotherapy was more efficacious than DDP with a difference that could be appreciated by the sequential analysis as high as 60% (95% confidence interval, 38% to 82%). The high-level toxicity appeared more significant (+25%) for the association. After radiation therapy 11 of 37 patients (30%) achieved a complete response in the arm with DDP versus 18 of 37 (49%) in that with DDP + FU. The median survival times were 9 and 11.5 months, respectively, and were not statistically different.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Mucin histochemistry of heterotopic gastric mucosa of the upper esophagus in adults: possible pathogenic implications.

The mucin profile of 24 endoscopic biopsies of heterotopic gastric mucosa (HGM) of the upper esophagus in adults and a control group of ten cases of Meckel's diverticula containing heterotopic gastric mucosa were studied with two combined histochemical methods: alcian blue pH 2.5/PAS and high iron diamine/alcian blue pH 2.5. The clinical and light microscopic features of the 24 HGM cases were also reviewed. In addition to overall secretion of neutral mucins by the 24 HGM cases, mucin histochemistry showed prominent secretion of acidic mucins in 19 of 24 HGM cases (79%), with sulphomucins in 11 of 24 HGM cases (45.8%). This mucin profile of HGM was unlike that of either normal gastric mucosa or heterotopic gastric mucosa in Meckel's diverticula. Moreover, a comparison between the mucin profile and clinical features of HGM and Barrett's esophagus showed certain similarities. The data suggest a physiopathologic link between HGM and Barrett's esophagus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

A new approach to image subtraction in immunoscintigraphy: preliminary results.

Recently proposed image comparison software is applied to immunoscintigraphy. The software performs geometric and gray level registration of two images and generates an image of the statistically significant differences. It permits the comparison of scintigraphic images recorded at different times. It is used to subtract 113mIn and 111Inphytate colloid liver scans and early (blood pool) images from 131I or 111In-monoclonal Ab images and to compare Ab images recorded at different times. Using the procedures made possible by this software, only images recorded using the same radionuclide or using radionuclides of about the same energy are compared. Anti CEA, 19-9 and OC 125 F(ab)2 fragments labeled with 131I or 111In are used in 32 patients with 47 demonstrated recurrences or metastases of colorectal or ovarian cancers. The overall sensitivities of the unprocessed and processed images are 25/47 and 41/47 respectively. The improvement in sensitivity is particularly high in the liver when In labelled Ab are used. This technique improves the contrast of the images, but the interpretation must take into account the components of the non target activity (kidney, bone marrow, colon...) which are not removed by the image subtraction method.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1982

Phase I study of SOAz.

SOAz, an inorganic cyclic derivative, was given as a single iv injection through one cycle in a phase I trial. Dose-limiting toxic effects noted were neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurring at doses greater than or equal to 220 mg/M2 in patients with prior myelosuppressive treatment. The time to nadir for blood cell counts was long, as well as the time to recovery, so cumulative toxicity could be suspected. No other significant toxicity was noted. In patients with measurable volume, no significant antitumor responses were seen. For further study, the dose of 220 mg/m2 every 6-8 weeks according to hematologic restoration is recommended.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Thioproline toxicity.

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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1980

[The application in cancerology of continuous pump-tube enteric alimentation (author's transl)].

Malnutrition and cachexia are major consequences of neoplastic diseases. When a response to one or more forms of oncologic therapy is expected, simultaneous application of artificial nutrition is often needed. Continuous pump-tube enteric alimentation is an efficient, well tolerated method which is easy to perform in a medical ward. We fed 29 patients with this technique during a mean of 43,6 days and a daily intake of more than 3500 Kcal. We noticed the following observations: -- when out of the impact of any therapy directed against the tumor the 21 patients with advanced cancers demonstrated an ability to gain weight and to achieve a positive nitrogen balance equivalent to that performed by the 8 non tumor-bearing patients; -- radiation therapy, administered to the head, neck and thorax resulted in an increase of energetic expenditure; -- chemotherapy impairs for a few days the benefits of the enteric alimentation. This paper underlines the possibility of nutritional rehabilitation of patients with a cancer cachexia. The metabolic injury produced by chemotherapy and radiation therapy increases the need for an afficient treatment of the malnutrition in cancer.

Body Weight↗