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Biomedical subjects

S Rivkin

Publications and source records attributed to S Rivkin.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Long-distance transportation of specimens for human tumor cloning.

52 malignant effusions and 22 solid tumors were shipped from hospitals farther than 1,500 mi away to a central laboratory for culture in a human tumor-cloning system. Overall, 56% of the malignant effusions and 50% of the solid tumor specimens formed greater than or equal to 30 colonies in control plates (per 500,000 nucleated cells plated). This experience compares favorably to the percent of evaluable specimens which are cultured in the same institution which they are harvested. We conclude that with appropriate preparation, both malignant effusions and solid human tumors can be shipped to a central cloning laboratory with reasonable percentages of growth.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1980

Cis-platinum therapy of previously treated head and neck cancer: the Southwest Oncology Group's two-dose-per-month outpatient regimen.

The Southwest Oncology Group tested an outpatient Cis-platinum regimen in patients with carcinoma of the head and neck. Courses which consisted to two doses, a week apart, were scheduled to be given at 4-week intervals. Eighty-nine poor risk head and neck cancer patients, who had received extensive prior therapy with surgery, radiation, and/or multiple drugs were studied. Sixteen (18% of all entered and 25% of the 65 fully evaluable) had objective tumor regression. The median duration of response was 136 days. Toxicity was moderate. Myelosuppression was minimal with only 3% of patients exhibiting leukocyte nadirs below 2,000 and less tha 2% experiencing platelet counts below 50,000. Significant, but reversible, impairment of renal function occurred in 8% of patients. Individual susceptibility to such renal toxicity appears to have been predictable. This simple outpatient program with its effectiveness and minimal toxicity in poor risk patients deserves further utilization.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Combination chemotherapy for alkylator-resistant ovarian carcinoma: a preliminary report of a Southwest Oncology Group trial.

The Southwest Oncology Group has carried out a phase III study of combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer who had become resistant to prior drug treatment. Patients previously treated with only alkylating agents were given adriamycin-5-fluorouracil-hexamethylmelamine-cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) combination. There have been 12 partial and two complete responses among 29 evaluable patients (at least one full treatment course) entered in this four-drug combination, for a 48% response rate. Two (7%) additional patients showed objective improvement. The median duration of response was 5.8 months. Ten (34%) of 29 patients have died. The median duration of survival was 12+ months. Patients who had previously received adriamycin plus alkylating agent therapy were treated with 5-fluorouracil-hexamethylmelamine-cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II). Only 23 (31%) of these 74 patients have had partial responses while an additional 7% have had objective "improvement"; 27 (36%) of these patients have died. The median duration of survival was 14 months. Both drug regimens were well-tolerated. There were no drug-related deaths. Although thrombocytopenia was dose-limiting in up to 40% of the patients, the mean lowest platelet counts in the four- and three-drug regimens were 116,000 and 123,000/mm3, respectively. There were no cases of serious azotemia (ie, BUN level greater than 40 mg/100 ml) or severe peripheral neuropathy.

Alkylating Agents↗
PubMed1978

Adriamycin in combination for the treatment of breast cancer: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

Patients with advanced breast cancer who had not previously received chemotherapy were treated on a three-arm prospective study: adriamycin day 1 plus 5-FU on day 1 and 8 (AF), adriamycin day 1, plus 5-FU day 1 and 8, and cyclophosphamide day 1 (AFC), and adriamycin day 1 plus 5-FU day 1 and 8, cyclophosphamide day 1 and methotrexate day 1 (AFCM). These courses were repeated every 21 days. The response rate was 44/105 (42%) AF, 44/103 (43%) AFC and 52/105 (49%) AFCM. The length of response was 22, 33 and 35 weeks, respectively, for AF, AFC and AFCM (P = 0.21). The median survival, 64 weeks, was equal in all three limbs. The major toxicity was leukopenia. Twenty-eight percent developed a WBC of less than 2,000/microliter, which resulted in seven deaths (2.2%).

Adult↗
PubMed1975

A phase II study of methyl CCNU in the treatment of solid tumors and lymphomas: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

In March of 1972, the Southwest Oncology Group initiated a Phase II study, No. 7200, utilizing methyl-CCNU in the treatment of patients with solid tumors and lymphomas. Initially, they received 200 mg/m2 orally as a single dose every 6 weeks. The dose was subsequently reduced in poor-risk patients to 150 mg/m2. There were 69 responses noted in 675 evaluable patients (10%). The highest response rates were noted in patients with Hodgkin's disease (13/31, 35%), malignant gliomas of the brain (8/29, 28%), anaplastic carcinomas of the lung (5/20, 25%), and squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (5/29, 17%). Squamous cell tumors appeared to be more responsive than adenocarcinomas (15% vs. 5%, respectively). Hematologic toxicity was cumulative, and was influenced by dose and prior treatment. There appeared to be no cross-resistance in patients previously treated with alkylating agents. Methyl-CCNU is an active antineoplastic agent. Further studies are indicated in order to determine relative effectiveness.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1975

CCNU and bleomycin in the treatment of cancer: a Southwest Oncology Group Study.

CCNU and Bleomycin, alone or in combination, were used to treat 397 evaluable cases of advanced cancer. Responses defined as 50% or greater reduction in all tumor masses occurred in 13/35 lymphomas, 8/50 brain cancers, and 28/312 other solid tumors. Hematologic toxicity of a life-threatening degree occurred in 33/298 patients evaluable for CCNU toxicity; in an additional 50 it was considered severe. Pulmonary toxicity was severe in 4 patients. Drug-associated deaths (4) included one each due to leukopenia and thrombocytopenia after CCNU; one due to pulmonary toxicity after Bleomycin; and one due to shock after the 20th dose of Bleomycin. There was no suggestion of synergism or additive activity with the two drugs.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vinblastine, bleomycin, and cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) in disseminated testicular cancer: preliminary report of a Southwest Oncology Group Study.

Combination induction chemotherapy consisting of vinblastine, bleomycin, and cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) was administered to 126 patients with advanced germ cell tumors of the testis. Following this 4-month induction therapy, maintenance treatment consisting of chlorambucil and actinomycin D alternating monthly with vinblastine was given for an additional 20-month period. Sixty-four patients (51%) achieved a complete remission, while 33 patients (26%) achieved a partial response. Responses were observed in all histologic categories. Seven patients (11%), who were in complete remission, have relapsed at a median time of 5 months. Median duration of remission is greater than 12 months for complete responders and 4 months for partial responders. Significant leukopenia was noted in 57% of evaluable courses and significant thrombocytopenia was noted in 18%. Less than 20% of patients were noted to have nephrotoxicity. Other toxic effects observed were gastrointestinal (42%), dermatologic (15%), pyrexia (14%), neuromuscular (9%), and pulmonary (less than 5%). Several pretreatment parameters are currently being evaluated to determine the impact on complete remission rate and survival.

Antineoplastic Agents↗