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V Barbounis

Publications and source records attributed to V Barbounis.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Correlation of abdominal computed tomography scanning and second-look operation findings in ovarian cancer patients.

Abdominal computed tomography scanning (CT scan) was performed in 35 patients with ovarian carcinoma prior to undergoing a second-look operation. All patients were in complete clinical remission following 6 courses of chemotherapy. Results of the CT scans were compared and correlated with surgicopathological findings at second look. There were 9 true-positive, 12 true-negative, 2 false-positive, and 12 false-negative CT scan results. The sensitivity was 0.42, the specificity 0.85, diagnostic accuracy 0.6, positive predictive value 0.81, and the negative predictive value 0.50. Sensitivity was poor for omental, mesenteric, and peritoneal disease, better for metastases in lymph nodes, good for abdominal masses, and very good for ascites and disease in the liver. False-positive CT scan findings were due to either anatomic variations or adhesions and scarring resulting from postoperative changes. Four false-negative studies resulted from microscopic disease found at second look. In the remaining 8 false-negative studies, nodules or plaques more than 2 cm in diameter were not detected in the omentum (4 patients), in the mesentery and peritoneum (2 patients), and in the lymph nodes (2 patients). Due to a high false-negative rate, a normal CT scan cannot replace a second-look operation for accurate assessment of disease status.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1990

Immunoscintigraphy with 131I-labelled H17E2 monoclonal antibody compared with conventional lymphangiography and computed tomography in the detection of metastases in patients with testicular germ cell tumours.

131I-labelled H17E2 monoclonal antibody (MAb) was administered to 16 patients with germ cell tumours of the testis (GCT). Eleven patients had non-seminomatous GCT and five seminoma. The MAb was administered into the webs between the second and third toes of both feet in 12 patients and intravenously in four patients at a dose of 1.5-2mCi. 131I-labelled 2-118 MAb (non-specific) was administered subcutaneously into the webs between the second and third toes of both feet in two patients and intravenously in one patient with non-seminomatous GCT. All three patients had only computed tomography (CT) scan. Patients were scanned immediately after until 7 days post-injection. For comparison all patients had CT scan and eight out of 16 patients had conventional lymphangiography (LG). When the radiolabelled MAb was given subcutaneously, the immunoscan (IS) was true positive in 9/12 (75%) patients and true negative in 2/12 (16.5%) and equivocal in 1/12 (8.5%). The LG gave true positive results in 6/8 (75%) patients and true negative results in 2/8 (25%) and the CT scan true positive results in 8/12 (66.6%) patients, true negative results in 2/12 (16.3%) and false negative results in 2/12 (16.3%). There was an excellent correlation of IS images with the LG results (true positivity 100%). When the radiolabelled MAb was given intravenously, both IS and CT scan gave true positive results in four cases. Our findings showed that the true positivity of IS reached 93.8%, whereas that of CT scan 87.5%. In all three patients who had the 131I-labelled 2-118 non-specific MAb, the IS was false negative, whereas the CT scan was true positive. Thus, this procedure may offer information complementary to that provided by existing conventional imaging methods.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1989

Treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma with dacarbazine, vindesine and cisplatin.

Twenty-seven patients with disseminated malignant melanoma were treated monthly with cisplatin (CDDP) 120 mg m-2 on day 1, vindesine (VDS) 3 mg m-2 on day 2 and dacarbazine (DTIC) 250 mg m-2 on days 2-6. None of them had received prior chemotherapy. All patients are evaluable for response and toxicity. There were five (19%) complete (CR) and seven (26%) partial (PR) responses for a total response rate of 45%. We conclude that the combination of DTIC, VDS and CDDP is capable of producing a relatively high rate of response in patients with advanced metastatic malignant melanoma, but responses are short.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

First line combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide in advanced ovarian cancer.

Thirty-one consecutive patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer entered a phase II study with cisplatin and etoposide combination chemotherapy. None of them had received prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Most patients had advanced (88%) or far advanced (61%) disease. All 31 patients are evaluable for toxicity which was significant and led to removal of five (16%) patients from the study. Of the 23 patients evaluable for response there were four clinical complete (CR) and eight partial (PR) responders for a total clinical response rate of 52% of evaluable patients and 39% of all patients. Eight patients (four clinical CR and four good PR) have undergone second look laparotomy with pathological CR in one of the clinical CR patients. Median survival time for responders and non-responders is 19 and 8 months respectively. The results obtained appear to be inferior to other cisplatin based combinations. Although this could be attributed to the unusually high proportion of patients with bulky disease and stage IV patients, we feel that the study suggests that etoposide did not add any benefits for this patient population to cisplatin as a single agent.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Treatment of disseminated germ cell tumours of the testis.

Between 1979 and 1987 64 men with non-seminomatous germ cell tumours of the testis were treated with chemotherapy. Nearly half of these patients had large volume disease. The most frequently used combinations were VAB-6 and POMB/ACE. Chemotherapy lasted 3.9 months for small volume disease and 5.5 months for large volume disease. Seven patients (11%) underwent resection of residual masses; viable malignancy was found in only 1 of these. Relapse occurred in 6 complete responders, 3 of whom were salvaged with further chemotherapy. Fifty-three patients are presently alive and have received no treatment for periods of 5 to 86 months. Life table analysis forecasts a survival of 81%. Adverse prognostic factors have been recognised and include high initial serum concentrations of beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-HCG) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP), large volume disease and prior irradiation. Although the survival time of patients with advanced disease has improved in recent years, it remains considerably below that of patients who present with less advanced disease. Such patients should be treated aggressively from the outset in order to obtain maximum benefit from chemotherapy. Selected cases also require adjunctive surgery.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A phase II study of flutamide in ovarian cancer.

A phase II study of flutamide was conducted in 24 patients with stage III and IV ovarian cancer who failed chemotherapy and who had measurable disease. Flutamide was administered at a dose of 100 mg three times daily continuously until evidence of progression. Partial response observed in 1 of the 23 evaluable patients (4.3%) lasted 3 months. Two patients had stable disease (8.7%) for 7 and 8 months. The remaining 20 patients had progression of disease within 3 months. Toxicity was mild.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A plasma cell variant of Castleman's disease treated successfully with cimetidine. Case report and review of the literature.

Castleman's disease is a rare benign condition of uncertain etiology, with several forms. It is postulated that a dysregulated inflammatory response may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease. We report on a case of Castleman's disease treated with the histamine receptor-2 antagonist cimetidine with favourable response, suggesting that cimetidine may be helpful in the treatment of this disease.

Adult↗