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W Friedenberg

Publications and source records attributed to W Friedenberg.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Economic analysis of a randomized placebo-controlled phase III study of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor in adult patients (> 55 to 70 years of age) with acute myelogenous leukemia. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (E1490).

PURPOSE: Considerable morbidity and mortality and costs occur during induction therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) can shorten neutropenia, and may lower costs. We performed a cost-minimization analysis of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for AML patients > 55 to 70 years of age during an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical data were from a randomized double-blind phase III trial of 117 AML patients. Estimates of costs were from financial accounts from seven participating institutions. Costs were reported from the third party payor perspective. Analyses were conducted utilizing a decision analytic model. The primary source of event probabilities was in-hospital care with or without an active infection. Sensitivity analyses were also reported. RESULTS: When compared to AML patients who received placebo. GM-CSF patients had fewer grade 4-5 infections (9.6% versus 36.2%, P = 0.002) and grade 3-5 infections (52% versus 70%. P = 0.07) and $2.310 in savings. Sensitivity analyses indicated that similar cost estimates applied over a range of clinical and economic assumptions. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis can serve as a template for cooperative group cost analyses. Cooperation on study methodologies may allow for results that are relevant to both clinicians and policy makers.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Cerebrospinal fluid monoclonal gammopathy in multiple myeloma and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.

Serum ratios of monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) to total protein, monoclonal immunoglobulin to albumin, CSF/serum Ig-albumin index, and CSF to serum monoclonal immunoglobulin were obtained in 21 patients with multiple myeloma and 2 with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Twelve patients (3 with CNS complications) showed CSF monoclonal proteins similar to their serum. CSF IgA levels above 10 mg/dl, IgG levels above 25 mg/dl, CSF-serum IgG ratios above 0.0034 and CSF-serum IgA ratios above 0.0051 were seen in patients with neurologic complications. Our preliminary data may signal early CNS involvement in multiple myeloma.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mitoxantrone, vinblastine, and lomustine (CCNU) (MVC): a highly active regimen for advanced and poor-prognosis Hodgkin's disease.

PURPOSE: A new regimen, MVC (mitoxantrone, vinblastine, and CCNU [lomustine]), was studied in advanced Hodgkin's disease. This regimen combines the most effective elements of previous regimens for poor-prognosis Hodgkin's disease and eliminates agents with unnecessary toxicities and marginal activity. Initially, patients with relapsed or refractory disease were entered, and after substantial activity was observed, patients with advanced-stage, newly diagnosed Hodgkin's disease were also treated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-six relapsed or refractory patients were entered on this study. Prior treatment included radiotherapy alone (three patients), combined-modality treatment (n = 21), and single (n = 2) or multiple chemotherapy regimens (n = 10). Seventeen advanced-stage (bulky IIB-IVB) newly diagnosed Hodgkin's patients were also entered, with a median follow-up of 7 years. RESULTS: Thirty-two of 36 (88%) relapsed/refractory patients responded to MVC, with 18 partial responses (50%) and 14 complete responses (39%). Median complete response duration is 20 months (range, 2 to 108+ months). The median survival of all previously treated MVC patients is 28 months (range, 4 to 127+ months). Eleven of 32 previously treated MVC responders remain alive and disease-free at 12 to 127+ months, seven after autologous bone marrow transplantation (12 to 127+ months) and four after MVC without transplantation (31 to 113+ months). Thirteen of 17 advanced-stage, newly diagnosed Hodgkin's disease patients achieved a complete response and four achieved a partial response to MVC (100% response rate). Two complete response and all partial response patients have relapsed. Eight complete responses are ongoing at 11 to 114+ months. Three patients died in complete response at 11, 42, and 43 months. Median response duration has not been reached. DISCUSSION: MVC is a highly active regimen in relapsed and advanced-stage Hodgkin's disease, with outcome results comparable to other established regimens. Treatment is associated with myelosuppression but is otherwise well tolerated. MVC provides an effective alternative regimen for newly diagnosed patients with Hodgkin's disease and an effective salvage regimen for patients previously treated with anthracyclines.

Adult↗