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Biomedical subjects

W Oster

Publications and source records attributed to W Oster.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Effect of rhGM-CSF on haematopoietic reconstitution after chemotherapy in small-cell lung cancer.

In three consecutive pilot studies the effect of recombinant human granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) on haematopoetic recovery after chemotherapy in patients with small-cell lung cancer was investigated. In study I, 20 patients received AIO chemotherapy (A, Adriamycin 25 mg/m2 on days 1 + 2; I, ifosfamide 2 g/m2 on days 1-5; O, vincristine 2 mg on day 1) at 4-week intervals either with or without rhGM-CSF (250 micrograms/m2 sc) from day 8 until recovery of leucocytes. Neither the degree nor the duration of myelosuppression was markedly influenced by rhGM-CSF. Suggesting that these disappointing results were caused by the late onset of GM-CSF application, in the following study we shortened chemotherapy to 3 days and started with GM-CSF on day 4. The main objective of this study was to test whether the earlier administration of GM-CSF allowed treatment intervals to be reduced or the dose to be escalated. After 10 patients had received a starting dose of AIO (A, 50 mg/m2 on day 1; I, 2 g/m2 on days 1-3; 0,2 mg on day 1) alternating with cisplatin (90 mg/m2 on day 1) and etoposide (150 mg/m2 on days 1-3), the dose of ifosfamide and etoposide was escalated to 2.5 g/m2 on days 1-3 and 200 mg/m2 on days 1-3 in the next 10 patients. Treatment was given at 2-week intervals when leucocytes were greater than 3500/mm3 and thrombocytes were greater than 100,000 mm3 on day 14. At each dose level patients were randomized to receive either rhGM-CSF 250 micrograms/m2 s.c. on days 4-12 or no GM-CSF. In this study, rhGM-CSF markedly shortened the duration of leukopenia. Reinstitution of chemotherapy on day 15 was possible at dose level 1 in 1/4 patients without and in 3/4 patients with GM-CSF, and at dose level 2 in 0/5 patients without and in 5/5 patients with GM-CSF. However, the degree of myelosuppression was not improved by GM-CSF. In a third study we tried to apply rhGM-CSF simultaneously with chemotherapy. After 3 patients had received GM-CSF starting on day 1 concurrent to AIO chemotherapy, we noticed an increase of myelosuppression with prolonged neutropenia and thrombocytopenia and stopped this investigation. Considering all patients included in these three consecutive pilot studies, there is no difference in response rates and survival between patients with and without rhGM-CSF treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Adjuvant therapy with recombinant interleukin-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-3 (IL-3) are important members of the system of hematopoietic growth factors which control blood formation. Recombinant human (rh) GM-CSF stimulates proliferation and differentiation of myeloid cells and enhances effectively the regeneration of granulocytes and monocytes after chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation. RhIL-3 acts on multipotent progenitor cells and induces an increase of leukocytes, platelets and reticulocytes after in vivo application. Combination of rhIL-3 and rhGM-CSF exerts a highly synergistic action on several hematopoietic cell lineages in monkeys and patients. Sequential application of rhIL-3 (5 days) followed by rhGM-CSF (10 days) has equivalent effects on myelopoiesis and thrombopoiesis compared with the effects of 15 days' monotherapy with rhGM-CSF on myelopoiesis and of a 15 days' treatment with IL-3 on platelet production. This combination seems to be very potent to reduce risk of neutropenia-associated infection and thrombocytopenic bleeding in patients with hematopoietic failure.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1991

New therapeutic modalities for the clinical use of rhGM-CSF in patients with malignancies.

Data from several clinical trials in patients with solid tumors clearly demonstrate that recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) is able to shorten the time period of neutropenia after chemotherapy and to reduce neutropenia-related morbidity such as infections, time in hospital, etc. A placebo-controlled, double-blind multicenter trial including 81 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma demonstrates the efficacy of rhGM-CSF to enhance engraftment (neutrophils greater than 0.5 x 10(3)/mm3) after autologous bone marrow transplantation (p less than 0.001) and to reduce the frequency of bacterial infections (34% vs. 56%). In addition, GM-CSF is able to shift the cell cycle of myeloid leukemic cells from the G0 to S phase in vitro and in vivo, which results in an increased sensitivity to cell-cycling-dependent cytostatic agents. Dose intensification of chemotherapy in patients with soft tissue sarcoma and metastatic breast cancer is possible due to adjuvant treatment with GM-CSF and results in a higher frequency of remissions. Further controlled clinical studies are warranted to support these results.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Hemopoietins in clinical oncology.

Despite major advances in supportive care, neutropenic infections and thrombopenic bleedings remain major lethal treatment- and disease-related complications in patients with malignancy. Moreover, complications of platelet (Plt) and erythrocyte transfusion therapy have become a cause of great concern and shortages of homologous blood products are a constant problem. Suggestions that the application of recombinant human hemopoietins may provide an alternative treatment modality in this patient population is currently being evaluated in clinical trials. Erythropoietin (EPO) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of anemia in patients with bone marrow, infiltrating low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and in some patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. Preliminary data suggest that subcutaneous administration of EPO results in a higher slope of increasing erythropoietic parameters compared to intravenous administration. Protective effects on normal erythropoiesis have been attributed to EPO in patients receiving chemotherapy. The finding of EPO receptors on megakaryocytes supports the clinical observation of increased Plt production associated with decreased bleeding and transfusion frequencies in a substantial number of patients receiving EPO. Clinical trials with granulocyte-macrophage (GM-CSF) and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) have reached phase III trials. Both factors show high efficacy to shorten or improve neutropenia related to chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, or underlying disease. Mechanisms responsible for mucosa protection and improved healing of mucositis observed with both factors remain undetermined yet phase I/II evaluation of IL-3 shows multilineage hemopoietic responses including myeloid, erythroid, and megakaryocyte lineages. Possible anti-cancer effects of hemopoietins achieved by direct action or by increased chemotherapy intensity are currently under investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Interleukin-1, characterization of the molecule, functional activity, and clinical implications.

Hematopoiesis is regulated by a number of growth factors, of which colony-stimulating factors (CSF) have been exclusively defined according to the cell type they grow in vitro in colony assays. A number of cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), which have been characterized to exhibit multiple activities, are also involved in the control of growth and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. Some CSFs and related cytokines have already been introduced into clinical evaluation. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the IL-1 molecules, their moleculargenetic, and protein features as well as their in vitro and in vivo actions which justify their development as therapeutic agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Clinical use of recombinant human hematopoietic growth factors (GM-CSF, IL-3, EPO) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome.

We have conducted several phase I/II clinical studies in a total of 65 MDS patients utilizing recombinant human hematopoietic growth factors including GM-CSF, IL-3, and EPO. Twenty-seven patients with MDS were treated with either continuous i.v. infusion or single daily s.c. injection of rhGM-CSF at dosages from 15 micrograms/m2 to 1000 micrograms/m2. All of them exhibited white cell responses during the treatment cycles, but no sustained rise in reticulocytes or platelets was recorded. In four of the patients, all with > or = 15% blast cells in the bone marrow, the percentage of circulating blast cells increased during treatment with rhGM-CSF (at dosages of 500 micrograms/m2 and 1000 micrograms/m2, respectively), although no leukemic conversion occurred. Of 9 patients treated so far with rhIL-3 at single daily s.c. dosages of 60 micrograms/m2, all exhibited white cell responses; 8 exhibited significant improved platelet and reticulocyte counts. Nineteen further patients received rhEPO for a period of 14 weeks by s.c. (10,000 U five times weekly) or i.v. bolus administration (150-450 U/kg). None of these patients experienced an increase in white cell and platelet counts. A significant increase of the reticulocyte count was recorded in 3 patients only. Another strategy involves the recruitment of leukemic cells into the cell cycle by hematopoietic growth factors followed by treatment with cycle-specific cytostatic agents. Therefore in 10 patients administration of rhGM-CSF (250 g/m2/day x 14, s.c.) was combined with Ara-C treatment (20 mg/m2/day x 14; s.c.). Initial results of this pilot study available in 5 patients indicated that this approach may control leukemic cell proliferation and may increase number of mature myeloid cells in both bone marrow and peripheral blood. A similar approach utilizing rhIL-3 in conjunction with Ara-C is on-going.

Blood Cell Count↗
PubMed1991

Remission of juvenile chronic myeloid leukemia following graft failure of an unrelated marrow transplant and autologous recovery of marrow function promoted by GM-CSF and IL-3.

The unusual course of a boy with juvenile chronic myeloid leukaemia is presented. After bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from an unrelated donor followed by graft failure and subsequent stimulation by rhu GM-CFC and II-3, this patient experienced complete recovery of autologous haematopoiesis. At 17 months post-BMT the patient was off any therapy with completely normal blood counts and no signs of disease.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMed1991

Cytokines in the pathogenesis and management of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Recombinant DNA technology has made possible the analysis of cytokine gene expression in both in vitro and in vivo studies of human hematopoietic malignancies and has facilitated the production of large amounts of recombinant cytokines. This development has led to advances in our understanding of the role of aberrant cytokine production in these diseases. These results support the concept of autocrine stimulation of leukemic growth, for instance, in multiple myeloma and acute myelogenous leukemia, and may lead to new therapeutic concepts such as the application of antibodies directed against these cytokines. Availability of recombinant cytokines has also allowed clinical testing in settings of disease- or therapy-related neutropenias and anemias, and particularly GM-CSF, G-CSF, and EPO have proven efficient in this respect. Thus, there is the prospect of more dose-intensive chemotherapy protocols as well as combinations of different cytokines that may prove more effective than application of a single compound.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Synthesis of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and its requirement for terminal divisions in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

In this paper we demonstrate that maturing neoplastic cells from patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) constitutively produce G-CSF and are also receptive for this molecule. G-CSF functions as an autocrine growth factor in stable phase CML, and thus is responsible for divisions of maturing leukemic cells leading to an expansion of the compartment of mature cells. This observation is well in line with in vivo features of CML in stable phase, i.e., the hyperplasia of the mature granulocyte compartment. In acute blastic phase of CML expression of the G-CSF gene seems to be less common and not related to autonomous blast growth.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1990

MACOP-B chemotherapy for the treatment of high grade and intermediate grade non Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Between Nov. 1985 and Nov. 1988, sixty-three patients with high grade malignant (hg) and intermediate grade malignant (img) Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) were treated with MACOP-B (methotrexate, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone and bleomycin). Thirty-seven patients received MACOP-B as an upfront treatment modality, whereas twenty-six patients had relapsed disease and received MACOP-B as a salvage protocol. Four weeks after termination of therapy, 75% of patients with de novo NHL and 72% of the patients with relapsed NHL were in complete remission (CR). In the group of newly diagnosed NHL, 22% achieved partial remission (PR) and 3% no change (NC), whereas in the group with relapsed disease 14% had PR and 14% had progressive disease (PD). At a medium follow-up of 12 months (range 1 month to 33 months), 74% of patients with de novo NHL continued to be in CR whereas the continuous CR rate in patients with relapsed disease was 35%. Overall survival after 30 months of observation for the patient group with de novo NHL was 75% and 40% for patients with relapsed NHL. The mean duration for completion of the projected 12 chemotherapy cycles, given in weekly intervals, was 12.9 and 13.5 weeks in upfront or salvage therapy, respectively. With low incidence of major toxicities, application of drugs on an outpatient basis, and high efficacy, MACOP-B shows substantial advantages for therapy of de novo and relapsed NHL.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Erythropoietin prevents chemotherapy-induced anemia: case report.

A thirty-seven year old male patient with heavily pretreated metastatic testicular carcinoma received escalating doses of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) before and throughout chemotherapy. Whereas previous chemotherapy regimens repeatedly caused anemic situations in this patient (hemoglobin (HB) 7.0 g/dl requiring multiple transfusions of red blood cells), EPO given as an i.v. bolus injection at escalating doses of 150 to 300 U/kg body weight (BW) twice/week, starting two weeks prior to the identical myelosuppressive treatment protocol, maintained HB at levels above 8.8 g/dl and thus obviated the need for erythrocyte transfusion. EPO was discontinued after 9 weeks of administration when the patient had achieved a hematocrit (HCT) of 41.1% and a HB of 12.7 g/dl. However, erythropoiesis continued to recover for the next 7 weeks reaching a HCT of 42.4% and a HB of 14.3 g/dl, although the next identical chemotherapy cycle had been given within this period. Along with the rise in HB, ferrokinetics changed significantly as measured by serum ferritin, which was reduced to one third at the end of EPO therapy after only 9 weeks (from 979 ng/ml to 320 ng/ml). No side effects due to EPO administration occurred. These data provide first evidence for efficacy of EPO in chemotherapy-induced anemia and may open new avenues for its clinical application.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Interleukin-4 regulates mRNA accumulation of macrophage-colony stimulating factor by fibroblasts: synergism with interleukin-1 beta.

We demonstrate that macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) is expressed in human fibroblasts at the mRNA and protein level. Following activation with both interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-4, fibroblasts synthesized M-CSF transcripts detectable by Northern blot analysis with peak expression occurring at 8 h and 12 h, respectively. Exposure of fibroblasts to both cytokines resulted in M-CSF protein release at 60 h of c. 500 U/ml (for IL-1 beta) and 1000 U/ml (for IL-4), relative to a control preparation of recombinant human M-CSF in a murine bone marrow colony assay. Both interleukins synergized to enhance M-CSF mRNA accumulation and their ability to induce M-CSF transcripts could be abolished by treatment with specific neutralizing antibodies. These observations provide support for the idea that fibroblasts may control monocyte/macrophage development and function, and that IL-1 beta and IL-4 are involved in the regulation of this process.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1990

Erythropoietin for the treatment of anemia of malignancy associated with neoplastic bone marrow infiltration.

This clinical trial was performed to study the effects of intravenously (IV) administered recombinant human (rh) erythropoietin (EPO) at escalating doses (150, 300, and 450 U/kg, administered as an IV bolus injection, twice weekly, for 6, 4, and 4 weeks, respectively) in five patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Ig NHL) and bone marrow involvement and one patient with multiple myeloma (MM). All patients were anemic due to underlying disease. None of the patients had a history of bleeding, hemolysis, renal insufficiency, or other disorders causing anemia in addition to bone marrow infiltrating malignancy. Endogenous EPO serum levels were significantly increased in all patients (74 to 202 mU/mL). Five patients (one MM, four small-cell lymphocytic [SCLC] NHL) showed a dramatic increase of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hk) and RBC count becoming obvious on the second EPO dose level. Initial ferritin serum values, which were high mostly due to polytransfusion, were significantly reduced in responding patients. Erythropoiesis of one patient with extensive follicular mixed (fm) NHL did not respond to EPO treatment. Platelet (PLT) count increase (greater than 75% above starting levels) during and following EPO therapy was observed in one patient with MM. Adverse events due to EPO therapy have not been recorded. These findings point out a previously unrecognized capacity of EPO given at pharmacologic doses to stimulate erythropoiesis in patients with anemia due to bone marrow infiltration by neoplastic lymphocytes in spite of enhanced endogenous EPO expression.

Aged↗