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Complete responses and survival after polychemotherapy plus interferon-alpha for patients with metastatic melanoma.

One hundred and one patients with metastatic melanoma were treated with three different dacarbazine (DTIC)-based polychemotherapy plus recombinant interferon (IFN) alpha-2b regimens in multicentre phase II trials in Finland during 1986-1993. The regimens were DTIC, nimustine (ACNU) plus IFN and two different schedules of DTIC, vincristine, bleomycin, lomustine (CCNU) plus IFN. There were 14 patients with complete response (CR) and 12 patients with partial response, with estimated median survivals of 44 months and 13 months respectively. The median survival was 14 months for 22 patients with stable disease, and 6 months for the 53 patients who had progressive or non-evaluable disease. The median progression-free interval was 6 months and the median survival 9 months for the whole group. Thirty-nine percent of patients survived at least 1 year and 17% at least 2 years. Age, sex, primary tumour site, Clark's level, disease-free interval, prior therapy of recurrence and metastatic sites of patients who achieved CR were compared with those of other patients. In addition, the predictive value of these factors for survival was analysed. Prior therapy of recurrent disease (none, surgery or surgery plus radiotherapy) and metastatic profile (soft tissue or lung, one or two sites) were associated with CR in univariate analysis, while in multivariate analysis only prior therapy was found to be an independent prognostic factor. Prior surgery plus radiotherapy, soft tissue or lung metastases and response to present chemo-immunotherapy were significant predictors of favourable survival in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis only response was an independent prognostic factor.

Adolescent↗

Statistical survey from 1982 to 1991 of 49 patients with malignant melanocytic tumors.

We investigated the clinical characteristics and outcome of 49 patients with malignant melanoma: 17 with acral lentiginous melanoma; 14 with nodular melanoma, six with superficial spreading melanoma, one with lentigo maligna melanoma, eight with melanoma in situ, one with malignant blue nevus, and two with melanoma of unknown origin. Of the 41 patients without melanoma in situ, 34.1% were in stage I, 17.1% in stage II, and 48.8% in stage III. No patients had reached stage IV. All patients with stage I, II, and III melanoma were treated with wide resection, lymph node dissection including prophylactic dissection, and combination chemotherapy with dacarbazine, nimustine hydrochloride, and vincristine (DAV) with or without Interferon-beta. The statistical analysis revealed that tumor thickness and level of invasion were factors significantly associated with outcome. A gradual increase in the number of new cases of melanoma was seen each year of the registration period (1982-1991); there was an approximately 4-fold increase during this decade over the previous decade. The majority of the primary lesions (80.5%) were located on the upper or lower extremities, the pT4 tumor thickness subgroup was the most frequent (39.0% of all melanomas), and invasion level IV was the most common (42.5%). About half (51.2%) of the melanoma patients were stage I or II; this group had a 5-year survival rate of 100%. The stage III patients had a 5-year survival rate of only 54.2% (p < 0.05).

Adolescent↗

Modulation of membrane permeability, cell proliferation and cytotoxicity of antitumor agents by external ATP in mouse tumor cells.

External ATP causes a remarkable change in the passive permeability of the plasma membrane in several types of transformed cells. When mouse melanoma cells, Clone-M3, were exposed to ATP in Tris-buffered saline, a great increase in the passive permeability was induced within several minutes. Longer exposure of Clone-M3 cells to external ATP led to a decrease in cell viability. Similar results were obtained with Ehrlich ascites cells, but none of these ATP effects were noted in untransformed cells such as NIH 3T3 cells or BALB/c mouse embryonic fibroblasts. The in vitro cytotoxic effects of antitumor agents (5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, mitomycin C and nimustine hydrochloride) against Clone-M3 cells were additively potentiated by treatment with external ATP, which also synergistically enhanced the cytotoxicity of vincristine. However, the effects of these drugs on mouse embryonic fibroblasts were not modulated by ATP. These results suggest that ATP-treatment is a useful means of enhancing a selective toxicity for tumor cells.

3T3 Cells↗

High-dose cytostatic agents in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: comparison of the engraftment promoting potential.

We investigated the potential of various cytostatic agents for preventing graft rejection following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. LEW rats received a lethal dose (35 mg/kg) of busulfan followed by injection of 1 x 10(8) F1(CAP x LEW) marrow cells, which are unable to induce a graft-versus-host reaction in LEW recipients. Rejection of the marrow graft was assessed by monitoring haematocrit and granulocyte counts. Due to its weak immunosuppressive activity, busulfan by itself is unable to allow engraftment of allogeneic marrow. Therefore, agents administered in addition to busulfan can be tested for their capacity to prevent marrow graft rejection. 120 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide, 20 mg/kg of ACNU and 240 mg/kg of ifosfamide completely prevented rejection of the allogeneic marrow. Maximum doses of BCNU applicable in conjunction with busulfan reduced the rejection rate to 12% (30 mg/kg) and 17% (40 mg/kg), whereas the antitumour agents thiotepa, melphalan, and carboplatin exhibited a very limited engraftment-promoting potential in this experimental setting. Thus, BCNU (carmustine), ACNU (nimustine), and ifosfamide might be suitable candidates for conditioning of allogeneic bone marrow graft recipients.

Animals↗

In vitro damage of isolated DNA from two brain tumor cell lines induced by a water-soluble antitumor nitrosourea.

We report the DNA sites damaged by the antitumor drug, nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU), in highly reiterated DNA sequences of rat glioma cells. A reiterated fragment of 370 base pairs (bp), obtained after Hind III restriction endonuclease digestion of rat glioma C6 or 9L cells DNA, was divided into 167 and 203 bp by subsequent Hae III enzyme reaction. The reaction of end-labelled 167 and 203 bp fragments with ACNU resulted in scission breaks corresponding to the locations of guanine. Moreover, ACNU and subsequent piperidine hydrolysis produced more frequent breaks of the phosphodiester bonds at the guanine positions, thus forming alkali-labile sites. These results indicate that the preferred site of DNA strand scission induced by ACNU is at guanine positions.

Animals↗

Interstitial chemotherapy with biodegradable ACNU pellet for glioblastoma.

For patients with nonresectable glioblastoma (GB) or recurrent GB, we have recently been using an interstitial chemotherapy with biodegradable polylactic acid pellets containing nimustine chloride (ACNU), in combination with superselective arterial ACNU injection, routine irradiation and chemotherapy. The ACNU pellets are prepared by mixing polylactic acid powder and ACNU, and then melting the mixture at low temperature and moulding it into a thin pellet. Pharmacological anticancer activity was experimentally demonstrated by the finding that a region of suppression was present surrounding an ACNU pellet placed in a B6 melanoma cell culture disc, but that no such suppression was present around a control pellet. In order to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of ACNU, a small pellet (ACNU: 0.6 mg) was implanted in the frontal lobe of rats. ACNU concentration determined by HPLC was 61.0 micrograms/g brain tissue on day 1. 22.5 on day 3, and 5.5 on day 7; small amounts of ACNU were in fact released for at least 4 weeks after implantation. This pellet was used for the clinical treatment of 11 GB patients. Four patients had several pieces of pellets implanted immediately after CT-guided stereotactic biopsy, and the other 7 had pellets placed in residual tumor after partial removal at craniotomy. No ACNU was detectable in serum. CT studies obtained at subsequent appropriate intervals disclosed gas formation around the pellets, a slight increase in edema, and necrosis or decrease in CT enhancement of tumor beginning around day 12 after implantation. Bone marrow suppression did not occur, since ACNU was administered interstitially and in the range of 50-200 mg (average: 126 mg) per patient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Therapy-related chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia with bone marrow eosinophilia associated with der(11)t(1;11)(q21;q14).

A 19-year-old male with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) with bone marrow eosinophilia terminating in myeloblastic transformation is described. Before the appearance of CMML, he received a total dose of 2,894 mg of nimustine for the treatment of a pontine glioma over 12 years. Peripheral blood count showed leucocytosis with mature neutrophils and monocytes. Bone marrow smears showed myeloid hyperplasia with increased blasts and abnormal eosinophils and dysplastic features in the myeloid and megakaryocytic cells. A karyotype analysis of the bone marrow cells indicated 46, XY, der(11)t(1;11)(q21;q14). No bcr/abl rearrangement was observed in the cells. He was treated with hydroxyurea to control the leucocyte count, but myeloblastic transformation developed.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Importance of administration method in high-dose anticancer chemotherapy from toxicological standpoint in rats.

We examined death rates in Fisher rats when chemotherapeutic drugs were administered in a prescribed amount by either a single or divided dose. Lower death rates were observed when nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU) was given in a divided dose, or when cyclophosphamide (CY), vindesine sulfate (VDS) or vincristine (VCR) was administered as a single dose. Lower hematological toxicity was observed when ACNU was administered in 2 doses and CY in a single dose. With etoposide, we did not observe any significant difference between the two administration methods. In a combination study with ACNU and VDS, we observed lower toxic death rates when the dose of ACNU was split and VDS was given as a single dose. ACNU-induced death was substantially reduced by syngeneic bone marrow support or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment. Our experiments indicate that the toxicity of the administration of chemotherapeutic agents may be significantly modified by altering the time course of administration. This would hopefully result in reducing the chemotherapy-related mortality associated with high-dose anticancer chemotherapy.

Animals↗

Pharmacokinetics of anticancer drugs in cerebrospinal fluid.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the pharmacokinetics of anticancer drugs in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during chemotherapy by the lumbar-ventricular (LV) and ventricular-lumbar (VL) routes. CASE SUMMARY: A 69-year-old Japanese woman with disseminated glioblastoma received two LV and four VL courses of CSF perfusion chemotherapy with methotrexate, nimustine, and cytarabine hydrochloride. Samples of CSF from the ventricles and lumbar spinal canal were obtained via Ommaya reservoirs during one LV and one VL course. Drug concentrations in the CSF were measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay or HPLC. RESULTS: During LV CSF perfusion, the highest CSF drug concentrations in both the ventricles and the lumbar spinal canal were observed at the end of perfusion. During treatment, the concentrations of all three drugs in the lumbar spinal canal were higher than those in the ventricles. The CSF AUC of methotrexate in the ventricles was 16.1% of that in the lumbar spinal canal. During VL CSF perfusion, the highest drug concentrations were also observed at the end of perfusion. The drug concentrations in the lumbar spinal canal were initially lower than those in the ventricles. However, the concentrations of methotrexate and cytarabine in the lumbar spinal canal exceeded those in the ventricles 3 hours after perfusion. The AUC of methotrexate in the lumbar spinal canal was 174.9% of that in the ventricles. CONCLUSIONS: The pharmacokinetics of anticancer drugs in ventricular CSF differ from those in lumbar CSF during LV and VL perfusion chemotherapy.

Aged↗

Differential sensitivity to mitomycin C between human RSa cell line and its derivative UVr-1.

To study cellular signaling factors responsible for the susceptibility of human cells to cell proliferation inhibition by anticancer drugs, human RSa cell line and its ultraviolet-resistant derivative UVr-1 were compared with respect to their sensitivity to the anti-proliferative effects of mitomycin C (MMC), 5-fluorouracil, nimustine (ACNU), cisplatin, pirarubicin (THP), bleomycin, methotrexate and ifosfamide. RSa cells were found to be highly sensitive to MMC by MTT assay compared to UVr-1 cells. The half maximum inhibition concentration of MMC against proliferation of RSa cells was approximately 100 ng/ml while that of UVr-1 cells was greater than 1 microgram/ml. There was no significant difference observed between RSa and UVr-1 cells in the sensitivity to other seven drugs examined. Analysis by flow cytometry revealed that the cell cycle of RSa was completely blocked at the G2/M phase 40 h after treatment with MMC at a concentration of 100 ng/ml whereas a substantial proportion of UVr-1 cells was not arrested at that phase even in the presence of MMC. Further immunoblot analysis on MMC-induced signal transduction showed that the amounts of phosphorylated ERK MAP kinases were increased in UVr-1 cells to a greater extent than those in RSa cells after treatment with MMC for longer than 2 h. However, the increase in p21Cip1 was observed in RSa cells 1 h after addition of MMC but was not observed in UVr-1 cells. These distinct signaling pathways might account for the differences in sensitivity to MMC between RSa and UVr-1 cells.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Efficacy of single-bolus vs. frequent low-dose treatment with nitrosourea in experimental gliomas.

BACKGROUND: Malignant glioma remains a fatal disease. Continuous or frequent low-dose (FLD) chemotherapy with nitrosoureas reportedly causes fewer side-effects than single-bolus therapy without decreasing the antitumour effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To study the effect of FLD treatment with nimustine (ACNU) in rats with glioma, we intracerebrally inoculated with C6 glioma cells. We began the ACNU treatment 5 or 8 days later (total dose, 25 or 40 mg/kg) i.p. as either one bolus or smaller doses spread over 5 days week. RESULTS: At a total dose of 25 mg/kg beginning at day 8, survival duration did not differ between untreated controls and the FLD group, while the bolus significantly prolonged survival; the FLD group showed some improvement beyond control survival at 40 mg/kg (each p <0.001). Beginning treatment after 5 rather than 8 days prolonged survival somewhat further. CONCLUSION: FLD treatment with ACNU is less effective against experimental glioma in rats than bolus treatment.

Animals↗

[Experimental study on the effect of injection with anticancer agent-oil suspension].

Local injection of an anticancer agent guided by endoscopy is thought to be effective for cancerous lesion associated with lymph node metastasis, if the anticancer drugs are drained into the lymph nodes. In the experimental study, anticancer drug-oil (nimustine-Lipiodol) (N-L) suspension (5 mg/ml) was injected into the tumor (Lewis lung cancer) that had been implanted sub dorsally in mice (57 black/6 mice) for the purpose of finding out the antitumor effect on the primary lesion. Then it was injected into sarcoma-180 that had been implanted into hind feet of mice (ICR mice) for the purpose of finding out the antitumor effect on metastatic lymph nodes. The results showed that the N-L suspension was effective for the primary cancerous lesion and metastatic lesions.

Animals↗

[Role of thallium SPECT for evaluating the effect of maintenance chemotherapy against malignant gliomas].

Thallium (Tl)-201 single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a useful tool for detecting brain tumors. In this study, we evaluated the utility of Tl-201 SPECT for determining the effect of maintenance chemotherapy with ACNU (nimustine hydrochloride)/VCR (vincristine sulfate) against malignant gliomas. The cases were comprised of 16 glioma cases; 6 astrocytomas, 2 anaplastic astrocytomas, and 8 glioblastomas. We first analyzed the correlation between Tl-201 uptake ratio and proliferative activity of the tumor, using Ki-67 immunohistochemistry in 13 cases of glioma. The uptake ratio of Tl-201 correlated with the Ki-67 staining indices (SI), and a closer correlation was obtained using Tl-201 delayed images than with the early images. We also analyzed the chronological changes of Tl-201 uptake ratio and volume of abnormal area evaluated by MRI T2-weighted imaging (MRI T2WI), in 10 cases of malignant glioma during maintenance chemotherapy. The Tl-201 uptake ratio gradually decreased with the effect of maintenance chemotherapy, and the sensitivity was superior to MRI findings. Together with MRI, Tl-201 SPECT is considered to be a useful indicator for evaluating the effect of maintenance chemotherapy against malignant gliomas.

Adult↗

Combination hepatic arterial infusion therapy is effective for ocular melanoma metastasis to the liver.

Regional treatments including chemotherapy have been applied to patients with malignant melanoma metastasis to the liver in clinical trials, but with limited efficacy. To improve efficacy, combination therapy may be beneficial. We had a case of multiple liver metastasis from right ocular malignant melanoma. The primary melanoma was surgically resected, and combination hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) therapy using dacarbazine, nimustine, vincristine (DAV), and cisplatin was applied to the metastatic focus. After HAI, marked regression of the liver metastatic focus was observed. Unfortunately, the patient passed away due to involvement of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura 9 months after the initial consultation, however, aggravation of the liver metastatic focus was not observed. Combination HAI therapy may have a potent therapeutic effect on malignant melanoma metastasis to the liver, and our regimen using DAV and CDDP may be beneficial to the improvement of prognosis without serious side effects.

Aged↗

Acute myocardial infarction induced by cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy for malignant melanoma: a case report.

A 61-year-old woman with stage IV malignant melanoma suffered acute myocardial infarction during the third course of chemotherapy with cisplatin, dacarbazine, nimustine hydrochloride and tamoxifen citrate, despite no serious problem occurring during the first and second courses of chemotherapy. Since this patient, excluding menopause, had no significant risk factor for coronary heart disease before the start of chemotherapy, the infarction was likely to be attributable to the chemotherapy regimen. Chemotherapy should be used cautiously in patients with coronary risk factors before treatment is begun.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

A randomized phase III study: comparison between intravenous and intraarterial ACNU administration in newly diagnosed primary glioblastomas.

BACKGROUND: In this randomized phase III study, the effectiveness as well as the side-effects of intraarterial [i.a.] (17 patients) versus intravenous [i.v.] (16 patients) ACNU [Nimustine] administration in newly diagnosed glioblastoma, were compared. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients undenwent extensive surgical resection, and both groups were homogeneous for the other known risk factors. Thirty-three patients with glioblastoma were treated with ACNU at the dose of 80-100 mg/m2. Treatment was repeated every 5-8 weeks for a minimum of 2 and maximum of 14 cycles. Total survival time (TST) and to time to progression were chosen as outcome variables. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No significant differences in systemic and hematological toxicity between the i.a. and iv. ACNU administration routes were detected. In both groups, tolerance of the procedure was excellent. Analysis of the main outcome measured showed no significant differences between i.a. and i.v. ACNU administration: time to progression was 6 months for i.a. ACNU and 4 months for i.v. ACNU and total survival time was 17 months for i.a. ACNU and 20 months for i.v. ACNU. In spite of ACNU dose incrementation, obtained through i.a. route administration, and subsequent higher concentration in the tumor bed, no improvement could be achieved in effectiveness.

Adult↗

Hyperfractionated radiotherapy and multi-agent chemotherapy (procarbazine, ACNU and vincristine) for high-grade gliomas: a prospective study.

AIM: To evaluate the feasibility, efficacy and toxicity of hyperfractionated radiotherapy and multi-agent chemotherapy, including procarbazine, nimustine (ACNU) and vincristine, in adults with high-grade gliomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiotherapy was administered using two fractions per day of 1.2 Gy to a total dose of 72 Gy. The chemotherapy consisted of procarbazine (90 mg/m2 orally, days 1 to 14), ACNU (80 mg/m2 intravenously, day 1) and vincristine (0.5 mg/m2 intravenously, days 1 and 8) and was administered during and after radiotherapy, up to a maximum of four courses. RESULTS: From September 1997 to August 1999, a total of ten patients (five with glioblastoma and five with grade 3 gliomas) were enrolled. All ten patients were able to complete a total dose of 72 Gy hyperfractionated radiotherapy with one course of concurrent chemotherapy. Of eight assessable patients, three (38%) had an objective response, comprising two CR and one PR. The median time to progression was 10.7 months and the median survival time of all patients was 15.0 months. Although grade 4 leukopenia and grade 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in 10% and 10% of all patients, respectively, these were transient and no patients developed neutropenic fever or intracranial hemorrhage. No serious non-hematological or late toxicities occurred. CONCLUSION: Hyperfractionated radiotherapy and multi-agent chemotherapy using procarbazine, ACNU and vincristine is safe and well tolerated for high-grade gliomas.

Adult↗

[Intrathecal distribution of ACNU by various modes of its administration analyzed by HPLC and autoradiography].

Various modes of administration of ACNU (nimustine hydrochloride) were tried to make clear which mode is the best method to obtain intrathecal diffuse distribution of ACNU to match the condition of killing of glioma cells (10 micrograms/ml; greater than 30 min.). Tried modes of administration included 1)bolus injection into ventricular cavity, 2)bolus injection into cisterna magna, 3)bolus injection into lumbar subarachnoid space, 4)ventriculo-lumbar perfusion, 5)chiasmatic cistern-lumbar perfusion. Used dose of ACNU was 5 mg/body for all modes of administration. ACNU level in CSF was measured by HPLC method specially developed by authors. To make clear intrathecal distribution of ACNU, autoradiography using 14C-ethylene-ACNU was studied after administration of 10 muCi/Kg of radioactive ACNU. The images were studied by image analyzer system (BAS-2,000 system developed by Fuji Film Co. Ltd). Among the modes of administration tried, ventriculo-lumbar perfusion method gave the best results in terms of lumbar, ventricular, cisterna magna, and basal cistern distribution of ACNU to match the cell kill condition experimentally ascertained. Although, bolus injection of ACNU into cisterna magna gave sufficient amount of ACNU in lumbar region, the initial level of ACNU was too high in cisterna magna, and administration of ACNU once a week for three times in a canine cisterna magna resulted in considerable deterioration of brain stem and basal structure. In addition to it, the level of ACNU in ventricular cavity was not detectable. Lumbar bolus injection resulted in also too much ACNU accumulation at the injected lumbar area, and at the cisterna magna region, ACNU was not detectable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗