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Pulse therapy with cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone in patients with moderate to severe paraquat poisoning: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Severe paraquat poisoning causes considerable morbidity and mortality. High doses of cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone have been used to treat patients with paraquat poisoning, but with mixed results. The use of pulse methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide was investigated in the treatment of moderately severe paraquat poisoning. METHODS: During a six-year period 87 patients with paraquat poisoning were admitted to hospital, of whom 33 had moderate to severe intoxication. Seventeen patients received conventional treatment and served as historical controls, and 16 received intravenous infusions of cyclophosphamide 1 g daily for two days and methylprednisolone 1 g daily for three days. RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups in age, sex, severity of paraquat poisoning (as assessed by urine dithionite tests), or in the time elapsed from ingestion to presentation at hospital or to the beginning of haemoperfusion. No differences were seen in biochemical measurements on the third day after paraquat poisoning. The mortality in the pulse therapy group was lower than that in the control group (4/16 (25%) versus 12/17 (70.6%), p = 0.01). All fatalities were from progressive respiratory failure. CONCLUSIONS: Pulse therapy with cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone may be effective in preventing respiratory failure and reducing mortality in patients with moderate to severe paraquat poisoning. Further controlled studies are needed to confirm this and to establish the mechanisms.

Adult↗

Astragalus mongholicus and Polygonum multiflorum's protective function against cyclophosphamide inhibitory effect on thymus.

The protective effects of two Chinese herbs, astragalus mongholicus, polygonum multiflorum and astragalus mongholicus-polygonum multiflorum in combination against thymus injury induced by cyclophosphamide were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, image analysis, DNA gel electrophoresis as well as flow cytometry. Results showed that mice pretreated with cyclophosphamide had degenerated thymus with less normal thymocytes; when those mice were treated with the herbs, thymus morphology improved. The apoptosis analysis showed the thymus treated with the herbs had fewer apoptotic thymocytes than the thymus pretreated with cyclophosphamide only. In conclusion, astragalus mongholicus and polygonum multiflorum have protective effects on the thymus against cyclophosphamide-induced injury. Their protective effects partly attribute to reduced apoptosis. Astragalus mongholicus-polygonum multiflorum in combination has better effects than either of the two herbs.

Animals↗

Cyclophosphamide stimulates lung fibroblasts to release neutrophil and monocyte chemoattractants.

Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating antineoplastic agent used in several conditions. However, little is known about the mechanism of its pulmonary toxicity. In the present study, we determined that human lung fibroblasts release activity for neutrophils and monocytes in response to cyclophosphamide in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Checkerboard analysis revealed that both neutrophil and monocyte activities were chemotactic. The release of chemotactic activity was inhibited by lipoxygenase inhibitors and cycloheximide. Molecular-sieve column chromatography revealed that both neutrophil (NCA) and monocyte (MCA) chemotactic activities had multiple peaks. NCA was inhibited by a leukotriene B(4) receptor antagonist and anti-interleukin-8 and anti-granulocyte colony-stimulating factor antibodies. MCA was attenuated by a leukotriene B(4) receptor antagonist and anti-monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and anti-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor antibodies. The concentrations of interleukin-8, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor significantly increased in response to cyclophosphamide. These data suggest that lung fibroblasts may modulate inflammatory cell recruitment into the lung by releasing NCA and MCA in response to cyclophosphamide.

Antibodies↗

Brain tumor oncolysis with replication-conditional herpes simplex virus type 1 expressing the prodrug-activating genes, CYP2B1 and secreted human intestinal carboxylesterase, in combination with cyclophosphamide and irinotecan.

The treatment of malignant glioma is currently ineffective. Oncolytic viruses are being explored as a means to selectively lyse tumor cells in the brain. We have engineered a mutant herpes simplex virus type 1 with deletions in the viral UL39 and gamma(1)34.5 genes and an insertion of the two prodrug activating genes, CYP2B1 and secreted human intestinal carboxylesterase. Each of these can convert the inactive prodrugs, cyclophosphamide and irinotecan (CPT-11), into their active metabolites, respectively. This new oncolytic virus (MGH2) displays increased antitumor efficacy against human glioma cells both in vitro and in vivo when combined with cyclophosphamide and CPT-11. Importantly, cyclophosphamide, CPT-11, or the combination of cyclophosphamide and CPT-11 does not significantly affect oncolytic virus replication. Therefore, MGH2 provides effective multimodal therapy for gliomas in preclinical models when combined with these chemotherapy agents.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Low-dose metronomic daily cyclophosphamide and weekly tirapazamine: a well-tolerated combination regimen with enhanced efficacy that exploits tumor hypoxia.

The recent clinical successes of antiangiogenic drug-based therapies have also served to highlight the problem of acquired resistance because, similar to other types of cancer therapy, tumors that initially respond eventually stop doing so. Consequently, strategies designed to delay resistance or treat resistant subpopulations when they arise have assumed considerable importance. This requires a better understanding of the various possible mechanisms for resistance. In this regard, reduced oxygenation is thought to be a key mediator of the antitumor effects of antiangiogenic therapies; accordingly, increased hypoxia tolerance of the tumor cells presents a potential mechanism of resistance. However, hypoxia can also be exploited therapeutically through the use of hypoxic cell cytotoxins, such as tirapazamine. With this in mind, we measured the oxygenation of PC-3 human prostate cancer xenografts subjected to chronic low-dose metronomic (LDM) antiangiogenic chemotherapy using cyclophosphamide given through the drinking water. We found that LDM cyclophosphamide impairs the oxygenation of PC-3 xenografts even during relapse, coinciding with reduced microvessel density. Combination of LDM cyclophosphamide with tirapazamine results in significantly improved tumor control in the PC-3, HT-29 colon adenocarcinoma, and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer human xenograft models without having a negative effect on the favorable toxicity profile of LDM cyclophosphamide. These results provide further evidence that reduced vascular dependence/increased hypoxia tolerance may be a basis for eventual resistance of tumors exposed to long-term LDM chemotherapy.

Animals↗

Highly efficacious nontoxic preclinical treatment for advanced metastatic breast cancer using combination oral UFT-cyclophosphamide metronomic chemotherapy.

Metronomic antiangiogenic chemotherapy, the prolonged administration of relatively low drug doses, at close regular intervals with no significant breaks, has been mainly studied at the preclinical level using single chemotherapeutic drugs, frequently in combination with a targeted antiangiogenic drug, and almost always evaluated on primary localized tumors. We tested a "doublet" combination metronomic chemotherapy treatment using two oral drugs, UFT, a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) prodrug administered by gavage, and cyclophosphamide, for efficacy and toxicity in a new mouse model of advanced, terminal, metastatic human breast cancer. The optimal biological dose of each drug was first determined by effects on levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cells as a surrogate marker for angiogenesis, which was assessed to be 15 mg/kg for UFT and 20 mg/kg for cyclophosphamide. A combination treatment was then evaluated in mice with advanced metastatic disease using a serially selected metastatic variant of the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer-cell line, 231/LM2-4. UFT or cyclophosphamide treatment showed only very modest survival advantages whereas a combination of the two resulted in a remarkable prolongation of survival, with no evidence of overt toxicity despite 140 days of continuous therapy, such that a significant proportion of mice survived for over a year. In contrast, this striking therapeutic effect of the combination treatment was not observed when tested on primary orthotopic tumors. We conclude that combination oral low-dose daily metronomic chemotherapy, using cyclophosphamide and UFT, is superior to monotherapy and seems to be a safe and highly effective experimental antimetastatic therapy, in this case, for advanced metastatic breast cancer.

Animals↗

Mcl-1 is a novel therapeutic target for human sarcoma: synergistic inhibition of human sarcoma xenotransplants by a combination of mcl-1 antisense oligonucleotides with low-dose cyclophosphamide.

PURPOSE: Little is known about the role that Mcl-1, an antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family member, plays in solid tumor biology and susceptibility to anticancer therapy. We observed that the Mcl-1 protein is widely expressed in human sarcoma cell lines of different histological origin (n = 7). Because the expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins can significantly contribute to the chemoresistance of human malignancies, we used an antisense strategy to address this issue in sarcoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: SCID mice (n = 6/group) received s.c. injections of SW872 liposarcoma cells. After development of palpable tumors, mice were treated by s.c.-implanted miniosmotic pumps prefilled with saline or antisense or universal control oligonucleotides (20 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks). On days 2, 6, and 10, mice were treated with low-dose cyclophosphamide (35 mg/kg i.p) or saline control. During the experiments, tumor weight was assessed twice weekly by caliper measurements. On day 14, animals were sacrificed. Tumors were weighed and fixed in formalin for immunohistochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling analysis. RESULTS: Mcl-1 antisense oligonucleotides specifically reduced Mcl-1 protein expression but produced no reduction in tumor weight compared with saline-treated control animals. Cyclophosphamide monotreatment caused only modest tumor weight reduction compared with saline control. However, use of Mcl-1 antisense oligonucleotides combined with cyclophosphamide clearly enhanced tumor cell apoptosis and significantly reduced tumor weight by more than two-thirds compared with respective control treatments. CONCLUSION: A combination of Mcl-1 antisense oligonucleotides with low-dose cyclophosphamide provides a synergistic antitumor effect and might qualify as a promising strategy to overcome chemoresistance in human sarcoma.

Animals↗

Phase I study of MetXia-P450 gene therapy and oral cyclophosphamide for patients with advanced breast cancer or melanoma.

PURPOSE: MetXia-P450 is a novel recombinant retroviral vector that encodes the human cytochrome P450 type 2B6 gene (CYP2B6), Escherichia coli lacZ, and neomycin resistance marker genes. Cytochrome P450 enzymes are primarily expressed in the liver and convert the prodrug cyclophosphamide to an active phosphoramide mustard and acrolein. Gene-based delivery of CYP2B6 to the tumor site leads to local prodrug activation and higher concentrations of the active metabolites at the target site. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: MetXia-P450 was directly injected into metastatic cutaneous tumor nodules on days 1 and 2 and nodules biopsied on day 7. Oral cyclophosphamide (100 mg/m(2)) was administered between days 8 and 22. Subsequent cycles of oral cyclophosphamide were repeated for 2 of 4 weeks. Gene transfer levels in biopsy samples were measured by histologic and quantitative PCR analyses. Safety assessments were made using PCR for vector dissemination to the blood after injection and using PCR and serologic analyses to detect replicating virus. Secondary end points included clinical response, toxicity, and evaluation of antitumor immune responses by measurement of carcinoembryonic antigen and 5T4 antibodies. RESULTS: Twelve patients with breast cancer (n = 9) and melanoma (n = 3) received three dose levels of MetXia-P450 ( approximately 8 x 10(5), approximately 8 x 10(6), and approximately 8 x 10(7) lacZ transferring units/mL). The product was safe and well tolerated. The lacZ transgene was detected in biopsy material by immunohistochemistry in 10 of 12 patients and integrated viral sequences by PCR in 3 of 6 patients. One (8%) patient with breast cancer had a partial response and received 7 months of oral cyclophosphamide. Four (33%) patients had stable disease for > or =3 months and the rest had progressive disease. Preliminary immunologic analyses were suggestive of an antitumor response in two patients (partial response in one patient and stable disease in one patient). CONCLUSION: MetXia was safe and well tolerated. Gene transfer was detected at all dose levels, and the initial suggestion of an antitumor response indicates that MetXia-P450 should undergo further clinical assessment.

Administration, Oral↗

Cyclophosphamide dose intensification during induction therapy for intermediate-risk pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma is feasible but does not improve outcome: a report from the soft tissue sarcoma committee of the children's oncology group.

PURPOSE: More than half of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma cases have intermediate-risk features and suboptimal outcome (3-year failure-free survival estimates, 55 to 76%). Dose intensification of known active agents may improve outcome. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of dose intensification of cyclophosphamide in previously untreated patients ages < 21 years with intermediate-risk rhabdomyosarcoma. Induction therapy comprised four 3-week cycles of VAC: vincristine (V) 1.5 mg/m2 on days 0, 7, and 14; actinomycin D (A) 1.35 mg/m2 on day 0; and dose-intensified cyclophosphamide (C) on days 0, 1, and 2. The three cyclophosphamide dose levels tested were as follows: (a) 1.2 g/m2/dose; (b) 1.5 g/m2/dose; and (c) 1.8 g/m2/dose. Continuation therapy comprised nine additional cycles of VAC with 2.2 g/m2/cycle of C. Radiotherapy was administered at week 0 (parameningeal tumors with intracranial extension) or week 12 or 15 (all others). RESULTS: Between October 1996 and August 1999, 115 eligible patients were enrolled. Three of 15 patients treated at dose level 2 experienced life-threatening dose-limiting toxicity (typhlitis +/- other severe toxicity). Dose level 1 was the maximum-tolerated dose, and 91 evaluable patients were treated at this level. The 3-year failure-free and overall survival estimates for patients treated at the maximum-tolerated dose were 52% (95% confidence interval, 41-64%) and 67% (95% confidence interval, 56-77%), respectively, at a median follow-up of 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: A 64% increase in the standard cyclophosphamide dosage during induction (to 3.6 g/m2/cycle) was tolerated. However, outcomes were similar to those observed at lower dosages, suggesting that alkylator dose intensification does not benefit patients with intermediate-risk rhabdomyosarcoma.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

The combination of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib and the bcl-2 antisense molecule oblimersen sensitizes human B-cell lymphomas to cyclophosphamide.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the combination of the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib and the bcl-2 antisense molecule oblimersen can sensitize human lymphoma to cyclophosphamide. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Cytotoxicity assays were conducted to determine if there was any additive or synergistic interaction between the combinations of bortezomib, oblimersen, and cyclophosphamide using a standard trypan blue exclusion assay. Based on these experiments, in vivo experiments in severe combined immunodeficiency beige mice were done using human lymphoma xenografts in which different schedules were explored. Bcl-2 and oblimersen levels were determined in treated tumors, some of which were resected at the end of the in vivo experiment and evaluated pathologically. RESULTS: The results suggest that the combination of bortezomib and oblimersen seem to interact in at least an additive fashion, and that the addition of cyclophosphamide to this drug combination can markedly improve tumor cell kill. In addition, it seems that these drug combinations may be schedule-dependent, with a requirement for oblimersen pretreatment. Animals treated with the triplet drug combination in a schedule-dependent manner experienced pathologic complete regression of disease, which was not observed in other treatment cohorts. The addition of bortezomib also seemed to increase the levels of intracellular oblimersen, which resulted in a marked reduction in Bcl-2. Histologic studies confirmed marked necrosis and caspase-3 activation only in the cohort receiving all three drugs. CONCLUSION: The use of Bcl-2-directed therapy and a proteasome inhibitor sensitizes human lymphoma cells to cytotoxic drugs like cyclophosphamide. This combination may offer new opportunities for integrating novel targeted therapies with conventional chemotherapy.

Animals↗

Phase I study of low-dose interleukin-2, fludarabine, and cyclophosphamide for previously untreated indolent lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

PURPOSE: Fludarabine and cyclophosphamide is an effective combination but increases the risk of opportunistic infections due to depressed lymphocyte counts. In an attempt to preserve CD4 counts, we conducted a phase I, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) added to fludarabine and cyclophosphamide in patients with treatment-naive indolent lymphomas or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Subcutaneous IL-2 (days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle) was combined with cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2, day 8) and fludarabine (20 mg/m2, days 8-12) at four dose levels: 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, and 1.4 x 10(6) IU/m2/d. IL-2 dose was escalated in cohorts of four to six patients, with one patient per cohort receiving placebo. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients, median age 50, were enrolled, of whom 30% had chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma and 52% had follicular lymphomas. The combination was generally well tolerated, with mainly hematologic toxicities. CD4 counts typically declined substantially during the early weeks of treatment and remained suppressed for months afterward. In the 18 evaluable patients who received IL-2, the mean absolute CD4 count was 999 cells/microL (range, 97-3,776) pretreatment, 379 cells/microL (range, 54-2,599) at day 14, and 98 cells/microL (range, 17-291) at end of treatment. In longitudinal linear models, the changes in CD4 counts were not significantly different across IL-2 dose levels. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of low-dose IL-2 to fludarabine and cyclophosphamide does not seem immunoprotective. New approaches are needed to reduce the cellular immunosuppression and infectious complications associated with purine analogues.

Adult↗

Camptothecin analogs (irinotecan or topotecan) plus high-dose cyclophosphamide as preparative regimens for antibody-based immunotherapy in resistant neuroblastoma.

PURPOSE: We used high-dose cyclophosphamide plus topotecan/vincristine (CTV) or irinotecan (C/I) in patients with resistant neuroblastoma. The aim was to use a regimen with little risk to major organs to (a) achieve or consolidate remission in heavily treated patients and to (b) induce an immunological state conducive to passive immunotherapy with the murine 3F8 antibody. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: CTV and C/I included cyclophosphamide 140 mg/kg ( approximately 4200 mg/m(2)). With CTV, topotecan 2 mg/m(2) was infused i.v. (30 min) on days 1-4 (total, 8 mg/m(2)), and vincristine 0.067 mg/kg was injected on day 1. With C/I, irinotecan, 50 mg/m(2) was infused i.v. (1 h) on days 1-5 (total, 250 mg/m(2)). Mesna and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were used. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients received 38 courses of CTV, and 26 patients received 38 courses of C/I. All patients had previously received topotecan, a hemopoietic stem-cell transplant, and/or high-dose cyclophosphamide. CTV and C/I caused myelosuppression of comparably prolonged duration as follows: absolute neutrophil counts <500/ micro l lasted 5-12 days in patients who had not previously received transplant and 7-21 days in patients who were post-transplant. Other significant toxicities included typhlitis (two CTV-treated patients, one C/I-treated patient) and hemorrhagic cystitis (one C/I-treated patient). Major responses were seen in 4 (15%) of 26 CTV and 4 (17%) of 24 C/I-treated patients with assessable disease. Bone marrow disease resolved in 5 (28%) of 18 CTV-treated patients and in 4 (27%) of 15 C/I-treated patients. 3F8 after CTV or C/I was not blocked by neutralizing antibodies, consistent with the desired immunosuppressive effect of high-dose cyclophosphamide. CONCLUSIONS: CTV and C/I require transfusional and antibiotic support but otherwise entail tolerable morbidity. They have modest antineuroblastoma activity in heavily treated patients and are good preparative regimens for passive immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies.

Adolescent↗

Intensified adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil therapy: a dose-finding study for ambulatory patients with breast cancer.

Escalating doses of cyclophosphamide were given every 3 weeks as adjuvant treatment for women operated for breast cancer to determine the maximum tolerated dose of cyclophosphamide that can be given with constant doses of methotrexate (40 mg/m2) and 5-FU (600 mg/m2; CMF) as an outpatient treatment without the routine use of granulocyte colony-stimulating growth factor (G-CSF). The dose of cyclophosphamide was increased by 250 mg/m2 starting from the dose of 1,000 mg/m2. Mesna was given to prevent cystitis. The criteria for dose-limiting toxicity were grade IV granulocytopenia lasting for longer than 48 h, granulocytopenic infection or other grade IV toxicities. G-CSF and ofloxacin were used if grade IV granulocytopenia continued for longer than 48 h or if granulocytopenic infection occurred. At the dose level of 1,500 mg/m2 (500 mg/m2/week) 22 (92%) of the 24 patients had grade IV granulocytopenia during the 6 CMF cycles given, but only 3 (13%) had granulocytopenic fever. G-CSF was used in 28% of the cycles at this dose level. Other toxicities included complete alopecia (79%), nausea and vomiting. Sixteen (80%) of the premenopausal women became postmenopausal. At the dose level of 1,750 mg/m2 all 3 patients treated had to be hospitalized after the first cycle due to neutropenic infection (n = 2) or intractable vomiting even though prophylactic G-CSF was used. We conclude that intravenous CMF with a cyclophosphamide dose of 1,500 mg/m2 given at 3-week intervals with the selective use of prophylactic G-CSF is feasible as adjuvant treatment for patients with breast cancer.

Adult↗

Treatment with cyclophosphamide in elderly-onset nephrotic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The best treatment of elderly-onset nephrotic syndrome has not been well defined. The use of corticosteroids or combination immunosuppressants may be associated with a significant incidence of side effects in the elderly. There is little data on the use of cyclophosphamide alone. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 30 patients with idiopathic elderly-onset nephrotic syndrome treated with cyclophosphamide. RESULTS: Male to female ratio was 2:1, mean age at diagnosis was 72.7 +/- 5.9 years and average length of follow-up was 41.4 +/- 21.3 months. Significant co-morbidities, including hypertension, were present in 57%. A raised serum creatinine level was found in 57%. Biopsy revealed 15 membranous nephropathy, 4 mesangial proliferative Gn, 5 IgA nephropathy, 3 minimal change nephropathy, 2 focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and 1 C1q nephropathy. Cyclophosphamide was given for 32.0 +/- 16.2 weeks with an averaged cumulative dose per patient 177 +/- 84 mg/kg BW. Remission (complete or partial) was attained by 40, 63, 80 and 87% of patients within 12, 24, 36 and 48 weeks of treatment, respectively. Eighteen patients attained complete remission and 9 partial remission after treatment. The mean interval to attain first remission (complete or partial) was 18.9 +/- 14.6 weeks. This was not affected by age (p = NS) or initial albumin level (p = NS). At the time of last follow-up, all but 2 patients were in complete or partial remission with raised serum creatinine levels in 40%. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclophosphamide was effective and well tolerated in the treatment of elderly-onset nephrotic syndrome, with sustained remission and preserved renal function.

Aged↗

Clinical effects of intermittent, intravenous cyclophosphamide in severe systemic lupus erythematosus.

To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of intermittent intravenous cyclophosphamide in the treatment of severe systemic lupus erythematosus, 20 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and evidence of severe renal involvement or systemic vasculitis, consecutively admitted to the hospital were studied. Cyclophosphamide was administered intravenously at a dosage of 1.0 g/m2 monthly, during 6 months and maintained every 3 months during 12 additional months. Of 10 patients with active lupus nephritis, a reduction or disappearance of proteinuria and maintenance of normal renal function was recorded in 6. Improvement of renal function was observed in 4 out of 7 patients with renal insufficiency at initial evaluation; resolution of renal insufficiency was more frequently observed in patients with recent onset renal failure. At the end of the follow-up (18.0 +/- 14.5 months) disappearance or reduction of nephrotic range proteinuria was recorded in 6 out of 14 patients; there was progression toward renal failure in 4 patients (20%). Response to intravenous cyclophosphamide therapy was observed in 4 of 5 patients with severe extrarenal SLE. Side effects, recorded in 12 patients, were mild and transient and in no patient was the treatment discontinued. Four patients died during the follow-up, although in 2 of them the deaths were not attributable to therapy. Even though this was an open and uncontrolled study, intermittent, intravenous cyclophosphamide was an effective therapy for severe, steroid refractory SLE.

Adolescent↗

Optimal control of cyclophosphamide-induced emesis.

Cyclophosphamide induces moderate to severe emesis. The severity of emesis is dependent on the dose of cyclophosphamide and on the addition of other cytotoxic drugs. A review of the literature dividing studies according to the dose of cyclophosphamide and the specific cytotoxic combination shows that ondansetron plus dexamethasone provides optimal antiemetic therapy in patients receiving standard or high-dose cyclophosphamide (> or = 450 mg/m2). These studies also show that it is important to give antiemetic therapy to cover the prolonged duration emesis and nausea induced by these regimens, e.g. intravenous CMF/(F)AC/(F)EC. For continuous 'oral' (low-dose) CMF chemotherapy, oral ondansetron or oral metoclopramide plus intravenous (or possibly oral) dexamethasone are effective antiemetic therapies.

Antiemetics↗

Adverse effect of cyclophosphamide at moderate dose in combination with standard drugs on intraperitoneally implanted Lewis lung carcinoma in mice.

Adverse (tumor-enhancing) effects of cyclophosphamide at moderate dose (50 mg/kg) given therapeutically were confirmed on the intraperitoneally implanted Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) in allogeneic DBA/2 and BALB/c mice. It was recently demonstrated that antitumor effects of five standard drugs (actinomycin D, adriamycin, BCNU, 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate) were abolished or diminished when cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg) was therapeutically combined with such drugs against intraperitoneally implanted LLC both in syngeneic C56BL/6 and allogeneic DBA/2 and BALB/c mice, while the effects of three drugs (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, 5-thioguanine and vincristine) were not affected by the cyclophosphamide therapy. It is suggested that cyclophosphamide therapy at adjusted lower doses in man might not only be effective but also have a risk to enhance tumor growth and diminish the beneficial effects of other drugs in combination chemotherapy.

Animals↗

Differential effects of cyclophosphamide and cortisone acetate on bronchoalveolar phagocytic cell populations.

The effects of cyclophosphamide and cortisone acetate on numbers of pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) and on inflammatory response of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to bacterial infection in the lung were studied in guinea pigs. Groups of animals were treated for 7 days with each drug alone or in combination. Bronchoalveolar lavage was carried out on the day after completion of the drug regimens. Selected animals were challenged via the trachea with Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2 hours before lavage. Single-drug therapy did not significantly decrease numbers of PAM in lavage fluids, but combined therapy led to a 60 per cent (P less than 0.01) decrease in numbers of PAM. Normal animals and cortisone-treated animals responded 2 hours after Pseudomonas lung challenge with a 4-fold increase in PMN in lavage fluid, wherease animals treated with cyclophosphamide or the combined-drug regimen failed in this response. The clearance of viable Pseudomonas organisms from bronchoalveolar fluids was inhibited only in animals treated with both cyclophosphamide and cortisone. Thus, only a combined regimen of cyclophosphamide plus cortisone led to the simultaneous occurrence of decreased numbers of PAM, as well as inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocyte inflammation in the lung. Combined immunosuppressive drug regimens may result in more severe alterations in lung host defense for the clearance of bacteria than does single-drug therapy.

Animals↗