Neurotoxicity Caused by the Treatment with Platinum Analogues

Platinum agents (cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin) are a class of chemotherapy agents that have a broad spectrum of activity against several solid tumors. Toxicity to the peripheral nervous system is the major dose-limiting toxicity of at least some of the platinum drugs of clinical interest. Among the platinum compounds in clinical use, cisplatin is the most neurotoxic, inducing mainly sensory neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. Carboplatin is generally considered to be less neurotoxic than cisplatin, but it is associated with a higher risk of neurological dysfunction if administered at high dose or in combination with agents considered to be neurotoxic. Oxaliplatin induces two types of peripheral neuropathy, acute and chronic. The incidence of oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy is related to various risk factors such as treatment schedule, cumulative dose, and time of infusion. To date, several neuroprotective agents including thiol compounds, vitamin E, various anticonvulsants, calcium-magnesium infusions, and other nonpharmacological strategies have been tested for their ability to prevent platinum-induced neurotoxicity with controversial results. Further studies on the prevention and treatment of neurotoxicity of platinum analogues are warranted

Sustained complete remission of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer in the liver during long-term trastuzumab (Herceptin) maintenance therapy in a woman: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>This case report and short review discusses how long trastuzumab should be continued in metastatic breast cancer, the safety issues in case of pregnancy and the risk of relapse with trastuzumab cessation.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present the case of a 34-year-old Caucasian woman with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer in the liver who achieved prolonged complete remission within six months of receiving trastuzumab (Herceptin) in combination with vinorelbine and gemcitabine. The patient remains in complete remission seven years later and continues to receive trastuzumab as maintenance therapy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Trastuzumab-based therapies have greatly improved the survival rates of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2- positive metastatic breast cancer. Despite such improvements, the safety of trastuzumab administration during pregnancy is yet to be defined.</p

Paravasation with cyclophosphamide - Case report of tissue necrosis in a patient with primary breast cancer

Background: Paravasation is a rare but severe complication of treatment with cytotoxic agents. Some anticancer drugs are considered to be of high toxicity (vesicant), some are merely irritant, and some are regarded as nearly non-toxic to healthy tissue as is the case with cyclophosphamide. Case Report: In this report, we present the first case of severe tissue damage caused by a paravasation of cyclophosphamide in a breast cancer patient receiving chemotherapy. Conclusion: Therefore, every attending oncological physician should be aware of the possibility of severe tissue damage as a consequence of cyclophosphamide paravasation

Aktualne poglądy na diagnostykę i leczenie niskozróżnicowanych raków neuroendokrynnych przewodu pokarmowego

Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (PDNEC) are rare tumours that can originate from any site of the gastrointestinal tract exhibiting an overall aggressive behaviour that may vary between tumours according to the degree of cellular proliferation. The majority of PDNEC are locally advanced or metastatic at presentation, and are only infrequently associated with secretory hormonal syndromes. PDNEC exhibit aggressive histological features (high mitotic rate, high Ki67 labelling index and presence of necrosis) and are further subdivided into two morphological subgroups, small and large cell variants. As PDNEC express somatostatin receptors less frequently, somatostatin receptor scintigraphy is usually negative, whereas 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography appears to be the best method of evaluating disease spread and guiding further treatment. PDNEC have traditionally been treated similarly to small cell lung carcinoma, although they show a number of different clinical and histopathologic features. First line systemic chemotherapy with a platinum-based agent and etoposide is used for patients with metastatic disease, leading to variable response rates that are often of relative short duration. Sequential or concurrent chemoradiation is recommended for patients with locoregional disease. In patients with localised disease, complete surgical resection should be offered followed by adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy); the value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy has not been evaluated as yet. The role of second line therapies is evolving, with temozolomide being a promising agent. However, the majority of data regarding PDNEC is hampered by the small number of series and their retrospective nature, making it important that multicentre co-operative studies be performed.Niskozróżnicowane raki neuroendokrynne (PDNEC, poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas) to rzadkie nowotwory, które mogą wywodzić się z dowolnego miejsca w przewodzie pokarmowym, cechując się ogólnie agresywnym przebiegiem uzależnionym od stopnia nasilenia proliferacji komórek nowotworowych. Większość przypadków PDNEC w momencie rozpoznania stanowią nowotwory miejscowo zaawansowane lub przerzutowe i rzadko towarzyszą im zespoły chorobowe związane z wydzielanymi przez te nowotwory hormonami. PDNEC cechują się agresywnym obrazem histopatologicznym (duża liczba figur podziału, wysoki wskaźnik aktywności proliferacyjnej Ki67 i obecność martwicy) i wyróżnia się wśród nich dwie podgrupy morfologiczne &#8212; odmianę drobnokomórkową i wielkokomórkową. Ponieważ w PDNEC rzadziej stwierdza się ekspresję receptorów somatostatynowych, scyntygrafia receptorów somatostatynowych zwykle daje negatywne wyniki, natomiast pozytonowa tomografia emisyjna z 18F-fluorodeoksyglukozą wydaje się być najlepszą metodą do oceny rozległości choroby i pomocną przy podejmowaniu decyzji dotyczących dalszego leczenia. PDNEC zwykle leczy się podobnie do drobnokomórkowego raka płuca, choć nowotwory te wykazują szereg różnic klinicznych i histopatologicznych. U pacjentów z chorobą rozsianą stosuje się układową chemioterapię pierwszego rzutu obejmującą pochodną platyny i etopozyd. Odsetek odpowiedzi na leczenie jest różny, a sama odpowiedź utrzymuje się względnie krótko. U pacjentów z chorobą lokoregionalną zaleca się stosowanie sekwencyjnej lub jednoczasowej chemioradioterapii. U pacjentów z chorobą zlokalizowaną stosuje się radykalne leczenie chirurgiczne z chemio- lub chemioradioterapią uzupełniającą. Nie ustalono dotychczas roli chemioterapii neoadiuwantowej. Schematy leczenia drugiego rzutu na razie ewoluują; obiecujący wydaje się być temozolomid. Wartość większości danych dotyczących PDNEC jest jednak ograniczona niezbyt dużą liczbą przypadków oraz ich retrospektywnym charakterem. Dlatego też tak ważne byłoby przeprowadzenie wieloośrodkowych badań kooperacyjnych

Improved Quality of 3D-Printed Tissue Constructs Through Enhanced Mixing of Alginate Hydrogels

While alginate hydrogel is a desirable material platform for Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) of cell-seeded tissue engineering scaffolds, achieving consistently high-quality results can be challenging. Local variations in the material properties cause inconsistent material deposition behavior and consequently decrease the resultant geometric fidelity of the construct. The effects of gel mixing on material property consistency, geometric fidelity, and cell viability were characterized in an attempt to improve the formulation’s compatibility with SFF processing. Material homogeneity was quantified through a novel experimental setup composed of an EnduraTEC mechanical test-frame and custom syringe-extrusion jig. Cell viability and geometric fidelity were assessed using standard protocol. The baseline mechanical stiffness of the printed samples was 16±3 kPa (n=6). We found that increasing mixing reduced material inconsistency and improved geometric fidelity, without adversely affecting cell viability: the printed construct quality was drastically improved by increasing mixing well beyond previously established limits.Mechanical Engineerin

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma-associated polymyositis treated with corticosteroids along with cancer specific treatment: case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas only rarely is associated with inflammatory myopathy. In this setting, polymyositis may be treated with glucocorticoids in combination with cancer specific treatment.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present the case of a 52-year-old man with stage IIA pancreatic tail adenocarcinoma who underwent surgical treatment and six months into therapy with gemcitabine he developed symmetrical, painful, proximal muscle weakness with peripheral oedema. Re-evaluation with imaging modalities, muscle histology and biochemistry conferred the diagnosis of polymyositis associated with pancreatic cancer progression. The patient was treated with glucocorticoids along with gemcitabine and erlotinib which resulted in complete remission within six months. He remained in good health for a further six months on erlotinib maintenance therapy when a new computer tomography scan showed pancreatic cancer relapse and hence prompted 2^ndline chemotherapy with gemcitabine.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Polymyositis associated with pancreatic cancer may respond to glucocorticoids along with cancer specific treatment.</p

Phase I study of dose-escalated paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (PIC) combination chemotherapy in advanced solid tumours

Based on the already known in vitro synergy between paclitaxel (taxol), cisplatin and oxazophosphorine cytostatics and the broad spectrum of activity of the above drugs we sought to evaluate the paclitaxel (taxol)-ifosfamide-cisplatin (PIC) combination in the outpatient setting in individuals with a variety of advanced solid tumours. Cohorts of patients were entered into six successive dose levels (DLs) with drug doses ranging as follows: paclitaxel 135–215 mg m−2day 1 – (1 h infusion), ifosfamide 4.5–6.0 g m−2(total dose) – divided over days 1 and 2, and cisplatin 80–100 mg m−2(total) – divided over days 1 and 2. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was given from day 5 to 14. Forty-two patients were entered. Eighteen patients had 2–8 cycles of prior chemotherapy with no taxanes or ifosfamide (cisplatin was allowed). The regimen was tolerated with outpatient administration in 36/42 patients. Toxicities included: grade 4 neutropenia for ≤ 5 days in 27% of cycles; 5 episodes of febrile neutropenia in three patients at DL-III, -V and -VI. Grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia and cumulative grade 3 anaemia were seen in 7% and 13% of cycles respectively. Three cases of severe grade 3 neuromotor/sensory neuropathy were recorded at DL-II, -III, and -V, all after cycle 3. The maximum tolerated dose was not formally reached at DL-V, but because of progressive anaemia and asthenia/fatigue, it was decided to test a new DL-VI with doses of paclitaxel 200 mg m−2, ifosfamide 5.0 g m−2and cisplatin 100 mg m−2; this appeared to be tolerable and is recommended for further phase II testing. The response rate was 47.5% (complete response + partial response: 20/42). The PIC regimen appears to be feasible and safe in the outpatient setting. Care should be paid to neurotoxicity. Phase II studies are starting in non-small-cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer and head and neck cancer at DL-VI. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig