Results of paclitaxel (day 1 and 8) and carboplatin given on every three weeks in advanced (stage III-IV) non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: Both paclitaxel (P) and carboplatin (C) have significant activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The weekly administration of P is active, dose intense, and has a favorable toxicity profile. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 51 consecutive patients receiving C and day 1 and 8 P chemotherapy (CT) regimen in advanced stage NSCLC to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity. METHODS: Patients treated in our institutions having pathologically proven NSCLC, no CNS metastases, adequate organ function and performance status (PS) ECOG 0–2 were given P 112.5 mg/m(2 )intravenously (IV) over 1 hour on day 1 and 8, followed by C AUC 5 IV over 1 hour, repeated in every three weeks. PC was given for maximum of 6 cycles. RESULTS: Median age was 58 (age range 39–77) and 41 patients (80%) were male. PS was 0/1/2 in 29/17/5 patients and stage was IIIA/IIIB/IV in 3/14/34 patients respectively. The median number of cycles administered was 3 (1–6). Seven patients (14%) did not complete the first 3 cycles either due to death, progression, grade 3 hypersensitivity reactions to P or lost to follow up. Best evaluable response was partial response (PR) in 45% and stable disease (SD) in 18%. Twelve patients (24%) received local RT. Thirteen patients (25%) received 2nd line CT at progression. At a median follow-up of 7 months (range, 1–20), 25 (49%) patients died and 35 patients (69%) progressed. Median overall survival (OS) was 11 ± 2 months (95% CI; 6 to 16), 1-year OS ratio was 44%. Median time to progression (TTP) was 6 ± 1 months (95% CI; 4 to 8), 1-year progression free survival (PFS) ratio was 20%. We observed following grade 3 toxicities: asthenia (10%), neuropathy (4%), anorexia (4%), anemia (4%), hypersensitivity to P (2%), nausea/vomiting (2%), diarrhea (2%) and neutropenia (2%). Two patients (4%) died of febrile neutropenia. Doses of CT were reduced or delayed in 12 patients (24%). CONCLUSIONS: P on day 1 and 8 and C every three weeks is practical and fairly well tolerated outpatient regimen. This regimen seems to be comparably active to regimens given once in every three weeks

New microsatellite multiplex PCR sets for genetic studies of the sterlet sturgeon, Acipenser ruthenus

Wild populations of the sterlet sturgeon, Acipenser ruthenus, are declining throughout their native ranges. In-depth knowledge of their genetic diversity and structure is urgently needed to enable the identification of management units for conservation purposes. Moreover, genetic markers are required to establish appropriate breeding schemes for supportive stocking programs and to monitor genetic changes in farmed stocks. Therefore, six species-specific, polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and arranged into five multiplex PCR sets together with nine loci from other sturgeon species. The diversity of these 15 microsatellites was examined in 67 sterlet individuals (20 farmed in Germany and 47 wild-caught in the Romanian part of the River Danube). The total number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 15 with an average of 7.20. The farmed sterlet sturgeon possessed 1 to 7 alleles per locus, with a mean of 3.13; the wild individuals were more variable, with 3 to 15 alleles per locus and a mean of 7.07. Observed heterozygosities ranged from 0 to 0.850 in the farmed individuals, and from 0.064 to 0.957 in the wild individuals. Indications of inbreeding were only found in the wild sterlet sturgeon (FIS=0.062). The genetic differentiation of the two sterlet groups was significant (FST=0.1186). The high sensitivity and discriminatory power of the 15 loci was indicated by the very low overall probability of identity for siblings (PIsib=5.099x10-5) and the high accuracy of self-classification (66 out of the 67 individuals (98.51%) were correctly identified). Thus, these newly developed multiplex PCR sets are a valuable genetic tool for identifying management units for species conservation, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture