Australia antigen and anti-australia antibody in lymphomas, leukemias and breast cancer

The sera of 90 lymphoma and 60 leukemic patients were studied for the presence of either HBsAg or anti-HBs using counter-electrophoresis. In addition, the study included 40 breast cancer patients and 20 normal healthy subjects as controls. The findings indicated a close and specific association between hepatitis B infection and leukemia. The frequency of exposure in leukemia patients was 17% compared to 5% in the other groups. Acute leukemia cases with positive HBsAg or anti-HBs reactions indicated a group with very bad prognosis. The causal relationship of hepatitis B virus to certain types of leukemias was discussed

phase II study of vindesine in patients with hodgkin's disease, lymphoma, and breast cancer

Seventy-four patients with Hodgkin's disease, lymphomas, and breast cancer were treated with vindesine 3 mg - 3.5mg/ m/[2]/week iv. Complete, partial and mixed responses were encountered in 16 of 26 patients with Hodgkins disease, in 9 of 24 lymphoma patients, and partial response in 4 of 24 breast cancer patients. Mild to moderate degree of peripheral neuropathy was encountered in 46 patients. Mild leucopenia was seen in 12 patients. It is concluded that vindesine is efficacious in Hodgkin's disease and lymphomas, and is recommended for combination chemotherapy regimes

Effect of combination chemotherapy on the clinical response of malignant lymphoma

This study included 56 patients with advanced stages of malignant lymphoma: 36 NHL, and 20 HD. The most common pathological subtypes were diffuse poorly differentiated lymphocytic in NHL and mixed cellularity in HD, both of which are known to be of unfavorable prognosis. Conventional combination chemotherapy produced nearly the same CR rate in both HD [57%] and NHL [50%], whereas the <> chemotherapy was more effective in HD [CR rate with MOPP-6 = 71.4%] and less effective in NHL [CR rate with CHOP= 40%, and CHOP-L 33.3%]. Although <> combinations were known to be better for clearing the disease, additional toxicities of these combinations apparently resulted in disturbing the patient-tumor relationship. This might explain the poorer response of NHL patients who received the aggressive combinations

Clinicoepidemiologic study of leukemia: analysis of 220 cases managed in the National Cancer Institute

The study was carried out retrospectively on 220 consecutive cases of leukemia. An age and sex matched control group was chosen, with the diagnosis of malignant disease other than leukemia. The commonest cell type is the acute lymphoblastic being in the second decade. The median age shifts to third decade in AML and AMML, fourth decade in A. stem cell and CML. The highest median age is that of chronic lymphatic leukemia [6th decade]. Seasonal variation was detected with a higher frequency of cases in January and July. More leukemia cases have permanent residence in Cairo and Giza relative to other malignancies. Self-selection can not be excluded, due to the availability of the National Cancer Institute in Cairo and difficulty of management of leukemia cases elsewhere. Lower frequency of cases coming from Fayoum awaits further confirmation. There is a possibility of a high prevalence of the disease in Port-Said relative to other governorates. More specific studies are invited in this respect. The main presenting symptoms were osseous and articular symptoms. They were more frequent in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Malaise and easy fatiguability are present in all types of leukemia. Fever and bleeding were more in the acute than in the chronic forms. Multiple swellings were more frequent in the lymphatic than non-lymphatic leukemia. Splenomegaly was present in 95.2% of chronic myeloid leukemia