Lung cancer "ectopic" or inappropriate gonadotropic hormone production (in vitro demonstration)

Direct demonstration of an ectopic chorionic gonadotropin secretion from an undifferentiated giant cell cancer of the lung was obtained in-vitro from a lung biopsy specimen taken from a 45-year old male smoker with bilateral gynecomastia and elevated levels of chorionic gonadotropin in the serum and urine. The methods used in this case as well as those done by others are briefly described. (Summary)

Oral pentazocine in patients with cancer pain

In a study of 104 patients with cancer pain, doses of placebo, 25 mgs. and 50 mgs. of Pentazocine ("Sosegon") were given orally. It was shown that both sizes gave good pain relief. Side-effects were well-tolerated, with the 25 mg. sizes giving lesser and more tolerable side-effects than the 50 mg sizesThe authors recommend the adoption of 25 mg. size for the Filipino patient with moderate to servere pain. Perhaps an intermediate-sized tablet (30 to 40 mgs) might also be introduced for bigger-sized patients with severe pain. (Summary)

Vincristine-induced Vacuolar myopathy

Previously unreported vacuolar changes were seen in skeletal muscles of male Sprague-Dawley rats given LD 50 doses of vincristine sulfate. Morphologic changes involving 10.20% of the muscle fibers were seen starting 4 days after vincristine administration and consist of the following: appearance of one or more centrally located vacuoles, atrophy of muscle fibers and sarcolemmal proliferation. By day 8, muscle involvement approached 100% in most sections and consisted of extensive vacuolization plus sarcolemmal proliferation without round-cell infiltrationThat myopathy may be caused by vincristine administration has been proved in rodents.(Summary)

Chemotherapy of cancer mitomycin-C

75 patients with cancer were treated with Mitomycin-C, of which only 54 had evaluable results. Over-all response rate was 25/54 (48%) divided according to primary sites as colonic and small intestinal - 4/13 responses, breast - 5/9, liver - 3/4, gastric - 3/4, pancreatic - 2/4, gallbladder - 2/2, esophageal - 1/2, nasopharyngeal - 1/2, parotid - 1/1 and a case each of chondrosarcoma, rhabddomyosarcoma, mesothelioma, urinary bladder carcinoma, and reticulum cell sarcoma with no responsesMinor side-effects were anorexia (33%), nausea (33%), vomiting (20%), lassitude (20%) epilation (10%) and chills and fever (2.5% each). Major side-effects were leucopenia (11%) anemia (5.5%) and thrombocytopenia (4%). In the three of the patients with myelosuppression secondary to Mitomycin C, blood transfusions of 2 to 4 pints were administered because of moderate anemia. (Summary)