[Local treatment with tumor necrosis factor alpha in a patient with lung cancer]. / Miejscowe leczenie czynnikiem martwicy nowotworów-alpha u chorej z guzem pluca.

Tumor Necrosis Factor alfa (TNFa) is a cytokine with cytolytic and cytotoxic properties. First clinical trials in which TNF was administered parenterally date back to early 70-ties. Soon it was noticed that when administered strictly to the tumor mass TNF exhibits high anti-tumor efficacy, exemplified by total or at least substantial regression of the tumor mass while producing minor and controllable symptoms. In this paper the case of local administration of the recombinant TNFa directly into the tumor mass constricting the bronchus was presented.

[Tumor necrosis factor-alpha--biological and immunologic properties]. / Czynnik martwicy nowotworów-alpha--wlasciwosci biologiczne i immunologiczne.

The studies investigating antitumor efficacy of bacterial infections, started by Coley, resulted in isolation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), released by activated macrophages. It was hoped that direct and indirect cytotoxic, cytostatic and immunomodulatory effects of TNF-alpha would prove helpful in obtaining an effective antitumor drug. In this paper, we describe biologic and immunologic activity of cachectin as well as pre-clinical trials of TNF application in antitumor therapy.

[Tumor necrosis factor-alpha--phase I and phase II clinical trials]. / Czynnik martwicy nowotworów-alpha badania kliniczne I i II fazy.

Not fully successful therapy of carcinomas makes us search for new methods of antitumor treatment. Beside radiotherapy and chemotherapy, immunotherapy is the method we put our hopes on. Since its isolation in mid 70s TNF-alpha has been the subject of careful studies investigating its clinical usefulness. In phase I and II clinical trials dose- and manner of administration-dependent side effects were observed, which considerably limited the use of TNF-alpha in clinical practice. Topical (intratumoral) therapy eliminated most systemic side effects. Synergic antitumor efficacy of TNF-alpha, cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-2 (IL-2), and cytostatic drugs (etoposide, cyclophosphamide) was proved.

[Analysis of ventilation parameters before and after fiber optic bronchoscopy in patients with atopic bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases]. / Analiza wskazników wentylacyjnych przed i po badaniu bronchofibroskopowym u chorych na astme oskrzelowa i przewlekla obturacyjna chorobe pluc.

Bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis in a stable period of the disease could be an indication for diagnostic bronchofiberoscopy. The aim of the authors of this article is to assess whether bronchoscopy may be safely used either as diagnostic or therapeutic procedure. 21 patients (age 33-46), 13 with atopic bronchial asthma and 8 with COPD took part in this study. The measurements were carried out one day before and 3 hours after the bronchoscopy. The following parameters: Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1), Forced Expiratory Flow (FEF25, FEF50, FEF75) and Resistance of Airways (R aw) were taken into consideration. It was shown that bronchofiberoscopy could be performed safely in these patients and did not lead to woersing ventilation parameters. Bronchospasm was not observed during the study. Moreover the increase in FEF50, FEF75 and R aw were observed. This significant decrease of amount of bronchial discharge could serve as an explanation of this phenomenon.