Whole-abdomen, single-dose consolidation radiotherapy in patients with pathologically confirmed complete remission of advanced ovarian epithelial carcinoma: a long-term survival analysis.

The value of consolidation therapy in advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients is controversial. The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term survival of patients with a pathologically confirmed complete remission who had consolidation by single-dose, whole-abdominopelvic radiotherapy. Of 96 histologically confirmed stage II-IV epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients who underwent cytoreductive surgery followed by high-dose, platin-based chemotherapy, 57 were in complete clinical remission at the end of therapy and 50 underwent a second-look laparotomy. The study group comprises 32 consecutive patients who had no pathological evidence of disease and who received 800 cGy single-dose, whole-abdominal radiotherapy by an 8 MEV linear accelerator in a single fraction. The absolute 5-year survival and the actuarial 10-year survival were 78.7 and 63.3%, respectively. The survival was significantly better in patients who had < or =2 cm residual disease at the completion of the original operation. No severe postradiation complications were encountered. Mild complications were seen in three (9.4%) patients. Our data indicate a favorable long-term survival of patients with a negative second-look laparotomy who had consolidation with single-dose, whole-abdominal radiotherapy. These results seem to suggest that a collaborative, prospective, randomized multiarm study is indicated to solve the controversial issue of consolidation therapy.

Hypersensitivity reaction to carboplatin. Results of skin tests.

Four patients with hypersensitivity reaction to carboplatin of variable severity, after previous uneventful cisplatin and carboplatin treatment, are described. Skin testing performed in two of the patients suggests a cross-reaction with cisplatin but was negative with carboplatin in one of them. The mechanism of hypersensitivity reaction to carboplatin is poorly understood and the issue of retreatment with carboplatin is controversial. Physicians should be aware of the possible hypersensitivity reaction to carboplatin and appropriate precautions should be taken.

Multiple malignancies in immunocompetent patients.

We have reported two patients with multiple primary cancers in the presence of normal tests of cellular immune function, including normal natural killer cell activity. Immunodeficiency has been associated with an increased incidence of neoplastic disorders, but the resulting malignancies are unique, consisting of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and a limited number of carcinomas. Immunosuppressive therapy and AIDS have been associated with aggressive sarcomas. Immunocompetence is of major importance against certain tumors. On the other hand, in spite of the limitations of the clinical evaluation of immunologic function, immunocompetence is insufficient to protect against neoplasia.

Activated interferon system in healthy homosexual men.

More than 50% of a group of healthy homosexuals in Israel were found to have an activated interferon (IFN) system as evidenced by markedly elevated blood IFN levels, increased in vitro production of IFN by unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and HuIFN-alpha and HuIFN-gamma production by appropriately stimulated cells, and a surprisingly high incidence of an antiviral state of cells. This pattern resembles that found in persons with acute viral illness, and is unlike that found in normal healthy controls. The type of IFN in the blood was found to be unusual in that it was mainly HuIFN-alpha, pH 2-labile, a type of IFN found in certain collagen diseases as well as in homosexual men suffering from Kaposi's sarcoma or lymphadenopathy. Natural killer (NK) cytotoxic activity was found to be somewhat lower than that found in normal controls, although no correlation was found between blood IFN levels and NK activity. Mean (2'-5')-oligoisoadenylate synthetase levels in cell extracts were intermediate between normal controls and patients with viral illness. Likewise no correlation was found between enzyme levels and blood IFN levels. The highly activated IFN system found in certain homosexuals, as well as the increased spontaneous production of IFN by unstimulated mononuclear cells, suggest the possibility of the presence of a virus, active or latent, in these individuals. This virus could be a retrovirus such as HTLV-III or LAV which have recently been isolated from AIDS patients. The special type of IFN present could be the response to a novel virus in an unusual situation. On the basis of recent reports, we speculate that homosexuals with highly activated IFN systems who produce pH 2-labile HuIFN-alpha could be at increased risk for developing AIDS.