ABSTRACT
To assess the usefulness of bone marrow (BM) examination performed as part of the staging procedure in SCLC, 137 patients with this neoplasm were studied. At diagnosis, BM was infiltrated in 23 patients (17%) and in 5 of them (22%) it was the only metastatic site. BM examination changed the previously given stage in 9% of the patients who were supposed to have limited disease before this test was performed. BM involvement correlated with a higher frequency of bone (p less than 0.05) and liver (p less than 0.01) metastasis. Correlations were found neither with blood or serum biochemistry disturbances nor with postchemotherapy haematologic toxicity. The BM positive patients had a survival rate similar to those with extensive disease but without BM infiltration. We conclude that BM examination should be performed only when no other metastatic sites have been found after a complete staging study.
Subject(s)
Bone Marrow/pathology , Carcinoma, Small Cell/pathology , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Biopsy, Needle , Carcinoma, Small Cell/blood , Carcinoma, Small Cell/drug therapy , Hemoglobins/analysis , Humans , Leukocyte Count , Lung Neoplasms/blood , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Neoplasm Metastasis , Neoplasm Staging , Platelet CountABSTRACT
Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil by continuous infusion combination produces a high response rate in squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Carboplatin (CBDCA) is a cisplatin analogue with lower emetic potential and nephrotoxicity, although the myelosuppression potential is higher. Tegafur (ftorafur, FT) is an analogue of 5-fluorouracil. It is absorbed well in its oral form and has moderate gastrointestinal and hematologic toxicity. This clinical trial tested the association of CBDCA i.v. plus FT p.o. in patients with SCCHN who had not been previously treated. Twenty-one patients were evaluable for response; the overall response was 62% (33% complete response, 29% partial response). Toxicity was moderate in most of the patients, although there was a treatment-related death.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy , Head and Neck Neoplasms/drug therapy , Organoplatinum Compounds/administration & dosage , Tegafur/administration & dosage , Administration, Oral , Adult , Aged , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Carboplatin , Drug Evaluation , Female , Humans , Injections, Intravenous , Male , Middle Aged , Organoplatinum Compounds/adverse effects , Remission Induction , Tegafur/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Today, excellent therapeutic results are obtained in Hodgkin's disease however, they may be obscured by the development of long term complications due to the treatment given including second neoplasias. Out of the total of 250 cases of Hodgkin's disease reviewed during 19 years we found 13 secondary neoplasias. All the patients received alkylating drugs and in 10, both chemo and radiotherapy were associated. The average interval of time was 48 months. Bronchopulmonary carcinomas and acute leukemias were the malignancies most often encountered.