Any clinical benefit from the use of oncofoetal markers in the management of chemotherapy for patients with metastatic colorectal carcinomas?

AIMS: Computed tomography (CT) is the reference technique for evaluating response to chemotherapy. The potential helpfulness of tumour markers is debated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1997 to January 1999, 91 consecutive patients receiving chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal carcinoma underwent whole-body spiral CT, estimates of anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA19-9 every 8 weeks. RESULTS: CEA and CA19-9 levels were above normal in 78 (85.7%) and 61 (67.5%) patients, respectively. Tumour response evaluation according to the RECIST criteria was obtained at 8-week evaluation in 83 (91%) patients. The positive predictive values (PPV) for response of a decrease of the marker levels were 53.8 for CEA and 41.7 for CA19-9 using a 30% decrease threshold, and 60/52.2, respectively, using a 50% decrease threshold. Meaningful PPV values (> 90%) for progression of an increase of the marker levels were only obtained using the 200% increase threshold for CEA alone or a combination of CEA and CA 19-9. A 100% CEA increase between baseline and the 8-week evaluation was correlated to overall survival (P = 0.0023). The need for a radiological confirmation of tumour progression could be avoided by the systematic dosage of tumour markers at baseline and after 8 weeks of treatment only in a sub-population of 13% of the patients with a 200% increase of CEA or CA 19-9 at 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: CEA, CA 19-9, or both should be used with caution for tumour response evaluation to chemotherapy in addition to CT in metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

[Type I hypersensitivity reactions and etiopathogenesis of hemorrhagic rectocolitis]. / Réactions d'hypersensibilité de type I et étiopathogénie de la rectocolite hémorragique.

There is a body of clinical, epidemiological, biologic, histological and therapeutic data suggesting that type I hypersensitivity plays a role in the pathogenesis and maintenance of ulcerative colitis. Contradictory evidence from different studies on the pathogenic mechanisms may simply mean that there is not one but several types of ulcerative colitis. Chronic inflammation of the intestine would cover a heterogeneous group of conditions. Genetic susceptibility controlling one of more anomalies of the immune system would be triggered by external factors such as respiratory or food allergies, viral or bacterial infections or other factors including smoking or stress. The wide range of factors involved would explain the variety of findings reported by different groups searching for a single pathogenic mechanism. Finally, as emphasized by other authors, screening for subgroups of patients with allergy among the ulcerative colitis population would be useful in adapting treatment and developing a more specific therapeutic strategy not only for acute phases but perhaps also for preventive treatment.

[Ileocolitis caused by Herpes simplex virus type 2]. / Iléo-colite herpétique à virus Herpes simplex de type 2.

The authors report the case of a 51-year-old woman who was hospitalized for severe acute colitis. Sub-total colectomy was performed, due to clinical deterioration and resistance to treatment. The examination of the surgery specimen revealed a herpes-virus type 2 as the responsible pathogen agent. Complementary aciclovir treatment cured the patient.