p53 codon 72 Pro homozygosity increases the risk of cutaneous melanoma in individuals with dark skin complexion and among noncarriers of melanocortin 1 receptor red hair variants.

BACKGROUND: p53 has a common polymorphism at amino acid 72, encoding either arginine or proline. p53Arg and p53Pro exhibit differences in various biological activities, such as cell-cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. Numerous epidemiological studies have examined the role of this polymorphism in several human malignancies, including cutaneous cancers, with contradictory results. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the germline frequency of p53 codon 72 polymorphism in malignant melanoma in a Mediterranean population, and to examine possible associations with various clinicopathological factors. METHODS: In this hospital-based case-control study we used allele-specific polymerase chain reaction for p53 codon 72 genotyping in blood specimens from 107 Greek patients with sporadic cutaneous melanoma and 145 healthy controls. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, sex and phototype the Pro/Pro genotype was associated with increased risk for cutaneous melanoma compared with the Arg/Arg genotype (adjusted odds ratio, OR 3.17, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.03-9.78). This correlation was more pronounced in subjects with phototypes III or IV (adjusted OR 9.56, 95% CI 1.56-58.46), dark skin (adjusted OR 10.96, 95% CI 1.64-73.28), dark eyes (adjusted OR 8.86, 95% CI 1.69-46.52) and dark hair (adjusted OR 3.17, 95% CI 1.01-9.95), and among noncarriers of melanocortin 1 receptor gene (MC1R) red hair polymorphisms (adjusted OR 2.99, 95% CI 1.02-8.78). CONCLUSIONS: p53 codon 72 Pro/Pro genotype could be a risk factor for the development of melanoma in the Greek population, especially in subgroups with darker skin pigmentation, as well as among noncarriers of the MC1R red hair polymorphic variants.

Temozolomide in combination with celecoxib in patients with advanced melanoma. A phase II study of the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group.

BACKGROUND: There is now increasing evidence that a constitutive expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 plays a role in the development and progression of malignant epithelial tumors. Expression of COX-2 is seen in 93% of melanomas, as determined by immunohistochemistry. Temozolomide (TMZ) has demonstrated activity against melanoma and has been investigated as single agent or in combination. We designed a phase II study to assess the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of TMZ and celecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor) in patients with advanced melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2003 to July 2004, 52 patients were enrolled in the study. Nineteen patients were M1a, six M1b and 27 M1c. Patients received TMZ 200 mg/m(2) per day p.o. for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks and celecoxib 400 mg b.i.d. p.o. for a maximum of six cycles. Celecoxib was continued until progression. RESULTS: The median age was 63 years. There were 29 males and 23 females. Among 50 assessable patients, there were 11 (21.5%) objective responses including five complete responses and six partial responses. Twenty patients (38.5%) had stabilization of their disease, and 19 (36.5%) progressed. The median time to progression was 4.6 months and the median survival 9.5 months. Twenty-two patients (41.5%) completed all cycles of treatment. Median relative dose intensity of TMZ was 0.99 (range 0.6-1.2). Most commonly seen toxic effects included anemia (27.5%), neutropenia (17.5%), thrombocytopenia (33%), nausea/vomiting (75%), gastrointestinal (52%) and fatigue (46.5%). One patient discontinued due to severe toxicity. COX-2 was determined by immunohistochemistry and was expressed in all cases. CONCLUSION: The combination of TMZ and celecoxib is safe and potentially effective in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Randomized studies are needed to explore the role of celecoxib in combination with chemotherapy or as maintenance treatment in these patients.

Temozolomide and cisplatin versus temozolomide in patients with advanced melanoma: a randomized phase II study of the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group.

PURPOSE: Temozolomide (TMZ) is an oral alkylating agent that produces methyl adducts at the 0.6 position of guanine. The methyl adducts are removed by the DNA repair enzyme AGAT. As demonstrated by in vitro studies, cisplatin (CDDP) is able to down-regulate the AGAT activity, suggesting that CDDP could enhance the antitumor activity of TMZ. We designed a randomized phase II study to evaluate and compare the activity and safety profile of the combination versus single-agent TMZ in patients with advanced melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2000 to April 2002, 132 patients were enrolled on the study. Patient and tumor characteristics were well balanced between the two arms. Patients with cerebral metastases were included. Patients received TMZ 200 mg/m(2)/day orally for five consecutive days every 4 weeks or TMZ + CDDP 200 mg/m(2) daily on days 1-5 and 75 mg/m(2) of CDDP on day 1. RESULTS: Tumor responses (complete and partial responses) were seen in 16 patients (26%) in arm A and 19 patients (29%) in arm B. The median time to progression (TTP) was 3.8 months in arm A and 5.8 months in arm B. The median overall survival (OS) was 11.5 months in arm A and 12 months in arm B. The difference between treatment arms regarding objective response rates, TTP and OS were not statistically significant. Toxicity was comparable between the two arms for anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, constipation and arthralgias/myalgias. There was significantly more grade 3 and 4 emesis in the combination arm. CONCLUSIONS: No clear benefit in terms of response rates, median TTP or OS was shown with the combination of TMZ + CDDP. Additionally, the combination was associated with higher incidence of grade 3 and 4 emesis.

Supported particle track etched polyimide membranes: a grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering study.

Particle track etched polyimide membranes on silicon substrates covered with a native oxide layer are investigated. Preparation steps similar to the common classical particle track etched membrane production, giving rise to free-standing membranes, are successfully applied to the supported membranes. Polyimide films are used as a starting material for a template preparation based on high energy ion irradiation. The film/membrane structure is probed at different length scales by grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering at each individual preparation step. In addition, characterization with atomic force microscopy, variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry, Fourier transform infrared transmission, and attenuated total reflection spectroscopy is performed. An amount of 6 +/- 1 vol % pores inside the polyimide film is detected. The pores are oriented perpendicular to the substrate surface and have a conical shape, yielding a slightly reduced pore size at the substrate/film interface.

Reverse dorsal digital and intercommissural flaps used for digital reconstruction.

Reverse dorsal digital and intercommissural flaps offer a simple and versatile option for skin cover of distal finger defects, especially when other local flaps are not available. Twenty-one reverse dorsal digital flaps were used, on an outpatient basis, to cover dorsal soft tissue defects over or beyond the PIP joint. All the flaps were transposed as reverse island flaps. The average size of the defects was 2.5 cm(2) and they were all used to cover exposed tendon, bone, joint or a combination. Twenty flaps survived completely and did not present any feature of circulatory difficulty. Marginal necrosis of one flap was noticed, while two patients complained of swollen finger 6 months later. No morbidity was reported and the patients maintained good range of motion. Various other types of flaps that have been used to reconstruct distal digital skin defects are reviewed and compared with the reverse dorsal digital and metacarpal flaps.

Vinorelbine in combination with interleukin-2 as second-line treatment in patients with metastatic melanoma. A phase II study of the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of vinorelbine and interleukin (IL)-2 in patients with metastatic melanoma as second-line chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with histologically confirmed stage IV melanoma previously treated with temozolomide-based chemotherapy--only one regimen of chemotherapy for disseminated disease was allowed--were treated with vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 on days 1 and 15 and IL-2 subcutaneous 9 x 10(6) once daily on days 2-6 and 16-19 every 4 weeks for maximum of six cycles. RESULTS: From January 2000 to July 2001, 22 patients entered the study; the median age was 56 years. Among 20 evaluable patients there were 2 (9.1%) objective responses including 1 complete response and 1 partial response. Five (22.7%) had stabilization of their disease, and 13 (59.1%) progressed. The median time to progression (TTP) was 2.9 months and the median overall survival was 9.1 months. There was a significant difference in TTP in patients who responded or remained stable (median TTP 10.75 months) and those who progressed (median TTP 2.1 months) (p<0.05). There was also a difference in survival in the two groups (p<0.05 (28 vs. 8 months). The most common side effects were flulike symptoms, such as fever, chills, fatigue, and injection site reaction. Grade 3 hematological toxicity rarely occurred. One patient discontinued therapy because of fatigue and anorexia. There were no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of vinorelbine and IL-2 provides clinical benefit in patients recurring or progressing on first-line chemotherapy for metastatic melanoma, with manageable toxicity.

Prognostic significance of the sequential detection of circulating melanoma cells by RT-PCR in high-risk melanoma patients receiving adjuvant interferon.

The purpose of this study was to address the prognostic significance of circulating melanoma cells by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in the peripheral blood of stage IIB and III melanoma patients on high-dose adjuvant interferon at multiple sequential time points from initiation of treatment. Tyrosinase mRNA in peripheral blood from these patients was assayed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction prior to initiation of adjuvant interferon, at completion of 1 month of intravenous interferon and at 3 monthly intervals until progression. Four hundred and eighteen blood samples from 60 melanoma patients were analysed. The median follow-up time calculated from the time of inclusion in the study was 23 months (range 2-38 months). Tyrosinase mRNA in blood was detected in 42 (70%) of 60 patients: 16 (76%) of 21 stage IIB patients and 26 (66% ) of 39 stage III patients. The presence of tyrosinase mRNA in blood was correlated with a shorter disease-free survival (P : 0.03) and in multivariante analysis was an independent prognostic factor for relapse. Patients who seroconverted to a negative reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction after induction treatment had a significantly lower probability of recurrence. The presence of circulating melanoma cells is a marker of a high relapse risk and shorter disease-free survival whether detected postoperatively or during follow-up. Tyrosinase mRNA amplification by reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction may be a useful tool for monitoring the efficacy of adjuvant treatment in stage IIB and III melanoma patients.

Comparative study of the acute nephrotoxicity from standard dose cisplatin +/- ifosfamide and high-dose chemotherapy with carboplatin and ifosfamide.

The nephrotoxic effects of different platinum compounds based combination chemotherapies were compared. Chemotherapy consisted of either cisplatin fractionated over 5 days (5 x 20 mg/m2) or given as a single-day infusion (1 x 50 mg/m2) plus ifosfamide (4 g/m2) or high-dose chemotherapy was applied including carboplatin (3 x 500 mg/m2) and ifosfamide (3 x 4 g/m2) fractionated over three consecutive days. Conventional parameters such as serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as well as urinary protein excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG)) and alpha 1-micro-globulin were assessed in 52 patients. Fractionation over 5 days without adding other nephrotoxic agents, i.e. ifosfamide, prevented decreases in GFR following cisplatin, whereas the combination of conventional dose cisplatin and ifosfamide, given as a single-day infusion, and high-dose carboplatin/ifosfamide yielded a pronounced fall of GFR. All groups showed increases in the urinary excretion levels of serum derived proteins and NAG, but with significant differences; about 2 to 3-fold for 5-days cisplatin, 3 to 5-fold for single-day cisplatin/ifosfamide, and 20 to 35-fold for high-dose chemotherapy. Thus, conventional approaches can reduce but not prevent the nephrotoxicity of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. In particular, high-dose chemotherapy regimens including carboplatin and ifosfamide are associated with comparable or even higher nephrotoxicity to single-day cisplatin/ifosfamide. In the light of the long-term consequences of persistent renal damage prevention of nephrotoxicity should be further improved.