Enhanced levels of soluble VCAM-1 in sickle cell patients and their specific increment during vasoocclusive crisis.

Adhesion of sickle erythrocytes to vascular endothelium plays a central role in sickle cell disease complications. Cytokines and adhesion molecules are critically involved in the regulation of these adhesive processes. To analyze their role, IL-6, GM-CSF, sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, sE-Selectin, and sP-Selectin serum levels were determined in sickle cell patients under basic conditions and during vasoocclusive crisis. In nonsymptomatic patients a high serum level of sVCAM-1 was observed compared to controls. In patients having vasoocclusive crisis sVCAM-1 levels increased even more and seemed to correlate with crisis evolution.

Taxanes: a new class of antitumor agents.

Taxanes belong to a new group of antineoplastic agents with a novel mechanism of action for a cytotoxic drug. They promote microtubule assembly and stabilize the microtubules. Paclitaxel, the first agent in this group to become available, was isolated from the Pacific yew, Taxus brevifolia, in 1971. In preclinical and clinical studies, paclitaxel and its semisynthetic analog docetaxel exhibit significant antitumor activity. This review deals with the physicochemical properties, pharmacology, and results of preclinical and clinical trials of the taxanes.

A double-blind randomized crossover study to compare the antiemetic efficacy of 250 mg with 500 mg methylprednisolone succinate (Solu-Medrol) as a single intravenous dose in patients treated with noncisplatin chemotherapy.

A double-blind randomized crossover study was performed in 56 chemotherapy-naive patients, all receiving non-cisplatin-based chemotherapy, to compare the antiemetic effects of 2 doses of a single administration of methylprednisolone succinate (Solu-Medrol): 250 versus 500 mg. Among the 39 patients who satisfactorily completed both parts of the study, complete and major protection from emesis (0 and 1 emetic episode or only retching) was observed in 79% during the first course and in 69% during the second course. Treatment failure (> or = 6 episodes of vomiting) was observed in 18% during the first course and 21% during the second course. There was no significant difference between the two dose levels neither in terms of antiemetic protection nor in terms of the occurrence of side effects nor in patient preference. Most important side effects were facial flushing (45%), headache (22%) and facial edema (18%). It is concluded that, although a comparison with lower dosages cannot be made, within the dose range studied no clear dose-response relationship could be found.

Radiotherapy and concomitant chemoradiotherapy in the NB rat prostate adenocarcinoma model.

The NB Rat Prostate Adenocarcinoma Model has been utilized to evaluate the effect of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and the combination of these two modalities on growth of the androgen insensitive Nb AI-3 prostate tumor. These studies have demonstrated tumor regression in animals treated with Cyclophosphamide in combination with Cisplatin (p less than 0.05). Tumor regression was also seen in the groups treated with radiation therapy at doses of 600 cGy, twice weekly, for three weeks (p less than 0.05), 500 cGy, three times weekly, for three weeks (p less than 0.05), and 300 cGy, three times weekly, for three weeks (p less than 0.05). Complete tumor regression was seen in groups receiving 500 cGy, three times per week, for three weeks, concomitantly with fractional dose Cyclophosphamide and Cisplatin (p less than 0.001). Complete tumor regression was also seen in rats treated with radiation therapy at a dose of 300 cGy three times per week for three weeks concomitantly with fractional dose Cyclophosphamide and Cisplatin (p less than 0.001). Another group treated with radiation therapy alone at a dose of 750 cGy, one time weekly, for four weeks, demonstrated progression of tumor growth. All control and treatment groups demonstrated metastatic lesions with the exception of the group receiving 600 cGy twice weekly.