ABSTRACT
We report the results of a phase III trial in which we compared 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to 5-FU and folinic acid (FA) in 150 previously untreated metastatic colon cancer patients. Patients were randomized in the ratio of 1:2 to receive 5-FU (370 mg/m2, i.v., for 5 days) in arm A or equidose 5-FU plus FA (200 mg/m2, i.v., for 5 days) for arm B, each cycle being repeated every 4 weeks. Five of 49 evaluable arm A patients (10.2%) and 31 of 97 arm B (31.9%) achieved a complete or partial response (p < or = 0.01). Median survival time of arm A patients was 6 months (mean: 6.18), while it was 8 months (mean: 9.01) for arm B cases (p < or = 0.05). In conclusion, our data indicate that FA can enhance 5-FU activity and that this combination is an effective palliative treatment for metastatic colon cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Colonic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Adenocarcinoma/mortality , Adenocarcinoma/pathology , Adult , Aged , Colonic Neoplasms/mortality , Colonic Neoplasms/pathology , Female , Fluorouracil/administration & dosage , Humans , Leucovorin/administration & dosage , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Metastasis , Survival RateABSTRACT
A case of diffuse eosinophilic infiltration of the gastroenteric tract which involved a large portion of the small intestine is discussed. It arose in a patient not previously affected with allergic traits and without eosinophilia in peripheral blood. Problems of differential diagnosis and clinical-therapeutic implications are reported.
Subject(s)
Eosinophilia , Gastrointestinal Diseases , Adult , Biopsy , Diagnosis, Differential , Eosinophilia/diagnosis , Eosinophilia/pathology , Gastrointestinal Diseases/diagnosis , Gastrointestinal Diseases/pathology , Humans , Intestines/pathology , Lymphoproliferative Disorders/diagnosis , MaleABSTRACT
The authors report two cases of granulomatous allergic angiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome) in patients previously affected by bronchial asthma. Different clinical developments and responses to therapy are considered.
Subject(s)
Churg-Strauss Syndrome/physiopathology , Churg-Strauss Syndrome/drug therapy , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A case of a patient with large cell pulmonary carcinoma is presented. Being inoperable, the patient was treated at first with multiple drug chemotherapy and the result was the disappearance of the pulmonary lesions. The unusual favourable therapeutic response and the protocols of polychemotherapy used are discussed.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Small Cell/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Aged , Carcinoma, Small Cell/diagnostic imaging , Cisplatin/administration & dosage , Etoposide/administration & dosage , Humans , Ifosfamide/administration & dosage , Lung Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Male , Radiography , Remission InductionABSTRACT
A case of a patient with angiofollicular lymph-node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease), of the plasma cell type, is described. The course of the disease evolved from an unilateral inguinal adenopathy to a generalised intraabdominal adenopathy which took the patient to death. Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects are discussed.
Subject(s)
Castleman Disease/pathology , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A controlled clinical trial was made of the anti-ammoniaemic properties of gamma-ethylester glutamic acid, arginine and placebo in a series of 45 patients with hepatic insufficiency characterized by hyperammonemia (excluding cases of pre-coma and coma) randomly assigned to three groups for treatment with: gamma-ethylester of glutamic acid (25 g), l-arginine (25 g) and physiological solution in identical 500 ml bottles. Various parameters were controlled. The results obtained were assessed with different statistical techniques, depending on the parameter concerned and the aims of the trial. Blood ammoniaemia was significantly decreased by both-ethylester of glutamic acid and arginine though the former was more effective quantitatively and in terms of time. SGOT and BSF values also followed the same pattern.