FOLFOX-4 regimen as fist-line chemotherapy in elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer: a safety study.

Gastric cancer is often diagnosed in advanced stage (AGC) and in elderly patients. Current chemotherapies induce severe toxicity and are difficult to deliver. Some authors have shown the activity and safety of oxaliplatin with various 5-fluorouracil (FU) and leucovorin (LV) infusions in AGC. The aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of the FOLFOX-4 regimen in elderly patients with AGC. From 6/2003 to 7/2005, 33 patients (median age 74 years, range 66-79 years) were enrolled into the study. 31 patients were assessable for the safety analysis and for response. We recorded complete response in 4 patients (13%), partial response in 6 patients (19%), 9 (29%) stable disease and 12 progressive disease for an overall response rate of 32% (95% CI, 16% to 48%). At median follow-up of 20 months the median time to progression was 6.4 months. The therapy was well tolerated, the main G1/2 toxicities were nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Only 2 patients suffered from severe vomiting. Severe hematologic toxicities were uncommon. Anemia G3 was recorded in 3 patients, neutropenia G3 in 6 patients and febrile neutropenia in 1 patient. G1 and G2 neurotoxicity were a common event while G3 sensorial neuropathy was not reported. We conclude that although our patients were elderly and most had a PS 2, the regimen was manageable, easy to deliver, well accepted by the patients and active.

[Structural changes demonstrable by optic and electron microscopy in cellular and support components of nevi in the phase of neoplastic transformation and their therapeutic treatment]. / Modificazioni strutturali evidenziabili al microscopio ottico ed elettronico delle componenti cellulari e di sostegno dei nevi in fase di trasformazione neoplastica e loro trattamento terapeutico.

The mole can transform itself in melanoma. The transformation is caused in some's opinion by congenital cells, in some's opinion by external elements (metabolic, physical, caustic, etc.). The authors lean to external causes metabolic, physical caustic) and they consider useful the chirurgical and radiant treatment.

[Opacity of the pterygo-palatine fossa]. / Le signe de l'opacité de la fosse ptérygo-palatine.

The pterygo-palatine fossa can be opacified because the invasion by pathologic tissue. This opacification, due to the loss of normal fatty content, has been found in 19 patients on 40 subjects affected by different maxillofacial pathology. The opacification of the pterygo-palatine fossa is a non specific sign and is generally associated with signs of bony involvement. This sign appears particularly usefull when the bony involvement is very slight and of in certain evaluation.