Multicenter phase II-III study of oxaliplatin plus cyclophosphamide vs. cisplatin plus cyclophosphamide in chemonaive advanced ovarian cancer patients.

PURPOSE: A phase II-III randomised study to compare safety and efficacy of an oxaliplatin/cyclophosphamide (OXAC) combination, vs. the reference combination of cisplatin/cyclophosphamide (CPC), in untreated advanced ovarian cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 182 patients were enrolled, of whom 177 were treated: 86 with OXAC (130 mg/m2 oxaliplatin two-hour intravenous (i.v.) infusion, 1,000 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide two-hour i.v. infusion), and 91 with CPC (100 mg/m2 cisplatin one-hour i.v. infusion. 1,000 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide two-hour i.v. infusion). Treatment cycles were repeated every three weeks (maximum of six cycles). RESULTS: The main toxicities, which were significantly less severe in the OXAC arm, were myelosuppression and vomiting, including (OXAC vs CPC, % patients): grade 3-4 leukopenia (37% vs. 56%), and anaemia (7% vs. 32%), with blood transfusions in 8% vs. 21%. In the OXAC arm, 64% of surgically assessable patients and 33% of clinically assessable patients achieved an objective response. In the CPC arm, 67% patients achieved a surgical response and 42% achieved an objective clinical response. In the OXAC and CPC arms, median progression free-survival was 13.0 and 13.3 months, and overall survival was 36.0 and 25.1 months respectively, without statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: The activity and time-related parameters of the OXAC and CPC combinations in advanced ovarian cancer patients, are comparable. Combined with the better safety profile of the oxaliplatin-containing regimen, this confirms the interest of oxaliplatin combined with active new agents in this indication.

Electrophoretic mobility of human lymphocytes purified by nylon wool columns and spontaneous sheep red blood cells rosetting techniques correlation with immunofluorescence.

Cell electrophoresis allows separation of normal human lymphocytes into two principal groups which are a function of their relative rates of migration. In 42 healthy adults, 19.9% of the lymphocytes have a slower migration rate, and 80.1%, a faster migration rate than the reference speed (1 mum - sec-1 - cm). Two methods are used for the selection of the lymphocytic populations: spontaneous rosetting with sheeps red blood cells, a property of T-lymphocytes, and adherence to nylon wool columns, which preferentially selects B-lymphocytes. The cells which do not form spontaneous rosettes, but adhere to nylon wool columns show mainly slow migration. Cells which do not adhere to nylon columns show a faster migration rate. These findings affirm the T-nature of the rapidly migrating lymphocytes, and the B-nature of the slow-migrating lymphocytes. Results by the immunofluorescence technique confirm this.