[Combination of aminoglutethimide and polychemotherapy for the treatment of predominant bone metastasis in breast cancer]. / Kombination von Aminoglutethimid und Polychemotherapie zur Behandlung von dominanter Knochenmetastasierung des Mammakarzinoms.

A clinical phase II study was performed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of simultaneously administered aminoglutethimide and polychemotherapy in 31 patients with predominant bone metastases of breast cancer. The majority of patients was postmenopausal and pretreated with hormones and (or) chemotherapy. In 28 evaluable patients an overall objective response rate of 61% was achieved. Patients who received aminoglutethimide and polychemotherapy containing anthracyclines as FAC- or AV-regimen showed the highest objective response rate (67%). Thus, simultaneous combination of aminoglutethimide and polychemotherapy containing anthracycline derivatives is the most effective therapeutic regimen for those patients who were either pretreated or have progressive bone metastases with confinement to bed or have concomitant visceral metastases.

[Lymphocyte in chronic lymphatic leukemia]. / Der Lymphozyt bei der chronischen lymphatischen Leukämie

In patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) the majority of peripheral blood lymphocytes was characterized as B cells by surface membrane markers. Ultrastructural studies revealed a reduction of the cytoplasmic area. Furthermore, the number of lysosomes was diminished corresponding to a decreased activity of lysosomal hydrolases. Increasing blood lymphocytosis was paralleled by an increase of the percentage of lysosome-poor lymphocytes. Response of CLL lymphocytes to in vitro stimulation with PHA and PWM was either lacking or diminished and/or delayed, and the number of transformed cells was reduced. Thus, the majority of CLL lymphocytes appears to represent both morphologically and functionally abnormal neoplastic b cells. During the early and later phase of stimulation the mitogen-reactive CLL lymphocytes exhibited alterations of the lysosomal apparatus similar to those observed in normal cells. The reactive lymphocytes may be derived from residual populations of normally functioning T and/or B cells. However, the neoplastic cells may also be able to respond to the mitogens. In vivo studies showed impaired kinetics of circulation and recirculation of CLL B lymphocytes, whereas the T cells were normal in this respect.