Establishment of T cell-specific and natural killer cell-specific unigene sets: towards high-throughput genomics of leukaemia.

We report the establishment of highly non-redundant unigene sets consisting of cDNA clones derived from T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Each set consists of 10 506 and 13 409 clones, respectively, arrayed on nylon membranes in duplicate. The sets provide an excellent tool for genome-wide gene expression analysis studies in immunology research.

Disseminated testicular cancer with bulky disease: results of a phase-II study with cisplatin ultra high dose/VP-16/bleomycin.

This is a preliminary analysis of the AIO-Testicular Tumour Study Group trial in patients with disseminated bulky testicular cancer. Treatment plan: cisplatin 35 mg/m2 days 1-5, VP-16 120 mg/m2 days 1-5 (two daily divided doses), bleomycin 15 mg/m2 days 1, 8, 15. Of 98 patients at present evaluable 63% had complete remission or have no evidence of disease (CR/NED), 30% had partial remission (PR) and 7% had no change or progressive disease (NC/P). Relapse-free survival is 93% for the CR/NED group after a median follow up of 2.2 years: the overall survival for the entire patient population is 70%. Toxicity included predominantly granulocytopenic fever and infection with septicaemia, thrombocytopenia, nausea, vomiting, neurotoxicity and lung toxicity, with 7% fatal toxicity. A prospective randomized trial is warranted to evaluate the apparent superior activity of ultra high dose cisplatin in combination with VP-16 and bleomycin.

[Hematologic toxicity of total body irradiation (author's transl)]. / Zur hämatologischen Toxizität der Ganzkörperbestrahlung.

Eleven patients with malignant lymphoma were treated with total body irradiation. This therapy was performed during 3 weeks with a midline dose of 70 to 100 rd. Two patients were treated two times after an internal of 3 months. The authors studied the hematologic side effects of this therapy. The irradiation caused a diminution of leucocytes of 73% of the initial value (range 16,7 to 98,4%), the neutrophilic granulocytes were reduced by 60% (24-95%), the thrombocytes were reduced by 57% (12-73%). The lowest values were seen during the fourth and sixth week of observation or one to three weeks after the end of therapy. In patients with hypoplastic anemia the number of reticulocytes was reduced to zero with a further fall of hematocrit and replacement therapy was necessary. The pool of circulating CFUc was reduced to zero in nine of twelve observations up to six weeks after therapy.