Retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas: a review of the literature.

The English language literature on retroperitoneal sarcomas published between 1981 and 1988 has been reviewed. The histology, different prognostic factors, value of imaging techniques, and need for multidisciplinary management are discussed. Complete surgical excision with tumor-free margins confirmed by histology is essential if long-term survival and local control are to be achieved. In many cases resection of adjacent organs is required as most patients present with advanced, aggressive local disease. The roles of adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas are uncertain and must await further controlled, randomized, prospective studies.

Rapid and simple synthesis for the sulphate esters of 6-hydroxy-melatonin and N-acetyl-serotonin.

Melatonin is metabolised by hydroxylation at the 6 position and to a variable extent by demethylation. Both metabolites so formed are excreted as sulphate and, to a lesser extent, glucuronide conjugates. To authenticate these metabolites which we had earlier isolated from urine, we wished to have synthetic samples. Since we also required them as standards we needed them as powders. A review of the literature showed that there were only two published methods, of which only one gave rise to 6-sulphatoxy-melatonin (SaMT) as a solid. The other metabolite, N-acetyl-serotonin-sulphate (SNAS), has not been previously made, and we here describe some of its chemical properties. Our method modifies a published method taking into account the results given in a recent paper describing the sulphation of the thyroid hormones, T3 and T4. Hydroxy-melatonin is thus reacted with a complex formed from dimethylformamide and chlorosulphonic acid. The reaction is of interest since it is rapid, easy, and produces pure powdered material in excellent yield.