Lobular and ductal carcinomas of the breast have distinct genomic and expression profiles.

Invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) and invasive lobular carcinomas (ILCs) are the two major pathological types of breast cancer. Epidemiological and histoclinical data suggest biological differences, but little is known about the molecular alterations involved in ILCs. We undertook a comparative large-scale study by both array-compared genomic hybridization and cDNA microarray of a set of 50 breast tumors (21 classic ILCs and 29 IDCs) selected on homogeneous histoclinical criteria. Results were validated on independent tumor sets, as well as by quantitative RT-PCR. ILCs and IDCs presented differences at both the genomic and expression levels with ILCs being less rearranged and heterogeneous than IDCs. Supervised analysis defined a 75-BACs signature discriminating accurately ILCs from IDCs. Expression profiles identified two subgroups of ILCs: typical ILCs ( approximately 50%), which were homogeneous and displayed a normal-like molecular pattern, and atypical ILCs, more heterogeneous with features intermediate between ILCs and IDCs. Supervised analysis identified a 75-gene expression signature that discriminated ILCs from IDCs, with many genes involved in cell adhesion, motility, apoptosis, protein folding, extracellular matrix and protein phosphorylation. Although ILCs and IDCs share common alterations, our data show that ILCs and IDCs could be distinguished on the basis of their genomic and expression profiles suggesting that they evolve along distinct genetic pathways.

Genetic profiling of chromosome 1 in breast cancer: mapping of regions of gains and losses and identification of candidate genes on 1q.

Chromosome 1 is involved in quantitative anomalies in 50-60% of breast tumours. However, the structure of these anomalies and the identity of the affected genes remain to be determined. To characterise these anomalies and define their consequences on gene expression, we undertook a study combining array-CGH analysis and expression profiling using specialised arrays. Array-CGH data showed that 1p was predominantly involved in losses and 1q almost exclusively in gains. Noticeably, high magnitude amplification was infrequent. In an attempt to fine map regions of copy number changes, we defined 19 shortest regions of overlap (SROs) for gains (one at 1p and 18 at 1q) and of 20 SROs for losses (all at 1p). These SROs, whose sizes ranged from 170 kb to 3.2 Mb, represented the smallest genomic intervals possible based on the resolution of our array. The elevated incidence of gains at 1q, added to the well-established concordance between DNA copy increase and augmented RNA expression, made us focus on gene expression changes at this chromosomal arm. To identify candidate oncogenes, we studied the RNA expression profiles of 307 genes located at 1q using a home-made built cDNA array. We identified 30 candidate genes showing significant overexpression correlated to copy number increase. In order to substantiate their involvement, RNA expression levels of these candidate genes were measured by quantitative (Q)-RT-PCR in a panel of 25 breast cancer cell lines previously typed by array-CGH. Q-PCR showed that 11 genes were significantly overexpressed in the presence of a genomic gain in these cell lines, and 20 overexpressed when compared to normal breast.

Intraoperative colonic lavage with primary anastomosis vs. Hartmann's procedure for perforated diverticular disease of the colon: a consecutive study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The ideal treatment for complicated diverticulitis is still controversial. The Hartmann's procedure remains the favored option in patients with acute complicated sigmoid disease but there has been increasing interest in primary resection and anastomosis with intraoperative colonic lavage. A prospective study was carried out on 71 patients with peritonitis, comparing primary resection with intraoperative colonic lavage, and Hartmann's procedure. METHODOLOGY: Between January 1994 and September 1999, 71 patients underwent emergency laparotomy for diverticular peritonitis. Primary resection and anastomosis with intraoperative colonic lavage was performed in 29 patients (group I) and Hartmann's procedure in 42 patients (group II). All data were collected on standardized forms. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups according to clinical features, biology, severity of disease and operative delay. The mortality rate in group I and group II was, respectively, 7 and 10% (P = 0.6). The incidence of postoperative complication was higher after Hartmann's procedure (P < 0.05). The mean hospital stay was significantly longer for the Hartmann's procedure compared to primary resection with intraoperative colonic lavage. CONCLUSIONS: Primary resection with intraoperative colonic lavage compares favorably with Hartmann's procedure for local or diffuse purulent peritonitis in complicated diverticulitis. It should be an alternative to the Hartmann's procedure in stercoral peritonitis.

Laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy: a prospective comparative study in the elderly with acute cholecystitis.

The aim of this prospective comparative study was to determine the feasibility and the efficacy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in patients older than 75 years of age and to compare the results with those of open cholecystectomy. From January 1992 to December 1999, 139 patients older than 75 years of age underwent cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. The two groups of patients with cholecystolithiasis included 50 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (group 1) and 89 patients who underwent open cholecystectomy (group 2). Group 1 consisted of 30 women and 20 men, with a mean age of 81.9 years (range, 75-98). Group 2 consisted of 51 women and 38 men, with a mean age of 81.9 years (range, 75-93). There was no difference in the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification in both groups. The length of the surgery (103.3 vs. 149.7 minutes), postoperative length of stay (7.7 vs. 12.7 days), and inpatient rehabilitation (15 vs. 42 patients) were significantly shorter in group 1 than in group 2. The postoperative morbidity rate was not different between the groups. There was no mortality in group 1, but four patients died in group 2 (P = 0.29). The conversion rate was 32% (n = 16) in group 1. In summary, laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elderly patients with acute cholecystitis is safe and effective. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elderly patients restores them to the best possible quality of life with the lowest cost to them physiologically.

Laparoscopic colectomy for sigmoid diverticulitis: a prospective study in the elderly.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the feasibility and the complications or benefits of laparoscopic colectomy for sigmoid diverticulitis in patients aged 75 years or more. METHODOLOGY: From January 1993 to December 1999, 85 patients underwent an elective colectomy for sigmoid diverticulitis. Twenty-two patients over 75-years old (group 1) were compared to 63 younger patients (group 2). RESULTS: In group 1, there were 12 women and 10 men, with a mean age of 77.2 years (range: 75-82); In group 2, there were 35 women and 28 men, with a mean age of 53.7 years (range: 38-74) (P = 1.10-14). The operative time was shorter in group 2 (183 vs. 234 min). There was no difference between the 2 groups with regard to the postoperative period during which parenteral analgesics were required (5.4 vs. 5.2 days, P = 0.48) and the postoperative morbidity (18% vs. 14%, P = 0.06). Postoperative length of hospital stay (13.1 vs. 8.8 days, P = 0.003) was shorter in group 2 than in group 1. There was no perioperative mortality. Conversion rate was 9% (group 1) and 6% (group 2) (P = 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, data from the present study suggest that laparoscopic colectomy for sigmoid diverticulitis can be applied safely to older patients with fewer complications, less pain, shorter hospital stay and a rapid return to preoperative activity levels.

Complete autoerotic asphyxiation: suicide or accident?

A case of a typical form of sexual asphyxiation is described, involving a young man hanging, in a context of autoerotic asphyxia. Multiple and different parameters are included in the definition.

[Medical risk and liability in stomatology in the year 2000]. / L'aléa médical et la responsabilité pour un stomatologiste en l'an 2000.

In the current context of scientific progress, the evolution of medical liability is directly related to the increasing potential danger of medical procedures, the widening field of medical intervention, the growing concern about becoming a victim, and the changing notions about responsibility. We present here recent changes in administrative and legal jurisprudence. As administrative instances have progressively acquired more and more freedom of action, they have successively accepted hypotheses of presumed misconduct, abandoned the prerequisite of major misconduct, and allowed cases of liability without misconduct. The attitudes of legal instances remained unchanged for a long period before developing the concept of lost opportunity, then the presumption of misconduct in the case of nosocomial infections, and more recently, the notions of prejudice resulting from lack of information and the obligation for safe outcome accessory to the obligation to use available means. The future remains quite uncertain. One can expect a convergence between administrative and judiciary judges. For many, this unification will lead to a desirable "block of competency". We are probably moving towards the notion of objective responsibility which would allow indemnities to be awarded for medical accidents, but leaving open the possibility of court action for misconduct. The question remains open concerning the modalities of implementation: legislation or jurisprudence with its inherent risks.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis. A prospective comparative study in patients with acute vs. chronic cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to compare the outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in patients with acute cholecystitis versus those with chronic cholecystitis and to determine the optimal timing for LC in patients with acute cholecystitis. METHODS: From January 1991 to July 1998, 796 patients (542 women and 254 men) underwent LC. In 132 patients (67 women and 65 men), acute cholecystitis was confirmed via histopathological examination. These patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n = 85) had an LC prior to 3 days after the onset of the symptoms of acute cholecystitis, and group 2 (n = 47) had an LC after 3 days. RESULTS: There were no mortalities. The conversion rates were 38.6% in acute cholecystitis and 9.6% in chronic cholecystitis (p<10(-8)). Length of surgery (150.3 min vs. 107.8 min; p<10(-9)), postoperative morbidity (15% vs. 6.6%; p = 0.001), and postoperative length of stay (7.9 days vs. 5 days; p< 10(-9)) were significantly different between LC for acute cholecystitis and elective LC. For acute cholecystitis, we found a statistical difference between the successful group and the conversion group in terms of length of surgery and postoperative stay. The conversion rates in patients operated on before and after 3 days following the onset of symptoms were 27% and 59.5%, respectively (p = 0.0002). There was no statistical difference between early and delayed surgery in terms of operative time and postoperative complications. However, total hospital stay was significantly shorter for group 1. CONCLUSIONS: LC for acute cholecystitis is a safe procedure with a shorter postoperative stay, lower morbidity, and less mortality than open surgery. LC should be carried out as soon as the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis is established and preferably before 3 days following the onset of symptoms. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy can reduce both the conversion rate and the total hospital stay as medical and economic benefits.

Laparoscopic vs open colectomy for sigmoid diverticulitis: a prospective comparative study in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective comparative study was to assess the outcome of laparoscopic and open colectomy for sigmoid diverticulitis in patients aged >/=75 years. METHODS: From January 1993 to December 1998, all patients 75 years of age and older undergoing an elective colectomy for sigmoid diverticulitis were included in the study. The patients were divided into the following two groups: group 1 (n = 22) consisted of patients who underwent a laparoscopic procedure; group 2 (n = 24) consisted of patients who underwent an open procedure. RESULTS: In group 1, there were 12 women and 10 men with a mean age of 77.2 years (range, 75-82); in group 2, there were 14 women and 10 men with a mean age of 78 years (range, 76-84) (p = 0.37). There was no difference between the groups in ASA classification. The operative time was shorter in group 2 (136 vs 234 mins). The postoperative period during which parenteral analgesics were required (5.4 vs 8.2 days, p = 0.001), postoperative morbidity (18% vs 50%, p = 0.02), postoperative length of hospital stay (13.1 vs 20.2 days, p = 0.003), and the inpatient rehabilitation (6 vs 15 patients, p = 0.01) were significantly shorter for group 1 than for group 2. There were no perioperative deaths. The conversion rate was 9% in group 1. CONCLUSION: The data from the present study suggest that laparoscopic colectomy for sigmoid diverticulitis can be applied safely to older patients with fewer complication, less pain, shorter hospital stay, and a more rapid return to preoperative activity levels than that seen with open colorectal resection.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderly: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the feasibility and the complications or benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in the patients older than 75 years. METHODS: From January 1992 to July 1998, a total of 863 patients underwent LC, of these patients, 102 patients older than 75 years (group 1) were compared with 761 younger patients (group 2). RESULTS: In the elderly, 35.3% were at high surgical risk (American Society of Anesthesiology [ASA] III and ASA IV). The conversion rate to open cholecystectomy (OC) was 21.6%. The mean length of hospital stay was 6.9 days for both laparoscopy and conversion. Morbidity and mortality rates were 13.7% and 1%, respectively. No patient suffered intraoperative cardiopulmonary complication, and there was no reoperation in the elderly. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients experience more complications and longer duration of hospital stay than younger patients. However, our results compare favorably with other OC studies in elderly patients.

Results of duodenopancreatectomy for solitary pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma.

The pancreas is an uncommon site of metastasis from renal cell carcinoma. We present five patients with solitary pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma located in the head of the pancreas, treated by duodenopancreatectomy. There were no perioperative deaths. Mean survival was 48 months; three patients were alive at the end of the study (at 27, 46, and 88 months, respectively) and two patients died, at 13 and 70 months. The 3- and 5-year survival rates of our patients together with 22 previously reported patients were 86% and 68%, respectively. We advocate aggressive surgical treatment when the metastatic disease is limited to the pancreas.

Bronchoalveolar carcinoma: histopathologic study of evolution in a series of 105 surgically treated patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The clinical characteristics, histopathologic condition, and outcome of bronchoalveolar carcinoma (BAC) were studied to detect possible prognostic indicators. DESIGN: A retrospective review was conducted of 97 patients who had a curative resection for BAC between 1975 and 1993. PATIENTS: There were 83 men and 14 women with a mean age of 59 years (30 to 75 years). INTERVENTIONS: Resection comprised lobectomy in 84 cases (87%), bilobectomy, pneumonectomy, and a wedge excision. RESULTS: Sixty-two percent of patients were asymptomatic. The radiographic pattern was a solitary nodule in 85% of patients and lobar pneumonitis or diffuse infiltrate in 15%. In 12% of patients, the solitary lesion had been stable for period of 2 to 7 years before diagnosis. The TNM staging of the disease included 71 patients with stage I, 14 with stage II, and 12 with stage IIIA. Review of the gross pathologic features revealed well-circumscribed tumors in 88% of patients and diffuse or multifocal tumors in 12%. Mucinous differentiation was present in 43% of patients, vascular invasion in 22%, and aerogenous spread in 49%. Overall survival was 89% at 1 year, 76% at 2 years, 48% at 5 years, and 39% at 10 years. The survival curves according to histologic features showed a statistically significant difference between diffuse lesions and nodular lesions, between lesions with and without aerogenous spread (diffuse lesions excluded), and between lesions with and without vascular invasion. CONCLUSIONS: The natural history of BAC is especially influenced by its nodular or diffuse nature, vascular invasion, and aerogenous spread.

[Standard means in laparoscopic surgery. The peculiar case of cholecystectomy]. / L'obligation de moyens en chirurgie laparoscopique. Cas particuliar de la cholécystectomie.

Legal suits against visceral surgeons have increased since the advent of laparoscopic surgery. The duties of physicians have not however changed with the development of laparoscopic techniques. Since the decree promulgated in 1936, physicians have a legal commitment to provide the means required for patient care. This obligation has been recalled in different court judgements and in the new deontology code. In addition, jurisprudence tends more and more towards responsibility without risk. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not risk-free. Although morbidity and mortality have not risen with laparoscopic procedures, the types of complications encountered have changed. Reported accidents have become more frequent. The number of suits against surgeons has also increased. Surgeons must therefore be highly prudent and diligent. Precautions concerning personnel management, the choice of material and its upkeep. Special care must be given to the peroperative pneumoperitoneum and the use of monopolar electrocoagulation. A peroperative cholangiogram should be obtained. A careful operative report is very important. The surgeon must be able to justify his competence. Finally, the surgical community should publish more results concerning the rate of complications in order to establish reference material for experts.

[The standards of care in laparoscopic surgery. The specific case of cholecystectomy]. / L'obligation de moyens en chirurgie laparoscopique. Cas particulier de la cholécystectomie.

Legal suits against visceral surgeons have increased since the advent of laparoscopic surgery. The duties of physicians have not however changed with the development of laparoscopic techniques. Since the decree promulgated in 1936, physicians have a legal commitment to provide the means required for patient care. This obligation has been recalled in different court judgements and in the new deontology code. In addition, jurisprudence tends more and more towards responsibility without risk. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not risk-free. Although morbidity and mortality have not risen with laparoscopic procedures, the types of complications encountered have changed. Reported accidents have become more frequent. The number of suits against surgeons has also increased. Surgeons must therefore be highly prudent and diligent. Precautions concerning personnel management, the choice of material and its upkeep. Special care must be given to the peroperative pneumoperitoneum and the use of monopolar electrocoagulation. A peroperative cholangiogram should be obtained. A careful operative report is very important. The surgeon must be able to justify his competence. Finally, the surgical community should publish more results concerning the rate of complications in order to establish reference material for experts.

[Patient information and obtaining informed consent in laparoscopic surgery]. / L'information du patient et l'obtention du consentement en chirurgie laparoscopique.

Since the advent of laparoscopic surgery, the number of suits against surgeons has risen. One of the most frequent complaints is the lack of sufficient information. Physicians in France have a formal obligation to provide information in the contractual legal context established since 1936. This notion has been confirmed in several court cases. The requirement for patient informed consent has been confirmed by several decisions of the Appeals Court and is stated in the code of deontology. The value of classical oral information has been recently questioned in certain court cases. We analyse the current legal situation in France and try to define the content of information required in the case of laparoscopic surgery in addition to the way this information is provided and the means of obtaining informed consent. The information provided must be personalised. The patient must informed that laparoscopy remains a surgical operation. It is licit to warn the patient of predictable risks according to statistical probabilities, of the team's experience and of the patients own status including past history and psychological factors. A written statement may be prepared but must remain a document complementary to personalised oral information. The surgeon must obtain and assure good patient comprehension. The surgical community should publish risk rates in order for surgeons to have reliable references which can be used to define the notion of exceptional risk.

Tracheobronchial lacerations after intubation and tracheostomy.

BACKGROUND: Although long-term complications of intubation and tracheostomy are well documented, little has been reported on acute complications of airway access techniques. METHODS: Fourteen patients (1 male and 13 female patients) aged 15 to 80 years presented with tracheobronchial lacerations after single-lumen intubation (n = 9), double-lumen intubation (n = 1), or tracheostomy (n = 4). RESULTS: A left bronchial laceration after double-lumen intubation was discovered and repaired intraoperatively. A tracheal laceration after single-lumen intubation was recognized during induction of anesthesia. The remaining 12 were diagnosed within 6 to 126 hours (median, 24 hours) after injury. All patients had mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema. At endoscopy, 12 injuries were located in the thoracic trachea and 1 in the cervical trachea. Twelve underwent primary repair through a right thoracotomy (n = 11) or left cervicotomy (n = 1), and 1 was treated conservatively. Two patients with tracheostomy injury died postoperatively. All repairs healed well but one. The latter was performed 5 days after the injury; a dehiscence occurred, but healed spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that prognosis of tracheal lacerations depends both on the general health of the patient and on the rapidity of diagnosis and treatment.

High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to ion spray mass spectrometry for the determination of colchicine at ppb levels in human biofluids.

An original method based upon high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to ion spray mass spectrometry (HPLC-ISP-MS) has been developed for the identification and quantification of colchicine (COL) in human blood, plasma or urine. After single-step liquid-liquid extraction by dichloromethane at pH 8.0 using tofisopam (TOF) as an internal standard, solutes are separated on a 5-microns C18 Microbore (Alltech) column (250 x 1.0 mm, I.D.), using acetonitrile-2 mM NH4COOH, pH 3 buffer (75: 25, v/v) as the mobile phase (flow-rate 50 microliters/min). Detection is done by a Perkin-Elmer Sciex API-100 mass analyzer equipped with a ISP interface (nebulizing and curtain gas: N2, quality U; main settings: ISP, +4.0 kV; OR, +50 V; Q0, -10 V; Q1, -13 V; electron multiplier, +2.2 kV); MS data are collected as either total ion current (TIC, m/z 100-500 or 380-405), or selected ion monitoring (SIM) at m/z 400 and 383 for COL and TOF, respectively. COL mass spectrum shows a prominent molecular ion [M + H]+ at m/z 400. Increasing OR potential fails to provide a significant fragmentation. Retention times are 2.70 and 4.53 min for COL and TOF, respectively. The quantification method shows a good linearity (r = 0.998) over a concentration range from 5 to 200 ng/ml. The lower limit of detection in SIM mode is 0.6 ng/ml COL, making the method convenient for both clinical and forensic purposes.

Association of bronchial and pharyngo-laryngeal malignancies. A reappraisal.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate operative risk and probability for survival patients with a history of upper aerodigestive cancer, who underwent thoracotomy for presumed primary bronchogenic cancer. Our hypothesis was to consider any isolated lung opacity as a primary bronchogenic cancer. METHODS: The cohort under investigation included 114 consecutive patients. Histology of bronchial cancer was squamous cell carcinoma in 98 patients (86%), adenocarcinoma in 14 (12%) and large cell carcinoma in 2 (2%). Exploratory thoracotomy was performed in 5 patients (4%); the remaining 109 patients underwent a potentially curative resection, including 25 pneumonectomies (22%) and 84 conservative resections (74%). Pathological staging was as follows: 66 stage I (58%), 20 II (17.5%), 20 IIIa (17.5%), 6 stage IIIb (5%), and 2 stage IV (2%). RESULTS: Four patients died post-operatively (3.5%). Non-fatal morbidity concerned 32 patients (28.1%) and was dominated by respiratory superinfections. Incidence of respiratory infections was increased after voice-sparing resections (chi 2 = 4.311, P < 0.05), and more particularly after transmaxillary buccopharyngectomy (chi 2 = 12.224; P < 0.01). Estimated 5-year survival was 28.7% (33.3% in stage I, 19.2% in stage II, and 30.2% in stage III). There was no difference in survival with reference to the location of head and neck cancer (chi 2 = 3.412; 0.05 < P < 0.1) or chronology (chi 2 = 0.005; P > 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that isolated lung opacities in patients with previous or simultaneous head and neck cancer are most likely primary bronchogenic cancers. The acceptable operative mortality legitimizes surgical treatment despite an impaired 5-year survival; patients with a previous voice-sparing operation are at increased risk for respiratory complications and should be managed carefully.

Decortication is a valuable option for late empyema after collapse therapy.

BACKGROUND: Infection of previous collapse therapy spaces may raise challenging problems. This study evaluated a conservative surgical approach based on decortication. METHODS: Since 1979, 28 patients (mean age, 60 +/- 6 years) have presented at an average of 37 +/- 7 years after artificial pneumothorax for tuberculosis. Diagnosis of empyema was made on follow-up in 12 patients and on symptoms in 16 patients. Mean vital capacity was 66% +/- 16% of normal. Microorganisms were isolated in 13 patients (Aspergillus fumigatus in 5, Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 4, anaerobes in 4). Decortication was made in 24 patients, associated with thoracoplasty in 4, and with partial lung resection in 2 patients. Thoracoplasty alone was performed in 2 patients, and 2 patients underwent an extrapleural pneumonectomy. RESULTS: Both extrapleural pneumonectomies were complicated with empyema requiring thoracoplasty, resulting in one postoperative death. Operative mortality after decortication was nil. Mean intraoperative blood loss during decortication was 1,830 +/- 1,310 mL. All patients were extubated within 24 hours, except 1 patient who was ventilator-dependent preoperatively. Prolonged air leaks were common (mean duration of drainage, 16 +/- 11 days), but ultimately sealed. Existence of symptoms was predictive of prolonged air leaks (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that decortication may provide a one-stage cure avoiding the hazards of extrapleural pneumonectomy; the nonfunctioning remaining lung may resolve the space problem.

[Action of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and cisplatin on two models of human digestive, esophageal and colonic, cancers]. / Action du granulocyte-colony stimulating factor et du cisplatine sur deux modèles de cancers digestifs humains, oesophagien et colique.

A combined therapy using a colony-stimulating factor and a chemotherapeutic agent has been designed, in vitro and in vivo, on digestive tumor cells to assess the effects of these agents administered alone or in combination, on the cells' or the tumor's growth rate. A recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rh G-CSF) and Cisplatin (CDDP) has been administered at various concentrations in vitro on oesophageal (ECYO) or on colonic (COLO 205) cell lines and in vivo on oesophagal tumor transplanted in Nude mice. In vitro, the oesophagal model is sensitive to G-CSF. The administration of G-CSF induces a stimulation of the cell proliferation. The DNA synthesis is stimulated or inhibited by low or high concentrations of G-CSF without any dose-response relationship. CDDP inhibits the DNA synthesis in ECYO cells. The association of the two agents leads to an activation of the DNA synthesis but only for some concentrations. On the contrary, the colonic model treated or not by CDDP is not sensitive to G-CSF. In vivo, G-CSF does not allow any inhibition or activation of oesophagal tumor's growth rate. CDDP alone is also inefficient. When G-CSF is administered before CDDP, there is no effect on the tumors. On the contrary, when G-CSF is administered with or after the chemotherapeutic agent, there is a significant inhibition of the tumor's growth rate.