RESUMO
PURPOSE: In order to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone in the treatment of Japanese men with androgen-independent prostate cancer, a prospective study was conducted using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a primary end-point. METHODS: Nineteen Japanese men with stage D2 androgen-independent prostate cancer were registered and treatment was started. After ruling out anti-androgen withdrawal syndrome, they were treated with dexamethasone (1.5 mg daily). Patients were monitored for PSA, symptoms, radiologic response, survival rate, time to disease progression, time to treatment failure and complications. RESULTS: Prostate-specific antigen levels decreased in nine patients (50.0%); five (27.8%) showed a 50% or greater decrease and two (11.1%) showed an 80% or greater decrease. For the nine patients, the mean duration of PSA response was 7.3 months and the median duration was 2.1 months (range, 1.2-27.5+). Bone pain, which was noted in 13 patients at study entry, improved in seven patients (53.8%). Of nine patients who had serial radiographic examinations with bone scan, three (33%) showed partial response, two (22%) were stable and four (44%) showed disease progression. Treatment was well tolerated, except for one patient who suffered a severe pulmonary infection. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone decreased PSA levels and produced subjective symptomatic improvement in the patients with stage D2 androgen-independent prostate cancer.
Assuntos
Antineoplásicos Hormonais/administração & dosagem , Dexametasona/administração & dosagem , Neoplasias da Próstata/tratamento farmacológico , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Androgênios , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estadiamento de Neoplasias , Estudos Prospectivos , Antígeno Prostático Específico/sangue , Neoplasias da Próstata/mortalidade , Taxa de Sobrevida , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The mouse orthotopic prostate tumor model has been recognized as an ideal preclinical animal model simulating the anatomical and biological milieu of the prostate. In comparison with the subcutaneous tumor model, the only disadvantage of this model is the difficulty of chronological tumor growth monitoring. We have applied recent endoluminal ultrasound technology, transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), to the monitoring of mouse orthotopic prostate tumors. METHODS: A 6 Fr. 20 MHz catheter-based radial scan probe was used and TRUS was performed without any prior preparation including anesthesia. Orthotopic tumors were initiated by inoculation of 5000 RM-9 cells into the dorsal prostate of 12-week-old C57BL/6 male mice. The tumor growth was monitored by TRUS from day 3 to day 21. In addition, TRUS was performed to detect tumor growth suppression after intraperitoneal administration of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP). RESULTS: By ultrasound, tumors became detectable 7 days after tumor cell inoculation. TRUS images were clear and parallel to actual tumor growth. The tumor volume (X) calculated by TRUS correlated significantly with the actual tumor weight (Y) measured at autopsy; Y = 101.653 + 1.174X (R = 0.930, P < 0.001). Similarly, tumor growth suppression induced by CDDP was clearly detected by TRUS with reasonable accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: A high resolution TRUS allows simple and reliable monitoring of in situ tumor growth and growth suppression, making the mouse orthotopic prostate tumor model more efficient.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Próstata/diagnóstico por imagem , Animais , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Divisão Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Cisplatino/farmacologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Monitorização Fisiológica/métodos , Próstata/diagnóstico por imagem , Próstata/patologia , Neoplasias da Próstata/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias da Próstata/patologia , Células Tumorais Cultivadas , UltrassonografiaRESUMO
A neuropeptide F (NPF) was isolated from the fruit fly, Drosophila mellanogaster, based on a radioimmunoassay for a gut peptide from the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea. A partial sequence was obtained from the fly peptide, and a genomic sequence coding for NPF was cloned after inverse polymerase chain reaction and shown to exist as a single genomic copy. The encoded, putative prepropeptide can be processed into an amidated NPF with 36 residues that is related to invertebrate NPF's and the neuropeptide Y family of vertebrates. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry showed that Drosophila NPF was expressed in the brain and midgut of fly larvae and adults.
Assuntos
Drosophila melanogaster/química , Neuropeptídeo Y/química , Neuropeptídeos/química , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Química Encefálica , Clonagem Molecular , DNA , Proteínas de Drosophila , Imuno-Histoquímica , Hibridização In Situ , Intestinos/química , Espectrometria de Massas , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Neuropeptídeos/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Homologia de Sequência de AminoácidosRESUMO
Six out of 30 patients with chronic renal failure showed osteosclerosis in the lateral radiograph of the lumbar spine. When two groups with a similar degree of renal impairment were compared, the patients with osteosclerosis were younger and had a significantly higher level of circulating PTH (p less than 0.05) and total hydroxyproline excretion (p less than 0.02), than patients without overt osteosclerosis. The metacarpal cortical thickness was significantly reduced in patients with vertebral osteosclerosis. The results suggest that in patients with chronic uremia endogenous hypersecretion of PTH is one of the most significant factors responsible for the development of osteosclerosis. The mineral released from other skeletal sites could be utilized in the mineralization of the newly formed trabecular bone without any external calcium gain.