Irinotecan Plus Gemcitabine and Fluorouracil in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Since 2010, combination therapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin is the standard treatment for patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC) based on the ABC-02 trial. However, treatment after first-line progression is less clearly defined. We therefore retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of a 3-drug chemotherapy regimen in patients with advanced BTC. METHODS: Patients with advanced BTC treated with palliative chemotherapy between April 2000 and October 2005 at Regensburg University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. We analyzed the efficacy and safety of an institutional standard 3-drug regimen consisting of irinotecan, gemcitabine and 5-FU (IGF). One cycle, lasting 21 days, included applications on days 1 and 8 consisting of 75 mg/m2 irinotecan i.v. for 90 min, 1,000 mg/m2 gemcitabine i.v. for 30 min and 2,000 mg/m2 fluorouracil (5-FU) for 24 h. RESULTS: A total of 12 histologically confirmed cases with gallbladder cancer and intrahepatic BTC were reviewed. Fifty percent of the patients (6/12) had been pretreated with other chemotherapies. Median progression-free survival was 9.4 months (1.5-21.5) and median overall survival was 17.2 months (2.5-24.3). Only neutropenia (8%) was observed as an NCI-CTC grade 3 toxicity. Anemia and leucopenia grades 1 and 2 were the most common side effects. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of IGF shows a promising survival benefit with manageable toxicity in patients with advanced BTC. Therefore, this regimen seems to be a feasible second-line treatment option for patients with rapid progression under first-line therapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin and with a good performance status.

Smoldering myeloma presenting as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is an opportunistic infection occurring in patients with severe cellular immunodeficiency. This case highlights the role of cellular immunodeficiency in the reactivation of John Cunningham virus in a case of an early stage plasmacytoma. CASE PRESENTATION: A 76-year-old Caucasian woman presented with progressive left-sided hemiparesis, accompanied by hypoesthesia, hypoalgesia and neuropsychological symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated new hyperattenuating lesions in the right thalamus and left-sided subcortically. A polymerase chain reaction test revealed 4500 copies of John Cunningham virus-deoxyribonucleic acid/ml in cerebrospinal fluid. Human immunodeficiency virus infection was ruled out. A bone marrow biopsy showed an early stage immunoglobulin G-kappa plasmacytoma. Cidofovir (5mg/kg) weekly for three weeks was started. A significant improvement of her neuropsychological symptoms was achieved, but motor system and sensory symptoms did not change. CONCLUSIONS: This case shows a rapid course of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with severe residual deficits. In the diagnostic workup of all patients with atypical neurologic symptoms or immunodeficiency, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy should be included as a differential diagnosis.

Colonic bowel wall thickening: is there a need for endoscopic evaluation?

PURPOSE: Clinical relevance of colonic bowel wall thickening seen on abdominal CT scans is unknown. Recommendations for further diagnostic procedures are lacking. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate detecting of bowel wall thickening on CT scan and findings that were seen in case of endoscopical evaluation. METHODS: The radiological database was retrospectively reviewed for all reports of CT scans from 2003 to 2009 at the University Hospital Regensburg, Germany. Patients with underlying diseases for suspected bowel wall thickening were excluded. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients with bowel wall thickening were detected. Twenty-one percent (13/62) had generalized bowel wall thickening. In 58%, bowel wall thickening was limited to one segment of the colon (36/62), mostly left sided (25/62). Forty-four percent of patients (27/62) were sent to endoscopy. In 15% (4/27), malignancy was suspected, and it could be histologically confirmed in two patients. Nineteen percent (5/27) had normal endoscopy, and 67% (18/62) showed benign findings. CONCLUSION: Colonic bowel wall thickening is not a common finding on CT scan in this study. Consequential endoscopic evaluation was performed in less than 50% of patients. Pathological findings were detected in 80% of these patients. We recommend endoscopical evaluation if bowel wall thickening is reported on CT scan.