Treatment for primary refractory Hodgkin's disease: a comparison of high-dose chemotherapy followed by ASCT with conventional therapy.

Our previously published study showed promising results of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with primary resistant Hodgkin's disease (HD). Probabilities of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) at 3 years were 55 and 36%, respectively. The present study was undertaken to compare these results with conventionally treated patients and thus evaluate therapeutic options. Retrospective data on 76 adult patients who underwent ASCT were matched with 76 conventionally treated patients from 17 centers. Comparison of clinical characteristics in both groups showed that ASCT patients were younger (24 vs 31.5 years, P=0.001), more frequently presented with 'B' symptoms (P=0.03) and that more patients treated with chemotherapy (CT) had elevated LDH (P=0.03). In univariate analyses, bulky disease (P=0.0043) and complete resistance to standard CT (P=0.051) were found to be risk factors for OS. In a multivariate survival analysis only bulky disease was found to an independent prognostic factor (P=0.005). There was no difference in survival between the treatment groups with 5 years OS 33.7 (CI: 23-46) in the ASCT group and 35.6% (CI: 25-50) for the CT group (P=0.92). We conclude that ASCT is not superior to standard CT for treatment of patients with primary refractory HD.

[A rare case of dissemination of anaplastic oligodendroma outside the central nervous system]. / Rzadki przypadek rozsiewu anaplastycznego skapodrzewiaka poza osrodkowy uklad nerwowy.

A rare case is reported of primary brain tumour with histological features of anaplastic oligodendroglioma, with metastases outside the central nervous system. Of interest is a short remission after treatment with cyclophosphamide and vepesid which shows that this type of tumour is sensitive in a way to chemotherapy.

[Results of tamoxifen treatment in patients with advanced breast cancer]. / Wynik leczenia tamoksyfenem chorych na zaawansowanego raka sutka.

The results of advanced breast cancer therapy with tamoxifen have been evaluated. The objective response to the drug has been achieved in 32 (31.7%) patients, and a 2-year survival in 52% of cases. A correlation between the localization of lesions and response rate has been found. The best results have been achieved in localized lesions and lymph nodes metastases. Low toxicity of the drug enables achievement of results comparable to those seen in all types of the hormonal therapy, except androgens.

[Retrospective study on palliative treatment of pancreatic cancer]. / Retrospektywne badania nad paliatywnym leczeniem raka trzustki.

A retrospective analysis included 119 patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer confirmed in histological examination. This group of patients was treated in Memorial Cancer Institute Cracow Branch between 1950 and 1993. The study revealed that a palliative operation (gastroduodenostomy, cholangioenterostomy or cholangiogastrostomy) was the factor of great influence on the time of survival. The average survival in operated versus not operated patients was 7.5 months and 4.0 months, respectively. Another factor exerting influence on the survival appeared to be the progression of the neoplastic process. The average survival in case of locally advanced versus disseminated disease was 6.9 and 2.3 months, respectively. Although the survival in the group of patients who underwent chemotherapy was longer, the significance of this method of treatment can not be estimated as the group was not numerous enough. The time from the beginning of symptoms and from the first physical examination to establishing diagnosis has prolonged in the last decade.

[Toxicity and efficacy of chemotherapy dependent on circadian time of cytostatic drug administration]. / Toksycznosc i skutecznosc chemioterapii w zaleznosci od pory dnia podawania cytostatyków.

A prospective, controlled study was carried out in order to evaluate efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy based on cisplatin in dependence on the circadian rhythm of drugs administration in patients with testicular and ovarian cancer. The study included 80 patients (40 with testicular cancer and 40 with ovarian cancer), divided into two groups (A and B). The cytostatics were administered in the evening in the group A and in the morning in the group B. The response rates and the 3-years survival rates were comparable in both groups. However the patients in the group A presented less haematological and renal side effects, while nausea and vomiting were milder. Chronotherapy may appear to be a method improving the tolerance of chemotherapy based on cisplatin.

[Evaluation of efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel (Taxotere) in patients with advanced mammary gland cancer]. / Ocena skutecznosci i toksycznosci docetakselu (Taxotere) u chorych na zaawansowanego raka gruczolu piersiowego.

Twenty women with advanced breast cancer were treated with Docetaxel. In 50% of cases partial remission with median duration of 7.1 months was obtained. The median survival time was 18 months. Stabilization of disease with median duration of 5.5 months was obtained in 45%. The median survival in this group of patients was 15.3 months. The pervious antracycline-based chemotherapy did not influenced the results. The most common side effect was neutropenia (G3 in 80% of pts) and alopecia, but the chemotherapy tolerance was satisfactory.

[Late hematologic status after chemotherapy observed in patients 3 to 10 years after treatment]. / Pózne powiklania hematologiczne po leczeniu chemicznym obserwowane u pacjentów w 3 do 10 lat po leczeniu.

The aim of the present study is the evaluation of late hematological complication in patients who received aggressive chemotherapy, and were observed 3, 5 and 10 years after treatment was completed. In the group of 35 patients, besides high percent of early hematological complications, there was only one case of anemia grade 2 (acc. to WHO score). We concluded that the hematological recovery after aggressive chemotherapy was satisfactory. No secondary hematological malignancies have been found.