Vitamin E protects against the mitochondrial damage caused by cyclosporin A in LLC-PK1 cells.

Cyclosporin A (CsA) has nephrotoxic effects known to involve reactive oxygen species (ROS), since antioxidants prevent the kidney damage induced by this drug. Given that mitochondria are among the main sources of intracellular ROS, the aims of our study were to examine the mitochondrial effects of CsA in the porcine renal endothelial cell line LLC-PK1 and the influence of the antioxidant Vitamin E (Vit E). Following the treatment of LLC-PK1 cells with CsA, we assessed the mitochondrial synthesis of superoxide anion, permeability transition pore opening, mitochondrial membrane potential, cardiolipin peroxidation, cytochrome c release and cellular apoptosis, using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy procedures. Similar experiments were done after Vit E preincubation of cells. CsA treatment increased superoxide anion in a dose-dependent way. CsA opened the permeability transition pores, caused Bax migration to mitochondria, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and cardiolipin content. Also CsA released cytochrome c into cytosol and provoked cellular apoptosis. Vit E pretreatment inhibited the effects that CsA induced on mitochondrial structure and function in LLC-PK1 cells and avoided apoptosis. CsA modifies mitochondrial LLC-PK1 cell physiology with loss of negative electrochemical gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane and increased lipid peroxidation. These features are related to apoptosis and can explain the cellular damage that CsA induces. As Vit E inhibited these effects, our results suggest that they were mediated by an increase in ROS production by mitochondria.

Novel chemotherapy approaches in chemoradiation protocols.

Locally advanced cervical carcinoma had been treated with radiation therapy until 1999, when five different large clinical trials showed an overall survival benefit when chemotherapy was administered concomitantly with radiotherapy. The chemotherapy agents used in these trials were cisplatin, cisplatin combined with fluorouracil or hydroxyurea. Weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m(2)) achieved the best responses, even when compared with the combination with fluorouracil. These results led the United States National Cancer Institute (NCI) to recommend platinum-based chemotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced cervical carcinoma. Other cytotoxic agents have been tried in combination with radiotherapy for the management of the disease, including carboplatin, paclitaxel, gemcitabine and even topotecan. Gemcitabine has shown promising results and the combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin has proved safe and effective. However, to date, there has been no agent or combination of agents to have shown superiority over weekly cisplatin. Biologic agents such as bevacizumab, cetuximab, sorafenib and erlotinib are currently being tried in different trials in combination with radiotherapy and cisplatin. Celecoxib, a COX-2 inhibitor was evaluated in an RTOG study in combination with cisplatin and flourouracil with radiation therapy with no apparent effect on DFS and poor rates of locoregional control. Chemoradiation is the current standard therapy in locally advanced cervical carcinoma. The integration of novel agents will be established by the ongoing clinical trials.

[Cyclosporin A causes oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in renal tubular cells]. / La ciclosporina A origina estrés oxidativo y disfunción mitocondrial en células tubulares renales.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in cyclosporin A (CsA) nephrotoxicity. As mitochondria are one of the main sources of ROS in cells, we evaluated the role of CsA in mitochondrial structure and function in LLC-PK1 cells. We incubated cells with CsA 1 microM for 24 hours and studies were performed with flow citometry and confocal microscopy. We studied mitochondrial NAD(P)H content, superoxide anion (O2.-) production (MitoSOX Red), oxidation of cardiolipin of inner mitochondrial membrane (NAO) and mitochondrial membrane potential (DIOC2(3)). Also we analyzed the intracellular ROS synthesis (H2DCF-DA) and reduced glutation (GSH) of cells. Our results showed that CsA decreased NAD(P)H and membrane potential, and increased O2.- in mitochondria. CsA also provoked oxidation of cardiolipin. Furthermore, CsA increased intracellular ROS production and decreased GSH content. These results suggest that CsA has crucial effects in mitochondria. CsA modified mitochondrial physiology through the decrease of antioxidant mitochondrial compounds as NAD(P)H and the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential and increase of oxidants as O2.-. Also, CsA alters lipidic structure of inner mitochondrial membrane through the oxidation of cardiolipin. These effects trigger a chain of events that favour intracellular synthesis of ROS and depletion of GSH that can compromise cellular viability. Nephrotoxic cellular effects of CsA can be explained, at least in part, through its influence on mitochondrial functionalism.

Randomized study of cefepime versus ceftazidime plus amikacin in patients with solid tumors treated with high dose chemotherapy (HDC) and peripheral blood stem cell support (PBSCS) with febrile neutropenia.

OBJECTIVE: This randomized clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of monotherapy with cefepime for patients with solid tumors treated with high dose chemotherapy (HDC) and peripheral blood stem cell support (PBSCS) with febrile neutropenia. SUBJECTS: Patients with solid tumors treated with HDC and PBSCS, that developed fever and neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count < 500 cells/microL) were eligible, and randomly assigned to receive ceftazidime plus amikacin or cefepime. RESULTS: Fifty-one episodes were randomized, and all were evaluable (27 received ceftazidime plus amikacin arm, and 24 cefepime). Major efficacy endpoints did not show significant differences, with success rates of 44.4% and 54.2% (p = 0.481) for the combination arm and the monotherapy arm, respectively. The proportion of patients that became afebrile in the first 24 hours was significantly higher in the cefepime group (41.7% vs 11.1%, respectively; p = 0.012). However, due to its premature closure and small sample size, this study lacks the adequate power to definitely address this question. CONCLUSIONS: Cefepime monotherapy appeared to have an equivalent efficacy and safety as empiric treatment in febrile neutropenia episodes in a highrisk population compared with ceftazidime and amikacin. Nevertheless, this study is not adequately powered to answer this question. Given the small number of patients randomized and the single-center nature of this study, these results must be cautiously interpreted.

Biweekly gemcitabine plus vinorelbine in first-line metastatic breast cancer: efficacy and correlation with HER2 extracellular domain.

Purpose. To assess the toxicity and efficacy of biweekly gemcitabine plus vinorelbine in first-line advanced breast cancer, and to establish whether circulating HER2 ECD levels correlate with the efficacy of the combination. Patients and methods. 52 patients were treated with gemcitabine 2500 mg/m(2) plus vinorelbine 30 mg/m(2), both on day 1 of 14-day cycles, for a maximum of 10 cycles. Baseline serum levels of HER2 ECD were assessed with an ELISA. Results. All patients were evaluable for toxicity, and 50 for efficacy. Overall toxicity was moderate. Grade 3 neutropenia occurred in 35% of patients and grade 4 in 19%. Other grade 3 toxicities were observed in less than 6%. There was one episode of febrile neutropenia, and one death after cycle three. Overall response rate was 52% (95% CI: 38% to 66%), with 2 patients achieving a CR (4%). Response rate did not correlate with HER2 ECD, with 50% of HER2 ECD positive patients responding, vs 48.5% of the HER2 ECD negative. Median overall survival was 24.6 months. Conclusion. Gemcitabine plus vinorelbine, given as an every-two-week schedule, is an active regimen in advanced breast carcinoma. This combination can be an option when anthracyclines and taxanes are not preferred. HER2 ECD has no predictive value in this non-taxane combination.

Flow cytometric analysis of the in situ hybridization of cyclooxygenase isoforms in mesangial cells treated with cyclosporine A.

BACKGROUND: Cyclosporine A increases oxidative stress in kidney and we hypothesized that cyclooxygenase (COX) may be involved in this effect. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mesangial cells of Cyclosporine A-treated (4, 7 or 10 days) rats were obtained to evaluate mRNA expression of COX-isoforms (COX-1, constitutive and COX-2, inducible) by "in situ" hybridization. Probes were labelled using "Gene Image Random Prime Labelling Protocol" and COX expression was measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: "In situ" hybridization by flow cytometry is an useful method to detect mRNA. We observed an increased COX-2 expression in a time-dependent manner in parallel with Reactive Oxygen Species synthesis. COX-1 expression increased only at 10 days.

[All-trans retinoic acid induces apoptosis in human mesangial cells: involvement of stress activated p38 kinase]. / El ácido retinoico todo-trans induce apoptosis en células mesangiales humanas: implicación de la quinasa activada por estrés p38.

All-trans retinoic acid (AR-t) is used for treating acute promyelocytic leukemia and renal cell carcinoma and it also has therapeutic value in several animal models of renal disease. Among its renal targets, mesangial cells have been widely studied: they have both retinoic acid receptors (RAR) and retinoid X receptors (RXR) and the cell growth is inhibited when human mesangial cells are incubated with 1-10 microM AR-t. Although his effect has been related with the antiproliferative action of AR-t, there are no studies on the involvement of apoptosis in AR-t induced cell growth when higher concentrations of retinoid are used. Our studies show that 25 microM AR-t triggers mesangial cell apoptosis assessed by light and fluorescence microscopy (Giemsa stain and acridine orange stain, respectively), DNA electrophoresis, flow cytometry (annexin-V) and immunocytochemistry (TUNEL). AR-t induced apoptosis was not inhibited by preincubation with the RXR pan-antagonist HX531 nor with the RAR pan-antagonist AGN 193109, this suggesting RAR and RXIR are not involved in AR-t induced cell death. Previous results of our group showed that ERK (extracellular regulated kinase) and INK (c-Jun kinase), two members of the MAP (mitogen activated protein) kinase family, are involved in non apoptotic effects of AR-t on mesangial cells. Therefore we focussed on the stress activated p38 kinase, the third member of the MAPK family, to investigate its involvement in AR-t induced apoptosis. The results confirmed a role of p38 since: 1) preincubation with B5203589, a p38 inhibitor, inhibited ARA induced apoptosis; 2) incubation with AR-t induced p38 phosphorilation after few minutes and p38 remained phosphorilated for at least 8 hours and 3) AR-t induced p38 phosphorilation was inhibited by SB203589. These data suggest that AR-t might have toxic side effects on the kidney but also suggest that AR-t could be an useful inhibitor of pathological mesangial cell expansion.

Biweekly paclitaxel plus gemcitabine in advanced breast cancer: phase II trial and predictive value of HER2 extracellular domain.

BACKGROUND: We wanted to assess the toxicity and efficacy of paclitaxel plus gemcitabine in advanced breast cancer and to confirm whether circulating HER2 extracellular domain (ECD) correlates with treatment response. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients received paclitaxel 150 mg/m2 followed by gemcitabine 2500 mg/m2, both on day 1 of 14-day cycles, with a maximum of eight cycles. Serum levels of HER2 ECD were assessed by ELISA. RESULTS: All patients were evaluable for toxicity and 42 for efficacy. Overall toxicity was low. Grade 3 neutropenia occurred in 12% of patients and grade 4 in 17%, and other grade 3 toxicities in <5%. One patient had an allergic infusion reaction. Overall response rate was 71% [95% confidence interval (CI) 62% to 81%], with 11 patients achieving a complete response (26%). With a median follow-up of 26 months, the median time to progression was 16.6 months. Response rate correlated significantly with HER2 ECD, with 42% of HER2 ECD-positive patients responding versus 83% of HER2 ECD-negative patients (P = 0.02). Furthermore, response duration was shorter in patients with positive HER2 ECD levels (7.9 versus 14.4 months; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Paclitaxel plus gemcitabine given as an every 2-weeks schedule is a well tolerated and active regimen in advanced breast carcinoma. This is an attractive combination to use when anthracyclines are not indicated, such as in HER2 positive cases that receive trastuzumab. In addition, elevated levels of HER2 ECD adversely affect the efficacy of treatment.

Mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells with a combination of cyclophosphamide, r-metHuSCF and filgrastim in patients with breast cancer previously treated with chemotherapy.

The objective of our study was to determine the effect of adding r-metHuSCF to Filgrastim and cyclophosphamide for mobilization of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC), on collection of CD34(+) cells and engraftment after autologous stem cell transplant. Twenty-three patients with previously treated stage II-IV breast cancer received cyclophosphamide (3 g/m(2)), Filgrastim 5 microg/kg daily and r-metHuSCF 20 microg/kg daily. Two PBPC collections were performed on consecutive days starting the day the WBC count was above 7.5 x 10(3)/microl. Collection was performed between days +9 and +12 and the median number of CD34(+) cells collected was 9.9 x 10(6)/kg (1.1-53.1) and 6.6 x 10(6)/kg (1.4-33.8) for the first and second apheresis, respectively. Despite being previously treated patients, the target CD34(+) cell dose required for SCT was obtained in all patients. SCT was associated with rapid neutrophil and platelet engraftment and a highly significant correlation was observed between the number of CD34(+) cells infused and engraftment. Treatment with SCF plus filgrastim was well tolerated, with mild to moderate local skin rash being the most frequently reported adverse event. In conclusion, addition of r-metHuSCF induces mobilization of a large number of CD34(+) cells which results in shortening of time to engraftment and hospitalization.

The role of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in the post-transplant period.

The administration of G-CSF post transplant has been shown to accelerate the time to neutrophil engraftment. However, this does not necessarily translate into a meaningful clinical benefit to the patient. This randomized study was designed to determine the role of G-CSF following transplantation in patients with breast cancer (BC). A total of 241 evaluable patients with BC were included. There were 200 patients with high-risk BC, and 41 had disseminated BC in complete remission. All patients received conventional dose chemotherapy prior to transplantation. Patients were mobilized with G-CSF, received the STAMP V regimen, were transplanted with > or = 2.5 x 10(6) of CD34(+) cells/kg and were then randomized to receive 5 microg/kg of G-CSF starting on the day of infusion (arm A), five days later (arm B), or no G-CSF (arm C). The need for transfusion support, infectious complications and length of hospitalization were the variables chosen to demonstrate clinical benefit. Patients receiving G-CSF reached 500 and 1000 neutrophils significantly faster (P = 0.001) than patients with no G-CSF. This translated into a significantly (P < 0.05) shorter hospitalization time for patients receiving G-CSF. Arm C was closed and, after recruiting 110 patients in arm A, and 106 in arm B, the significant difference in neutrophil recovery persisted with no difference in the time of hospitalization between arms A and B. Therefore, G-CSF significantly accelerates the time to neutrophil engraftment. This translates into a shorter time of hospitalization. There is no difference in this variable regarding the time of administering the G-CSF: day 0 vs day +5. Therefore, G-CSF on day +5 should be the standard in this setting.

High-dose mitoxantrone and cyclophosphamide without stem cell support in patients with high-risk and advanced breast carcinoma: a Phase II multicentric trial.

BACKGROUND: Currently employed high-dose regimens for patients with breast carcinoma consist mainly of single-cycle combinations of alkylating agents. In a previous Phase I trial, the authors developed a tandem high-dose combination of two cycles of mitoxantrone and cyclophosphamide for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast carcinoma (MBC) and high-risk breast carcinoma (HRBC). Treatment was delivered with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) but without stem cell support to avoid potential tumor cell reinfusion. The objective was to validate the safety and obtain preliminary efficacy assessment of this combination in a Phase II trial. METHODS: Fifty-three patients were included: 27 patients with MBC and 26 patients with HRBC. After standard induction treatment, patients received two cycles of mitoxantrone 25 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 4000 mg/m2 separated by a 4-week interval. Patients received G-CSF and ciprofloxacin until hematologic recovery. Follow-up was performed in an outpatient setting. RESULTS: One hundred one of 106 projected cycles (95%) were delivered. The mean dose intensities achieved were mitoxantrone 5.8 mg/m2 per week and cyclophosphamide 933 mg/m2 per week. Infection developed in 46% of the cycles, and platelet transfusions were required in 42%. Nonhematologic toxicity was mainly Grade 3 emesis. There were no toxic deaths. In 17 evaluable patients with MBC, 13 patients (77%) had response improvements, including 7 complete responses (41%). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with two cycles of mitoxantrone 25 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 4000 mg/m2 with G-CSF but without stem cell support was well tolerated. The dose intensities achieved approach those obtained with conventional high-dose therapy. This combination warrants further investigation as an alternative to conventional high-dose regimens.

High-dose mitoxantrone and cyclophosphamide without stem cell support in high-risk and advanced solid tumors: a phase I trial.

This phase I study was designed to develop a high-dose combination of two cycles of mitoxantrone and cyclophosphamide in patients with solid tumors, as an alternative to single-cycle high-dose regimens that use only alkylating agents. Treatment was delivered with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), but without stem cell support, in order to avoid potential tumor cell reinfusion. Thirty-one patients with advanced solid tumors received two cycles of high-dose mitoxantrone (20-30 mg/m2) plus high-dose cyclophosphamide (3000-4000 mg/m2). All patients received G-CSF until hematologic recovery. Dose-escalation was performed when less than 50% of cycles per level had dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) achieved was mitoxantrone 25 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 4000 mg/m2. Main dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were hematological: grade IV neutropenia lasting more than 7 days and thrombopenia below 20 x 10(9)/l requiring more than one platelet transfusion. Non-hematological DLT consisted predominantly of grade III emesis and asthenia. Follow-up after each cycle was performed in an outpatient setting and there were no toxic deaths. In conclusion, the administration of two cycles of high-dose mitoxantrone and cyclophosphamide with G-CSF support is safe and feasible. MTD was mitoxantrone 25 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 4000 mg/m2. Evaluation of this regimen is being done in a phase II trial.

Sequential analysis of CD34+ and CD34- cell subsets in peripheral blood and leukapheresis products from breast cancer patients mobilized with SCF plus G-CSF and cyclophosphamide.

Administration of stem cell factor (SCF) has been proven to enhance cytokine-induced mobilization of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) into the peripheral blood (PB). The aim of the present study was to explore in a homogeneous group of 22 uniformly treated breast cancer patients: (1) the kinetics of mobilization into PB of both CD34+ and CD34- cell subsets, including dendritic cells, in sequential samples obtained from day +7 up to day +12 after mobilization; and (2) the composition of the CD34+ and CD34- cell subsets present in the two leukapheresis products obtained for each patient. The following CD34+ and CD34- subsets were analyzed: early CD34+ HPC, erythroid-, myeloid- and B-lymphoid-committed CD34+ precursor cells, mature T, B and NK cells, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and dendritic cells (DC) including three subsets of lin-/HLADR+DC (CD16+, CD33high and CD123high). Our results show that the absolute number of PB CD34+ HPC progressively increases from day +7 onwards. As far as the CD34- PB leukocyte subsets are concerned, monocytes (CD14+) displayed the earliest recovery after mobilization predicting neutrophil recovery 1 day in advance. The number of CD34+ HPC collected in a single leukapheresis product was always > or = 1.4 x 10(6) cells/kg body weight. No significant changes were observed between the two leukapheresis sessions either as regards their composition in CD34+ HPC subsets or their CD34- leukocyte populations except for a higher ratio of both CD34+ erythroid/CD34+ myeloid HPC (0.35 +/- 0.13 vs 0.30 +/- 0.13; P = 0.04) and neutrophils/monocytes (1.58 +/- 2.1 vs 0.69 +/- 0.27; P = 0.009) found for the first leukapheresis. Interestingly, the overall number of dendritic cells (DC) was higher in the second leukapheresis (1.06 +/- 0.56 vs 1.9 +/- 0.46; P = 0.02) due to a selective increase of the CD16+ antigen-presenting cells. In summary, our results show that the combination of cyclophosphamide, G-CSF and SCF is highly effective for stem cell mobilization, with differences observed in the mobilization kinetics of the different hematopoietic cell subsets analyzed.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of high-risk febrile neutropenia: a multicenter randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) have been shown to help prevent febrile neutropenia in certain subgroups of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, but their role in treating febrile neutropenia is controversial. The purpose of our study was to evaluate-in a prospective multicenter randomized clinical trial-the efficacy of adding G-CSF to broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment of patients with solid tumors and high-risk febrile neutropenia. METHODS: A total of 210 patients with solid tumors treated with conventional-dose chemotherapy who presented with fever and grade IV neutropenia were considered to be eligible for the trial. They met at least one of the following high-risk criteria: profound neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <100/mm(3)), short latency from previous chemotherapy cycle (<10 days), sepsis or clinically documented infection at presentation, severe comorbidity, performance status of 3-4 (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scale), or prior inpatient status. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive the antibiotics ceftazidime and amikacin, with or without G-CSF (5 microg/kg per day). The primary study end point was the duration of hospitalization. All P values were two-sided. RESULTS: Patients randomly assigned to receive G-CSF had a significantly shorter duration of grade IV neutropenia (median, 2 days versus 3 days; P = 0.0004), antibiotic therapy (median, 5 days versus 6 days; P = 0.013), and hospital stay (median, 5 days versus 7 days; P = 0.015) than patients in the control arm. The incidence of serious medical complications not present at the initial clinical evaluation was 10% in the G-CSF group and 17% in the control group (P = 0.12), including five deaths in each study arm. The median cost of hospital stay and the median overall cost per patient admission were reduced by 17% (P = 0.01) and by 11% (P = 0.07), respectively, in the G-CSF arm compared with the control arm. CONCLUSIONS: Adding G-CSF to antibiotic therapy shortens the duration of neutropenia, reduces the duration of antibiotic therapy and hospitalization, and decreases hospital costs in patients with high-risk febrile neutropenia.

Rifampin does not improve the efficacy of quinolone antibacterial prophylaxis in neutropenic cancer patients: results of a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the addition of rifampin to a quinolone-based antibacterial prophylactic regimen in patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with peripheral-blood stem-cell transplantation (PBSCT) decreases the incidence of neutropenia and fever, Gram-positive bacteremia, and infection-related morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with solid tumors undergoing HDC with PBSCT were randomized to receive prophylactic antibiotics with either ciprofloxacin 500 mg orally every 8 hours or the same ciprofloxacin regimen with rifampin 300 mg orally every 12 hours. Prophylaxis was started 48 hours before stem-cell reinfusion. Patients were monitored to document the occurrence of neutropenia and fever, incidence and cause of bacterial infection, time to onset and duration of fever, requirement for intravenous antimicrobials, and length of hospital admission. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were randomized to receive ciprofloxacin and 65 to receive ciprofloxacin plus rifampin, and from these groups, 62 and 61 were assessable, respectively. The proportion of patients who developed neutropenia and fever was 87% in the group treated with ciprofloxacin and 78% in the group treated with ciprofloxacin and rifampin (P =.25). Although there was a trend toward a reduction in the overall incidence of bacteremia (12 v 4 patients), and Gram-positive bacteremia (8 v 2 patients) with the addition of rifampin, none of these comparisons was statistically significant (P =.05 and P =.09, respectively). CONCLUSION: The results of this study, which demonstrate that rifampin does not improve ciprofloxacin antibacterial prophylaxis in cancer patients undergoing HDC with PBSCT support but that it does increase the occurrence of undesirable side effects, do not support the routine use of rifampin in this setting.

Incidence and clinical impact of fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli in the faecal flora of cancer patients treated with high dose chemotherapy and ciprofloxacin prophylaxis.

This study evaluated the susceptibility of Escherichia coli to quinolones in 72 stool samples collected from 31 patients with solid tumours who had undergone high dose chemotherapy (HDC) and peripheral blood stem-cell (PBSC) rescue with ciprofloxacin prophylaxis. Samples were obtained at admission, after completing prophylaxis and three months later. All E. coli strains isolated from baseline samples were susceptible to quinolones. Fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli strains were isolated in 10 (32%) patients in the second sample. In eight of these patients isolates were susceptible 3 months later. No patient developed infection due to fluorquinolone-resistant E. coli. No differences were observed in outcome between patients with susceptible and resistant flora.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) transiently suppresses mitogen-stimulated T-cell proliferative response.

Granulocyte colony-stimulation factor (G-CSF) is a cytokine that selectively promotes growth and maturation of neutrophils and may modulate the cytokine response to inflammatory stimuli. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of G-CSF on ex vivo peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) functions. Ten patients with breast cancer were included in a clinical trial in which r-metHuG-CSF was administered daily for 5 days to mobilize peripheral blood stem cells. Ten healthy women were also included as controls. Our data show that G-CSF treatment induces an increase in peripheral blood leucocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts. We have found a modulation in the percentages of CD19+, CD45+ CD14+, CD4+ CD45RA+ and CD4+ CD45RO+ cells in PBMC fractions during G-CSF treatment. We have also found a significant reduction in the proliferative response of PBMC to mitogenic stimulation that reverted 14 days after the fifth and the last dose of G-CSF. Furthermore, it was not associated with significant changes in the pattern of cytokine production. The mechanism of this immunoregulatory effect is probably indirect since G-CSF receptor has not been found in T lymphocytes. This mechanism and its potential clinical applications remain to be elucidated.

Outpatient therapy with oral ofloxacin for patients with low risk neutropenia and fever: a prospective, randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalization and treatment with broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics is the standard care for patients with neutropenia and fever. This randomized clinical trial evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of ambulatory care with oral ofloxacin for patients with low risk, chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and fever. METHODS: Patients with solid tumors who were treated with conventional dose chemotherapy, presented with fever (axillary temperature >38 degrees C on 2 occasions or >38.5 degrees C on a single occasion) and neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count, <500 cells/microL), and met low risk criteria were eligible for this study. They were randomized either to hospitalization and treatment with broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, which consisted of a combination of cefazidime and amikacin, or to outpatient treatment with oral ofloxacin. The definitions of fever of unknown origin, clinical and microbiologic infection, success, success with modification, and failure were the usual ones for this type of study. RESULTS: One hundred episodes were randomized, and 95 were evaluable (47 were randomized to ceftazidime/amikacin and 48 to ofloxacin). Baseline characteristics, as well as the proportion of patients with microbiologic and clinical infections, were similar in the two groups. In 91% of episodes in the inpatient group and 89% in the ofloxacin group, patients recovered uneventfully (P=1; 95% CI for the difference, -0.09 to 0.13), with 2 and 5 patients requiring modification of the antibiotics, respectively. Eight percent of episodes in the control group and 10.4% in the experimental group resulted in treatment failure. Eight patients (16%) in the outpatient group experienced failure with ambulatory care and were admitted to the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient oral antibiotic therapy with oral ofloxacin for patients with low risk neutropenia and fever is safe and similar in efficacy to hospitalization and treatment with broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotics.

Patient selection in high-dose chemotherapy trials: relevance in high-risk breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of the selection criteria that are used in current high-dose consolidation chemotherapy (HDCT) trials on the outcome of high-risk breast cancer patients treated with conventional adjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1975 to 1995, 265 breast cancer patients at our institution showed involvement of ten or more positive axillary lymph nodes. Of these, 171 received standard adjuvant combination chemotherapy, but not HDCT consolidation, and were the subjects of our study. One hundred twenty-eight patients met the standard selection criteria for HDCT with hematological support (< 60 years, no significant concomitant disease, and no progression during adjuvant treatment), whereas 43 did not. Clinical outcome was analyzed by using disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) as endpoints. To provide an assessment of the short-term efficacy of HDCT, we also evaluated the outcome in a cohort of 39 patients from the last 4 years who met the criteria for, and were actually treated with, HDCT after adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 4.4 years (range, 0.7 to 17.2 years), 112 of the 171 patients have had a relapse, and 87 have died. The estimated 5-year DFS was 32.3%, and OS was 49.4%. DFS was significantly higher for patients who met the HDCT criteria (36.6% at 5 years) than for those who did not (15.8% at 5 years; P < .05). OS was also significantly more favorable in patients meeting HDCT criteria (55.4% at 5 years) than in patients not meeting HDCT criteria (22.7% at 5 years; P < .01). We performed a multivariate analysis to adjust for other potential prognostic factors and found that meeting the HDCT criteria and having undergone locoregional radiotherapy were the only significant independent predictors for DFS and OS. Finally, we compared the outcome of the 128 patients who met the HDCT criteria and were treated with conventional adjuvant chemotherapy only with that of the 39 patients who met the criteria and who actually underwent HDCT, and we did not observe significant differences in the DFS or OS between these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Meeting HDCT inclusion criteria is an independent indicator of favorable prognosis in high-risk breast cancer patients. The selection of patients by these criteria may explain, at least in part, the promising short-term results of nonrandomized adjuvant HDCT trials in high-risk breast cancer.