Onset of hepatocellular carcinoma in a non-cirrhotic patient affected with haemochromatosis.

The increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients affected with haemochromatosis has previously been attributed to cirrhosis. However, some cases of hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis have recently been reported in patients with haemochromatosis, leading to reconsideration of the role of iron in the tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. We describe a 79 year old male patient affected with haemochromatosis and with a multinodular hepatocellular carcinoma, but without any evidence of cirrhosis. The absence of any other cancer risk factor (alcohol abuse, liver viral infections, heredity) has lead us to reconsider the possible role of iron as a direct carcinogen in the onset of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with haemochromatosis.

Analysis of p53 expression in precancerous and malignant gastric mucosa.

P53 overexpression, detected by immunohistochemical analysis, has been reported in about 50% of gastric cancers whereas scarce data are available on the p53 oncoprotein in precancerous gastric lesions. This study focused on the p53 expression in gastric cancerous and precancerous lesions. One hundred gastric specimens obtained during endoscopy were analyzed: 14 cases of normal gastric mucosa, 53 of chronic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia and/or dysplasia and 33 gastric tumors. An immunoperoxidase technique and monoclonal anti-p53 antibodies were employed. Eleven out of 31 gastric carcinomas overexpressed p53. No correlation was observed between p53-positivity and histological type and grade of tumors. All precancerous lesions were p53-negative. Our results suggest that p53 overexpression is a relatively late event in gastric carcinogenesis.

[Interferons in the therapy of solid tumors]. / Gli interferoni nella terapia dei tumori solidi.

Belonging to the vast family of cytokines, interferons (IFN) have recently been widely investigated concerning their possible clinical applications, both in virology and oncology. In this field results have been quite mixed but definitely encouraging. The best achievements have been obtained in hematology, and particularly in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia, but new perspectives have also opened in the therapy of solid tumors, especially in the local treatment of superficial bladder cancer and ovarian cancer, AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma and malignant melanoma. IFN have in certain cases showed an efficacy comparable to that of classic treatments but with lower toxicity, and in some tumors they have even improved the results obtained so far, especially in combined therapy. We have here gathered the most recent results concerning the use of IFN in the therapy of solid tumors in order to highlight the new therapeutic opportunities available to clinical oncology.

Complete resolution of breast cancer bone metastasis through the use of beta-interferon and tamoxifen.

A case report is described referring to a patient affected by single bone metastasis to the cranium from breast cancer. A traditional pharmacological approach was tried but proved clinically disappointing, though radiological and scintigraphic investigation confirmed a complete regression of the metastasis following a combined therapy with beta-interferon and tamoxifen for six months. Results suggest that beta-interferon and tamoxifen may offer an alternative effective approach in treating metastatic breast cancer.