Multiple myeloma in elderly patients: presenting features and outcome.

Few studies have been performed regarding multiple myeloma (MM) in elderly patients. We report a retrospective series of 130 unselected patients with MM aged 75 yr or more at diagnosis. Presenting features were identical to those reported in younger patients, except for a higher rate of infection. Heavy comorbidity was characteristic of unselected geriatric patients. Ninety-four patients received conventional chemotherapy. The response rate was 62%. Treatment toxicity was mild. Median survival was 22 months. Durie-Salmon (DS) clinical stages II and III MM were severe and often led to death, while significantly more patients with DS stage I MM died from unrelated causes (p<0.0001). Univariate analysis showed that age > or = 85 yr, performance status > or = 2, creatinine level > or = 120 micromol/l, beta 2 microglobulin level > 4 mg/l, C-reactive protein level > 6 mg/l, platelet count < 100 x 10(9)/l, presence of infection and lack of response to chemotherapy were adverse prognostic factors for survival. In Cox multivariate regression analysis, age > or = 85 yr (p<0.0001), performance status > or = 2 (p<0.0001) and creatinine level > or = 120 micromol/l (p<0.0001) were independent factors in predicting short survival. This study provides evidence that in patients with symptomatic MM age should not be considered as a major obstacle to active treatment. Prospective clinical trials are needed in this population of patients and should include an assessment of quality of life.

Familial multiple myeloma: report of fifteen families.

To further define the frequency, clinical and biological features of familial multiple myeloma we performed a retrospective study of related patients who presented with multiple myeloma. Most cases of familial multiple myeloma were observed in siblings (10/15), in whom the mean age at diagnosis was similar to unrelated multiple myeloma. In successive generations the mean age at diagnosis was lower. Monoclonal component was identical (IgG kappa) in seven families. Familial history of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance was observed in three families. Five other prospective studies of 1263 patients identified four affected families (3.2 per 1000 cases of multiple myeloma), and raise the question of a genetic background in multiple myeloma.

Long-term weekly treatment of colorectal metastatic cancer with fluorouracil and leucovorin: results of a multicentric prospective trial of fluorouracil dosage optimization by pharmacokinetic monitoring in 152 patients.

PURPOSE: A relationship between fluorouracil (5-FU) dose and response has been previously shown in advanced colorectal cancer. In a previous study with 5-FU stepwise dose escalation in a weekly regimen, and pharmacokinetic monitoring, we defined a therapeutic range for 5-FU plasma levels: 2,000 to 3,000 microg/L (area under the concentration-time curve at 0 to 8 hours [AUC0-8], 16 to 24 mg x h/L). The current study investigated 5-FU therapeutic intensification with individual dose adjustment in a multicentric phase II prospective trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Weekly high-dose 5-FU was administered by 8-hour infusion with 400 mg/m2 leucovorin. The initial dose of 5-FU (1,300 mg/m2) was adapted weekly according to 5-FU plasma levels, to reach the therapeutic range previously determined. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients entered the study from December 1991 to December 1994: 117 patients with measurable metastatic disease and 35 with assessable disease. Toxicity was mainly diarrhea (39%, with 5% grade 3) and hand-foot syndrome (30%, with 2% grade 3). Among 117 patients with measurable disease, 18 had a complete response (CR), 48 a partial response (PR), 35 a minor response (MR) and stable disease (SD), and 16 progressive disease (PD). Median overall survival time was 19 months. The 5-FU therapeutic plasma range was rapidly reached with a variable 5-FU dose in the patient population: mean, 1,803 +/- 386 mg/m2/wk (range, 950 to 3,396). Thirteen patients were immediately in the toxic zone, whereas 51 required a > or = 50% dose increase. CONCLUSION: Individual 5-FU dose adjustment with pharmacokinetic monitoring provided a high survival rate and percentage of responses, with good tolerance.

A lymph node interdigitating reticulum cell sarcoma.

A 20-year-old woman presented with bilateral cervical, supraclavicular, and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. A nodal biopsy specimen showed a diffuse malignant proliferation of large pleomorphic cells. The ultrastructural features and the antigen phenotype (expression of HLA-DR, CD68, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, and S100 protein and inconstant reactivity for CD11c, CD15, and peanut agglutinin) were consistent with a derivation from interdigitating reticulum cells. Despite intensive combination chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation and local irradiation, the patient relapsed in the initial sites of the disease. A review of 12 previous reports of interdigitating reticulum cell sarcomas showed that most of these rare tumors behaved aggressively and were unresponsive to classic intensive chemotherapeutic regimens.

[Pseudo-septicemic pyoderma gangrenosum and breast cancer. Apropos of a case caused by an intramuscular injection]. / Pyoderma gangrenosum pseudo-septicémique et cancer du sein. A propos d'un cas déclenché par une injection intra-musculaire.

We report a case of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) mimicking a severe infectious skin disease in a woman with metastatic breast cancer. PG started at the site of an intramuscular injection administered a few days previously, and it subsequently extended. The skin disease was cured by high-dose corticosteroid therapy and clofazimine, but it marked a turn for the worst in the course of the breast cancer which became rapidly fatal.

[Systemic mastocytosis and malignant hemopathies. Review of the literature apropos of a case]. / Mastocytoses systémiques et hémopathies malignes. Revue de la littérature à propos d'un cas.

The authors report the case of a 68-year old woman with systemic mastocytosis revealed by spleen enlargement and portal hypertension, and associated with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia. Based on their review of the literature, they describe the general characteristics of systemic mastocytosis and underline the frequent association of this disease with malignant haematological disorders, notably in the myeloid series.