Study of serum big-insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II and IGF binding proteins in two patients with extrapancreatic tumor hypoglycemia, using a combination of Western blotting methods.

Extrapancreatic tumor hypoglycemia (EPTH) is associated with increased amounts of high-molecular-weight precursor forms of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II ('big-IGF-II') that have a primary role in the pathophysiology of hypoglycemia. In the present study, using Western ligand and immunoblotting methods, we investigated IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), IGFBP-3 proteolysis and big-IGF-II in pre- and postoperative serum from two patients with EPTH due to benign pleural fibroma. In the preoperative serum, IGFBP-3 was reduced and IGFBP-2 was increased compared with that from an age-matched healthy control. IGFBP-3 proteolysis was dramatically reduced in one patient, whereas no major alteration was observed in the other (9% and 120% of control serum, respectively). IGFBPs progressively returned to a subnormal pattern in postoperative serum, whereas IGFBP- 3 proteolysis remained greater than in preoperative serum in both patients at days 14 and 90 after surgery. High-molecular-weight forms of IGF-II predominate in EPTH serum (65% and 57% of total IGF-II immunoreactivity in patients 1 and 2, respectively, compared with 2 5% in control serum). Two forms, of molecular mass 10 and 12 kDa ('standard big-IGF-II') were present in both EPTH and control sera, whereas two additional forms, of molecular mass 15 and 18 kDa ('big big-IGF-II') were observed in EPTH sera only. Big big-IGF-II represented 72% and 55% of total high-molecular-weight forms of IGF-II in the two EPTH sera, respectively. All big forms of IGF-II disappeared from the serum as early as 6 h after surgery. This study shows that combination of simple Western blotting methods, available routinely in most laboratories, should prove useful in providing reliable physiopathological information in EPTH.

Esophageal carcinoma with doubtful extirpability. Value of preoperative chemotherapy plus radiotherapy.

To improve resectability for bulky esophageal tumors and/or tumors evolving close to the pharyngo-esophageal junction (PEJ), a combined preoperative chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (CT+RT) was given in 25 patients. There were 23 men and 2 women (mean age: 55 years); 21 had squamous cell carcinoma and 4 had adenocarcinoma. According to TNM classification based on computed tomography, the tumor was graded T3 in 20 cases, T4 in 2, T2 in 2 and T1 in 1. The preoperative treatment included two sessions of continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (800 mg/m2 per day) and cisplatin (20 mg/m2 per day), and combined radiotherapy (3 Gy/day). The overall tolerance was acceptable. The tumoral mass decreased in 23 patients (92%). All the patients underwent a wide esophagectomy; among the six patients with a tumor close to the PEJ, two required an associated pharyngolaryngectomy. The operative mortality rate was 8%. Major non-fatal complications occurred in 52%. On histology, there was no evidence of residual disease in seven patients (28%). The median survival was 18 months and the overall survival rate was 22.1% at 2 years. For the patients who had a complete histological response, the 2-year survival rate was 35%. Our data suggest that combined CT+RT may improve resectability of esophageal carcinoma. Improved survival rates seem to be appreciable in patients with a complete histologic response.

[Recurrence after surgical treatment of epidermoid cancers of the esophagus. Therapeutic approach in 19 patients]. / Récidives après traitement chirurgical des cancers épidermoïdes de l'oesophage. Approche thérapeutique chez 19 malades.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to report the management of 19 patients with recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after surgical treatment. PATIENTS-METHODS: Nineteen patients with loco-regional recurrent invasion (n = 13) or metastasis (n = 6) of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were included. Four of the 13 patients with loco-regional recurrent invasion had tracheal involvement. The treatment of the recurrence was a combined radiochemotherapy (n = 12) for loco-regional recurrent invasion in 11 cases and for metastasis in 1 case, associated with a tracheal prosthesis in 1 patient. The other treatments were chemotherapy alone (n = 5), esophageal prosthesis (n = 1) and surgical treatment (n = 1). RESULTS: There were 7 objective responses among the 12 patients treated with combined radiochemotherapy and none in the group treated with chemotherapy alone. Grade 3-4 toxicity was noticed in 2 cases (severe mucositis). Survival rate of the 19 patients was 52.6% at 1 year and 13.1% at 2 years; it was linked with general health (P = 0.09) and with tracheal involvement (P = 0.04). Survival rate of the 12 patients treated by combined radiochemotherapy was higher: 66% at 1 year and 22.2% at 2 years (median survival time = 16 months). CONCLUSION: Active medical treatment of recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by combined radiochemotherapy can provide a median survival time of 16 months, with a moderate toxicity.

[Chondrosarcoma in nasal fossae and Maffucci's syndrome]. / Chondrosarcome des fosses nasales et syndrome de Maffucci-Kast.

INTRODUCTION: Maffucci's syndrome is a congenital non-hereditary disease very similar to Ollier's disease and associates multiple cutaneous hemangiomas, dyschondroplasia and often enchondromas. EXEGESIS: We report a unique case involving synchronous localization of chondrosarcoma in nasal fossae and anterior chest wall, disclosing Maffucci's syndrome. CONCLUSION: Atypical chondrosarcoma localization must lead to further investigation of potential multiple enchondromatosis.

[Bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma: apropos of 3 cases]. / Carcinome muco-épidermoïde bronchique: à propos de 3 observations.

We report three cases of bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma (BMEC) of low-grade malignancy with a relafase-free follow up. BMEC are rare tumors. The microscopic findings distinguish low-grade tumors which occur in children and young adults and high-grade tumors concerning older patients; this grading is based on the study of the epidermoid component. If possible, conservative therapy is appropriate in low-grade tumors. The prognosis of high-grade tumors is poor.

[Preoperative staging of central bronchopulmonary cancer. X-ray CT-MRI-pulmonary digital subtraction angiography and surgery]. / Bilan pré-opératoire des cancers broncho-pulmonaires centraux. Corrélations TDM-IRM--angiographie pulmonaire numérisée et chirurgie.

In order to evaluate the reliability of medical imaging methods in the assessment of mediastinal invasion by lung cancers, a prospective study was conducted in 30 patients undergoing preoperative computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and pulmonary digital subtraction angiography. MRI improved the sensitivity of detection of surgically confirmed mediastinal lymphadenopathy, but its specificity in relation to histological results was poor and identical to that of CT. In terms of extension to vascular structures, MRI and CT gave comparable results for the pulmonary artery and vein with two false positives for the pulmonary veins and left atrium with the two methods. MRI was found to be superior to CT for the detection of invasion of the aortic arch. Digital subtraction angiography is not as reliable as the other two modalities, particularly for extension to the pulmonary vein for which it was found to be technically inappropriate. By means of sagittal and frontal scans, MRI was therefore found to be more effective than CT for examination of the subcarinal region and aorto-pulmonary window. In contrast, the persistence of false positives with the two methods and the impossibility of distinguishing between inflammatory lymph nodes and neoplastic lymph nodes means that thoracotomy can never be contraindicated on the basis of the results of imaging alone.

[Long-term survival of a patient with melanoma with late recurrence of pulmonary metastasis treated by repeat surgery]. / Longue survie d'un cas de mélanome malin avec métastases pulmonaires tardives, récidivantes, traitées par chirurgie itérative.

We report the case of a young woman initially treated with surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and BCG therapy for stage II malignant melanoma involving the limbs. Considering that the risk of metastasis is usually maximal between 2 and 5 years after initial treatment, metastatic dissemination of this melanoma was rather unusual. Metastases were observed locally, regionally, and in the lungs 8, 10 and 12 years respectively after the primary diagnosis. Repeat surgery was performed to resect pulmonary nodules. Such surgery is possible in less than 10% of the cases of metastatic melanoma. Our patient has survived without relapse for 21 years after the initial diagnosis and 8 years after the last tumor excision. Recurrent pulmonary metastasis without extrapulmonary dissemination would suggest the tumor cell population was composed of a particular metastatic phenotype.

[The danger present to the spinal cord arterial vasculature during surgery of nerve-tissue tumors of the posterior mediastinum]. / Danger représenté par la vascularisation artérielle médullaire au cours de la chirurgie des tumeurs nerveuses du médiastin postérieur.

The authors report one case of posterior mediastinal neurinoma with a Adamkiewicz artery arising at an atypical site. They stress the spinal cord complications following thoracic surgery. The value of spinal cord arteriography during preoperative examinations and for prevention of complications is discussed.