Complete remission and long-term survival of a patient with melanoma metastases treated with high-dose fever-inducing Viscum album extract: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Metastatic malignant cutaneous melanoma (MCM)-a highly immunogenic cancer-typically has a poor prognosis. Viscum album extracts (VAEs) have strong immune-stimulating, apoptogenic, and cytotoxic effects. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old MCM patient with newly diagnosed lymph node metastases opted for sole VAE treatment. VAEs were initially applied subcutaneously, and then later in exceptionally high, fever-inducing doses, both intravenously and intralesionally. The metastases shrunk over the following months, and after 2 years, all lesions had completely remitted (regional and hilar lymph nodes). The patient has been tumor free for 3.5 years at the time of publication (and for 5 years since initiation of intensified VAE treatment). Besides fever and flu-like symptoms, no side effects occurred. DISCUSSION: We presume that VAE triggered an increased release of tumor-associated antigens, enhanced immunologic recognition, and increased immune response against the tumor tissue and induced tumor remission.

Vandetanib inhibits growth of adenoid cystic carcinoma in an orthotopic nude mouse model.

PURPOSE: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) can often be controlled with surgery and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy but is also characterized by late local recurrence and distant metastasis. No effective systemic therapeutic agents have been found to alter the natural history of ACC. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are needed. In this study, we evaluated whether vandetanib (Zactima), a potent inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinases, had antitumor efficacy in vitro and in an orthotopic nude mouse model of human ACC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The in vitro effects of vandetanib were assessed in three ACC cell lines on cell growth, apoptosis, and VEGFR-2 and EGFR phosphorylation levels. The in vivo antitumor activity of vandetanib was examined in nude mice bearing parotid gland ACC tumors. The mice were treated for 4 weeks with vandetanib (50 mg/kg/d) or placebo (control). Tumors were resected at necropsy, and immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining were done. RESULTS: In vitro, vandetanib caused dose-dependent inhibition of VEGFR-2 and EGFR phosphorylation in ACC cells. Vandetanib also inhibited the cell proliferation and induced their dose-dependent apoptosis. In vivo, mice in the vandetanib group had tumor volumes significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01). In addition, immunohistochemical staining showed a decrease in microvessel density and an increase in apoptosis of both tumor cells and endothelial cells within the tumor xenografts. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that vandetanib inhibits the growth of ACC in vitro and in vivo, making it a promising novel agent for the treatment of ACC.

Parotid gland metastasis of a breast cancer.

Parotid gland metastases from malignant tumors are extremely rare. A 61-year-old woman was diagnosed with an early breast cancer with no expression of oestrogen and progesterone receptors. Five years later the patient presented a tumour in parotid gland. After total parotidectomy, microscopic analysis of the gland demonstrated an invasive duct carcinoma (IDC) with positive expression of oestrogen receptor. The patient was treated with chemotherapy followed by complementary local radiotherapy. Diagnosis of a metastasic tumour in parotid gland poses a challenge. In our case an immunohistochemical study of oestrogen receptor was fundamental to establish a diagnosis.

[Heparin-induced type II thrombocytopenia within the scope of high dose chemotherapy with subsequent stem cell rescue]. / Heparin-induzierte Thrombozytopenie Typ II im Rahmen einer Hochdosis-Chemotherapie mit anschliessender Stammzellrescue.

We report on a 17-year-old young man with rhabdomyosarcoma in the right parotid area. Relapse therapy was performed with high dose chemotherapy and consecutive autologous stem cell rescue. During this therapy heparin-induced thrombocytopenia was diagnosed. Because of its proven antithrombotic activity Danaparoid-Sodium, a natural low molecular glycosaminoglycan preparation, was used for further antithrombotic prophylaxis. We discharged our patient from the laminar air flow unit six months ago. The alternative antithrombotic therapy was tolerated without any problems. No bleeding events occurred, thrombotic complications and veno-occlusive disease of the liver were avoided.