EGFR pathway biomarkers in erlotinib-treated patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: translational results from the randomised, crossover phase 3 trial AIO-PK0104.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to identify molecular epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tissue biomarkers in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients treated with the anti-EGFR agent erlotinib within the phase 3 randomised AIO-PK0104 study. METHODS: AIO-PK0104 was a multicenter trial comparing gemcitabine/erlotinib followed by capecitabine with capecitabine/erlotinib followed by gemcitabine in advanced PC; primary study end point was the time-to-treatment failure after first- and second-line therapy (TTF2). Translational analyses were performed for KRAS exon 2 mutations, EGFR expression, PTEN expression, the EGFR intron 1 and exon 13 R497K polymorphism (PM). Biomarker data were correlated with TTF, overall survival (OS) and skin rash. RESULTS: Archival tumour tissue was available from 208 (74%) of the randomised patients. The KRAS mutations were found in 70% (121 out of 173) of patients and exclusively occurred in codon 12. The EGFR overexpression was detected in 89 out of 181 patients (49%) by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and 77 out of 166 patients (46%) had an EGFR gene amplification by fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH); 30 out of 171 patients (18%) had a loss of PTEN expression, which was associated with an inferior TTF1 (first-line therapy; HR 0.61, P=0.02) and TTF2 (HR 0.66, P=0.04). The KRAS wild-type status was associated with improved OS (HR 1.68, P=0.005); no significant OS correlation was found for EGFR-IHC (HR 0.96), EGFR-FISH (HR 1.22), PTEN-IHC (HR 0.77), intron 1 (HR 0.91) or exon 13 R497K PM (HR 0.83). None of the six biomarkers correlated with the occurrence of skin rash. CONCLUSION: The KRAS wild-type was associated with an improved OS in erlotinib-treated PC patients in this phase 3 study; it remains to be defined whether this association is prognostic or predictive.

Biweekly fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel (FLOT) for patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach or esophagogastric junction: a phase II trial of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie.

BACKGROUND: The combination of docetaxel (Taxotere), cisplatin, and fluorouracil improved efficacy in gastric cancer, but was associated with substantial toxicity. This study was designed to incorporate docetaxel into a tolerable biweekly (once every 2 weeks) oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with measurable, metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach or esophagogastric junction and no prior chemotherapy received oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2), leucovorin 200 mg/m(2), and fluorouracil 2600 mg/m(2) as a 24-h infusion in combination with docetaxel 50 mg/m(2) (FLOT) on day 1 every 2 weeks. Prophylactic growth factors were not administered. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were enrolled; 54 received treatment. Patients had a median age of 60 years (range 29-76) and most (93%) of them had metastatic disease. Objective responses were observed in 57.7% of patients with a median time to treatment response of 1.54 months. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 5.2 and 11.1 months, respectively. Twenty-five percent of patients experienced prolonged (>12 months) PFS. Frequent (>10%) grade 3 or 4 toxic effects included neutropenia in 26 (48.1%), leukopenia in 15 (27.8%), diarrhea in 8 (14.8%), and fatigue in 6 (11.1%) patients. Complicated neutropenia was observed in two (3.8%) patients, only. CONCLUSIONS: Biweekly FLOT is active and has a favorable safety profile.

Gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in advanced biliary tract carcinoma: a phase II study.

Advanced biliary tract carcinomas (BTCs) are often diagnosed at an advanced/metastatic stage and have a poor prognosis. The combination of gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GEMOX) has shown promising activity in this setting. This international phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of GEMOX as first-line therapy in patients with advanced BTCs. Eligible patients with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic BTC received gemcitabine 1000 mg m(-2) (day 1) and oxaliplatin 100 mg m-2 (day 2), every 2 weeks. Seventy patients were enroled; 72.9% had metastatic disease. Sixty-seven patients were treated. There were 10 confirmed partial responses (14.9%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 7.4-25.7%) in the treated population (RECIST). Twenty-four patients (35.8%) had stable disease. The objective response rate was 20.5% in patients with non-gallbladder cancers (9/44 patients) and 4.3% in patients with gallbladder cancers (1/23). Median overall survival for the intent-to-treat population was 8.8 months (95% CI, 6.9-11.1%) and progression-free survival was 3.4 months (95% CI, 2.5-4.6%). Grade 3/4 toxicities included thrombocytopenia (14.9% of patients), alanine aminotransferase elevation (13.4%), anaemia (10.4%), neutropenia (11.9%) and pain (1 1.9%). In this study, GEMOX demonstrated activity in non-gallbladder carcinoma, but poor activity in gallbladder carcinoma. GEMOX is well tolerated in advanced BTCs.

A randomized double-blind multicenter phase III study of fixed-dose single-administration pegfilgrastim versus daily filgrastim in patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy of a single fixed 6 mg dose of pegfilgrastim (a pegylated version of filgrastim) per cycle of chemotherapy, compared with daily administration of filgrastim, in the provision of neutrophil support. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 157) were randomized to receive either a single 6 mg subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of pegfilgrastim or daily 5 mg/kg s.c. injections of filgrastim, after doxorubicin and docetaxel chemotherapy (60 mg/m(2) and 75 mg/m(2), respectively). Duration of grade 4 neutropenia, depth of neutrophil nadir, incidence of febrile neutropenia, time to neutrophil recovery and safety information were recorded. RESULTS: A single 6 mg injection of pegfilgrastim was as effective as daily injections of filgrastim for all efficacy measures for all cycles. The mean duration of grade 4 neutropenia in cycle 1 was 1.8 and 1.6 days for the pegfilgrastim and filgrastim groups, respectively. Results for all efficacy end points in cycles 2-4 were consistent with the results from cycle 1. A trend towards a lower incidence of febrile neutropenia was noted across all cycles with pegfilgrastim compared with filgrastim (13% versus 20%, respectively). A single fixed dose of pegfilgrastim was as safe and well tolerated as standard daily filgrastim. CONCLUSIONS: A single fixed dose of pegfilgrastim administered once per cycle of chemotherapy was comparable to multiple daily injections of filgrastim in safely providing neutrophil support during myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Pegfilgrastim may have utility in other clinical settings of neutropenia.

Serum parathyroid hormone-related protein levels and response to bisphosphonate treatment in hypercalcemia of malignancy.

The pathogenesis of hypercalcemia of malignancy comprises increased net bone resorption and enhanced renal tubular reabsorption of calcium (Ca). To evaluate the prevalence of an increased renal tubular reabsorption of Ca index [tubular reabsorption of calcium index (TRCaI)] in cancer patients with hypercalcemia and of elevated circulating levels of PTH-related protein (PTHrP), which is recognized as a major mediator of this syndrome, we investigated 315 well rehydrated patients, aged 58.1 +/- 0.7 yr (mean +/- SEM), with hypercalcemia [albumin-corrected plasma Ca (pCa), >2.7 mmol/L] secondary to histologically proven malignancy. Changes in pCa and, therefore, various Ca filtered loads were obtained by different degrees of bone resorption inhibition achieved with a single infusion of the bisphosphonate ibandronate, given at various doses on a randomized, double blind basis. PTHrP was determined at baseline in 147 of the patients and 7 days after bisphosphonate therapy in 73. Before ibandronate therapy, pCa was 3.36 +/- 0.02 mmol/L, mean TRCaI was increased at 3.09 +/- 0.03 mmol/L glomerular filtration rate (GFR; normal, 2.40-2.90), and 65% of patients had TRCaI above 2.90 mmol/L GFR. Mean serum PTHrP levels were 4.9 +/- 0.5 pmol/L (normal, <2.5) and values above the normal range were found in 53% of the patients (76% in lung and upper respiratory tract malignancies). By 7 days after the infusion of ibandronate, a decrease in pCa of 0.69 +/- 0.03 mmol/L (20.0 +/- 0.7%; P < 0.001) and in bone resorption [mean change in fasting urinary Ca, 0.09 +/- 0.04 mmol/L GFR (47.6 +/- 8.6%; P < 0.001) and 14.4 +/- 1.7 nmol/mmol (27.6 +/- 10.6%; P < 0.01) in deoxypyridinoline] was observed. TRCaI was slightly lowered by 0.30 +/- 0.09 mmol/L GFR. Mean changes in PTHrP, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and PTH were +0.7 +/- 0.4 (P = NS), +27.6 +/- 3.0 (P < 0.001), and +2.9 +/- 0.8 (P < 0.005) pmol/L, respectively. After ibandronate treatment, the relative risk of relapsing hypercalcemia was particularly increased (3.43-fold) in lung and upper respiratory tract malignancies. These results obtained in a large cohort of patients indicate a significant prevalence of an increased renal tubular reabsorption of calcium index in hypercalcemia of malignancy and a substantial proportion of patients with detectable PTHrP.

Effect of dietary phytochemicals on cancer development (review)

Vegetables, fruits, and whole grains contain a wide variety of phytochemicals that have the potential to modulate cancer development. There are many biologically plausible reasons why consumption of plant foods might slow or prevent the appearance of cancer. These include the presence in plant foods of such potentially anticarcinogenic substances as carotenoids, chlorophyll, flavonoids, indole, isothiocyanate, polyphenolic compounds, protease inhibitors, sulfides, and terpens. The specific mechanisms of action of most phytochemicals in cancer prevention are not yet clear but appear to be varied. Considering the large number and variety of dietary phytochemicals, their interactive effects on cancer risk may be extremely difficult to assess. Phytochemicals can inhibit carcinogenesis by inhibiting phase I enzymes, and induction of phase II enzymes, scavenge DNA reactive agents, suppress the abnormal proliferation of early, preneoplastic lesions, and inhibit certain properties of the cancer cell.

Supplementation with antioxidants prior to bone marrow transplantation.

Conditioning therapy preceding bone marrow transplantation (BMT) usually consists of high-dose chemotherapy and total body irradiation (TBI). It has acute and delayed toxic effects on several tissues, possibly related to peroxidation processes and exhaustion of antioxidants. Early studies indicated an increase of peroxide processes and a decrease of antioxidants during conditioning therapy. Hence, we investigated the effect of antioxidant supplementation on peroxidation processes and antioxidant status. We supplemented a patient group (N = 16) [BMT (+)], with oral 45 mg beta-carotene, 825 mg alpha-tocopherol and 450 mg ascorbic acid daily for three weeks before conditioning therapy. Another patient group (N = 10), BMT(-), was not supplemented with antioxidants before conditioning therapy. In order to investigate the physiologic effect of supplement antioxidants a healthy control group (N = 10) was supplemented with the same doses as BMT(+). Peroxide concentrations in plasma were measured by using the cholesterol oxidase (CHOD)-iodide method and antioxidants were measured by HPLC. Before supplementation the beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol concentrations were comparable in both patient groups. After supplementation significantly higher beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol concentrations were measured in the supplemented patients, BMT(+), than in the unsupplemented patients, BMT(-). After conditioning therapy, BMT(+) patients showed a significantly higher beta-carotene concentration (p < 0.05) than before supplementation. In BMT(-) patients the beta-carotene (p < 0.05) and alpha-tocopherol concentrations (p < 0.01) decreased significantly and the lipid peroxide concentration increased significantly following conditioning therapy. We conclude that antioxidant supplementation prior to conditioning therapy reduces peroxidation processes induced by conditioning therapy in bone marrow recipients.

A phase II trial of paclitaxel and weekly 24 h infusion of 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

A phase II trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/folinic acid in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma. Twenty-two patients (six female and 16 male) with advanced or metastatic disease were enrolled. None of them had received prior chemotherapy. Paclitaxel was administrated as a 3 h infusion of 175 mg/m2 at days 1 and 22, 5-FU 2000 mg/m2 i.v. over 24 h and folinic acid 500 mg/m2 i.v. 2 h prior to 5-FU weekly from days 1 to 36. Seven patients (32%) had partial remissions including the lungs, skin, lymph nodes and locally advanced primary tumor. The median overall survival was 11 months (range 1-17+) and the median progression-free interval was 8 months (range 1-13+). Neutropenia (WHO grade III/IV) occurred in 14% of patients. Other main toxicities were alopecia in 45%, fever/infection in 9%, and nausea/vomiting and diarrhea in 5%. In conclusion, the combination of paclitaxel and continuously infused 5-FU/folinic acid appears to be an active regimen for advanced gastric carcinoma with a remission rate comparable to ELF or FAMtx. The moderate toxicity allows treatment on an outpatient basis.

Oral idarubicin, dexamethasone and vincristine (VID) in the treatment of multiple myeloma.

In order to replace the central venous line necessary for continuous infusion of vincristine and doxorubicin with high-dose dexamethasone (VAD) and to avoid hospitalization, we evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of oral idarubicin, vincristine and dexamethasone (VID) in patients with multiple myeloma. Vincristine (1.6 mg/m2, max 2 mg) was given as a bolus injection on day 1. Idarubicin was given in capsules 10 mg/m2/day for days 1-4 with an intraindividual dose escalation, 40 mg dexamethasone were given on days 1-4, 9-12, 17-20. Treatment cycles were repeated every 28 days. At this interim analysis, 53 patients have been entered into the ongoing trial; 46 patients are evaluable for toxicity. The median age was 60 years (interquartile range, 52-65). 46% were primary or secondary refractory, 20% had previously been treated with VAD and 30% had previously untreated disease, 4% had two or more relapses. Four patients died within 2 months from entry and were considered as early deaths (8.7%). 45% of the 42 patients evaluable for efficacy achieved a partial remission and 26% a minor remission. The median reduction of the M-component was 43% (interquartile range, 25-64%). VID is an effective and convenient alternative to VAD even in relapsed or refractory patients.

Paclitaxel and weekly 24-hour infusion of 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid in advanced gastric cancer.

The current phase II study evaluates the safety and efficacy of paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus folinic acid in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 was given intravenously over 3 hours on days 1 and 22; folinic acid 500 mg/m2 given intravenously over 2 hours followed by 5-FU 2,000 mg/m2 given intravenously over 24 hours was administered on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36. Six weeks of treatment were considered one cycle, and each cycle was followed by 2 weeks off treatment. Twenty-two patients (six women and 16 men) with advanced/metastatic gastric cancer were entered on trial. All patients are evaluable for response and toxicity. None had received prior chemotherapy. Radiologically metastatic sites included gastric lymph nodes (64%), liver (36%), lungs (18%), peritoneum (18%), bone (9%), and skin (5%). No complete responses were observed. Seven patients (32%; 95% confidence interval, 12% to 52%) had a partial response. Sites of partial responses included the lungs, skin, lymph nodes, and locally advanced tumor. Twelve patients (55%) had stable disease and three (14%) had disease progression. At a median follow-up of 12 months (range, 1 to 17+ months), the median overall survival for all patients was 11 months (range, 1 to 17+ months; 95% confidence interval, 6.8 to 18.2) and the median progression-free interval was 8 months (range, 1 to 13+ months; 95% confidence interval, 4.7 to 9.8). Severe nonhematologic toxicities were alopecia (45%), fever/infection (9%), diarrhea (5%), and nausea/vomiting (5%). Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in three patients (14%). In summary, paclitaxel given every 3 weeks in combination with once-weekly, 24-hour continuous infusions of 5-FU/folinic acid is active in advanced gastric cancer and appears to achieve response rates comparable to regimens like etoposide/folinic acid/5-FU or 5-FU/doxorubicin/methotrexate. The toxicity of this new combination is moderate and allows treatment in an outpatient setting. Ongoing studies are evaluating the activity of paclitaxel combined with weekly continuous infusions of 5-FU/folinic acid with or without cisplatin.

Changes in human serum alcohol dehydrogenase activity during retinoic acid treatment of cancer patients.

Retinoids can inhibit cell growth and induce cell differentiation in experimental tumour models. Human alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) exists as a group of enzymes that can be placed into five classes based upon structural and functional distinctions. Human class I ADH catalyses the oxidation of a wide variety of alcohols including ethanol and retinol, whereas human class II ADH does not catalyse the oxidation of retinol. Using specific fluorescent substrates, class I and class II ADH activity in human sera was determined. No significant changes in class I or II activity were observed after 4 weeks of treatment with cis-retinoic acid (cRA). While total ADH activity was increased from 84 +/- 78 mU/1 to 206 +/- 70 mU/1 (mean +/- SD, P < 0.02) after 1 week of treatment, there were no further significant changes after 4 weeks of treatment with cRA. Sex-related differences were observed on total ADH activity after 1 week of treatment with cRA. Although total ADH activity of patients with cancer of the cervix increased significantly after 1 week of treatment, there were no significant changes in total activity in head and neck cancer patients. This sex-related difference might be dependent on the stage of the menstrual cycle. The elimination of ethanol in women can be either faster or slower than in men depending on the stage of menstrual cycle. This study therefore suggests that the main ADH activity observed in serum belongs to class II, and not to class I ADH. The data from this study also suggest that retinoic acid has a positive feedback effect on total ADH activity after 1 week of treatment.

Effect of methionine on the fatty acid composition of cellular membranes in rats with chronic ethanol consumption and jejunoileal bypass.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of alcohol administration on jejunoileal bypass (JIB)-induced liver dysfunction in rats resulting in abnormalities of fatty acid composition of cell membranes, and whether methionine is able to reverse these changes. Male Wistar rats were subjected to a jejunoileal bypass operation. For 12 weeks, all groups were pair-fed either an alcohol-containing (36% of total calories) liquid diet or a liquid diet in which alcohol was replaced isocalorically by starch. Methionine supplementation in three control groups was 0, 32, 160 and 224 mg/kg body weight/day and the rats in the four alcohol feeding groups received 0, 32, 160 and 224 mg/kg body weight/day. In the alcohol group without any methionine supplementation, higher proportions of oleic and linoleic acid and lower proportions of docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid became evident in tissue samples of liver and jejunum, in comparison with the other alcohol group. A possible explanation for this reduction in tissue polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) may be a decrease in the activities of delta 6-and delta 5-desaturases, and subsequently a displacement of PUFA from lipid fractions by other fatty acids. Interestingly, in the alcohol group with the highest methionine supplementation, compared to all other alcohol groups, lower proportions of oleic acid and higher proportions of docosahexaenoic acid, appeared. A possible explanation for this increase of PUFA in tissue may be increased activities of delta 6- and delta 5-desaturases.

Randomized phase II trial comparing different doses of the bisphosphonate ibandronate in the treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the hypocalcemic effect and safety of three different doses of the bisphosphonate ibandronate in tumor-associated hypercalcemia, and to identify factors predicting response. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred seventy-four cancer patients with a serum calcium level greater than 2.7 mmol/L (10.8 mg/dL) were enrolled onto the trial. If hypercalcemia persisted after fluid repletion, patients were randomly assigned to treatment with 0.6 mg, 1.1 mg, and 2.0 mg of ibandronate. Response, defined as restoration of normocalcemia, was evaluated by an intent-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-three (99%) patients were assessable for toxicity and 151 (87%) for efficacy. The administration of 0.6 mg (group A), 1.1 mg (group B), or 2.0 mg (group C) of ibandronate led to response rates of 44%, 52%, and 67%, respectively. Significantly more patients in group C responded than in group A (P = .0276). Of the various parameters examined, only the initial serum calcium level (P < .0001; odds ratio, 0.083) and the dose of ibandronate (P = .0162; odds ratio, 2.094) correlated with response. One hundred ninety-five adverse events (AEs) were reported, 99 classified as serious and 96 as nonserious. Three serious and sixteen nonserious AEs were considered related to ibandronate treatment. The three serious AEs were one case with thrombocytopenia, one with nausea, and one with fever. CONCLUSION: Ibandronate therapy led to a dose-dependent reduction in serum calcium levels. The response to ibandronate treatment correlated negatively with the initial serum calcium level and positively with the dose administered. A dose of 2 mg was necessary to achieve a response rate comparable to that in previous studies with the bisphosphonates pamidronate and clodronate. Because the incidence of drug-associated AEs was low, a dose escalation of ibandronate can be recommended for further clinical trials.

Liposoluble antioxidants are not consumed in the pancreas after reperfusion in human simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.

There is considerable evidence that under experimental conditions, oxygen free radicals (OFRs) are decisive in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Normally OFRs are scavenged by antioxidants such as alpha-tocopherol. Thus, in the following study we investigated whether antioxidants are consumed locally in human pancreatic grafts after reperfusion. A series of ten patients receiving bladder-drained pancreaticoduodenal and renal allografts were studied. Sequential blood samples were drawn locally from the venous outflow of the graft and simultaneously from the radial artery after reperfusion. alpha-Tocopherol, retinol, lycopene, and alpha- and beta-carotene levels were determined. After reperfusion these levels remained largely unchanged. Hence, in our study a consumption of antioxidants locally in the pancreatic graft after transplantation was not demonstrated. Therefore, the antioxidant capacity seems not to be exhausted at that time. This suggests that in clinical pancreatic transplantation oxidant stress in the initial reperfusion period might not have the relevance suggested by animal models.

QBEND10 for the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes in routinely processed bone marrow biopsy specimens.

AIM: The assessment of the value of the antibody QBEND10, which is directed against the haemopoietic stem cell related antigen CD34, in the immunohistochemical diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome in routinely processed bone marrow biopsy specimens. METHODS: 581 formalin fixed, paraffin embedded trephine biopsy specimens of the iliac crest were immunostained with QBEND10 (avidin-biotin complex/ABC method). The number of CD34+ haemopoietic stem cells/blast cells (referred to hereafter as CD34+ cells) was determined in each case. The Wilcoxon test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The following diagnostic categories were defined: (1) normal or reactive bone marrow (n = 356), (2) lymphoproliferative disorders, usually non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of low grade malignancy or multiple myeloma (n = 118), (3) myelodysplastic syndrome (n = 22), (4) acute leukaemia (n = 44), and (5) myeloproliferative diseases (n = 41). The average number of CD34+ cells was very low (0.2/HPF) in normal and reactive bone marrow, in lymphoproliferative disorders and in the myelodysplastic syndrome subtypes RA and RARS. Myeloproliferative diseases showed an average of three CD34+ cells/HPF. However, the average number of CD34+ cells was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the myelodysplastic syndrome subtypes RAEB and RAEB-T (8.7/HPF) and in acute leukaemia (including both myeloid and lymphoblastic leukaemia; 111.7/HPF). CONCLUSIONS: QBEND10 is of value for the identification of RAEB and RAEB-T in routinely processed bone marrow biopsy specimens because it enables the detection of even small increases in the number of CD34+ cells.

[Vitamins and therapy of malignancies]. / Vitamine und Therapie von Malignomen.

Conditioning therapy preceding bone marrow transplantation usually consists of high-dose chemotherapy and total body irradiation. This is associated with acute and delayed toxic effects for several tissues, possibly related to peroxidation processes and exhaustion of antioxidants. Therefore, plasma of 22 patients was examined for alpha- and gamma-tocopherol (vitamin E), the carotenoids beta-carotene and lycopene, retinol, and ascorbic acid before, during and after conditioning chemotherapy for bone marrow transplantation. 18 of the patients received total body irradiation as well. Retinol and ascorbic acid have been given intravenously in a multiple of the recommended doses (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE) and Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), respectively). The doses chosen were sufficient to maintain the initial plasma concentrations of these vitamins. However, alpha-tocopherol (in RDA doses) and beta-carotene (no RDA established) concentrations deteriorated after the conditioning therapy (20% and 50% loss, respectively). The loss of these lipid-soluble antioxidants has been considered to result from lipid peroxidation, since lipid peroxide concentrations in plasma increased concurrently. On the basis of these results we performed interventions studies in order to investigate the effect of high-dose supplementation on antioxidant status. We compared the loss of antioxidants and the toxicity in two groups of patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation: The first group without and the second group with oral supplementation of high doses of alpha-tocopherol (825 mg daily), ascorbic acid (450 mg daily) and beta-carotene (45 mg daily) for three weeks prior to chemo- and radiotherapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Methylpentylaminopropylidenebisphosphonate (BM 21.0955): a new potent and safe bisphosphonate for the treatment of cancer-associated hypercalcemia.

Bisphosphonates have been shown to be effective in lowering serum calcium levels in patients with cancer-associated hypercalcemia. 1-Hydroxy-3-(methylpentylamino)propylidenebisphosphonate (BM 21.0955) was developed as a third generation bisphosphonate and has been recently proven effective in animals and in patients with Paget's disease or tumor osteolysis. Thirty-six patients with cancer-associated hypercalcemia were treated with increasing doses (0.2-2.0 mg) of BM 21.0955 by single i.v. infusion over 4 h in a phase I trial. Six patients were rejected from analysis due to concomitant treatment with other bisphosphonates or chemotherapy. After rehydration and infusion of BM 21.0955 the mean serum calcium levels fell significantly (P < 0.001), from 3.29 +/- 0.49 mmol/l to 3.04 +/- 0.44 mmol/l until day 2 and normalized on day 6 (2.66 +/- 0.33 mmol/l). Serum calcium was reduced in all patients and normalized in 16. No symptomatic hypocalcemia occurred. Mean serum creatinine decreased significantly (P < 0.01), from 1.25 +/- 0.58 mg/dl (day 0) to 1.05 +/- 0.37 mg/dl (day 6). The mean urinary calcium/creatinine concentration fell significantly (P < 0.001), from 1.90 +/- 1.16 mM/mM (day 0) to 0.37 +/- 0.34 mM/mM/l (day 6). There were no subjective drug-related side effects during or after the infusion. Thirteen patients had elevations of morning body temperature above 38 degrees C. This was due to confirmed infections in five patients and possibly drug- or tumor-related in the other eight. We conclude from these preliminary results that a single infusion of BM 21.0955 is an effective and safe way to treat cancer-associated hypercalcemia.

Fish oil preparations rich in docosahexaenoic acid modify platelet responsiveness to prostaglandin-endoperoxide/thromboxane A2 receptor agonists.

The effects of daily dietary supplementation for 6 weeks with either 4.5 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 3.35 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (group I, EPA/DHA = 1.33) or 3.5 g EPA and 6.4 g DHA (group II, EPA/DHA = 0.54) on platelet responsiveness to the stable prostaglandin (PG)-endoperoxide analogue 9,11-dideoxy,9 alpha-11 alpha-methanoepoxy-PGF2 alpha (U 46619) were studied in healthy volunteers. Dose-response curves (DRC) of U 46619-induced platelet aggregation were analysed by computerized non-linear curve fitting. In group I, the concentration of U 46619 required for half-maximum platelet aggregation (EC50) remained unchanged, whereas the Hill coefficient decreased from 6.2 to 3.3 (P < 0.02). In group II, characterized by a high intake of DHA, a considerable increase of EC50 from 0.3 to 1.4 microM was found (P < 0.02). These results suggest different effects of EPA and DHA on the platelet thromboxane/endoperoxide-amplifying system. The considerable shift of the DRC in group II suggests a direct effect of DHA on the presentation of the endoperoxide receptor and/or post-receptoral events.

Multiple myeloma: effect of daily dichloromethylene bisphosphonate on skeletal complications.

In 1989, a prospective randomized multicenter study was initiated in order to determine the safety and efficacy of oral clodronate in myeloma patients. The primary objective of this long-term trial is to evaluate whether supportive clodronate is able to prevent or retard the progression of bone disease and reduce the occurrence of characteristic complications: pain, pathologic fractures, and hypercalcemia. We now report first results as an interim analysis, including data obtained from 26 patients (total number of Tübingen patients n = 36) who entered the study at the Medizinische Universitätsklinik Tübingen. Patients were randomized to receive either chemotherapy alone (melphalan 15 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1 and prednisolone 60 mg/m2 orally on days 1-4 every 4 weeks (control group) or in combination with 1600 mg clodronate/day orally as a single dose for a period of at least 1 year. Repeated radiologic examinations in addition to hematologic and biochemical analysis were performed in order to evaluate the skeletal status with respect to lytic bone lesions and osteoporosis and the course of serum M protein and light chain excretion into urine. Clodronate treatment resulted in a significant decrease of serum calcium concentrations and of biochemical indices for bone resorption. No clodronate-related toxicity or hypocalcemia was observed. In patients treated with chemotherapy alone, this effect was less marked and discontinuous. Clodronate-treated patients developed fewer progressive bone lesions (significant for lytic, not for osteoporotic lesions). No hypercalcemic episodes occurred in the clodronate-treated patients, but there were six episodes in the control group. Whereas the number of vertebral fractures was evidently less is clodronate-treated patients, three of those patients suffered from multiple fractures of long bones and ribs. All together, 12 pathologic fractures occurred in five clodronate-treated patients, whereas in the control group 23 pathologic fractures occurred in the same number of patients during the whole observation period. The final analysis of all multicenter included patients should clarify these findings. There was a significant finding that clodronate proved to have an analgesic effect.