ABSTRACT
Cutaneous metastases from cervix cancer are rarely described, and can appear years after a complete remission of the cancer. They may have multiple presentation as nodules, papules or telangiectasies. Unfortunately, these are associated with poor prognosis. We here report the case of a woman who developed cutaneous metastasis in the situation of a cervix cancer that appears to be stable under bevacizumab.
Les métastases cutanées provenant du cancer du col de l'utérus sont rarement décrites, et peuvent apparaître plusieurs années après une rémission complète du cancer. Elles peuvent avoir plusieurs types de présentations telles que : nodules, papules, télangiectasies. Malheureusement, ces dernières sont associées à un mauvais pronostic. Nous rapportons le cas d'une patiente qui a développé des métastases cutanées alors que son cancer primitif était stable sous traitement par bévacizumab.
Subject(s)
Skin Neoplasms , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms , Female , Humans , Skin Neoplasms/secondary , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
Black pigments are rarely described in the liver. We report four patients with chronic cholestasis and black pigments described on liver histological examination. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis identified these black pigments as gold particles in the first three patients and titanium particles in the fourth. The origin of the gold deposits was unknown in this first patient and related to gold salts therapy in the two others. Titanium deposits was associated with hepatic granulomas and related to total knee replacement.
Subject(s)
Cholestasis/pathology , Gold/analysis , Liver/chemistry , Titanium/analysis , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cholestasis/diagnostic imaging , Cholestasis/etiology , Chronic Disease , Female , Humans , Liver/diagnostic imaging , Liver/pathology , Macrophages/chemistry , Male , Middle Aged , RadiographyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To assess the safety and preliminary efficacy of concurrent radiotherapy, capecitabine, and cetuximab in the preoperative treatment of patients with rectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients with rectal cancer (T3-T4, and/or N+, endorectal ultrasound) received preoperative radiotherapy (1.8 Gy, 5 days/week for 5 weeks, total dose 45 Gy, three-dimensional conformal technique) in combination with cetuximab [initial dose 400 mg/m(2) intravenous given 1 week before the beginning of radiation followed by 250 mg/m(2)/week for 5 weeks] and capecitabine for the duration of radiotherapy (650 mg/m(2) orally twice daily, first dose level; 825 mg/m(2) twice daily, second dose level). RESULTS: Four and six patients were treated at the first and second dose level of capecitabine, respectively. No dose-limiting toxicity occurred. Thirty additional patients were treated with capecitabine at 825 mg/m(2) twice daily. The most frequent grade 1/2 side-effects were acneiform rash (87%), diarrhea (65%), and fatigue (57%). Grade 3 diarrhea was found in 15%. Three grade 4 toxic effects were recorded: one myocardial infarction, one pulmonary embolism, and one pulmonary infection with sepsis. Two patients (5%) had a pathological complete response. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative radiotherapy in combination with capecitabine and cetuximab is feasible with some patients achieving pathological downstaging.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Radiotherapy, Conformal/methods , Rectal Neoplasms/therapy , Adult , Aged , Antibodies, Monoclonal/administration & dosage , Antibodies, Monoclonal/adverse effects , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized , Capecitabine , Cetuximab , Combined Modality Therapy , Deoxycytidine/administration & dosage , Deoxycytidine/adverse effects , Deoxycytidine/analogs & derivatives , Female , Fluorouracil/administration & dosage , Fluorouracil/adverse effects , Fluorouracil/analogs & derivatives , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Preoperative radiotherapy has been shown to decrease the local recurrence rate of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Capecitabine and oxaliplatin are both active anticancer agents in the treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer and have radiosensitizing properties. Therefore, these drugs would be expected to improve effectiveness of preoperative radiotherapy in terms of local control and prevention of distant metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients with rectal cancer (T3-T4 and/or N+) received radiotherapy (1.8 Gy, 5 days a week over 5 weeks, total dose 45 Gy, 3D conformational technique) in combination with intravenous oxaliplatin 50 mg/m2 once weekly for 5 weeks and oral capecitabine 825 mg/m2 twice daily on each day of radiation. Surgery was performed 6-8 weeks after completion of radiotherapy. The main end points were safety and efficacy as assessed by the pathological complete response (pCR). RESULTS: The most frequent grade 3/4 adverse event was diarrhea, occurring in 30% of patients. pCR was found in five (14%) patients. According to Dworak's classification, good regression was found in six (18%) additional patients. CONCLUSIONS: Combination of preoperative radiotherapy with capecitabine and oxaliplatin is feasible for downstaging rectal cancer.