Construction of freezing of gait questionnaire for patients with Parkinsonism.

Background: Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common, poorly understood, parkinsonian symptom interfering with daily functioning and quality of life. Assessment of FOG is complex because of the episodic nature of this symptom, and the influence of mental and environmental factors on it.Objective: To design a self-reportable reliable questionnaire for FOG.Method: A questionnaire consisting of 16 items regarding gait and falls was administered together with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) to 40 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients (26 males) with a mean age of 72.3+/-9.3 years and mean Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage at "Off" of 2.85+/-0.84. A principal component analysis with Varimax rotation was conducted on the results. Item analyses were performed and reliability computed for an abbreviated FOG questionnaire.Results: Based on these analyses, a short (six item) FOG questionnaire was constructed, which was found to be highly reliable (Cronbach alpha=0.94) for assessment of FOG and with moderate correlation with the activity of daily living (ADL) and motor parts of the UPDRS (0.43 and 0.40, respectively). Moderate correlation was also found with the FOG item at the ADL part of the UPDRS (alpha=0.66 for the "Off" and 0.77 for the "On" state).Conclusion: The FOG questionnaire that was constructed is highly reliable in assessing freezing of gait, unrelated to falls, in patients with PD.

Chemo-immunotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma using sequential treatment with dacarbazine and recombinant human interleukin-2: evaluation of hematologic and immunologic parameters and correlation with clinical response.

We have treated 18 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma (MM) with high-dose IL-2 administered by continuous iv infusion in combination with dacarbazine (DTIC), and correlated the clinical response with various hematologic and immunologic parameters. Two regimens differing in the sequence of treatment were employed, and 1-6 treatment cycles were given, depending on patient response. Two patients had a complete response (CR, 46+m, 14m), two patients a partial response (PR, 16m,6m), one a minimal response and four had a stable disease lasting 2-7 months, thus the response rate (CR+PR) was 22%. None of the following parameters, tested prior to initiation of the therapy and 1-2 days after termination of each course of IL-2, correlated with the clinical response: WBC counts (total and differential), levels of blood CD4 and CD8 T cells, NK cells, monocytes and B cells, production of IL-1 and IL-1 inhibitor by monocytes, responsiveness to 3 mitogens, NK/LAK cell activity, and serum levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-2, soluble IL-2 receptor, and TNF alpha. The only prognostic parameter was the greater increase in the level of IL-2 receptor (Tac)-bearing lymphocytes in the responding patients after 1-3 cycles of IL-2. The data suggests that non-specific immune parameters have no prognostic value for patients undergoing IL-2-based immunotherapy.

Radiation therapy for locally advanced breast cancer: prognostic factors and complication rate.

A retrospective analysis was carried out in 100 patients with locally advanced breast cancer without distant metastases treated by radiotherapy between 1960 and 1979. The primary tumor was irradiated to a total dose of 60 Gy in 76 patients and to doses ranging between 60 and 80 Gy in 24 patients. The regional lymphatics were treated with doses between 50 and 60 Gy. Following radiotherapy, chemotherapy was administered to 58 patients and hormonal therapy to 29, while 13 patients received no further therapy. Locoregional recurrences were documented in 29% and distant metastases in 49% of patients. The actuarial survival was 56% at 5 years, 21% at 10 years and 14% at 15 years. At 10 years 90% of the surviving patients had some degree of radiation damage.

Second line hormonal therapy with aminoglutethimide in metastatic breast cancer.

One hundred and twenty patients with metastatic breast cancer, whose disease progressed on hormonal therapy with tamoxifen, were treated with aminoglutethimide. The overall response rate was 34% and the median duration of response 9.5 months. Response to aminoglutethimide was achieved in all metastatic sites except lung and brain. Even 25% of patients who had failed to respond to prior tamoxifen did respond objectively to aminoglutethimide. The actuarial survival for all patients at 30 months was 22%. Although initial toxicity was high (70%), side effects of aminoglutethimide were transient, and treatment had to be discontinued in only four patients. The results of this trial confirm that aminoglutethimide is an effective treatment in metastatic breast cancer.

Cisplatin, bleomycin, and methotrexate (PBM) chemotherapy in locally advanced and metastatic head and neck cancer.

Twenty-two patients with locally advanced or metastatic head and neck tumors received a total of 84 courses of a combination of cisplatin, bleomycin, and Methotrexate (PBM) for a median of four courses per patient (range, 1-7). Among these 22 patients there were four patients (18%) who achieved complete remission (CR) and 13 patients (60%) who had a partial remission (PR). The overall remission rate (CR + PR) thus reached 78%; five patients (22%) progressed while on therapy. The mean duration of objective response (CR + PR) was 8 months; CR lasted a median of 18 months (range, 2-48). Survival was not influenced by tumor histology or by previous surgery. The presence of locoregional disease did adversely affect survival from the onset of chemotherapy (P = 0.1). The rate of survival was also affected by primary tumor site; patients with nasopharyngeal primaries survived longer than all other patients (22 vs. 11 months, P = 0.06). Toxicity to chemotherapy consisted mainly of nausea and vomiting and stomatitis. Three patients developed fever while leukopenic. One patient experienced irreversible renal damage, and another suffered from bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. The high response rate obtained in our group of patients did not have a substantial impact on overall survival. Aggressive, multimodality approaches should be considered in the treatment of these patients when possible.

Systemic administration of doxorubicin-containing liposomes in cancer patients: a phase I study.

A clinical study was designed to evaluate the tolerance of cancer patients to liposome-associated doxorubicin (L-DXR). The liposomes used contain phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and DXR intercalated in the lipid bilayer, and have a mean size in the range of 0.3-0.5 microns. Thirty-two patients, most of them with primary or metastatic liver cancer refractory to conventional therapy, were entered into the study. A total of 69 courses of therapy was administered by intravenous infusion of a suspension of L-DXR (0.5-2.0 mg DXR/ml) in physiologic saline at an approximate rate of 2 ml/min given on a 3-week intermittent schedule. The L-DXR and phospholipid doses were escalated from 20 mg/m2 and 0.3 g/m2 to 120 mg/m2 and 3.2 g/m2 respectively. Treatment was generally well tolerated and acute toxic effects such as nausea and vomiting were mild and infrequent. Chills and fever (greater than 38.0 degrees C) were observed in three patients during infusion of L-DXR and in seven patients 6-12 h after the end of infusion. Median WBC nadir counts were 2700, 2300 and 700/microliters at 85, 100 and 120 mg/m2 respectively. All three patients receiving 120 mg/m2 developed grade 4 leukopenia and fever requiring intravenous antibiotics, and, in two of them, severe stomatitis (grades 3 and 4) was observed. Significant hair loss was apparent in all patients receiving doses higher than 50 mg/m2. The maximal tolerated dose of L-DXR appears to be 120 mg/m2, with leukopenia and stomatitis being the dose-limiting factors. While the subacute toxicity of L-DXR appears to be qualitatively similar to that of free DXR, its tolerance exceeds the recommended dose of free DXR (75 mg/m2) in the standard 3-weekly schedule.

Methylprednisolone versus metoclopramide as antiemetic treatment in patients receiving adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil (CMF) chemotherapy: a randomized crossover blind study.

Nineteen women receiving their first cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer were randomized between two antiemetic drugs: methylprednisolone (MPN) 125mg and metoclopramide (MCP) 20mg, both given by intravenous push as a single dose. The chemotherapy included: cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF). The total response rates for MPN and MCP were: complete protection 11% versus 0% and partial protection 63% versus 11% of the patients, respectively (P = 0.007). Eighteen patients (95%) preferred MPN over MCP. Common side effects with both drugs were: drowsiness, headache and diarrhea. MPN is recommended as an antiemetic in patients receiving CMF adjuvant chemotherapy.

Hepatic intraarterial antibiotic therapy for resistant hepatic abscesses.

Liver abscesses present a severe problematic medical entity. The traditional treatment modality consists of surgical drainage, which cannot be accomplished in all circumstances. Other modes of therapy include systemic antibiotics or percutaneous catheter drainage under ultrasonography or computerized tomography. Despite new treatment regimes liver abscesses, to date, are a potentially lethal disease, with a mortality rate of about 50%. We report an innovative approach of high dosage intrahepatic arterial antibiotic infusion for the therapy of hepatic abscesses, which are resistant to conventional treatments. A patient who underwent mastectomy for breast carcinoma, developed liver metastases one year later. She was prescribed systemic chemotherapy for one year, but no antitumor response was evident. Since ther was no evidence for extra-hepatic metastases, intraarterial hepatic chemotherapy was instituted, using an Infusaid (Mi-400) implantable pump. Marked regression of liver metastases was observed. Therapy was withheld after 19 months because of biliary sclerosis development. At this stage, the patient developed liver abscesses, which were resistant to systemic antibiotic therapy. Intraarterial antibiotic therapy, using the implantable pump, was initiated. Following the treatment, a marked improvement in the patients' clinical condition was recorded and shrinkage of the abscesses was evident by ultrasonography. The patient was free of symptoms for three months, when she was readmitted with evidence of terminal metastatic disease and sepsis. It is suggested that intrahepatic arterial antibiotic therapy is an additional mode of treatment for patients with persistent liver abscesses which fail to respond to conventional treatment.

Methylprednisolone and chlorpromazine in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy: a prospective non-randomized study.

Seventy-six consecutive patients receiving chemotherapy were evaluated for the antiemetic efficacy and side-effects of the combination of chlorpromazine (CPM) and methylprednisolone (MPN). All patients had previously received the same chemotherapy with metoclopramide in conventional dosage and experienced severe emesis. A significant antiemetic response was achieved in 70% of the patients, and in 28% of them the antiemetic protection was complete. The most common side effects were drowsiness, dry mouth and headache. The combination of CPM and MPN is effective, well tolerated and is recommended for outpatients receiving chemotherapy for cancer.

5-Fluorouracil, doxorubicin (adriamycin) and mitomycin-C (FAM) in advanced gastric cancer: observations on response, patient characteristics, myelosuppression and delivered dosage.

Forty-four patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma were treated with the fluorouracil, adriamycin and mitomycin-C (FAM) regimen. One was excluded from response evaluation. Partial (PR) and minor (MR) response rates were 7 and 9% respectively. These patients enjoyed remission for a median of 7.0 months. Stabilization (S) occurred in 25% and lasted a median of 6.0 months. No response (NR) was associated with a median survival of 3 months (p less than 0.001). The predominant pretreatment factors to affect survival were diagnosis to treatment interval and initial CEA serum level. Performance status influenced survival less markedly. Toxicity was mainly myelosuppression, which resulted in death of one patient. 'Responders' had marrow suppression more frequently than NR. Comparison of PR + MR, PR + MR + S and NR patient groups showed median minimum WBC counts of 1.4 x 10(3), 2.6 x 10(3) and 4.3 x 10(3) per mm3 respectively. Leukopenia (less than 3,000/mm3) was associated with a median survival advantage of 9.5 versus 3.5 months (p less than 0.05) and did not depend significantly on given FAM dosage. The median dosage of FAM agents delivered to nonresponders was reduced. A trend of dose-response (including dose-survival) relationship was found but was inconclusive statistically.

Chlorpromazine and dexamethasone versus high-dose metoclopramide and dexamethasone in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy, particularly cis-platinum: a prospective randomized crossover study.

Sixty-nine patients with malignant tumors receiving cancer chemotherapy, 90% including cis-platinum, were evaluated in a randomized crossover study for the antiemetic efficacy and the side effects of two antiemetic regimens: chlorpromazine (CPM) 2.5 mg/kg in 5 doses plus dexamethasone (DXM) 0.2 mg/kg in 2 doses, and high-dose metoclopramide (HD-MCP) 10 mg/kg in 5 doses plus the same dose of DXM. In 69% of 173 courses of chemotherapy, antiemetic response was achieved, and in 26% emesis was completely prevented. There was no statistical difference in the response to the antiemetic regimens, but 65% of the patients who completed 3 courses of chemotherapy preferred HD-MCP plus DXM. The main side effects of the treatment were drowsiness, nervousness, diarrhea and extrapyramidal reactions. HD-MCP plus DXM is recommended as a first line antiemetic treatment in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. Patients resistant to this treatment should receive CPM plus DXM treatment.

Combination chemotherapy in metastatic tumors of unknown origin. 5-Fluorouracil, adriamycin and mitomycin C for adenocarcinomas and adriamycin, vinblastine and mitomycin C for anaplastic carcinomas.

Twenty-nine evaluable patients with metastatic carcinomatosis in whom initial workup failed to reveal the primary site were entered into this trial. Patients with histological evidence of adenocarcinoma (n = 15) received FAM, while patients with anaplastic carcinomas (n = 14) were given AVM. Pretreatment characteristics were similar for the FAM- and AVM-treated patients with regard to age and sex, but 47% of patients on FAM had liver metastases as compared with 36% for the AVM group. Of the 14 patients on AVM, 1 (7%) achieved a complete response lasting 16 months, and 3 patients (22%) achieved a partial response for 10, 12 and 20 months, respectively. No patient on FAM reached a complete response, and only two patients (13%) showed a partial remission for 7+ and 24 months, respectively. The median survival for the AVM patients was 8.5 months, not significantly different from a median of 5 months for the FAM-treated group. AVM caused substantial myelotoxicity, resulting in five hospitalizations for leukopenia and fever; the FAM regimen was better tolerated with no episodes of leukopenic fever. AVM appears to be more effective than FAM in the treatment of carcinomas of unknown origin. A higher response rate was achieved with AVM, despite the fact that patients on this combination had undifferentiated carcinomas and a larger proportion of three or more metastatic sites (36 vs. 13% on FAM), and received a lower percent of the planned dose than did the FAM patients. Further clinical trials to fully establish the role of vinblastine in the treatment of metastatic carcinomatosis of unknown origin seem warranted.

Cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, DTIC and vincristine with methotrexate in the treatment of advanced soft tissue sarcomas.

Twenty-eight consecutive adult patients with locally advanced (inoperable) or metastatic soft tissue sarcomas were treated with a chemotherapy regimen (CADOM) including cyclophosphamide, ADR, and DTIC on Day 1 of each course, and vincristine with intermediate-dose methotrexate (200 mg/m2) on Day 15 followed by leucovorin rescue. Twenty-four of the patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Three (13%) achieved a CR after chemotherapy and 6 (25%) a PR. Two of the PRs were converted to CR after surgical removal of residual tumor. All five patients achieving a CR are alive 12 to 30 months after beginning chemotherapy. Median survival of patients achieving a PR was 18 months and of patients achieving an MR was 7 months. Three of five patients with sarcomas arising from the female genitalia achieved a CR. No treatment-related deaths occurred. There were five instances of leukopenia and fever. Nausea and vomiting, and alopecia were common. Stomatitis, muscle cramps, paralytic ileus, and peripheral neuropathy were occasionally observed. The addition of methotrexate did not improve the response rate when compared with our previous CYV ADIC protocol.

CA15-3 serum levels in breast cancer and other malignancies--correlation with clinical course.

Serum levels of the breast cancer-associated tumor marker CA15-3 were evaluated in three patient groups: breast, colorectal and ovarian cancer and in healthy subjects. Of 51 blood samples obtained from 31 patients with metastatic breast cancer (Stage IV disease), 98% had marker levels greater than 30 u/ml and 86% had levels greater than 50 u/ml. In contrast, of 49 samples from 42 patients with Stage I-II disease, 45% had levels greater than 30 u/ml but only 6% had levels greater than 50 u/ml (mean 29.5 +/- 18 u/ml). The mean level of the CA15-3 antigen in patients with Stage IV breast cancer and responding to therapy was 79.8 +/- 27 u/ml, while the mean level in patients not responding to therapy was 134 +/- 66 u/ml (P less than 0.02). The mean serial changes in CA15-3 levels for those responding to therapy was -28.4% while the mean change for those not responding to therapy was +44%. The mean marker level for 26 patients with colorectal carcinoma was 29.8 +/- 29 u/ml; 23% of these patients had levels greater than 30 u/ml and 7% had levels greater than 50 u/ml. No substantial difference was seen in those with active compared with nonactive colorectal carcinoma. The mean marker level for 14 patients with active ovarian carcinoma was 83 +/- 62 u/ml. Of these patients, 78% had CA15-3 levels greater than 30 u/ml and 50% had levels greater than 50 u/ml. All healthy subjects (n = 22) had marker levels less than 30 u/ml. We compared CA15-3 and CEA blood levels in the same patient population; 86% of patients with metastatic breast cancer (Stage IV disease) had CA15-3 levels greater than 50 u/ml while only 72% of these patients had CEA levels greater than 5 ng/ml. These findings suggest that the CA15-3 assay reflects the clinical course of patients with advanced breast cancer and may be superior to CEA as a monitor of therapeutic efficacy.

Treatment of primary and metastatic liver cancer using an implantable chemoinfusion pump.

Twenty evaluable patients with primary or secondary neoplastic liver involvement received FUDR (0.2 to 0.3 mg/kg per day) by continuous infusion to the hepatic artery for 14 days, every 4 weeks, through a surgically implanted Infusaid (USA) pump. In addition to FUDR, MMC (15 mg/m2 every 6 to 8 weeks) was given to 14 patients with colorectal cancer and one patient with breast cancer, and ADR, (40 mg/m2 every 4 to 6 weeks) was given to 5 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. MMC and ADR were given as a bolus injection, through the pump sideport. Radiation therapy to the liver (2,000 rads in fractions of 180 to 200 rads each) was given to eight patients with colorectal carcinoma. In total, the 20 patients received 218 months of treatment and 580 injections. The overall remission rate (complete, partial and minor response) was 55%; one patient with a colorectal carcinoma achieved a CR and seven patients (35%) a PR; three patients (15%) had a MR, and in eight patients (40%) stabilization of disease was observed. Overall median survival was 12 months: 15.5 months for colorectal cancer patients and 7.5 months for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Toxicity consisted mainly of chemical hepatitis, mild to severe peptic disease and sclerosing cholangitis. Hematological toxicity was not observed. These data suggest that chemotherapy through the hepatic artery, while still experimental, may be considered for selected patients with tumor confined to the liver.

Chemotherapy induction, consolidation radiotherapy and maintenance alternating chemotherapy in small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Forty-four evaluable, previously untreated patients with small cell lung cancer were treated with two courses of induction chemotherapy consisting of POCC. Subsequently, all limited-disease patients and extensive-disease patients in CR received 4,000 to 5,000 cGy irradiation over 4 to 5 weeks (or the equivalent) to the primary tumor, mediastinum and supraclavicular areas and 3,000 cGy prophylactic cranial irradiation during 2 weeks. All patients received maintenance chemotherapy for a full year after CR or until disease progression. Eleven continued POCC while 33 received vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, and either adriamycin or methotrexate on an alternating schedule (VCMA). For the 20 limited-disease patients, the CR rate was 70% and the PR rate was 20%. Median survival was 22 months, local control was 62%, 2-year DFS was 35% and 3-year DFS was 20%. Of the 24 extensive-disease patients only 21% achieved CR and 54% achieved PR. Median survival was only 8 months and there were no disease-free survivors at 2 years. Toxicity was moderate with nausea and vomiting in all patients, and there were two deaths from myelosuppression in the group that received POCC maintenance therapy; there were no drug-related deaths in the VCMA group. Since these results are similar to those obtained with simpler regimes, we cannot recommend our regimen for the treatment of small cell lung cancer. The optimal treatment for this disease has yet to be elucidated.

Involvement of heparanase in tumor metastasis and angiogenesis.

The capacity of various blood-borne cells, whether normal or malignant, to extravasate was found to correlate with heparanase-mediated degradation of HS in subendothelial ECM. This degradation was stimulated by proteases or plasminogen and inhibited by native heparin and by various modified nonanticoagulant species of heparin. These heparins also induced a marked reduction in tumor cell metastasis and autoimmune diseases in experimental animals. Heparanase-mediated degradation of HS in ECM also released EC growth factors that are stored in ECM, most likely by high affinity binding to HS. Such growth factors were extracted from subendothelial ECM synthesized in vitro and from basement membranes of the cornea in vivo, and are structurally and functionally related to bFGF;bFGF binds to ECM and is readily released by incubation with either HS, heparin or low MW heparin fragments as well as by various normal and malignant cells and by heparanase-mediated degradation of ECM HS. In contrast, there was little or no release of growth-promoting activity upon incubation of ECM with hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate or chondroitinase ABC. A model is proposed suggesting that regulation of capillary growth and neovascular response may result from displacement of an angiogenic protein (bFGF) from its storage sites within basement membranes.

The effects of ionizing irradiation on production of thromboxane and prostacyclin by the isolated perfused rat kidney.

Exposure to whole body radiation is associated with prompt changes in urinary excretion of prostaglandins. We investigated the separate effects of radiation on rat kidney capillary and tubular system prostaglandin synthesis. Animals were irradiated to the left kidney area with a single dose of 15 Gy. One week later the rats were anesthesized, the renal artery, vein and ureter of the left kidney cannulated, and the kidney removed and perfused with Krebs-Henseleit physiological buffer at a rate of 10-12 ml/min. Effluent fluids were collected separately from the renal vein and from the ureter of irradiated and control (operated sham-irradiated animals) and were assayed by radioimmunoassays for thromboxane A2 (TXB2) and prostacyclin (6 keto PGF1 alpha). Histological examination of the irradiated kidneys showed no significant changes, and electron microscopy revealed minimal interstitial edema. In contrast to these minimal changes, TXB2 assays showed a significant increase both in the venous and ureter effluents. Following stimulation with angiotensin II in the perfusate, a further significant increase in TXB2 production was observed both by the capillary and the tubular systems. With 6 Keto PGF1 a slightly different response was seen. The basal production was increased only in the ureter effluent of the irradiated animals, while there were no changes in the release in the venous effluents. In parallel, radiation significantly increased the angiotensin II stimulated production capacity of prostacyclin by the tubular system. The response of the capillary system following irradiation may create imbalance between these two important substances and lead to the radiation effects in the renal tissue.

Chemotherapeutic and surgical induction of pathological complete remission and whole abdominal irradiation for consolidation does not enhance the cure of stage III ovarian carcinoma.

Thirty-eight patients with stage III ovarian carcinoma were treated with a protocol consisting of an initial phase of induction of remission with cyclophosphamide, hexamethylmelamine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (CHAD) combination chemotherapy and a second laparotomy for resection of residual tumors, followed by a consolidation phase with curative doses of whole abdominal radiation. Six patients (16%) had stage IIIA disease, ten (26%) IIIB, and 22 (58%) had stage IIIC disease. All patients received three to 14 courses of CHAD chemotherapy with a clinical response rate (complete [CR] and partial [PR]) of 91%. Thirty-three patients underwent the second operation. In 14 patients no residual tumor was found, and in another 11 residual tumors found were totally resected. Thus, 25 of 33 (76%) were classified as in pathological complete remission (PCR) after this operation. Whole abdominal irradiation was well tolerated, although 12 of 29 (42%) of the irradiated patients required more than a 2-week interruption of the treatment course because of leukopenia and/or thrombocytopenia. The actuarial 5-year survival and disease-free survival rates for the whole group were 27% and 17%, respectively, and for the 29 patients who received the complete sequence of the prescribed protocol treatments, 35% and 20%, respectively. A univariate analysis of clinical parameters showed that inherent biological features, such as histology and grade, were the most dominant factors affecting prognosis, and that neither the aggressive surgical approach employed, nor the high-dose whole abdominal irradiation, significantly affected the outcome. The long-term results suggest that although our combined modality protocol was well tolerated, it failed to enhance the cure of stage III ovarian carcinoma. The possible biological and therapeutic vectors affecting this outcome are discussed.