A prospective phase II study of combined androgen blockade in patients with androgen receptor-positive metastatic or locally advanced unresectable salivary gland carcinoma.

Background: There is no standard first-line chemotherapy for recurrent/metastatic (RM) or unresectable locally advanced (LA) salivary gland carcinoma (SGC). Patients and methods: We conducted a single institution, open-label, single arm, phase II trial of combined androgen blockade (CAB) for androgen receptor (AR)-positive SGC. Leuprorelin acetate was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 3.75 mg every 4 weeks. Bicalutamide was administered orally at a daily dose of 80 mg. Patients were treated until progressive disease or unacceptable toxicities. Results: Thirty-six eligible patients were enrolled. Thirty-three patients had RM disease and three patients had LA disease. The pathological diagnoses were salivary duct carcinoma (34 patients, 94%) and adenocarcinoma, NOS (two patients, 6%). The best overall response rate was 41.7% [n = 15, 95% confidence interval (CI), 25.5%-59.2%], the clinical benefit rate was 75.0% (n = 27, 95% CI, 57.8%-87.9%). The median progression-free survival was 8.8 months (95% CI, 6.3-12.3 months) and the median overall survival was 30.5 months (95% CI, 16.8 months to not reached). Additional analyses between treatment outcomes and clinicopathological factors or biomarkers including AR positivity, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status, and its complex downstream signaling pathway gene mutations showed no statistically significant differences. Elevated grade 3 liver transaminases and increased serum creatinine were reported in two patients, respectively. Discontinuation of leuprorelin acetate or bicalutamide due to adverse event occurred in one patient. Conclusion: This study suggests that CAB has equivalent efficacy and less toxicity for patients with AR-positive RM or unresectable LA SGC compared with conventional chemotherapy, which warrants further study. Clinical Trial Registration: UMIN-CTR (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index-j.htm), identification number: UMIN000005703.

Bone metastasis and poor performance status are prognostic factors for survival of carcinoma of unknown primary site in patients treated with systematic chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) generally has a poor prognosis, and there is no established standard therapy. There have been no reports of a prognostic model for CUP patients treated with a single regimen of systemic chemotherapy. METHODS: Univariate and multivariate prognostic factor analysis for overall survival (OS) were conducted retrospectively in 58 consecutive CUP patients treated with carboplatin plus paclitaxel (Taxol) therapy as a first-line treatment. RESULTS: Univariate prognostic factor analysis revealed baseline performance status (PS) of two or more, low serum albumin level, pleural effusion, bone metastasis, and liver metastasis as adverse prognostic factors. Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that poor PS and bone metastasis had the most powerful adverse impact on survival. We developed a prognostic model using those two variables-a good-risk group (PS 0-1 without bone metastasis) and a poor-risk group (PS > or =2 or bone metastasis). The poor-risk group showed significantly poorer OS than the good-risk group (1 year OS 36.8% versus 67.1%, P = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: Poor PS and bone metastasis were identified as independent adverse prognostic factors in CUP. A simple prognostic model was developed and seems useful for decision making as to whether chemotherapy is indicated for CUP patients.

Unusual hypersensitivity to warfarin in a critically ill patient.

A patient was admitted to the intensive care unit because of respiratory failure, and warfarin therapy was started at 2 mg/day for the treatment of pulmonary embolism, together with other medications. Despite the low dosage of warfarin, international normalized ratio (INR) was markedly elevated from 1.15 to 11.28 for only 4 days, and bleeding symptoms concurrently developed. Vitamin K2 was infused along with discontinuation of warfarin. One day later, the INR was found to have decreased, and bleeding was also improved. An objective causality assessment indicated a probable relationship between clotting abnormality and warfarin administration, although the degree of elevation of the INR was unusual in the light of the daily warfarin dose and duration of its exposure. Based on the clinical status of the patient, it was suspected that several conditions contributed to the abnormal hypersensitivity to warfarin. Contributory factors probably included pharmacokinetic interactions with co-administrated drugs, vitamin K deficiency caused by decreased dietary intake, reduced gut bacterial production, impaired intestinal absorption and hepatic synthetic capacity, and increased consumption of clotting factors. In view of our experience in the present case, it should be stressed that close monitoring of coagulation capacity is necessary in critically ill patients in order to avoid fatal haemorrhage after initiating warfarin therapy regardless of the dosage.

Dose-finding phase I study of simultaneous weekly infusion with doxorubicin and docetaxel in patients with advanced breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Combination therapy with doxorubicin (DOX) and docetaxel (DOC), given 3 weeks apart, is one of the standard regimens used for treating metastatic breast cancer, but it frequently generates febrile neutropenia. To find a safer regimen with less myelotoxicity and the appropriate dose intensity, we conducted a phase I study of simultaneous weekly infusion with DOX and DOC. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with an intravenous push-injection of DOX that was immediately followed by a 1-h infusion of DOC. This was repeated every week for at least 6 weeks. The premedication employed was three 4-mg doses of dexamethasone every week. Patients were divided into four groups for which the doses of DOX and DOC were escalated in 5-mg/m2 increments. RESULTS: In the 18 patients who were treated with DOX 15 or 20 mg/m2 and DOC 25 mg/m2, or lower, the regimen was found to be tolerable, without febrile episodes. The regimen with 20 mg/m2 of DOX and 30 mg/m2 of DOC was the maximum tolerated dose. Other indications of grade 3 toxicity included asthenia in 4% of patients, anorexia in 8%, and vomiting in 8%. Of the 25 patients, 14 had a partial response. The overall response rate was 56% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35% to 77%). The recommended dose for further trial was 20 mg/m2 of DOX and 25 mg/m2 of DOC. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous weekly infusion with DOX and DOC was feasible, with modest neutropenia and preserved dose intensity. This regimen may be helpful in the management of patients with advanced breast cancer.

Chemotherapy with irinotecan (CPT-11), a topoisomerase-I inhibitor, for refractory and relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11), a DNA topoisomerase-I inhibitor, is now widely used in the treatment of various solid tumors, including colorectal, gastric, breast, lung, and ovarian cancer. Despite the good response shown in the late phase-II study, CPT-11 was not often employed in the treatment of malignant lymphoma, mainly because of severe leukopenia and diarrhea caused by the recommended schedule: 40 mg/m2 of CPT-11 on days 1 to 3, 8 to 10, 15 to 17, then discontinued for at least 2 weeks. In clinical use, administration of CPT-11 had to be ceased on days 15 to 17 in almost all cases, and on days 8 to 10 in a considerable number of patients. Subsequently, a lower dose schedule (less than 40 mg/m2) was developed. Our phase II trial employing a reduced dose of CPT-11 on days 1 and 2, plus ADM on day 3 with 3-week interval in patients with refractory and relapsed NHL showed a fairly good response of relapsed B-cell lymphoma and a substantial response of T-cell lymphoma with acceptable toxicity. The combination of a topoisomerase-I inhibitor (CPT-11) and a topoisomerase-II inhibitor is an interesting concept for the treatment of NHL. Another phase II trial in combination with CPT-11 and other anti-cancer drugs, particularly cisplatin or topoisomerase-II inhibitors, is warranted. A superior salvage chemotherapy regimen could be found in the future by investigating combinations of low-dose CPT-11 and cisplatin or topoisomerase-II inhibitors.

Epithelial expression of caveolin-2, but not caveolin-1, is enhanced in the inflamed mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis.

Caveolae are vesicular invaginations of the plasma membrane that act as a scaffold of the assembly of many classes of signaling molecules. Caveolins are the principal structural component of caveolae membranes, and three distinct forms of caveolins have been identified: caveolin-1, caveolin-2, and caveolin-3. In this study, we evaluated the changes in the caveolin-1 and caveolin-2 expression in the inflamed mucosa of patients with IBD. Tissue samples were obtained endoscopically from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) (n = 18), Crohn's disease (n = 10) and ischemic colitis (n = 8). Normal colorectal tissues were also obtained (n = 15). The caveolin expression was evaluated by standard immunohistochemical procedure. In normal colonic mucosa, caveolin-1 expression was detected in the smooth-muscle cells of the muscularis mucosae and the endothelial cells, but caveolin-2 expression was not detected. In the inflamed mucosa of patients with active UC, caveolin-2 expression was clearly detectable as small scattered foci on the luminal surfaces of epithelial cells, but caveolin-1 expression was similar to that in normal mucosa. Caveolin-2 expression increased in accordance with the disease activity of UC. This enhanced caveolin-2 expression was not detected in active Crohn's disease or ischemic colitis. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the epithelial expression of caveolin-2 is markedly enhanced in the inflamed mucosa of patients with UC. It is likely that the enhanced caveolin-2 expression in patients with UC was associated with the altered signal transductions in the intestinal epithelial cells. Furthermore, our results suggest that there are differences in the phenotypic features of epithelial cells between UC and Crohn's disease.

Effects of synthetic serine protease inhibitors on proliferation and collagen synthesis of human pancreatic periacinar fibroblast-like cells.

Protease inhibitors are currently used as therapeutic agents for chronic pancreatitis in Japan. We previously reported that human pancreatic periacinar fibroblast-like cells (hPFCs) could be cultured from isolated pancreatic acini, and those are thought to play a crucial role in pancreatic fibrosis correlating with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) (Pancreas 1997;14: 373-82). The present study was designed to examine the effects of synthetic serine protease inhibitors (FOY-007 and FOY-305) on proliferation and collagen synthesis of hPFCs under cytokine stimulation. The cell proliferation and collagen synthesis were evaluated using assays of [3H]-thymidine incorporation and procollagen type I c-terminal peptide (PIP), and [14C]-proline incorporation to de novo synthesized collagen, respectively. The cell proliferation stimulated by PDGF was inhibited by the application of FOY-007 dose dependently (1-100 microM) and FOY-305 at 100 microM. FOY-007 attenuated the collagen synthesis and PIP production stimulated by TGF-beta1 dose dependently, but FOY-305 inhibited only PIP production. Both protease inhibitors demonstrated no effect on the proliferation and collagen synthesis of hPFCs when they were not stimulated by PDGF or TGF-beta1. Thus, serine protease inhibitors act on hPFCs to diminish the effects of PDGF on proliferation and the effects of TGF-beta1 on collagen synthesis.

Orexinergic innervation of POMC-containing neurons in the rat arcuate nucleus.

A pre-embedding double immunostaining technique was used to study the synaptic relationships between orexin-like immunoreactive axon terminals and preopiomelanocortin (POMC)-like immunoreactive neurons in the rat arcuate nucleus. Most of the synapses were axo-dendritic, while some axo-somatic synapses were also found. Both the axo-somatic and axodendritic synapses were symmetrical. In some cases the presynaptic orexin-like immunoreactive axon terminals contained a few large dense-cored vesicles. The results suggest that the orexinergic axon terminals in the arcuate nucleus may play an important role in the regulation of food intake via synapses through POMC neurons.

[Oral cancer chemotherapy in the clinic].

The present status of oral chemotherapeutic agents and the treatment of cancer were reviewed. Twenty anticancer agents are commercially available in Japan excluding hormonal and BRM agents. Cancers for the outpatient chemotherapy are limited because useful drugs are few for such circumstances. Now new potent agents such as S-1, capecitabine and molecular targeting are available. This kind of chemotherapy is needed for growing number of elderly patients for QOL and medical cost.

Cytokine regulation of chemokine (IL-8, MCP-1, and RANTES) gene expression in human pancreatic periacinar myofibroblasts.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We have previously isolated and characterized human pancreatic periacinar myofibroblasts. In this study, to define the role of these cells in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis, we investigated chemokine expression in them. METHODS: Secretion of chemokines (interleukin [IL]-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein [MCP]-1, RANTES, and MIP [macrophage inflammatory protein]-1alpha) was evaluated by ELISA, Northern blotting, and nuclear run-on assays. The activation of NF-kappaB and NF-IL6 was assessed by an electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay. RESULTS: IL-8 and MCP-1 secretion was rapidly induced by both IL-1beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. RANTES secretion was induced more slowly and was induced mainly by TNF-alpha. However, MIP-1alpha secretion was not induced by any stimuli. These responses were also observed at the messenger RNA level, and they were accompanied by an increase in transcriptional rate. The increase in transcriptional activation of chemokine genes correlated with the NF-kappaB and NF-IL6 activation. Furthermore, a blockade of NF-kappaB activation by PDTC and TPCK markedly reduced the IL-1beta- or TNF-alpha-induced chemokine gene expression. CONCLUSIONS: Chemokine secretion is differentially regulated in pancreatic periacinar myofibroblasts, suggesting a role for these cells in mediating the infiltration and accumulation of inflammatory cells in the pancreas.

Combination chemotherapy with irinotecan and adriamycin for refractory and relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Twenty-five patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated by combination chemotherapy with irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) and adriamycin (ADM): CPT-11, 25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 2; ADM, 40 mg/m2 on day 3. Nine (36%) of twenty-five patients achieved CR. Fairly good responses were seen in relapsed B-cell lymphomas (4 of 8 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and 2 of 2 in follicular lymphoma grade 1), and substantial responses in T-cell lymphomas (1 of 4 in peripheral T-cell lymphoma and 2 of 7 in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma). Leukopenia was frequent but tolerable, and diarrhea minimal. Combination chemotherapy with a reduced dose CPT-11 and ADM was useful in the treatment of relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

[Improvement of quality of life (QOL) and life prolongation by CPT-11 + adriamycin (ADM) therapy: report of 4 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma refractory to conventional chemotherapies].

CPT-11 + ADM therapy (CPT-11 40 mg/body x 2 days; Day 1 & 2, combined with ADM 20 to 60 mg/body x 1 day; Day 3) was given to four patients with relapsed and advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which was refractory to conventional chemotherapies. The symptoms of the patients at the beginning of CPT-11 + ADM therapy were fever (in two cases), dyspnea due to pleural effusion (in two), severe backache (in one), and jaundice with splenomegaly (in one). Their Karnofsky performance scales were 20 or 30%. Soon after the initiation of CPT-11 + ADM therapy, their clinical conditions improved dramatically, and they obtained a partial remission lasting 3.5 to 9 months. During the period of controlling lymphomas by this therapy, all patients had some time at home for 2 to 8 months. The adverse effects were vomiting, diarrhea, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, but no lethal infection or hemorrhage was seen. We conclude that CPT-11 + ADM therapy is very useful for improvement of QOL and life prolongation of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is refractory to conventional chemotherapies and is even disseminated.

A blockade of complement activation prevents rapid intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion injury by modulating mucosal mast cell degranulation in rats.

We attempted to define the putative role of complement activation in association with mucosal mast cell (MMC) degranulation in the pathogenesis of rapid intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. We prepared complement activity-depleted rats by the administration of the anti-complement agent K-76COOH and the serine-protease inhibitor FUT-175. Autoperfused segments of the jejunum were exposed to 60 min of ischaemia, followed by reperfusion for various time periods, and the epithelial permeability was assessed by the 51Cr-EDTA clearance rate. The number of MMC was immunohistochemically assessed. In control rats, the maximal increase in mucosal permeability was achieved by 30-45 min of reperfusion. This increase was significantly attenuated by the administration of either K-76COONa alone or in combination with FUT-175. In contrast, the administration of carboxypeptidase inhibitor (CPI), which prevents the inactivation of complement-derived anaphylatoxins such as C5a, significantly enhanced the increase in I/R-induced mucosal permeability. These findings were confirmed morphologically by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the I/R-induced mucosal injury was accompanied by a marked decrease in the number of MMC, and administration of K-76COOH significantly inhibited this change. These results indicate that complement activation and the generation of complement-derived anaphylatoxins are key events in I/R-induced mucosal injury. It is likely that intestinal I/R-induced mucosal injury may be partially mediated by MMC activation associated with the complement activation.

Reduced tumorigenicity of human gastric carcinoma cells engineered to produce IL-2 in SCID mice reconstituted with peripheral blood cells from cancer patients.

We have examined the validity of a humanized immune system with an animal model to assess cytokine gene therapy for cancer patients. For that purpose, we prepared hematologically-reconstituted severe combined immunodeficiency mice by transferring patient's peripheral blood cells containing CD34+ cells. These animals were inoculated subcutaneously with human gastric cancer lines transduced with cytokine genes. Tumorigenicity of interleukin-2-producing cells was significantly reduced in reconstituted but not in non-reconstituted mice, whereas that of wild-type and interleukin-6 producer cells was not affected irrespective of the reconstitution status. An inability to induce protective immunity in the reconstituted mice, which had rejected interleukin-2-producers, suggested that the effector cells mediating the antitumor response were non-T cells of donor origin. The experimental system presented in this study seems to be a feasible model to investigate applicable cytokines for patients.

Morphological and immunocytochemical identification of periacinar fibroblast-like cells derived from human pancreatic acini.

Fibroblast-like cells in the periacinar region may play an important role in periacinar fibrosis. In the present study, we isolated and cultured periacinar fibroblast-like cells (PFCs) derived from human pancreatic acini and examined the characteristics of human PFCs morphologically and immunocytochemically. Immunocytochemical study of human PFCs showed that they were positively stained with antibodies against type I collagen/procollagen, type III collagen/procollagen, fibronectin, prolyl hydroxylase beta sub-unit, type IV collagen, laminin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, and nonmuscle myosin. Electron microscopic study showed that human PFCs contained a number of microfilaments, forming dense bodies in the cytoplasm. These results indicated that human PFCs possess characteristics of myofibroblasts. Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, a marker of the myofibroblast-like phenotype, was increased with time in culture and was enhanced by treatment with transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1. Collagen synthesis in human PFCs was stimulated by TGF-beta 1 and the proliferation of human PFCs was stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor. These findings suggest that PFCs from human pancreas seem to be involved in periacinar fibrosis.

[Two patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia whose relapse was noted by cytodiagnosis of middle ear discharge].

Patient 1 was a 36-year-old male and diagnosed as APL in April 1989, and treated with BHAC-DMP and BHAC-AMP. In January 1990, a diagnosis of exudative otitis media was made, but intractable. In June, left facial paralysis appeared and cytodiagnosis of the discharge from the middle ear confirmed leukemic cells. Otitis media and facial paralysis improved after high dose Ara-C, but developed again 5 months later. The condition improved after high dose Ara-C and irradiation of the temporal bones. In September 1992, he died of recurrence but no aggravation in facial paralysis or otitis media. Patient 2 was a 24-year-old female and diagnosed as APL in July 1989, and treated with BHAC-DMP. In May 1990, exudative otitis media was appeared. In July, recurrence was observed but improved by high dose Ara-C. In October, otitis media was aggravated again, and cytodiagnosis confirmed leukemic cell infiltration. She was treated with high dose Ara-C and irradiation of the temporal bones, then achieved complete remission. Maintenance therapy was continued until August 1992, she has been alive. When exudative otitis media developed during the course of leukemia, cytodiagnosis of the discharge from the middle ear should be performed. High dose Ara-C and irradiation of the temporal bone were effective.

Survey of risk factors for expulsive choroidal hemorrhage: case reports. Substantiation of the risk factors and their incidence.

To evaluate the interaction of risk factors for expulsive hemorrhage, we evaluated 3 cases of expulsive hemorrhage and 2 of acute intraoperative choroidal effusion that occurred at the University of Tsukuba Hospital over a 16-year-period and investigated the common findings in these 5 cases. We also selected randomly 500 cataractous cases operated at the University of Tsukuba Hospital and investigated the probabilities of risk factors for expulsive hemorrhage in these control cases. The 5 affected patients exhibited more than four risk factors of expulsive hemorrhage. The probability of more than four risk factors being involved in any cataract operation was approximately 0.33% (0.17 approximately 0.67%; 95% confidence interval). The incidence of expulsive hemorrhage at our hospital was approximately 0.2%, which is similar to the probability rate. Thus, we concluded that the development of expulsive hemorrhage was proved to be related to an accumulation of the risk factors for expulsive hemorrhage.

[Molecular evidence for a single clonal origin in a patient with multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

A 49-year old man was admitted in November 1989, because of anemia, abnormal shadowing on chest X ray and hyperproteinemia. Biclonal gammopathy (IgG kappa + IgA kappa) was shown in serum, and Bence Jones protein in urine. The bone marrow examination showed an increased number of abnormal plasma cells (15.7%) and no evidence of lymphoma, A diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM) was made. In April 1990, while the patient was treated with the modified M2 regiman, swelling of the right cervical lymph node was observed. Lymph node biopsy revealed that he had non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (:NHL, diffuse, mixed, B cell type). He was retreated with the CHOP regimen for both disease, but died of respiratory failure in October. 1991. To establish the clonal origin of this case of concominant MM and B-cell NHL, the immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in his lymph node and bone marrow were analyzed. Southern blot analysis with the JH probe and Ck probe showed one common band and one different band in the two samples. Our data suggest that two B-cell malignancies may have arisen from a single B-cell progenitor.

[Change in cross-bridge activation rate constant (Kac) after six-minute walk in patients with heart failure].

Cardiac adrenergic activity is increased in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and is excessively increased during mild exercise. Changes in cardiac adrenergic activity were examined in normal individuals and patients with CHF before and after mild exercise using the cross-bridge activation rate constant (Ka), which may represent the adrenergic activity related to the working left ventricular myocardium. Ten normal volunteers and 31 patients with stable CHF underwent echocardiography. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was measured in all the CHF patients using left ventriculography or radionuclide cineangiography. The patients were classified into two groups: group 1 with an LVEF > or = 50% (n = 16) and group 2 with an LVEF < 50% (n = 15). The cause of CHF was old myocardial infarction in 25 patients and dilated cardiomyopathy in 6. All subjects exercised by walking for 6 min after resting in the supine position for 30 min. The blood pressure, electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram, and M-mode echocardiogram were recorded simultaneously before and after exercise. The values of Ka and Kac (Ka corrected for the individual heart rate) were calculated from the QS2 interval and the heart rate (HR) as follows: Ka = 3/QS2 interval, and Kac = Ka +0.0249 (66-HR). Before exercise, the HR was significantly higher in group 2, but the Kac value showed no significant difference between all three groups. The increase of HR with exercise (delta HR) and the Kac value after exercise were not significantly different between all three groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)