[A case of pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma with extrapulmonary involvement treated effectively with steroid hormone].

A 21-year-old female was admitted to Tamono City Hospital with chief complaint of dyspnea due to spontaneous pneumothorax. The patient was transferred to our clinic for further examination of abnormal chest X-ray findings together with skin lesions and other symptoms of polyuria, amenorrhea and narrowed visual fields. Histochemical and electron microscopic examination of lung tissue obtained by open lung biopsy led to the diagnosis of eosinophilic granuloma. Furthermore, enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance images showed the existence of an intracranial tumor in the supra-hypophyseal region which was interpreted as the cause of hormonal and visual disturbances. Because of dyspnea and enlargement of intracranial tumor, treatment with steroid hormone was commerced followed by tapering of the dose. Chest X-ray findings and skin lesions improved markedly and the intracranial tumor regressed significantly with this steroid therapy, indicating that the intracranial tumor represented involvement with eosinophilic granuloma.

[Studies on IgG subclass antibodies in adult asthma. 2. Changes in serum antigen specific IgG subclass antibodies for aging and intractability in asthmatics].

To clarify the factors which induce intractable asthma, the level of serum IgG subclass antibodies to mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) and Candida antigens (Candida albicans) for aging and severity was investigated in 230 bronchial asthmatics (Male: 117, Female: 113) aged 6-81 years old (mean age = 40). Total IgE level and IgE antibodies to mite and Candida antigens were measured by radioimmunosorbent test (RIST) and radioallergosorbent test (RAST), respectively. The serum level of IgG and IgG1 antibodies to the antigens were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were as follows: 1) The incidence of severe asthma in aged and late onset asthmatics, especially late onset intractable asthma (LOIA), was higher than that in young and early onset asthmatics. 2) The serum level of total IgE and IgE antibodies to mite in aged and late onset asthmatics was lower than that in young and early onset asthmatics. 3) The incidence of severe and intractable asthmatics in the group of low IgE levels (less than 300 IU/ml) was higher than that in the group of high IgE levels (over 500 IU/ml). The incidence of positive IgE (RAST) score to mite in severe and intractable asthmatics was lower than that in mild and moderate asthmatics. 4) Considering aging, the serum levels of IgG and IgG1 antibodies to mite and Candida in severe and intractable asthmatics was higher than those in mild asthmatics. These data indicate that the aged and late onset asthmatics may produce dominantly the IgG (IgG1) antibody to the antigens, and have severe asthma attacks caused by IgG (IgG1) rather than IgE antibody.

Phase II study of ifosfamide, cisplatin, and vindesine combination in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Twenty-seven previously untreated patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer were treated with a 3-drug combination of ifosfamide, cisplatin, and vindesine as a phase II study. Patients received ifosfamide, 1.3g/m2, on days 1 to 5; cisplatin, 20mg/m2, on days 1 to 5; and vindesine, 3mg/m2, on days 1 and 8; with a sufficient parenteral hydration. Courses were repeated every 4 weeks. Twenty males and seven females with a median age of 61 years were treated and fully evaluated. Five patients had stage IIIA, seven had stage IIIB, and 15 had stage IV disease. One patient with adenocarcinoma achieved a complete response and 16 achieved a partial response, for an overall response rate of 63% (95% confidence limit: 45% to 81%). The median duration of response was 34 weeks (range: 9 to 52 weeks). The median survival time was 58 weeks for patients with IIIA/B disease, and 33 weeks for those with IV disease. The major toxicity was myelosuppression, however, it was generally well-tolerated. These results indicate that the 3-drug combination is active against non-small cell lung cancer and warrants further clinical trials.

[Small cell lung cancer: a retrospective analysis of results of chemotherapy and combined modality treatment].

In order to assess the development of treatments and the curability of SCLC, we analyzed a total of 181 patients entered in our protocol studies since 1976. Between 1976 and 1981, 37 patients (20 LD and 17 ED) were treated with COMP, a 4-drug combination of cyclophosphamide (CTX), vincristine (VCR), methotrexate, and procarbazine. During the period, chest irradiation (RT) was administered optionally to those with LD. Between 1981 and 1986, 112 patients (56 each of LD and ED) were treated with a cyclic alternating chemotherapy of the COMP and VAN, a 3-drug combination of etoposide (VP-16), adriamycin (ADM), and nimustine. In this study, we randomized LD patients either to receive CT alone or CT plus chest RT of 40 Gy to assess the role of chest RT in the treatment of patients in LD. Complete responders were also randomized either to receive prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) or not. Thereafter, a pilot phase II study of a hybrid regimen has been conducted in 32 patients (16 each of LD and ED), in which CTX, ADM and VCR (CAV) was given on day 1, and cisplatine and VP-16 (PVP) on days 8 and 9. Chest RT was administered mandatory to LD in this study. The median survival time (MST) has been prolonged with an improvement in response rate over CT in both LD and ED: MST of LD was 10 months for COMP, 14 months for COMP-VAN, and not achieved for CAV-PVP hybrid regimen (13 of 16 patients alive between 10 and months), while that of ED was 8 months for COMP, 11 months for COMP-VAN, and 13 months for CAV-PVP hybrid regimen. The randomized study comparing CT alone and CT plus chest RT revealed that chest RT played a substantial, but not significant, for long survival in LD. Finally 13 of 149 patients treated between 1976 and 1986 were long-term, disease-free survivors beyond 2 years (12 LD and 1 ED). Two of them who had not received PCI had a relapse in the brain, but the remaining 11 patients are alive and disease-free between 28 and 84 months. These results imply that SCLC is potentially curable, but it will be difficult to achieve a cure in a substantial proportion of patients with the disease.

Randomized trial comparing chemotherapy alone and chemotherapy plus chest irradiation in limited stage small cell lung cancer: a preliminary report.

In order to assess the effectiveness of chest irradiation in addition to intensive chemotherapy in limited stage small cell lung cancer, 50 patients were randomized to receive either chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy plus chest irradiation, between April 1981 and October 1985. The chemotherapy regimen consisted of a four-drug combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, methotrexate, and procarbazine, and a three-drug combination of etoposide, adriamycin, and nimustine, given alternately every 8 weeks. One group of 26 patients received the chemotherapy alone, and another group of 24 patients received chest irradiation with 40 Gy between cycles 1 and 2 of the chemotherapy. Complete response rates were quite similar in the two groups; 50% for those receiving chemotherapy alone, and 59% for those receiving chemotherapy plus chest irradiation. There were no significant differences in median survival (15 months versus 12 months) and in long-term survival rates between the two groups with a median follow-up period of 26 months. The combined modality treatment was more toxic than chemotherapy alone; two patients receiving such treatment died of radiation pneumonitis. It is concluded that chest irradiation combined with chemotherapy does not affect the response rate, survival, or pattern of recurrence in patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer.

Antimalarial phenanthrene amino alcohols. 3. Halogen-containing 9-phenanthrenemethanols.

A series of new 9-phenanthrene amino alcohols has been prepared in which each compound bears from one to five halogen or halogen-containing moieties. A number of these compounds are extremely active against Plasmodium berghei in the mouse. Some structural requirements for optimal efficacy are considered.