CEA and CA-19.9 serum tumor markers as prognostic factors in patients with locally advanced (unresectable) or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a retrospective analysis.

Most pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients present with locally advanced or metastatic disease at diagnosis. in this retrospective study the authors evaluated the prognostic significance of the CEA and CA-19.9 serum tumor markers in advanced (unresectable) pancreatic cancer in correlation to other prognostic factors (demographic data, clinical parameters, treatment modality) and survival time using univariate and multivariate methods, in 215 patients with locally advanced (unresectable) or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. median survival was 29.0 weeks, with 21.9% of patients surviving 36 weeks. Among 24 potential prognostic variables, 19 were associated with shorter survival. Multivariate analysis indicated that ten factors had a significant independent effect on survival: chemotherapy, surgery, tumor localization, elevated C-reactive protein, elevated CeA, CA 19-9 (>30 x nl), jaundice at diagnosis, weight loss >10%, distant metastases, and Karnofsky performance status. Patients who had only palliative therapy had a hazard ratio of 8.94 versus those who underwent palliative surgery and chemotherapy. Although certain clinical, biochemical and biological factors remain important predictors of survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, CA-19.9 serum tumor marker levels retain independent prognostic value for poor survival.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large adrenal metastasis from contralateral renal cell carcinoma.

We present herein the case of a patient with solitary metachronous contralateral adrenal metastasis from renal cell cancer. The patient had undergone left radical nephrectomy and adrenalectomy for localized renal cancer 7 years previously. Laparoscopic transperitoneal right adrenalectomy was performed. The postoperative period was uneventful. Histology showed right adrenal metastasis from renal cancer. At 6-month follow-up, there was no evidence of recurrence.

Laparoscopic resection of large adrenal ganglioneuroma.

We report on a 23-year-old woman with a right adrenal tumor 13 cm in diameter who was treated by laparoscopy. The patient was asymptomatic, and the tumor was incidentally diagnosed on abdominal ultrasonography. A subsequent computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen confirmed a 12 x 7 x 8-cm homogenous mass of the right adrenal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a solid mass measuring 13 x 7 x 7.5 cm arising from the right adrenal. Laparoscopic complete excision of the mass was accomplished through a transabdominal lateral approach. The postoperative period was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the second postoperative day. Histology was consistent with an adrenal ganglioneuroma. Two years later, there is no evidence of recurrence on abdominal CT scan.

Leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil versus levamisole and 5-fluorouracil as adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of 6-month therapy with leucovorin (LV)+5-fluorouracil (5-FU) versus 12-month therapy with levamisole (LVS)+5-FU, as adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with completely resected Aster-Coller stage B(2) or C(1)/C(2) rectal cancer (RC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients with surgically resected RC were enrolled. Seventy patients with stage B(2) and 80 with stage C were randomly assigned to adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-FU+LXx6 months or 5-FU+LVSx12 months. Patient characteristics were equally balanced between the examined groups. Adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of LV 20 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.v.) plus 5-FU 450 mg/m(2) i.v. bolus every week plus LVS tablets 50 mg t.i.dx3 days every 2 weeks for 1 year. RESULTS: After a median follow up for survivors of 8.7 years (range 1.8-10.5), all of the patients were evaluable. There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups with respect to the recurrence rates (p=0.821). Moreover, there were no significant differences between the two tratment groups in disease-free survival (DFS) (p=0.84) [B(2)(p=0.805) and C (p=0.978)] and overall survival (OS) rates for patients of either stage B(2) or C (p=0.78). Toxicities were more frequent in the 5-FU+LVS versus 5-FU+LV group: myelosuppression (grade 3 leucopenia, 12 versus 4%, p<0.04), diarrhea (grade 0, 60 versus 76%, p<0.02), and liver toxicity (increase of transaminases >3-fold, 12 patients versus 2, p<0.03.). No patient stopped chemotherapy because of toxicity, and there were no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant chemotherapy in RC with LV+5-FU for 6 months is equally effective and less toxic than LVS+5-FU for 12 months.

Leucovorin and fluorouracil vs levamisole and fluorouracil as adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 6-month therapy with leucovorin (LV) + 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) vs 12 months of therapy with levamisole (LVZ) + 5-FU, as adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with completely resected Dukes' stage B2 or C rectal cancer. One hundred and fifty patients with surgically resected rectal carcinoma, were enrolled in the present study; Dukes' stage B2 (n=70) or C (n=80), were randomly assigned to chemotherapy with 5-FU + LV x 6 months or 5-FU + LVZ x 12 months. Patient characteristics were equally balanced between the examined groups. Adjuvant CT consisted of LV 20 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.v.) plus 5-FU 450 mg/m(2) i.v., on days 1-5 every 4 weeks for 6 cycles or 5-FU 450 mg/m(2) i.v. every week plus LVZ 50 mg t.i.d x 3 days for 1 year. All patients received radiotherapy with a three-field technique to a total dose of 45 Gy, over 5 weeks. After a median follow-up of 7.4 years there were no significant differences between the two treatment groups with respect to the recurrence rates (P=0.821). Moreover, there was no difference in disease-free survival for patients stage Dukes' B2 (log-rank p=0.73); median for LV group 90 (8-131) months, and for LVZ group 86.5 (3-129) months. No difference was noted in disease-free survival for patients stage Dukes' C (log-rank p=0.73); median for LV group 60 (17-128) months, and for LVZ group 64 (2-123) months. There was no difference in overall survival for patients stage Dukes' B2 (log-rank p=0.75); median for LV group 90 (22-131) months, and for LVZ group 86 (10-129) months. For stage Dukes' C (log-rank p=0.73); median for LV group 67 (17-128) months, and for LVZ group 64 (5-123) months. Toxicities were as follows in the 5-FU + LVZ vs 5-FU + LV group; myelosuppression (leucopenia grade 3, 12% vs 4%, p<0.04), diarrhea (grade 0, 60% vs 76%, p<0.02), and liver toxicity (increase of transaminases >3-fold, 12 patients vs 2, p<0.03), were more frequent in LVZ group. None of the patients stopped chemotherapy because of the toxicity, and there were no toxicity-related deaths. In conclusion, adjuvant chemotherapy in RC with LV + 5-FU for 6 months is equally effective and less toxic than LVZ + 5-FU for 12 months.

Two different schedules of irinotecan (CPT-11) in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma relapsing after a 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin combination. A randomized study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of irinotecan as second-line treatment in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (ACC) failing or relapsing after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus leucovorin (LV) standard chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Irinotecan was randomly administered in two different schedules (once every 3 weeks, and every 10 days) in patients failing prior 5-FU plus LV. Patients were randomized to two treatment groups: group A received irinotecan 350 mg/m2 every 21 days and group B received irinotecan 175 mg/m2 days 1 and 10 every 21 days. RESULTS: Group A comprised 60 patients: 34 male/26 female, median age 64 years (range 48-70 years), and median Karnofsky performance status (PS) 90. Their metastatic sites included liver (n=47), lymph nodes (n=27), lung (n=14), abdomen (n=14), pelvis (n=8), "other" (n=2), and local recurrence (n=12). Group B comprised 60 patients: 36 male/24 female, median age 62 years (46-70 years), and median PS 90. Their metastatic sites included liver (n=49), lymph nodes (n=29), lung (n=17), abdomen (n=16), pelvis (n=11), "other" (n=2), and local recurrence (n=13). Group A showed the following responses: complete response (CR) 2, partial response (PR) 12, stable disease (SD) 21, progressive disease (PD) 26, overall response rate (ORR) 23%, tumor growth control 58%. Group B showed the following responses: CR 1, PR 14, SD 22, PD 23; ORR 25%; tumor growth control 62%. Toxicities included acute cholinergic syndrome (group A 53%, group B 19%; P<0.0001), late-onset diarrhea grade 1/2 (group A 21%, group B 46%) and grade 3/4 (group A 41%, group B 66%; P<0.0001), nausea and vomiting grade 1/2 (group A 34%, group B 59%) and grade 3/4 (group A 30%, group B 12%; P<0.0001), neutropenia grade 3/4 (group A 27%, group B 28%; P<0.03), with febrile neutropenia seen in only four patients in group A, anemia grade more than 2 (group A 28%, group B 12%; P<0.05), asthenia grade more than 3 (group A 24%, group B 18%; P<0.001), and alopecia grade more than 3 (group A 40%, group B 34%; P<0.2). CONCLUSIONS: . The present study indicates that, in patients with ACC who have relapsed after 5-FU plus LV, the administration of irinotecan fractionated into two doses every 21 days yields a similar efficacy to, but a much lower incidence of toxicity than, the same total dose of irinotecan administered once every 21 days.

Etoposide, leucovorin (LV) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in 5-FU+LV pre-treated patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of the weekly combination of etoposide, leucovorin (LV) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) when administered as second-line chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory advanced colorectal cancer (ACC), previously treated with weekly LV+5-FU. Etoposide was administered at 3 different dose levels (DLs), in 3 groups of 20 patients each (total: 60); DL-I: etoposide 80 mg/m2, DL-II: etoposide 120 mg/m2, and DL-III: etoposide 180 mg/m2, in 45 min i.v. infusion, and followed in all levels by LV 100 mg/m2 i.v. over 1 hour and 5-FU 500 mg/m2 i.v. bolus. Treatment was administered weekly until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. No patients at DL-I responded, while 2 patients at DL-II and 3 at DL-III had a partial response (PR). Stable disease (SD) rates were as follows; at DL-I: 2, DL-II: 8 and DL-III: 9. More patients in DL-I progressed (n = 19) compared to DL-II (n=10) and DL-II (n = 8) (p < 0.0007). Time to progression was for DL-I, -II, -III: 17, 15, and 14 weeks, respectively. Median survival was DL-I, -II, -III: 30, 30, and 32.5 weeks, respectively. Toxicity consisted mainly of neutropenia, diarrhea and mucositis at all DLs, and was significantly more severe in DL-III. No difference was noted in responses between DL-II and DL-III. The authors conclude that the combination of etoposide with LV+5-FU has limited activity when administered after failure of weekly LV+5-FU in patients with ACC and should not be recommended for further evaluation.

Giant myelolipoma of the right adrenal gland.

Adrenal myelolipoma is an unusual, benign and hormonally inactive tumour composed of mature adipose and haematopoietic tissue. In the past, these tumours were accidentally discovered at autopsy. Today, they are found much more frequently and incidentally, mainly because of the widespread use of ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic reasonance imaging. Adrenal myelolipoma is usually unilateral and asymptomatic. The case of a 52-year-old female patient, surgically treated for a symptomatic giant myelolipoma of the right adrenal gland, is reported, together with a review of the literature.

Irinotecan (CPT-11) in patients with advanced colon carcinoma relapsing after 5-fluorouracil-leucovorin combination.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between performance status (PS) and mean dose of irinotecan (CPT-11) in patients with recurrent advanced colorectal cancer relapsing after 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin chemotherapy. Patients who had completed their last chemotherapy course with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin for at least 6 weeks and progressed were included. Based on PS, we administered a starting dose of 250 mg/m(2) in patients with a PS 70-80 (group A), and 350 mg/m(2) for those with a PS > 80 (group B). Of a total of 90 treated patients, all were evaluable, 18 had a partial response (PR) (20%), 39 stable disease (43%), and 15 progressed (37%). No significant difference was noticed between patients with PS > or = 90 or < or = 80 (p = 0.925), or between those who received a mean dose of CPT-11 > or = 300 or < or = 300 (p = 0.602), for response, survival and time to progression. Toxicity was increased in group B as expected, with significant differences for acute cholinergic syndrome (p = 0.02), diarrhea after the first 24 h (p = 0.03) and severe diarrhea (p = 0.03). According to these results, we conclude that response to CPT-11 is independent of its dose, and that a dose of 250 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks might be a cost-effective and less toxic alternative in this setting. However, further adequately powered phase II or III randomized studies might be required in order to confirm this observation.

Jejunogastric intussusception presented with hematemesis: a case presentation and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Jejunogastric intussusception (JGI) is a rare but potentially very serious complication of gastrectomy or gastrojejunostomy. To avoid mortality early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention is mandatory. CASE PRESENTATION: A young man presented with epigastric pain and bilous vomiting followed by hematemesis,10 years after vagotomy and gastrojejunostomy for a bleeding duodenal ulcer. Emergency endoscopy showed JGI and the CT scan of the abdomen was compatible with this diagnosis. At laparotomy a retrograde type II, JGI was confirmed and managed by reduction of JGI without intestinal resection. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: JGI is a rare condition and less than 200 cases have been published since its first description in 1914. The clinical picture is almost diagnostic. Endoscopy performed by someone familiar with this rare entity is certainly diagnostic and CT-Scan of the abdomen could also help. There is no medical treatment for acute JGI and the correct treatment is surgical intervention as soon as possible.

Mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver in an adult: a review of the literature.

Mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver is an unusual oncologic entity which occurs almost exclusively in infancy and childhood; fewer than 200 cases have been reported. We present the case of a 21-year-old female, who was admitted to our institution with a painful right subcostal mass lasting for 6 months, who had no evidence of generalised disease. Imaging procedures revealed a central solid lesion, 15 cm in diameter, in the right lobe of the liver, with cystic degeneration. The patient underwent a formal right hepatectomy. The pathology report ascertained the presence of a benign mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver.

Combined epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid vs no treatment for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a prospective comparative study.

The combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid (FA) has demonstrated activity in most gastrointestinal tumors. The addition of epirubicin (EPI) may increase the efficacy of the combination for cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract, such as advanced pancreatic cancer. We examined two groups of patients, explaining the potential benefits and limitations of therapy, and those patients who agreed to undergo chemotherapy formed Group A and the remaining formed Group B. Therefore, the study was a non-randomized prospective comparison between patients receiving chemotherapy and those offered the best supportive care. Group A consisted of 42 patients; 19 underwent Roux-en-Y operation, and 23 were inoperable. Group B consisted of 48 patients who refused chemotherapy; 18 underwent Roux-en-Y operation, and 30 were considered inoperable. Chemotherapy consisted of FA 200 mg/m2/day, 5-FU 600 mg/m2/day both for 5 days, and EPI 35 mg/m2/day before FA-5-FU administration on days 1 and 2, every 28 days. All patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Objective tumor responses (partial responses) in Group A were seen in 8 patients (19%) (6 women and 2 men), and 6 (14%) had stable disease. The estimated median survival was 27.6 weeks (mean 27.5) for Group A and 22.5 weeks (mean 24) (p=0.01) for Group B. From the onset of therapy, median duration of response was 16.6 weeks and median time to progression 11.8 weeks in Group A. Toxicity consisted primarily of myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, alopecia, and mucositis. In Group A 12/42 patients became free from pain for a median duration of 10 months, 14/42 had improved appetite, and 15/42 had improved performance status in comparison to Group B, where no patients had improved performance status or symptoms. We conclude that the combination of EPI+FA+5-FU has moderate activity and increased toxicity in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

Fournier's gangrene: still highly lethal.

Five patients with necrotizing soft tissue infections of the perineum and scrotum are presented. There were one female and four male patients, aged from 35 to 70 years. Portals of entry were perirectal abscesses in four cases and a scrotal abscess in one case. All patients required extensive surgical debridement and intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics. Operative debridement involved the scrotum, the perineal and inguinal area, the upper thighs and the anterior abdominal wall. One patient required transverse loop colostomy and one loop sigmoidostomy. One patient was reoperated on after inadequate drainage of a perirectal abscess. Three patients were referred to our unit after some delay, while one patient did not seek medical care until after being febrile for 2 weeks. Despite aggressive debridement, this last patient died of fulminant sepsis. Fournier's gangrene, which is not so rare as in generally considered, is still associated with a high mortality, which can be reduced only by improving medical awareness and early treatment both of the primary cause and of necrotizing fasciitis.

[Experiences with surgical therapy of hepatic echinococcosis]. / Erfahrungen mit der chirurgischen Therapie der Leberechinococcose.

Between January 1984 and December 1990, 56 patients with hydatid liver disease were treated surgically at our Department. Diagnosis was made by using clinical criteria, serology and imaging techniques. Most frequent clinical symptom was abdominal pain or local discomfort (38 patients, 68%). Plain X-ray of the abdomen was helpful in 20 patients (36%), liver ultrasound in 53 (93%) and computerised tumorgraphy in 56 patients, (100%). The immunoelectrophoresis test of "arc 5" was sensitive in 51 patients (91%). Thirty patients (53%) underwent partial resection and omentoplasty, 17 patients (30%) underwent external drainage, two cystic resection (3%), one left lateral lobectomy (2%) and six (11%) underwent omentoplasty and T-tube insertion. Fatal complications did not occur. Four patients developed hepatic abscess (7%), three wound infection (5%), one bowel obstruction (2%) and in five instances (8%) drainage was maintained for more than three months. Of the 49 patients available for follow-up (87%), three (6%) developed recurrent disease.

Aggressive surgical management of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma in puberty.

Extensive right hepatectomy and replacement of the invaded inferior vena cava were performed in a 14-year-old girl with fibrolamellar liver carcinoma. Despite the graft thrombosis the patient was discharged on the 50th post-operative day. After 3 years a solitary lung metastasis was resected and the patient remains with no sign of intra-abdominal or intrathoracic recurrence.

[Role of cyclic AMP in gastric secretion. The secretion and mechanism of action of gastrin]. / Le rôle de l'AMP cyclique dans la sécrétion gastrique. Sécrétion et mécanisme d'action de la gastrine.

The present study involved evaluation of the role played by cyclic AMP on the secretion and mechanism of action of gastrin in man. On the basis of the results obtained, gastrin secretion induced by an excessive rise in gastric pH is accompanied by a simultaneous increase in plasma cyclic AMP concentrations (p less than 0.05) as well as a tissue cyclic AMP in the region of the fundus (p less than 0.001). By contrast, no significant change was seen regarding antropyloric AMP. As a result, it is felt that cyclic AMP does not play a direct role in the secretion of gastrin by G cells but is a mediator of the mechanism of action of gastrin in terms of the secretion of HCl by the parietal cell.

[Role of cyclic AMP in gastric secretion. Mechanism of action of pentagastrin and cimetidine]. / Le rôle de l'AMP cyclique dans la sécrétion gastrique. Mécanisme d'action de la pentagastrine et de la cimetidine.

Studies were conducted to explore the effects of pentagastrin, cimetidine, cimetidine with pentagastrin and atropine with pentagastrin, on the gastric acidity and on cAMP accumulation in gastric fundic mucosa in six healthy human beings. Following gastroscopy, gastric juice was collected, and total gastric acidity was measured. Biopsies of fundic mucosa were obtained for estimation of cAMP. All these measurements were taken place before (control) and after the administration of the medicaments. Pentagastrin increased total gastric acidity and cAMP accumulation. Cimetidine decreased both respectively. Combination of cimetidine with pentagastrin and atropine with pentagastrin increased total gastric acidity and cAMP concentration of gastric mucosa. An excellent linear correlation was also found between gastric acidity and fundic mucosal cAMP. These results support the hypothesis of a regulatory role for pentagastrin and cimetidine in total gastric acidity via a cAMP dependent mechanism in gastric mucosa in human. Our findings give a strong indication in Grossman's proposal that the parietal cell has multiple receptors sites.

[Secretion of gastric acid, gastrin and cyclic nucleotides in relation to the action of the vagus nerve]. / La sécrétion de l'acide gastrique, de la gastrine et des nucléotides cycliques en rapport avec l'action du nerf vague.

Changes on levels gastric acidity, on serum gastrin, cAMP and cGMP levels were studied in 18 healthy volunteers after either stimulation (injection of 0.2 IU of soluble insulin/kg body weight to a group of 9 subjects) or stimulation and inhibition (injection of insulin plus atropine per os to the other group of 9 subjects) of the vagus nerve. After vagus nerve stimulation, gastric acid levels, serum gastrin and cGMP were raised and cAMP reduced. After stimulation and inhibition of vagus nerve, gastrin and cAMP were increased, cGMP reduced and gastric acid levels remained unchanged. These findings suggest that the vagus nerve, and more particularly the acetylcholine released from its metaganglionic fibers, stimulate parietal cells provoking acid secretion, and also stimulate G cells with subsequent gastrin secretion through cGMP.

[Indications and long term results after surgical treatment for necrotic acute pancreatitis (author's transl)]. / Indications opératoires et résultats à court et moyen termes de traitement chirurgical des pancréatites aiguês Nécrotico-hémorragiques.

A series of 50 patients with acute pancreatitis, all complicated by necrosis and hemorrhage, is presented. Cases are broken down into 3 main categories depending on clinical and laboratory data. Thirty-nine partial pancreatectomies and 11 excisions of necrotic tissue were performed. Operative mortality is 36%. Causes of death and morbidity were analysed. Are discussed modalities of surgery from clinical and intraoperative findings. Surgical procedure is completed by generous washings of the abdominal cavity followed by continuous drainage. External biliary diversion is assumed by mews of choledocostomy. Surgical procedure is to be adapted to local conditions because a too systemic attitude is dangerous and possibly responsible of over treatment complications. Postoperative clinical behavior is of great importance when one know that reoperatives in such difficult situation are frequent.