HER-3 expression in HER-2-amplified breast carcinoma.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine whether the expression of HER-3 influences the survival of HER-2 positive patients with breast cancer (BC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the present work, the expression of HER-3 in a group of 35 HER-2 positive patients with BC was studied by performing immunohistochemistry (IHC) in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissues. RESULTS: Higher HER-3 status if estimated by IHC correlated significantly with older age of the patients. HER-3 expression did not correlate with estrogen or progesterone receptor status, pT or pN. There was also no significant difference in disease-free or overall survival (DFS and OS) between groups with different HER-3 expression, although some tendencies were seen as HER-3 expression in over 50% of cells was a factor of worse 5- and 10-year survival. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies should be performed on a larger group of patients to confirm the prognostic role of HER-3 status determined by IHC in BC.

[Assessment of the value of PEF (cisplatin, epirubicin, 5 fluorouracil) in advanced extrahepatic biliary tract and pancreatic cancer]. / Ocena wartosci chemioterapii paliatywnej PEF (cisplatyna, epirubicyna, 5-fluorouracyl) w zaawansowanych rakach zewnatrzwatrobowych dróg zólciowych i trzustki.

INTRODUCTION: Extrahepatic biliary tract and pancreatic cancer are relatively rare malignant tumors. Prognosis is usually poor and surgical treatment gives a chance of cure in nonadvanced cases only. THE AIM OF THIS STUDY: Evaluation of efficacy and toxicity of PEF regimen (cisplatin + epirubicin + 5 fluorouracil) in advanced extrahepatic biliary tract and pancreatic cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Chemotherapy regimen: cisplatin 20 mg/m2 i.v, epirubicin 25 mg/m2 i.v., 5 fluorouracil was given in 28 patients with advanced extrahepatic biliary tract and pancreatic cancer at the Clinic of Oncology of the Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow in years 1997 to 2004. The treatment was repeated every 4 weeks up to 6 cycles. 12 patients with extrahepatic biliary tract cancer and 16 patients with pancreatic cancer were treated. RESULTS: Median time from the diagnosis to death was 8.8 months in patients with extrahepatic biliary tract and 8.7 months in patients with pancreatic cancer. 1-year survival was 25% and 16.7%, respectively. Hematological toxicity G 3 and G 4 occured in 5 patients (17.9% treated). CONCLUSIONS: Chemotherapy PEF seems to be an active and well tolerated regimen of palliative chemotherapy for advanced extrahepatic biliary tract carcinomas and pancreas carcinomas. Overall survival in the pancreatic cancer group is comparable to results obtained with gemcitabine monotherapy.

Gemcitabine, epirubicin, and paclitaxel versus fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer: a Central European Cooperative Oncology Group International, multicenter, prospective, randomized phase III trial.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this phase III trial were to compare the time to progressive disease (TtPD), overall response rate (ORR), overall survival, and toxicity of gemcitabine, epirubicin, and paclitaxel (GET) versus fluorouracil (FU), epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC) as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Female patients aged 18 to 75 years with stage IV and measurable MBC were enrolled and randomly assigned to either gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m(2), days 1 and 4), epirubicin (90 mg/m(2), day 1), and paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2), day 1) or FU (500 mg/m(2), day 1), epirubicin (90 mg/m(2), day 1), and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m(2), day 1). Both regimens were administered every 21 days for a maximum of eight cycles. RESULTS: Between October 1999 and November 2002, 259 patients (GET, n = 124; FEC, n = 135) were enrolled. Baseline characteristics were well balanced across treatment arms. After a median of 20.4 months of follow-up, median TtPD was 9.1 months and 9.0 months in the GET and FEC arms, respectively (P = .557). The ORR was 62.3% in the GET arm (n = 114) and 51.2% in the FEC arm (n = 129; P = .093). Grade 3 and 4 toxicities, including neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, stomatitis, neurosensory toxicity, and allergy, occurred significantly more often in the GET arm. CONCLUSION: No significant differences in terms of TtPD and ORR were observed between the two treatment arms. Treatment-related toxicity was higher in the GET arm.

[Ovarian cancer--therapeutic options after the failure of the first line of treatment]. / Rak jajnika--mozliwosci leczenia niepowodzen chemioterapii I linii.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in women. The "gold standard" of the first line setting is taxanes and platinum-based chemotherapy. Despite substantial response, most women with ovarian cancer are destined to relapse, which occurs in 18-22 months. Management of recurrent ovarian cancer is still challenging. In this article we reviewed recent methods of treatment of the relapsed ovarian cancer: chemotherapy, radiotherapy and experimental approaches. Platines-derivates monotherapy seems to be the most adequate treatment for the platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (carboplatin). Patients with platinum-refractory ovarian cancer should be considered for oral etoposide, radiotherapy or topotecan according to the current course of the disease. Once ovarian cancer recurs, cure is no longer a realistic goal. So it is important to realize, that the benefit with improved quality of life and relieving symptoms will be the main aspect of this treatment.

Prognostic significance of selected immunohistochemical parameters in patients with invasive breast carcinoma concomitant with ductal carcinoma in situ.

The purpose of the present study was to carry out multivariate analysis of the effect of the expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, p53, proliferative antigen (Ki67) and c-erbB-2 on 5-year survival in patients with invasive breast carcinoma concomitant with ductal carcinoma in situ. Material for study consisted of tissue specimens obtained from 48 patients undergoing modified Patey's mastectomy between 1991 and 1998. Univariate analysis revealed that the variables significantly affecting survival were tumour size on gross examination and the level of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the cells of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast (for the level of significance p = 0.05). The Cox regression model revealed that the only independent variable having a significant effect on survival was the level of estrogen receptors in invasive cancer cells.