[The occurrence of anemia in small cell lung cancer patients during first-line chemotherapy]. / Niedokrwistosc u chorych na drobnokomórkowego raka pluca podczas pierwszorzutowego leczenia chemicznego.

UNLABELLED: Both the character of disease and its aggressive treatment--including cisplatin-based chemotherapy--reflected to fact that anemia is a frequent problem in SCLC patients. Moreover, the potential prognostic role of anemia is considered in this group of patients. The aim of the study was to analyze occurrence of anemia in SCLS patients subjected to first line chemotherapy with the special attention paid to its potential prognostic role. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The retrospective analysis included 49 SCLS patients (including 22 and 27 LD and ED ones, respectively) treated in 2001-2004 at the Internal Disease Clinic in 4th Military Academic Hospital in Wroclaw Primary chemotherapy (cisplatin + etoposide) was performed in ED cases, whereas sequence treatment: chemotherapy (cisplatin + etoposide) with subsequent radiotherapy (including the elective irradiation of the central nervous system) was implemented in LD patients. Therapeutic results were evaluated in terms of response to treatment graded in accordance with RECIST criteria, time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS). Pretreatment anemia was identified based on the WHO criteria. Moreover, the maximal severity of anemia during the chemotherapy and the frequency of erythrocyte mass transfusions were taken into account. RESULTS: Pretreatment anemia (defined in accordance to WHO) was noted in 3/49 patients only. During the chemotherapy, however, it was noted in 21/49 cases (WHO grade I and II). The transfusion of erythrocyte mass was necessary in 9 patients, whereas the preparations of recombined erythropoietin were given in 3 cases. No prognostic role of anemia was proved in the group studied. The significant association, however, was noted between pretreatment anemia and PS according to WHO (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Anemia is a frequent problem during SCLC treatment and requires special therapy in most cases. The prognostic significance of anemia, however, is not fully understood, either in radical or in palliative treatment of SCLC patients. Our study revealed the lack of an association between anemia in prognosis.

[Surprisingly positive effect of palliative CAP chemotherapy of bone-disseminated, undifferentiated carcinoma of unknown primary origin in patient with low performance status according to WHO]. / Zaskakujaco dobry efekt paliatywnej chemioterapii CAP w rozsianym do kosci, niezróznicowanym raku o nieznanym punkcie wyjscia u pacjenta z niskim stopniem sprawnosci wg WHO.

The paper presents the case of a 58-year old male with low performance status (3 according to WHO) diagnosed with bone-disseminated, undifferentiated carcinoma of unknown primary origin in April 2001. The patient was given reduced dosage CAP chemotherapy (cisplatin 40 mg/m2, doxorubicin 40 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 40 mg/m2, every 21 days). A total number of 12 treatment courses were administered, reaching summary admissible dosage of doxorubicin. The patient's condition improved in the course of treatment - pain symptoms and levels of tumor biomarkers decreased significantly, while performance status increased. Chemotherapy was completed in December 2001. Patient status was stabile till March 2004. Presently the level of tumor biomarkers are increasing but it is not accompanied with metastasis or primary focus manifestation. Although the described patient undoubtedly belonged to the group with poor prognosis, the treatment applied resulted with surprisingly positive effect.

E-cadherin and fibronectin expressions have no prognostic role in stage II ductal breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to describe the expressions of E-cadherin (EC) and fibronectin (FN) and their prognostic value in radically-treated ductal breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-eight patients, aged 26-86 (median, 57) with stage II G2 or G3 tumors, were subjected to a retrospective analysis. RESULTS: No significant associations were observed between the levels of the proteins studied and patient or cancer features, with the exception of relationships between FN expression and the histological grade of the tumor or hormonal status of the subjects. None of the markers showed a correlation with survival in multivariate analysis. Consequently, the experiment revealed no prognostic value of EC or FN expression in a homogenous patient group with stage II G2 or G3 ductal breast carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Further studies, on other uniform populations, with tumor features different from those described here, are necessary in order to reveal the prognostic significance of the molecules discussed.

Malignant melanoma with gall bladder metastasis as a second neoplasm in the course of prostate cancer.

Malignant melanoma is a neoplasm with an often unpredictable course and metastases potentially affecting all organs of the human body. Metastases into the gall bladder are rare. The role of hormonal background in the development and progression of malignant melanoma has not been established. The authors present a case of a 63-year-old man who had initially undergone long-term hormone therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer, and later presented with melanoma metastatic to the gall bladder.

[Erb-2 overexpression in breast cancer]. / Nadekspresja Erb B-2 w raku sutka.

Overexpression of the Erb B-2 receptor plays an important role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. It results in the formation of heterodimers consisting of Erb-B2/Erb B-3 receptors which have an ability to produce stable and external factors independent mitotic stimuli. Together with an autocrine stimulation of neoplastic cell proliferation by heregulin and cyclooxygenase 2 activation it is a significant factor in carcinogenesis. Overexpression of Erb B-2 seems to be an independent negative prognostic factor in breast cancer. Its predictive value is not clear-cut. It is suggested that breast cancer showing Erb B-2 overexpression is more sensitive to treatment with anthracyclines and less to CMF. The anti-Erb B-2 monoclonal antibody (trastuzumab) is used in treatment of metastatic breast cancer both as a single drug and in combination with chemotherapy.