Multimodality cisplatin treatment in nonresectable alpha-fetoprotein-positive hepatoma

Article Abstract:

Alpha-fetoprotein (a plasma protein which is elevated in some cancers) is expressed by some liver cancer cells, but not others. Among hepatomas, those with alpha-fetoprotein have a significantly poorer prognosis than those that do not express this protein. In some multimodality treatment protocols, involving both radiation and chemotherapy, the 32 percent response rate of cancers that do not express alpha-fetoprotein is twice that of cancers positive for this protein. This difference is reflected in the median survival time, which was 10.5 months for alpha-fetoprotein-negative cancers, and only 5 months for positive hepatomas. In an effort to improve the response rate among alpha-fetoprotein-positive hepatomas, a multimodality treatment trial was designed incorporating 2,100 cGy of radiation and the infusion of cisplatin directly into the hepatic artery, which then carries the cytotoxic agent directly to the affected liver. A total of 28 patients were treated and 21 completed induction therapy and at least two full cycles of intraarterial infusion of cisplatin. At one year, 52 percent of all patients were alive; among those completing induction therapy, a full 68 percent were alive at one year. The overall response rate was 36 percent. The multimodality treatment program seems to be an improvement on existing protocols for the treatment of patients with alpha-fetoprotein-positive hepatomas. Furthermore, hematologic toxicity was minimal in this group of patients, indicating that the survival rate may be improved even further. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Care and treatment, Radiation, Radiation (Physics), Liver cancer, Hepatoma, Hepatocellular carcinoma

---

Cisplatin in advanced salivary gland carcinoma: a phase II study of 25 patients

Article Abstract:

Cancer of the salivary glands is relatively uncommon. Salivary gland cancers occur in a variety of different types, and although the prognosis differs for each type, the prognosis for patients with advanced salivary gland cancer is generally poor. This cancer is generally treated by the surgical removal of the affected tissues followed by radiation treatment of the general area. Chemotherapy generally becomes necessary if the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body and surgical removal therefore becomes impossible. However, salivary gland cancer is sufficiently uncommon that there is relatively little solid evidence to indicate which forms of chemotherapy work best. Since some preliminary data had suggested that the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin might be effective against this malignancy, researchers evaluated this drug in the treatment of 25 patients with advanced salivary gland cancer. Three of these patients experienced a complete response to chemotherapeutic treatment and one experienced a partial response. These responses, however, had disappeared within nine months. The median survival for these patients was 14 months. These results indicate that cisplatin has some effectiveness against salivary gland cancer. Further studies on chemotherapy for this cancer using a regimen of several drugs should include cisplatin as a part of the treatment. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Mouth cancer

---

High-dose cisplatin for metastatic soft tissue sarcoma

Article Abstract:

The use of cisplatin in the treatment of 40 patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma was evaluated. The need for better chemotherapeutic approaches to soft tissue sarcoma is great, since the majority of patients with metastases (spreading of the cancer) eventually die from this disease. Cisplatin was chosen for this study because a clear dose-response relationship has been observed with the use of this drug in the treatment of other malignancies, and it was established that a 200 mg dose per meter squared could be given without significant kidney toxicity. The patients received the cisplatin dose over a five-day period, and cycles of chemotherapy were repeated at three or four week intervals. The suppression of bone marrow was moderately severe, and neurotoxicity was observed in 11 patients. Of the 40 patients, six achieved a partial response; of these six, all had a maximum of one previous course of chemotherapy; none achieved a complete response. Cisplatin has serious toxicity, and did not prove to be an effective treatment for metastatic soft tissue sarcoma. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Sarcoma

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Inpatient treatment for alcoholism - new life for the Minneapolis plan. Comparative effectiveness and costs of inpatient and outpatient detoxification of patients with mild-to-moderate alcohol withdrawal syndrome
• Abstracts: Multifactorial facial pain - differential diagnosis: a case report
• Abstracts: Articular cartilage defects of the knee: correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and gross pathology. Influence of cyclic loading on the nutrition of articular cartilage
• Abstracts: Antiproteinuric effect of captopril in a patient with lupus nephritis and intractable nephrotic syndrome. Effect of weather conditions on rheumatic patients
• Abstracts: Activity of intrapleural recombinant gamma-interferon in malignant mesothelioma. A Phase II study of pirarubicin in malignant pleural mesothelioma

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.