Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology
-
J. Cancer Res. Clin. Oncol. · Jan 2000
Myocardial enzyme activities in plasma after whole-heart irradiation in rats.
Plasma levels of myocardial enzymes present after local heart irradiation were studied in a rat model. The purpose was to investigate whether, within days after irradiation, these enzyme levels change to such an extent that they may be helpful in assessing the severity of cardiac damage after radiotherapy. Therefore, activities of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (alpha-HBDH) were determined in the plasma and left ventricular myocardium of rats following local heart irradiation with a single dose of 20 Gy. ⋯ Myocardial enzyme levels, measured between 24 h and 16 days after radiation, did not differ between irradiated and control animals, although acute (first 12 h) reductions were observed in the irradiated group. The elevated enzyme levels in plasma appeared to correlate with the acutely reduced myocardial enzyme levels. Although irradiation with a dose of 20 Gy induced acute rises of cardiac enzyme levels in plasma, it is doubtful that fractionated radiation, as applied clinically for treatment of solid tumors, will induce plasma enzyme elevations that are large enough to indicate the extent of cardiac damage occurring acutely or chronically.
-
J. Cancer Res. Clin. Oncol. · Jul 1999
An effective and more convenient drug regimen for prophylaxis against paclitaxel-associated hypersensitivity reactions.
"Standard" prophylaxis for paclitaxel-associated hypersensitivity reactions has included the systemic administration of H1 and H2 histamine antagonists, along with oral dexamethasone taken both the night prior to, and the morning of, each paclitaxel treatment. To improve patient convenience and compliance with steroid delivery, the Gynecologic Cancer Program of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation has treated patients with an all-intravenous prophylaxis regimen (diphenhydramine 50 mg, famotidine 20 mg, dexamethasone 20 mg) given 30 min prior to paclitaxel (without any earlier oral steroid dosing). ⋯ This incidence is comparable to our previously reported experience with hypersensitivity reactions in a similar number of patients receiving the standard prophylaxis (including oral dexamethasone) with their initial course of paclitaxel, and subsequent cycles employing this all-intravenous program. We conclude that this "modified" regimen for paclitaxel-associated hypersensitivity reactions (with all drugs administered approximately 30 min prior to the delivery of paclitaxel) is as effective as, and more convenient than, the standard regimen, and avoids delaying chemotherapy as a result of a patient failing to remember to take one or both oral steroid doses.
-
J. Cancer Res. Clin. Oncol. · Jan 1998
Inability of galactoside-specific mistletoe lectin to inhibit N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced tumor development in the urinary bladder of rats and to mediate a local cellular immune response after long-term administration.
Extracts from mistletoe (Viscum album L.) are assumed to exert an antineoplastic activity through their toxicity at high doses or by immunomodulation by nanogram quantities of a lectin. They are used as an unconventional therapy modality in the management of a wide range of cancer diseases, although no anticancer potential has yet been demonstrated. This prompted us to study the effect of galactoside-specific lectin (VAA)--a major protein constituent of mistletoe with immunomodulatory properties--on chemically induced tumor development in the urinary bladder of rats and on the local cellular immune response after long-term administration. ⋯ Quantitative immunohistochemistry analyzing a panel of immune cell types, including T lymphocytes, T helper/inducer cells (CD4), T suppressor/cytotoxic cells (CD8), T cells positive for interleukin-2 receptor (CD25), B lymphocytes and plasma cells, macrophages, natural killer cells, granulocytes and all leukocytes expressing the leukocyte common antigen (CD45), yielded no evidence for the ability of VAA to stimulate a substantial cellular immunological reaction in the wall of the normal urinary bladder or during urothelial carcinogenesis. In conclusion, the current experimental findings provide no support at all that the galactoside-specific mistletoe lectin is capable of inhibiting chemically induced bladder carcinogenesis and triggering a local cellular immune response after prolonged application. It thus seems highly improbable that commercial mistletoe preparations or VAA will be effective in the management of human bladder cancer by a cell-mediated immunological mechanism.