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Background Conflicting data exist about the prevalence of HER-2/neu overexpression in colorectal cancer ranging from 0 to 83 %. In our study we tried to clarify the extent of expression and its relationship to clinicopathological parameters. Methods This study involved 77 specimens of malignant colorectal cancer lesions of surgically resected patients. HER-2/neu immunohistochemistry was performed using the Hercep-Test Kit. Results Out of 77 specimens, 56 were Her-2/neu negative (70%), 20 (26%) showed a barely immunostaining (1+), only 1 (1%) was moderately (2+) and 2 (3%) were strongly positive (3+). Her-2/neu staining (moderately and strongly positive) was only detected in primary tumours of patients with confirmed metastases. No relationship was found between membranous HER-2 expression and patients' gender or differentiation. The median survival time of patients with positive HER-2/neu immunostaining was 21 versus 39 months in patients without HER-2/neu expression (p = 0.088). Conclusion The c-erbB protein expression was observed in colorectal cancer but rarely in the therapeutic range (2+ and 3+). There was no significant association with tumour grade, gender, localization of the primary tumour or survival. These data indicate that c-erbB-2 is unlikely to play a major role in the therapeutic management of colorectal cancer.

Natural leukocyte interferon and recombinant interferon alpha-2 have effected remission rates between 10 and 20% in the treatment of multiple myeloma. Response rates have been higher in untreated patients than in relapsing or primarily refractory cases. Patients with slowly proliferating tumors, early tumor stage or IgA-monoclonal protein seem to show increased sensibility to interferon as compared to patients without those characteristics. First trials using combined interferon chemotherapy regimens suggest that the toxicity associated with this treatment modality remains acceptable. At present, however, one cannot definitely decide whether and to which degree the combination therapy will improve the response rates.

The serum levels of osteocalcin, a 49-amino-acid bone-matrix protein, which is a biochemical parameter of bone formation, were measured in 61 patients with breast cancer. Breast cancer patients were subdivided as follows: (a) Patients in complete remission; (b) patients with visceral metastases (without bone metastases); (c) patients with bone metastases (with or without visceral metastases). Serum osteocalcin levels were significantly higher in patients with bone metastases than in patients in complete remission (P less than 0.005). When osteocalcin levels of patients with bone metastases were compared with those of an age-matched control group, serum osteocalcin levels were higher in the patients with bone metastases; however, the differences did not reach statistical significance. Serum osteocalcin levels of patients with visceral metastases (without bone metastases) were significantly lower than in control subjects (P less than 0.02). Our data demonstrate that serum osteocalcin levels are higher in breast cancer patients with bone metastases than in patients in remission. Bone formation, as reflected by serum osteocalcin levels, is decreased in breast cancer patients with visceral metastases.

Bei Patienten mit insulinabhangigem Diabetes mellitus (IDM) wird seit langem — insbesondere beim Auftreten einer metabolischen Dekompensation — eine erhohte Infektions-anfalligkeit diskutiert, wahrend Infektionen ihrerseits zu einer betrachtlichen Verschlech-terung der Stoffwechsellage fuhren [2]. Da die neutrophilen Granulozyten in der Infektabwehr eine zentrale Stellung einnehmen, war es von Interesse, die Funktionskapazitat dieser Zellen zu studieren.

Fourteen patients treated with total hip endoprosthesis were investigated for leucocyte defects. A chemotactic assay was used as an indicator of leucocyte function. Tests were carried out preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 3 and 6. The chemotactic index started to decline on the first postoperative day, reached a peak on the third day after surgery and returned to almost preoperative values on the sixth day. The results might provide a clinical explanation for the data showing a high postoperative infection rate in total hip surgery.