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To evaluate the efficacy of beta 2-microglobulin as an indicator of cisplatinum nephrotoxicity, creatinine clearance and urinary beta 2-microglobulin were measured in 19 patients during 5 h after administration of a single dose of 80 mg/m2 cisplatinum. Eleven patients received furosemide as a concomitant therapy. Serum creatinine and beta 2-microglobulin remained unchanged. A decrease of creatinine clearance was observed. Urinary beta 2-microglobulin increased between 1 and 3 h after administration. This suggests transient tubular damage immediately after the treatment course. The concomitant administration of furosemide does not modify these results. However, patients who developed long-term nephrotoxicity had no early rise of urinary beta 2-microglobulin excretion; thus, it is not possible to predict cumulative nephrotoxicity by measuring beta 2-microglobulin immediately after the first course of high-dose cisplatinum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been reported that hypertonic saline provides protection against the renal toxicity of cisplatin (CDDP). We therefore evaluated its influence on the plasma and urinary pharmacokinetics of ultrafilterable platinum and kidney function as estimated by creatinine, inulin and PAH clearance. We undertook a randomized trial including two groups of ten patients receiving 100 mg/m2 CDDP in isotonic (group 1) or hypertonic saline (group 2) by a 20-min infusion. The hydration consisted of dextrose in group 1 and isotonic saline in group 2. Maximal concentration (Cmax), protein binding and cumulative urinary excretion were significantly higher in the dextrose group. Urinary flow decreased in this group but not in the other one. Inulin clearance was higher in the dextrose group than in the saline group and P-aminohippuric acid (PAH) clearance was not significantly different in these groups of patients. Hyponatremia was observed in the dextrose group. These results suggest that hypertonic saline infusion and saline hydration may enhance the diffusion of CDDP into tissues, lowering Cmax and renal excretion of platinum. The reduction of protein binding may indicate a diminution of aquation of CDDP in plasma. Our results suggest that the infusion of CDDP in hypertonic saline with salt hydration could exert a protective effect on the kidney. Moreover, there is a lessening of the risk of cellular hyperhydration. However, the better influence of dextrose hydration on glomerular filtration leads us to recommend a combination of the two methods of hydration for better tolerance and efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been reported that furosemide can prevent platinum nephrotoxicity by dilution of the toxic drug in the tubule or by another unknown mechanism. To evaluate its influence on ultrafilterable platinum pharmacokinetics, we undertook a randomized prospective trial of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) (80 mg/m2 by a 20-min infusion) administered to 20 patients with hydration-induced diuresis. Ten patients received 20 mg/m2 furosemide 1 h before CDDP administration, and 10 patients received no diuretic drug. Plasma and urinary pharmacokinetics of platinum and creatinine were compared in both groups of patients. Plasma total and ultrafilterable platinum was always higher in the furosemide group. However, protein binding, urinary concentrations, cumulative urinary excretion, renal clearance and creatinine clearance/renal clearance ratio (fractional clearance) were not statistically different. Moreover, the fractional clearance was successively lower, equal and higher than one in both groups. These results suggest that: (1) furosemide probably causes water depletion leading to a rise in plasma concentrations; (2) its protection by a pharmacokinetic interaction is doubtful, since all other parameters (especially urinary parameters) are not significantly modified; (3) renal clearance and fractional clearance suggest a bidirectional transport of platinum in the tubule not influenced by the diuretic drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mathematical analysis of CA125 kinetics during first line chemotherapy allows calculation of various biologic parameters which are powerful indicators of the therapeutic efficiency. The purpose of this study is to present an original method of interpretation of CA125 kinetics based on both CA125 profile and its half-life value. The first part of this study reviews the practical modalities of CA125 kinetics analysis, the methods of calculation of the biologic parameters as well as the guidelines of interpretation. The second part of this work is dedicated to the presentation of CA125 profile characteristics in responders to chemotherapy, partially or totally nonresponders to chemotherapy, tumoral growth under treatment and tumor lysis syndrome.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical and prognostic features of leukemias and preleukemic states, whatever the mode of development, observed in patients after treatment of breast cancer., Patients and Methods: A retrospective multicentric analysis was made of 121 patients treated for breast cancer and who later developed leukemia or a preleukemic state. Initially, 44 patients had undergone mastectomy, 72 had conservative surgery and 119 had locoregional irradiation. At least one chemotherapy session was performed in 90 patients and 48 had received tamoxifen. The risk of relapse of breast cancer was high, moderate or low for 44, 46 and 24 patients respectively (data not available for 7 patients)., Results: By class, the hematology diseases found were: myelodysplasia (n = 9), refractory anemia with blast excess (n = 7), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 6), acute myoblastic leukemia (n = 93 including a majority of type 2 and type 4). For acute myeloblastic leukemia, mean delay to onset was 65 and 37 months respectively without and after chemotherapy. The prognosis of these cases of leukemia and preleukemic states was poor with an overall death rate of 86%., Conclusion: In light of the recent development of indications for adjuvant chemotherapy even for subgroups of patients at moderate risk, it is important to more precisely assess the absolute benefit in terms of survival compared with the risk of severe complications, particular secondary leukemia. In the future, a systematic registry and a case-control study are required.

Since tamoxifen is widely used in breast cancer treatment and has been proposed for the prevention of breast cancer, its endometrial iatrogenic effects must be carefully examined. We have investigated the association between endometrial cancer and tamoxifen use or other treatments in women treated for breast cancer in a case-control study. Cases of endometrial cancer diagnosed after breast cancer (n = 135) and 467 controls matched for age, year of diagnosis of breast cancer and hospital and survival time with an intact uterus were included. Women who had received tamoxifen were significantly more likely to have endometrial cancer diagnosed than those who had not (crude relative risk = 4.9, p = 0.0001). Univariate and adjusted analyses showed that the risk increased with the length of treatment (p = 0.0001) or the cumulative dose of tamoxifen received (p = 0.0001), irrespective of the daily dose. Women who had undergone pelvic radiotherapy also had a higher risk (crude relative risk = 7.8, p = 0.0001). After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk was higher for tamoxifen users (p = 0.0012), treatment for more than 3 years (all p < 0.03) and pelvic radiotherapy (p = 0.012). Women who had endometrial cancer and had received tamoxifen had more advanced disease and poorer prognosis than those with endometrial cancer who had not received this treatment. Our results suggest a causal role of tamoxifen in endometrial cancer, particularly when used as currently proposed for breast cancer prevention. Pelvic radiotherapy may be an additional iatrogenic factor for women with breast cancer. Endometrial cancers diagnosed in women treated with tamoxifen have poorer prognosis. Women who receive tamoxifen for breast cancer should be offered gynaecological surveillance during and after treatment. A long-term evaluation of the risk-benefit ratio of tamoxifen as a preventive treatment for breast cancer is clearly warranted.

Therapeutic monitoring of 120 hours continuous 5-fluorouracil associated with cisplatin. For 31 patients treated by continuous 5-fluorouracil with cisplatin, a therapeutic monitoring of 5-fluorouracil is performed, based on the 48 first hours area under the curve (AUC) and the total AUC. The 5-fluorouracile taylorization allows to reduce some toxicity's while preserving an efficiency (objective responses 42%). Many patients are considered with potentially low 5-fluorouracile clearance. Dose reductions of 5-fluorouracile are frequent, reach 50% during the third cure and allow the achievement of targeted AUC. The role of cisplatin in this necessary reduction of dose is unknown.

The aim of this study was to determine the value of haematological counts at the 4th day of a chemotherapy cycle, in order to foresee neutro and/or thrombocytopenia during the same chemotherapy cycle. One hundred and ten cycles of chemotherapeutic regimens with carboplatin (400 mg/m2, dl) and 5-fluorouracile (1 g/m2/d, by iv continuous infusion for 96 hours) every 3 weeks, were analyzed for 42 patients with locally advanced but non metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck, without prior chemotherapy. Lymphocyte counts were significantly decreased at the 4th day but normalized at the 8th day (P < 10(-6)). Decreases of lymphocyte and neutrophil counts at the 4th day were significantly correlated to grade > 2 neutropenia. The positive predictive value of lymphocyte or neutrophil counts is about 50% for some cut-off values but not high enough, with the schedule of chemotherapy in our study, to justify the systematic prophylactic therapy with haematopoietic growth factors.

Eighty-four patients with locally advanced, non metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck or esophagus, were included in a multicentric double-blind randomized trial, comparing goralatide (12.5 or 62.5 micrograms/kg/day, d1-d4) to placebo, associated with carboplatin (400 mg/m2, d1) and 5-fluorouracile (1 g/m2/d continuous IV over 96 hours). Haematological toxicity was analysed on 221 cycles of chemotherapy. All but one patient were evaluable because of early death without haematological toxicity. No significant difference was observed for mean nadir of leukocytes, granulocytes, platelets counts and hemoglobin level. Duration of haematological toxicity was no significantly different for the two groups of patients. Anemia and lymphopenia were more frequent in the goralatide treated patients. Clinical and biological tolerability of goralatide was excellent.

Cisplatin (CDDP) is known to induce nephrotoxicity. In this retrospective study, we have investigated the evolution of plasma creatinine in long term therapy with CDDP. We have studied case history, mode of administration of CDDP and associations with other chemotherapeutic agents or drugs which could potientiate CDDP renal damage (non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, analgesics, antibiotics, antihypertensive agents, diuretics and contrast media). Mean creatinine concentration versus time rises significantly. This elevation is significantly higher in patients with hypertension, diabete, one functional kidney, or abdominoperineal irradiation. The association with other drugs has not proved a real influence on creatinine evolution.

To define prognostic factors of testicular cancer and to develop a strategic therapy based on clinical, pathological and biological findings, 77 cases of non seminomatous testis tumor, observed in G.F. Leclerc Center from 1967 to 1977, have been analysed. For all these patients early chemotherapy program was associated with surgery; radiation therapy was reserved for stages with retroperitoneal metastatic disease. Results of this review confirmed the interest of such medical treatment which improved survival in all stages of disease. Some prognostic factors could be detailed from these cases: nature of tumoral components, invading of lymph node, presence or not of biological markers; identification of these would unable us to choose the best adjuvant chemotherapy program and to define its place in the management of testis tumor's treatment.

The disposition of cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (CDDP) was evaluated in 8 patients with cancer. They received 80 mg/m2 of CDDP as a 20 min i.v. infusion. Sixteen blood samples and sixteen urine samples were obtained over 6 hours following the completion of cis-platinum infusion and were assayed for total platinum by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. There was a great variation among maxima urinary concentrations (123 to 1436 mumol . l-1) and an important decrease of diuresis appeared 3 hours after the infusion. Model independent pharmacokinetic parameters: distribution volume and renal elimination clearance were determined. The calculated distribution volumes suggest an extremely rapid diffusion of CDDP into the peripheral compartment. The ratio of total platinum clearance to creatinine clearance decreased 75 min after infusion, this being the consequence of the variation of protein binding or nephrotoxicity.