Extracorporeal photochemotherapy for paediatric patients with graft-versus-host disease after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

This study aimed to ascertain whether extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) is an effective treatment for paediatric patients with refractory graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). From January 1992 to December 2000, 77 children (median age 8.6 years) with either acute (n = 33) or chronic (n = 44) GVHD, resistant to conventional immunosuppressive therapy, were treated with ECP in four Italian paediatric hospitals. After ECP, acute GVHD involving skin, liver and gut responded completely in 76%, 60% and 75% of patients respectively. The 5-year overall survival was 69% for responding patients vs 12% for non-responders (P = 0.001). Among the 44 children with chronic GVHD, 15 (44%) showed a complete response and 10 (29%) a significant improvement after ECP. The 5-year overall survival was 96% for responders vs 58% for non-responders (P = 0.04). Our results suggest that ECP is an effective treatment that may be useful in paediatric patients with either acute or chronic GVHD who have failed to respond to standard immunosuppressive therapy.     

Immunogenicity of anti-Haemophilus influenzae type b CRM197 conjugate following mucosal vaccination with oligodeoxynucleotide containing immunostimulatory sequences as adjuvant

Most vaccines are delivered by injection. Mucosal vaccination would increase compliance and decrease the risk of spread of infectious diseases due to a reduction of mucosal colonization and of contaminated syringes. However, most vaccines are unable to induce immune responses when administered mucosally, and require the use of strong adjuvant or effective delivery systems. Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing CpG immunostimulatory sequences (ISS) have been shown to act as potent adjuvants of type-1 immune responses also when mucosally co-administered with protein or peptide vaccines. We have shown that ISS can increase the anti-polysaccharide polyribosyl ribitol phosphate (PRP) antibody titres and anti-diphtheria toxin neutralizing antibody, if used as adjuvant of anti-Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) PRP vaccine conjugated with cross-reacting material (CRM) of diphtheria toxin in mice. Here, we show that ISS have the potential to increase host local and systemic antibody response against both the PRP and the protein component of a conjugated vaccine when mucosally administered in mice. Mucosal administration of Hib-CRM vaccine induced anti-PRP and neutralizing anti-diphtheria toxin antibodies of all the IgG subclasses, with a predominance of type-1 immune response-associated IgG2a and IgG3. At odds with systemic administration, the mucosal delivery of Hib-CRM induced anti-PRP and anti-diphtheria toxin mucosal IgA. These data envisage the feasibility of a mucosal vaccination with an already licensed Hib-CRM vaccine to achieve both an anti-H. influenzae and -diphtheria effective protection.     

Intralesional topotecan in advanced ovarian cancer: a clinical report,based on a preclinical study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of ovarian cancer to intralesionally administered topotecan. Preliminary experiments were carried out in nude mice subcutaneously grafted with three different human ovarian carcinoma cells (A2780, IGROV/DDP and SKOV-3). Topotecan was administered intravenously (i.v.: 10-15 mg/kg every 4th day for 4 times) or intralesionally (i.t.: single dose of 15-20 mg/kg) and tumor size changes/drug toxicity were evaluated. The results indicate that the sensitivity of the three tumor models was different (rank: A2780 > IGROV/DDP > SKOV-3) but, for each tumor line, the pattern of response was similar after i.v. and i.t. administration. No local toxicity was detected, but appreciable systemic toxicity (animal death rate) was observed in spite of the use of a single i.t. dose. The effects of intralesional topotecan administration were then assessed in a patient with an advanced, epithelial ovarian tumor (endometroid type, poorly differentiated histologic grade), already treated with cisplatin and paclitaxel. The treatment (7.5 mg/m(2)) was repeated three times and, although drug plasma levels were in the range generally reported following i.v. administration and typical systemic toxicity occurred, no tumor regression was observed and the patient died 14 months later. We conclude that the intralesional drug delivery is effective to achieve a rapid tumor shrinkage in large tumor lesions, but in the presence of drug resistance, either intrinsic or acquired, intratumor drug administration can not be recommended.     

Intensive, very short-term chemotherapy for advanced Burkitt's lymphoma in children.

PURPOSE: To improve the 63% event-free survival (EFS) achieved before 1986 in Murphy's stage III to IV Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), both chemotherapy and supportive care were intensified. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From May 1987 to February 2001, 60 children, median age 9 years (range, 2.1 to 17 years), with advanced BL were enrolled onto two sequential institutional studies. From 1987 to 1992, 30 patients were stratified according to the absence (regimen IA, n = 19) or presence (regimen IB, n = 11) of bone marrow (BM) or CNS involvement. After 5-week cytoreductive chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, high-dose (HD) methotrexate (MTX), and intrathecal MTX or cytarabine, HD cytarabine and cisplatin were provided as a 4-day continuous infusion. Regimen IB was intensified by adding etoposide and HD ifosfamide and escalating MTX doses. Since 1992, regardless of BM or CNS status, 30 patients have been placed on regimen II, which is identical to IB but without ifosfamide. The scheduled duration of regimen II was 45 days. RESULTS: EFS and disease-free survival at 5 years are 81% +/- 5% and 87% +/- 5%, respectively, for 59 assessable patients (73% +/- 8% and 85% +/- 7% for regimen IA + IB, 89% +/- 6%, EFS and disease-free survival, for regimen II; median follow-up, 6.7 years; range, 0.6 to 13.5 years). Six patients, two of whom were receiving regimen II, died as a result of initial treatment failure or relapse, and five patients, none receiving regimen II, died as a result of treatment-related complications. CONCLUSION: This 45-day intensive chemotherapy program is the shortest schedule for disseminated BL and overcomes previously recognized risk factors such as BM and CNS infiltration.     

Cellular bases of the antitumor activity of the novel taxane IDN 5109 (BAY59-8862) on hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Taxane-based therapies appear to have a significant efficacy in clinical trials on hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma. In the present study, we investigated the cellular response of androgen-independent prostate carcinoma cell lines to the novel taxane IDN 5109 (BAY 59-8862) and evaluated its antitumor activity. In previous preclinical studies, this new paclitaxel (PTX) analogue was characterized by high tolerability and antitumor efficacy, ability to overcome multidrug resistance, and activity by oral administration. Upon treatment, DU145 and PC3 prostate carcinoma cell lines underwent a transient mitotic arrest. This was followed by G1 arrest and rapid occurrence of apoptosis in DU145 cells, whereas in PC3 cells, which are defective for the postmitotic checkpoint, a slow cell death was preceded by DNA endoreduplication. At the biochemical level, such events were associated with tubulin polymerization, activation of the mitosis-promoting factor, and phosphorylation of Bcl-X(L)/Bcl-2/Raf-1. In addition, IDN 5109 shared with PTX the ability to down-regulate the expression of the two potent angiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. These findings indicated that IDN 5109 affected the same pathways involved in the cellular response to PTX and suggested that an antiangiogenic effect mediated by inhibition of paracrine stimulation of endothelial cells might contribute to the antitumor effect of both drugs. In in vivo experiments, the new taxane displayed a superior and more persistent effect compared with PTX against DU145 tumor xenografts. Such an effect was associated with pronounced reduction of the tumor microvessel density, superior to that achieved by PTX. These results support a potential therapeutic advantage of IDN 5109 over PTX against hormone-refractory prostate carcinoma.     

Costello syndrome: a cancer predisposing syndrome?

Costello Syndrome is a specific MCA/MR syndrome mainly characterized by dysmorphic facial features, peculiar biphasic growth pattern, motor and mental retardation, ectodermal anomalies involving skin and nails, and age dependent development of nasal and perianal papillomata. Heart malformations and/or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are frequently observed. We report a 4-year-old girl with Costello syndrome who developed an intrathoracic ganglioneuroblastoma. In previous reports two patients with ectodermal tumours have been described, a ganglioneuroblastoma of the adrenal gland and an epithelioma. This third report suggests that neural crest neoplasia may be a significant risk factor for children with Costello syndrome.     

Paediatric Behçet disease manifested as recurrent myositis: from an incomplete to a full-blown form

A 12-year-old boy presented with a limp and findings suggesting localised myositis of his right calf and a working diagnosis of Behçet disease was made. During 3 years of follow-up, he had another three episodes of calf myositis, all responsive to corticosteroids within days. Conclusion A case of recurrent localised myositis as a main manifestation of Behçet disease is reported. The evolution of incomplete Behçet disease, which is common in children, to the full blown form, with the emphasis on muscle involvement and the importance of early diagnosis of Behçet disease, is discussed.     

L-2-Hydroxyglutaric aciduria: MRI in seven cases

The MRI findings in 7 patients with L-2-Hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L-2-OHG aciduria) are described and compared with previous neuroradiological reports and the only three published pathological cases. Signal abnormalities involved peripheral subcortical white matter, basal ganglia and dentate nuclei. Cerebellar atrophy was present. Although similar appearances may be seen in other metabolic disorders, the distribution of signal abnormalities in L-2-OHG aciduria is highly characteristic and may suggest the correct diagnosis. Received: 5 January 1998 Accepted: 22 April 1998     

Lectins demonstrate the presence of carbohydrates in the tectorial membrane of mammalian cochlea

Histological sections of rat and guinea pig cochleas were exposed to lectins to identify the carbohydrates present in the tectorial membranes. N-Acetylglucosamine, galactose, mannose and fucose were found to be present in both rats and guinea pigs, but N-acetylgalactosamine was not detected. In addition, two control experiments were performed. In the first, each lectin was preincubated with its specific inhibitory sugar. In the second, the unfixed tectorial membranes were exposed to lectins. Radioautographic studies confirmed the presence of glucosamine and fucose in the tectorial membrane of 1-day-old rats.