A facile method of purification of neocarzinostatin, an antitumor protein.

A three-step column chromatographic method for the purification of neocarzinostatin (NCS) from a crude preparation was described. The purified material was homogeneous by acrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, amino terminal analysis, and immunologic criteria. Purified NCS was 40 times as active in the inhibition of growth of Sarcina lutea and twice as active against CCRF-CEM human leukemia cells in vitro as was the starting material. When assayed against P388 and L1210 mouse leukemias in vivo, the purified material showed a median increase in life-span of 119 and 72%, respectively.     

Benign prostatic hyperplasia: Clinical benefits on Three-Dimensional ultrasound eXtended Imaging (3D-XI)

Objectives:   To prospectively evaluate whether trans -rectal Three-Dimensional eXtended Imaging (3D XI) allows characterization of the prostate gland in cases of isolated benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) so as to elucidate the motive for discrepancy of postvoiding residual urine.
Methods:   The study was conducted according to the standards of the local ethics committee. Patients gave informed consent. Disclosing the 3D XI display of the prostatic urethra and prostatic gland zones was a preliminary essential. The study included 113 men with a clinical diagnosis of BPH in whom transurethral resection of the prostate was planned. Patients aged from 52 to 75 years (mean 63). Other causes of infravesical obstructive uropathy and prostate neoplastic involvement were excluded. All patients were evaluated by three-dimensional Trans-Rectal Ultrasound using 3D XI methods. Patients were grouped according to the postvoiding residual urine volume into three groups, less and more than 100 mL and urine retention.
Results:   3D XI provided excellent resolution and diagnostic authority of prostate gland anatomy and for the appraisal of BPH morphology. The balance and type of nodular eruption proved responsible for the severity of symptoms aspires by extra-axial nodular effect upon the prostate urethra. The 3D XI analysis regarding the nodular stromal to glandular ratio compared to the histopathological results proved effectual in 98.3% of stromal-dominant, 100% in glandular-dominant and 93.3% in mixed type hyperplasia.
Conclusions:   The severity of symptoms among men with BPH showed an association with the nodular credence, highlighted by 3D XI as a supportive tool in characterizing BPH.     

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Plus Conventional Radiotherapy or Accelerated Hyperfractionation in Stage III and IV Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma - A Phase II Study

A prospective phase II trial was initiated in previously untreated patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The goal was to achieve improvement in locoregional control, disease-free interval and overall survival using induction chemotherapy and to compare conventional fractionation (CF) with an accelerated hyperfractionation (AHF) regimen. Fifty patients were treated (5 AJCC Stage III, 45 Stage IV) with induction chemotherapy consisting of two cycles of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. Patients were then randomized between CF and AHF therapy. A clinical response to induction chemotherapy was reported in 86% of patients prior to radiotherapy (44% complete response, 42% partial response). Patients with complete or major partial responses to induction chemotherapy had a significantly better 5-year overall survival (60%) and disease-free interval (59%) than those with no response or minor partial response (15% and 18%, p = 0.009 and 0.0009). Acute radiation reactions were more pronounced in the AHF group (p = 0.0002), and the incidence of late normal tissue injury was more frequent (p = 0.08). At 5 years, the locoregional control rate was higher in the AHF arm (76%) than in the CF group (54%), but the difference was not significant (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.15?2.83; p = 0.186). With a median follow-up period of 55 months (range 4?120), the 5-year disease-free interval and overall survival rates were more favorable in the AHF group than in the CF group, but the differences were not significant (59% and 54% vs. 34% and 36%, respectively, HR for disease-free interval=0.71; 95% CI, 0.27?1.88; p = 0.198 and HR for overall survival = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.37?1.78; p = 0.433). The overall treatment failure rate was 48%. Locoregional failures occurred in 12 patients (24%) and the incidence of distant metastases reached 30%. Response to induction chemotherapy is strongly predictive for locoregional control, disease-free interval and overall survival. Accelerated hyperfractionation was associated with high incidence of acute and late toxicity without significant improvement in locoregional control rate. The optimal chemotherapy dose and sequencing with radiotherapy needs to be investigated in future studies. Distant metastases remain the main cause of treatment failure in NPC.