Efficiency of adjuvant immunochemotherapy following curative resection in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer

Background Despite curative resection, 50%–90% of gastric cancer patients die of disease relapse. Although some clinical trials have indicated that chemotherapy and immunochemotherapy may be effective modalities, more recent studies have not been able to define the standard treatment for advanced gastric cancer. The present study evaluated the effect of adjuvant immunochemotherapy with the use of BCG (bacille Calmette-Guérin) and FAM (5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, mitomycin C) chemotherapy on the survival of patients with locally advanced resectable gastric cancer.Methods A total of 156 patients with stage III or IV gastric cancer who had undergone curative resection were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: BCG + FAM (immunochemotherapy), FAM (chemotherapy), and control (surgery only). Treatment was continued for 2 years or until death. Further postsurgical follow up was carried on for up to 10 years.Results Overall 10-year survival was 47.1% for the immunochemotherapy group (P < 0.037 vs FAM and P < 0.0006 vs control), 30% for the chemotherapy group (vs control, NS), and 15.2% for the control group. In patients with pT2/T3 primary tumors, 10-year survival was 55.3% for BCG + FAM vs 28.2% for FAM (P < 0.01) and 14.6% for the control group (P < 0.00018). BCG + FAM signifi-cantly improved the survival of patients with intestinal-type but not diffuse-type cancer. Immunochemotherapy was well tolerated.Conclusion This study, based on a limited number of patients, indicates that adjuvant immunochemotherapy (BCG + FAM) may prolong the survival of gastric cancer patients after curative gastrectomy; in particular, in patients with pT2/T3 tumors and intestinal-type primary tumors. There was no survival benefit from FAM adjuvant chemotherapy.     

Study on the Difference in Expression of VEGF and bFGF and their Receptors in Young and Postmenopausal Women with Breast Cancer

Objective To study the difference in expression of VEGF and bFGF and their receptors in young and postmenopausal women with breast cancer. Methods Immunohistochemical methods (SABC) were used to study the expression of VEGF, FLK-1, bFGF and FLG on paraffin-embedded sections from 40 cases of young and 30 cases of postmenopausal women with breast cancer, The relationship between axillary lymph node metastasis and the expression of the growth factors and their receptors was studied. Results The mean expression of VEGF and bFGF and the positive rate of axillary lymph nodes in the young group were higher than that in the postmenopausal group (P< 0.01 or P< 0.05 ); the mean values of VEGF, bFGF, FLK-1 and FLG in cases of axillary lymph node metastasis were higher in patients without axillary lymph node metastasis in each group (P< 0.05 orP< 0.01); there was a significant difference between the mean expression of VEGF, bFGF, FLK-1 and FLG in cases of stage 0 ∼II comparaed to cases of stage III∼IV (P< 0.05 or P< 0.01). Conclusion The tumor vasculature is directly related to the high breast cancer aggressiveness in young women, a characteristic that might be due to the high expression of VEGF and bFGF.     

The importance of angiogenesis in ovarian cancer

Advanced stage ovarian cancer has a high rate of recurrence even after surgery followed by chemotherapy combining carboplatin and a taxane. New strategies are currently under way to combat this situation and one of the most promising ones is based on the knowledge that angiogenesis, the mechanism of formation of new blood vessels coupled with the degradation of the extracellular matrix for metalloproteinases, could be crucial in the development of this tumor. The principal molecule implicated in angiogenesis process of ovarian cancer is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Several studies are now in progress to clarify its role as a diagnostic tool or its therapeutic implication. Presently, there is no indication for the use of VEGF in a preliminary diagnosis seeing that an increase in levels can be seen in both benign and malignant ovarian conditions. VEGF is also responsible for an increase in vascular permeability and is directly related to symptoms such as ascites and pleural effusion, both of which are frequent in ovarian cancer. Several papers have analised the role of VEGF as a prognostic factor and some of them do confirm VEGF as an independent prognostic factor in ovarian cancer. VEGF and the metalloproteinase system coupled with angiogenesis are currently being evaluated as therapeutic targets but no positive results have yet to be seen in this field.      

Comparative Study of Gemcitabine Plus Cisplatin and Gemcitabine Plus Fluorouracil in the Treatment of Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Objective To compare the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine plus cisplatin and gemcitabine plus fluorouracil in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. Methods Sixty patients with advanced pancreatic cancer were randomly divided into a GP group (gemcitabine + cisplatin, 30 cases) and a GF group (gemcitabine + fluorouracil, 30 cases). All patients were treated with gemcitabine at a dose of 1,000mg/m² (diluted in 100ml saline solution over 30 min) once a week for 3 consecutive weeks. The GP Group was followed by 40mg cisplatin via intravenous drip on days 15,16,17. Group GF was followed by 500mg/m²5-Fu (diluted in 5% glucose-saline (GS) 500ml, intravenously, over 6 hr) every day for five subsequent days. Results In the GP group, eight cases (32.0%) were PR and MR, the median survival time was 8.7 months, the Clinical Beneficial Rate (CBR) was 57.7%, and the CA19-9 decreased by over 50% in 13 cases (48.1%). In the GF group, 11 cases (45.8%) were PR and MR, the survival time was 10.1 months, the CBR was 82.1%, and CA19-9 decreased by over 50% in 15 cases(53.6%). There was a significant difference in the CBR between the two groups (P<0.05). The main toxicities in both groups were leucopenia and thrombocytopenia with no significant difference. Conclusions The treatment given to either the GP or GF group is a feasible and well-tolerated chemotherapy regimen for treating advanced pancreatic cancer with improved therapeutic efficacy and few side effects. The median survival period is long and the CBR is high, especially with the GF regimen.     

Clinical analysis of 276 cases of non-palpable TO breast cancer

Objective Discussion of diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of non-palpable TO breast cancer. Methods Between 1978 and 1997, 9,980 female patients with operable breast cancer were treated surgically, of which 276 were determined to have TO breast cancer. Most TO breast cancers could be detected promptly with careful examination of presenting symptoms, such as nipple discharge, local thickening of the breast, nipple erosion, nipple retraction and postmenopausal mastalgia, while 12 cases were detected by routine mammography of the contralateral breast. Results All patients were treated surgically and their tissue subjected to histopathological examination. Most cases (73.0%) were noninvasive or early invasive carcinoma. Axillary lymph nodes metastases were found in 7.69% of 234 mastectomy cases. Conclusion The survival rate was significantly increased if the tumor was in an early stage. The 5-, 10-, 15-years survival rates were 98.1%, 94.6% and 90.3%, respectively.     

MMP-2和TIMP-2在胃癌组织中的表达及其意义

目的　探讨基质金属蛋白酶 -2 (MMP -2 )和组织基质金属蛋白抑制剂 -2 (TIMP -2 )在胃癌组织中的表达及其与侵袭程度、淋巴结转移的关系。方法　应用免疫组织化学S P法对 96例胃癌组织MMP -2和TIMP -2表达情况进行检测。结果　MMP -2和TIMP -2在胃癌组织中表达的阳性率分别为 64 .6%和 3 0 .2 %。MMP -2和TIMP -2的表达与淋巴结转移、侵袭程度有显著相关性 (P <0 .0 1,P <0 .0 5 ) ,与组织学类型、分化程度无显著相关性 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论　MMP -2和TIMP -2的表达与胃癌淋巴结转移、肿瘤侵袭程度密切相关 ,可作为判断胃癌生物学行为和预后的参考指标。     

卵巢癌细胞DNA倍体、p21及p53基因表达产物定量分析

目的　探讨卵巢癌DNA倍体、p2 1及 p5 3基因定量表达情况及其临床意义。 方法　应用流式细胞术 (FCM )和荧光免疫技术 ,对 3 9例卵巢癌组织的卵巢癌细胞和 9例正常卵巢组织的卵巢细胞的染色体倍体、p2 1基因和 p5 3基因表达产物进行定量分析。结果　在卵巢癌组织中DNA的异倍体率、p2 1、p5 3基因蛋白产物的阳性表达率均明显高于对照组 ,两者比较均有非常显著性差异 (P <0 .0 1)。结论　应用FCM定量测定卵巢癌细胞中的DNA倍体、p2 1及 p5 3基因表达产物 ,在临床上具有重要的参考价值     

老年人壶腹周围癌胰十二指肠切除27例疗效分析

目的 探讨70岁以上壶腹周围癌患者行胰十二指肠切除的指征和疗效。方法 对27例年龄超过70岁的壶腹周围癌患者，行胰十二指肠切除治疗后的临床病例资料进行回顾性分析。结果 术后外科并发症12例(44．4％)，包括腹腔内出血3例，消化道出血2例，胰瘘3例，胃潴留4例，切口裂开及感染3例，其中3例(11．1％)在术后30天内死亡。平均生存15．3个月(除外8例术后18个月仍健在者)。有4例生存超过3年，3年生存率21．0％(4／19)。结论 患者年龄因素不是胰十二指肠切除的禁忌证，胰十二指肠切除是治疗70岁以上患者壶腹周围癌的有效手段。     

大肠癌组织中Survivin表达与血管生成、细胞增殖的关系

目的　探讨大肠癌组织中Survivin表达与血管生成、细胞增殖的关系。方法　采用原位杂交方法和免疫组织化学方法 ,对 46例大肠癌、2 2例大肠腺瘤和 10例大肠正常组织进行SurvivinmRNA和PCNA检测 ,并计数微血管密度 (MVD)。结果　大肠癌组织中SurvivinmRNA、PCNA指数和MVD均显著高于大肠腺瘤和大肠正常组织 (P <0 .0 5 )。SurvivinmRNA表达阳性组中 ,MVD和PCNA指数均明显高于SurvivinmRNA阴性组 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　Survivin在大肠癌组织中表达上调 ,并与血管生成和细胞增殖关系密切 ,提示Survivin对大肠癌的发生发展起重要作用     

吉西他滨联合顺铂或氟尿嘧啶治疗晚期胰腺癌临床疗效的比较

目的　比较GP方案 (吉西他滨 顺铂 )与GF方案 (吉西他滨 氟尿嘧啶 )治疗晚期胰腺癌的近期疗效和毒副作用。方法　经病理组织学或细胞学检查证实的 60例胰腺癌患者 ,随机分为GP组和GF组 ,各 3 0例。GP组给予吉西他滨 10 0 0mg/m2加生理盐水 10 0ml,静脉滴注 3 0min ,第 1、8、15天 ;顺铂 40mg ,静脉滴注 ,第 15、16、17天。GF组给予吉西他滨 10 0 0mg/m2 加生理盐水 10 0ml ,静脉点滴 3 0min ,第 1、8、15天 ;氟尿嘧啶 5 0 0mg/m2 加 5 %GS 5 0 0ml ,静脉滴注时间超过 6h ,第 1～ 5天。结果　GP组PR 3例 ,MR 5例 ,NC 12例 ,PD 5例 ,PR MR为 3 2 .0 % ,中位生存期为 8.7个月 ,临床受益反应率 (CBR )为 5 7.7% (15 /2 6) ,CA 19 9水平下降超过 5 0 %者达 48.1% (13 /2 7)。GF组PR 3例 ,MR 8例 ,NC 9例 ,PD 4例 ,PR MR为 45 .8% ,中位生存期为 10 .1个月 ,CBR 82 .1% (2 3 /2 8) ,CA19 9水平下降超过 5 0 %者达 5 3 .6% (15 /2 8)。 2组比较 ,CBR有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,GF疗效较佳。不良反应主要为白细胞减少和血小板减少 ,2组无显著性差异。结论　含吉西他滨的联合化疗方案与以往单药方案比较 ,疗效高、副作用小、患者中位生存期长 ,临床受益反应率 (CBR )高 ;GP方案和GF方案比较 ,后者CBR更高 (5