Carboplatin and radiation therapy for stage IV carcinoma of the head and neck. Preliminary results of a phase II study.

34 patients with head and neck cancer were treated with carboplatin and radiation therapy. Eligibility criteria included stage IV biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma with measurable disease and no distant metastases, Karnofsky performance status score of 60 or greater, age 18 years or more, no previous radiation therapy and adequate hematological, renal, and hepatic function. There were 27 males and 7 females. Ages ranged from 44-70 years with a median of 57 years. Follow-up ranged from 11-34 months with a median of 21 months. Total tumor doses ranged from 50-55 Gy with additional boosts of 15-20 Gy. Carboplatin was given in a dose of 100 mg/m2 once weekly (26 patients) and 200 mg/m2 once every 2 weeks (8 patients), during the radiation therapy course in all 34 patients. Each dose of carboplatin preceded irradiation. 25 patients responded while 9 did not. There were 19 complete responses (CR) and 6 partial responses. 4/19 CR recurred and 5/9 non-responding patients died of disease. Mild to moderate nausea and vomiting were seen in 52.3% of patients and mucositis was seen in 61.8% of patients. Moderate to severe hematological toxicity was seen in 35.3% of patients. Response rates and toxicity we observed during this study clearly show that the combination of carboplatin and radiation therapy is effective and suitable for the treatment of patients with stage IV head and neck cancer.     

Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of an unknown primary tumor localized to the neck.

68 patients with metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) of an unknown primary tumor localized to the neck were treated between 1981 and 1990. There were 11 patients treated with radiotherapy alone, 24 patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy and 33 patients treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Male to female ratio was 1.9:1 and the median age was 55 years (range, 33 to 71 years). 41 (61%) patients had N3 disease, 18 (26%) patients had N2 disease and 9 (13%) patients had N1 disease. The majority of N3 patients were treated with radiotherapy + chemotherapy (n = 17) and surgery + radiotherapy (n = 17). The complete response (CR) to radiotherapy + chemotherapy was 73% with 19 patients having no evidence of disease currently. The median survival time (MST of this group was 34+ months. Of the 35 patients who had surgery and/or radiotherapy, 7 (20%) currently have no evident disease. The MST of these two groups (combined) was 22 months. Patients with N3 disease who received radiotherapy + chemotherapy had a higher CR rate and longer MST when compared with those without chemotherapy.     

Radioquimioterapia de la enfermedad limitada del carcinoma pulmonar de célula pequeña. ¿Tratamiento concomitante en protocolos asistenciales?

Purpose We retrospectively reviewed our institution’s database to investigate the outcome and impact of combined radiochemotherapy (RT/CT; concomitant or in sequence) in localised small-cell lung cancer (L-SCLC). Material and methods Between January 1995 to November 1999, 79 patients with L-SCLC received combined RT/CT at our Institution. RT was delivered concurrently or sequentially following the CT. Patients with treatment response received additional prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). Results Of the patients treated, 54% had received concurrent CT/RT compared to 46% receiving RT following the CT. PCI was administered to 80% of the patients. Complete response was observed in 66% of patients. With a median follow up of 30 months, median overall survival was 15.9 months; 14.3 months for patients who received RT following CT and 21.6 months for those receiving concurrent CT/RT. The type of schedule of combined radiochemotherapy was an independent prognostic factor for survival free of local recurrence, as was additional PCI for distant metastasis-free survival. Conclusions Our results are similar to those reported previously in the literature. The main point of interest is that our patients were non-selected. We strongly support the use of concurrent CT/RT so as to achieve results comparable to the best in the literature.

     

Comparison of analgesic effects of single versus repeated injection of botulinum toxin in orofacial formalin test in rats

Long-term effectiveness and repeated administration of botulinum toxin A are the basis for its use in both neuromuscular disorders and certain painful conditions. Botulinum toxin A has been recently approved for migraine treatment, and its off-label use extends to other craniofacial pain disorders. However, recently it was reported that, after repeated injection, botulinum toxin loses its antinociceptive efficacy in rats. In present study with a similar design, we compared the effects of single and repeated injections of botulinum toxin in formalin-induced orofacial pain. No statistically significant differences were found between single or repeatedly treated animal groups. Our results are in line with the clinical experience and suggest that botulinum toxin can be re-administered in orofacial pain treatment.     

Admixed phenotype of NEDD4L associated periventricular nodular heterotopia: A case report

Rationale:Periventricular nodular heterotopia-7 (PVNH7) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with improper neuronal migration during neurogenesis in cortex development caused by pathogenic variants in the NEDD4L gene.Patient concerns:We report the case of a polystigmatized 2-year-old boy having significant symptomatologic overlap with PVNH7, such as delayed psychomotor and mental development, seizures and infantile spasms, periventricular nodular heterotopia, polymicrogyria, cleft palate, 2 to 3 toe syndactyly, hypotonia, microretrognathia, strabismus, and absent speech and walking. The patient showed also distinct symptoms falling outside PVNH7 symptomatology, also present in the proband''s older brother, such as blue sclerae, hydronephrosis, transversal palmar crease (found also in their father), and bilateral talipes equinovarus. In addition, the patient suffered from many other symptoms.Diagnoses:The boy, his brother and their parents were subjected to whole-exome sequencing. Because of uncertainties in symptomatology and inheritance pattern, the top-down approach was hard to apply. Using the bottom-up approach, we identified a known pathogenic variant, NM_001144967.2(NEDD4L):c.2677G>A:p.Glu893Lys, in the proband''s genome that absented in any other analyzed family member, suggesting its de novo origin.Interventions and outcomes:The patient was treated with Convulex 300 mg/mL for the successful seizure control and Euthyrox 25mg for the treatment of thyroid malfunction. He also took various supplements for the metabolism support and digestion regulation. Moreover, the patient underwent the corrective surgeries of cleft palate and talipes equinovarus.Lessons:We successfully identified the causative mutation NM_001144967.2(NEDD4L):c.2677G>A:p.Glu893Lys explaining symptoms overlapping those reported for PVNH7. Symptoms shared with the brother were not explained by this variant, since he was not a carrier of the pathogenic NEDD4L variant. These are most likely not extended phenotypes of PVNH7, rather an independent clinical entity caused by a yet unidentified genetic factor in the family, highlighting thus the importance of thorough evaluation of symptomatology and genomic findings in affected and unaffected family members, when such data are available.     

Transient structural MRI patterns correlate with the motor functions in preterm infants

AimTo explore the relationships between transient structural brain patterns on MRI at preterm and at term-equivalent age (TEA) as a predictor of general movements (GMs) and motor development at 1-year corrected age (CA) in very preterm infants.MethodsIn this prospective study, 30 very preterm infants (median = 28wks; 16 males) had structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at preterm (median = 31wks + 6d) and at TEA (median = 40wks) and neuromotor assessments. The quality of GMs was assessed by Prechtl’s general movements assessment and a detailed analysis of the motor repertoire was performed by calculating a motor optimality score (MOS), both at term age and at 3 months post-term. Motor development at 1-year CA was evaluated with the Infant Motor Profile (IMP). Associations between qualitative MRI findings and neuromotor scores were investigated.ResultsAbnormal GMs and low motor performance at 1-year CA were associated with the poor visibility of transient structural pattern, that is with sagittal strata.InterpretationTransient structural MRI pattern, sagittal strata, at preterm age is related to the quality of GMs and later motor development in preterm infants. This transient fetal brain compartment may be considered as a component of neurobiological basis for early neuromotor behavior, as expressed by GMs.