(9R)-9-chloro-11-17-dihydroxy-17-(2-hydroxy-1-oxoethyl)-10-13-16-trimethyl-6-7-8-11-12-14-15-16-octahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one and Carcinoma--Squamous-Cell

The transcription factor Fos is involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. Its expression in normal and pathological adult human tissues and cells has rarely been studied. We therefore studied bronchial biopsies obtained from 14 normal subjects (NS), 18 non-steroid-treated asthmatics, 10 corticosteroid-treated asthmatics and 10 patients with chronic bronchitis (CB), in addition to 34 patients with lung cancer (LC), by immunofluorescence for Fos immunoreactivity, using a highly specific polyclonal antibody. Bronchial tissue of 0/10 NS, 11/18 non-steroid-treated asthmatics, 1/10 steroid-treated asthmatics, 0/10 CB and 1/34 LC expressed Fos. In asthmatic patients, the expression was heterogeneous, localized to epithelial cells and correlated with the epithelium shedding (tau = 0.45, P = 0.0001). Corticosteroid-treated patients rarely expressed Fos, suggesting a role for this proto-oncogene in asthmatic bronchial inflammation. Fos was rarely expressed in the normal and pathological (CB, LC) proliferative compartment of the human bronchi, suggesting its low role in cell proliferation of the large airways.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Asthma; Beclomethasone; Bronchi; Bronchitis; Budesonide; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Chronic Disease; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Pregnenediones; Proto-Oncogene Mas; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos

Most malignancies occurring in the oral cavity are squamous carcinoma for which radiotherapy as a treatment is the first choice. However, radiostomatitis, which occurs as a concomitant symptom due to radiation, largely disturbs the effect of radiotherapy. Antibiotics or a gargle are used to treat this concomitant symptom, but these preparations are not satisfactorily effective especially in cases in which the symptoms are severe and/or wide spread. Salcoat, a spray-type preparation of Beclomethasone dipropionate that is used to treat stomatitis, has excellent features which compensate for the disadvantage of the previously mentioned therapy. This preparation can be administered in a non-contact manner, and it contains hydroxypropyl cellulose which assures good adhesion to the mucosa, thus covering and protecting the affected area for a long time. In our clinical trials, this preparation was found to be highly useful in relieving pain and dysgeusia due to radiostomatitis, there by maintaining the quality of life.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Beclomethasone; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cellulose; Drug Combinations; Drug Evaluation; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms; Radiation Injuries; Radiotherapy Dosage; Saliva, Artificial; Stomatitis