melphalan and Esophageal-Neoplasms

Topics: Azygos Vein; Biopsy; Colchicine; Cytodiagnosis; Drug Therapy, Combination; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagoscopy; Humans; Melphalan; Neoplasm Metastasis; Radiography; Radionuclide Imaging; Surgical Procedures, Operative

A 44-year-old woman had small cell carcinoma of the esophagus complicated by liver and lymph node metastases. She was treated with aggressive combination chemotherapy, followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation and adjuvant radiation therapy. (The authors believe this to be the first use of autologous bone marrow transplantation for treatment of this condition.) This regimen resulted in apparent complete regression of the disease as documented by computed tomography and endoscopic study. Three years later, she again experienced general malaise and was found to have extensive recurrent disease in the lung, bone, and liver. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and she died within 1 month. A review of the literature reveals that this patient survived longer than any others who have had this rare but aggressive tumor. The authors suggest that this form of therapy should be considered for future patients.

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bone Marrow Transplantation; Carboplatin; Carcinoma, Small Cell; Cisplatin; Combined Modality Therapy; Cyclophosphamide; Doxorubicin; Esophageal Neoplasms; Etoposide; Female; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Lymphatic Metastasis; Melphalan; Prognosis; Radiotherapy Dosage; Transplantation, Autologous; Vincristine

Short-term results of intensive 5-day polychemotherapy given to patients with esophageal cancer are presented. The drug therapy was mainly indicated for dramatic disorders of esophageal patency for liquid food (18 patients) or for its complete lack (5 patients). As a result of the treatment esophageal patency improved in 17 of the 23 patients (73.3%). This made it possible to give up palliative surgery and to carry out x-ray treatment.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bleomycin; Demecolcine; Drug Evaluation; Esophageal Neoplasms; Humans; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Prednisolone; Time Factors

The paper deals with an analysis of the results of treatment of 344 patients with cancer of the thoracic part of the esophagus. Out of those, 104 received surgical and combined treatment and 240 (inoperable cancer) were given radiotherapy alone or in combination with local hyperthermia, general chemotherapy or intratumoral iontophoresis of chemotherapeutic agents. The procedure after Dobromyslov-Torek proved to be insufficient in most of surgical cases because there were metastatic lesions below the diaphragm. A surgical procedure which takes care of metastases is suggested. Local hyperthermia potentiated the effect of radiation treatment. The immediate results of treatment improved after intratumoral sarcolysin iontophoresis was used in conjunction with radiation therapy.

Topics: Combined Modality Therapy; Esophageal Neoplasms; Humans; Hyperthermia, Induced; Melphalan; Postoperative Complications; Radiation Injuries; Radiotherapy Dosage

The authors report the results of clinical elaboration and testing of the technic of intraesophageal intratumor sarcolysin iontophoresis associated with radiotherapy in 40 inoperable patients with cancer of the thoracic esophagus. A total focal dose of irradiation was on the average 1/3 less compared with the routine one. Iontophoresis was performed by a specially designed electrode with 5-10 mA during 60 minutes. The iontophoresis procedure was followed by irradiation. The immediate good results of the treatment were twice as frequent as in control groups. The treatment proceeded with less pronounced radiation response. An average survival of patients while using chemical drugs intophoresis proved to be equal to control data that is likely to be due to the far-advanced stage of the disease in most patients. An average survival in patients with less tumor proliferation was found to be longer than in analogous control series.

Topics: Adult; Antineoplastic Agents; Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Carcinoma, Papillary; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Demecolcine; Drug Therapy, Combination; Esophageal Neoplasms; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Humans; Iontophoresis; Male; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Radiotherapy Dosage; Time Factors

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Antineoplastic Agents; Bleomycin; Colchicine; Cyclophosphamide; Esophageal Neoplasms; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Flavonoids; Humans; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Olivomycins

Topics: Animals; Antibody Formation; Basophils; Cross Reactions; Dysgerminoma; Erythrocytes; Esophageal Neoplasms; Fluorouracil; Hemagglutination Tests; Humans; Immunization; Immunologic Techniques; Injections, Intradermal; Injections, Intravenous; Male; Melphalan; Rabbits; Rats; Stomach Neoplasms; Time Factors

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Alkylating Agents; Animals; Antibodies, Neoplasm; Antibody Formation; Antibody Specificity; Carcinoma 256, Walker; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Carrier Proteins; Colonic Neoplasms; Esophageal Neoplasms; Haptens; Hemagglutination Tests; Humans; Immune Sera; Immunization; Immunodiffusion; Immunoelectrophoresis; Melphalan; Rabbits; Rats; Species Specificity

Topics: Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Diagnosis, Differential; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagus; Gastroenterostomy; Gastrostomy; Hematemesis; Humans; Male; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue; Pyloric Stenosis; Radiography; Vagotomy; Vagus Nerve

Topics: Aged; Diagnosis, Differential; Esophageal Neoplasms; Humans; Male; Melphalan; Multiple Myeloma; Prednisone

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Barium Sulfate; Colchicine; Esophageal Neoplasms; Humans; Melphalan; Neoplasms; Radiography, Thoracic

Topics: Carmustine; Esophageal Neoplasms; Humans; Melphalan; Neoplasms; Radiotherapy