melphalan and Fallopian-Tube-Neoplasms

The records of 23 patients with confirmed carcinoma of the fallopian tube, treated between 1966 and 1983, were reviewed. Patients ranged in age from 41 to 88 years. A pelvic mass was the most common preoperative finding (61%), followed by abnormal bleeding (43%), and pain (39%). Fifteen patients had stage I or II disease, 8 had Stage III or IV disease. In patients with metastatic disease, involvement of the peritoneal surfaces, bowel, and omentum were noted most often. Lymph nodes were the most common site(s) of recurrent disease. Twelve evaluable patients with measurable disease were treated with cisplatin and cyclophosphamide (PC) +/- doxorubicin (PAC). There were 9 complete and 2 partial responses, a 92% response rate. Incorporation of cisplatin therapy appears to have resulted in improved short-term survival.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cisplatin; Cyclophosphamide; Doxorubicin; Fallopian Tube Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies

Seventy-one cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube treated at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute at Houston were reviewed. The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, and vaginal discharge. The most common physical finding was a palpable abdominal or pelvic mass. The preoperative diagnosis was correct for two patients. Initial therapy consisted of surgery alone, surgery plus radiation therapy, surgery plus chemotherapy, and a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy in 10, 32, 21, and eight cases, respectively. The median survival for patients in these treatment groups was 33, 22, 27, and 22 months, respectively; the median survival for all patients was 23 months. No statistically significant differences emerged among the survival curves of patients treated with each of the above regimens.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary; Adult; Aged; Alkylating Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Carcinoma; Cisplatin; Combined Modality Therapy; Fallopian Tube Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Progestins; Time Factors

Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube is a rare condition and not easy to diagnose. On a smear taken from the vagina of a 73-year-old woman, cells consistent with adenocarcinoma were detected even though the patient was asymptomatic. The specimen from endometrial curettage was normal on microscopic examination. The patient was readmitted, 2 months after dilatation and curettage, with a right pleural effusion. Examination of the pleural fluid revealed adenocarcinomatous cells. Laparotomy disclosed a primary carcinoma (stage IV) of the left fallopian tube. Thiotepa (45 mg) was instilled into the chest cavity and medroxyprogesterone (100 mg tid) and melphalan (6 mg/d for 4 days over 6 weeks) were given. Although the life expectancy for stage IV primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube is less than 2 years this patient has no clinical evidence of disease 2 1/2 years after operation.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents; Fallopian Tube Neoplasms; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Medroxyprogesterone; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Thiotepa

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Fallopian Tube Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Melphalan; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Radiography