shu-508 and Melanoma

INTEREST FOR DIAGNOSIS: High-frequency sonography (12-16 MHz) allows to visualize primary cutaneous melanomas. The maximal echographic thickness was measured and strongly correlated to the Breslow index (p< 10(-4)). Lesions were well defined with homogeneous hypoechoic echostructure. A study including 111 patients with a 5 years median follow-up period demonstrated that the detection of neo-vascularization by color Doppler was significantly correlated to occurrence of metastasis (p < 10(-4)). INTEREST FOR EARLY EVALUATION OF TREATMENTS: For patients with local recurrent melanomas treated by isolated limb perfusion, contrast enhanced ultrasonography allows early evaluation of therapeutic. The access to raw linear data associated to quantification software permits to estimate tumoral perfusion. Several perfusion parameters (area under the contrast tune intensity curve, maximal intensity peak, mean transit time,...) are obtained after curves modelization. A study of 40 patients with a follow-up by dynamic contrast enhanced ultrasonography at D-1, D+1, D+7 and D+30 demonstrated that means of the quantification using raw linear data was able to identify as early as D+1 patients with complete response at 3 months.

Topics: Contrast Media; Humans; Melanoma; Monitoring, Physiologic; Phospholipids; Polysaccharides; Prognosis; Skin Neoplasms; Sulfur Hexafluoride; Ultrasonography

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the use of the galactose microbubble-based contrast agent Levovist in color Doppler sonography of uveal melanomas. We also evaluated the use of the resistance index and pulsatility index in differentiating tumor-associated vessels from normal vessels in patients with uveal melanomas.. In this prospective study, 40 patients with uveal melanoma were examined with color Doppler sonography before and after the administration of the contrast agent Levovist. The Doppler signals were recorded from both the tumor and the orbit and were evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively.. Tumor-associated vessels were detected without contrast enhancement in 36 of 40 patients and with contrast enhancement in 38 of 40 patients. The spectral characteristics of the Doppler signals did not change after the injection of Levovist. There were no differences-qualitative or quantitative-in Doppler signals between normal and tumor-associated vessels.. The injection of Levovist slightly improved the detection of small vessels in uveal melanomas and the orbit but did not help to differentiate between normal vessels and tumoral vessels. The differentiation of a solid tumor from subretinal hemorrhage or effusion was improved.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Contrast Media; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Male; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Polysaccharides; Prospective Studies; Retinal Hemorrhage; Sensitivity and Specificity; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; Uveal Neoplasms

This work includes (1) the characterization of a reproducible poly[lactide-coglycolide] (PLGA) microparticle preparation with an optimial mean diameter and size distribution and (2) the preliminary in vivo ultrasonographic investigation of PLGA microparticles.. A first series of PLGA microparticle preparations (1 to 15 mum) was acoustically characterized on a hydrodynamic device to select the most appropriate for ultrasound contrast agent application. Preparations of 3-microm microparticles were selected, characterized at different doses, and then injected into 20 melanoma grafted mice for contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography evaluation.. The 3-microm microparticles (3.26-microm mean diameter with 0.41-microm standard deviation) led to in vitro enhancement of 18.3 dB at 0.62 mg/mL. In vivo experiments showed 47% enhancement of intratumoral vascularization detection after PLGA injection, significantly correlated (P < 0.0001) with preinjection intravascularization and tumoral volume. No toxicity was histologically observed.. The 3-microm PLGA microparticles provided significant enhancement in vitro and in vivo without any toxicity.

Topics: Animals; Contrast Media; In Vitro Techniques; Lactic Acid; Melanoma; Mice; Microspheres; Particle Size; Polyglycolic Acid; Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; Polymers; Polysaccharides; Reproducibility of Results; Ultrasonography, Doppler

The intravenous injection of an ultrasound contrast agent can enhance signals from blood flow. Broad toxicological and pharmaceutical studies in animals confirmed the safety and efficacy of an ultrasound contrast agent made of microparticles of galactose with stabilised microbubbles in watery suspension (SH U 508 A). In this paper 10 patients with different malignant orbital and ocular tumours have been evaluated with an echo colour Doppler machine before and after the injection of SH U 508 A. An enhancement of the Doppler signals in the lesions in different degrees has been detected. This echographic contrast agent seems to be very important not only in the evaluation of vascular lesions, but also in evaluating the effectiveness of radiotherapy in malignant tumours and could spread the echographic indications in several other ophthalmic fields.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Eye Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Lymphoma; Male; Melanoma; Middle Aged; Orbital Neoplasms; Polysaccharides; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color