Vinorelbine-based chemotherapy in hormone-refractory prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

No consensus exists regarding further therapy for the management of hormone-refractory prostate cancer. In this phase II study, the combination of Vinorelbine with 5-Fluorouracil and folinic acid (FLN regimen) was evaluated in patients with progressive or resistant disease after hormone therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-four patients were treated with Vinorelbine at a dose of 20 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) on days 1 and 3, folinic acid (FA), 100 mg/m2 i.v. and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), 350 mg/m2 i.v. as a short infusion on days 1 to 3. The therapy was given in an out-patient setting, every 3 weeks.

RESULTS

All of the 34 eligible patients were evaluable for toxicity and 30 for activity. A total of 127 cycles was administered (91% at full dose). Among thelS5 patients with measurable disease, four had a partial response (26.6%; C.I. 95%, 28.3% to 65.7%) and four achieved stable disease. In 14 patients (47%) a clinical benefit was documented. Six out of 15 patients with bone-only involvement had stable disease (40%). The median duration of stabilization and partial response was 16 weeks (range 4-24 weeks). The most common toxicity was hematological: Grade 4 (NCI-CTC scale) in five patients at re-cycle. Other toxicities were of low incidence and easy to manage.

CONCLUSION

The encouraging results obtained with the FLN regimen in terms of clinical benefit and its predictable and manageable toxicity support the palliative role of this chemotherapeutic strategy in hormone-refractory prostate patients.

Smaller inner ear sensory epithelia in Neurog 1 null mice are related to earlier hair cell cycle exit

We investigated whether co-expression of Neurog 1 and Atoh 1 in common neurosensory precursors could explain the loss of hair cells in Neurog 1 null mice. Analysis of terminal mitosis, using BrdU, supports previous findings regarding timing of exit from cell cycle. Specifically, we show that cell cycle exit occurs in spiral sensory neurons in a base-to-apex progression followed by cell cycle exit of hair cells in the organ of Corti in an apex-to-base progression, with some overlap of cell cycle exit in the apex for both hair cells and spiral sensory neurons. Hair cells in Neurog 1 null mice show cell cycle exit in an apex-to-base progression about 1-2 days earlier. Atoh 1 is expressed in an apex-to-base progression rather then a base-to-apex progression as in wildtype littermates. We tested the possible expression of Atoh1 in neurosensory precursors using two Atoh 1-Cre lines. We show Atoh 1-Cre mediated beta-galactosidase expression in delaminating sensory neuron precursors as well as undifferentiated epithelial cells at E11 and E12.5. PCR analysis shows expression of Atoh 1 in the otocyst as early as E10.5, prior to any histology-based detection techniques. Combined, these data suggest that low levels of Atoh 1 exist much earlier in precursors of hair cells and sensory neurons, possibly including neurosensory precursors. Analysis of Atoh 1-Cre expression in E18.5 embryos and P31 mice reveal beta-galactosidase stain in all hair cells but also in vestibular and cochlear sensory neurons and some supporting cells. A similar expression of Atoh 1-LacZ exists in postnatal and adult vestibular and cochlear sensory neurons, and Atoh 1 expression in vestibular sensory neurons is confirmed with RT-PCR. We propose that the absence of NEUROG 1 protein leads to loss of sensory neuron formation through a phenotypic switch of cycling neurosensory precursors from sensory neuron to hair cell fate. Neurog 1 null mice show a truncation of clonal expansion of hair cell precursors through temporally altered terminal mitosis, thereby resulting in smaller sensory epithelia.

Percutaneous Treatment of Uretero-Intestinal Stenosis with Acucise®: Preliminary Experience

The incidence of stenosis of uretero-intestinal anastomoses is about 5–10%. The most relevant effect of this post-surgical complication is the progressive renal function deterioration. Infections, ureteric ischemia, perianastomotic urinary extravasation and apposition of two different types of mucosa are the main causes of this complication. Several options are available for the treatment of these strictures: surgery, ureteral stenting, balloon dilation, endoscopic electrocautery or laser incision. The Acucise® catheter system combines diatermic incision with balloon dilation.

Material and methods

9 stenosis of uretero-intestinal anastomoses have been treated with Acusise® endoureterotomy in 7 patients. All the patients underwent to radical cistectomy with urinary diversion for oncological disease. The diagnosis has been obtained with US and/or CT examination. Residual renal function has been assessed with sequential renal scintigraphy. The procedure includes two parts: percutaneous pleacement of nephrostomic catheter with distal part inside the neo-bladder and, after 15 days, treatment with Acucise®. The incision was performed with 75W activation of the cutting wire during inflation of the balloon at the level of stenosis.

Results

Mean follow-up is about 5 months so we can't consider the long term effects of the treatment but our preliminary results are interesting, with an adequate patency of the anastomoses in 8/9 cases at CT scan. The procedure, performed under fluoroscopic control and local anaesthesia, resulted ease and safe with low procedural complications.

Conclusions

If long term results will be confirm, Acucise® could be suggested as first-line treatment in these situations; surgery should be indicated in case of minimally invasive procedure approach.