Tata Memorial Hospital

About: Tata Memorial Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Mumbai, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Breast cancer. The organization has 3187 authors who have published 4636 publications receiving 109143 citations.

Antifolate Activity of Plant Polyphenols against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Abstract: With the view of exploring phytochemicals as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors, known plant polyphenols from various classes were subjected to detailed docking studies. From this in-silico screening, seven polyphenols were selected and tested against Mtb H37 Rv in whole cell assays. The phytochemicals exhibited potential activity ranging from 3 to 183 µm. These molecules were then tested against the pathogenic and human enzymes in a high-throughput microtitre assay. Epigallocatechin gallate showed the best activity and selectivity. The in-silico analysis was in agreement with the assay results. Of these 7 polyphenols, 5 exhibiting minimum inhibitory concentration values of ≤15 µm were tested for synergistic activity with first line drug Ethambutol and second line folate inhibitor para-amino salicylic acid. Epigallocatechin gallate, Magnolol and Bakuchiol exhibited moderate synergistic association by lowering the minimum inhibitory concentration of these drugs. These simple phytochemicals could hence be considered as leads for further studies, or for preparation of semi-synthetic derivatives to be used in combination therapy, for increased anti-tuberculosis activity after validation in-vivo.

Pilot study of sequential combination chemotherapy in advanced and recurrent retinoblastoma

Abstract: Eight patients with advanced/recurrent retinoblastomas were treated with sequential combination chemotherapy incorporating cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, adriamycin, and etoposide. All patients achieved complete clinical response (CR) at the end of the first 75 day cycle. Three patients developed recurrence of which 2 patients had recurrence in the central nervous system and 1 patient had local recurrence. Median time to treatment failure was 30 weeks. Two patients succumbed to chemotherapy related neutropenic sepsis. One patient is alive and disease free for 72 weeks from start of treatment. This combination chemotherapy shows promise in patients with advanced/recurrent retinoblastoma and merits further Study. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Outpatient antimicrobial protocol for febrile neutropenia: a nonrandomized prospective trial using ceftriaxone, amikacin, and oral adjuvant agents.

Abstract: Broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy has revolutionized the management of febrile neutropenia (FN) in cancer patients. In vogue is an effective therapy an an outpatient basis. One thousand three hundred episodes of FN observed in 70 pediatric solid tumors (STs) and 65 cases of hematomalignancy (HM) at a median age of 5.5 years were treated with a protocol using once-a-day injectable ceftriaxone plus amikacin and other oral adjuvant antimicrobial agents. The mean duration of FN in the ST group was 4.0 +/- 1.2 days and in the HM group was 5.0 +/- 2.5 days. The mean duration of antimicrobial cover in the ST group was 5.0 +/- 1.75 days and in the HM group was 6.0 +/- 1.5 days. The overall recrudescence rate was 6% and the mean duration to recrudescence was 4 +/- 1.5 days (range 3-6 days). The objectives of this protocol were cost reduction and utilization of the available inpatient resources optimally by reducing the pressures of hospitalization for febrile neutropenia. We concluded that a selected group of patients with FN can be effectively managed with this regimen on an outpatient basis.

A prospective, randomized double-blind trial comparing metoclopramide alone with metoclopramide plus dexamethasone in preventing emesis induced by high-dose cisplatin.

Abstract: We observed 50 patients receiving high-dose cisplatin-based chemotherapy in a prospective, randomized double-blind trial. One group received metoclopramide (MCP) alone (total dose, 6 mg/kg), whereas the other group was given dexamethasone (DMS) (total dose, 60 mg) in addition to MCP. The patient characteristics of the two groups were comparable, confirming satisfactory randomization. Multivariate regression analysis failed to show any statistical significance in the antiemetic response between the two treatment groups. However, female patients receiving Adriamycin (Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH) concurrently and obese persons exhibited more vomiting. The overall antiemetic response rate was 66%. Because the side effects were minimal, a higher dose of MCP is expected to improve emetic control without increasing toxicity. The use of a 36-hour assessment period in our study gave more meaningful data. An exponential increase in the dose of MCP is probably required, with respect to weight, to obtain the same antiemetic efficacy.

Prognosis of breast cancer: evidence for interaction between c-erbB-2 overexpression and number of involved axillary lymph nodes

Abstract: The prognostic significance of c-erbB-2 oncogene amplification or overexpression in relation to axillary lymph node metastasis is controversial. We investigated this question in 159 cases of operable breast cancer: 56 patients with node negative disease and 103 patients with pathological involvement of axillary lymph nodes. c-erbB-2 overexpression was assessed by immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal antibody raised against a synthetic peptide fragment of the oncoprotein. The overall incidence of c-erbB-2 overexpression was 35%. c-erbB-2 overexpression was significantly related to survival when all patients were considered (P = 0.0124), and also for patients with positive axillary lymph nodes (P = 0.0026). c-erbB-2 overexpression had no influence on survival of node negative patients (P = 0.7972). A multivariate survival analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model revealed that number of involved lymph nodes, c-erbB-2 overexpression, ER status, and tumour size were independently related to prognosis (P = 0.0000, 0.0012, 0.0112, and 0.0204, respectively). When an interaction term was introduced in the Cox model between c-erbB-2 overexpression and number of involved axillary lymph nodes, a statistically highly significant interaction between these two factors was observed (P = 0.0002), suggesting that the expression of prognostic power of c-erbB-2 overactivity is related to the number of involved axillary lymph nodes. The 159 patients were then subdivided into three groups: node negative (-ve) (56); 1–6 node positive ( + ve) (55); and ≥7 node +ve (48). This cutoff criterion gave the most numerically equitable distribution of the 159 patients into three groups. The relative risk of death increased stepwise from 0.86 (95% CI 0.26–2.78) for node negative patients, to 1.95 (95% CJ 0.82–63) for 1–6 node positive patients, to 2.23 (95% Cl 1.15–4.35) for >7 node positive patients. Our results suggest that the prognostic influence of c-erbB-2 overexpression increases arithmatically with increasing number of involved axillary lymph nodes. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.