Showing papers on "Cancer published in 1977"
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The relatively high percentage of cancer patients with apparently normal DNA levels would suggest that this radioimmunoassay may have low diagnostic value, but DNA in the serum may be an important tool for the evaluation of therapy or the comparison of different regimens.
Abstract: A radioimmunoassay for ng quantities of DNA was developed. [125l]lododeoxyuridine-labeled DNA was used as the antigen, and the serum of a lupus erythematosus patient served as the source of antibody. The level of free DNA in the serum of 173 patients with various types of cancer and in 55 healthy individuals was determined by this radioimmunoassay. DNA concentration in the normal controls had a range of 0 to 100 ng/ml with a mean of 13 +/- 3 ng/ml (S.E.). For comparison purposes, the range of 0 to 50 ng/ml was designated as normal, and 93% of controls were found in this range. In the cancer patients, the DNA concentration ranged from zero to mug levels with a mean of 180 +/- 38 ng/ml. Fifty % of the patients values were found in the range of 0 to 50 ng/ml; the other 50% were between 50 and 5000 ng/ml. No correlation could be seen between DNA levels and the size or location of the primary tumor. Significantly higher DNA levels, however, were found in the serum of patients with metastatic disease (mean of 209 +/- 39 ng/ml), as compared to nonmetastatic patients (mean 100 +/- 30, p less than 0.02). After radiation therapy in lymphoma, lung, ovary, uterus, and cervical tumors, the levels decreased in 66 to 90% of the patients, whereas in glioma, breast, colon, and rectal tumors, the DNA levels decreased only in 16 to 33% of the patients. Generally, the decrease in DNA concene of tumor size and reduction of pain. Conversely, when DNA levels either increased or remained unchanged, a lack of response to the treatment was noted. Of 17 patients who died within a year, 13 showed DNA levels that remained high or unchanged, whereas only 4 showed lower levels during treatment. Persistent high or increasing DNA levels in the circulation, therefore, may signal a relapse and are probably a poor prognostic sign. The relatively high percentage (50%) of cancer patients with apparently normal DNA levels would suggest that this test may have low diagnostic value. It should be pointed out, however, that all these patients represent a selected group considered for radiation therapy, usually after surgery and/or chemotherapy. It is possible that a better correlation between DNA levels and cancer will be obtained prior to the initiation of treatment. On the other hand, DNA in the serum may be an important tool for the evaluation of therapy or the comparison of different regimens.
1,648 citations
TL;DR: A system is proposed by the UICC for assessing response to treatment of advanced breast cancers and its application in clinical practice is proposed.
Abstract: A system is proposed by the UICC for assessing response to treatment of advanced breast cancers.
824 citations
TL;DR: Age, race, sex, smoking, drinking, education, income, parity, foreign birth, marital status, and geographic location were used as stratification variables separately or in combination when appropriate to assess and control for their potentially confounding affects and to examine results in different strata to assess interaction.
Abstract: From personal interviews obtained for 7,518 incident cases of invasive cancer from the population-based Third National Cancer Survey, the quantitative lifetime use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, unsmoked tobacco, wine, beer, hard liquor, and combined alcohol were recorded, as well as education and family income level. In an initial screening analysis of these data, Mantel-Haenszel 2 X 2 contingency tabulations and multiple regression analyses were used to compare each specific cancer site with controls from other sites to test for associations with the "exposure variables." Significant positive associations with cigarette smoking were found for cancers of the lung, larynx, oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, bladder, kidney, and uterine cervix. Other forms of tobacco were associated with cancers of the oral cavity, larynx, lung, and cervix. Consumption of wine, beer, hard liquor, and all combined showed positive associations with neoplasms of the oral cavity larynx, esophagus, colon, rectum, breast, and thyroid gland. College educaton and high income both showed positive associations with cancers of the breast, thyroid gland, uterine corpus, and melanomas in males. These same indicators of high socioeconomic status showed inverse associations with invasive neoplasms of the uterine cervix, lung, lip-tongue, and colon in females. College attendance (but not income) showed an inverse association with stomach cancer and positive association with pancreatic cancer in males. Still other tumor sties showed "suggestive" associations with each of these exposure variables. In the analyses producing these results, age, race, sex, smoking, drinking, education, income, parity, foreign birth, marital status, and geographic location were used as stratification variables separately or in combination when appropriate to assess and control for their potentially confounding affects and to examine results in different strata to assess interaction.
644 citations
608 citations
TL;DR: The results support the hypothesis that selenium has cancer-protecting effects in man and a change of diet aimed at increasing the dietary selenum supply is suggested as a possible means of lowering the human cancer risk.
493 citations
TL;DR: To estimate the leukemogenic potential of alkylating agents, 70 institutions using these drugs for the frequency of second cancers in patients with advanced ovarian cancer were surveyed.
Abstract: To estimate the leukemogenic potential of alkylating agents, we surveyed 70 institutions using these drugs for the frequency of second cancers in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Thirteen cases of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia occurred among 5455 patients, as compared to 0.62 cases expected (relative risk = 21.0). All 13 had received alkylating agents. Nine also received radiotherapy. The relative risk for patients given chemotherapy was 36.1 and rose to 171.4 for those surviving for two years (rate = 13.75 per 1000 patients per year). To evaluate the role of therapy versus underlying disease, a historical control of 13,309 patients with ovarian cancer in the National Cancer Institute's End Results Program was analyzed. No excess of leukemia was noted in this group, even among 6596 women receiving radiation. The excess of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, therefore, appears attribute to alkylating agents, although the effect may be enhanced by exposure to radiation, as previously suggested for Hodgkin's disease.
407 citations
405 citations
TL;DR: Preliminary clinical correlation of ER, PgR and response to endocrine therapy is encouraging, and it is found that the response rate is significntly higher if the tumor contains both ER and PgG than if the tumors contains ER alone.
Abstract: Regardless of the type of endocrine therapy employed objective tumor regression occurs in only 20-40% of breast cancer patients. With added combination chemotherapy an objective remission in 60% of patients may be achieved. Mammary glands contain specific receptors for hormones cytoplasmic proteins for steroids and cell surface receptors for polypeptides. Hormone-dependent tumors contain receptors but autonomous tumors often do not. The presence of estrogen receptor (ER) in a tumor does not guarantee that the tumor will behave in a hormone-dependent manner. The receptor sediments primarily at 8S in low salt sucrose gradients and at 4S in high salt sucrose gradients. ER values in primary tumors have ranged from 0 to 1000 fmol/mg of cytosol protein. ER values have been helpful in predicting results of endocrine therapy for matastatic breast cancer. When the ER value of the tumor is positive the response to endocrine therapy is 55-60%. Receptors for prolactin progestins and androgens have also been identified in breast tumors. Simultaneous analyses of these receptor proteins may be helpful in explaining the 45% with positive ER values who do not respond to hormone manipulation. In metastatic tumors when both progesterone receptor (PgR) and ER were present response to therapy was 81%. In some cases patients whose tumors have failed to regress after high doses of estrogens have responded to a combination of estrogen and progesterone. The synthetic progestin R5020 has been used to demonstrate PgR. Further studies of the biological responses of tumors not only to estrogens but also to glucocorticoids and progestins may permit a more precise description of the biochemical lesion in a tumor and the specific treatment to which it will respond.
401 citations
TL;DR: Greater smoking habits and lesser cessation rates were noted among lower socioeconomic groups, suggesting that these groups will bear an ever increasing proportion of the burden of tobacco-related cancer.
Abstract: In a retrospective study, interviews were obtained with 3,716 patients with histologically proven cancer of the lung (Kreyberg types I and II), mouth, larynx, esophagus, or bladder and with over 18,000 controls. For each of these cancers, the relative risk of both male and female present smokers increased with the quantity smoked and the duration of the habit. The strongest increase occurred for cancer of the lung and larynx, and the least increase occurred for cancer of the esophagus and bladder. For exsmokers the risk decreased with years of cessation. The risk for mouth cancer of pipe and cigar smokers who inhaled much less than cigarette smokers was less than that of the latter and increased with the quantity smoked. The risk of mouth, larynx, and esophagus cancer among smokers increased with the quantity of alcohol consumed. Greater smoking habits and lesser cessation rates were noted among lower socioeconomic groups, suggesting that these groups will bear an ever increasing proportion of the burden of tobacco-related cancer.
322 citations
TL;DR: Assessment of histopathology of lung cancer patients seen over the past 13 years at RPMI indicates that adenocarcinoma is becoming progressively more prevalent as related to the other forms of Lung cancer, and may soon become the most prevalent type of lungcancer in the United States.
Abstract: We have reviewed the histopathology of lung cancer patients seen over the past 13 years at RPMI. Assessment of this data indicates that adenocarcinoma is becoming progressively more prevalent as related to the other forms of lung cancer. Factors which in part may account for this increased prevalence are: 1) changes in criteria for reading histopathology of lung cancer, particularly since 1967; 2) the increased incidence of lung cancer among the female population who have a propensity for adenocarcinoma; and 3) occupational and environmental factors. In 1974 adenocarcinoma for the first time became the most prevalent type of lung cancer at RPMI. Whatever the reason, if our data are truly representative of a national trend, adenocarcinoma will soon become the most prevalent type of lung cancer in the United States. This fact may result in an increasing death rate since the present 18-month survival rate for adenocarcinoma is substantially less than for squamous cell carcinoma, which has in the past been the prevalent form of the disease. As the smoking habits of women more closely approximate those of men, we expect that the incidence and mortality of lung cancer will prove to be quite similar in both sexes.
280 citations
TL;DR: Malignant human breast tumours produced more prostaglandin-like material during homogenisation than did benign tumours or normal breast tissue, and the highest "basal" amounts tended to occur in tumours showing spread histologically.
TL;DR: Cachexia is a syndrome characterized by weakness, anorexia, and the depletion and redistribution of host components as discussed by the authors, which is the consequence of anatomical alterations, decreased food intake or absorption, and altered metabolism.
Abstract: Summary The growth of cancer leads to profound alterations of host organs and functions. The overall result is cachexia, a syndrome characterized primarily by weakness, anorexia, and the depletion and redistribution of host components. Cachexia is the consequence of anatomical alterations, decreased food intake or absorption, and altered metabolism. Anatomical alterations are always present in a cancer patient. It has been repeatedly observed, however, that the degree of cachexia bears no simple correlation to tumor burden, tumor cell type, or anatomical site of involvement. The consequences of impaired food intake or food absorption are a major contributor to the overall morbidity of the cancer patient. Depletion of protein and/or fat stores, hypovitaminoses, and decrease in the concentration of trace elements, variously combined, lead to states nearly identical to kwashiorkor or marasmus. Clear guidelines for recognition of these states have been set recently for cancer patients. Awareness of these syndromes is of enormous clinical importance since they are potentially reversible by the modern techniques of hyperalimentation. It is also important to recognize metabolic effects produced by tumors and independent of either anatomical alterations or insufficient delivery of nutrients. Such effects, exemplified by the endocrine syndromes produced by nonendocrine tumors, are of substantial conceptual importance inasmuch as they imply secretion by the tumor of toxic substances that act at sites distant from the sites of anatomic involvement. The study of such defects might well pave the way to understanding of the mechanisms of cancer aggression.
TL;DR: Lung cancer patients were found more often than expected among several categories including trucking, air transportation, wholesaling, painting, building construction, building maintenance, and manufacturing (furniture, transportation equipment, and food products).
Abstract: From the Third National Cancer Survey (TNCS) Interview Study of 7,518 incident cases, lifetime histories of occupations and industries were studied for associations with specific cancer sites and types while controlling for age, sex, race, education, use of cigarettes or alcohol, and geographic location. Lung cancer patients were found more often than expected among several categories including trucking, air transportation, wholesaling, painting, building construction, building maintenance, and manufacturing (furniture, transportation equipment, and food products). Controlling for cigarette smoking did not change these associations. Leukemia and multiple myeloma were associated with sales personnel of both sexes, whereas lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease were excessive among women working in the medical industry. Other associations included rectal cancer with several retail industries; prostate cancer with ministers, farmers, plumbers, and coal miners; malignant melanoma with school teachers; and invasive cervical cancer with women working in hotels and restaurants. Breast cancer patients were more common among women who were teachers or other professionals and who worked in business and finance (even after controlling for education). Many other findings are presented in detailed tables. Results are reported mainly as a research resource for use by other investigators doing work in this field. Suggestions are given for future studies.
TL;DR: Analysis of the serum from the donor of the cell line at the time of tumor biopsy, and of CaSki culture fluids, demonstrated the presence of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin.
Abstract: Epidermoid cervical carcinoma cells (CaSki line) have been established in continuous culture. When leukocytes from cervical cancer patients were incubated with CaSki culture fluid concentrates, inhibition of leukocyte migration was observed in more than 70 percent of the patients tested. By contrast, significantly less inhibition was observed with normal donor leukocytes or leukocytes from patients with other types of cancer. These results were consistent with the expression of tumor-associated antigen by CaSki cells. Analysis of the serum from the donor of the cell line at the time of tumor biopsy, and of CaSki culture fluids, demonstrated the presence of the beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin.
TL;DR: The low rate of use of conjugated estrogens in Olmsted County, Minnesota over the past 30 years apparently has not had an appreciable impact on the incidence of endometrial cancer.
TL;DR: Because of immunodepression caused by cancer treatments, passive immunotherapy is considered independent of host immune competence, and is therefore an ideal candidate for inclusion in combined-modality approaches to cancer therapy.
Abstract: Publisher Summary Immunologic manipulations to control tumor growth can essentially be divided into passive and active categories. Passive immunotherapy refers to approaches in which immunologic reagents, such as serum, cells, or cell products that are thought to have antitumor activity, are administered to a tumor-bearing host. This chapter reviews recent studies of the use of passive immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer in animals and man. Immune depression in cancer patients has been well documented and attempts to actively stimulate both nonspecific and specific antitumor immune reactions in cancer patients is generally let down by intrinsic defects in the ability of the host to respond. The passive administration of immune reagents can be capable of reacting against the tumor independent of the host's immune competence. Therefore, passive therapy is regarded as an attractive area of investigation in tumor immunotherapy. The chapter summarizes the existing information concerning the use of subcellular products, such as immune RNA or transfer factor, in the treatment of animal and human malignancy. It is noted that because of immunodepression caused by cancer treatments, passive immunotherapy is considered independent of host immune competence, and is therefore an ideal candidate for inclusion in combined-modality approaches to cancer therapy.
TL;DR: This is a summary presentation on certain aspects of an experience with the use of radical cystectomy with or without prior irradiation in the treatment of selected patients with bladder cancer at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
TL;DR: It is now clear that most, if not all cancers have environmental causes and can in principle be prevented and the identification of environmental hazards and clarification of the mechanisms through which they cause disease are among the highest priorities in cancer research.
Abstract: Forty-four years ago, Sir Ernest Kennaway and his colleagues identified, for the first time, a pure chemical that was capable of causing cancer in animals, and a year later isolated another from material that was widespread in the environment At that time, and even after these crucial observations, it was commonly assumed that cancers were an inevitable accompaniment of ageing and that little could be done to reduce the mortality they caused It is now clear, however, that most, if not all cancers have environmental causes and can in principle be prevented The identification of environmental hazards and clarification of the mechanisms through which they cause disease are thus among the highest priorities in cancer research
TL;DR: There is probably a cancer hazard associated with low level radiation which affects bone marrow cancers at younger and older ages, and sensitivity to the cancer-induction effects of radiation is at a tow ebb between 25 and 45 yr of age.
Abstract: Data from the Hanford study have shown that sensitivity to the cancer-induction effects of radiation is at a tow ebb between 25 and 45 yr of age. Nevertheless, at younger and older ages there is probably a cancer hazard associated with low level radiation which affects bone marrow cancers mo
TL;DR: Radiological and radioisotopic investigations proved helpful in determining the extent of disease rather than the origin of primary tumor, and chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy have definite roles in the management of these patients.
Abstract: From 1950 to 1973, 254 patients with metastatic cancers from occult primary tumors, comprising 0.5% of all the referred cancer patients were seen. The average age was 59 years. Clinical presentation was commonly in the form of metastatic lesions in lung, cervical lymph node, bone or liver. Radiological and radioisotopic investigations proved helpful in determining the extent of disease rather than the origin of primary tumor. Adenocarcinoma was the commonest type, followed by undifferentiated and squamous cell carcinomas. The origin of the primary tumor was established in 77 (30%) patients, mostly at autopsy. It was in the lung in 40% of the cases, followed by stomach, pancreas, kidney, ovary and colon. Some correlation was found between clinical presentation and the origin of the primary tumor. Histologically different second cancers were detected in 28 (11%) patients. Overall median and five-year survival rates were nine months and nine per cent respectively. Longer survival was seen in patients with squamous cell carcinoma metastases, middle and upper neck lymph node lesions, and those who had "curative" surgery. In localized metastatic lesions, surgical extirpation should be done. Depending on the histological type of the metastatic lesions, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy have definite roles in the management of these patients. Periodic follow-up examinations also prove valuable.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Sera from 517 patients with various types of malignancies were assayed for immune complexes (ICs) by the Raji cell radioimmune assay, finding increases in tumor mass and metastatic disease were associated with high levels of circulating ICs.
Abstract: Sera from 517 patients with various types of malignancies were assayed for immune complexes (ICs) by the Raji cell radioimmune assay. The incidence of immune complexes in these patients ranged from 16 to 52% as compared to 19% in normal controls. Increases in tumor mass and metastatic disease were associated with high levels of circulating ICs. Immunization of melanoma patients with BCG and tumor-cell vaccine produced an increase in levels of ICs. Cancer sera contained complexes of intermediate size. Tumor antigens and IgG, presumably in the form of complexes, were identified by immunofluorescence and radiolabeled antibody techniques on the surface of Raji cells incubated in ICs-containing cancer sera.
TL;DR: Prospective study of the series since 1973 has identified a second primary cancer in five additional patients, and the majority of second cancers were in the field of prior radiotherapy, and were attributable to the oncogenic effect of radiation.
Abstract: Studies were made of the development of second malignant tumors in children treated at the Sidney Farber Cancer Institute. In 1973 a retrospective analysis identified second cancers in 15 of 410 patients who survived a childhood cancer. During the period 5-24 years after diagnosis of the first cancer, the cumulative probability of developing a new cancer was 12%. This frequency was approximately 20-fold higher than the expected rate for the general population. Prospective study of the series since 1973 has identified a second primary cancer in five additional patients. The majority of second cancers were in the field of prior radiotherapy, and were attributable to the oncogenic effect of radiation. Genetic susceptibility factors were identified in individual patients.
TL;DR: It would appear to be useful to reexamine the smoking-site specific cancer associations, controlling for tumor cell type.
Abstract: Hypothesizing that squamous cell tumors of various sites will be associated with cigarette smoking and that site-specific cancers with predominant squamous cell histology will be strongly associated it could be expected that cervical cancer will be strongly associated with cigarette smoking. Reports of studies bearing on this association are reviewed concluding that smoking as a risk factor in cervical cancer has not received as much attention as it should and all of the "established" risk factors such as marital instability and age at 1st pregnancy or coitus are unlikely to be very useful for primary prevention at least in the near future. It would thus appear to be useful to reexamine the smoking-site specific cancer associations controlling for tumor cell type.
TL;DR: Overall, the risk of skin cancer in the renal transplant population was 7.1 times that expected, and this excess was due primarily to squamous cell carcinomas, which were 36.4 times as frequent as expected.
Abstract: • The development of de novo malignant neoplasms after renal transplantation continues to be of importance. The incidence of skin cancer in the renal transplant population at the University of Minnesota Hospital is compared with that expected on the basis of rates from the special nonmelanoma part of the Third National Cancer Survey. Overall, the risk of skin cancer in the renal transplant population was 7.1 times that expected. This excess was due primarily to squamous cell carcinomas, which were 36.4 times as frequent as expected. ( Arch Dermatol 113:436-438, 1977)
TL;DR: Tumors containing estrogen receptors and those that responded to previous hormonal manipulation tended to respond to tamoxifen (antiestrogen), 60% and 69%, respectively, and patients with receptor-negative tumor or with a history of failure of previous hormonal treatments did not respond.
Abstract: Fifty-nine postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer were treated with tamoxifen (antiestrogen), 20 mg orally twice a day for at least 2 months. They had been previously treated with other types of hormonal therapy or intensive chemotherapies, or both. Nineteen of the 59 patients (32%) had either a complete response (seven patients) or partial response (12 patients). The median duration of response was 9+ months. Tumors containing estrogen receptors and those that responded to previous hormonal manipulation tended to respond to tamoxifen (60% and 69%, respectively). Patients with receptor-negative tumor or with a history of failure of previous hormonal treatments did not respond to tamoxifen therapy. Tamoxifen is effective against advanced breast cancer. Side effects of the treatment were mild.
TL;DR: One mechanism for the depression of cell‐mediated immunity seen in patients with advanced cancer may be the nonspecific suppression of certain T‐cell functions by circulating monocytes.
Abstract: The reactivity of peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with advanced malignancy was assessed by mitogen-induced stimulation of protein synthesis as measured by 3H-leucine incorporation. It was confirmed that the lymphocyte response of patients was depressed. Furthermore, the lymphocytes of 15 out of 27 cancer patients, selected because of their low responses, inhibited the reactivity of normal lymphocytes in co-cultures. The lymphocytes from one patient with Hodgkin's disease were also inhibitory. In contrast, lymphocytes from healthy subjects, patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, lymphosarcoma or multiple myeloma caused no suppression. Experiments with purified cell populations from patients with carcinoma indicated that purified T cells responded to mitogens while unseparated lymphocytes failed to respond and that the inhibitory activity was due to adherent cells, presumably monocytes. There was no evidence for B-cell-mediated suppression. However, in two cases inhibition was caused by isolated T cells of the patients and not by adherent cells. These experiments suggested that one mechanism for the depression of cell-mediated immunity seen in patients with advanced cancer may be the nonspecific suppresssion of certain T-cell functions by circulating monocytes.
TL;DR: To determine the magnitude of real risk pathologic documentation and long-term clinical follow up of patients with estrogen-related carcinomas should be carefully documented, evidence exist documenting the role of estrogen in endometrial carcinoma.
TL;DR: A clinical trial involving 462 colon, rectum, and breast cancer patients randomized among four different dosage regimens of 5‐FU has shown a significantly better response among colon‐rectum cancer patients for the intravenous loading course.
Abstract: A clinical trial involving 462 colon, rectum, and breast cancer patients randomized among four different dosage regimens of 5-FU (an intravenous loading course, a weekly intravenous schedule, a nontoxic schedule, and an oral schedule) has shown a significantly better response among colon-rectum cancer patients for the intravenous loading course. In addition, duration of response and time to progression are also significantly better. Overall survival is approaching significance for the colon rectum group (p value .082). In contrast, breast cancer patients show little difference between treatments. Toxicity is somewhat higher for the loading course.
TL;DR: High C1q BA values were found most frequently in sera of patients who had been diagnosed relatively recently and who had evident residual disease after surgical treatment, and could not be explained by the presence of antiglobulin antibodies.
Abstract: Sera from 134 selected patients with various types of cancer were tested for soluble antigen-antibody complexes by the C1q binding method. Sera from 85 healthy blood bank donors served as normal controls. C1q binding activity (C1q BA) values above the 95th percentile for healthy subjects were found in 83% of sera from patients with neoplastic diseases. The incidence of abnormal C1q BA values among patients with malignant melanoma was 83%, with breast cancer 74%, with colon cancer 75%, with lung cancer 88%, with leukemia and lymphoma 85%, and with miscellaneous tumors 94%. High C1q BA values were found most frequently in sera of patients who had been diagnosed relatively recently (within 5 mo) and who had evident residual disease after surgical treatment. Recurrence or progression of tumor growth occurred significantly more frequently in lung cancer patients with high C1q BA. DNA was not detected in cancer patients' sera and treatment with DNase did not decrease in C1q BA. C1q BA in sera could not be explained by the presence of antiglobulin antibodies. Sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation studies of the serum C1q BA in 4 cancer patients showed that the major binding activity was found between 19S and 7S.