Ioannis Kastriotis

Oral estramustine and oral etoposide for hormone-refractory prostate cancer

OBJECTIVES Estramustine and etoposide have been shown to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells in experimental models. An in vivo synergism of the two agents, when administered to patients with metastatic prostate cancer refractory to hormone therapy, has been reported. To confirm these results, we administered this combination to a large number of patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). METHODS Fifty-six patients with metastatic HRPC were treated with oral estramustine 140 mg three times a day and oral etoposide 50 mg/m2/day for 21 days. Therapy was discontinued for 7 days and the cycle was then repeated. Therapy was continued until evidence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurred. To control for the possible interference of an antiandrogen withdrawal effect, all patients discontinued antiandrogen therapy and were not enrolled in the study unless there was evidence of disease progression. RESULTS Forty-five percent of 33 patients with measurable soft tissue disease demonstrated an objective response, which included five complete and ten partial responses. Among 52 patients with osseous disease 17% showed improvement and 50% showed stability of bone scan. Thirty patients (58%) demonstrated a decrease of more than 50% in pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. The median survival of all patients was 13 months. Good pretreatment performance status, measurable disease response, improvement or stability of bone scan, and PSA response were important predictors of longer survival. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the combination of estramustine and etoposide is an active and well-tolerated oral regimen in HRPC.

Evaluation of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α overexpression as a predictor of tumour recurrence and progression in superficial urothelial bladder carcinoma

To investigate the possible role of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α, a transcription factor important in regulating O2 homeostasis and physiological responses to oxygen deprivation) in the recurrence and progression of superficial urothelial bladder cancer, and to examine its expression in relation to proliferation status, apoptotic activity and intratumoral angiogenesis.

Report of the long-term efficacy of two cycles of adjuvant bleomycin/etoposide/cisplatin in patients with stage I testicular nonseminomatous germ-cell tumors (NSGCT): a risk adapted protocol of the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group.

OBJECTIVES Stage I testicular nonseminomatous germ-cell tumors (NSGCT) are highly curable. Following orchidectomy surveillance, adjuvant chemotherapy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection can be applied. Certain factors are used to select patients in high-risk for relapse. We report the outcome and safety of a risk-adapted strategy by the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group. METHODS Between 1994 and 2004, 142 patients with stage I NSGCT and 1 of the following risk factors: lymphovascular invasion (LVI), invasion of tunica vaginalis, spermatic cord, rete testis or scrotal wall, embryonal component >50% of the total tumor, were prospectively included in a protocol of adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of two 3-week courses of bleomycin 15 IU, etoposide 120 mg/m(2), and cisplatin 40 mg/m(2) for 3 consecutive days with G-CSF support. RESULTS Median follow-up was 79 months and 138 patients have been followed for at least 2 years. Seventy-seven patients (54%) had LVI and 74 (52%) had >50% embryonal component. There was 1 relapse, which was cured with chemotherapy and surgery. Another patient died due to disease-unrelated causes and 1 patient developed a new primary of the remaining testicle, which was cured with surgery. CONCLUSION Two cycles of bleomycin/etoposide/cisplatin is an effective and safe form of adjuvant therapy in high-risk stage I NSGCT.

Renal colic due to spontaneous perirenal haematoma secondary to antiplatelet medication: two case reports.

We present two cases of spontaneous unilateral perirenal haematoma, following the administration of antiplatelet medication. Both patients reported no history of trauma. One patient was managed conservatively whereas the second patient needed an urgent nephrectomy. A spontaneous haematoma is a rare diagnosis that is easy to be missed. It is important to have a high index of suspicion as a prompt diagnosis can improve the morbidity and mortality of patients. The causes of spontaneous perirenal haematoma are quite varied and a bleeding diathesis can only be accepted as a cause only when all other causes have been excluded.

Glutathione-S-transferase-pi (GST-pi) expression in renal cell carcinoma

Multidrug resistance correlates with unfavourable treatment outcomes in numerous cancers including renal cell carcinoma. The expression and clinical relevance of Glutathione-S-transferase-pi (GST-pi), a multidrug resistance factor, in kidney tumors remain controversial. We analyzed the expression of GST-pi in 60 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded renal cell carcinoma samples by immunohistochemistry and compared them with matched normal regions of the kidney. A significantly higher expression of GST-pi was observed in 87% of clear cell carcinoma and 50% of papillary subtypes. GST-pi expression did not correlate with tumor grade or patient survival. GST-pi is unlikely to be a prognostic factor for renal cell carcinoma. However, further studies with large number of samples are warranted to establish the role of GST-pi, if any, in intrinsic or acquired resistance of renal cell carcinoma to conventional treatments.

Efficacy of Hexaminolevulinate Photodynamic Diagnosis of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy of hexaminolevulinate fluorescence cystoscopy as a diagnostic tool for bladder cancer. The study was a case series in the Department of Urology in Hippokratio General Hospital of Athens between October 2008 and May 2012. Methods: Fifty patients (43 males and 7 females) who were investigated for hematuria were included in the study. White light cystoscopy (WLC) was first performed in all patients and after was performed a fluorescence cystoscopy (BLC-blue light cystoscopy). Biopsies were collected from any suspicious area and resection of the tumors identified (TUR).Whenever no suspicious areas could be seen, a standard random mapping including 8 biopsies overall was completed. Results: Patients demographic data and clinical history are presented in Table 1. Two-hundred twenty specimens were extracted and bladder cancer was diagnosed in 137. There were 17 CIS lesions all diagnosed with BLC whereas only 11 with WLC. WLC correctly diagnosed 109/140 specimens and the positive and negative predictive values were 77.9% and 65% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 79.6% and 62.6% respectively. BLC diagnosed 125/169 specimens and the positive and negative predictive values were 73.9% and 76.5% respectively. The sensitivity of BLC was 91.2% and the specificity 46.9%. Conclusion: Hexaminolevulinate-guided cystoscopy is a valuable diagnostic method, with considerably improved accuracy and improvement in diagnosis of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and especially CIS.