Mastronikolis Ns

Biochemical Changes of Extracellular Proteoglycans in Squamous Cell Laryngeal Carcinoma

Larynx is a complicated organ with peculiar properties, having a noticeable impact in vocal and respiratory physiology. In squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma, the extracellular matrix components underwent significant modifications concerning their fine chemical structure. Degradation of aggrecan is observed, whereas versican and decorin amounts are increased. The expression of aggrecan is almost totally ceased in later cancer stages, whereas decorin is expressed in normal and cancerous samples. But its expression is increased in cancer, being related to cancer stage. However, the expression of versican seems to be characteristic of the tumor, since none or traces expression is observed in normal samples. Chondroitin/dermatan sulfate is the major glycosaminoglycan, but its sulfation shows a shift from C6 position of galactosamine in normal samples to C4 in malignancy. Dermatan sulfate represents minor amounts in normal samples but increases in proportion up to one-fourth of total sulfated glycosaminoglycans in malignancy. In addition, an increase in the amounts of hyaluronan is also observed in malignant samples. Accumulated data demonstrate that tumor progression is closely related to the alteration of the expression and biochemical composition of specific extracellular constituents that describes the mild aggressive phenotype of squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma.

Head and neck: Laryngeal tumors: an overview

Review on Head and neck: Laryngeal tumors: an overview, with data on clinics, and the genes involved.

Late post-tonsillectomy quinsy report of three cases and review of the literature

Abstract We present three cases which showed the clinical picture of quinsy that was developed several years after tonsillectomy. In one case, tonsillar remnants were not found. The other two cases had evidence of tonsillar remnants. All patients were treated by incisional drainage and administration of antibiotics. It is suggested that complete removal of tonsillar tissue may not necessarily prevent the subsequent development of quinsy.

Combination therapy with mitoxantrone fluorouracil, leucovorin, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in patients with advanced breast cancer: a phase II study

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of combination therapy with mitoxantrone, fluorouracil, and high-dose leucovorin (MFL) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in patients with metastatic breast cancer. From May 1994 to June 1997, 46 patients with stage IV breast cancer were treated with MFl chemotherapy plus G-CSF, as needed. World Health Organization criteria were used to define objective responses and toxicity. Thirty-eight (82.6%) of 46 patients were assessable for response to therapy and toxicity. Median follow-up was 15.2 months (range, 4 to 34 months). Twelve (31.6%) of these patients demonstrated a complete response and 16 (42.1%) a partial response, giving an overall response rate of 73.7%. A small number of patients had grade 3 and 4 neutropenia and/or anemia. The results of this study using combination therapy with MFL plus G-CSF are encouraging. The overall response rate of 73.7% in the 38 assessable patients is noteworthy, because all had stage IV breast cancer and 24 (63.2%) of 38 patients had visceral-dominant disease. We conclude that the combination of MFL and G-CSF is a well-tolerated, active regimen for use as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer.