Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0015672 (fatigue)
 51,768 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the commonest type of leukemia seen in Western countries. It affects an older group of individuals than most other varieties of leukemia, and men more often than women, in a ratio of 2:1. The incidence of CLL is significantly increased in some families. In most instances, CLL is due to the overgrowth or accumulation of immunoglobulin producing B lymphocytes. Hypogammaglobulinemia is a common feature, and anomalous immunoglobulin components occur in 3 to 5% of patients. The early symptoms and signs of CLL include fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, enlarged lymph nodes, and splenomegaly. Fever, weight loss, and impairment of bone marrow function, with anemia, bleeding and susceptibility to infection are characteristic of severe or advanced disease. In the great majority of patients, the disease can be controlled for 6 to 10 or more years with simple regimens using chlorambucil or cyclophosphamide, often in combination with prednisone. Radiotherapy and splenectomy are useful in some instances. The terminal phase of the disease is characterized by exacerbation or increasing severity of the leukemia and the development of opportunistic infections associated with immunodeficiency.
 ...
PMID:Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. 68 76

Fludarabine phosphate is the 2-fluoro, 5'-monophosphate derivative of vidarabine (ara-A) with the advantages of resistance to deamination by adenosine deaminase (ADA) and improved solubility. The mechanism of cytotoxic action of the compound appears to involve metabolic conversion to the active triphosphate. Fludarabine phosphate has substantial activity against lymphoid malignancies, particularly chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Its single-agent activity in CLL appears at least comparable to those of other conventional combination regimens. Its activity in Hodgkin's disease, mycosis fungoides, and macroglobulinemia, although suggestive, needs to be further defined and clinical trials are warranted in hairy cell leukemia, prolymphocytic leukemia, and previously untreated myeloma. The compound does not appear active against most common solid tumors. Early clinical trials indicated significant myelosuppression and the potential for severe neurotoxicity. Toxicity on the currently used low-dose schedules includes transient and reversible myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, somnolence/fatigue, and elevations of liver enzymes and/or serum creatinine. Possible pulmonary toxicity has been suggested in several patients. The currently used low-doses of fludarabine phosphate, even with repeated administration, are well tolerated and appear safe with a negligible risk for severe neurotoxicity. Based on its single-agent activity and tolerability, the Food and Drug Administration recently granted group C designation of the drug for the treatment of patients with refractory CLL outside the clinical trials setting. The use of fludarabine phosphate in combination regimens and its impact on the natural history of the lymphoid malignancies is yet to be determined. Fludarabine phosphate may well occupy a pivotal role in the management of CLL and low-grade NHL.
 ...
PMID:Fludarabine phosphate: a synthetic purine antimetabolite with significant activity against lymphoid malignancies. 170 43

The new fluorinated adenine analog, fludarabine, has been tested for efficacy in many tumor types over the past ten years. Two other similar nucleoside analogs are currently available for commercial use. Cytarabine is used principally as an antileukemic agent, and vidarabine as an antiviral. Unlike vidarabine, fludarabine is resistant to deactivation by adenosine deaminase. Data from Phase I and II trials suggest that fludarabine is potentially effective in a number of leukemias, including acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Unfortunately, the doses required to achieve adequate response in the acute leukemias (greater than 75 mg/m2) were above the maximum tolerated dose, resulting in intolerable granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and a life-threatening neurotoxic syndrome. In CLL: however, the dose required to achieve a satisfactory response is well within tolerated limits. Long-term survival statistics are not yet available, but historical perspective strongly correlates response to other agents with increased survival times. Toxicities seen at dose regimens of 15-40 mg/m2/d for five consecutive days include somnolence, metabolic acidosis, confusion, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, increase in serum creatinine and aminotransferase concentrations, and pulmonary and hepatic abnormalities. Mild to severe hematologic toxicity has been observed at all dose levels.
 ...
PMID:Fludarabine: a review. 206 37

A 48-year-old male was admitted to our hospital on April 20, 1989 because of general fatigue and abdominal fullness. Physical examination showed hepatomegaly, massive splenomegaly, and systemic lymphadenopathy. Hematological findings revealed WBC 73,000/microliters, RBC 289 x 10(4)/microliters, Hb 8.0g/dl, and platelet 9.1 x 10(4)/microliters. WBC differential count demonstrated a mixture of 63% matured small lymphocytes and 32% prolymphocytoid cells. Bone marrow aspiration was unsuccessful with a dry tap. Surface marker analysis of peripheral blood lymphoid cells disclosed that they were positive for anti-HLA-DR, CD 5, CD 19, CD 20, CD 21, CD 25, Sm-IgM, Sm-IgD, and Sm-K. He was diagnosed as B-CLL/PL, and treated with VEPA with partial remission. CLL/PL which was advocated by Melo in 1986 is regarded as a distinct clinical entity intermediate between CLL and PLL in clinical and laboratory features. Our case is interesting with regard to good response to combination chemotherapy, though most cases of CLL/PL have a resistance to standard chemotherapy.
 ...
PMID:[B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia/prolymphocytic leukemia (CLL/PL)--a case report]. 228 70

High-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) with or without lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells has been reported to have activity in certain solid tumors, but toxicity has usually required hospitalization for administration. The purpose of this trial was to determine the antineoplastic effect and toxicity of IL-2 administered at a lower dose in an outpatient setting. Eligibility criteria included measurable disease, Karnofsky performance greater than or equal to 70%, age greater than 18 years, and adequate bone marrow, renal, and hepatic function. The median age of 35 patients was 56 years (range, 20 to 75). Diagnoses included malignant lymphoma (ML), (nine patients), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (eight), melanoma (eight), colorectal cancer (six), renal cancer (two), and breast cancer (two). The initial 18 patients were treated with 1 mg/m2 (3 x 10(6) U/m2 intravenous [IV] bolus) for five days every other week for a total of 4 treatment weeks (8 weeks total). The subsequent 17 patients were treated with 0.5 mg/m2 (1.5 x 10(6) U/m2). All patients were evaluable for toxicity, and 26 for tumor response. Toxicities included fatigue (71%), nausea (69%), hypotension (54%), fever (51%), chills (40%), weight gain (37%), pruritus or rash (31%), dyspnea (14%), azotemia (6%), confusion (6%), thrombocytopenia (6%), and myocardial infarction (3%). Four patients died from apparently unrelated causes within the first 2 weeks of treatment. Treatment was discontinued before the completion of 8 weeks of treatment because of progressive disease (12 patients), severe hypotension (three), azotemia (one), myocardial infarction (one), early death (four), and miscellaneous causes (two). IL-2 at 1 mg/m2 IV for five days is associated with moderate toxicity, but a dose of 0.5 mg/m2 is tolerable for outpatient administration. Three partial responses (PR) and one minor response (MR) lasting 1 to 17+ months have been observed in 12 patients with ML and CLL evaluable for response. One additional MR was observed in a patient with melanoma. IL-2 deserves further study in patients with ML and CLL.
 ...
PMID:Phase II trial of outpatient interleukin-2 in malignant lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and selected solid tumors. 278 39

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) is a lymphokine with potent in vitro effects on cell growth and immune function. We have investigated the effects of rIFN-gamma (sp act approximately 2 X 10(7) U/mg, purity greater than 99%) in 16 evaluable patients with advanced malignancy in a phase 1 trial. Patients were treated with six-hour intravenous (IV) infusions daily, five days a week for 2 weeks. After a 2-week rest period, the IV treatment cycle was repeated. Responders were maintained on repeated IV treatment cycles or daily intramuscular (IM) injections. Patients were entered at fixed dose levels of 0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 mg/m2/d. The maximum safely tolerated dose was 0.5 mg/m2. The most common side effects were constitutional symptoms, including fever, chills, fatigue, and myalgias. Reversible and transient increases in hepatic transaminase and decrease in granulocyte counts were seen. Treatment was associated with a dose-dependent increase in serum levels of beta 2 microglobulin. Partial responses (PRs) were observed in one patient with Hodgkin's disease and one patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Fairly constant levels of serum IFN were found at four and six hours during infusion, followed by a rapid decline within one to two hours. We conclude that rIFN-gamma can be safely administered by a six-hour IV infusion and that it can induce in vivo some of the biologic effects reported in in vitro studies.
 ...
PMID:Phase I trial of recombinant interferon gamma in cancer patients. 308 May 51

A phase I and a phase II study of recombinant gamma-interferon (S 6810) were conducted on a cooperative basis involving 11 and 57 institutions, respectively. In the phase I study, a total of 40 courses were administered to 31 patients. High fever exceeding 38 degrees C with chills was observed in approximately 80%. Other toxicities were fatigue (50%), gastrointestinal symptoms (30-40%), changes in hepatic enzymes, and hematological toxicities (20-30%). Dose-limiting factors were judged to be hypotension, leucopenia and CNS toxicity. Since the optimal dose for the phase II study was considered to be 5 X 10(6) U/m2 by daily chronic schedule, a further study was conducted using this dose. Response rates were as follows: 14.3% (renal cell cancer), 11.8% (multiple myeloma) 40.0% (chronic lymphocytic leukemia), 16.7% (non-Hodgkin lymphoma), and 67% (mycosis fungoides). Complete response was obtained in one case each of renal cell cancer, malignant lymphoma and mycosis fungoides. Moreover, intermittent high-dose gamma-interferon against renal cell cancer induced a response rate of 21.4%, significantly higher than the 8.6% obtained by continuous administration. Local injection against cutaneous malignancies resulted in a 55.3% response rate. Anti-viral effect against herpes zoster infection was also preliminarily evaluated. Among 4 cases, 3 responded subjectively well to local injection of gamma-interferon, which is a hopeful result, although a randomized trial is still needed.
 ...
PMID:[Gamma interferon therapy of cancer patients]. 313 83

In 1981, the National Cancer Institute undertook Phase II trials of interferon alfa-2a in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (including cutaneous T-cell lymphoma [CTCL]) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). A dose of 50 X 10(6) U/m2, three times per week, was used initially, then adjusted downward as dictated by toxic effects. A 54% response rate was achieved among 24 patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and the median duration of response was 8 months. Less encouraging results emerged from studies in patients with intermediate- or high-grade disease. Responses were noted in only two of six patients in the former group, and only one of seven in the latter group. Results have likewise been disappointing in patients with CLL. Of 18 individuals treated, only two exhibited brief, partial responses. In CTCL, on the other hand, alpha interferon may be the most effective single agent. Among 20 patients with advanced disease who had failed previous therapies, 45% responded. The primary dose-limiting toxicity in all these trials has been flu-like symptoms, particularly fever and fatigue. Fever has generally resolved as treatment has been continued, but dosage reductions are usually necessary to alleviate fatigue. Future studies are likely to focus on the use of alpha interferon in combination with chemotherapeutic agents or other biologic response modifiers, such as monoclonal antibodies.
 ...
PMID:Interferon therapy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. 349 59

Recombinant leukocyte A interferon is a highly purified single molecular species of alpha-interferon prepared by recombinant DNA methods. In 1982, a phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy of recombinant leukocyte A interferon for patients with previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia was begun, and 19 patients were entered in this study. Patients received one of two dose schedules depending on their pretreatment platelet counts. Those with platelet counts greater than 100,000/mm3 received 50 X 10(6) units/m2 intramuscularly three times weekly, with dose reductions to 25 X 10(6) units/m2 and 5 X 10(6) units/m2 for unacceptable toxicity. Those with platelet counts less than 100,000/mm3 received 5 X 10(6) units/m2 intramuscularly three times weekly. Toxicity was dose-dependent and included fever, chills, fatigue, anorexia, myalgias, headache, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Response was evaluable in all but one of the patients entered in this study. Two of the 12 patients treated with 50 X 10(6) units/m2 had a partial response, three had no response, and seven had progressive disease. Of the six patients starting at 5 X 10(6) units/m2 in whom response was evaluable, two had no response and four had progressive disease. Five patients with progressive disease (three at 50 X 10(6) units/m2 and two at 5 X 10(6) units/m2) had an acceleration of disease while receiving recombinant leukocyte A interferon. It is concluded that the dose and schedule of recombinant leukocyte A interferon therapy tested in this study are not effective in previously treated patients with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
 ...
PMID:Phase II trial of recombinant leukocyte A interferon in patients with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia. 397 47

The chronic leukemias have an annual incidence in the United States of about 12,000 cases. The most common types are chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Less common are hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL). All forms have an insidious onset and vague, non-specific presenting symptoms, eg, fatigue, malaise, night sweats, weight loss. Chemotherapy is the initial treatment for CML and CLL; splenectomy, splenic irradiation, and leukapheresis may also be helpful. Splenectomy is the preferred treatment for HCL. Until recently all chronic leukemias have been ultimately fatal, but the new approach of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation now used in some cases of CML may prove to be curative if done before the disease has progressed too far.
 ...
PMID:The chronic leukemias. Clinical picture, diagnosis, and management. 657 52


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>