Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0025202 (melanoma)
 69,561 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Twenty-two patients with cutaneous metastases of malignant melanoma were treated with intralesional injections of the methanol extraction residue of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (MER). The local reaction consisted of erythema and pustule formation followed by ulceration and tumor necrosis. Side effects included fever, chills, headache and malaise in the majority of patients; nausea, vomiting, cyanosis and hypotension occurred infrequently. Hypersensitivity reactions were not observed. Temporary abnormalities in liver function were seen in 11 of 19 patients tested. Reversible lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia developed in 7 of 17 and 7 of 18 patients, respectively. Immune function, as measured by skin tests for delayed hypersensitivity and the in vitro response of isolated lymphocytes to mitogens and microbial antigens, was not influenced by treatment with MER. Transient increases were observed in total hemolytic complement, complement components and the reduction of nitroblue-tetrazolium by neutrophils. Eight of eighteen evaluable patients showed a complete disappearance of all injected lesions. We conclude that intratumoral injection of MER is effective treatment for cutaneous metastases of malignant melanoma, with a complete response rate comparable to that observed after intralesional injection of BCG.
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PMID:Intralesional injection of the methanol extraction residue of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (MER) into cutaneous metastases of malignant melanoma. 72 66

The role of combination chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer is controversial. At best, a small survival benefit can be achieved. Therefore, other treatment modalities are needed. On the basis of the promising treatment results with interleukin-2 (IL-2) -containing immunotherapy in renal cell cancer and melanoma, we performed a phase I-II study with IL-2 and interferon alpha (IFN-alpha). Eligible patients were treated with IL-2 18 x 10(6) IU/m2/day by continuous intravenous infusion (c.i.v.) for 3 days. On the same days, 5 x 10(6) U/m2/day IFN-alpha was given intramuscularly. After a rest period of 4 days, patients at the first dose level received IL-2 2.4 x 10(6) IU/m2/day c.i.v. for a period of 28 days, followed by 14 days' rest, 14 days' treatment, 7 days' rest, and a final treatment for 14 days. Patients at the second dose level were treated according to the same schedule, in which the dose of IL-2 was increased to 3.6 x 10(6) IU/m2/day. During low-dose IL-2 treatment, patients received IFN-alpha 5 x 10(6) U/m2/day on days 1 and 4 of each week. Eleven patients were admitted to the study, six at the first and five at the second dose level. Median age was 54 years; all patients had a performance status of 0 or 1. The most important adverse effects included anorexia, fatigue, nausea, and headache, which were not dose limiting. In the 11 patients treated, no responses were seen. Nine patients developed progressive disease during the first 5 weeks of treatment. We concluded that this regimen of IL-2 and IFN-alpha is ineffective.
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PMID:Interleukin-2 and interferon-alpha in the treatment of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. 132 67

Meningeal carcinomatosis is characterized by diffuse infiltration of the leptomeninges by metastatic cancer in patients usually with a previous history of malignancy. Primary tumors are usually adenocarcinomas of the breast or lung, or malignant melanoma. Meningeal carcinomatosis can present with headache and/or a variety of cranial neuropathies. We report a case of meningeal carcinomatosis presenting as a complete, bilateral, sudden hearing loss without other cranial nerve findings--a previously unreported presentation. Our patient also exhibited an unusual primary tumor site (esophagus) and histopathology for meningeal carcinomatosis. The case was impressive for the subsequent abrupt onset of a series of cranial neuropathies and the rapid deterioration in the patient's condition.
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PMID:Meningeal carcinomatosis producing bilateral sudden hearing loss: a case report. 141 3

A rare case of primary intracranial melanoma is presented in a 34-year-old man with initial symptoms of persistent headache. In magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), this case had all the characteristic findings of intracranial melanoma which had been reported previously. In 123I-iodoamphetamine-single photon emission CT (123I-IMP-SPECT), abnormal accumulation of 123I-IMP was recognized in early and late phase imaging, which was very specific to the lesion. This is the first report of 123I-IMP-SPECT performed on a primary intracranial melanoma. Tumor mass originated from pia mater was surgically resected, but the dissemination of tumor cells was recognized macroscopically. Pathological examination of the specimen showed very little malignant changes of melanoma cells, which was in contrast to the previous reports. Although, no standard chemotherapy of the primary intracranial melanoma has been established, DAV therapy to the dissemination of tumor cells into the subarachnoid space, and intravenous administration of interferon-beta were performed in this case. Methods of differential diagnosis and treatments of primary intracranial melanoma are reviewed and discussed.
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PMID:[Primary intracranial melanoma: a case report]. 144 98

In this retrospective study, 81 patients operated by craniotomy for a brain metastasis are reviewed. Mean age is 56.3 years and most of the patients are male (71.6%). Clinically, 79% of the patients present a focal semiology, most frequently with neuropsychologic disturbances (43%); epilepsy is found in 31% of the cases. Symptoms related to intracranial hypertension (vomiting and headache) are present in 43% of the patients. On C.T.-scan, there is a solitary metastasis in 89% and the most common intracranial location is the frontal lobe (33.3%). The most frequent primary neoplasms are: bronchial adenocarcinoma in 19%, squamous carcinoma of the lung in 11%, melanoma in 12% and unknown origin in 18%. The surgical removal (as judged by the surgeon) is total in 70%, subtotal in 19% and partial in 11%. Standard operative mortality (30 days after craniotomy) is 7.4%. The postoperative course (till the patients leave our department) is excellent in 58% (complete neurologic recovery), steady in 20% (stability of symptoms and neurologic examination) and bad in 22%, with worsening of the neurological deficits. Most of the patients (84% of the patients who survive more than 30 days after the craniotomy) had postoperative whole brain radiotherapy with a hypofractionned schedule (total doses of 15 to 40 Gy with fractions of 200 to 650 cGy). Ten patients had surgery alone. Mean survival is 10.2 months with a follow-up of 12 months to 10 years. Ten patients survived over 18 months and one is still alive almost 4 years after his craniotomy. In this study, the survival is not modified by the primary lesion's histology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[Cerebral metastases. A study of a surgical series of 81 cases]. 160 35

A total of 91 eligible patients with metastatic cancer have been treated in a series of phase II trials of the novel pentacyclic pyrroloquinone, fosquidone. Tumour types were breast (24), ovary (25), head and neck (21) and melanoma (21). All patients, except those with melanoma had received prior chemotherapy. The drug was given intravenously as a 20 min infusion, at the dose of 120 mg/m2 on days 1 to 5 of a 3 week cycle. Treatment was well tolerated; the only significant side-effects being mild headaches and generalised musculo-skeletal pains. Response was assessed after 2 cycles of therapy. Only one patient (with head and neck cancer) achieved an objective partial response, lasting 6 weeks. A total of 12 patients demonstrated stable disease for a median duration of 15 to 20 weeks. Using this schedule of administration, fosquidone has no significant antitumour activity in this group of tumours.
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PMID:Phase II trials of fosquidone (GR63178A) in carcinoma of the breast, head and neck, ovary and melanoma. 161 95

Colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) are hematopoietic growth hormones that stimulate the production, maturation, and function of white blood cells. The best studied are granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) and granulocyte CSF (G-CSF), both of which can be produced by recombinant DNA technology. Clinical indications for these agents include bone marrow failure secondary to administration of chemotherapeutic drugs or radiation, bone marrow transplantation, and a variety of congenital or iatrogenic neutropenias. Toxicity in usual clinical doses is mild, and consists mainly of bone pain and constitutional symptoms such as fever, headache, and myalgias. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a lymphokine that stimulates that multiplication of several types of killer cells. These cells can recognize and destroy foreign substances, such as tumors, without destroying normal cells. Major applications of IL-2 include treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma, in whom the overall objective response rate is 15-30 percent, and malignant melanoma with response rates of about 18 percent. Combination therapy with other biologics and conventional cytotoxic drugs may increase IL-2's efficacy against these tumors. Toxicity is generally severe, but reversible. Hemodynamic toxicity, consisting of hypotension, edema, weight gain, and decreased renal function, is most characteristic. Suggestions are given for pharmacologic management of these and other IL-2 toxicities.
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PMID:Clinical use of biologic response modifiers in cancer treatment: an overview. Part II. Colony-stimulating factors and interleukin-2. 171 21

A 42-year-old man developed leptomeningeal carcinomatosis 6 years after treatment of a malignant melanoma. He was treated with two courses of recombinant interleukin-2, administered as a continuous intraventricular infusion (6 X 10E5 U/24 h) during 5 days. During the first day of the first course he also received 5 X 10E9 lymphokine-activated killer cells intraventricularly. This gave rise to a severe elevation of intracranial pressure, with headaches and meningismus. During the second course no LAK cells were administered. This course was tolerated much better. The neurological status did not change during the treatment. Recombinant interleukin-2 levels were maintained at about 300 U/mL during both courses.
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PMID:Treatment of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis with continuous intraventricular infusion of recombinant interleukin-2. 199 55

A case of cystic intracranial metastatic amelanotic melanoma is presented. As far as we know, cyst formation in intracranial melanoma is rare, and only 15 cases of intracranial amelanotic melanoma have been reported until now. A 63-year-old man was admitted with headache and progressive visual disturbance. CT scan revealed a large low-density mass with ring-like enhancement in the left frontal lobe. Both T 1-and T 2-weighted MRI images revealed hyperintensity. A left frontotemporal craniotomy was performed. A yellowish mass was observed in the frontal lobe. The content of the cyst consisted of old hematoma, xanthochromic fluid and necrotic tissue, was evacuated and the cyst wall was totally resected. No abnormal pigmentation was noted in the cyst wall and surrounding brain tissue. The histological examination revealed amelanotic melanoma. Primary lesion was found on the left thigh later and resected. The patient died of further intracranial metastasis with repeated hemorrhage 5 months after the admission. Both CT and MRI findings of our case is atypical as an intracranial malignant melanoma. However, these are compatible with those of intracerebral hemorrhage in subacute stage. It is suggested that melanoma may make the diagnosis difficult when tumor hemorrhage modifies the images of CT or MRI.
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PMID:[A case of cystic metastatic intracranial amelanotic melanoma--analysis of findings in CT and MRI]. 207 46

A case of malignant melanoma discovered at the base of the skull is reported in a 52-year-old male. The patient with no previous significant history, complained of headaches. He developed progressive paralysis of the IX, X and XI left cranial nerves and a Claude-Bernard-Horner syndrome. The tumor, discovered at the nervous compartment of the jugular foramen was treated by surgery and radiotherapy. The patient died 27 months after surgery. The absence of other systemic localisations allows to consider this melanoma as primitive. The presence of spindle cell areas in the tumor may suggest the diagnosis of melanotic schwannoma. Immunohistochemistry is still disappointing because of the lack of specific markers. Our results, in agreement with those of the literature, emphasize the importance of the histopathological findings and the determining role of the electron microscopy in the diagnosis and the differential diagnosis of these two entities, whose nosological frontiers may, sometimes, be difficult to distinguish.
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PMID:[Primary malignant melanoma of the base of the skull]. 208 60


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