[Formation of giant cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma during bleomycin treatment: enzymehistochemical, electronmicroscopic and ultrahistochemical investigations (author's transl)]

Combined ultrastructural, histochemical, and autoradiographic study of osteosarcoma after preoperative chemotherapy according to the COSS 80 protocol

Twelve osteosarcomas treated according to the COSS 80 protocol (preoperative chemotherapy, resection) were studied by light and electron microscopic, histochemical, and autoradiographic methods. Evidence of regressive and necrotic changes was found in many tumor cells, but the alterations were unspecific. Viable tumor cells of high malignancy were also observed regularly, often at the S phase. As the tumor regression continued, a strong reaction of the mononuclear phagocyte system was manifested by the presence of macrophages and giant cells.

Combination chemotherapy with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, oncovin, and bleomycin (COB) in advanced head and neck cancer: phase II

Twenty-eight consecutive patients with advanced head and neck epidermoid carcinoma were treated with a single course of combination chemotherapy which included high dose cis-platinum II, vincristine, and bleomycin. All patients except one were evaluable for drug response and toxicity. The overall toxicity was mild and tolerable except in one patient who had fatal nephrotoxicity. Thirteen patients (48%) had a partial regression, and five with minimal response did improve, giving an overall response rate of 67%. More responses were noted in previously untreated patients, especially those with oral or hypopharyngeal tumors without distant metastases. Definite histological changes were seen in a few patients in remission. Objective tumor response was associated with subjective improvement, and possibly, a prolonged survival.

Plasma cells and immunoglobulin-synthesis in oral precancer and cancer. Correlation with dysplasia, cancer differentiation, radio- and chemotherapy

The subepithelial and peritumoral inflammatory infiltrates of 202 oral premalignant and malignant lesions -- 108 leukoplakias and 94 squamous cell carcinomata with different grades of dysplasia were examined using an immunoenzymatic method. In addition, the influence of radiation and bleomycin-therapy on the stromal reaction of 24 carcinomata was studied. The incidence of immunoglobulin labelled plasma cells (IgA and IgG) was twice as high in those cases of leukoplakia where dysplasia was present. The number of plasma cells, especially IgA- and IgG-containing plasma cells, decreased significantly with progressive tumor dedifferentiation. The plasma cell response differed before and after radiation with a decrease in IgA- and IgG-containing plasma cells after therapy. In contrast, bleomycin-therapy did not produce distinct changes in the humoral and cellular stromal reaction. In the epithelium, IgA and IgG were localized throughout all epithelial layers in leukoplakias with dysplasia. This finding indicates a leakage of locally synthesized immunoglobulins through an altered oral mucosa. This investigation reveals alterations in the local immune homoeostasis of the oral mucosa in premalignant and malignant lesions which varies with the grade of dysplasia, tumor differentiation and therapy.