Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with octreotide: a randomised controlled study

BACKGROUND

Standard treatment of inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma has not been established. Somatostatin has been shown to possess antimitotic activity against a variety of non-endocrine tumours.

AIMS

To assess the presence of somatostatin receptors in human liver and to treat advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with the somatostatin analogue, octreotide.

METHODS

Somatostatin receptors were measured in liver tissue homogenates from patients with acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Fifty eight patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma were randomised to receive either subcutaneous octreotide 250 micrograms twice daily, or no treatment. Groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, Okuda classification, presence of cirrhosis, and liver biochemistry and virology.

RESULTS

Various amounts of somatostatin receptors were identified in liver tissue of all patients including those with hepatocellular carcinoma. Treated patients had an increased median survival (13 months versus four months, p = 0.002, log rank test) and an increased cumulative survival rate at six and 12 months (75% versus 37%, and 56% versus 13% respectively). Octreotide administration significantly reduced alpha fetoprotein levels at six months. When a multivariable Cox's proportional hazards model was fitted, variables associated with increased survival were: treatment administration, absence of cirrhosis, increased serum albumin, and small tumours. Treated patients clearly had a lower hazard (0.383) in the multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Octreotide administration significantly improves survival and is a valuable alternative in the treatment of inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Oropharyngeal candidiasis as a marker for esophageal candidiasis in patients with cancer

The present study was designed to determine the frequency of candidal esophagitis in cancer patients with oral thrush. Patients with clinically and microbiologically diagnosed oral candidiasis were evaluated by endoscopy for concurrent esophageal candidiasis. Esophageal involvement was documented by mucosal lesions, microbiological findings of candidal infection in smears of brushing material, positive cultures of brushing material, and histological evidence of mucosal invasion by the yeast. For 21 of the 22 patients studied, there were endoscopic and microbiological findings of candidal esophagitis. Cultures of the brushing material from all 22 patients were positive, while histological evidence was found for 14 patients. Only 10 of the patients had mild esophageal symptoms. It is concluded that oral thrush represents a reliable marker for esophageal candidiasis in patients with cancer. Routine endoscopy is not necessary to confirm the diagnosis; this procedure should be reserved for patients with persistent thrush and symptoms despite antifungal therapy.

Complete regression of primary gastric plasmacytoma following Helicobacter pylori eradication

We describe the first case of a primary gastric plasmacytoma stage I completely regressed following Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) eradication. The patient, a 61-year-old man, had a long history of chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers with recurrent gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Diagnosis of H.pylori infection was based on the positive urease breath test, the elevated titers of serum anti- H.pylori antibodies, and the detection of the bacterium in gastric mucosa biopsy specimens. Diagnosis of gastric plasmacytoma was based on the findings of histopathology, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. Eradication of H.pylori with antibiotics was followed by disappearance of endoscopic and histopathologic features of the gastric tumor 3 months after the completion of the treatment. No relapse has been documented 20 months after the initial diagnosis of plasmacytoma. A possible causal relationship between the tumor and the underlying H.pylori infection is discussed.

Gastric Carcinoid in a Young Woman with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Atrophic Autoimmune Gastritis

BACKGROUND

Gastric carcinoid is a rare tumour that is associated with chronic atrophic gastritis in the majority of cases. It usually occurs in the 6th or 7th decade of life and is rarely diagnosed in patients under 30 years of age.

METHODS

We describe a case of multiple gastric carcinoids in a 23-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and atrophic autoimmune gastritis--an association that has not been reported previously.

RESULTS

The combination of atrophic autoimmune gastritis and gastric carcinoid with other autoimmune disorders has rarely been reported in the English medical literature.

CONCLUSION

The fact that it mostly concerns (relatively) young patients may suggest a potential causative relation between those autoimmune disorders and the early development of atrophic gastritis with hypergastrinaemia, which subsequently leads to the occurrence of gastric carcinoid tumours at a young age.

Gastric carcinoid in a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and atrophic autoimmune gastritis

BACKGROUND

Gastric carcinoid is a rare tumour that is associated with chronic atrophic gastritis in the majority of cases. It usually occurs in the 6th or 7th decade of life and is rarely diagnosed in patients under 30 years of age.

METHODS

We describe a case of multiple gastric carcinoids in a 23-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and atrophic autoimmune gastritis--an association that has not been reported previously.

RESULTS

The combination of atrophic autoimmune gastritis and gastric carcinoid with other autoimmune disorders has rarely been reported in the English medical literature.

CONCLUSION

The fact that it mostly concerns (relatively) young patients may suggest a potential causative relation between those autoimmune disorders and the early development of atrophic gastritis with hypergastrinaemia, which subsequently leads to the occurrence of gastric carcinoid tumours at a young age.

Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater in Crete. A clinical and ERCP registry over eight years

BACKGROUND

Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater is an infrequent tumor that can be diagnosed, early.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-four patients with histologically proven carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater were retrospectively studied and their data were analyzed.

RESULTS

Most common presenting symptoms were jaundice (67%), weight loss (58%), fever and pain (54%). Endoscopic biopsies which were taken in 19 patients revealed carcinoma or dysplasia in 15 patients and were normal for in the rest. Twelve patients were treated with a Whipple's resection, 5 with local resection, 2 with palliative surgery and 2 received a stent endoscopically. During a mean follow-up period of 25 months, (range 1-82) 12 deaths were noted, and one patient was lost during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Presenting symptoms, endoscopic and histological findings were similar as in other series. The contribution of duodenoscopy, ERCP and endoscopic biopsy is essential for diagnosis but endoscopic biopsies may be misleading.

Ulcerative colitis is as common in Crete as in northern Europe: a 5-year prospective study

OBJECTIVE

To study the incidence of ulcerative colitis and to analyse the pattern of the disease in the prefecture of Heraklion, Crete.

PARTICIPANTS

The population at risk comprised 263,670 inhabitants in the prefecture of Heraklion (2641 km2). The two regional hospitals, five health centres, 109 private family doctors and 145 specialists participated in the study.

METHODS

A prospective and population-based epidemiological study of ulcerative colitis over five years from 1990 to the end of 1994.

RESULTS

Overall, 117 patients with ulcerative colitis (75 males and 42 females) were newly diagnosed during the study period. The mean annual incidence of the disease for the years 1990-1994 was 8.9 per 10(5) inhabitants (95% CI 7.2-10.4). The male to female ratio was 1.8:1. There were no significant difference between the age-specific incidences of the age groups. The majority (51.3%) of the patients were exsmokers and one-third had never smoked. A family history of first-degree relatives positive for inflammatory bowel disease was obtained in 9.6% of our patients.

CONCLUSION

Ulcerative colitis is common in Crete; its incidence is as high as in Northern Europe.