The gall wasp fauna of Iran (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipinae): species checklist and biogeographical assessment

We provide a checklist of the gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipinae) of Iran, and place these records in a biogeographical perspective on three spatial scales, comprising (i) the Western Palaearctic, (ii) Western Asia (Turkey, the southern Caucasus and the Middle East) and (iii) regions within Iran. We present distribution and biological data for 121 species in 24 genera, representing nine of the 12 known cynipid gall wasp tribes. The most species-rich tribe in Iran is the oak gall wasp tribe Cynipini, with 74 species and 11 genera. Cynipid species richness is highest in the central and northern Zagros, with a distinctively different fauna in the forests along the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. Of the species found in Iran, 63 have distributions that extend westwards far into Europe, and can be considered Western Palaearctic species. Twenty four species comprise a distinct eastern component within the Western Palaearctic, with distributions that include Iran and some or all of Turkey, the Middle East and the Caucasus. Twenty one species are apparently endemic to Iran, with distinct Zagros and Caspian components. We highlight biological and phylogeographic processes that may underlie these patterns.

Novel colorectal endoscopic in vivo imaging and resection practice: a short practice guide for interventional endoscopists

Colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death in the UK. With the advent of screening programmes and developing techniques designed to treat and stage colorectal neoplasia, there is increasing pressure on the colonoscopist to keep up to date with the latest practices in this area. This review looks at the basic principles behind endoscopic mucosal resection and forward to the potential endoscopic tools, including high-magnification chromoscopic colonoscopy, high-frequency miniprobe ultrasound and confocal laser scanning endomicroscopic colonoscopy, that may soon become part of routine colorectal cancer management.

A phase II trial of ZD0473 in platinum-pretreated ovarian cancer

The primary aim of this phase II trial was to assess the antitumour activity of ZD0473 in ovarian cancer patients who had failed initial platinum-based therapy. Patients (n=94) were classified as either platinum-sensitive (n=35) or platinum-resistant (n=59) depending on whether they had relapsed or progressed within 26 weeks of completing first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients initially received 120 mg/m(2) ZD0473 as a 1-h intravenous (i.v.) infusion on day 1 of a 3-week cycle. If well tolerated, the dose could be escalated to 150 mg/m(2). Few patients (9%) withdrew because of treatment-related adverse events and no clinically significant oto-, nephro- or neurotoxicity was observed. Objective response rates for platinum-resistant and sensitive patients were 8.3 and 32.4%, respectively, and clinical benefit was observed in 76.5% of the sensitive patients. Median time to progression was 57 and 180 days, and median time to death was 242 and 402 days, for resistant and sensitive patients, respectively. In conclusion, ZD0473 has a manageable toxicity profile and encouraging activity in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer patients.

Results of ZD0473 in platinum-pretreated ovarian cancer: analysis according to platinum free interval

Resistance to platinum-containing regimens can develop in many women with ovarian cancer and may lead to relapse in > 80% of patients. ZD0473 is a new-generation platinum agent that, in preclinical studies, shows evidence of antitumour activity and overcomes platinum-resistance mechanisms. This Phase II trial has evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of ZD0473 in second-line ovarian cancer patients. Patients received ZD0473 120 mg/m2 (1-h iv infusion, day 1 q 3-weeks); the starting dose was increased to 150 mg/m2 after a safety review. We report here on results when patients are divided into four cohorts depending upon whether they were considered platinum-resistant or -sensitive. Patients were placed into one of 3 cohorts if they were platinum resistant (relapsed/progressed < or = 26 weeks after completion of prior platinum-based chemotherapy) or cohort 4 if this period was > 26 weeks (sensitive). Ninety-four patients were recruited to the trial (59 resistant, 35 sensitive; median age 58 [range 27-75] years; 86 with performance status [PS] < or = 1). Forty-nine patients received a starting dose of 120 mg/m2, of which 15 escalated to 150 mg/m2, and 45 received a starting dose of 150 mg/m2. Overall, the median number of treatment cycles received was 3 (range 1-8). Grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia was the most common haematological adverse event occurring in 62% of patients overall. Grade 3/4 lethargy, vomiting and nausea were the most common non-haematological toxicities. No clinically significant oto-, nephro- or neurotoxicity was observed. Overall response rates for all platinum-resistant and -sensitive patients were 8.3% and 32.4%, respectively. Stable disease occurred in 17 resistant and 15 sensitive patients.

The incidence and diversity of Wolbachia in gallwasps (Hymenoptera; Cynipidae) on oak

Wolbachia bacteria infect approximately 20% of all insect species, and cause a range of alterations to host reproduction, including imposition of thelytoky. The incidence and phenotypic impact of Wolbachia remains to be established in many insect taxa, and considerable research effort is currently focused on its association with particular reproductive modes and the relative importance of the various pathways via which infection occurs. Gallwasps represent an attractive system for addressing these issues for two reasons. First, they show a diversity of reproductive modes (including arrhenotoky, thelytoky and cyclical parthenogenesis) in which the impact of Wolbachia infection can be examined. Second, they occupy two intimately linked trophic niches (gall-inducers and inquilines) between which there is potential for the horizontal exchange of Wolbachia infection. In the arrhenotokous gallwasp lineages screened to date (the herb-galling 'Aylacini' and the rose-galling Diplolepidini), Wolbachia infection always induces thelytoky. The impact of Wolbachia in other arrhenotokous clades, and in the cyclically parthenogenetic clades remains unknown. Here we use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening and sequence data for two Wolbachia genes (wsp and ftsZ) to examine the prevalence and incidence of Wolbachia infection in 64 species (a total of 609 individuals) in two further tribes: the arrhenotokous inquilines (tribe Synergini), and the cyclically parthenogenetic oak gallwasps (tribe Cynipini). We ask: (i) whether Wolbachia infection has any apparent impact on host reproduction in the two tribes and (ii) whether there is any correlation between Wolbachia infection and the apparent lack of an arrhenotokous generation in many oak gallwasp life cycles. We show: (i) that Wolbachia infection is rare in the Cynipini. Infected species show no deviation from cyclical parthenogenesis, and infection is no more common in species known only from a thelytokous generation; (ii) that there is a higher incidence of infection within the arrhenotokous inquilines, and generally in gallwasp tribes without cyclical parthenogensis; (iii) all Wolbachia-positive inquiline species are known to possess males, implying either that Wolbachia infection does not result in loss of sex in this tribe or, more probably, that (as for some rose gallwasps) Wolbachia infection leads to loss of sex in specific populations; and (iv) although we find some inquilines and gall inducers to be infected with Wolbachia having the same wsp sequence, these hosts are not members of the same gall communities, arguing against frequent horizontal transmission between these two trophic groups. We suggest that exchange may be mediated by the generalist parasitoids common in oak galls.

Morphological effects of chemotherapy on ovarian carcinoma

AIMS

Traditionally, advanced stage ovarian carcinoma is treated by debulking surgery followed by chemotherapy. However, in some circumstances preoperative chemotherapy may be given before optimal surgical debulking. This study aims to describe the morphological features found in ovarian carcinoma after chemotherapy because these have not been detailed previously.

METHODS

Histological sections were examined from 18 cases of ovarian carcinoma that had been treated by preoperative chemotherapy. The morphology was compared with any pre-chemotherapy biopsies that had been performed. Tumours were classified as showing morphological features suggesting a good response to chemotherapy (n = 14) or as showing little or no response (n = 4). Serum CA125 values before and after chemotherapy were compared. In all cases, the mitotic activity index (MAI), volume percentage of epithelium (VPE), and mean nuclear area (MNA) of tumour cells were calculated.

RESULTS

The preoperative biopsies were all typical ovarian serous or endometrioid adenocarcinomas. Morphological features present in the group responding to chemotherapy included the presence of small groups or single tumour cells in a densely fibrotic stroma. Tumour cells were characterised by both nuclear and cytoplasmic alteration, making accurate tumour typing and grading impossible. Nuclear features included the presence of bizarre enlargement with hyperchromatism, irregularity of outline, and chromatin clumping or smudging. Cytoplasmic alterations included intense eosinophilia, vacuolation, or foam cell change. There were pronounced stromal changes of fibrosis, inflammation, collections of foamy histiocytes, cholesterol cleft formation, haemosiderin deposition, fat necrosis, and dystrophic calcification, including the presence of many free psammoma bodies. There was no correlation between morphological response and biochemical response, as determined by serum CA125 values. In all nine cases in which pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy biopsies were available, the MNA increased post-chemotherapy (p = 0.007, paired Wilcoxon test) and in six of nine cases the MAI decreased (p = 0.093).

CONCLUSIONS

Because preoperative chemotherapy is being used increasingly in the management of ovarian cancer, pathologists should be aware of the resultant morphological effects. Accurate tumour typing and grading is impossible. In some cases, it may be difficult to confirm the presence of residual tumour, making it imperative that pre-chemotherapy tissue biopsies are obtained. Definite confirmation of residual tumour may require the examination of multiple histological sections from areas showing pronounced stromal changes, sometimes with multiple levels and immunohistochemistry. In the absence of definite residual tumour, the report should state that the features are consistent with the prior presence of tumour.

Understanding patterns of genetic diversity in the oak gallwasp Biorhiza pallida: demographic history or a Wolbachia selective sweep?

The endosymbiont Wolbachia can be responsible for selective sweeps on mitochondrial DNA variability within species. Similar signals can also result from demographic processes, although crucially the latter affect nuclear as well as mitochondrial loci. Here we present data on Wolbachia infection status and phylogeographic patterning for a widely distributed insect host, the oak gallwasp Biorhiza pallida (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). Two hundred and eighteen females from eight European countries were screened for Wolbachia. All individuals from Hungary, Italy, France, U.K., Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden, and northern and southern Spain were infected with a single group A strain of Wolbachia, while populations in central Spain were not infected. A mitochondrial marker (cytochrome b) shows low variation and departure from neutrality in infected populations, but greater variation and no deviation from neutrality in Wolbachia-free populations. This pattern is compatible with a Wolbachia-induced selective sweep. However, we also find parallel differences between infected and uninfected populations for nuclear markers (sequence data for ITS1 and ITS2). All markers support the existence of a deep split between populations in Spain (some free of Wolbachia), and those in the rest of Europe (all infected). Allelic variation for five allozyme loci is also consistent with the Spain-rest of Europe split. Concordant patterns for nuclear and mitochondrial markers suggest that differences in the nature and extent of genetic diversity between these two regions are best explained by differing demographic histories (perhaps associated with range expansion from Pleistocene glacial refugia), rather than a Wolbachia-associated selective sweep.

P53 mutation does not affect prognosis in ovarian epithelial malignancies

Mutations of the p53 tumour suppressor gene have been found in most human cancers, including ovarian epithelial malignancies. This study investigated whether the presence or absence of p53 mutation was associated with outcome following platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with ovarian cancer. DNA samples from tumour tissue and blood were obtained from 73 patients with primary tumours, 50 of whom received platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and direct DNA sequencing of exons 5-8 detected mutations in 44% (32 of 73) of tumours. These were more common in late-stage (III or IV) than in early-stage disease (I or II) (p=0.03). There was no association with histological type, volume of residual disease following surgery, or initial CA125 levels. No significant association was found between p53 status and overall survival or disease-free survival following chemotherapy. Likewise, there was no correlation between p53 mutation and response to chemotherapy as defined by normalization of CA125 levels. Tumours with p53 missense mutations recurred within a significantly shorter time than those with normal p53 (p=0.04). In addition, there was a tendency for tumours with missense mutations to have a shorter disease-free survival than those with non-missense mutations, although this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.07).

Randomized intergroup trial of cisplatin-paclitaxel versus cisplatin-cyclophosphamide in women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: three-year results

BACKGROUND

A randomized trial conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG, study #111) in the United States showed a better outcome for patients with advanced ovarian cancer on the paclitaxel-cisplatin regimen than for those on a standard cyclophosphamide-cisplatin regimen. Before considering the paclitaxel-cisplatin regimen as the new "standard," a group of European and Canadian investigators planned a confirmatory phase III trial.

METHODS

This intergroup trial recruited 680 patients with broader selection criteria than the GOG #111 study and administered paclitaxel as a 3-hour instead of a 24-hour infusion; progression-free survival was the primary end point. Patient survival was analyzed by use of the Kaplan-Meier technique. Treatment effects on patient survival were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression models. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

The overall clinical response rate was 59% in the paclitaxel group and 45% in the cyclophosphamide group; the complete clinical remission rates were 41% and 27%, respectively; both differences were statistically significant (P =.01 for both). At a median follow-up of 38.5 months and despite a high rate of crossover (48%) from the cyclophosphamide arm to the paclitaxel arm at first detection of progression of disease, a longer progression-free survival (log-rank P =.0005; median of 15.5 months versus 11.5 months) and a longer overall survival (log-rank P =. 0016; median of 35.6 months versus 25.8 months) were seen in the paclitaxel regimen compared with the cyclophosphamide regimen.

CONCLUSIONS

There is strong and confirmatory evidence from two large randomized phase III trials to support paclitaxel-cisplatin as the new standard regimen for treatment of patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

An analysis of swimming performance in the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus L. infected by a parasitic dinoflagellate of the genus Hematodinium

Various components of swimming performance were measured in uninfected Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus) and compared to animals at different stages of infection by a parasitic dinoflagellate (Hematodinium sp.). Animals showed a progressive decline in overall swimming performance as infection severity increased, with reductions in the number of tail-flips performed, the number of swimming bouts and the total distance travelled by swimming. The velocity of the first (giant-fibre mediated) tail flip and average velocity over the swimming bout were also significantly reduced in infected lobsters. Possible reasons for this decreased swimming performance are suggested and the implications of this for predator avoidance of infected lobsters in the benthic habitat, and for capture of Nephrops by trawl rigs are discussed.

Increased expression of the RIalpha subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A is associated with advanced stage ovarian cancer

The primary element in the cAMP signal transduction pathway is the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Expression of the RIalpha subunit of type I PKA is elevated in a variety of human tumours and cancer cell lines. The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic importance of RIalpha expression in patients with ovarian cancer. We have evaluated the expression of RIalpha in a panel of human ovarian tumours (n = 40) and five human ovarian cancer cell lines using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. The human ovarian cell lines OAW42 and OTN14 express high endogenous levels of RIalpha mRNA and protein (at significantly higher mRNA levels than high tissue expressors, P < 0.05). The ovarian cell line A2780 expresses low endogenous levels of RIalpha mRNA and protein (also at higher mRNA levels than low tissue expressors, P < 0.05). Quantitative RT-PCR revealed no significant difference in RIalpha mRNA expression between different ovarian histological subtypes in this study. No associations were found between RIalpha mRNA expression and differentiation state. RIalpha mRNA expression was significantly associated with tumour stage (P = 0.0036), and this remained significant in univariate analysis (P = 0.0002). A trend emerged between RIalpha mRNA expression levels and overall survival in univariate analysis (P = 0.051), however, by multivariate analysis, stage remained the major determinant of overall survival (P = 0.0001). This study indicates that in ovarian epithelial tumours high RIalpha mRNA expression is associated with advanced stage disease. RIalpha expression may be of predictive value in ovarian cancer and may be associated with dysfunctional signalling pathways in this cancer type.

Cutaneous malignant melanoma in Northern Ireland

The results of two 5-year studies, for 1974-78 and 1984-88, of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) in Northern Ireland show changes in the presentation of the disease. Although there is some evidence of earlier diagnosis, the rise in incidence has produced an overall increase in the number of cases with advanced disease.

Mature results of a randomized trial of two doses of cisplatin for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Scottish Gynecology Cancer Trials Group

PURPOSE

In 1992, we reported the first results of a randomized study in ovarian cancer, comprising two doses of cisplatin and indicated a significant difference (P = .0008) in median survival. Four years later, we now describe the results of this trial.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

After a median follow-up of 4 years and 9 months, 115 of 159 cases of advanced ovarian cancer, originally randomized to receive six cycles of cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 and either a high dose (HD) of 100 mg/m2 cisplatin or a low dose (LD) of 50 mg/m2 (LD) cisplatin, have now died.

RESULTS

The overall survival for HD and LD patients is 32.4% and 26.6%, respectively, and the overall relative death rate is 0.68 (P = .043). This represents a reduction in overall benefit with longer follow-up compared with the first 2 years (relative death rate of 0.52). Toxicity, particularly neurotoxicity, is still evident in the fourth year (10/31 on HD compared with 1/24 on LD).

CONCLUSION

Our recommended dose of cisplatin in combination schedule is therefore 75 mg/m2, representing the optimal balance between efficacy and toxicity.

Allelic imbalance of chromosome 6q in ovarian tumours

Previous work has implicated putative tumour-suppressor (ts) genes at 6q27 and a broad region at 6p12-q23. Here we report the results of a coded, randomised study of allelic imbalance at 12 loci on 6q on 40 pairs of coded tumour-blood pairs from patients with ovarian tumours. Our results provide clear evidence for the involvement of different regions of 6q in tumours of different histological subtypes. The involvement in serous tumours of a ts gene at the distal site is confirmed. However, proximal 6q presents a complex picture, with possibly three further ts genes: one at 6q21-23.3 involved at high frequency in benign and endometrioid tumours, another at 6q14-q15, also involved in endometrioid tumours, and a third suggested by a smallest region of deletion at 6q16.3-q21, between D6S275 and D6S300, that appears to be involved in early stage tumours. These observations point the way to a statistical study of the involvement of 6q in tumours of different histological type and staging performed on larger cohorts of samples.

Randomised study of two doses of cisplatin with cyclophosphamide in epithelial ovarian cancer

Cisplatin is generally accepted to be the most active cytotoxic agent for the treatment of ovarian cancer but the optimum dose remains unclear. We have performed a randomised trial to assess the importance of cisplatin dose in the treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Patients were randomly assigned treatment with 50 mg/m2 (low dose) or 100 mg/m2 (high dose) cisplatin plus 750 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide, for a maximum of six cycles with intervals of 3 weeks. We planned to recruit 300 patients, but an interim analysis on the first 165 indicated a highly significant survival difference (p = 0.0008). Recruitment was therefore stopped and the trial patients were followed-up for 12 months longer. The relative progression rate (high-dose/low-dose) after 12 months' extra follow-up was 0.55 (95% confidence interval 0.37-0.81, p = 0.003) and the relative death rate 0.53 (0.34-0.81, p = 0.003). Overall median survival was 69 weeks in the low-dose group and 114 weeks in the high-dose group. Residual disease extent before chemotherapy had an important influence--patients with lesions of less than 2 cm did best; if given high-dose cisplatin their median survival was 3 years. 56 low-dose and 45 high-dose patients completed six cycles of chemotherapy; 15 and 9 patients, respectively, were withdrawn early because of progressive disease and treatment was stopped in 6 and 25, respectively, because of unacceptable side-effects or patient refusal. Toxic effects were significantly greater in the high-dose group, especially those on the nervous system and ears, alopecia, vomiting, and anaemia. Although the higher dose of cisplatin clearly leads to better results in terms of survival, its overall clinical benefit in the management of ovarian cancer will depend on further improvements in measures to alleviate toxic effects.

A single human colonic adenoma cell line can be converted in vitro to both a colorectal adenocarcinoma and a mucinous carcinoma

In a previous study, using a chemical carcinogen, we converted in vitro a non-tumorigenic cell line derived from a human colorectal diploid adenoma, designated PC/AA, into a tumorigenic cell line which, when inoculated into athymic nude mice, produced progressively growing adenocarcinomas. We now report that continuous in vitro passage of the PC/AA adenoma cell line resulted in its spontaneous transformation to a mucinous carcinoma with a modal karyotype of 51, XY, +i(Iq), +8, +9, +13, +i(13q), -21, +mar. These studies show that a single adenoma can be converted along 2 independent pathways, giving rise to either a mucinous carcinoma or an adenocarcinoma, and provide further experimental evidence for the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Cytogenetic changes which occur along both pathways to tumorigenicity include abnormalities of chromosome I and multiple copies of chromosome 13. These abnormalities may be important in tumour development and progression in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Homozygosity of the short arm of chromosome 17 in cervical carcinoma

We have determined the frequency of heterozygosity of the short arm of chromosome 17 in 20 cervical tumours using the highly polymorphic probe pYNZ22. Only 25% of the tumours were heterozygous at this locus. This is significantly lower than the level of 86% heterozygosity for this locus in the general population indicating that loss of one allele occurs in cervical cancer. Heterozygosity for a locus on the long arm of the same chromosome showed no significant difference between the tumours and the general population indicating that genetic loss was confined to the short arm of the chromosome. The analysis of premalignant lesions showed 70% of patients were heterozygous suggesting that loss of material from the short arm of chromosome 17 took place at a late stage in tumour development. This report confirms predictions made from previous karyotypic analysis and is the first indication of allele loss on the short arm of chromosome 17 in cervical cancer.

Allele loss from chromosome 17 in ovarian cancer

In a number of human cancers genes capable of suppressing tumorigenicity have been identified and in some instances cloned. Successful isolation of such tumour suppressor genes has depended upon either the mapping of a locus which confers susceptibility to a specific tumour, or the finding of specific allele loss in the tumour cells of heterozygous individuals. In ovarian cancer it is known that a small proportion (approximately 5%) of tumours are due to inheritance (Lynch et al., 1989). However, as yet the locus responsible has not been mapped. The only incidence of allele loss in ovarian tumours reported is on the short arm of chromosome 11 using a c-Ha-ras I probe to detect an RFLP (Lee et al., 1989), and on 3p and 6 in a small number of cases (Ehlen & Dubeau (1990)). We describe here the results of analysis of 19 tumours for allele loss using a probe for a hypervariable locus on the long arm of chromosome 17. Approximately 77% (10/13) of tumours from informative patients showed complete or partial allele loss at this locus. Using a probe for the short arm of chromosome 17, 31% (4 of 13 informative patients) demonstrated allele loss at this position. These results suggest that possible involvement of more than one chromosomal locus in the development of ovarian cancer.

Cervical cancer in young women in Northern Ireland: 1970-1985

From 1970 to 1985, 109 patients under 35 years of age developed invasive cervical cancer in Northern Ireland (NI). Information on incidence, staging, histology, primary treatment and survival was collected retrospectively and results compared with a community-based sample of all age groups from the West Midlands of England. Incidence increased in NI over the study period. Young patients presented with early stage disease, typical histology and had a stage for stage outcome similar to the all age groups. NI results do not demonstrate more aggressive disease in the under 35s.

An analysis of the SCM test in cancer diagnosis

A new diagnostic blood test for cancer, the Structuredness of Cytoplasmic Matrix (SCM) test, has been widely claimed to distinguish between normal healthy controls and patients with malignant disease. It has also been claimed that the test distinguishes between patients with nonmalignant conditions and patients with cancer. Furthermore, it has been stated that the test makes it possible to identify the specific type of tumor in each case. In view of the importance of these claims, the study was repeated under identical laboratory conditions. Six hundred and twenty-one blood samples from controls and various groups of patients were processed in an exhaustive investigation. Four objectives were set: (1) to apply the test to a group of normal healthy individuals; (2) to apply the test to a group of patients with nonmalignant disease; (3) to apply the test to a group of cancer patients; and (4) to attempt to relate the degree of positivity of the test, if any, to the extent or stage of the tumor. Using the results described, confirmation of any of the above claims was not achieved. From this study, it is concluded that the test is of no clinical value.

A multicentre phase II trial of vindesine in malignant melanoma

Fifty-three evaluable patients with advanced malignant melanoma have been treated with vindesine 3 mg/m2 i.v. weekly for a minimum of 6 weeks. An objective response rate of 26% was attained with 17% complete remissions, 78% of which were in stage II disease. The treatment was well tolerated, with alopecia the only clinically significant side-effect (43% of patients). Vindesine is superior to DTIC and should be considered as the best currently available drug for malignant melanoma.

The formation of iron(III) oxide hydroxides from iron(II) oxalate

FeC2O4,2H2O(s) suspensions in sodium hydroxide solutions were oxidized by a fast air-bubble flow at room temperature until complete reaction had occurred. With amounts of NaOH in the range OH/Fe initial mole ratio ≤1.0, the reaction is FeC2O4, 2H2(s)+ OH-(aq)+ �O2(g) → ⅔γFeOOH(s)+1/3Fe(C2O4)33-(aq)+13/6H2O With OH/Fe mole ratio ≥ 2.0 the reaction is FeC2O4, 2H2(s)+ 2OH-(aq)+ �O2(g) → αFeOOH(s)+(C2O4)33-(aq)+ 5/2 H2O Mixtures of goethite (α-FeOOH) and lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) form at intermediate OH/Fe mole ratio. The oxidation process occurs in a solid-phase intermediate product. Comparisons with similar oxidations of iron(11)sulphate solutions showed that γ-FeOOH formation was favoured and α-FeOOH formation inhibited in the iron(11) oxalate oxidation. These differences are related to pH and dissolved iron concentrations.