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Background: The Lapatinib Expanded Access Program (LEAP) was initiated in 45 countries to provide lapatinib in combination with capecitabine to patients with ErbB2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer already treated with anthracyclines, taxanes and trastuzumab. We report the results from 12 Central and Eastern European countries., Patients and Methods: By 30 September 2008, 293 patients were enrolled. Patients were monitored for serious adverse events (SAEs) and for any decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Overall survival and progression-free survival were also assessed., Results: Mean treatment duration was 30 weeks; 107 patients (36.5%) discontinued therapy during the study, mainly due to disease progression (n = 86; 29.4%). A total of 78 SAEs were reported from 47 patients; the most frequently reported was diarrhoea (13 reports). Treatment had a relatively small effect on LVEF. Decreases were minor (0 to < 20%) in 61% of patients at the end of the study. During the study, 3 patients had decreased LVEF meeting the definition of an SAE; these events all resolved. Median overall and median progression-free survival were 37.6 and 21.1 weeks, respectively., Conclusions: Heavily pretreated patients with ErbB2-positive locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer may benefit from treatment with lapatinib and capecitabine, with a low risk of cardiac toxicity., (Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: This multicenter phase II trial was conducted to analyze the clinical activity and toxicity of the combination of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and vinorelbine as first-line treatment in elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer., Patients and Methods: From August 2002 to August 2004, 42 patients with metastatic breast cancer were recruited for treatment with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin 40 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.v.) on day 1 and vinorelbine 30 mg/m(2) i.v. on days 1 and 15 every 4 weeks., Results: The median age of the patients in this trial was 68 years (range 60-82). 40% of patients had 2 or more sites of metastasis, 33 (78%) had predominantly visceral metastasis, and 7 (16%) mostly bone metastasis. Just 2 (5%) patients had only lymphogenous or soft tissue metastasis. All patients had an ECOG performance status of 0-1, but 70% of the patients had relevant comorbidities. In an intention-to-treat analysis, the overall clinical response rate was 36%, the complete response rate was 2%, and the rate of partial remissions was 34%; stable disease occurred in 30%, and progressive disease was observed in 36%. Median duration of response was 10 months. Median time to progression was 4 months, and median overall survival time was 24 months., Conclusion: The combination of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and vinorelbine is an active and well tolerated regimen in elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer in first-line treatment., (Copyright (c) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Immunological markers important for the diagnosis of the following subtypes of Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are discussed: lymphocytic lymphomas (i.e.: B-CLL, immunocytic NHL, prolymphocytic- and hairy cell leukemia), NHL derived from follicular center cells (centrocytic, centroblastic/centrocytic and centroblastic NHL), lymphomas with blastoid appearance (various forms of lymphoblastic and "large cell" NHL) and disorders of T lymphocytes (NHL) of peripheral T cells and T gamma lymphocytosis with neutropenia). In these disorders, the patterns of leukocyte surface antigens like T1 (CD5), Tac (CD25), CALLA (CD10), FMC7, Tü1 and Tü33 as well as staining for the terminal transferase (TdT) and of dendritic follicular cells have been examined by investigating specimens of a large group of patients. Apart from the diagnostical value, these evaluations have contributed to a better understanding of normal B cell differentiation whereas the role of marker studies as independent prognostic factors requires additional prognostic studies. Finally, the value of immunoperoxidase or alkaline phosphatase staining of cryostat sections of bone marrow biopsies is emphasized, which allowed the diagnosis and classification of 74% of 92 NHL studied by this technique.