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Aim To acquire patient characteristics, safety, relapse and survival outcomes of early-stage breast cancer patients receiving docetaxel (Taxotere(R))-based regimen in adjuvant setting from the Asia-Pacific region. Methods This was an open-label, international, longitudinal, multicenter, observational, prospective cohort of consecutive early breast cancer (EBC) patients with a high risk of recurrence being treated with various docetaxel-containing anthracycline and non-anthracycline adjuvant regimens during 2006−2013. Results In this study, 1542 patients were enrolled. Anthracycline-containing regimens were administered in 92% of patients, while 8% of patients received non-anthracycline-containing docetaxel-based regimens. The mean dose intensity of docetaxel was 25.8, 22.4 and 25.4 mg/m2/week among patients receiving docetaxel-based monotherapy, combination and sequential therapy, respectively. Adverse events were reported in 94.9% of patients (anthracycline vs non-anthracycline regimen; 95.1% vs 93.5%). Serious adverse events were reported in 12.6% of patients (12.4% vs 14.6%). Grade 4 neutropenia was reported in 25.2% of patients (24.7% vs 30.9%) and febrile neutropenia in 1.9% of patients (2% vs 0.8%). Only 7% of patients had a relapse or a second primary malignancy. At 5-year follow-up, there were 127 (8.3%) deaths (8.4% vs 6.5%). Conclusion The Asia-Pacific Breast Initiative-I registry highlights the important patient and treatment characteristics of EBC patients treated with adjuvant docetaxel chemotherapy from the Asia-Pacific region that will help physicians to understand the impact of different docetaxel treatments on the clinical outcomes in this population.

The incidence rate of invasive cervical carcinoma (ICC) is 4-fold higher in Ho Chi Minh City, in the South of Vietnam, than in Hanoi, in the North. Thus, we explored the prevalence of and the risk factors for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in these 2 areas. A population-based random sample of married women aged 15-69 years were interviewed and had a gynaecological examination in the urban district of Ho Chi Minh City and in a peri-urban district in Hanoi. HPV DNA detection was performed using a GP5+/6+ primer-mediated PCR enzyme immunoassay. A total of 922 women from Ho Chi Minh and 994 from Hanoi, for whom a Pap smear and HPV-status were available, were evaluated. HPV DNA was detected among 10.9% of women in Ho Chi Minh City and 2.0% in Hanoi (age standardized prevalence, world standard population: 10.6% and 2.3%, respectively). In the 2 areas combined, 30 different HPV types were found, the most common being HPV 16 (in 14 single and 18 multiple infections), followed by HPV 58, 18 and 56. A peak of HPV DNA detection in women younger than age 25 was found in Ho Chi Minh City (22.3%) but not in Hanoi. Major risk factors for HPV DNA detection were indicators of sexual habits, most notably the presence of HSV-2 antibodies, nulliparity and the current use of oral contraceptives. Women in Hanoi showed the lowest HPV prevalence ever reported so far, suggesting that HPV has not spread widely in this population. As expected, HPV prevalence in a population seemed to be closely correlated with ICC incidence rates.

Diffusible chemorepellents play a major role in guiding developing axons toward their correct targets by preventing them from entering or steering them away from certain regions. Genetic studies in Drosophila revealed a repulsive guidance system that prevents inappropriate axons from crossing the central nervous system midline; this repulsive system is mediated by the secreted extracellular matrix protein Slit and its receptors Roundabout (Robo). Three distinct slit genes (slit1, slit2, and slit3) and three distinct robo genes (robo1, robo2, rig-1) have been cloned in mammals. However, to date, only Robo1 and Robo2 have been shown to be receptors for Slits. In rodents, Slits have been shown to function as chemorepellents for several classes of axons and migrating neurons. In addition, Slit can also stimulate the formation of axonal branches by some sensory axons. To identify Slit-responsive neurons and to help analyze Slit function, we have studied, by in situ hybridization, the expression pattern of slits and their receptors robo1 and robo2, in the rat central nervous system from embryonic stages to adult age. We found that their expression patterns are very dynamic: in most regions, slit and robo are expressed in a complementary pattern, and their expression is up-regulated postnatally. Our study confirms the potential role of these molecules in axonal pathfinding and neuronal migration. However, the persistence of robo and slit expression suggests that the couple slit/robo may also have an important function in the adult brain.

BACKGROUND Cervical carcinoma is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the developing world. The absence of cervical screening in Vietnam and other developing countries is due in large part to the perceived expense of implementing Papanicolaou cytology screening services, although, to the authors' knowledge, the cost-effectiveness of establishing such services has never been studied in a developing country. METHODS Using decision analytic methods, the authors assessed cost-effectiveness of Pap screening from a societal perspective in Vietnam, the world's 9th most populous developing country (estimated 1999 population, 79 million). Outcomes measured included life expectancy, cervical carcinoma incidence, cost per woman, and cost-effectiveness. RESULTS Total costs to establish a nationwide 5-year interval Pap screening program in Vietnam will average less than $148,400 annually during the 10-year time period assumed necessary to develop the program and may be considerably lower if only high risk geographic areas are targeted. Maintenance costs will average less than $0.092 annually per woman in the target screening population. Assuming 70% program participation, cervical carcinoma incidence will decrease from 26 in 100,000 to 14.8 in 100,000, and cost-effectiveness will be $725 per discounted life-year. Several assumptions used in this analysis constitute biases against the effectiveness of Pap screening, which in reality may be significantly more cost-effective than reported here. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to widespread belief, Pap screening in developing countries such as Vietnam is extraordinarily inexpensive and appears to be cost-effective. Because prospects are uncertain regarding useful alternatives to the Pap test, the evidence-based argument for establishing conventional Pap screening services in developing countries such as Vietnam is compelling. Population-based conventional Pap screening services have been established de novo in Vietnam and are now operational. Cancer 2001;91:928–39. © 2001 American Cancer Society.

As part of environmental toxicology, it is important to assess both the carcinogenic potential of xenobiotics and their mode of action on target cells. Since dysregulation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a rate-limiting enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, is considered as an early and essential component in the process of multistage carcinogenesis, we have studied the mode of ODC induction in Syrian-hamster-embryo(SHE) cells stage-exposed to carcinogens and to non-carcinogens. One-stage (5 hr) treatment of SHE cells with 50 microM clofibrate (CLF), a non-genotoxic carcinogen, or with 0.4 microM benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a genotoxic carcinogen, slightly decreased basal ODC activity. Using the 2-stage exposure, 1 hr to carcinogen, then replacement by TPA for 5 hr, the ODC activity was higher than that obtained with TPA alone. This ODC superinduction was not observed when SHE cells were similarly pre-treated with non-carcinogenic compounds. Several environmental chemicals, pesticides, solvents, oxidizers and drugs were investigated with this SHE cell model. With one-stage exposure, some xenobiotics decreased basal ODC activity, while for others ODC changes were not noticeable. With 2-stage exposure (chemical followed by TPA), all carcinogens amplified the TPA-inducing effect, resulting in ODC superinduction. Comparative studies of the action of carcinogens and of non-carcinogens, using 2-stage exposure protocols, clearly show a close relationship between ODC induction rate and morphological transformation frequency.

A series of acyclic and C-acyclic 7-deazapurine nucleosides have been synthesized and tested for antiviral activity. Reaction of the sodium salt of 2-amino-3,4-bis(aminocarbonyl)-5-(methylthio)pyrrole (6) with an appropriate electrophile gave pyrrole nucleosides which served as common intermediates to both the 7-deazaadenosine and the 7-deazaguanosine series. Several of these 5- and 5,6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleosides have shown activity against HIV virus in preliminary in vitro screens.

α-n-amylcinnamaldehyde (jasminaldehyde) was obtained with 82 % yield by solid-liquid phase transfer catalysis without solvent within 3 days at room temperature. By use of domestic microwave irradiation, the same yield was obtained within 1 minute at a power of 600 W.

We have identified several nucleotide phosphonates demonstrating in vitro antiproliferative activity in several human cancer cell lines with IC 50 values in the μM range. The synthesis as well as structure–activity relationship are described.

Two series of 1,3-dioxolanes and 1,3-oxathiolane nucleosides containing N-1-oxypyrimidine were synthesized as potential antiviral agents.

Two series of 1,3-dioxolanes and 1,3-oxathiolane nucleosides containing N-9-oxypurine were synthesized as potential antiviral agents. These compounds were prepared by reacting the sugar moieties with iodo- or bromotrimethylsilane, followed by treatment with a mixture of sodium hydride and the desired N-hydroxy purine base. The preparation of these N-hydroxybases was also described. No significant antiviral activity was observed against HIV, HBV, HSV-1, HSV-2, or HCMV.