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Dacarbazine plus tamoxifen rather than dacarbazine alone should be standard for patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. This drug combination extends life expectancy and has a better response rate in women than in men. However both men and women on the combined therapy had better outcomes than those on dacarbazine alone. Median survival was 29 weeks in the dacarbazine group and 48 weeks in the group receiving both drugs. There was no difference in the two groups in the frequency of gastrointestinal side effects. The interaction of tamoxifen, estrogens manufactured by the body and dacarbazine could be the reason for improvement. Specifically why women react more favorably to the combined therapy is unknown. This gender difference suggests the possible role of estrogens in melanoma growth.

Abstract Background Although surgery and anesthesia induce immunesuppression, remains largely unknown whether various anesthetic techniques have different immunosuppressive effects on cancer patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of total intravenous anesthesia with target-controlled infusion (TIVA-TCI) and balanced inhalation anesthesia (BAL) on the peri-operative levels of inflammatory cytokines and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in patients with bladder cancer undergoing surgery. Methods Twenty eight consecutive patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy were prospectively randomized into two groups to receive TIVA-TCI (n = 14) or BAL (n = 14). Before the induction of anesthesia (T0), 6–8 hours (T1) post-surgery, and 5 days post-surgery (T2), Tregs and serum levels of interleukin -1beta (IL-1β), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin −2 (IL-2), interleukin −6 (IL-6), and interleukin −10 (IL-10) were measured. Results In the peri-operative period all cancer patients showed a marked and significant increase in IL-6. Moreover, TIVA-TCI patients also showed a higher increase in IFN-γ, whereas in BAL patients Tregs were reduced by approximately 30% during surgery. The incidence of infections, metastases, and death was similar in both groups. Conclusions The increase in the Th1 response in the TIVA-TCI group and the reduction in Tregs in the BAL group seem to balance the immunosuppressive effect induced by IL-6. Therefore TIVA-TCI and BAL can be both used in major surgery in patients with bladder cancer without worsening the outcome.

Background: In many clinical conditions that involve free flaps and tissue transplantations the possibility of minimizing ischemia-reperfusion injury can be a determinant factor for the success of the surgery itself. We hypothesize that preconditioning with sevoflurane is a protective factor against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, patients ASA I-II undergoing breast reconstruction with deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps were allocated into two groups and analyzed: group BAL included patients who received balanced anesthesia with sevoflurane for 30 min before removal of the flap and throughout the surgery. The TCI group included patients who received a total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil. We evaluated regional tissue oximetry at the end of the surgery and at 4, 12 and 20 h after surgery. Other assessed parameters were: blood lactate clearance, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactic dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase. Results: In total 54 patients, twenty-seven per group, were analyzed. There was a significant increase of the average value of regional tissue oximetry measured 4 h after surgery in the BAL group compared to the TCI group: BAL: 84.05 % (8.96 SD); TCI : 76.17 % (12.92 SD) (P = 0.03), but not at the other time frames. The creatine phosphokinase value was significantly lower in the BAL group at the end of surgery, but not at the other time-frames. There were no significant differences in blood levels of other markers. Conclusions: From our results, the positive preconditioning impact of sevoflurane on ischemia-reperfusion injury in patients undergoing free flap surgery is expressed in the early postoperative hours, but it does not persist in the long-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: In partial nephrectomy with hilar clamping every minute of ischemia can impair renal function, thus great importance is having the controlled hypotension as a part of zero ischemia technique. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of hypotensive anesthesia on renal function, in patients undergoing robotic assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) , during surgery and at 3 months follow up. Methods: This is a prospective study of 100 patients, ASA 1-2, who underwent zero ischemia RAPN under controlled hypotension (CH) from December 2011 through to May 2013. Serum creatinine, BUN, estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR), fractional excretion of sodium (FSE) and technetium Tc 99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTC-MAG-3), renal scintigraphy with effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) were evaluated. Results: Mean duration of CH was 50±4 minutes. Acute renal failure wasn't observed in any of the patients. A significant variation of eGFR during the procedure and 24 hours after surgery was observed. No significant variation of BUN and FSE was detected. Comparing preoperative ERPF of the operated kidney with ERPF 3 months after surgery, it decreased by 2%. Conclusion: In patients with normal preoperative renal function CH didn't show any detrimental impact on renal function during and after robotic assisted partial nephrectomy. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]