This study aims to investigate dietary composition and nutrition knowledge of 60 athlete and 59 non-athlete adolescent females (age, 14-18 years), using a 3-day food recall and a questionnaire on nutrition. The reported daily energy intake was similar in athletes and non-athletes, but less than the recommended and the estimated requirements. In the athletes, the energy supply from breakfast was higher than in the non-athletes (18.5 +/- 6.6 vs. 15.0 +/- 8.2%, p < .005). Energy intake from carbohydrates was higher (53.6 +/- 6.2 vs. 49.8 +/- 6.3%, p < .05) and that from lipids was lower (30.4 +/- 5.5 vs. 34.2 +/- 5.2%, p < .001) in athletes than in non-athletes. Athletes also showed higher fiber (20.0 +/- 5.8 vs. 14.1 +/- 4.3 g/day, p < .001), iron (10.6 +/- 5.1 vs. 7.5 +/- 2.1 mg/day, p < .001) and vitamin A (804 +/- 500 vs. 612 +/- 456 micrograms/day, p < .05) reported intake than non-athletes. Calcium, iron, and zinc intake were less than 100% RDA in both groups. Athletes gave a slightly higher rate of correct answers on the nutrition knowledge questionnaire (77.6 vs. 71.6%, p < .01) than non-athletes. In conclusion, the overall recalled dietary intake and nutrition knowledge of the studied adolescent females show some misconceptions and nutrient deficiencies, but the results in athletes are quite better than in non-athletes, suggesting a favorable role of sport practice on dietary habits and nutrition knowledge.

The clinical efficacy and antiangiogenic effect of low-dose, metronomic administration of cyclophosphamide (CTX) and methotrexate (MTX) (CM) have been demonstrated. The authors report results and long-term follow-up for patients with metastatic breast carcinoma who obtained prolonged clinical benefit with CM. Prospectively collected data from two successive clinical trials were evaluated. From July 1997 to October 2003, patients with metastatic breast carcinoma were treated with low-dose oral chemotherapy (MTX 2.5 mg, twice daily on day 1 and day 2 or 4, and CTX 50 mg daily). Patients who achieved prolonged clinical benefit for a duration of 12 months or more (complete remission, partial remission or stabilization of disease) were considered for the analysis. Median follow-up was 23 months. A total of 153 patients were enrolled and are evaluable: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1 in 90 patients, two or more sites of metastatic disease in 97 patients, zero regimen for metastatic breast carcinoma in 48 patients. Among 153 patients, five demonstrated complete remission and 25 partial remission. The proportion of patients who achieved prolonged clinical benefit was 15.7% (95% confidence interval 9.9-21.4%). Median time to progression for patients with prolonged clinical benefit was 21 months (range 12-37+ months). One patient maintained complete remission 42 months after therapy discontinuation. At the multivariate analysis endocrine responsiveness and the achievement of an objective response significantly correlated with the achievement of prolonged clinical benefit. Metronomic chemotherapy can induce prolonged clinical benefit in metastatic breast cancer, supporting its role as an additional therapeutic tool in the treatment of patients with metastatic breast carcinoma.

Preoperative endocrine therapy is effective in postmenopausal patients with breast cancers expressing oestrogen receptor. We investigated the activity of primary therapy with letrozole in combination with GnRH analogue in premenopausal women with T2 -T4 N0 -N2 breast cancer, whose tumours expressed oestrogen and progesterone receptors. We measured the expression of molecular factors involved in responsiveness to endocrine agents including ERa, EGFR, HER2, MAP kinases (and phosphorylated forms) ER-b1, both at initial biopsy and at the time of surgery. Thirty-five patients were included and 32 patients were evaluable for response. Sixteen patients (50%, 95% CI 32 -68%) obtained a partial response, 16 patients were stable. One patient showed pathological complete response (3%, 95% CI 0 -16%). Response was significantly associated with younger age (Po0.05) and a longer duration of treatment (Po0.05). Treatment significantly decreased ERa-p-Ser 118 and upregulated ER-b1, independently of response. No or negligible overexpression of EGFR was observed at baseline or after treatment in this population. Preoperative letrozole and GnRH analogue are effective in premenopausal women. A biological response in terms of downregulation of phosphorylated ERa was observed in all patients. Future investigations might focus on treatments of longer duration.

No abstract