Ticarcillin was used in combination with either cephalothin or gentamicin as initial empiric antibiotic therapy for 127 patient trials of suspected infection in granulocytopenic cancer patients. Bacteremia was present in 20%, nonbacteremic microbiologically documented infections in 21%, clinically documented infections in 23%, and possible infections in 5%; infection was doubtful in 31%. Although Staphylococcus aureus was the most common single organism isolated (23%), gram-negative bacilli accounted for 54% of all pathogens. Both antibiotic regimens were highly efficacious, with complete resolution in 46% of bacteremias, 88% of nonbacteremic microbiologically documented infections, and 95% of clinically documented infections. Among bacteremias, 8 of 9 caused by S. aureus but only 4 of 15 (27%) caused by gram-negative bacilli were completely resolved with these antibiotic combinations. Reasons for nonresponse in bacteremias were persistent granulocytopenia, mixed infection and, in two patients, antibiotic-resistant organisms. Toxicities other than hypokalemia were minimal. Although the rate of further infections was high overall (18/127), only one occurred among the 39 patients with <4 days of antibiotic therapy. Ticarcillin in combination with either cephalothin or gentamicin was effective as initial empiric therapy of suspected infection in granulocytopenic cancer patients.
Cis-Dichlorodiammine platinum (DDP) 75 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and Adriamycin (ADR) 60 mg/m2 on day 1 were used in 31 patients with advanced gynecological and genitourinary neoplasms. The DDP was given by 6 hours intravenous infusion with 2 liters of 5% Dextrose and 0.5 normal saline using Mannitol and/or furosemide diuresis. Courses were repeated every 21 to 28 days. Responses were seen in 7 of 8 patients with germinal cell neoplasms (5 complete, 2 partial) with a median duration of eight months. A partial response was obtained in 3 of 7 patients with bladder carcinoma with a median duration of three months. There were four partial responses obtained in 9 patients with ovarian carcinoma with a median duration of five months. Toxicities included nausea and vomiting in all 31 patients, nephrotoxicity (serum creatinine > 2 g/100 ml) in patients, tinnitus and/or high frequency hearing loss in 10 patients, and neurotoxicity (peripheral neuropathy, normal pressure hydrocephalus, papilledema) in 8 patients. Severe leukopenia (WBC < 2000/cu mm) and thrombocytopenia (< 100,000/cu mm) occurred in 25% and 45% of evaluable courses, respectively and necessitated dosage reduction in all and delay of therapy in some patients. Peak plasma Pt levels were 2.61 +/- .18 microgram/cc on day 1 and 3.52 +/- .39 microgram/cc on day 8 with a longer terminal half-life on day 8 (252 hours) compared to day 1 (156 hours). Peak plasma ADR levels ranged from .53 to 1.67 N moles/cc with an average terminal half-life of 22.8 hours. This agrees with values of ADR when given alone. This dose and schedule of DDP-ADR is active against advanced gynecological and genitourinary neoplasms, but the amount of toxicity seen indicates that modifications will have to be made.
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