No abstract

Radiation therapy is commonly utilized either alone or in combination with surgery in the treatment of malignancies arising in the upper aerodigestive tract. Frequent post-treatment sequelae include xerostomia, dysgeusia, and dysphagia. Numerous commercial products designed to decrease these symptoms have not been uniformly successful. This pilot study was designed to evaluate prospectively oral pilocarpine as a means of stimulating minor and major salivary gland flow to eradicate these radiation-induced symptoms. The results of this pilot study support the hypothesis that the salivary glands are capable of responding to oral pilocarpine, and this therapeutic approach warrants further study.

Hemorrhagic cystitis is a common side effect of cyclophosphamide therapy not observed with other alkylating agents. In five patients receiving cyclophosphamide by mouth for prolonged periods with large cumulative dosage urinary-bladder tumors fatal to four and requiring cystectomy in the lone survivor developed. These observations strongly suggest chemical carcinogenicity of this drug in the production of these tumors. Increasingly, cyclophosphamide is being used for non-neoplastic disease. These circumstances suggest careful follow-up observation of patients in whom hemorrhagic cystitis from this drug develops for evidence of bladder cancer, as well as restraint in use of cyclophosphamide for non-neoplastic diseases if alternative therapy is available.

Background. During the past decade, the National Cancer Institute became aware of a lack of availability of human tissues for research, especially in the fields of molecular biology, genetics, and immunology. Methods. In 1987, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) established the Cooperative Human Tissue Network (CHTN) by funding three institutions that had extensive experience in the procurement and distribution of tissues for research. Results. Since its inception, the CHTN has been expanded to five member institutions, with the addition of the Columbus Children's Hospital (the Pediatric Division for the procurement of pediatric tissues) and Case Western Reserve University. Each of the five divisions have established regional networks of institutions that supply tissues to the major divisions. From 1987 through 1991, the CHTN has distributed more than 29,000 human tissue samples and supplied approximately 500 researchers throughout the country. Conclusions. This report describes the development and current status of the CHTN, a valuable resource to the research community.

No abstract