Dr. Piyapong Vongkovit studies how different treatments affect patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, particularly older adults who may respond differently to therapies due to age-related complications. He has researched specific chemotherapy regimens, such as R-CHOP, in combination with supportive medications like filgrastim, which helps prevent infections during treatment. In addition, he investigates how chloride secretion works in intestinal cells, with implications for conditions like cystic fibrosis and other digestive disorders and strives to enhance our understanding of electrolyte balance in the intestines.
Key findings
In a study of 101 older patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma undergoing R-CHOP chemotherapy with filgrastim, the overall response rate was 87%, while 42% achieved complete remission.
After two years, 76% of patients treated with R-CHOP and filgrastim showed no disease progression, indicating the treatment's effectiveness.
Research on chloride secretion found that high concentrations of bile salts increased secretion due to elevated calcium levels, which is important for digestive health.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Vongkovit study non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
Yes, Dr. Vongkovit studies non-Hodgkin lymphoma and focuses on treatment strategies for older patients.
What treatments has Dr. Vongkovit researched?
He has researched the R-CHOP chemotherapy regimen, especially in combination with filgrastim for older patients.
Is Dr. Vongkovit's work relevant to patients with cystic fibrosis?
Yes, his research on chloride secretion mechanisms has implications for understanding and treating cystic fibrosis.
What digestive disorders does Dr. Vongkovit focus on?
He focuses on conditions that affect chloride transport and electrolyte balance in the intestines.
What are the side effects of the treatments studied by Dr. Vongkovit?
Older patients receiving R-CHOP may experience more side effects, such as febrile neutropenia, which is a fever caused by a low white blood cell count.
Publications in plain English
Community-based trial of R-CHOP and maintenance rituximab for intermediate- or high-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma with first-cycle filgrastim for older patients.
2007
Clinical lymphoma & myeloma
Case DC, Desch CE, Kalman LA, Vongkovit P, Mena RR +2 more
Plain English This study looked at how older patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma respond to a specific chemotherapy treatment called R-CHOP, especially when they get a medication called filgrastim to help prevent infections. Among 101 patients studied, older patients had a similar overall response rate to younger ones (87% vs. 95%), but fewer older patients achieved complete remission (42% vs. 71%). After two years, 76% of patients had no disease progression, showing that R-CHOP with filgrastim can still be effective for older patients, although they face more side effects like febrile neutropenia.
Who this helps: Patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, especially older individuals who are at higher risk for complications.
Dual effects of a phorbol ester on calcium-dependent chloride secretion by T84 epithelial cells.
1992
The American journal of physiology
Kachintorn U, Vongkovit P, Vajanaphanich M, Dinh S, Barrett KE +1 more
Plain English This study looked at how a substance called phorbol ester (specifically PMA) affects chloride secretion in intestinal cells. Researchers found that when PMA was added shortly before other agents that increase calcium levels, it boosted chloride secretion, but if PMA was present for a longer time, it actually reduced that secretion even with high calcium levels. This matters because understanding these effects could help improve treatments for conditions that involve chloride transport, such as cystic fibrosis.
Who this helps: This helps patients with conditions affecting chloride transport, like cystic fibrosis.
Plain English This study investigated how bile salts affect chloride secretion in a type of colonic epithelial cell. It found that when these bile salts were applied directly to the outside of the cell surface in high concentrations (at least 1 mM), they made the cell barrier more permeable and increased chloride secretion by raising calcium levels inside the cells. These findings are important because they help explain how bile salts can influence electrolyte balance in the intestines, which is crucial for digestive health.
Who this helps: This helps patients with digestive disorders.