[en] A preliminary report on a randomized trial. Sixty-nine patients with histologically proven malignant astrocytoma received postoperative radiotherapy. Patients were randomized to two treatment arms: Hypofractionated Radiotherapy (HR) and Conventionally Fractionated Radiotherapy (CFR). In the CFR group (32 patients) the whole brain was irradiated to the total dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks, than a 10 Gy ''boost'' in five fractions was delivered to the site of primary lesion in 5 days. In HR group (37 patients) there were three courses of irradiation separated with a 1-month interval. In each of the two first series the patients received 20 Gy in five fractions in 5 days to the whole brain, and in the third course, 20 Gy ''boost'' in 5 days was delivered as in the CFR regimen. The tolerance of the treatment was good in both groups. Actuarial survival rates at 2 and 5 years were 18% and 4% respectively for patients treated with HR, and they were 19% and 4% for CFR group. (author). 24 refs

[en] This work is a retrospective study of 86 patients with squamous cell (51) and basal cell (35) carcinoma of the face. The median age was 67 years. The staging is as following: 31 cases T₁ and T₂, 55 patients T₃ and T₄. All patients were considered NO. Electron beam was used in all cases and energy ranged from 5 to 15 MeV depending on the thickness of the tumor. The total tumor dose was 60-70 Gy delivered in 6 weeks. In 7 cases of very old patients the authors have used concentrated irradiation: 3 patients received 21 Gy in one fraction and 4 patients 48 Gy in 8 fractions. 96.8% patients T₁ i T₂ are NED contrary to 56.4% T₃ i T₄. Cosmetic results were considered as good in 52, fairly good in 7 and bad in 2 patients

[en] Two cases of post-radiation injury of spinal cord in the patients radiated radically due to plano-epithelial cancer of larynx were presented. (author)

[en] This work is a retrospective study of 75 patients with non small cell lung cancer irradiated postoperatively. The overall 5-year survival rate of 28% was achieved. The extent of surgical resection and post-surgical (pathologic-pTNM) staging are two significant prognostic factors. The best results (70% of 5-year survival) was obtained in patients without mediastinal metastases, irradiated for microscopic residual tumour on the resected margin. Postoperative irradiation was ineffective in the group of patients with mediastinal lymph node involvement and with microscopical incomplete surgery

[en] Teleradiotherapy is the treatment of choice for stage 1 testicular pure seminoma. In this study of 130 patients, we compared the dose of 35 and 30 Gy given prophylactically. No statistically significant difference in survival was observed between the groups. 29 Refs

[en] In women with early stage breast cancer brachytherapy (BR) boost allows increase of the dose administered to the tumour bed, following whole-breast irradiation. In the present paper high-dose-rate and low-dose-rate brachytherapy results are presented, in comparison to external electron beam radiotherapy. Results of Phase II and III trials show that both techniques give comparable results regarding efficacy. In most patients satisfying cosmetic results can also be obtained, with acceptable local recurrence rate not exceeding 10 %. (authors)

[en] Radiotherapy versus chemotherapy in postoperative treatment of early ovarian cancer. Results of a randomized trial. Purpose. -In a prospective randomized trial, our aim was to evaluate and compare the tolerance and efficacy of postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of early ovarian cancer. Material and methods. - Between 1990 and 1996, 150 patients with ovarian cancer stage IA, IB grades G2-3, and all patients classified IC and IIA, who did not have evidence of residual disease after surgery, were randomized to two treatment branches: radiotherapy or chemotherapy (CH). In the radiotherapy branch (76 patients), a whole abdomen irradiation of 30 Gy in 24 fractions over 5 weeks, with a pelvic boost to 50 Gy, was delivered. In the chemotherapy branch (74 patients), there were six series of polychemotherapy separated with 3-weeks interval. In each series patients received association of cisplatin (50 mg/m², d1 ), adriamycin (50 mg/m², d1) and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m², d1 ). Results. -The tolerance of the treatment was good and comparable in both groups. In the radiotherapy branch, three late grade G3 intestinal complications were observed (three bowel obstructions, which required surgery in two cases). The actuarial survival rate without evidence of disease was 81 % at 5 years for both groups. In our series we found that histological grade had the strongest influence on survival prognosis; it was the only significant factor in a multivariate analysis. Patients with grade G3 tumors had the worst survival. Conclusion. -These data suggest that efficacy of postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy administered to our patients with early ovarian cancer gave approximately identical results. (authors)

[en] Analysis of the radiotherapy's failures in a form of metastatic lymphnodes was performed in the group of 373 laryngeal cancer patients. The authors point out that irradiation of large metastatic lymphnodes do not produce satisfying results. In the cases with supraglottic involvement there is a need of elective total neck irradiation. (author)

[en] The paper presents different treatment schedules of organ preservation as an alternative to radical cystectomy in patients with invasive bladder cancer stage T2-4 N0 M0. These approaches include radiation therapy, radiation therapy and concomitant chemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (i.e. prior to irradiation or partial cystectomy). The overall survival rate at 5 years reaches 30-65%, and the 5-year survival rate with a functioning bladder is 24-75%. The methotrexate, vinblastin, doxorubicine and cisplatin (MVAC) regimen has been considered standard treatment in patients with locally advanced and metastatic (stage T2-4 N1-3 M1) bladder cancer. A combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) allows to achieve similar results (overall response rate: 41-57%; complete response rate: 15-22%; median survival 13.4 months), whereas GC is associated with less toxicity than MVAC. On the basis of this superior risk-benefit ratio, the GC regimen should be favoured as the new standard treatment in patients with locally advanced and metastatic cancer. Other promising regimens include gemcitabine and paclitaxel, with or without cisplatin, and the combination of ifosfamide, paclitaxel and cisplatin. A phase III trial comparing these schedules with the doublet of GC has been initiated. (author)

[en] lnfratentorial low grade astrocytoma (ILGA) occurs rarely in adult patients and accounts for about 3% of all intracranial tumors.The basic method of treatment for ILGA is surgery. Complete resection results in high local control rate and the role of postoperative irradiation in management of partially resected tumors is not clearly determined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of postoperative irradiation in adult patients with incompletely excised ILGA. Between 1975 and 1995, thirty one adult patients with incompletely excised ILGA received postoperative irradiation with curative intent. All patients were treated with megavoltage gamma rays (^60Co). The total dose ranged from 50 to 60 Gy (mean; 54 Gy) and was delivered with daily fraction of 1.8-2 Gy. The treatment volume covered the tumor being area with a margin of 1-2 cm. Tolerance to treatment has been found to be good in 30 patients (97%). The overall 15-year actuarial survival rate was 62% in the entire group. Young patients, up to twenty years of age achieved a 15-year overall actuarial survival rate of 85%, older patients - 46%. This difference was statistically significant (p =0. 0205). Conventionally fractionated postoperative radiotherapy with doses of 50 to 60 Gy may improve long term results of adult patients with ILGA after uncomplete resection. Age is a significant prognostic factor - young patients, up to twenty years of age, show best survival. (author)