[en] This study describes how elevated temperatures influenced the transformation rates of irradiated and non-irradiated cells

[en] The current interest in the use of hyperthermia for the treatment of cancer, either alone or in combination with x-rays, prompted the present investigation of the oncogenic potential of hyperthermia, using an established in vitro transformation assay system, C3H/10T 1/2 cells

[en] Four cases of subclavian artery occlusion occurring 5 to 17 years after irradiation for breast carcinoma are presented. Although arterial insufficiency is a rarely reported sequel of radiotherapy, it may be the cause of pain and disability in the upper extremity in a postmastectomy patient. Particular attention should be paid to the presence of a bruit over the subclavian and axillary arteries. Arteriography will often reveal a short, segmental lesion of the subclavian artery that frequently can be repaired surgically

[en] Hyperthermia combined with ⁶⁰Co gamma irradiation was studied using V79 hamster cells cultured in vitro. Modest hyperthermia (41⁰C for 6 hr) enhanced the cell killing produced by acute exposure to radiation. The same treatment enhanced the effect of low dose-rate irradiation (200 rads/hr) even more. The sequence in which modest hyperthermia was combined with low dose-rate irradiation was important. Maximal enhancement was observed when hyperthermia was followed by irradiations. The probable explanation is that, by damaging the repair system, prior heat renders the cells unable to repair sublethal damage during subsequent low dose-rate irradiation

[en] The peripheral blood changes were studied in 67 children who received craniospinal irradiation for posterior fossa tumors. At the completion of a cranial dose of about 3500 rad to the whole brain port, the lymphocytes were reduced to 858/mm³ from 3084/mm³ preoperatively. The counts of the remaining leukocytes stayed at a level somewhat higher than preoperatively; the eosinophils rose to 288/mm³ from 125/mm³. With the initiation of the spinal field irradiation, which included a large proportion of the total bone marrow, the numbers of all the leukocytes decreased rapidly; the observed leukopenia was mainly secondary to neutropenia. A mechanism that was operating to restore the number of leukocytes became manifest immediately after the completion of radiotherapy, though the number of lymphocytes had not been totally restored to the preoperative level 6 years later. Irradiation of the lymphocytes that circulate through the vascular bed can explain the lymphopenia observed during cranial radiotherapy. Mild leukopenia observed in patients receiving radiotherapy through a relatively small port may be secondary to lymphopenia, and this does not necessarily indicate impaired bone marrow reserves

[en] An analysis of the role of radiotherapy in the management of gallbladder (GB) and extra-hepatic bile duct (EHBD) cancer is based upon thirteen patients irradiated in our hospital and a review of the literature. These patients were treated as part of curative or palliative management in conjunction with surgery, after surgical failure or recurrence, and as the only palliative modality. Doses ranged from 3800 to 7225 rad. Significant palliation was obtained in 92 percent of the patients; average total bilirubin value decreased from 9.1 mg. percent before to 1.7 mg. percent after radiotherapy. The mean survival of all patients was 12.7 months after surgery (7.1 in GB, 16.1 in EHBD), and was 7.3 months after initiation of radiotherapy (6.3 in GB, 8.0 in EHBD). Two patients were alive and well with no evidence of disease 12 and 16 months after radiotherapy, and local tumor control was achieved in two. Complications included possible biliary fibrosis. Based upon a critical review of the surgical, chemotherapeutic, and radiotherapeutic literature, it is concluded that present surgical therapy fails because of extensive regional disease in which local recurrences follow various simple and radical surgical maneuvers; palliative surgery often fails. Survival rates have been poor following any therapy at present, although encouraging results are seen with carefully planned megavoltage radiotherapy. A proposal is made to evaluate the role of radiotherapy systematically: as part of curative therapy post-operatively to decrease local recurrences and to increase the length and quality of survival; to treat incisional recurrences; as part of advanced disease management to increase the effectiveness and length of palliation; and in conjunction with chemotherapy to further consolidate therapeutic gains made with radiotherapy alone

[en] A study of complications associated with paraaortic irradiation was undertaken in patients with uterine cervical cancer who had not undergone prior lymphadenectomy. Between 1975 and 1984, 29 highly selected patients received paraaortic irradiation as part of their definitive treatment for cervical carcinoma. Paraaortic fields were irradiated to a total dose of 4,200-5,000 rad (42-50 Gy), in fractions of 150-180 rad (1.5-1.8 Gy). An anteroposterior-posteroanterior technique was generally used. All fields were treated every day. There were no instances of small-bowel obstruction or other major complications, surgical procedures, or deaths caused by paraaortic irradiation. Eleven patients (38%) have no evidence of recurrent disease 23-120 months after completion of therapy. Paraaortic irradiation was well tolerated in this patient group without prior staging lymphadenectomy. Thus, in selected patients and with appropriate techniques, paraaortic irradiation for cervical carcinoma may be used with relative safety

[en] One hundred and sixty two patients with early carcinoma of the true vocal cord were treated primarily with radiation. Total dose ranged from 4700 to 7600 rad and was delivered at any one of four different beam energies. We present 5 and 10 year no evidence of disease (NED) rates as well as survival data for patients having primary tumor recurrence. Comparison of treatment results is made as a function of total dose, time-dose fractionation factor, beam quality and stage of disease

No abstract available

[en] The potential of hyperthermia for producing oncogenic transformation in vitro was assessed using C3H/10T1/2 mouse embryo cells. Temperatures in the range of 40⁰ to 45⁰C caused no transformations, whether or not the heat treatment was associated with significant cell killing. In addition, modest hyperthermia appreciably reduced the transformation frequencies associated with X-ray doses. The findings suggest an additional benefit in combining ionizing radiations with hyperthermia. (author)