[en] Nineteen patients with relapsed or resistant multiple myeloma were treated with sequential half-body irradiation (12) and half-body irradiation only (seven). Haematological toxicity was acceptable and recovery was complete in all but two of the 19 patients following half-body irradiation. However, only six of the 12 patients who subsequently had the remaining half irradiated completely recovered. Blood transfusions were required to correct anaemia in six patients, a platelet transfusion was given to one and one patient required both platelet and blood transfusions. No serious haematological complications were observed. Six of the 13 patients who received upper half-body irradiation of probable chest infection, while one patient of the six who received lower half-body irradiation died of this complication. Some of the seven deaths may have been due to radiation pneumonitis. Two patients developed brain secondaries, possibly indicating a change in the natural history of myeloma produced by this new treatment. Subjective improvement was observed in 17 patients and relief of pain usually occurred within the first 24 h. Objective responses were noted in six patients. The median survival for all patients was 6 months with five patients alive 11-28 months at the time of writing. (author)

No abstract available

[en] Small-cell anaplastic carcinoma of the bronchus (SCCB) is considered to be a chemosensitive tumour. For many physicians, chemotherapy is the treatment of first choice. However, despite prolonged and aggressive therapy, overall 2-year survival of less than 10% may be expected. Radiotherapy has an established role in the palliation of advances disease. We have previously investigated the use of single, large fractions of radiotherapy in patients with drug-resistant multiple myeloma and shown excellent responses and prolonged survival. As the majority of patients present with disseminated disease, we have investigated the use of a single fraction of radiotherapy to the upper half of the body (including the liver) in 24 patients with SCCB. (author)

[en] Fat necrosis is a well-recognised complication of trauma to the breast. It has also been described following breast surgery. In this report, we describe four patients who developed a small tender nodule following excision and radiotherapy for early breast cancer. These were in or near the excision scar. Histology of the resected nodules revealed fat necrosis with no evidence of recurrence. It is recommended that in all cases when a tender, inflamed nodule in or adjacent to the excision scar is found, a biopsy should be carried out to distinguish between this condition and recurrence. (author)

[en] Purpose: A dose-searching study was carried out treating selected elderly patients or patients with poor performance with bladder cancer with once weekly fractionation to determine an effective dose per fraction, and to evaluate acute and late effects resulting from this schedule. Methods and Materials: Seventy patients with invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were entered in the study. The dose used was 36-39 Gy in six fractions over 35 days in 27 patients (Group 1). The remaining 43 patients were treated with 34.5 Gy in six fractions over 39 days (Group 2). Results: Six patients developed Grade 1-2 European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) bowel reaction. Three patients in Group 1 developed Grade 3 late bowel reaction and a fourth patient developed Grade 4 reaction requiring colostomy. However, only one patient in Group 2 developed Grade 3 reaction. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (X² = 3.794, p = 0.05). Conclusions: The acute and late reaction as well as the 5-year free survival for patients in Group 2 compare favorably with daily treatment. We conclude that 34.5 Gy given over 39 days is a safe and effective treatment for selected patients with bladder cancer

[en] C57BL mice were given local irradiation to 2 cm² of the lower abdomen in the dose range 16-24 Gy. There were some early deaths, but mice dying between 50-240 days predominantly developed invasive adenocarcinomas of the intestine. When the radiosensitizer misonidazole was given in a single dose shortly before irradiation the proportion of mice developing tumours was higher, but the difference was not statistically significant. However, there was a significant increase in the incidence of multiple tumours, largely attributable to tumours arising in the rectum. (author)

[en] Thirty-seven patients with advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who were treated by total-body irradiation (TBI) at the Royal Marsden Hospital are reviewed. Twenty-four patients had received no previous therapy; 13 patients were in relapse. The overall response rate was 73% for nodular lymphomas and 80% for those with diffuse disease. The duration of complete response ranged from two to 41 months (median 12 months). Subsequent chemotherapy was given successfully except in patients with prolonged thrombocytopenia which appeared to be related to an initially involved bone marrow. Hemibody irradiation (HBI) was the least myelosuppressive form of TBI and is now being used in complete remission following chemotherapy. (author)