Thallium-201 scintigraphy to assess effect of chemotherapy in osteosarcoma.

UNLABELLED: Imaging results in patients with high-grade osteosarcoma of the extremities were reviewed to determine whether scintigraphic appearance correlated with histologic response to preoperative chemotherapy. METHODS: Histologically, the percent tumor necrosis in specimens from 30 patients were classified into three grades: grade 1 = necrosis less than 60%, grade 2 = 60%-89% necrosis and grade 3 = diffuse necrosis greater than 90% based upon whole transverse sections. Scintigraphically, we analyzed 201TI uptake before and after preoperative chemotherapy. The changes in the tumor-to-background ratio were defined by an alteration ratio. RESULTS: Of the 11 patients with a grade 1 response, the ratio showed -67.1% +/- 45.4% (mean +/- s.d.). Of the 9 patients with a grade 2 response, the ratio showed 37.9% +/- 29.9% of the 10 patients with a grade 3 response the ratio showed 105.5% +/- 12.4%. The ratios correlated well with the histologic grades (p < 0.0001; analysis of variance). CONCLUSION: Thallium-201 scintigraphy accurately assesses the effect of chemotherapy on osteosarcoma.

Direct dissolution of gallstones with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) via endoscopic transpapillary catheterization in the gallbladder (ETCG).

In a pilot study of direct dissolution therapy of gallstones with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), endoscopic transpapillary catheterization in the gallbladder (ETCG) was performed. Complete dissolution was seen in 8 out of 12 (66%) patients and partial dissolution was seen in 2 (16%) patients. In one of the 8 complete dissolution patients, combined extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and dissolution therapy was carried out successfully. These 8 patients were followed up for 12-20 months with regular ultrasonography. During this period, 1 patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to stone recurrence. Thickening of the gallbladder wall was seen in 2 patients, but there were no other complications. Using Tsuchiya's classification based on ultrasound, complete dissolution was seen in type Ia stones. This pilot study suggests that the direct dissolution of gallstones with MTBE via ETCG might be a useful and safe non-invasive treatment in patients with cholesterol stones in preserved gallbladders.

Increased expression of cytokines in liver and serum in patients with extrahepatic diseases.

To determine whether the liver plays an immunological role in certain extrahepatic disorders, we investigated the expression of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in 11 patients who had recovered from cholecystolithiasis, 12 patients with gastric cancer, 20 patients with chronic hepatitis, and 6 healthy controls. Cytokine mRNAs in the liver were detected by semiquantitative reverse transcribed-polymerase chain reaction. Serum cytokines and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Increases in TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1 beta, and IFN-gamma mRNAs were found in the livers of patients with extrahepatic diseases. TNF-alpha and IL-6 peptides were increased in the sera of patients with gastric cancer. TNF-alpha in the sera and TNF-alpha mRNA in the liver were correlated in gastric cancer patients. Surprisingly, sIL-2R in the serum of gastric cancer patients was significantly higher than the level in healthy controls. Our findings suggest that the liver produces cytokines in reaction to extrahepatic lesions. Further, the increase in sIL-2R in gastric cancer patients indicates that malignancy may affect the immune network in vivo.

Photoelectron trapping in quadrupole and sextupole magnetic fields.

A photoelectron-trapping phenomenon has been found in the simulation of the photoelectron cloud. It is found that the photoelectrons can be trapped in the quadrupole and sextupole magnetic fields for very long time until it longitudinally drifts out of the magnets, even a long bunch train separation is not sufficient to clear up the photoelectrons. Therefore, such a kind of long time trapped photoelectron cloud can cause coupled bunch instability. The trapping phenomenon is strongly beam dependent, especially on the bunch length. There is no such kind of trapping if the positron beam does not disturb the photoelectrons during the whole process. There is also no trapping for positron bunch with bunch length longer than the period of the photoelectron's gyration motion at the mirror points. The trapping is a mirror field trap which is caused by beam disturbance. The trapping phenomenon and mechanism will be presented in detail.

On clinical usefulness of Tl-201 scintigraphy for the management of malignant soft tissue tumors.

The purpose of this study was to investigate Tl-201 as a tumor scanning agent in patients with malignant soft tissue sarcomas and to establish the sensitivity of this type of scintigraphy concerning local recurrences or metastases that may remain clinically suspected. Seventy-eight patients with malignant soft tissue sarcomas and 22 with benign soft tissue tumors were studied. Of these 78 malignant soft tissue sarcomas patients, the sensitivity of Tl-201 (81.2%) was higher than that of Ga-67 (68.8%). Thirty-three out of 78 patients received a total of 95 consecutive scintigraphic follow-up examinations. Therapeutic effects was assessed by comparing the results of Tl-201 examinations with the clinical findings. Of these 33 patients, the therapeutic effects observed were as follows: complete remission 1, partial remission 8, progress of disease 1, and no remarkable change 23. Tl-201 scintigraphy has proved itself very useful not only in clinically detecting the malignant soft tissue sarcomas and in assessing therapeutic effects on these diseases, but also in assessing the follow-up patients with malignant soft tissue sarcomas.

Comparison of Tc-99m pertechnetate with Tl-201 and Ga-67 scintigraphy of malignant soft-tissue tumors.

Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy was compared with Tl-201 chloride and Ga-67 citrate to evaluate the avidity of Tc-99m pertechtate for malignant soft-tissue tumors. Twenty-three patients with malignant soft-tissue tumors underwent scintigraphic studies. All 23 received Tc-99m and Tl-201, whereas 14 also were injected with Ga-67. In 21 (91%) of the 23 patients, Tc-99m accumulated extensively in the tumors. Tl-201 accumulated in 12 (52%) of the 23 tumors. Ga-67 accumulated in only 5 (36%) of the 14 tumors. The avidity of Tc-99m for myxoid tumors was markedly different from the other two agents. Tc-99m accumulated in all eight myxoid tumors, while neither Tl-201 or Ga-67 showed marked accumulation except for one patient with increased accumulation of Tl-201. This study shows that Tc-99m pertechnetate has the potential to localize malignant soft-tissue tumors and may be useful in the evaluation of these tumors.

[Adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of primary soft tissue sarcomas, with special reference to intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy].

Seventy-eight cases of adjuvant chemotherapy for primary soft tissue sarcoma including 51 cases of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy were studied. The patients ranged in age from 1 to 92 years with a median age of 34 years. Thirty-nine patients were male and 39 were female. The seventy-eight cases were comprized of 17 rhabdomyosarcoma, 12 liposarcoma, 12 neurogenic sarcoma, 10 malignant fibrous histiocytoma, 8 leiomyosarcoma, 7 angiosarcoma, 8 others and 4 unclassified sarcomas. Fifty-one patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities were treated by intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy with either VCQ (Vincristine and Carbazilquinone) or VCQ, A (Vincristine, Carbazilquinone and Adriamycin). Out of 42 patients with measurable lesions, 2 CR, 4 PR, 33 NC and 3 PD were obtained. Histological examinations demonstrated histological effect of GI 19, G IIa 11 and G IIb 7 by Ohboshi and Shimosato's criteria. Remarkable effects of treatment were noted in most rhabdomyosarcoma patients. After intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy, a variety of surgical procedures ranging from marginal resection and wide resection to radical amputation were employed in 44 patients. Local recurrence was 27% and distant metastasis developed in 47% of cases.

[Preoperative systemic chemotherapy of patients with osteosarcoma: a preliminary study of nine cases].

Nine patients with osteosarcoma were treated with cisplatinum and high-dose methotrexate therapy. According to the clinical responses to each drug, we selected and used the effective one with adriamycin or bleomycin, cyclophosphamide and actinomycin-D combination therapy. We treated patients with these protocols for several months (two and one-half to eight months). Both high-dose methotrexate and cisplatinum were effective in two cases, methotrexate or cisplatinum was effective in two patients individually (both resistant), but ifosfamide was effective in one case. No differences between any drug in the pattern of effective drug response. It is possible to exclude non-effective drugs from the preoperative schedule according to the degree of clinical responses manifested within one or two weeks. This preliminary study suggested that intensive systemic preoperative chemotherapy will control primary and micrometastatic lesions of osteosarcoma and improve the treatment for primary and advanced osteosarcoma.

[TNM classification of bone and soft tissue sarcomas].

TNM classification of bone and soft tissue sarcomas was published by UICC in 1987. Histological grading (G) is an important factor in this classification, but the criteria of G categories are not so clear. In addition, lymph node metastasis is very rare in bone and soft tissue sarcoma. Therefore, prognostic factors are limited to T, M and G categories. Since correlation between the stage (UICC) and the survival rate was not found in patients with osteosarcoma, TNM classification (UICC) has not been used widely in the field of orthopedic oncology. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Committee of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association proposed another TNM classification of osteosarcoma based on multivariate analysis. T1 is less than 15 cm and T2 is 15 cm or larger in maximal diameter. N and M are same with the UICC criteria. Serum alkaline phosphatase level (A) is included in this classification in which A0 is less than the normal value x2.5, and A1 is the normal value x2.5 or more. G categories are separated into two groups according to the mitotic rate in a high power field (x200); G1 is assigned to the tumor with 0-9/1 HPF and G2 is assigned to those with 10 or more/1 HPF. Reclassification of osteosar-coma by this modified TNM system indicated that there was a correlation between the survival rate and the stage.

[Autologous bone marrow transplantation in osteosarcoma].

Four patients with osteosarcoma were treated with intensive chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). The patients received high-dose methotrexate (9-12 mg/m2) with citrovorum factor rescue, high-dose melphalan (60 mg/m2 X 3), actinomycin D (0.5 mg/m2 X 3), adriamycin (30 mg/m2 X 2) and high-dose cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg X 2) during 4 weeks. Bone marrow was aspirated and cryopreserved before treatment and reinfused 48 hours after the completion of chemotherapy. Two of four patients had advanced osteosarcoma with multiple pulmonary metastasis, one of whom had responded well and achieved partial response while the other had shown no response, and both patients died of disease progression 4 and 11 months after ABMT, respectively. The other two patients who received this regimen at an earlier disease stage for prevention of pulmonary metastasis, are alive and well without any evidence of metastasis 31 and 18 months after ABMT, respectively. This regimen was tolerated well in all patients except for mild nausea and vomiting. No infectious episodes were observed during the period of aplasia which continued for 19 to 38 days after marrow infusion. These results suggest that this supralethal combination chemotherapy is safe and tolerable when used with ABMT and effective for patients with osteosarcoma, especially when applied in the non-metastatic phase.

[Treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma at the National Cancer Center Hospital].

Seventy-nine patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) received treatment at the National Cancer Center Hospital between 1962 and 1985. The patients ranged in age from 4 months to 74 years with a median age of 6 years. Forty-six patients were male and 33 were female. The primary tumor site of RMS was the same as in the previous report. The head and neck region was the most frequent site (40.5%), followed by the extremities (34.1%), genitourinary region (15.2%), trunk (5.1%) and retroperitoneum (5.1%). Histologic types were embryonal RMS in 45 patients, alveolar RMS in 23 patients, pleomorphic RMS in 8 patients and unclassified RMS in 3 patients. As of October 1985, 14 of the 79 patients were still alive. Between 1962 and 1971, 38 patients were not treated by any protocol. After 1972, 41 patients received treatment using a 3 stage-related, multiple-modality program. In the first protocol, chemotherapy consisted of Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide, and Actinomycin-D, and 1 of 18 patients have survived more than 5 years. The cumulative 5-year survival rate of the first protocol was 11.1%. In the second treatment program, which involved Adriamycin in addition to the 3 drugs cited above, 4 of 23 patients have survived more than 5 years. The cumulative 5-year survival rate, 33.2%, was very improved.

[Clinical experience with alpha and beta interferon in childhood cancer].

Alpha and beta interferon were tested for antitumor activity and clinical toxicity in 15 children suffering from cancer. The drug was administered IV, IM, IT or intralesionally daily in the majority of cases in total doses of 18 X 10(6) to 9,634 X 10(5) IU. Major toxicities were a flulike syndrome, elevation of transaminase activity and leukopenia. A minor response (less than 50%) was observed in one patient with glioblastoma, treated by intrathecal administration, and an objective local response was noted in one rhabdomyosarcoma patient with multiple subcutaneous metastases, who was treated by intralesional administration. CNS leukemia in two patients improved without hematological response. Further trials are warranted.

[Diagnosis and treatment of metastatic bone cancer of the extremities].

Eight hundred and thirty-six patients with metastatic cancer in the bone excluding autopsy findings, occurring between January, 1976 and December, 1985 were reviewed. The most frequent site of primary focus was the breast (33.2%), followed by lung (24.6%). Three hundred and forty-two patients (40.9%) were male and 494 (59.1%) female. Diagnosis of bone metastasis was based on abnormal accumulation in the bone scintigram and abnormal findings in the bone X-ray at the same site. Out of 836 patients, 285 had metastatic skeletal lesion including extremities and 43 had a solitary lesion of the extremity. The most frequent site of bone metastases in the extremity was proximal femur and involvement of the femur was 65.2% and that of humerus was 25.6%. The majority of the patients were treated by irradiation (24.9%), irradiation with chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy (21.1%), chemotherapy (18.6%) and chemotherapy with hormone therapy (17.2%), on the other hand, only 25(8.8%) of 285 patients were treated by surgical procedures. Cumulative survival rate after diagnosis of bone metastasis varied with site of primary focus and 5 year survival rate of all cases was 6.1%. Clinical courses after skeletal metastasis were separated into two types, and one type was breast type which was slow and other type was lung type which was rapid. The most important factor for the prognosis of the patients with bone metastasis is thought to be the primary site of origin.

[Evaluation of adjuvant chemotherapy of osteosarcoma with special reference to adriamycin (final report)].

Adjuvant chemotherapy mainly with ADR performed in 117 patients (pts) with primary osteosarcoma of the extremity for the purpose of preventing pulmonary metastasis after radical ablative surgery. The mean follow-up period for 117 pts was 51.7 months (range: 3 to 137), for 53 survivors, 90.1 months (range: 60 to 137) and for 64 decreased, 20.5 months (range: 3 to 73). ADR was administered intravenously with 0.6-0.8 mg/kg/day for 3 consecutive days at monthly intervals after surgery until reaching 600 or 500 mg/m2 of the total cumulative dose. Five-year overall and disease-free survival rate of all pts was 50.2% and 39.4%, respectively. Thirty-seven pts (multi-drug group) with the combination of ADR and HDMTX had a higher survival rate (63.1% in 5-year overall survival rate and 47.8% in 5-year disease-free survival rate) than that of 80 pts with ADR alone (ADR group) (44.4% in 5-year overall survival rate and 35.6% in 5-year disease-free survival rate). Five-year survival rate for 65 pts administered the greater than 500 mg of ADR was 59.3% compared to 36.9% for 52 pts the less than 500 mg (p less than 0.05). In 65 pts administered the greater than 500 mg of ADR, 5-year survival rate (76.5%) of the multidrug group (17 pts) showed superiority to that 52.1%) of the ADR group (48 pts) (p less than 0.01). Even in the multi-drug group, 5-year survival rate (76.5%) of 17 pts administered the greater than 500 mg of ADR was higher than that (41.3%) of 20 pts given the less than 500 mg (p less than 0.01). Distant metastases were recognized at lung in 52 pts (lung group), lung + extrapulmonary organs in 14 (+ extragroup), and only extrapulmonary organs in 3 (extra group). Five-year survival rate of 66 pts with pulmonary metastasis was 17.1% and 21.2% in the lung group compared with 0% of the extra group (P less than 0.01). Five-year survival rate for 23 pts treated with thoracotomy was 43.5% compared to 2.6% for 43 without it (p less than 0.01).

[Cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum in osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma Cooperative Study Group report].

Thirty-two patients with primary osteosarcoma and 18 patients with advanced osteosarcoma were treated by iv or ia infusion of cisplatinum at a dose of 100 mg/m2 every three weeks. The efficacy of the agent for primary osteosarcoma was mainly estimated by X-ray findings and histologic examination. One patient had a partial response, and 7 patients had a minor response. Pathologic evaluation of the extent of the primary tumor necrosis was performed on 27 resected specimens. Eight of 27 cases showed a good response (Ayala III A less than). One of 18 patients with advanced osteosarcoma had a partial response, and 2 a minor response. Nausea and vomiting (88%), liver dysfunction (42%), leukopenia (36%), nephrotoxicity (20%) and auditory disturbance (20%) were the main side effects in 50 patients. However, side effects of cisplatinum were generally reversible. The results suggest that cisplatinum is effective against osteosarcoma and may enhance the therapeutic results in osteosarcoma.

[Recent status of the diagnosis and treatment of bone metastasis in patients with advanced lung cancer].

The incidence and prognosis of patients with bone metastasis in primary advanced lung cancer were studied retrospectively. Between Jan. 1980 and Dec. 1985, 289 cases entered various kinds of chemotherapy protocol studies. Patients with bone metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSC) comprised 44% (86/192), and those with small cell lung cancer (SC) comprised 43% (42/97). Histologically, 48% of adenocarcinoma, 50% of large cell carcinoma and 31% of squamous cell carcinoma showed bone metastasis. 8 percent of NSC bone meta (+) cases had an initial symptom of bone metastasis. Bone scan and bone X-ray were complementary and useful for diagnosis of bone metastasis, and sequential examinations tended to reduce the incidence of false-positive cases. Vertebral column, rib, pelvis and femur were the most common sites. Over 70% of the bone metastasis were in multiple skeletal systems, and 90% showed multiple-site involvement for both NSC and SC. Radiation therapy effectively reduced severe pain but paralysis was hard to control. In very few cases surgical treatment was indicated because of multiple bone metastasis, and systemic dissemination. Bone scan in 12% of SC patients showed apparent improvement with systemic chemotherapy. Among the M1 group of adenocarcinoma, median survival was 9 months in bone (+) cases, 11 months in bone (-) cases, 2 year survival was 8%, and 24%, and 3-year survival 2% and 22%, respectively. Among the bone(+) group and bone(-) group in ED cases of SC, median survival was 10 months vs. 11 months, and 2-year survival rates were both 13%. 22 percent (8/36) of squamous cell carcinomas without bone metastasis showed hypercalcemia (5.5 mEq/l). In patients with advanced lung cancer the major goal of treatment is recovery of the performance status of the patient and the relief of pain. In the case of SC, intensive systemic chemotherapy should be conducted as an adjuvant to local therapy.

[Improvement in function-preservation in radiotherapy for pediatric malignancies].

In radiotherapeutic management for pediatric tumors, we have to pay more attention to confinement of higher dose to the target volume than for adult tumors, in order that the risk of untoward normal tissue complications dose not increase, such as growth retardation. Two current approaches performing in our department to match this purpose are presented, namely, perioperative brachytherapy and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (F-SRT). In perioperative brachytherapy for bone and soft tissue sarcoma, plastic guide tubes for introducing radioactive sources are placed in the residual tumor bed or at the margins during the surgery, and patients are treated by high-dose-rate brachytherapy after surgery. Patients are not restricted in radioprotective area, and the overall treatment period is short enough. F-SRT is used either as the boost of conventional brain radiotherapy in primary brain neoplasms, or as hypofractionated F-SRT for control of metastatic brain tumors, with nearly perfect local control and maintenance of good quality of life. F-SRT is planned in 3-dimensional fashion from computed tomography images. Easily detachable, relocatable cast made for F-SRT is useful in pediatric patients.

[Endoscopic lithotomy using sublingual nitroglycerin].

After medical sphincter dilation using sud-lingual nitroglycerin, endoscopic removal of common bile duct stones in 15 patients was carried out. Complete stone removal was obtained in 14 of 15 patients. Only 0.3 mg to 0.6 mg nitroglycerin was needed to give an enough dilation of the orifice for cannulating the basket catheter into the bile duct. Mechanical lithotriptor was smoothly cannulated in one patient because of possible impaction. Blood pressure was dropped transiently in one patient by nitroglycerin, however, the general condition of the patient was stable. This procedure is safe, easy and effective in preserving sphincter function. Acute cholecystitis, a common complication of persistent gallbladder stone after endoscopic sphincterotomy, may be avoided by employing this method. More clinical studies, on long term and in a large scale of patients, are necessary to reduce complications that usually occur after sphincterotomy.