Quality of survival of patients with brain gliomas treated with postoperative CCNU and radiation therapy.

This prospective randomized clinical trial compared the effectiveness of combined treatment with CCNU and radiation therapy to the use of radiation therapy alone for the postoperative management of supratentorial brain gliomas (67% anaplastic) in 198 patients. The results were evaluated with the aid of a specially developed weighted neuropsychological test battery providing single-value estimation of "life quality" of patients, as well as with a clinical performance scale. Based on these methods, it was established that patients improved within 6 months following therapy. This improvement was maintained in surviving patients during the 2-year follow-up period. The patients led a relatively normal life, but when their condition deteriorated their decline was rapid. The median survival time of patients treated with radiotherapy did not differ significantly from that of patients receiving chemotherapy in addition. Nor did the analysis of life quality and of changes in clinical performance show any benefit in supplementing surgery and radiation therapy with CCNU chemotherapy at the dosage used.

Solcoseryl prevents early postradiation changes in the lungs.

The aim of the study was to test the influence of Solcoseryl on early postradiation changes in the lungs of rats. The chests of the rats were irradiated with Co-60, fractional dose 250 cGy/DT, total dose 2500 cGy/DT. Solcoseryl was given intraperitoneally in quantities of 0,1ml daily, during 60 days of the experiment. Morphological examinations of the lungs revealed that Solcoseryl decreased significantly the effects of early postradiation damage of the respiratory organ in rats.

[Comparison of two treatment methods in inoperable primary brain tumors]. / Porównanie dwóch metod leczenia pierwotnych nieoperacyjnych guzów mózgu.

The results of two conservative treatment regimens in patients with inoperable brain tumours are presented. The group of 25 patients were treated with protracted telegammatherapy and concomitant multi-drug chemotherapy. Another group of 29 patients were irradiated with shorter series of increasing daily doses, receiving no chemotherapy. There was no statistical difference between survival curves of both groups of patients. The results indicate that irradiation with shorter series causes effects similar to protracted irradiation and allows reduction of treatment time by half.

[Factors affecting the quality of life of patients treated by a combined method for poorly differentiated supratentorial glioma]. / Czynniki wplywajace na zmiany jakosci zycia chorych leczonych w sposób skojarzony z powodu niskozróznicowanych, nadnamiotowych glejaków mózgu.

The quality of life of patients treated for brain tumours and the length of survival are important factors making possible the evaluation of treatment effectiveness. Changes of life quality evaluated by the Karnofsky scale were analysed in a group of 56 patients who have received combined treatment for poorly differentiated supratentorial gliomas. Life quality changes were evaluated after completion of surgical and radiological treatment in relation to preoperative status. The influence of various clinical factors on life quality changes was evaluated. Surgical treatment and tumour site had a significant effect on the stabilization or slight improvement of life quality. The direction and extent of life quality changes were related to surgery, with further change after radiotherapy.

[Results of non-operative treatment of primary brain tumors using teleradiotherapy and chemotherapy]. / Wyniki leczenia nieoperacyjnych pierwotnych guzów mózgu teleradioterapia i chemioterapia.

In the years 1979-1984 25 patients with inoperable primary brain tumours were treated. The clinical diagnosis in all cases was glioma, histological examinations were not done. The patients received teleradiotherapy (DG 6000 rads) and simultaneously combined chemotherapy by the Hildebrand schedule (methotrexate, vincristine, CCNU, dexamethasone). In one case severe toxicity was observed. The median survival time was 41 weeks and 10 patients survived over one year.

[Experience of the Lublic center with the combined treatment of supratentorial glial brain tumors. Preliminary report]. / Doswiadczenia osrodka lubelskiego w skojarzonym leczeniu nadnamiotowych glejopochodnych nowotworów mózgu. Doniesienie wstepne.

The results of combined treatment were analysed in 38 cases of cerebral gliomas. In the group of 14 patients with glioblastoma multiforme treated surgically and by later radiotherapy and chemotherapy by the schedule of Hildebrand a mean arrival time of 116 weeks was obtained and the one-year survival rate was 71%. In the group of inoperable gliomas (16 cases) treated by radiotherapy and chemotherapy the mean survival time was 47 weeks and the one-year survival rate was 44%.

[Diagnostic procedures and therapeutic management in cases of pineal region tumors]. / Postepowanie diagnostyczne i lecznicze w przypadkach guzów obszaru szyszynkowego.

The purpose of the study was an attempt at evaluation of therapeutic results in 10 cases of tumours situated in the pineal region. The diagnosis was based on clinical and neuroradiological findings. Treatment included neurosurgical decompressing procedures (by the methods of Torkildsen, Pudenz Stookey-Scarf) followed in all cases by Co60 radiotherapy. The results of treatment expressed as survival rates were similar to those reported by others.

[Analysis of the results of combined treatment of poorly differentiated brain gliomas]. / Ocena wyników skojarzonego leczenia niskozróznicowanych glejaków mózgu.

In a group of 139 patients with poorly differentiated brain gliomas controlled clinical trial was carried out for assessment of two methods of postoperative treatment. After possibly radical removal of the glioma the patients were treated by radiotherapy with 60Co teletherapy in doses of 60 Gy (30 fr) in depth during 6 weeks, and randomly chosen patients received also CCNU in one dose of 100 mg/m repeated at intervals of 6-8 weeks. The administration of CCNU failed to improve the therapeutic results. The median survival time in the whole group was 49 weeks. The survival rate after 1, 2 and 3 years was 45.4%, 22.8% and 14.9% respectively. The survival times of cases of glioblastoma multiforme were not significantly different from those of patients with other poorly differentiated gliomas independently of the treatment method. The complications were not troublesome.

[Acute radiation reaction and its healing time after skin cancer radiotherapy in elderly patients]. / Nasilenie ostrego odczynu popromiennego i czas gojenia po leczeniu napromienianiem raka skóry u osób w podeszlym wieku.

In group of 106 patients over 70 with skin cancer radiation-induced reaction and its healing time were evaluated. Mean age was 78.3 years. The control group consisted of 35 patients under 70 with average age 59 years. All patients were treated under conventional roentgenotherapy conditions with dose fractionation. Intensification of acute radioreaction was classified according to RTGO and EORTC scores. In elderly patients the first grade of reaction was twice lower than in control group. Average healing time of radiation-induced reaction in the whole elderly group was 3 weeks longer in comparison with controls. Mean healing time of the same reaction intensity grade was also longer in elderly. In the first grade of changes it was 1 week longer. 3 and 1 week there were in second and third degree respectively.

[Activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase in breast cancer]. / Aktywnosc dehydrogenazy izocytrynianowej w raku sutka.

The activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) was studied in the tissue of breast cancer and in the blood serum of the women suffering from this neoplasm. The comparative material was the physiological tissue of mammae and blood serum of the healthy women. The activity of ICDH in neoplasm tissue was more higher than in physiological tissue. In the blood serum of ill patients activity of this enzyme was higher than in control serums too.

[Angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia (Castelman's disease) in an adult woman]. / Naczyniowo-grudkowy rozrost wezlów chlonnych (choroba Castlemana) u doroslej kobiety.

Angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia Castleman's disease) is a rare disorder of unclear etiology and wide spectrum of systemic symptoms. This report describes a case of this disorder of hyalinovascular type in 45-years old woman. The lesions were localized in axillary lymph nodes. The disease was curable by surgical excision.

[Coexistence of 4 neoplasms: lymphoma, lip cancer, malignant melanoma and skin cancer in a patient]. / Wspólistnienie czterech nowotworów: chloniaka, raka wargi, czerniaka zlosliwego i raka skóry u jednego chorego.

An extremely rare case is described with coexistence of four neoplasms in one patient diagnosed simultaneously or at short time intervals.

[Laryngeal cancer in siblings]. / Rak krtani u rodzenstwa.

A rare case is described of laryngeal cancer in brother and sister. There have been as yet 21 similar cases in literature reports. The role of habits is discussed as well as certain familial proneness, rarely observed in this type of neoplasm.

[Late results of radiotherapy in patients with laryngeal carcinoma]. / Odlegle wyniki leczenia napromienianiem chorych na raka krtani.

Distant results in 151 patients with laryngeal cancer who were irradiated at the Oncological Hospital in Lublin in years 1981 to 1986 are presented. Patients were treated using teletherapy Co-60. The localization of the primary lesion in the larynx and the status of the neck lymph nodes determined the choice of the treatment technique. All patients received 60 Gy to the tumour during 5-6 weeks of treatment. Radical irradiation resulted in 74% 5-year NED survival in this group. There were 23 loco-regional relapses. It was significant that 23% of them were found after a five-year period. The analysis of the treatment failures revealed a long-term menance of loco-regional cancer recurrence.

[Cancer of the larynx in patients under 40 years of age]. / Rak krtani u chorych do 40 lat zycia.

440 patients with the plano-epithelial laryngeal cancer were radically treated by radiotherapy in Oncologic Department ZOZ in Lublin during the years 1976-1985. Among them were 23 (5.2%) "young" patients, aged below 40. In this group 10 patients (43%) revealed the first grade of clinical stage of the disease, whereas in remaining material there were 25% of cases in the first grade. The therapeutic effects in "young" group were the same as in the rest of cases. The percentage of "young" cancer patients became greater during the time: in 1976-80-4.1%, in 1981-85-6.1%.

[Comparison of two irradiation methods for laryngeal carcinoma in the second degree of clinical progression]. / Porównanie dwóch metod napromieniania raka krtani w drugim stopniu zaawansowania klinicznego.

Two methods of irradiation of larynx carcinoma have been compared: conventional dose fractionation and hyperfractionation. The first consisted in irradiating once a day a dose of 2.2 GY to the complete dose of 70 Gy to 77 Gy, and the other in applying two fractions daily, 1.1 Gy each, until the combined dose of 70 Gy to 77 Gy was reached. 20 patients irradiated conventionally and 32 treated with hyperfractionation have been examined. The proportion of complete remissions in the compared groups was 65% and 72% respectively. A better tolerance of irradiation by means of hyperfractionation has been recorded. The proportion of I degree and II degree reactions in that group of patients was 75% whereas it was 65% in the group irradiated conventionally.

[The value of inductive chemotherapy in radiation treatment of advanced neoplasms of the head and neck]. / Wartosc chemioterapii indukcyjnej w leczeniu napromienianiem zaawansowanych nowotworów glowy i szyi.

The value of inductive chemotherapy preceding the radical irradiation of locally advanced neoplasms of the head and neck has been estimated. The following have been applied: cisplatin, adriamycin, bleomycin. A reaction to treatment in the form of CR and PR has been achieved in 80% of the treated patients. Irradiation was started in two to four weeks after chemotherapy had been stopped. After combined treatment the proportion of 33.3% CR was achieved. The average length of time of CR and PR was 9.8 months.

[Evaluation of radiotherapy failure in laryngeal cancer patients in several Polish medical centers during the years 1980-1982]. / Ocena niepowodzen leczenia napromienianiem chorych na raka krtani w kilku osrodkach krajowych w latach 1980-1982.

Analysis of the treatment failure was performed in the group of 634 laryngeal cancer patients treated by radiotherapy. It has been demonstrated that extensiveness of neoplasm and supraglottic region were disadvantageous as prognostic factors in radiotherapy patients.

[Cervical metastatic lymphnodes in laryngeal cancer patients following radiotherapy]. / Przerzuty w wezlach chlonnych szyjnych u chorych na raka krtani po leczeniu napromienianiem.

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

[Evaluation of post-irradiation reaction in patients after radiotherapy of laryngeal cancer]. / Ocena odczynów popromiennych u chorych na raka krtani leczonych napromienianiem.

The early and late local reactions after radiotherapy were evaluated by means of International Classification, in 345 laryngeal cancer patients. The positive correlation was found between the grade of reaction and radiation dose as so irradiated volume. The same tolerance was found in patients treated by X-therapy and cobalt teletherapy ++. The time for observation of the early reaction may be according to the authors elongated from 6 to 12 months.