Feasibility of measuring oxygen tension in uterine cervix carcinoma.

Cellular hypoxia is a cause of radioresistance. The oxygen tension (pO2) in normal tissues and in tumours can be measured by polarography. In this feasibility study we have measured the tissue pO2 of 10 patients suffering from uterine cervix carcinoma, using the Eppendorf histograph. The measurements were performed at the time of the brachytherapy after external radiotherapy. The machine was found to be reliable and no adverse effect was noted. The mean pO2 values in tumours were lower than those of normal tissues.

Does the direct measurement of oxygen tension in tumors have any adverse effects?

A new polarographic histograph was tested in tumors to assess its potential adverse effects in mice. The tumor cell lines used were: the lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) and two human xenografts (Na11+ and HRT18). The C57BL/6 mice survival and number of pulmonary metastases were not altered after pO2 measurements. Whatever the cell line, tumor doubling times were not changed after pO2 measurements. The new polarographic histograph was found to be reliable.

Radical hysterectomy for stage I and II endometrial carcinoma: a retrospective analysis of 179 cases.

Total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo oophorectomy is the traditional treatment for endometrial carcinoma. In an effort to improve local control rates, we have surgically treated our Stage I and II patients with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy (RH-PL). Between 1976 and 1987 we have treated 179 patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma (125 Stage I and 54 Stage II) with the following modalities. Uterovaginal brachytherapy (60 Gy) was performed first and then 6 weeks later an RH-PL was performed. Twenty-nine patients received external pelvic irradiation (45 Gy) because of tumor invasion beyond the internal two-thirds of the myometrium and/or lymph node involvement. The local control rate was 87% (92% for Stage I, 76% for Stage II). Distant metastases occurred in 24 patients (13%). Five-year actuarial survival rates were 80% for Stage I and 61% for Stage II patients. Prognostic factors were nodal status, histological grading, depth of tumor myometrial invasion, histologic status of the hysterectomy specimen, and peritoneal cytology. Late severe complications occurred for 13 patients (7%). These results are comparable to those published for patients treated with less extensive surgery. We conclude that such an extensive surgery (especially pelvic lymphadenectomy) appears to be useless for all patients with bad prognostic factors requiring pelvic external irradiation. We only still perform external iliac node samples for patients with Stage I grade 1 tumors without deep tumor invasion into the myometrium.

Preoperative or postoperative brachytherapy for patients with endometrial carcinoma stage I and II.

In endometrial carcinoma, vaginal vault brachytherapy is performed to improve the local control rate and to decrease vaginal recurrences. To assess the best chronology of this brachytherapy compared to surgery, we have retrospectively analyzed results of treatment of patients treated either with preoperative brachytherapy (60 Gy) and then radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo oophorectomy (RH-BSO) (Group 1), or with RH-BSO and then postoperative brachytherapy (60 Gy) (Group 2). There were one hundred twenty-one patients in Group 1 and 63 in Group 2. The mean age was 61.8 years in Group 1 and 64.3 in Group 2. In Group 1, 73% of the patients were Stage I, and 77.6% were in Group 2. The two groups were comparable for histological grading and depth of tumoral invasion into the myometrium. Brachytherapy was delivered with one uterine and two vaginal sources in Group 1 and with three vaginal sources in Group 2. Doses to the reference volume and to reference points were calculated according to ICRU recommendations. Brachytherapy data were similar in the two groups except reference volume, which was smaller in Group 2. Local control rate was 87% in Group 1 and 91% in Group 2. Distant metastasis occurred in 12% of patients in Group 1 and 9% in Group 2. The 5-year actuarial survival rate was 84% in Group 1 and 89% in Group 2. Regarding stage, histological grading, and depth of tumoral invasion, no differences were observed between the two therapeutic groups. The only prognostic factor in the entire population was Stage. The 5-year actuarial survival rate was 91% for Stage I patients and 69% for Stage II (p value less than 0.03). The late severe complication rate was 14% in Group 1 and 7.9% in Group 2, a difference which was not statistically significant. We concluded that since no differences were observed between the two techniques, vaginal brachytherapy should be performed postoperatively when surgery is the first treatment (Stage I or II, grade 1 or 2, and no deep tumoral invasion into the myometrium).

Lymphadenectomy in the management of endometrial carcinoma stage I and II. Retrospective study of 155 cases.

In our institution endometrial carcinomas Stage I and II were treated with initial uterovaginal brachytherapy 60 Gy followed by modified radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. We have studied the results in order to assess the value of lymphadenectomy in the treatment strategy. Between 1976 and 1986, 155 patients were treated (107 Stage I, 48 Stage II mean age 60.2 years). Twenty-six patients also received postoperative pelvic external beam irradiation on account of lymph node involvement and/or deep tumour invasion into the myometrium. Fourteen patients (9%) had lymph node involvement. External iliac lymph nodes were involved in 78.5% of these cases. Lymph node involvement rate was higher for stage II, grade 3 tumours and when there was deep tumour invasion of the myometrium. The rate of local (pelvic) treatment failure was 12% for node-negative patients and 36% for node-positive patients and the 5-year actuarial survival rates for the two groups were 83% and 41% respectively. As a consequence of our interpretation of the findings and influenced by the high complication rate which we attribute to lymphadenectomy and the information given by other prognostic indicators, we have changed to a policy of carrying out pelvic external radiotherapy for all Stage II, grade 2 or 3 cases and those with deep myometrial invasion. Lymphadenectomy is not performed in these cases. For patients with Stage I grade 1 tumours without deep tumour invasion only external iliac node sampling is performed. If this shows tumour, external irradiation is given in addition to vaginal vault brachytherapy.

[Stage I and II endometrial adenocarcinomas. Prognostic value of lymph node invasion]. / Adénocarcinomes de l'endomètre stades I et II. Valeur pronostique de l'envahissement ganglionnaire.

In our institution endometrial carcinomas stage I and II were treated with uterovaginal brachytherapy and radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. We have studied in a retrospective analysis the results of the lymphadenectomy in order to precise his place in the treatment strategy. Between 1976 and 1986, 155 patients were treated these modalities (107 were stage I, 48 were stage II). The mean age was 60.2 years. Brachytherapy delivered 60 Gy and then radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed. 26 patients received a pelvic external beam irradiation on account of lymph node involvement and or deep tumor invasion into the myometrium. 14 patients (9%) had a lymph node involvement. External iliac lymph nodes were involved in 78.5% of these cases. Lymph node involvement rate was higher for stage II, grade 3 tumors and when there was a deep tumor invasion into the myometrium. Pelvic failure rate was 12% for N- patients and 36% for N+ patients. Five years actuarial survival rate was 83% for N- and 41% for N+ patients. Now, we carry out a pelvic external radiotherapy for all stage II, grade 2 or 3 patients and when there is a deep tumor invasion into the myometrium and we do not perform lymphadenectomy for these patients. We perform only external iliac sample for patients with stage I grade 1 tumour without deep tumour invasion.

[Adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. The role of vaginal brachytherapy in the therapeutic sequence]. / Adénocarcinomes de l'endomètre. Place de la curiethérapie vaginale dans la séquence thérapeutique.

Surgery is the traditional treatment for endometrial carcinoma stage I and II. Radiotherapy is given to improve local control rate. Vaginal vault curietherapy can reduce vaginal recurrences rate. Chronology of curietherapy (pre or post operative) is under discussion. We have retrospectively analyzed treatment results of patients treated either with pre operative curietherapy (60 Gy) and then radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo oophorectomy (RH-BSO) (group 1), or with RH-BSO and then vaginal curietherapy (60 Gy) (group 2). Patients with bad prognostic factors (grade 3 and deep tumor invasion into the myometrium) received pelvic external irradiation and were excluded. 121 patients were in group 1, 63 patients were in group 2. All patients received curietherapy using Cesium 137 sources (one uterine and two vaginal sources in group 1, three vaginal sources in group 2). Total dose delivered to the reference volume was 60 Gy. Doses delivered to some reference points (vagina, rectum, bladder, pelvic wall) were calculated according to the ICRU recommendations. Surgery was at least RH-BSO performed either before or after curietherapy. 82 patients in group 1 and 44 in group 2 had a pelvic lymphadenectomy. Curietherapy data were comparable in the two groups according to the dose distribution to the vagina, rectum and bladder. Reference volume was smaller in the group 2. Local failure rate was 13% in group 1 and 10% in group 2. Distant metastases rate was 12% in group 1 and 9% in group 2. Five year actuarial survival rate was not statistically different between the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Is lymphadenectomy useful in the treatment of endometrial carcinoma?

In our institution endometrial carcinoma stages I and II is treated with uterovaginal brachytherapy and radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. We have made a retrospective analysis of the results of lymphadenectomy to determine its place in the treatment strategy. Between 1976 and 1986, 155 patients were treated with these modalities (107 were stage I, 48 were stage II). The mean age was 60.2 years. Brachytherapy delivered 60 Gy, and then radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed. Twenty-six patients received pelvic external-beam irradiation because of lymph node involvement and or deep tumor invasion into the myometrium. Fourteen patients (9%) had lymph node involvement. External iliac lymph nodes were involved in 78.5% of these cases. The lymph node involvement rate was higher for patients with stage II disease, patients with grade 3 tumors, and patients in whom there was deep tumor invasion into the myometrium. Pelvic failure rate was 12% for node-negative patients and 36% for node-positive patients. The 5-year actuarial survival rates were 83% for node-negative and 41% for node-positive patients. We administer pelvic external-beam radiotherapy to all stage II patients, grade 2 or 3 patients, and patients in whom there is deep tumor invasion into the myometrium. We do not perform lymphadenectomy on these patients. We perform only external iliac sampling for patients with stage I, grade 1 tumor without deep tumor invasion.

[Malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the conjunctiva. Apropos of 14 cases treated at the Institut Gustave-Roussy]. / Les lymphomes malins non hodgkiniens de la conjonctive. A propos de 14 cas traités à l'institut Gustave-Roussy.

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) of the conjunctiva are rare. Radiotherapy is usually considered to be the choice of treatment in such situations. Reported here are 14 cases of conjunctival NHL, treated at the Institut Gustave-Roussy from 1981 to 1988. Mean age of the patients was 53 years. The series comprised 7 stages of IE, 4 stages of IIE and 3 stages of III. Histological types were mostly "low-grade" according to the Working Formulation (9 cases out of 14). The irradiation technique took advantage of a customized facial lead mask and of a direct anterior electron beam. A small cylindrical lead block, hanging some millimetres above the eye, shielded the cornea and the lens. Local control was achieved for 17 eyes treated (out of 19 irradiated), with a follow-up ranging from 5 to 90 months. The 2 relapses occurred in the same patient, and could be treated by a second line irradiation of the same type. Immediate tolerance was good. Late sequelae were rare and actually included 4 cases of cataract which clearly could not be entirely attributable to the treatment. In conclusion, this sophisticated technique appears to be efficient and non-toxic, since it was able to achieve an almost 100% local control rate, together with a very low percentage of late complications.

Total-body irradiation before bone marrow transplantation. Results of two randomized instantaneous dose rates in 157 patients.

One hundred fifty-seven patients referred to the Department of Radiation Oncology of the Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France, between December 10, 1986 and December 31, 1989 for total-body irradiation (TBI) were treated according to the following two techniques: (1) either in one fraction (1000 cGy administered to the midplane at L4 and 800 cGy to the lungs) or (2) in six fractions (1200 cGy on 3 consecutive days to the midplane at L4 and 900 cGy to the lungs). The patients were randomized according to two instantaneous dose rates, called LOW and HIGH, in single-dose (6 versus 15 cGy/min) and hexafractionated (3 versus 6 cGy/min) TBI groups. There were 77 patients in the LOW group and 80 in the HIGH group, with 57 patients receiving single-dose TBI (28 LOW and 29 HIGH) and 100 patients receiving fractionated-dose TBI (49 LOW and 51 HIGH). In March 1991, the 4-year relapse-free and overall survival rates were 58.4% and 52.1%, respectively. The 4-year relapse-free survival and survival rates were 54.9% and 50.7% in the LOW group; 61.9% and 53.5% in the HIGH group (P = 0.69 and 0.82, respectively); 60.3% and 50.4% in the single-dose group; and 57.9% and 53.3% in the fractionated group (P = 0.65 and 0.78, respectively). There was no difference in the incidence of graft versus host disease, interstitial pneumonitis, or venoocclusive disease either between the LOW and the HIGH groups or between the single-dose and fractionated-dose TBI groups. The 4-year estimated cataract incidence was significantly higher in the single-dose HIGH instantaneous dose rate group than in the LOW instantaneous dose rate TBI group (P = 0.049). Multivariate analyses showed that instantaneous dose rate and fractionation do not influence the relapse-free and overall survival rates or the incidence of interstitial pneumonitis.