Efficacy of the Mirasol pathogen reduction technology system against severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV).

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a tickborne virus in the Bunyaviridae family. This virus has recently been found in China, Japan and Korea. The risk of transfusion-transmitted SFTSV infection (TTI-SFTSV) is a concern because person-to-person transmission resulting from contact with SFTSV-contaminated blood has been reported. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of the Mirasol pathogen reduction technology (PRT) system for inactivating SFTSV in vitro. The Mirasol PRT system achieved a > 4.11 log10 reduction value (LRV) for SFTSV. In conclusion, we showed that the Mirasol PRT system could potentially be used to reduce the risk of TTI-SFTSV.

Parallel comparison of apheresis-collected platelet concentrates stored in four different additive solutions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Partially replacing plasma with additive solutions in platelet (PLT) concentrates (PCs) may help to reduce transfusion reactions. Constituents of PLT additive solutions (PASs) have been revealed to affect the quality of PCs. Previous studies involved pairwise comparison of identical PLTs with two different PASs or multicomparison using random PLTs with three or more PASs. In this study, we performed parallel comparison using PCs from identical donors with four PASs. In addition to traditional parameters, the release of bioactive substances and plasma proteins was assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Platelets collected four times by apheresis from three donors were suspended in Intersol, SSP+, Composol or M-sol with 35% autologous plasma. The PC parameters, including PLT activation markers, glucose consumption, chemokines and plasma proteins, were assessed during 5-day storage. RESULTS: Mean PLT volumes were decreased in SSP+, Composol and M-sol after 5-day storage, with significant differences, whereas the hypertonic shock response (HSR) was decreased only in Intersol. Glucose consumption was faster in Intersol and M-sol than in SSP+ or Composol. PLT activation, determined as CD62P, sCD62P, sCD40L and RANTES, was significantly higher in Intersol than the other three PASs. No marked change was observed in fibrinopeptide A and C3a in any PASs. CONCLUSIONS: M-sol, SSP+ and Composol effectively preserved the quality of PCs. PLT activation was significantly enhanced in Intersol compared with the other three PASs. These effects seem to depend on magnesium and potassium as a constituent. Parallel comparison further verified that the PC quality largely depended on PASs but not donors.

Screening of micro-organisms for decolorization of melanins produced by bluestain fungi.

A total of 17 fungi and four bacteria were screened for their ability to decolorize melanin, using isolated extracellular melanin of the bluestain fungus Aureobasidium pullulans as substrate. On agar media, decolorization was observed by four fungal strains: Bjerkandera adusta VTT-D-99746, Galactomyces geotrichum VTT-D-84228, Trametes hirsuta VTT-D-95443 and Trametes versicolor VTT-D-99747. The four fungi were more efficient on nitrogen-limited medium than on complete medium. The melanin-decolorizing activity of G. geotrichum appeared to be located on the mycelium and could be liberated into the medium enzymatically.

Proper use of serum antibody titres against Epstein-Barr virus in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: IgA/virus capsid antigen for diagnosis and EBV-related nuclear antigen-2 for follow-up.

Sera from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) show high titres of IgA antibodies to Epstein-Barr viral capsid antigen (IgA/VCA). We reported previously that the serum titres for Epstein-Barr virus-related nuclear antigen-2 (EBNA2) correlated with NPC patients' prognosis. To investigate which is better for diagnosing NPC and predicting patient prognosis, the titration of serum IgA/VCA or EBNA2, we examined the same serum titres. Sixteen cases of NPC in which serum EBNA2 antibody titres had been tested, were investigated for the serum IgA/VCA antibody titres before and after radiation treatment. All NPC cases showed positive reactions with indirect immunofluorescence staining, and the median titre was 252. Twelve normal controls, 5 mesopharyngeal carcinoma patients, 4 hypopharyngeal carcinoma patients, 4 laryngeal carcinoma patients and 6 malignant lymphoma were also examined, but they showed negative or relatively low titres. A follow-up study revealed that IgA/VCA titres remained mostly stable. These results indicate a close relationship between IgA/VCA and NPC, however, prognosis correlated better with EBNA2 titres than with IgA/VCA titres.

Percutaneous brachytherapy for small-sized non-small cell lung cancer.

A patient with a small-sized pulmonary adenocarcinoma was successfully treated by percutaneous high dose rate interstitial brachytherapy alone. The patient, who had an adenocarcinoma with 12-mm diameter in the lingular lobe of left lung, was judged to be inoperable because of poor pulmonary function due to emphysema and extensive pleural adhesion. The tumor was punctured with a 21-gauge fine applicator needle followed by the introduction of an iridium 192 (192Ir) radioactive source through the applicator needle using a remote afterloader. The tumor was irradiated for 225.1 s in one fraction. The tumor was in the inside of the iso-dose line of 40 Gy. The delivered doses calculated at nine reference points, which were 12.5 mm distant from the center of the tumor, distributed between 19.225 and 32.169 Gy, with a mean of 24.8 Gy. No apparent side effect including pneumothorax and hemoptysis was observed. The tumor shrank and showed no increment of the size for about 2 years.

Adjuvant radiotherapy after radical hysterectomy of the cervical cancer. Prognostic factors and complications.

AIM: To investigate prognostic factors and complications after radical hysterectomy followed by postoperative radiotherapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-eight patients with T1b-2b carcinoma of the uterine cervix following radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and postoperative radiation therapy were reviewed. Pathologic and treatment variables were assessed by multivariate analysis for local recurrence, distant metastases and cause specific survival. RESULTS: The number of positive nodes (PN) in the pelvis was the strongest predictor of pelvic recurrence and distant metastases. These 2 failure patterns independently affect the cause specific survival. The 5-year cumulative local and distant failure were PN(0): 2% and 12%, PN(1-2): 23% and 25%, PN(2 <): 32% and 57%, respectively (p = 0.0029 and p = 0.0051). The 5-year cause specific survival rates were PN(0): 90%, PN(1-2): 59% and PN(2 <): 42% (p = 0.0001). The most common complication was lymphedema of the foot experienced by one-half of the patients (5-year: 42%, 10-year: 49%). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that patients with pathologic T1b-T2b cervix cancer with pelvic lymph node metastases are at high risk of recurrence or metastases after radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy and postoperative irradiation.

Prognostic factors for patients with esophageal cancer treated with radiation therapy in PCS: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: We investigated the prognostic factors, with special reference to age, for esophageal cancer patients, who did not receive surgery but were treated with radiation in the context of a Patterns of Care Study (PCS) in Japan. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The fifth PCS database format employed in the United States was used to collect information on 455 esophageal cancer patients by external audit. The data of patients who had not received surgery (n=252) were further selected and divided into two age groups, patients 75 years old or older (n=90) and patients younger than 75 years (n=162). Cox's proportional hazards model was used for the statistical analysis, with crude survival as the endpoint. Variables tested were age; Karnofsky performance status (KPS); history of pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes; AJCC stage; external dose; treatment period; combination with chemotherapy; utilization of brachytherapy, and stratification of institutions. RESULTS: Statistically significant prognostic factors for all patients in the non-surgery group were KPS p=.0001), stage (p=.0001), and utilization of brachytherapy (p=.0102). For younger patients, KPS (p=.0001), stage (p=.0007), external dose (p=.0001), and utilization of brachytherapy (p=.0034) were significant, and for the elderly, stage (p=.0001) and external dose (p=.0006). CONCLUSION: Although this was a preliminary study, age was not a significant prognostic factor for esophageal cancer patients in the non-surgery group, and making the external dose more than 60 Gy appears to be effective for improving survival of elderly as well as younger patients.

Radiation therapy for early glottic carcinoma (T1N0M0). The adverse effect of treatment interruption.

PURPOSE: Clarification of the adverse effects of treatment interruption on the local control of early glottic carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From May 1982 through February 1992, 273 patients with early glottic carcinoma (T1N0M0) were treated at this department. Of 253 patients administered 60 Gy in 30 fractions 77 patients had no treatment interruption and treatment was completed within 6 weeks (group I), overall treatment time was prolonged for 176 patients: 141 patients 43 to 49 days (group II) and 35 patients 50 to 62 days (group III). Treatment was interrupted due to public holidays (156 cases), patients convenience (13 cases) and severe mucosal reactions (seven cases). The major reason was public holidays, 91% in group II and 80% in group III. RESULTS: The 3-year recurrence-free survival rates were for group I 95%, group II 89% and group II 80%. Survivals for groups I and II, groups II and III and groups I and III were essentially the same. At 40 Gy tumor clearance was more than 50% in the 3-groups. For complete clearance cases at 40 Gy, recurrence-free survival was essentially the same for the 3 groups although for incomplete clearance cases, statistically significant difference for groups I and III (log-rank test p = 0.0004; Wilcoxon test p = 0.0004) and marginally significant difference for groups II and III (p = 0.0157, p = 0.0045) but no difference for groups I and II (p = 0.0669, p = 0.0853) were noted by adjusting the p-value. CONCLUSION: Prolongation of overall treatment time and tumor clearance at 40 Gy appeared to be a factor of the local control.

[The state of the art: radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer].

The standard radiation schedule for non-small cell lung cancer is conventional fractionated 60-70 Gy/6-7 weeks in Japan, while a split-course or hypofractionated schedule is also used in some institutions in other countries. Hyperfractionated radiotherapy with/without chemotherapy is increasing while no definitive treatment schedule has been established as a standard treatment method. Dose escalation study by 3D-conformal radiotherapy is also an attempt at a breakthrough of radiotherapy in unresectable non-small cell lung cancer.

High-dose rate intracavitary irradiation for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The adverse effect of treatment prolongation.

AIM: To investigate the adverse effect of treatment prolongation on the local control and survival of the cervical carcinoma of the uterus. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Two hundred and sixteen patients with stage IIB and III cervical carcinoma treated with a combination of external radiation and high-dose rate (HDR) intracavitary irradiation between 1978 and 1989 were retrospectively studied. A multivariate analysis was used to determine the effect of treatment time on local control and survival. RESULTS: Overall treatment time was the most highly significant factors for local control in the multivariate analysis (p = 0.0005). The 5-year cumulative relapse rates were significantly different with the treatment times 35 to 42 days: 9% versus 43 to 49 days: 19% versus 50 to 62 days: 42% (p = 0.001). The second most significant parameter was stage classification (p = 0.02). Concerning relapse-free survival, stage classification (p = 0.0001), overall treatment time (p = 0.0035) and hemoglobin level (p = 0.0174) were the 3 most important prognostic factors, although there was no relationship between treatment time and late complications. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that prolongation of treatment time is associated with decreased local control and survival in patients treated with external radiation and HDR intracavitary irradiation.

Management for stage II glottic carcinoma: radiation therapy or surgery.

AIM: To analyze the results of stage II glottic carcinoma treated with radiotherapy or surgery. PATIENTS AND METHOD: One hundred thirty-four patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the T2N0M0 glottic carcinoma treated at the Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases from 1979 through 1991 were reviewed. The 5-year disease-free survival and laryngeal preservation rate and prognostic factors were examined. Treatment was radiation therapy with salvage surgery for failure or surgery alone. RESULTS: The 5-year disease-specific survival rate for the radiotherapy group was 100% and for the surgery group, 93% (p = 0.055). In the surgery group 5-year disease-specific survival rate for the subgroup of cord mobility was 94% and that of impaired cord mobility, 89% (p = 0.5354). Concerning laryngeal preservation the radiotherapy group showed better preservation rate than the surgery group in the subgroup of cord mobility, i.e., 41/51 (80%) versus 6/55 (11%) (p < 0.001) although significant difference was not observed in the lesion with impaired cord mobility, 2/5 versus 4/22 (p = 0.171). CONCLUSION: We recommend radiation therapy for stage II glottic carcinoma with normal cord mobility, although further study is needed to improve the preservation rate of the larynx with keeping the disease-specific survival for the lesion with impaired cord mobility.

Radiation therapy for early glottic carcinoma (T1N0M0). The final results of prospective randomized study concerning radiation field.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of radiation field on the local control of early glottic carcinoma by prospective randomized study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From May 1982 through February 1992, a total of 273 patients with early glottic carcinoma (T1N0M0) was treated at our department with a wedge filter technique using a shell to improve the dose distribution and immobilization during radiotherapy with 4 MV X-ray. Patients were randomly allocated to either treatment group A (radiation field size: 5 x 5 cm) or B (6 x 6 cm) using bilateral parallel opposed portals. Total radiation dose administered was 60 Gy in 30 fractions over a 6-week period. RESULTS: The 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 88% in groups A and B (no significant difference). Minor chronic complication such as persistent arytenoid edema lasting more than 6 months or benign polypoid lesion of vocal cord was more frequently observed in group B (23%) than in group A (17%) (p = 0.038) while acute mucosal reaction and skin reaction showed no significant differences. CONCLUSION: A small field (5 x 5 cm) with an appropriate angle of wedge filter and shell fixing device is recommended to avoid adverse effect with keeping local control of early glottic carcinoma.

[Treatment of head and neck cancer: radiation therapy].

Radiation therapy is an effective modality for curative treatment with organ preservation, palliative treatment for pain control and combined/prophylactic treatment for local-regional control after surgery in head and neck cancer. For early lesions, 70-90% of local control may be expected in radiation therapy. However, some hurdles must be cleared with regard to advanced lesions. We reviewed the prospective randomized controlled trials (phase III trial) concerning adjuvant chemotherapy and multiple fractions per day of radiotherapy for advanced head and neck cancer. Adjuvant chemotherapy may be used in three ways in the treatment, i.e., induction therapy, concomitantly with radiotherapy and maintenance therapy. We reviewed the former two treatments because no "pure" phase III trial could be found in maintenance therapy after radiotherapy. As for multiple fractions per day of radiation therapy, the following definition is used. Hyperfractionation: Total dose is increased; dose per fraction is reduced; fractian number is increased,; overall time is relatively unchanged. Accelerated fractionation: Overall time is reduced; number of fraction total dose, and dose per fraction are either unchanged or somewhat reduced, depending on the extent of overall time reduction. Adjuvant chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy and multiple fractions per day of radiotherapy have been attempted to increase local-regional control and survival in a few randomized studies. However, these survival results were disappointing despite good local control. We need a more effective chemotherapy regime, fractionation schedule and also to clarify the indications for these treatments by analyzing the prognostic factors.

Prophylactic irradiation of para-aortic lymph nodes in carcinoma of the uterine cervix. A prospective randomized study.

PURPOSE: For assessment of the advantages and side effects of para-aortic lymph nodes irradiation under the evaluation by computer tomography, a prospective randomized study was started in 1986. The results for survival, local control and late complications are presented in the following. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From November 1986 to October 1990, 93 patients with cervical carcinoma were randomly allocated for treatment with either pelvic irradiation (pelvic group) or pelvic plus para-aortic lymph nodes irradiation (para-aortic group). Thirty-six patients underwent external irradiation and intracavitary therapy (RT arm) and 57 patients, extended radical hysterectomy and external irradiation (OP-RT arm). Para-aortic lymph nodes irradiation delivered 45 Gy in 1.8 Gy per day for 5 days per week through anterior-posterior fields. RESULTS: The 3-year cause specific survival rates were para-aortic group: 57% and pelvic group: 89% in RT arm group, and para-aortic group: 70% and pelvic group: 86% in OP-RT arm group. Differences for the 2 groups in each treatment arm were not significant. In pelvic failure, para-aortic lymph nodes metastases and distant metastases showed no statistically significant differences for the 2 groups in each treatment arm. In the para-aortic group, complications were more frequent than in the pelvic group (13/45 vs. 2/48, p < 0.025). As an enteric complication ileus was found in 7% (3/45) of the para-aortic group while 2% (1/48) in the pelvic group. Compression fractures of the lumber vertebral body were apparent in 9% (4/45) and 0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Routine para-aortic lymph nodes irradiation delivered through anterior-posterior fields for high risk patients with cervical carcinoma is of limited value occurring to the high incidence of late complications and this treatment fails to improve no survival rates.

The complete nucleotide sequence of odontoglossum ringspot virus (Cy-1 strain) genomic RNA.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genomic RNA of odontoglossum ringspot virus Cy-1 strain (ORSV Cy-1) was determined using cloned cDNA. This sequence is 6611 nucleotides long containing four open reading frames, which correspond to 126 K, 183 K, 31 K, and 18 K proteins. Its genomic organization is similar to other tobamoviruses, TMV-V(vulgare), TMV-L (tomato strain), tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV) and cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV). The 5' non-coding regions of ORSV Cy-1 is 62 nucleotides. The ORFs encoded a 126 K polypeptide and a 183 K read-through product in which helicase-sequence and polymerase-sequence motifs are found. The ORFs encoding the 126 K and 183 K proteins have 61% and 63% identities with those of TMV-V. The third ORF encoded a 31 K protein homologous to TMV cell-to-cell movement protein. It has 63% identities with that of TMV-V. The fourth ORF encoded an 18 K coat protein. The 5' non-coding region, which extends from base 1 to 62 has 2 G residues and a ribosome binding site (AUU). The 3' non-coding region, 414 nucleotides in length, is entirely different from that of other tobamoviruses.

[Radiation therapy for brain metastases from lung carcinoma: the second prospective randomized trial].

Since September 1980 we have been conducting a prospective randomized trial to determine the best treatment schedule for radiation therapy (XRT) of brain metastasis from lung carcinoma. The first trial (September 1980 to December 1984) used random allocation of two different time-dose radiotherapy schemes: 30 Gy/10 fractions/2 weeks versus 50 Gy/20 fr./4 wks. Treatment results showed no significant difference in neurological improvement or survival between the two arms or in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as the most important prognostic factor. The current study (January 1985 to April 1992) examined two sequential trials stratified according to the level of LDH and included 162 patients with brain metastasis from lung carcinoma. Whole brain doses were 30 Gy/10 fr./2 wks (group A, n = 46) or 50 Gy/20 fr./4 wks. (group B, n = 46) in the normal LDH group and 30 Gy/10 fr./2 wks (group C, n = 35) or 20 Gy/5 fr./1 wk. (group D, n = 35) in the high LDH group, while the treatment field was lessened to 30 Gy in group B if possible. The final results showed that 1) the most important prognostic factor as determined by Cox's multivariate analysis was also LDH in the second trial; 2) the incidence of acute side effects tended to depend upon a single dose, i.e., group A (3 Gy) 35% versus group B (2.5 Gy) 21% (p = 0.165), and group C (3 Gy) 23% versus group D (4 Gy) 46% (p = 0.044); 3) median survival time and 1-year survival rates were 5.4 months and 21% in group A, 4.8 months and 17% in group B; 3.4 months and 6% in group C; and 2.4 months and 4% in group D, respectively, and survival curves showed no statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups in each LDH group; 4) improvement in neurological function appeared to increase with total dosage escalation, i.e., 41% in group A versus 45% in group B, and 35% in group C versus 21% in group D (not significant). In conclusion, a short intensive course (30 Gy/10 fr./2 wks) is advantageous for XRT because of the short treatment time and minor acute toxicity in spite of stratification by the level of LDH.

A prospective randomized study concerning the point A dose in high-dose rate intracavitary therapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The final results.

PURPOSE: High-dose rate (HDR) remote afterloading intracavitary therapy has been recognized as an effective and safe treatment modality for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Since 1983, a prospective randomized study was started in order to investigate the more advantageous treatment schedule with keeping the local control rate. This paper reports the final results in terms of survival, local control and complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1983 and February 1989, a total of 165 patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix was entered in a prospective randomized study concerning the point A dose of HDR therapy (6 Gy/fraction vs 7.5 Gy/fraction) and external irradiation dose at Department of Radiation Therapy, The Center for Adult Diseases, Osaka. UICC [20] stage distribution of patients was as follows: stage IA = 4, stage IB = 33, stage IIA = 18, stage IIB = 38, stage III = 57, stage IV = 15. RESULTS: Overall 5-year cause specific survivals were as follows: stage IA = 100%, stage IB = 96%, stage IIA = 92%, stage IIB = 79%, stage III = 57%, stage IV = 27%. In each stage, 5-year survival rates in groups A and B were 100%, 93% in stage I, 82% and 85% in stage II, 62% and 52% in stage II and 22% and 31% in stage IV, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences among these survival curves in each stage. Five-year local failure rates were 16% in group A and 16% in group B (p = 0.9096), and corresponding distant failure rates were 23% in group A and 19% in group B (p = 0.2955). Moderate-to-severe complications requiring treatment (Kottmeier's grade 2 or more) were noted in 6 patients (7%) in group A and 6 patients (7%) in group B. All of the bladder and rectal complications needed medical treatment (Kottmeier's grade 2). Severe complications receiving surgery were noted in 4 patients (A: 1; B: 3), i.e., small intestine 3 and sigmoid colon 1 patient. Another 1 patient (A) was dead of ileus. CONCLUSIONS: There were no statistically significant differences between 2 treatment schedules in survival rates, failure patterns and complications rates. This fact suggests that small number of fractions (7.5 Gy/fraction) may be advantageous because of short duration and a low load of treatment.

Long term follow-up results of high-dose rate remote afterloading intracavitary radiation therapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

PURPOSE: High-dose rate remote afterloading intracavitary radiation therapy (HDR) has been used as more safety system by the dose calculation using computer system before treatment and dose monitoring system using semiconductor dosimeter (ICD-5). This study shows our long-term follow-up results concerning survival, prognostic factor and late complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between August 1978 and December 1982, a total of 200 patients with carcinoma of the intact uterine cervix were treated using HDR. According to the staging system of UICC (1987), 8 patients were classified into Stage Ia, 22 Ib, 22 IIa, 53 IIb, 85 III, and 10 IV. RESULTS: Cause specific five- and ten-year survival rates by Stage were 100%, 100% in Stage Ia, 90%, 90% in Stage Ib, 76%, 76% in Stage IIa, 86%, 84% in Stage IIb, 54%, 46% in Stage III and 20%, 20% in Stage IV, respectively. Significant prognostic factors by Cox's multivariate analysis were stage (p = 0.0001), the value of hemoglobin (p = 0.0005) and older age (p = 0.0114). Concerning stage classification the value of hemoglobin was the most important prognostic factor in Stage II (p = 0.032) and Stage III (p = 0.0015). Late complications requiring medical treatment after RALS developed in 24 patients (12%), i.e., rectum 14 (7), bladder 8 (4), small intestine 5 (3), sigmoid colon 1 (1). Severe complications requiring surgery were noted in 9 patients (5%). CONCLUSION: HDR yields good results of survival with a low risk of severe side effects for the treatment of carcinoma of uterine cervix based on our long-term follow-up results.

Radiation therapy for brain metastases from lung carcinoma. Prospective randomized trial according to the level of lactate dehydrogenase.

PURPOSE: Since September 1980 we have been conducting a prospective randomized trial to determine the best treatment schedule for radiation therapy (XRT) on brain metastasis from lung carcinoma. The first trial (September 1980 to December 1984) was randomly allocated by two different time-dose radiotherapy schemes, i.e., 30 Gy/ten fractions/two weeks versus 50 Gy/20 fractions/four weeks. Treatment results showed no significant difference in neurological improvement and survival between the two arms and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as the most important prognostic factor. The present study (January 1985 to April 1992) examines two sequential trials stratified by the level of LDH enrolled 162 patients with brain metastasis from lung carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Whole brain dose was selected for 30 Gy/ten fractions/two weeks (group A, n = 46) or 50 Gy/20 fractions/four weeks (group B, n = 46) in the group with normal LDH and 30 Gy/ten fractions/two weeks (group C, n = 35) or 20 Gy/five fractions/one week (group D, n = 35) in the group with high LDH, while the treatment fields were shrunk at 30 Gy in group B if possible. RESULTS: The final results showed the facts that 1. the most important prognostic factor, according to Cox's multivariate analysis, was also the level of LDH in the second trial, 2. the incidence of acute side effects showed the trend toward depending upon a single dose, i.e., group A (3 Gy/fraction); 35% versus group B (2.5 Gy/fraction); 21% (p = 0.165) and group C (3 Gy/fraction); 23% versus group D (4 Gy/fraction); 45% (p = 0.044), 3. median survival time and one-year survival rates were 5.4 months and 21% in group A; 4.8 months and 17% in group B; 3.4 months and 6% in group C; and 2.4 months and 4% in group D, respectively, and survival curves showed no statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups in each LDH group, 4. improvement in neurologic function appeared to increase with total dosage escalation, i.e., 41% in group A versus 45% in group B and 35% in group C versus 21% in group D (p = 0.13). CONCLUSION: A short course (30 Gy/ten fractions/two weeks) is an advantageous XRT because of the short treatment time for normal LDH and neurological improvement and minor toxicity for the high LDH group, while an optional treatment may be necessary for the selected patients.

Radiation therapy for early glottic carcinoma: indication for the wedge filter.

From 1977 to the end of 1987, 244 patients with early glottic carcinoma (T1N0M0) were treated with radiation therapy. For 95 patients (group A), a styrofoam head holder and band were used to ensure immobilization during treatment without a wedge filter and for 149 patients (group B) a shell fixing devise and wedge filter were used. Total radiation dose administered was 50 to 70 Gy over a period of five to seven weeks with fields of 5 x 5 cm (group A) and 5 x 5 cm (group B1: n = 74) or 6 x 6 cm (group B2: n = 75). The five-year relapse-free survival (RFS) rates for group A and B were 85% and 90%, respectively, and RFS was essentially the same (p = 0.241). In group B, RFS was also basically the same for groups B1 and B2 (p = 0.78). According to tumor size, however, in patients with large T1a lesions (total length of one vocal cord) five-year RFS rates for groups A and B were 62% and 88%, respectively, and RFS was statistically significantly different (p = 0.003). Up to five years, seven patients (9%) of group A and 23 patients (17%) of group B showed minor chronic complication. As a minor chronic complication, arytenoid edema was found more frequently in group B (n = 15) than group A (n = 0). Eleven of these 15 cases were treated with large field (6 x 6 cm). For large T1a lesions of glottic carcinoma, a wedge filter was useful. A small field (5 x 5 cm) with an appropriate angle of wedge filter is recommended to avoid late arytenoid edema and achieve a more homogeneous dose distribution.