[Rectal cancer. The effect of the clinical stage and the degree of lymphatic invasion on local recurrence and survival. An analysis of 168 patients]. / Cáncer de recto. Influencia del estadio clínico y grado de invasión ganglionar en la recidiva local y en la supervivencia. Análisis de 168 pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: Surgery is the most important therapeutic means for treatment of rectal carcinoma. Nevertheless, from stage B2, relapse rates are high and it is therefore necessary to use supplemental treatments such as radiotherapy associated or not with chemotherapy OBJECTIVE: To assess the likelihood of being free of local, local and distant disease and overall and specific survival in function of clinical stage and degree of lymph node involvement among patients diagnosed with colo-rectal adenocarcinoma treated with radical surgery and radiotherapy associated or not with chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since January 1990 up to December 1997, all patients with rectal adenocarcinoma treated with radical surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy, were prospectively included in a database which was analyzed. RESULTS: The crude actuarial survival at five years was 61.1 +/- 9.2% and specific survival 64.2 +/- 9.2%. As for stages: B (84.1 +/- 10.1%) and C (49.9 +/- 3.3%) (p < 0.001). Likewise, for N0 84.1 +/- 10.1%, for N1 62.2 +/- 13.5% and for N2 13.7 +/- 22.3% (p < 0.001). The likelihood of being in complete remission for the overall patient population was 50.2 +/- 9.2%: B (67.5 +/- 13.5%) and C (37.9 +/- 11.9%) (p < 0.001). Likewise, for N0 67.5 +/- 13.5%, for N1 47.8 +/- 13.5%, and for N2 9.9 +/- 17% (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Given the poor results obtained in stages C, particularly stage N2 and also that a better local control is obtained with good tolerance when preoperative radiotherapy is administered, we believe that in order to improve the results it is necessary to initiate preoperative radiotherapy.

[Local control and the esthetic results in the conservative treatment of breast cancer. An analysis of 397 consecutive cases]. / Control local y resultado estético en el tratamiento conservador del cáncer de mama. Análisis de 397 casos consecutivos.

Conservative therapy has been the therapy of choice for patients with breast cancer in early stage. The results of 397 patients treated with conservative therapy and radiotherapy over the breast and lymph node areas (when necessary) are analyzed. The results obtained in the different risk groups and according to the irradiation mode of the tumoral bed are compared. The likelihood of remaining local disease free at 7 years was 94.9 (95% CI: 90.7-99.1). No significant differences were observed regarding the mode of overprinting the tumoral bed: external radiotherapy or brachytherapy, regarding control and aesthetic result; also, no differences were observed between the different risk groups. The existence of a subgroup of patients with contraindication for conservative therapy is currently not demonstrated.

[Treatment of inoperable lung carcinoma by means of concentrated radiotherapy: results from 361 cases (author's transl)]. / Tratamiento del cáncer de pulmón inoperable mediante radioterapia concentrada: resultados sobre 361 casos.

In the present work the results of a radiotherapy protocol for the treatment of inoperable lung cancer are examined. The study was carried out on two groups of patients treated successively; the first of 140 patients by means of cobalt therapy at the normal rate, up to a dose of 4,500 to 5,000 rads in 5 weeks; the second of 221 cases by means of concentrated radiotherapy in two series of 2,000 rads in five sessions, separated by 3 weeks of rest. The results show a more rapid regression of the symptomatology in the second group of patients and a clear superiority in respect to the survival rate. The patients treated at the normal rate showed after 6 months a survival rate of 40 percent as against 60.5 percent in the second group. This difference became more evident when comparing the histologic types: 9 and 57 percent respectively for anaplastic carcinomas. The survival rate after 1 year shows a difference between the two groups which is statistically significant (16 and 21 percent respectively) (p less than 0.05). In no case did we find complications of the type of esophagitis, pericarditis or transverse myelitis. The treatment in two sessions was better tolerated both from the physical and the psychic point of view by all the patients because of the 3 weeks of rest. The superiority in regard to survival, the rapid disappearance of the symptomatology, as well as the reduction in the therapy time, justify the use of concentrated radiotherapy in the treatment of this type of tumors even in the more advanced stages of the disease.