Survival of patients with limited small cell lung cancer in whom complete remission was obtained (a non-randomised retrospective study of 124 consecutive patients.

The aim of this study was to assess whether thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) is necessary for those patients (pts) with limited small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who obtained CR after induction chemotherapy (ChT). The analysis include retrospective material of 124 consecutive pts with limited SCLC. All pts had induction ChT (3-5 courses): 78 with CAVE (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicine, etoposide) and 46--with other regimens without etoposide. After induction ChT 55 pts were irradiated on tumor and mediastinum and in 69 the same ChT was continued for 6-8 courses or till progression. After induction ChT CR was obtained in 31 pts, PR in 67 and NR in 26. TRT significantly increased the number of CR among those pts who did not achieve satisfactory tumor response after induction ChT. The median survival was 24 months for those patients who obtained CR, 12 months for those who obtained PR and 9 months for those who did not respond. In the group of patients who obtain CR, survival was the same for those treated with ChT alone and for those treated with ChT and TRT. We conclude that in the treatment of individual patient with limited SCLC TRT is indicated for those who did not obtain CR after ChT. Whether patients in whom CR after chemotherapy was obtained can further gain by application of TRT is worth further randomised studies.

Treatment of penis carcinoma with interstitially administered iridium; comparison with radium therapy.

The results of treatment of 30 patients with penis carcinoma cured with radium and 18 patients treated with 192Ir were compared. In both groups of patients, core assessed at 3 years was obtained for a similar percentage of patients (89% and 83%). After treatment with 192Ir, radiation necrosis was observed in 16%, and after treatment with radium in 50% of patients. In both groups a similar high percentage of patients (88%) with organs preserved after treatment was found. In group of patients treated with 192Ir the percentage of very good functional effects (69%) was much higher in the group of patients treated with radium (28%).

[Role of radiotherapy on tumor and mediastinum as a combined treatment with chemotherapy in patients with limited small cell lung carcinoma]. / Rola radioterapii na guz pierwotny i sródpiersie jako leczenia skojarzonego z chemioterapia u chorych na ograniczona postac drobnokomórkowego raka pluca.

A group of 154 limited small cell lung cancer patients was studied. 107 of them were treated with chemo- radiotherapy on tumor and mediastinum, 47 patients were treated with chemotherapy only. A significantly higher rate of complete remission and duration of the remission, longer survival time and lower rate of local relapses were found in the group treated with chemo- radiotherapy.

[The role of radiotherapy in combined treatment of limited small cell lung cancer in relation to results of induction chemotherapy]. / Rola radioterapii w leczeniu skojarzonym ograniczonej postaci drobnokomórkowego raka pluca w odniesieniu do wyników chemioterapii indukcyjnej.

The comparison between results of chemotherapy (ChT) and ChT plus radiotherapy (RT) was performed in the group of 124 patients with limited SCLC. After induction ChT 25% pts obtained CR, 54%-PR and 21% did not respond. In 69 pts ChT was continued and in 55 others RT was added to ChT. The number of patients in whom tumor response was observed increased significantly after addition of RT to ChT. The degree of complete response had important impact on survival time. The pts who obtained CR had significantly longer survival time than those who achieved only PR or NR. Median survival time was very similar in both groups (13 months after ChT alone and 15 months after ChT plus RT). This was also true for the groups of patients who obtained CR after completion of treatment. Achievement of complete response is the most important factor for good prognosis. RT is indicated in those patients who achieved only PR after induction ChT.

[Our first experience with allogeneic and autologous transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells]. / Pierwsze wlasne doswiadczenia z allo- i autotransplantacja krwiotwórczych komórek macierzystych.

The main problems and difficulties in transplantation of haematogenous stem cells are discussed. The problems include: organization of a team of specialists and bone marrow transplantation centre, preparation of the recipient (patient) complications connected with preparation for transplantation, graft taking, graft versus host disease, recurrence of the underlying disease. In the analysis only those patients (8 cases) are included who had received marrow transplantation after chemotherapeutic-radiotherapeutic preparation (3 patients are alive). The first experiences are described also with three autotransplantations of haematogenous stem cells obtained by means of cell separator from peripheral blood. These experiences indicate that it is possible in our country to carry out this highly sophisticated method which requires, however, further improvements and ensuring of adequate personnel and equipment.

[Evaluation of results in radical treatment of breast cancer in men]. / Ocena wyników radykalnego leczenia mezczyzn chorych na raka sutka.

A group of 43 men with breast cancer were retrospectively evaluated. They were treated radically, and they were a part of 77 men treated in the Warsaw Institute of Oncology in the years 1947-1984. The five-year survival rate of the patients treated in these years was 39.5%, and the ten-year survival rate in the years 1947-1979 was 30%. In most cases (72%) these patients had far-advanced disease at the time of treatment beginning. The value of radiotherapy as an adjunct method after surgery, and radiotherapy as the only treatment (28.6% survival rate after 5 years) was evaluated.

Changes in cancer awareness in the Polish population, 1976-1990.

BACKGROUND: Public awareness of cancer plays a major role in its prevention. Knowledge of changes in public awareness provides a good foundation for public health education interventions and facilitates their evaluation. METHODS: Three nationwide studies of representative samples of the Polish population were carried out in 1976, 1986, and 1990. During this period extensive public health education was provided. RESULTS: Favorable changes were observed in nearly all the aspects investigated. Belief in the curability of cancer increased by 33%; knowledge of breast self-examination increased by 46%; the opinion that cancer is difficult to detect declined by 19%, knowledge that smoking encourages cancer of the lung increased by 15%, and knowledge that cancer is not infectious increased by 35%. Other changes were smaller, but were also positive. CONCLUSIONS: Despite improvement in the public awareness, there are still urgent unmet needs in health education in Poland. For example, efforts should be increased to control smoking addiction, especially among the young, persuade women to do breast self-examination and have Pap tests, and inform the public about healthy lifestyles and behaviors that prevent cancer.

Over 400 years of cancer control efforts in Poland.

The history of the struggle against cancer in Poland is presented from its beginning, marked by the first hospital for cancer patients established four centuries ago in Warsaw, to the implementation of the main goal of National Cancer Programmes, i.e., the recent construction of a large, modern Cancer Centre in Warsaw. Among the 100,000 new cancer cases each year in Poland, there are more than 70,000 deaths. In males, cancers most often involve the lung (30.5%), stomach (9.8%), larynx (5.5%), prostate (5.1%), and urinary bladder (5.0%). In females, cancers most often involve the breast (17.5%), cervix uteri (9.8%), lung (6.6%), stomach (6.2%), and ovary (6.2%). The estimated probabilities of five-year survival are 26.4% for males and 39.8% for females. Over 100 years of epidemiologic investigation have resulted in a clear epidemiologic picture of cancer in Poland.