DNA methylation analysis of paediatric low-grade astrocytomas identifies a tumour-specific hypomethylation signature in pilocytic astrocytomas.

Low-grade gliomas (LGGs) account for about a third of all brain tumours in children. We conducted a detailed study of DNA methylation and gene expression to improve our understanding of the biology of pilocytic and diffuse astrocytomas. Pilocytic astrocytomas were found to have a distinctive signature at 315 CpG sites, of which 312 were hypomethylated and 3 were hypermethylated.

Concurrent radiation therapy, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin for stage II, III, and IV, node-negative, squamous cell head and neck cancer. Results and surgical implications.

Methods: Between 1983 and 1989, 42 patients with Stage II, III, and IV, node-negative, squamous cell head and neck cancer were treated with concurrent 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and radiation therapy. Two courses of chemotherapy with 30 Gy of concurrent radiation therapy were to be followed in all patients by definitive surgery and then an additional 30 Gy of radiation therapy and one to two courses of chemotherapy. The patients who achieved a complete response to the initial induction treatment, however, did not undergo surgery.

Paranasal sinuses: low-dose CT.

While computed tomography (CT) has become an important imaging modality in the evaluation of the paranasal sinuses, the radiation dose remains higher than is necessary. With use of a head phantom and constant kilovolt peak setting, axial and coronal CT scans of the paranasal sinuses were obtained at each of six successively lower milliampere second settings than are commonly used in clinical practice. Although noise, as measured by the standard deviation of the CT numbers, did increase, images were of diagnostic quality even when dose levels were reduced by a factor of 28.

Long-term results after chemoradiotherapy for locally confined squamous-cell head and neck cancer.

The long-term results after simultaneous chemoradiotherapy in 54 patients with previously untreated or minimally treated, locally confined (M0) squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck are presented. Multiple concurrent courses of radiation therapy and chemotherapy with cisplatin and a four-day 5-fluorouracil infusion were given. Twenty-eight patients underwent definitive surgery and 26 were treated without surgical resection.

Simultaneous versus sequential combined technique therapy for squamous cell head and neck cancer.

Forty-eight patients with locally confined (M0) squamous cell head and neck cancer were prospectively randomized to receive either simultaneous (SIM) or sequential (SEQ) combined technique therapy with a 5-fluorouracil infusion, a cisplatin bolus injection, and radiation therapy. Patients with residual resectable disease underwent surgery after induction therapy, whereas those achieving a complete response to induction did not require surgery. Patients on the two treatment arms were equivalent in all measured variables, including disease extent.