Weekly docetaxel with concurrent radiotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a phase I/II study with 5 years' follow-up.

This Phase I/II study investigated weekly docetaxel (Taxotere) with concurrent radiotherapy in 42 patients with untreated stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). All patients were treated with chest irradiation: 2Gy administered 5 days/week for 5 weeks, to a total of 50Gy. Docetaxel (1-h infusion) was administered on days 1, 8, 22, and 29< or =2 h before radiation fractions 1, 6, 16, and 21 (i.

Hypofractionated palliative radiotherapy (17 Gy per two fractions) in advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma is comparable to standard fractionation for symptom control and survival: a national phase III trial.

Purpose: To investigate whether the effect of hypofractionated thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) is comparable to more standard fractionated radiotherapy (RT) in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: A total of 421 patients with locally advanced stage III or stage IV NSCLC tumors were included. Inclusion criteria were inoperable, disease too advanced for curative radiotherapy, and chest symptoms or central tumor threatening the airways.

The value of prognostic factors in small cell lung cancer: results from a randomised multicenter study with minimum 5 year follow-up.

We have evaluated the prognostic value of 22 pretreatment attributes in 436 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients included in a prospective multicenter study with a minimum 5-year follow-up. Pretreatment clinical and laboratory parameters were registered. Possible prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate analysis (log rank test) and by the Cox multivariate regression model.

Cisplatin and etoposide regimen is superior to cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and vincristine regimen in small-cell lung cancer: results from a randomized phase III trial with 5 years' follow-up.

Purpose: To investigate whether chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin (EP) is superior to cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and vincristine (CEV) in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Patients And Methods: A total of 436 eligible patients were randomized to chemotherapy with EP (n = 218) or CEV (n = 218). Patients were stratified according to extent of disease (limited disease [LD], n = 214; extensive disease [ED], n = 222).

[Long-term survival following surgery and radiotherapy of brain tumors in childhood].

Background: Brain tumours are seen in about one third of children with neoplastic disease. Treatment usually includes surgery and/or radiotherapy. Radiotherapy may have serious late effects, especially in children under the age of three; but is necessary for survival in children with medulloblastomas or high-grade gliomas.

Endobronchial radiotherapy for malignant bronchial obstruction or recurrence.

Forty-five lung cancer patients who had recurrence and/or endobronchial obstruction were treated with intrabronchial radiotherapy (IBRT). The majority had been heavily treated previously, mainly by external radiotherapy; six patients were treated surgically. IBRT was given with high-dose-rate equipment, either 18 Gy in three fractions or 15 Gy as a single dose was originally planned.

A randomized trial on dose-response in radiation therapy of low-grade cerebral glioma: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Study 22844.

Purpose: Cerebral low-grade gliomas (LGG) in adults are mostly composed of astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and mixed oligoastrocytomas. There is at present no consensus in the policy of treatment of these tumors. We sought to determine the efficacy of radiotherapy and the presence of a dose-response relationship for these tumors in two multicentric randomized trials conducted by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC).

Pre-operative radiotherapy prolongs survival in operable esophageal carcinoma: a randomized, multicenter study of pre-operative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The second Scandinavian trial in esophageal cancer.

In a prospective multicenter study, 186 patients with squamous cell esophageal carcinoma, who after evaluation were considered suitable for surgery, were randomized to 4 treatment groups: Group 1, surgery alone; Group 2, pre-operative chemotherapy (cisplatin and bleomycin) and surgery; Group 3, pre-operative irradiation (35 Gy) and surgery; Group 4, pre-operative chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Three-year survival was significantly higher in the pooled groups receiving radiotherapy as compared with the pooled groups not receiving radiotherapy. Comparison of the groups having pre-operative chemotherapy with those not having chemotherapy showed no significant difference in survival.

Bleomycin/cis-platin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy before radical radiotherapy in localized, inoperable carcinoma of the esophagus. A prospective randomized multicentre study: the second Scandinavian trial in esophageal cancer.

Survival and swallowing function were studied in a randomized trial of 97 patients with inoperable, localized esophageal carcinoma. Radical radiotherapy was given to 51 patients, while 46 patients had two courses of bleomycin/cisplatin before radiotherapy. The survival was 29% after one year, and 6% after 3 years in the radiotherapy group.

Symptomatic treatment versus combination chemotherapy for patients with extensive non-small cell lung cancer.

In a randomized clinical trial, 87 patients with inoperable, extensive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were randomized to receive either combination chemotherapy (cisplatin at 70 mg/m2 intravenously [i.v.] on day 1 and etoposide at 100 mg/m2 i.

Statistical analysis of clinicopathological features, radiotherapy, and survival in 170 cases of oligodendroglioma.

The postoperative survival time of 170 nonrandomized patients treated for cerebral oligodendrogliomas in Norway from 1953 to 1977 was studied. Survival times were significantly prolonged if postoperative irradiation was performed in addition to surgery (median survival time 26.5 vs.

Sightsaving therapy in retinoblastoma. Experience with external megavoltage radiotherapy.

In Norway, sightsaving therapy in retinoblastoma has only been given to least affected eyes in bilaterally affected children. The results in 8 eyes given external high energy radiotherapy are reported. Additional focal therapy was given to 3 eyes for residual tumours and to one eye with new tumour at the ora serrata.

Oligodendroglioma: incidence and biological behavior in a defined population.

The cases of 208 patients with histologically confirmed oligodendrogliomas were studied. The incidence represents 4.2% of all primary brain tumors diagnosed in the Norwegian population over a 25-year period.

Combined modality treatment of operated astrocytomas grade 3 and 4. A prospective and randomized study of misonidazole and radiotherapy with two different radiation schedules and subsequent CCNU chemotherapy. Stage II of a prospective multicenter trial of the Scandinavian Glioblastoma Study Group.

A prospective and randomized trial has been performed in order to evaluate combined modality therapy in patients with astrocytomas grade 3 and 4. Follow-up information is available on 244 patients. One half of the series received radiation therapy twice a week (40.

Myelopathy following radiotherapy of bronchial carcinoma with large single fractions: a retrospective study.

A series of 387 patients with bronchial carcinoma treated with a concentrated split course regimen was surveyed for radiation myelitis. The total dose was 38 Gy. Three fractions of 6 Gy were given the first week.

Combined modality therapy of operated astrocytomas grade III and IV. Confirmation of the value of postoperative irradiation and lack of potentiation of bleomycin on survival time: a prospective multicenter trial of the Scandinavian Glioblastoma Study Group.

In a controlled, prospective, randomized investigation, started in 1974, 118 patients with supratentorial astrocytoma Grade III--IV were divided into three groups. Groups 1 and 2 received 45 Gy postoperatively to the whole supratentorial brain. Bleomycin in 15-mg doses and a total dose of 180 mg or placebo was given intravenously three times a week, one hour prior to radiotherapy, during weeks 1, 2, 4 and 5.

Pulmonary complications after bleomycin, irradiation and surgery for esophageal cancer.

Eight patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus were given radiotherapy of 3000 rads and 120 mg of bleomycin. Esophageal resection was performed five to six weeks later. Four of these patients died within six weeks, three from respiratory failure, and one from complications secondary to an anastomotic fistula.