Comparison between standard and reduced volume radiotherapy in bladder preservation trimodality protocol for muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients.

Aim: Our aim is to compare the toxicity, pelvic nodal relapse, and overall survival of whole bladder irradiation only to the standard technique of whole pelvis irradiation followed by bladder boost in patients with muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma undergoing bladder preservation protocol.

Material And Method: A total of 60 patients with transitional cell carcinoma, stage T2-3, N0, M0 bladder cancer were subjected to maximal transurethral resection bladder tumour (TURB). Then, the patients were randomised into two groups: group I (30 patients) to receive whole pelvis radiotherapy 44 Gy followed by 20 Gy bladder boost.

A randomized, phase 2 study comparing pemetrexed plus best supportive care versus best supportive care as maintenance therapy after first-line treatment with pemetrexed and cisplatin for advanced, non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Maintenance therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) aims to extend disease control after first-line chemotherapy with active and well-tolerated agents. The utility of continuation maintenance therapy requires further research.

Methods: This multicenter, randomized, phase 2 study compared continuation maintenance therapy with pemetrexed (500 mg/m2 every 21 days) and best supportive care (BSC) versus BSC alone in patients with advanced, non-squamous NSCLC who had not progressed after 4 cycles of induction chemotherapy with pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2).

[Breast reconstruction: state of the arts].

Radical mastectomy is still required in many cases, such as inflammatory breast cancer, multicentric breast cancer, large tumour volume and small breast size. In this setting, immediate breast reconstruction is more and more offered for breast cancer patients. But such plastic surgery is still debated, owing to risks of implant complications when postoperative radiotherapy of chest wall is mandatory in locoregional breast cancer management.

Improved survival with combined chemo-radiotherapy in primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Background: Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is an aggressive primary brain tumor. Cranial irradiation alone rarely results in long-term disease control or prolonged survival. We retrospectively analyzed data on the effect of adding high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) prior to whole brain irradiation (WBI).

Prospective phase II study of neoadjuvant doxorubicin followed by cisplatin/docetaxel in locally advanced breast cancer.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of the doxorubicin followed by cisplatin/docetaxel as primary chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). For this evaluation, 59 patients with LABC (T2-T4, N0-N2, M0) received three cycles of doxorubicin, followed by three cycles of cisplatin/docetaxel and followed by definitive surgery and locoregional radiotherapy with or without tamoxifen. The primary end point was pathologic complete response (pCR) in breast and axilla.

Ewing's Sarcoma of the Head and Neck: A Retrospective Analysis of 24 Cases.

Introduction and purpose. Primary Ewing's sarcoma arising from the bones of the head and neck region is extremely rare representing only 1- 4% of all Ewing's sarcoma cases. Previous reports suggest a better prognosis for that particular anatomic site.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemo-radiation therapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of neoadjuvant cisplatinum and epirubicin chemotherapy followed by concurrent cisplatinum chemotherapy with radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods And Materials: One hundred ten patients (80 male, 30 female) with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, staged according to the 1997 International Union Against Cancer/American Joint Committee on Cancer classification system as IIB (n = 9), III (n = 20), IVA (n = 32), and IVB (n = 49), World Health Organization types II (n = 25) and III (n = 85), were included in this protocol between January 1998 and July 2000 at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre. Patients underwent two cycles of induction chemotherapy with cisplatinum 100 mg/m(2) and epirubicin 70 mg/m(2) on Days 1 and 21, followed by a radical course of radiotherapy (6,600 cGy in 6.

Biological markers in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis and carcinoma: the value of a scoring system.

Background: Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis has been linked to the pathogenesis of gastric adenocarcinoma (GA), especially when associated with intestinal metaplasia (IM) and atypia/dysplasia (A/D). We examined p53 expression, ploidy and proliferative activity and assessed H. pylori infection in relationship to IM and/or A/D in cases of gastritis not associated with GA and in cases of GA.

Optic gliomas: a retrospective analysis of 50 cases.

Purpose: Gliomas of the optic pathways are rare childhood central nervous system tumors. The treatment approach is controversial because of its rarity and the slow and unpredictable growth rates of these lesions.

Methods And Materials: We reviewed 50 patients with the diagnosis of optic pathway low-grade gliomas treated between January 1980 and December 1995 at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Saudi Arabia.

A study comparing different approaches in managing neck nodes in early carcinoma of the tongue.

Objective: To evaluate elective neck treatment in patients with early stage (T1-2 negative neck node [N0]) squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue.

Methods: The medical records of all patients with early stage (T1-2 N0) of oral tongue cancer at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between January 1980 and December 1997, were identified and retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Our cohort consisted of 93 patients: 45 males and 48 females, with a median age of 60 years.

Stage IV oral cavity carcinoma. Is conventional radical treatment an option?

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of radical treatment for patients with stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

Methods: Using head and neck tumor database, 57 patients with stage IV non-metastatic invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity treated with curative intent at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between July 1992 and June 1998, were identified and retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Our cohort of patients consisted of 33 males and 24 females, with a median age of 65 years.

Prognostic factors and treatment modalities in uterine sarcoma.

The aim of this study was to identify the impact of various prognostic factors in the management of uterine sarcoma. Fifty-nine patients with uterine sarcoma were treated at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center between 1980 and 1997. Forty-three patients (73%) were treated by total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 7 (12%) total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with sampling of pelvic lymph nodes, and 9 (15%) had biopsy only.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma: a retrospective study of 109 cases.

The purpose of this report is to assess the prognostic factors that could influence management and clinical outcome of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of soft tissues. Between 1975 and 1998, 109 patients diagnosed with MFH of the soft tissues, seen at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, have been reviewed. Of the 109 patients, 75 were men and 34 were women.

Primary thyroid lymphoma: a retrospective analysis of prognostic factors and treatment outcome for localized intermediate and high grade lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting in the thyroid gland is uncommon. A review of the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH & RC) experience was performed to assess treatment outcome and prognostic factors in this rare extranodal presentation of localized lymphoma. Sixty patients treated at KFSH & RC between 1975 and 1995 were identified, and their records were reviewed retrospectively.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue: an analysis of prognostic factors.

Aim: To identify the prognostic significance of different factors in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Patients And Methods: Seventy-seven patients with carcinoma of the tongue were treated radically at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre between 1980 and 1989. Twenty patients (26%) were treated by resection alone, 11 (14%) with radiotherapy alone, and 46 (60%) with combined resection and radiotherapy.

Adjuvant chemotherapy with vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide in the treatment of postenucleation high risk retinoblastoma.

Purpose: To study risk factors and outcome of children with high risk retinoblastoma who receive postenucleation vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide.

Patients And Methods: Charts of all patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy for retinoblastoma were reviewed. Thirty-six patients were identified who received chemotherapy for high risk histopathologic features.

Pericardial metastasis in carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Cardiac metastasis from gynecological malignancies is rare. Only six cases of carcinoma of the uterine cervix have been reported where the diagnosis of malignant pericardial effusion was made antemortem. The treatment of neoplastic pericardial effusion is controversial; both surgical and nonsurgical treatments are advocated.