Carboplatin is effective therapy for young children with progressive optic pathway tumors: a Pediatric Oncology Group phase II study.

The Pediatric Oncology Group conducted a phase II study to evaluate the activity of carboplatin in children 5 years or younger with progressive optic pathway tumors (OPTs). Of the 51 patients accrued to this study, 1 was not eligible because the child was older than 6 years. Fifty patients were eligible and had either neuro-imaging or symptomatic evidence of progressive OPTs.

Breast conservation therapy for breast cancer treatment in Brown County.

The Northeast Wisconsin Cancer Registry and a patient survey was utilized to examine the use of breast conservation surgery in Brown County between 1991 and 1997 and the factors influencing patients' treatment decisions. In all patients, the rate of breast conservation rose from approximately 30% to 44% during that time period. The percent of all patients with stage 0, I or II breast cancer who were potential candidates for breast conservation based on their stage rose from 89% in 1991 to 96% in 1997.

Management of advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the maxillary sinus.

From 1970 to 1988, 41 cases of advanced maxillary sinus cancers were treated at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Local control for the 37 evaluable patients was achieved in 21 (57%). Local control by radiation therapy alone was achieved in ten of 19 (53%) patients compared with eight of 14 (57%) treated with a combination of surgery and radiation therapy.

Accelerated fractionation radiation therapy for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

We treated 14 patients who had advanced head and neck cancer with an accelerated fractionation schedule of irradiation consisting of two fractions given 6 hours apart. In the morning a volume of 1.7 Gy was given to an area that encompassed the entire tumor, enlarged lymph nodes, and all areas at risk for microscopic disease.