Premature calcifications of costal cartilages: a new perspective.

Background. Calcifications of the costal cartilages occur, as a rule, not until the age of 30 years. The knowledge of the clinical significance of early and extensive calcifications is still incomplete.

Long-term survival in patients with incurable breast cancer. An analysis of 93 cases.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to elucidate why some patients with incurable breast cancer may survive far beyond our expectation.

Patients And Methods: The analysis is based on two cohorts of patients with unresectable locoregional recurrences or distant metastases. Survival time, tumor characteristics, disease-free interval, metastasis type, coexistent diseases and a family history for breast cancer were recorded.

Treatment of vascular soft tissue sarcomas with razoxane, vindesine, and radiation.

Purpose: In previous studies, razoxane and vindesine together with radiotherapy was proved to be effective in soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Because razoxane leads to a redifferentiation of pathological tumor blood vessels, it was of particular interest to study the influence of this drug combination in vascular soft tissue sarcomas.

Methods And Materials: This open multicenter Phase II study was performed by the Austrian Society of Radiooncology.

Razoxane and vindesine in advanced soft tissue sarcomas: impact on metastasis, survival and radiation response.

Background: The treatment options in advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are limited. In a pilot study, an antimetastatic and radiosensitizing treatment concept was explored.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-one patients with unresectable and/or oligometastatic STS received the drugs razoxane and vindesine supported by radiotherapy and surgery.

Combined vindesine and razoxane shows antimetastatic activity in advanced soft tissue sarcomas.

Background: Razoxane and vindesine were shown to suppress distant metastasis in animal systems. Both drugs affect main steps of the metastatic cascade. Therefore, a pilot study was performed to study the influence of these drugs on the dynamics of metastasis in advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS).

Irradiation with and without razoxane in the treatment of incompletely resected or inoperable recurrent rectal cancer. Results of a small randomized multicenter study.

Background And Purpose: In an earlier phase II study, irradiation together with razoxane was shown to improve local control in recurrent rectal cancer. Therefore, the Austrian Society of Radiooncology (OGRO) initiated a randomized controlled trial in 1992 to compare this combined treatment versus radiation therapy alone.

Patients And Methods: Between 1992 and 1999, 36 patients with localized recurrences of rectal cancer were randomized to receive radiotherapy without (group A) or with razoxane (group B).

Austrian breast cancer patterns-of-care studies PCS93 and PCS01 versus PCS85 to identify changes in national practice.

Purpose: To determine the patterns of evaluation and treatment in Austrian breast cancer patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy in 1993 (PCS93) and 2001 (PCS01), and to compare these with the results of PCS85.

Material And Methods: According to the evaluation process of the Austrian PCS85, ten randomly selected patient charts from every Austrian radiotherapy center from 1993 (n=100) as well as 2001 (n=120) were reviewed. The work-up included surgical and (histo)pathologic information, systemic therapy and detailed information on radiation therapy.

The radiation response of sarcomas by histologic subtypes: a review with special emphasis given to results achieved with razoxane.

Purpose. Relatively few results are available in the literature about the radiation response of unresectable sarcomas in relation to their histology. Therefore, an attempt was made to summarize the present situation.

Combined radiotherapy and razoxane in the treatment of chondrosarcomas and chordomas.

Background: Chondrosarcomas and chordomas are reported to have low radio-sensitivity. Therefore, a study was undertaken to explore the radioresponsiveness of these tumours using the sensitising agent razoxane.

Patients And Methods: Thirteen chondrosarcomas and five chordomas were irradiated with high-energy photons and razoxane in the period from 1984 to 2003.

Radiotherapy and razoxane in advanced bile duct carcinomas.

Objectives: Little is known about the radiation sensitivity of bile duct carcinomas. The current study was undertaken to prospectively assess the objective response rates in bile duct carcinomas treated with radiotherapy and razoxane.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-three patients with advanced cancer of the biliary tree were irradiated together with the radiosensitizer razoxane at a dose of 125 mg twice daily by mouth.

Combined razoxane and radiotherapy for melanoma brain metastases. a retrospective analysis.

We retrospectively compared the efficacy of razoxane and radiotherapy with radiotherapy alone or in combination with a non-razoxane based medication in patients with melanoma brain metastases. From 19 assessable patients receiving whole brain irradiation with or without a boost (mean total dose 40.5 Gy) for measurable brain metastases, 8 patients underwent an additional razoxane therapy with 125 mg per os twice daily started 5 days before radiotherapy and given throughout the whole radiation period.

The med AUSTRON/OGRO patterns of care study on radiotherapy indications in Austria.

Purpose: In Austria a national survey was conducted by Med AUSTRON/Osterreichische Gesellschaft for Radio--Onkologie, Radiobiologie und Medizinische Radiophysik (OGRO) in order to estimate the indications, patient numbers and radiotherapy treatment planning procedures and performances at all Austrian radiotherapy institutes. Results were correlated with incidence rates (Austrian cancer registry) to determine patterns of radiotherapy practice in Austria.

Material And Methods: At 12 radiotherapy departments of Austria data of all patients receiving irradiation within a 3 months (2002/2003) period were assessed.

Epidemiological aspects of hadron therapy: a prospective nationwide study of the Austrian project MedAustron and the Austrian Society of Radiooncology (OEGRO).

Background: The planned MedAustron hadron therapy facility is designed to compare proton and carbon ion beam therapy under the same technical conditions. For the calculation of the number of potential patients for hadron therapy so far, only epidemiological estimations on cancer incidence are available without inclusion of the percentage of patients routinely referred to conventional radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Nationwide prospective survey to collect disease and treatment related data on patients receiving conventional radiotherapy at all 12 treatment facilities.

[Porphyria and radiotherapy: yet a constellation of risk?].

Background: Little is known concerning the relation of porphyrias to radiation treatment for cancer. The recent literature does not report negative outcomes at least in single cases of breast cancer, bladder cancer or in a patient with lymphoma. Theoretically, there is a risk for radiation treatment in cases of porphyrias.

Treatment options for malignant hemangioendotheliomas of the thyroid.

Background: Malignant hemangioendotheliomas of the thyroid are rare tumors predominantly seen in areas with endemic goiter such as the Alpine regions. The estimated incidence of the disease is between 0.15 and 0.

Patterns of care in radiotherapy of breast cancer in Austria 1985: data acquisition and comparison with data of US-PCS 1983.

Purpose: In Austria, a Patterns of Care Study (PCS) has been conducted to evaluate the standards of practice for breast cancer patients. The year 1985 was selected in order to establish a base data set.

Materials And Methods: At all nine radiation therapy facilities active in patient treatment in 1985, ten patients charts were randomly selected and reviewed.

A small prospective study of chordomas treated with radiotherapy and razoxane.

Purpose: To evaluate the local effect of conventional photon irradiation in chordomas if the radiosensitizing agent razoxane is added. The rationale for this procedure were improved results previously seen in soft tissue and chondrosarcomas with this combination.

Patients And Methods: Between 1988 and 1996, five patients with histologically confirmed chordomas of the skull base or the spine (three females, two males) were irradiated with 6- and 25-MeV photons under razoxane medication, one patient was treated with a telecobalt unit.

Aggressive angiomyxoma: irradiation for recurrent disease.

Background: Aggressive angiomyxoma (AAM) is a tumor of the soft tissues predominately occurring in the genital and pelvic area with a strong propensity to local recurrences. The entity was first described in 1983. The tumor is regarded as low-grade sarcoma by some authors; its cause and pathogenesis are presently unknown.

[The histology of the primary tumor and metastatic behavior. The implications for the radio-oncologist with examples].

Background: In the past, little attention has been given to the relationship of the histology of a primary tumor to its possible subsequent pattern of metastasis. The knowledge of these relations, however, is of importance for the radio-oncologist for several reasons.

Materials And Methods: A review on the relation between the histology of a primary tumor and the pattern of subsequent metastasis has been worked out.

[Correlation of histology of the primary tumor with liver metastases in colorectal carcinoma].

The histology of colorectal tumors was correlated with the presence of liver metastases in a retrospective study performed on 179 patients who were autopsied between 1975 and 1990. For the analysis of metastatic patterns, 116 cases with at least one distant metastatic site were selected. A distinct relationship between mucin expression of colorectal tumors and liver involvement was found.

[Angiosarcoma of the right atrium: local control via low radiation doses and razoxane. A case report].

Background: Angiosarcomas of the heart are rare neoplasms bearing an unfavorable prognosis. In recent series, the median survival is about 5 months. The response to radiation therapy is uncertain.

[Is axillary dissection in clinically lymph node-negative breast carcinoma further indicated?].

Background: In the treatment of breast cancer, the indication for adjuvant systemic treatment was extended also to nodal negative tumor stages in the last years. For that reason, the indicator status of axillary dissection lost some of its importance. Therefore, in node negative patients, the necessity of axillary dissection and the use of definitive axillary radiotherapy, which causes less morbidity, may be reconsidered.

Exposure to polymeric materials in vascular soft-tissue sarcomas.

Unlabelled: Known etiologic factors related to endothelial angiosarcomas are exposures to arsenic, thorium dioxide, therapeutic irradiation, and certain congenital diseases. Little is known on the etiology of hemangiopericytomas. Since 1974, several reports have appeared on a distinct relationship between the exposure to vinyl chloride monomers and angiosarcomas of the liver.

[Malignant hemangioendothelioma of the thyroid gland: new results on pathogenesis, therapy and prognosis].

Background: Malignant hemangioendothelioma of the thyroid is a rare tumor predominantly described in areas with endemic goiter like the Alpine regions. The estimated incidence of the disease is between 0.15 and 0.

Radiotherapy vs. radiotherapy and razoxane in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas: final results of a randomized study.

Purpose: The effect of the sensitizer razoxane on soft tissue sarcomas (STS) was prospectively evaluated in a randomized, controlled trial. The main purpose of the study was to determine the response rates and local control under the combined treatment compared to irradiation alone.

Methods And Materials: Between 1978 and 1988, 144 patients entered the study; 130 were evaluable for response, toxicity, or survival.