Radiotherapy alone for medically inoperable carcinoma of the cervix: stage IA and carcinoma in situ

The objective of this study was to define the role of radiotherapy alone for medically inoperable patients with Carcinoma in Situ (CIS) and Stage IA carcinoma of the uterine cervix. At the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Radiation Oncology Center from January 1959 through December 1986 21 patients with CIS and 34 with Stage IA were treated. All patients had histologically proven disease. The average age was 56 years for CIS and 51 years for Stage IA patients. Therapy for patients with CIS consisted of a single intracavitary insertion with a uterine tandem and colpostats. The average radiation doses were 4612 cGy to point A, 9541 cGy to the surface of the cervix, and 5123 milligram-hours (mgh). Radiotherapy for Stage IA tumors was delivered with intracavitary irradiation alone in 13 (average doses were 5571 cGy to point A, 10,430 cGy vaginal surface dose, and 6488 mgh). The other 21 patients were treated with external beam and intracavitary irradiation. The average whole pelvis dose was 1443 cGy with an additional 2354 cGy boost to the parametria with a midline stepwedge shield. The average intracavitary doses were 5200 cGy to point A, 10234 cGy to the vaginal surface, and 6293 mgh. None of the patients with CIS developed recurrent disease and none had severe sequelae of therapy. Only one patient with Stage IA developed recurrent disease in the pelvis. None developed metastatic disease. The severe complication rate was 5.9% (2/34) for Stage IA and only occurred in those receiving intracavitary irradiation and external beam irradiation. We conclude that irradiation consisting of intracavitary implants alone is excellent treatment for patients with medically inoperable Stage IA and CIS of the cervix.     

常规与后加速超分割及常规加腔内照射治疗食管癌的远期疗效

目的　观察和比较常规分割、后程加速超分割及常规分割加腔内照射三种方式治疗局部中晚期食管癌的疗效及放射反应。方法　对 111例局部中晚期食管癌首治病例进行前瞻性随机分组研究。常规分割照射组 (常规组 ) 4 0例 :2 .0Gy/次 ,1次 /d ,5d/周 ,共 6 0Gy,30分次 ,6周完成。后程加速超分割组 (后超组 ) 4 1例 :前 3周常规分割 ,30Gy ,15分次 ,3周完成 ;后 2周加速超分割照射 ,1.5Gy/次 ,2次 /d ,5d/周 ,共 30Gy ,2 0分次 ,2周完成。常规外照射加腔内照射组 (腔内组 ) 30例 :常规外照射达 34～ 36Gy时与腔内照射同期进行 (腔内照射当天停外照射 1次 ) ,腔内照射 5 .0Gy/次 ,1次 /周 ,共 2次 ,外照射总量为 5 0Gy。结果　常规组和后超组及腔内组的 1、3、5年生存率分别为 5 7.5 %、2 2 .5 %、14 .1%和 5 7.5 %、2 9.3%、2 4 .4 %及 5 3.3%、2 6 .7%、2 3.3% ,急性放射性食管炎的发生率分别为 2 2 .5 %和 4 1.5 %及 5 0 .0 % ,出血、穿孔的发生率分别为 7.7%和 7.3%及 16 .7%。结论　虽然后程加速超分割放射治疗有提高生存率的趋势 ,但与常规分割照射组及常规外照射加腔内放射治疗组的生存率差异无显著性意义 ,但其是否在治疗中晚期食管癌方面占有绝对优势尚有待大样本前瞻性随机临床研究和长期观察     

High dose rate afterloading intracavitary therapy in carcinoma of the cervix

From January 1984 through December 1986, 87 patients with previously untreated carcinoma of the cervix received external beam pelvic irradiation and high dose rate intracavitary therapy (HDRT). There were 18 Stage IIA patients, 39 Stage IIB, and 30 Stage IIIB. The median age was 60 years and the median follow-up time was 42 months for patients at risk. Radiotherapy consisted of external megavoltage irradiation to the whole pelvis (median dose 4600 cGy) combined with one (6 patients), two (51 patients), or three (30 patients) HDRT insertions. A high dose rate remote afterloading unit with 60Co sources was used to deliver the HDRT. The prescribed dose to point A was between 800 and 1000 cGy per treatment. The dose rate at point A initially was approximately 150 cGy/min and dropped to approximately 100 cGy/min during the duration of the study. Treatments with multiple fractions were given at weekly intervals. The overall actuarial survival at 5 years was 88% for Stage IIA, 64% for Stage IIB and 32% for Stage IIIB patients. Pelvic recurrence remained the major cause of failure. Grade III and IV late complications included proctitis and bowel obstruction in six patients each. We conclude that HDRT results are similar to those obtained with conventional low dose rate intracavitary systems. HDRT is cost effective and minimizes exposure to personnel. Several questions, such as the total number of insertions required, dose per HDRT insertion, and optimal HDRT insertion schedule remain unanswered and further experience is needed to better clarify these issues.     

Intracavitary irradiation for carcinoma of the urinary bladder: rationale, technique, and preliminary results

Twelve patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder have been treated employing a combination of external beam radiation (4000 to 5040 cGy/4 to 5.5 weeks) supplemented by intracavitary irradiation (1500 to 3000 cGy mucosal dose) using a triple lumen balloon catheter containing a central 137Cs source. The rationale, patient selection, and preliminary results are reported, and the technique of the intracavitary brachytherapy is described.     

Stage II carcinoma of the endometrium: results of therapy and prognostic factors

A retrospective analysis is reported of 116 patients with Stage II carcinoma of the endometrium treated definitively with combined radiation and total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH-BSO) or irradiation alone from January 1960 through December 1981. At 5 and 10 years, the overall survival for all patients was 71 and 52% and the disease-free survival was 73 and 69%, respectively. Of 90 patients in the combined therapy group, most received a preoperative intracavitary insertion (3500 mgh to the uterus and 2000 mgh to the upper vagina) and preoperative external beam pelvic irradiation (2000 cGy whole pelvis, additional 3000 cGy to parametria, with midline shield) followed in 4 to 6 weeks by a TAH-BSO. The 5 and 10 year disease-free survival for this group was 78 and 75%, respectively. The incidence of major complications was 7% for the combined therapy group. Twenty-six patients were treated with irradiation alone; most of them received two intracavitary insertions (5000 mgh to the uterus and 3000 mgh to the upper vagina) and external beam pelvic irradiation (2000 cGy whole pelvis, additional 3000 cGy to parametria). The 5 and 10 year disease-free survival was 53 and 45%, respectively. The incidence of major complications was 19%. Factors found to influence the prognosis were histologic grade of tumor, clinical and histologic degree of tumor involvement of the ectocervix, presence of residual tumor in the hysterectomy specimen and the depth of myometrial invasion.     

Intracavitary brachytherapy combined with external-beam irradiation for squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus.

During the 15 year period from 1974 to 1988, 277 patients with previously untreated, histologically confirmed, squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus were treated with the Time Dose and Fractionation (TDF) factor of more than 99. Of these, 161 patients were treated with external beam irradiation combined with intracavitary brachytherapy. Intracavitary brachytherapy was done for all patients for whom insertion of an outer applicator 1 cm in diameter was possible and for whom a relatively good performance status was seen at completion of external beam irradiation. Except for mild radiation-induced esophagitis, no acute radiation injuries were noted. The early clinical effect of radiation upon the esophageal lesion was determined by esophagography and esophagoscopy, approximately 1 month after the combined radiotherapy; a complete response was observed in 86 (53.4%) of the 161 patients. Furthermore, after a 5 year follow-up, local control of esophageal cancer was found to have been successful in 51 (31.7%) of the 161 patients. The highest rate of local control was associated with the following criteria: Stage I, T1, tumor length less than 5 cm, and superficial or tumorous type of tumor. The 5-year actuarial survival rates were 43.3% for Stage I, 21.1% for Stage II, and 0% for both Stages III and IV. Benign radiation-induced esophageal ulcerations or strictures did develop in five of the long-term survivors, suggesting that the dosage is close to the maximal tolerance of the esophagus. We recommend that 1500-2000 cGy in two or three fractions is the optimal dosage for intracavitary radiation of the esophageal mucosa after external irradiation of 5500 cGy in 22 fractions for 5.5 weeks or 6000 cGy in 30 fractions for 6 weeks. We believe that intracavitary treatment of esophageal carcinoma is a highly effective and a safe therapeutic modality, not only as a palliative therapy, but also as a radical treatment for patients in Stages I and II.     

Clinical stage I endometrial cancer: results of adjuvant irradiation and patterns of failure

A retrospective analysis is reported in 858 patients with clinical Stage I carcinoma of the endometrium treated definitively from January 1960 through December 1986 with combined irradiation and total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH-BSO). Most patients received a preoperative intracavitary insertion (2500-4000 mgh to the uterus with Heyman capsules and tandem and 6500 cGy surface dose to the upper vagina) followed by a TAH-BSO within 6 weeks. Some patients received postoperative external beam irradiation (2000 cGy whole pelvis and an additional 3000 cGy to the parametria, with a midline stepwedge) when deep myometrial invasion was present. Occasionally patients were treated with preoperative external beam irradiation (2000 cGy whole pelvis) and intracavitary insertion. The 5-year overall survival for all patients was 84.0% compared to an expected survival of 88.8%. The 5-year progression-free survivals were 92% for FIGO clinical Stage IA and 86% for stage IB (p = 0.12). The dose to the uterine fundus from the preoperative intracavitary insertion was found to have a significant correlation with progression-free survival in patients with grade 3 tumors. Those receiving less than 2500 mgh to the uterine cavity had a 48.9% 5-year progression-free survival compared to 62.7% for 2500-3500 mgh and 87.4% for those receiving greater than 3500 mgh. Analysis of sites of failure showed that less than 1% (7/858) failed in the pelvis alone, 3% (30/858) in the pelvis combined with distant sites, and 7% (60/858) developed distant metastasis only. The lateral pelvic sidewall was the most common site of failure within the pelvis (20/37) and intraperitoneal failures (28/90) and lung (21/90) were the most common sites of distant metastasis. The overall severe (grades 2, 3, and 4) complication rate was 2.7% (23/858).     

Analysis of preoperative intracavitary cesium application versus postoperative external beam radiation in stage I endometrial carcinoma

Two groups of patients with surgical Stage I endometrial carcinoma treated at the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City are analyzed. Group 1 comprises 112 patients treated from 1974 through 1976, during which time preoperative intracavitary cesium was routinely used in all patients. Group 2 comprises 117 patients treated 1981 through 1983 under the treatment policy of hysterectomy without preoperative cesium. High risk patients from each group (grade 3 and/or deep myometrial invasion) generally received similar postoperative external beam pelvic radiotherapy (4500-5000 cGy). While 5-year actuarial disease-free survival rates were similar in each group (94% Group 1 vs 91% Group 2), multivariate analysis by the Cox Regression Method revealed that inclusion within treatment Group 2 carried independent adverse prognostic significance (p = 0.018). Other independent predictors of adverse 5-year disease-free survival included deep myometrial invasion and increasing histologic grade. Group 1 patients with grade 3 lesions had a superior 5-year actuarial disease-free survival (76% vs 53%) compared to those from Group 2. Group 1 patients with deep myometrial invasion also had a superior 5-year disease-free survival (84% vs 69%). The remaining low risk patients (grade 1 or 2, less than 1/3 myometrial invasion) had an excellent 5-year disease-free survival with or without preoperative cesium. Immediate preoperative intracavitary cesium was well tolerated, did not obscure pathologic findings and in our experience, reduced the probability of recurrence in high risk Stage I endometrial carcinoma patients.     

CT与食管癌腔内照射的预后

 目的：探讨食管癌外侵程度与腔内照射关系,以及对病人预后的影响。方法：1993年10月~1994年3月,23例中晚期食管癌病人接受外照射加腔内治疗,先常规外照射3800cGy/19次,然后行Ir192腔内照射。结果：13例生存1年以上,10例生存不满1年,这两组病人的病变长度、CT最大外侵程度、管腔直径、生存期的平均值分别为6.2cm,11.5mm、6.3mm、15.7个月和8.0cm、19.8mm、8.3mm、7.6个月。结论：食管癌病变长度小于5.0cm,CT最大外侵不超过15mm,管腔直径介于5~6mm之间,可能是腔内照射最好适应症。     

体外加腔内照射治疗食管癌与单纯体外照射的疗效探讨

目的 探讨食管癌体外加腔内照射与单纯外照射治疗的疗效及副作用。材料 本文收集１９９３年１２月－１９９５年５月收治经病理证实的１００例食管癌病人。方法 病变长度不超过８ｃｍ，分体外加腔内照射（腔内组）和单纯体外照射（对照组）两组。腔内组先给外照射肿瘤量６００ｃＧｙ，体外照射治疗结束的下一周开始腔内治疗。每周一次剂量５００－７００ｃＧｙ，共给２次。     

Are doses to ICRU reference points valuable for predicting late rectal and bladder morbidity after definitive radiotherapy in uterine cervix cancer?

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: To evaluate whether doses or dose rates at International Commission on Radiation Units (ICRU) reference points are of value for predicting risks of late rectal and bladder morbidity in patients with uterine cervical cancer who have undergone external beam radiotherapy and intracavitary irradiation. METHODS: Late rectal complications and late bladder complications were evaluated in 54 patients who were treated by external beam radiotherapy followed by intracavitary irradiation between January 1996 and December 1999. External beam radiotherapy was delivered in 1.8 Gy daily fractions to a whole pelvis dose of 50.4 Gy followed by intracavitary irradiation at total point A doses ranging from 75 Gy to 85 Gy. Intracavitary irradiation was performed with dose rates of 0.5-0.7 Gy/h to point A in most patients, but 8 patients were treated at a higher dose rate (0.83-1.15 Gy/h) to shorten the hospitalization period. Biologically effective doses for the reference points were calculated using a linear quadratic model. RESULTS: Grade 3 rectal and bladder morbidity by Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria developed in 4 patients (7.4%) and 1 (1.9%), respectively. An age of >60 years (P = 0.01) and a total dose to the rectal reference point of > or =80 Gy (P = 0.03) were found to be correlated with a higher rate of rectal morbidity. Total dose (> or =80 Gy), dose rate (> or = 0.75 Gy/h), and biologically effective doses (> or =135 Gy3) at the bladder reference point were found to be significant factors for the development of late bladder morbidity. By multivariate analysis, age was identified as the only significant factor of late rectal complications, and biologically effective doses at the bladder reference point was the only significant factor of late bladder complications. CONCLUSIONS: RTOG grade 3 late rectal and bladder morbidity developed in respectively 7.4% and 1.9% of the patients. The significant risk factors for late rectal and bladder morbidity were old age and biologically effective doses at the bladder reference point, respectively.     

High-dose-rate afterloading technique in the radiation treatment of uterine cervical cancer: 399 cases and 9 years experience in Taiwan

Carcinoma of the uterine cervix has been the leading malignant neoplasm treated in our department. A comparative study was carried out using conventional low dose rate (LDR) with 137Cs sources (less than or equal to 100 cGy/hr) versus high dose rate (HDR) with 60Co sources (greater than 100 cGy/min) in the intracavitary (IC) application following external pelvic irradiation. A total of 399 patients were treated with external RT plus HDR radiation treatment alone from February 1980 through December 1985. Stage IIb and IIIb comprised 79.4% of cases (317 cases). The rate of initial complete response of the tumor, local control, and survival rate seemingly were better in the HDR group, but there was no significant difference statistically. The actuarial survival rates in all cases/definitive RT cases are 85%/85% for Stage 0-IIa, 53%/70% for IIb, 43%/49% for IIIa, 43%/53% for IIIb, 42%/47% for IVa, respectively. Complications were similar and the rectal complications were slightly higher in HDR group. The combination of pelvic irradiation with HDR intracavitary irradiation was more convenient for patients and also for personnel. The HDR technique may be a good substitution for IC treatment.     

Carcinoma of the cervix: analysis of bladder and rectal radiation dose and complications

From April 1969 through December 1980, 527 patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix received radical radiation therapy at North Carolina Memorial Hospital (NCMH). The treatment was designed to deliver a combined dose (external beam plus intracavitary) of 7000-8000 cGy to Point A and 5000-6500 cGy to the pelvic lymph nodes depending upon the stage of the disease. The maximum dose to the bladder and to the rectum were calculated from the orthogonal intracavitary placement films with contrast material in these organs. Thirty-three cases of cystitis and fifty-eight cases of proctitis were recorded. The mean bladder dose for the group of patients with cystitis was higher, 6661 +/- 1309 cGy, than that for the patients without cystitis, 6298 +/- 1305 cGy, p = .19. The risk of cystitis increased as a function of bladder dose ranging from 3% for patients receiving less than or equal to 5000 cGy to the bladder to 12% for patients receiving greater than or equal to 8001 cGy to the bladder. A similar correlation was also found for rectal dose and proctitis. The mean rectal dose for the group of patients with proctitis was higher, 6907 +/- 981 cGy, than that for the patients without proctitis, 6381 +/- 1290 cGy, p = .003. The risk of proctitis increased as a function of rectal dose ranging from 2% for patients receiving less than or equal to 5000 cGy to the rectum to 18% for patients receiving greater than or equal to 8001 cGy to the rectum. A study of the severity of the cystitis as a function of bladder dose revealed a relationship between bladder dose and the severity of the complication (Grade I cystitis = 6600 +/- 1318 cGy vs Grade III cystitis = 6856 +/- 853 cGy). A dose-response relationship was found between the rectal dose and the severity of the complication (Grade I proctitis = 6810 +/- 906 cGy vs Grade III proctitis = 6997 +/- 1137 cGy). This relationship was statistically significant, p = .003. While there was no difference in the frequency of cystitis as a function of dose to the whole pelvis, the risk of proctitis did increase with increasing doses of external beam to the whole pelvis. It ranged from 3% for patients who received 2000 cGy or less to the whole pelvis to 14% for patients who received greater than 4000 cGy to the whole pelvis, p = .02.     

Combined modality treatment of localized unresectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

Since 1978, 86 patients with unresectable localized adenocarcinoma of the pancreas have been treated with a combined modality program using radioactive iodine 125-Implantation, external beam radiation, and systemic chemotherapy. Three treatment approaches were used with sequential modifications of the technique based on the course of disease and patterns of failure. Group 1 was comprised of 13 patients treated with a combination of implantation followed by a planned external radiation dose of 5000 to 6000 cGy delivered in 6 weeks. Group 2 included patients treated as in Group 1 followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. The most recent group of 54 patients, Group 3, has been treated since 1981 with implantation into the tumor of radioactive Iodine 125 seeds (12000 cGy minimal peripheral dose), perioperative chemotherapy (5-FU, Mito-C), and external beam irradiation (5000-5500 cGy) followed by further chemotherapy. Incidence of perioperative mortality has been reduced from 31% (10/32) in Groups 1 & 2 to 7% (4/54) in Group 3. Clinical local control of tumor has been excellent in all three groups (84%). Analysis of the Group 3 results indicate that the problem of distant metastasis, in spite of adjuvant chemotherapy, still remains overwhelming (64%)--especially to the liver--and requires development of more effective regimens. Median survival in the three groups of patients is 5.5, 11.3, and 12.5 months. The 2-year survival is 0, 15, and 22%, retrospectively in the three groups.     

Total skin electron beam radiation therapy for mycosis fungoides.

Forty-nine patients with biopsy-proven mycosis fungoides, Stages I-IV were treated using total skin electron beam irradiation (TSEBI). Total dose ranged from 600 cGy to 3,200 cGy. To evaluate the dose response relationship, patients were retrospectively divided into two groups. In Group I, 18 patients received a dose of 2,000 cGy or less, and in Group II, 31 patients received more than 2,000 cGy. The overall response rate was 87.7% with a 75.7% complete response and 12.2% partial response. Complete response was higher among patients with early stage disease: (Stage IA 1/1, Stage IB 23/35 (92%), Stage IIA 3/4 (75%), Stage IIB 4/8 (50%), Stage III 3/6 (50%), Stage IVA 1/1, Stage IVB 0/1, and unstaged group 2/3 (66.6%)). Patients treated with a higher total dose had a higher overall 5-year survival rate (Group I 38%, Group II 68%), longer median duration of complete response (Group I, 27 months; Group II, 35.3 months), slightly better complete response rate (72.2% for Group I, 77.4% for Group II), and lower recurrence rate (Group I, 94%; Group II, 83.9%) compared to patients with lower total dose. Complications from TSEBI were minimal. Total skin electron beam irradiation is effective in controlling early stage mycosis fungoides; however, a prospective study to evaluate optimum total dose is needed.     

External radiation therapy of stage I cancer of the endometrium: a need for reappraisal of this adjunctive modality

One hundred and eighty-five patients with Stage I cancer of the endometrium were irradiated preoperatively. All were irradiated to the whole pelvis by external beam only using supermegavoltage apparati. The total mid-pelvis dose ranged from 4500 cGy/5 weeks to 5500 cGy/6 1/2 weeks. Surgery followed usually in 6 weeks. Complications were minimal. Disease-free survival at Stage IA was 92.4% 5-year, 87.7% 10-year; Stage IB was 83.5% 5-year, 74.6% 10-year. Prognosis was related to stage, grade, depth of myometrial penetration, the presence of "residual" tumor at hysterectomy. External beam preoperative irradiation is recommended for all Stage I patients; Stage IB with higher grade pathology should have intracavitary irradiation supplemental to the external irradiation.     

Iridium-192 brachytherapy in the management of 147 T2N0 oral tongue carcinomas treated with irradiation alone: comparison of two treatment techniques.

Our purpose is to analyse local control, complications relative to the proportion of total dose delivered by external beam irradiation versus interstitial implant in 147 patients with previously untreated T2N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue, managed between 1973 and 1986 (UICC staging system). These T2N0 patients are part of a larger group of 430 patients with oral tongue carcinoma (T1, T2, T3) treated with irradiation alone. Of these 147 T2N0 patients, 70 were treated with interstitial implant alone and 77 with both external beam irradiation and implant. In the group treated with interstitial implant alone, the 5-year local control was 89.8% against 50.6% in those treated with external beam irradiation and interstitial implant (log-rank test, p = 0.00002); 67.6% versus 46.5% for locoregional control (p = 0.029); and 62.2% versus 34.7% for specific survival (p = 0.0015). Since 1980, all the patients treated by iridium implantation were protected with a leaded spacing device between the tongue and the mandible. Soft tissue necrosis and bone exposure following treatment were scored according to the following criteria: minor, moderate or severe. Seven moderate and one severe complications were recorded in the brachytherapy group. None of the patients required surgery. In the combined treatment group, six moderate and two severe complications were observed. Patients treated with interstitial implant alone, and showing moderate or severe complications had received an average brachytherapy dose of 7600 cGy. In the same group, the patients without complications had received an average dose of 6800 cGy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The dose time relationship in the radiotherapy of carcinoma of the cervix--application of CRE formalism.

A retrospective analysis of 291 patients with cancer of the uterine cervix treated with a combination of external and intracavitary radiotherapy was carried out. Patients were either treated with 45 Gy in 20 fractions by five fractions per week or with 42 Gy in 14 fractions by three fractions per week or with 42 Gy in 14 fractions by three fraction per week schedule by external radiotherapy. For brachytherapy the total dose was 24 to 32 Gy at a dose rate of 1.4 to 2.2 Gy per hour. Complication were correlated with total CRE values for point A (CRE TA) and for rectum CRE TR. Correlations of CRE TA with overall complication rate (p value < 0.05) and rectal complication rate (p value < 0.01) were excellent. Lack of correlation was observed between CRETR and overall complication rate (p value > 0.1) as well as rectal complication rate (p value > 0.1). In order to limit Grade II and III rectal and bladder complications to acceptable level, in combined external and intracavitary treatments, CRETA value of less than 2500 reu is suggested.     

The feasibility study on continuous 7-day-a-week external beam irradiation in locally advanced cervical cancer: a report on acute toxicity.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of continuous 7-day-a-week pelvic irradiation with no breaks between external beam irradiation and intracavitary applications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between November 1998 and December 1999, 30 patients with FIGO Stage IIB or IIIB cervical cancer were treated with continuous 7-day-a-week pelvic irradiation, to the total Manchester point B dose of 40.0-57.6 Gy. The first 13 patients (group A) were applied a daily tumor dose of 1.6 Gy and the remaining 17 patients (group B)-10.8 Gy. One or two immediate brachytherapy applications (point A dose 10-20 Gy, each) were performed in 28 cases. RESULTS: Two patients did not complete the irradiation due to apparent early progression of disease during the irradiation. Of the remaining 28 evaluable patients 11 (39%) completed treatment within the prescribed overall treatment time and 17 had unplanned treatment breaks. For the latter group overall treatment time ranged from 103 to 122% (mean 114%) and from 103 to 197% (mean 138%) of the planned treatment time for group A and B, respectively. The majority of patients experienced acute toxicity. Severe toxicity (EORTC/RTOG grade 3 and 4), predominantly gastrointestinal, occurred in 5 of the 13 patients in group A, and in 7 of 17 patients in group B. CONCLUSION: The studied regimen was accompanied by considerable toxicity, hindering delivery of irradiation within planned treatment time.