Seminoma of the testis: Results of treatment and patterns of failure after radiation therapy

Four hundred and forty-four patients with the histological diagnosis of pure seminoma were treated at The Princess Margaret Hospital between 1958 and 1976. Using the Walter Reed Hospital staging classification, 338 patients (76.1 %) were Stage I, 86 (19.4 %) were Stage II, and 20 (4.7%) were Stage III. The 5 year actuarial survival rate (5 yr S_A) for all stages was 87%, and for Stages I, II and III: 94%, 74% and 32% respectively. In Stage II the 5-year S_A was significantly worse when palpable abdominal disease was present (62%, vs 87% when it was absent, p < .02). Prophylactic mediastinal irradiation was not used for patients with Stage II disease. None of 40 Stage II patients without palpable abdominal disease recurred in the non-irradiated mediastinum. Ten of 46 Stage It patients with palpable abdominal disease recurred in the mediastinum; 7 of the 10 were cured with mediastinal irradiation at the time of relapse. Prophylactic mediastinal irradiation appears unnecessary in Stage II patients. The Stage III category includes a subgroup of patients who were curable with radiation therapy: $\text{5}\text{6}$ with supradiaphragmatic nodal disease without palpable abdominal or visceral disease were cured. Exploration of new treatment methods appears indicated for the salvage of patients recurring in sites other than the mediastinum or supraclavicular fossa and for patients presenting with visceral disease.     

Carcinoma-in-situ of the glottic larynx: results of treatment with radiation therapy

Purpose: Carcinoma-in-situ (CIS) of the vocal cords frequently progresses to invasive disease if untreated. Treatment approaches include vocal cord stripping, radiation therapy (RT), and laser excision. The purpose of this analysis was to assess the efficacy and safety of a standard RT regimen in the treatment of this condition.

Methods and Materials: Between January 1980 and December 1994, 67 patients (52 men, 15 women; median age, 65 years) with glottic CIS were treated with RT. The standard RT regimen was 51 Gy in 20 fractions given over 4 weeks (99% of patients). Prior to receiving RT, 21 patients (31%) had undergone 1 or 2 vocal cord stripping procedures, and 1 had been treated with laser.

Results: With a median follow-up of 6.5 years, 1 patient developed invasive glottic cancer, giving a 5-year actuarial local control rate of 98%. This patient recurred 14 months after treatment and was salvaged with laryngectomy. He is currently free of disease 2 years after surgery. There were no serious acute or late treatment complications. Sixteen patients (24%) developed subsequent malignancies, 8 of these being in the upper aerodigestive tract, although none were in the radiation field.

Conclusions: Moderate-dose radiation therapy is an effective treatment for glottic CIS. It is well tolerated, produces no serious acute or long-term side effects, with an excellent cure rate.     

Patterns of care outcome studies: Results of the national practice in seminoma of the testis

The national practice in managing seminoma of the testis has been determined for 1973. Recurrence-free survival at four years is: Stage I, 97%; Stage II, 97%; and Stage III, 70%. A special group called Stage I-C, who had no evaluation of their retroperitoneal lymph nodes, exhibits a significantly worse survival (87%). Complications are uncommon (2%) and most could be avoided by using appropriate radiation doses and treatment techniques. Excessive radiation doses are used in patients with Stage I seminoma, 54% of them receiving more than 3000 rad.     

38例隐睾精原细胞瘤临床分析

我院1975年3月至1987年12月收治隐睾发生的精原细胞瘤38例，占同期睾丸精原细胞瘤35．1％（38／109），Ⅰ期18例、Ⅱ期9例、ⅡB期8例、Ⅲ期2例、Ⅳ期1例。其中腹股为隐睾精原细胞癌Ⅰ期10例，占55．5％．Ⅱ期6例占33．3％，Ⅲ、Ⅳ期各1例。腹腔隐睾精原细胞瘤Ⅰ期8例占40％，Ⅱ期11例占55％，Ⅲ期1例。放疗为主要治疗手段，少数中晚期合并用N-甲基溶肉瘤素化疗。5年及10年生存率分别为89．5％和84．2％，Ⅰ期的5、10年生存率为100％，Ⅱ期分别为88．2％和82．4％，Ⅲ期生存率为50％。     

Sphincter-sparing local excision and hypofractionated radiation therapy for anorectal melanoma: a 20-year experience

BACKGROUND:

Anorectal melanoma is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. Because survival is determined by distant failure, many centers have adopted sphincter‐sparing excision for primary tumor control. However, this approach is associated with high rates of local failure (～50%). In this study, the authors report their 20‐year experience with sphincter‐sparing excision combined with radiation therapy (RT) for the treatment of localized anorectal melanoma.

METHODS:

The authors reviewed the records of 54 patients with localized anorectal melanoma who were treated at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from 1989 to 2008. All patients underwent definitive local excision with or without sentinel lymph node biopsy or lymph node dissection. RT (25‐36 grays in 5‐6 fractions) was delivered to extended fields that targeted the primary site and draining pelvic/inguinal lymphatics in 39 patients and to limited fields that targeted only the primary site in 15 patients.

RESULTS:

The 5‐year rates of local control (LC), lymph node control (NC), and sphincter preservation were 82%, 88%, and 96%, respectively. However, because of the high rate of distant metastasis, the overall survival (OS) rate at 5 years was only 30%. Although there were no significant differences in LC, NC, or OS based on RT field extent, patients who received extended‐field RT had higher rates of lymphedema than patients who received limited‐field RT.

CONCLUSIONS:

The current results indicated that combined sphincter‐sparing local excision and RT is a well tolerated approach that provides effective LC for patients with anorectal melanoma. Inclusion of the inguinal lymph node basins in the RT fields did not improve outcomes and was associated with an increased risk of lymphedema. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.     

Radiation therapy of seminoma of the testis

Seventy-three consecutive patients with seminom of the testis were treated by orcbiectomy followed by radiation alone. Sixty-six patients (9196) survived for more than five years. Forty-nine of fifty-six (87 %) survived for more than tan years. The five-year survival for 54 patients with Stage I disease was 100 % ; it was 92 % for 13 patients with Stage II disease. None of the six Stage III patients smviv All those who survived for five years were leading an active and normal life as of this writing. The Karoofsky's performance status was 90–100 for 50 patients who were followed is detail. Routine postoperative irradiation of the pare-aortic lymphatics was sufficient to produce a permanent cure without resorting to chemotherapy or prophylactic irradiation of mediastinum and supraclavicular regions. The optimal tissue does was 3000 rad. It may be increased to 3500–4000 rod by reducing the portal, but the total dose should be kept under 4000 rad. Pulmonary metastases were treated by bilateral whole hog irradiation of 1000–1500 rad followed by a coal boost dose of 2000–2500 rad. The treatment was well-tolerated by the patient. Large intra-abdominal metastases involving the internal organs should be treated by means other than radiation alone.     

睾丸精原细胞瘤78例临床分析

目的：对78例精原细胞瘤患者的治疗结果及其预后因素加以分析。方法：1983年7月至1992年4月收治78例睾丸精原细胞瘤，均经病理证实为纯精原细胞瘤。78例中74例手术治疗，63例术后放疗，43例联合化疗。结果：中位随访6.6年（随访期5-10年），根据《现代肿瘤学》的分期标准。Ⅰ期44例。Ⅱ期21例。Ⅲ期3例。Ⅳ期10例。全组5，10年生存率分别为；Ⅰ期93.2%,87.0%,Ⅱ期66.7%,60.0%,Ⅲ期33.3%,33.3%,Ⅳ期0，0。结论：临床分期，放疗剂量及联合化疗是影响预后的重要因素。强调高位精索加睾丸切除术及术后预防放疗DT2500cDy为Ⅰ期患者首选治疗方案，Ⅱ期以上患者应术后放疗加联合化疗。     

The cost effectiveness of a radiation therapy simulator: a model for the determination of need.

The requirement for a certificate-of-need for capital expenditures of $100,000 or more has placed a major constraint on purchases of new medical equipment. Consideration of a “first principles” argument has not proven compelling to the planning agencies in justifying the purchase of a radiation therapy simulator. Thus a strategy based on cost-effectiveness and the consequences of survival in successfully treated patients is proposed for equipment justification.We have reviewed the records of 18-month survivors among patients with lung cancer that were treated by irradiation; we observed 3 spinal cord injuries in non-simulated patients, whereas none were observed in patients who had the benefit of simulation. Considering the societal costs of spinal cord injury, a cost-benefit analysis of a simulator justifies the expense of this equipment.     

Fallopian tube cancer: The role of radiation therapy

Thirty-four patients with fallopian tube cancer were evaluated at the Mayo Clinic between 1964 and 1985and received radiation therapy postoperatively. Employing a system analogous to FIGO ovarian cancer staging, there were 9 patients with stage I disease, 13 with stage II, and 12 with stage III/IV. Residual disease was present in 15 patients and absent in 19. Nodal metastases were documented in 12 patients or 35% (10 at presentation, two at relapse), with para-aortic nodes most commonly involved (67%) and 7 of the 12 having disease otherwise limited to the pelvis at presentation. Fifteen of 34 (44%) patients survived disease-free until intercurrent death or to a median follow-up of 70 months. Seven patients were treated with palliative intent for massive disease, and 27 patients were treated with curative intent (21 radiation alone, six radiation plus chemotherapy). Of those treated with curative intent, 15 patients received pelvic irradiation (with or without para-aortic nodal irradiation), 10 received whole abdominal irradiation, and 2 received intraperitoneal radiophosphorus. In the potentially curative group, seven of nine (78%) patients with stage I disease, five of 12 (42%) with stage II, and 2 of 6 (33%) with stage III have remained disease-free. Among the 21 patients with stage I or II disease, only four of the 11 (36%) patients who received pelvic irradiation alone were disease-free, but four patients had an isolated upper abdominal failure. In contrast, eight of 10 (80%) patients receiving treatment to the entire abdomen (including two patients who received ³²P) were disease-free. In potentially curative cases, 83% (29/35) of irradiated sites were controlled. Among 19 patients with persistent or recurrent disease, 15 (79%) had disease restricted to the abdomen/pelvis. Fallopian tube and epithelial ovarian cancers have similar natural histories, including abdominal failures in early disease, and whole abdominal irradiation appears to be an effective treatment modality.     

Pediatric neuroblastoma: postoperative radiation therapy using less than 2000 rad

There is considerable controversy regarding the role of radiation therapy in the treatment of neuroblastoma. Postoperative irradiation in the range of 2500-4000 rad is commonly used in the treatment of Evans Stage II or III disease, but there are no data in the literature to suggest the optimum dose of radiation that is necessary. Because much lower doses have been used at the University of Florida, a retrospective study was undertaken in an attempt to determine the optimum dose necessary in conjunction with surgery. From March 1964 through July 1979, 21 children with Stage II or III neuroblastoma were seen at the University of Florida. One patient died postoperatively. The remainder received postoperative irradiation with doses ranging from 900 to 4500 rad. The lower dose of radiation used did not adversely influence survival, particularly for patients less than two years of age at diagnosis. In this group, no patient had a local recurrence or died of disease, even though nine of 15 available patients received doses of 900-1500 rad.     

Post-orchidectomy radiation therapy for patients with stage I seminoma of the testis

The outcome of radiotherapy in patients with stage I testicular seminoma was evaluated. During the period 1960–89 (inclusive) 270 patients with stage I seminoma of the testis received radiotherapy to the para-aortic nodes and ipsilateral hemipelvis following radical orchidectomy. Two hundred and fifty seven patients (95.2%) received a minimum tumour dose of 30Gy in 20 daily fractions using 4–6 MV photons. The 5 year overall and recurrence-free survival rates were 97 and 95%, respectively. Only eight of the 270 patients relapsed and three were cured with ‘salvage’therapies. Of the 11 patients who died, four deaths (36%) were the result of uncontrolled testicular cancer, six (55%) intercurrent illness and one (9%) the result of attempted salvage. Patients staged and treated prior to 1979 had a significantly worse disease-free survival compared to patients treated during and after 1979. As side effects were negligible, it was concluded that radiotherapy for stage I seminoma provides excellent cure rates. The difficulties arranging a ‘surveillance’programme in so large a State as Queensland are discussed.     

Optic gliomas: radiation therapy and prognosis

A retrospective study was performed of 30 patients with optic gliomas referred to the Royal Marsden Hospital between 1951 and 1981. Twenty-nine of these had progressive disease, and were treated with radiotherapy. At presentation 12 (41%) had visual deficit to the extent of at least one blind eye. Visual acuity improved following treatment in 10 (43%) of 23 evaluable patients, was stable in 11 (48%) and deteriorated in 2 (9%). There was increase in visual fields in 4 (18%) of 22 evaluable patients, and no change in the remaining 18 (82%). Overall 26/29 (90%) of irradiated patients remained free from disease progression at a median follow-up period of 10 years. The probability of survival was 100% at five years following radiotherapy, and 93% at 10 years and also at 15 years. In view of the substantial morbidity and mortality in reported series, and the tendency for referral of more serious cases to a radiotherapy center, we conclude from our results that radiotherapy is effective in preventing progression of optic glioma, and that treatment early in the course of the disease is indicated to minimize the associated visual deficit.     

Complications of intraoperative radiation therapy

The ability to demonstrate an improvement in therapeutic ratio is critical in assessing new treatment modalities; an evaluation of treatment complications is essential for this purpose. We have studied the severe complications occurring after treatment with intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) in patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the rectum. Four groups of patients were compared: Group 1 (80 patients) had treatment with surgery alone for mobile and resectable tumors; Group 2 (23 patients) had treatment with high dose preoperative irradiation followed by surgical resection for tumors which were fixed to adjacent structures and initially unresectable for cure; Group 3 (24 patients, primary disease) and Group 4 (17 patients, locally recurrent disease) had locally advanced tumors as in Group 2 but were treated with IORT after preoperative irradiation and attempted surgical resection. All but 3 complications occurred within one year of therapy. Severe complications were seen in 16% of patients in Group 1, 35% in Group 2, 21% in Group 3 and 47% in Group 4 (32% in Groups 3 and 4 combined). There was a statistically insignificant increase (p = .10) in the complication rate in all irradiated patients (locally advanced tumors) compared to surgery alone (clinically mobile tumors). These data indicate no increase in severe complications with the use of IORT. If the ongoing studies continue to show improved local control with the use of IORT, expanded use of this modality may be warranted.     

Carcinoma of the cervix stage IB: Results of treatment with radiation therapy

An analysis has been made of 101 patients treated with radiation therapy for epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix Stage IB (FIGO) from January 1970 through December 1976. The patients were treated with a combination of intracavitary therapy and external beam therapy delivering a total combined dose of 8000 rad to the paracervical areas (Points A_R and A_L) and 5500 rad to the pelvic lymph nodes (Points I_R and I_L). The cumulative, disease-free survival at 2, 3 and 5 years was 89%, 87% and 84%. Sixteen failures were recorded in this group of patients, of which 3 were a result of loco-regional disease, 5 loco-regional disease plus distant metastasis and 8 distant metastasis only. The failure rate was greater among the patients who had lesions 4 or more cm in diameter and in patients who received doses of external beam therapy to the whole pelvis of 4000 rad or more. Eighteen patients developed complications; however, one patient had a recto-vaginal and a vesico-vaginal fistula; thus 19 complications were recorded. The complications were divided according to their severity into three groups: Grade I (mild) Grade If (moderate) and Grade III (severe). There were 10 Grade 1, 4 Grade II and 5 Grade III complications.     

Seminoma of the testis: long-term beneficial and deleterious results of radiation.

PURPOSE: The followup of 387 patients in a USA national survey of seminoma treated with radiation in 1973 and 1974 has been extended beyond 15 years to assess the long-term benefits and problems resulting from treatment. RESULTS: Survival at 15 years is 83% for Stage I, 68% for Stage II; freedom from recurrence at 15 years is 93% for Stage I, 96% for Stage II; NED survival at 15 years is 80% for Stage I, 68% for Stage II; cause specific freedom from cancer death is 98% for Stage I and 97% for Stage II at 15 years. Second malignancy rates were 8% at 15 years, and observed in 14 patients versus 4.2 expected (p < .001). Deaths due to these second cancers were also increased with seven observed versus two expected (p < .01). Non-cancer intercurrent disease death occurred in 23 patients versus 7.5 expected (p < .01). The most frequent cause was cardiac death which appeared in 10 patients versus 4.4 expected (p < .05) and 8 of the 10 patients received mediastinal radiation. Two additional patients died of pulmonary fibrosis after mediastinal radiation. Mediastinal radiation correlated with all intercurrent disease and cardio-pulmonary deaths (p < .05), but not with second malignancies. With the exception of one, all patients experiencing cardiac death after mediastinal irradiation were 40 years or older at the time of treatment, with a range of 32-58 years and a mean interval to death of 9.8 years. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations for the future management of seminoma include: reducing the irradiated volume in the treatment of Stage I patients, completely eliminating mediastinal radiation in the treatment of patients with Stage IIA seminoma and treating patients with Stage IIB seminoma with chemotherapy. Radiation dose should not exceed 30 Gy for Stage I or 35 Gy for Stage IIA.     

Successful treatment of a child with a primary intracranial rhabdomyosarcoma with chemotherapy and radiation therapy

Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the central nervous system (CNS) is rare in both adults and children (Taratuto et al. (1985) Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 66(2):98–104). The outcome in the majority of cases is poor, and many cases are associated with early mortality (Celli et al. (1998) J Neurooncol 36(3):259–267). There are very few cases reported in the literature of survival beyond 2 years after diagnosis. We report a case of primary intracranial embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in a 5-year-old girl who was treated successfully with local radiation therapy (RT) and a combination of two different chemotherapeutic regimens. The patient is clinically well 26 months after diagnosis, with no definitive evidence of residual disease.     

A single institution experience with concurrent capecitabine and radiation therapy in weak and/or elderly patients with urothelial cancer

PURPOSE: To describe a single institution experience in delivering concurrent capecitabine and radiation in elderly patients with urothelial cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of patients with urothelial carcinoma treated with capecitabine and radiation at Wayne State University were reviewed. Capecitabine was administered at a median dose of 1600 mg/m2/day (range, 1200-1800 mg/m2). Concurrent radiation therapy (RT) of 40-45 Gy was delivered to a small pelvic field with a four-field technique, with additional boost to tumor area (total, 54-68.4 Gy). RESULTS: Fourteen patients who were not candidates for cystectomy or cisplatin-based therapy were treated with capecitabine and concurrent radiation therapy. Median age was 80 years (range, 46-88 years). Five patients had a performance status of 3. Nine patients had localized disease, and 5 patients had advanced disease. The most common overall toxicities were fatigue (43%), diarrhea (Grade 2, 14% and Grade 3, 29%), and dehydration (43%), with no Grade 4 or 5 toxicities. Of 14 patients, 3 (20%) required hospitalization for management of toxicities. Seven patients required dose modification, and the therapy was relatively well tolerated. Clinical complete response was seen in 11 of 13 evaluable patients (77%). At a median follow-up of 10.5 months, only 3 of 11 responders had relapsed. CONCLUSION: Concurrent capecitabine and radiation therapy is well-tolerated and demonstrates promising efficacy in urothelial carcinoma, thus offering a tolerable therapeutic option in elderly patients or those with impaired performance status.     

Improved control of bulky prostate carcinoma with sequential estrogen and radiation therapy

Patients with bulky prostate cancer have usually been treated by palliative measures because the likelihood of tumor control with definitive irradiation has been low and the development of distant metastases high. The addition of estrogen to irradiation has not been shown to be of value. However, we believe the method of estrogen administration may have been the cause for the apparent lack of benefit. Estrogen had been started either concurrent with irradiation or had been used for palliation and was given for long and unscheduled time periods prior to irradiation. We have used estrogen for two months prior to and concurrent with irradiation. We postulated that in those patients with estrogen responsive cancer, the reduced tumor burden prior to irradiation could enhance tumor control and survival. Between 1975 and 1980, 25 patients with bulky prostate cancer received sequential estrogen and irradiation, 12 patients irradiation alone and six patients irradiation after having become refractory to longterm estrogen use. One patient was lost to follow-up. Eighteen of 25 (72%) treated by sequential estrogen and irradiation, 14/17 (82%) with estrogen responsive cancer and 4/8 (50%) with estrogen resistant cancer had a complete tumor response. Six of 11 (55%) patients treated by irradiation alone and 2/6 (33%) treated by irradiation for estrogen refractory cancer had a complete tumor response. Disease-free survival was observed in 13/25 (52%) treated by sequential estrogen and irradiation, and 8/17 patients (47%) with irradiation. It is also possible the improved survival in the estrogen responsive group was a direct result of improved local control. Persistent local disease can act as a source for distant metastases. Distant metastases was observed in 15% of patients when the primary tumor was controlled and 30% when there was persistent or recurrent local disease. Also, progressive local disease can be an important cause of death. This was most evident in our patients with estrogen refractory cancer. Almost all patients in this group had progressive local disease that caused serious urinary bleeding and urinary infection that were considered the major cause of death. Our results suggest bulky prostate cancer should be aggressively treated when first diagnosed. The value of adjunct estrogen is unproven. Our results with the use of estrogen prior to and concurrent with irradiation is encouraging. Estrogen may shrink the cancer and allow for a more favorable geometry for external irradiation. Tumor control and survival may be thereby improved. The lower frequency of tumor control and survival of patients with estrogen resistant cancer indicates the need to explore other therapeutic approaches for this group of patients. A higher dose of external irradiation or the addition of chemotherapy prior to irradiation may be of value.