Multiple myelomatosis treated with a combination of urethane and an oral nitrogen mustard

1. 17 Cases of advanced multiple myelomatosis have been treated with combined chemotherapy using small doses of urethane and an oral preparation ofnitrogen mustard.

2. The object of such therapy was to test the hypothesis that a synergisticaction existed between these compounds.

3. The results indicate that significant palliation was obtained in many patients treated and that in some the progress of the disease was modified.

4. In the dosage employed such combined therapy appears to be free fromundesirable toxic manifestations and suitable for out-patient administrationover long periods.

Submitted on May 20, 1954 Accepted on July 30, 1954     

Comparison of vincristine and vindesine in the treatment of inoperable non-small cell bronchial carcinoma

Sixty-three patients with inoperable symptomatic non-small cell carcinoma of the bronchus were randomly allocated to receive either vincristine (1.4 mg/m2) or vindesine (3 mg/m2). These drugs were given weekly for four doses, then every 2 weeks for two further doses, and then continued monthly if there had been a response. Only five partial responses (greater than 50% reduction) were obtained with vindesine and none with vincristine. Disabling toxic effects occurred in 13 patients. This was more common with vindesine, but this group also received more prolonged therapy. Vindesine has modest activity against non-small cell carcinoma of the bronchus and may be more effective than vincristine, with similar toxicity.     

Treatment of inoperable small-cell bronchial carcinoma with local radiotherapy and supplementary high-dosage one-time upper and lower half-body irradiation

37 patients with histologically verified inoperable small-cell bronchial carcinomas were treated with local tumor irradiation (40 Gy), combined with upper and lower half-body irradiation. Continuous analysis of the treatment results led to modification of therapy, from which two groups of patients resulted. In group I the whole-body treatment consisted of an irradiation of the upper, and six weeks later, of the lower half of the body with a dose of 8.8 Gy. In group 2 the half-body dose of 8.8 Gy was applied in 2 fractions on the same day (6.0 Gy, break of 5 hours, 2.0 Gy). The critical organ was the lung: the pneumonitis rate and the effect on tumor and metastases and survival times are reported.