Combined chemoradiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone in patients with esophageal cancer

This study included 61 patients with locally unresectable esophageal cancer. Thirty-one patients received radiotherapy alone [RT group], the dose of radiotherapy ranged between 60-64 Gy/6-6.5 weeks, while the remaining 30 patients received radiotherapy in a dose ranged between 45-50 Gy/4.5-5 weeks plus chemotherapy [CT-RT group]. Chemotherapy [consisting of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and cisplatin] was given 2-3 cycles before radiotherapy and further 2-3 cycles were given after radiotherapy. The study concluded that combined modality therapy can improve the outcome in locally unresectable esophageal carcinoma with significantly better local rate, survival, progression-free survival rates and much reduction in the incidence and timing of treatment failures

Orchidectomy versus Orchidectomy plus cyproterone acetate in the treatment of metastatic prostatic carcinoma

This study included 42 patients all underwent orchidectomy and only 22 received cyproterone acetate in a dose of 150-200 mg PO daily. Clinical, laboratory and radiological evaluations were done during the period of the study [from January 1992 to June 1997 inclusive]. There was no high difference in the causes of death. The mean overall survival was longer in the combined treatment group [44.9 m vs. 36.9 m]. Time to disease progression was significantly longer in the combined modality group [30.7 m vs. 22.7 m]. Hot flushes were less in the combined group [31.0% vs. 60.6%] but the difference was insignificant

Primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; clinical features, management and prognosis of 56 patients

In this study, 56 patients with primary gastrointestinal tract [GIT] non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [41 males and 15 females, mean age 41.5 years] were retrospectively evaluated. Twenty-nine patients were treated with curative surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy and 19 patients were treated with non-curative surgery plus chemotherapy and 8 patients were treated with curative surgery alone. All patients were included in the response analysis and survival. Only 33 patients were included in the disease free survivals as they had a complete response after different treatment modalities. The study confirmed the prognostic value of stage of the disease, curative surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with primary gastrointestinal tract non- Hodgkin's lymphoma [PGITL]