Combined treatment modalities for advanced Hodgkin's disease: a ten years follow-up

Twenty patients [Pt] with advanced Hodgkin's disease were treated by combination chemotherapy [MOP-BAP]: Nitrogen mustard 6 mg/m2 i.v. day 1, vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 i.v. days 1 and 8, procarbazin 100 mg/m2 o. days 2-7, and 9-12 with prednisone 40 mg/m2 cycle one and four, adriamycin 30 mg/m2 i.v. day 8 and bleomycin 2 mg/m2 i.v. days 1 and 8. All patients received 6 cycles as induction therapy. Patients in PR received low dose of radiation 20-25 Gy to involved fields. The age ranged between 20-64 years [mean 34.4 years]. Clinical stages were IIIA [6], IIIB [6], IVB [8]. Most of the patients had bulky disease [75%], and 85% had more than three sites of involvement by the disease. Pathological types: Mixed cellularity [11], nodular sclerosis [5] and lymphocytic predominance [4 patients]. According to the study protocol 6 patients in PR had received involved field radiotherapy, four of them had achieved complete remission, two patients had increased disease and death. Ten of the study group [56%] are still alive after 121 months of initial therapy, toxicity was observed with radiotherapy

effect of therapeutic irradiation on the secretion of electrolytes by the human salivary gland

The changes in the composition of saliva were studied in 54 patients with head and neck cancer that were subjected to radiotherapy. Persistent reduction in the flow rate to about 20% of the pretreatment value was noted and may be attributed mainly to damage to the serous salivary glands. This was associated with reduction in the buffer capacity. Evidence of damage to the duct system was demonstrated as increase in the concentration of Na and Cl ions. Xerostomia and reduced buffer capacity may predispose to dental caries. The change in the composition of saliva may be used in monitoring efficacy of radio-protectors