Fractionated total body irradiation and bone marrow transplantation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

From March 1982 to September 1988, 108 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were conditioned before allogeneic (57 patients of whom 16 T-depleted) or before autologous (51 patients) bone marrow transplantation (BMT). BMT was realized in 66 patients (31 allogeneic and 35 autologous) in first complete remission (CR) and in 42 patients (26 allogeneic and 16 autologous) in second CR or greater or in relapse. All patients received high doses of alkylating agents prior to a low-dose fractionated total body irradiation of 11 Gy in 5 fractions and 5 days. Rejection and relapse rate are described in relation to the three BMT types, allogeneic non T-depleted, allogeneic T-depleted, and autologous, and to the status of the patient at the time of the transplantation. Leukemic deaths are detailed according to the same parameters. Non-leukemic deaths and complications are determined. For the allogeneic population, the 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) is 47%; it is 68.5% in first CR patients, 23.5% in second or subsequent CR patients, and 50% in T-depleted BMT. For the autologous population, 4-year DFS is 35.7%; it is 52% in first CR patients and 30% in patients in second CR or greater. The conditioning regimen appears to be efficient in terms of disease control with a low rate of complications for the non T-depleted population, transplanted in first CR, but has to be improved for the other patients.

Results of fractionated TBI prior to bone marrow transplantation in standard risk leukaemia at Marseille.

One hundred and six patients with standard risk leukaemia were given fractionated TBI prior to allogeneic (72 cases, 27 of whom were T-depleted) or autologous (34 cases) bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Disease free survival at 5 years is 68% for allogeneic non T-depleted BMT and 33% for T-depleted BMT. Deaths are related to relapse, GVHD, infections, pneumonitis, encephalitis, VOD, AIDS, rejection.

Fractionated total body irradiation and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for standard risk leukemia.

From March 1982 to December 1986, 32 patients with standard risk leukaemia were conditioned for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with low dose fractionated total body irradiation (TBI) after infusion of alkylating agents. This series includes six children and 26 adults. Minimal follow-up was 24 months. The total dose of 11 Gy, given in 5 daily fractions of 2.20 Gy, was given in the lateral position, following chemotherapy with either melphalan or cyclophosphamide. Lungs were shielded for 2 out of the 5 fractions. All patients had in vivo dosimetry. The death rate is 25% without relapse or rejection. Disease-free survival is 73% at 5 years. Toxic deaths are detailed: 2 from sepsis and veino-occlusive disease of the liver, 3 from severe graft versus host disease (GVHD), 2 from GVHD associated with virus pneumonitis and one from HIV infection. Fractionated low dose rate TBI is discussed regarding its decreased toxicity and its efficiency for disease control.

Radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery for Stage I and II mammary carcinoma. Results of the Marseille experience 1961 to 1976.

This report describes the results of a program of limited surgery, usually tumor excision, followed by curative radiation therapy in a series of 794 evaluable Stage I and II breast cancer patients treated prior to December, 1976. Clinical cure rates at 5, 10 and 15 years were 85%, 74% and 58% respectively. At 10 years, 86% of the apparently cured patients had the affected breast preserved, 79% of them with a good cosmetic result. In 10-year local/regional recurrence rate was 14%, but 84% of local failures were operable. Salvage surgery provided ultimate local control for 94% of the operable local failures, 61.5% of whom lived for at least 5 years after their secondary operations. It is concluded that a combination of primary tumor excision, limited axillary dissection and curative radiation therapy provides end results which are equivalent to those of primary radical mastectomy and affords the considerable advantage of successful breast preservation in a large majority of cases.

Radiation therapy with or without primary limited surgery for operable breast cancer: a 20-year experience at the Marseilles Cancer Institute.

Since 1960 more than 3000 consecutive patients with operable infiltrating breast carcinoma were treated by radiation therapy with or without primary limited surgery, which usually consisted of local excision. For tumors smaller than or equal to 5 cm the ten-year crude survival rate is 77% for patients without palpable axillary nodes (T1-2N0) and 63% for patients having axillary adenopathy (T1-2N0). For operable tumors exceeding 5 cm of diameter (T3N0-1) the ten-year crude survival is 34%. Thirty-five percent of the patients alive free of disease at ten years required a secondary operation for presumed local or regional tumor persistence or recurrence, although no residual disease was found in 24% of the operative specimens. Local-regional recurrence had no adverse effect on ten-year survival. This conservative approach offers most women with operable breast cancer an excellent chance at breast preservation with the same chance for ten-year survival as with radical mastectomy.

Thermography in diagnosis of breast diseases.

While carrying out 10,000 breast thermographic studies we have examined 4,000 palpable lesions, 1,100 of which were verified cancers. The study of these cases according to our classification into 5 categories has shown that: (1) in the benign lesions, there were 18% equivocal results and 13% 'false positives', and (2) in the malignant diseases, there were 18% doubtful thermograms, 8.5% 'false negatives' and 10% 'false positives'. Thermography allowed us to detect 10 subclinical and 56 occult cancers; in another connection we have identified a growth phase in 11% of our cancers (fast-growth forms).

[Dynamic telethermography in dermatology]. / La téléthermographie dynamique en dermatologie

Dynamic telethermography permits direct observation of the emission of infrared rays from the skin of the human body. A certain number of dermatological diseases are liable to modify this emission and then show more or less localised hypo- or hyperthermia, e. g. malignant melanomas which represent the best indication for this new means of paraclinical investigation which has the advantage of being strictly atraumatic. The other black tumours of the skin, the skin carcinomas, certain hematodermias, cutaneous metastases and pre-cancerous conditions, radiotherapy lesions and burns, and hemangiomas may also benefit from this method. In fact, the latter may give some information on their degree of spread and their extension and response to treatment.