ABSTRACT
T. Lyssenko (1898-1976) was an Ukrainian agricultural expert who defended and tried to proof the inheritance of acquired characteristics. He rejected the validity of the chromosome theory of heredity inspired by Mendel and Morgan and finally came to the top of the scientific authorities of Soviet biology. Since 1948 he was known in the Western countries, and a few scientists adopted his views, especially in France, Belgium and Geneva. At the Institute of Botany of the University of Geneva several papers inspired by him were written and a doctoral thesis; a public debate also took place in 1949. Lyssenko lost power in the sixties and since then has lost credibility everywhere.
Subject(s)
Genetics/history , History, 19th Century , History, 20th Century , Switzerland , UkraineABSTRACT
The exact risk of second cancer (S.C.) following treatment of testicular seminoma is not well determined in most series. At our institution, 122 patients with pure seminoma were treated by orchidectomy followed by radiation therapy from 1951 to 1986. Six were lost to follow-up. For the 116 remaining patients, the overall 5-, 10-, 15- and 20-year survival probability was 95%, 90%, 87%, and 84%, respectively. Eleven patients developed 12 second cancers, with a cumulative risk of 7%, 16%, and 16% at 10, 15, and 20 years, respectively. Overall, the risk of second cancer was increased (O/E = 1.97, p = 0.023). There were 3 controlateral seminoma (O/E = 50, p = 0.001), 2 transitional carcinoma of the bladder (O/E = 6.9, p = 0.035), 2 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (N.S.), 1 acute myeloblastic leukemia, 1 chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 1 intracranial dysgerminoma, 1 rectal and 1 lung adenocarcinoma. Four tumors developed within the previously irradiated field (O/E = 2.2, N.S.). Excluding second seminoma, the overall risk of second cancer was not significant (O/E = 1.33). Five of the 11 patients with second cancer are currently alive without recurrent cancer. We conclude that patients treated for seminoma have an increased risk of second cancer but the overall prognosis remains excellent. The potential factors responsible for second cancer, including irradiation, are discussed.
Subject(s)
Dysgerminoma/therapy , Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/epidemiology , Testicular Neoplasms/therapy , Combined Modality Therapy , Dysgerminoma/epidemiology , Dysgerminoma/mortality , Humans , Male , Neoplasms, Multiple Primary/etiology , Orchiectomy , Radiotherapy, High-Energy , Retrospective Studies , Risk , Survival Rate , Testicular Neoplasms/epidemiology , Testicular Neoplasms/mortalityABSTRACT
The management of lymphnode disease is a common denominator in the treatment of all head and neck cancers. Only in a few clinical situations does irradiation or surgery alone yield a satisfactory control rate. The rationale for combination of both disciplines is based on two facts: a) Irradiations (5000 rads in 5 weeks) can eradicate the microscopic disease that a radical surgical procedure cannot remove; b) high doses of irradiation fail to control large cancer volumes (6500 rads in 6-7 weeks to a lymphnode greater than or equal to 3 cm: about 20% recurrence rate). The therapy sequence must be flexible and depend on clinical factors. The radicalism of both disciplines should be reduced in order to diminish the complication rate.
Subject(s)
Lymphatic Metastasis/radiotherapy , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms , Lymph Nodes/surgery , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local , Radiotherapy Dosage , Respiratory Tract NeoplasmsSubject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/therapy , Esophageal Neoplasms/therapy , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/mortality , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/radiotherapy , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery , Esophageal Neoplasms/mortality , Esophageal Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Esophageal Neoplasms/surgery , Humans , Preoperative Care , Radiotherapy DosageABSTRACT
The pattern of Hodgkin's disease has changed significantly with the use of radical radiotherapy (total nodal irradiation) and chemotherapy, and with the general adoption of the histological classification of LUKES and the Ann Arbor modification of Rye staging system. Histological classification of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is far from satisfactory, a fact which renders evaluation of the optimum treatment difficult. Spread is usually hematogenic. Bone marrow and mesenteric nodes are involved in 60% of cases, and therefore total nodal irradiation is ineffective in eradicating the disease. Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice except in some stages IE and IIE when, after careful pretherapy evaluation, local radiotherapy may be sufficient. In generalized lymphomas the role of total body irradiation is still under study.
Subject(s)
Hodgkin Disease/therapy , Lymphoma/therapy , Hodgkin Disease/classification , Hodgkin Disease/drug therapy , Hodgkin Disease/radiotherapy , Humans , Lymphoma/classification , Lymphoma/drug therapy , PrognosisABSTRACT
Small breast cancer is not a clear entity and is often very difficult to classify (e.g. TNM). The role of radiotherapy is far from being generally accepted; it is now clear that the smaller the tumor is, the better are its chances to be cured by X-rays. The first step after diagnosis is the search for distant metastases. That postoperative radiotherapy increases the risk of distant metastases remains to be proved and clinical trials are under way. At the present time, the treatment of breast cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach.
