ABSTRACT
A new variation of the uterine packing device for the treatment of endometrial carcinoma is described. It combines the advantages of the Holter technique with the after-loading method described by Simon. This device has been in use for more than 10 years and has been found most satisfactory.
Subject(s)
Brachytherapy/instrumentation , Uterine Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Cesium Radioisotopes , Female , Humans , Radiotherapy DosageSubject(s)
Radiation Injuries , Ureteral Obstruction/etiology , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Aged , Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation , Female , Humans , Hydronephrosis/etiology , Hydronephrosis/prevention & control , Middle Aged , Radiation Injuries/diagnosis , Ureteral Obstruction/diagnosis , Ureteral Obstruction/therapySubject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/prevention & control , BCG Vaccine/pharmacology , Immunity , Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/prevention & control , Adenocarcinoma/immunology , Age Factors , Animals , Animals, Newborn , BCG Vaccine/administration & dosage , Female , Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/immunology , Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse , Mice , Mice, Inbred Strains , Tumor Virus Infections/prevention & controlABSTRACT
A radioimmunoassay for ng quantities of DNA was developed. [125l]lododeoxyuridine-labeled DNA was used as the antigen, and the serum of a lupus erythematosus patient served as the source of antibody. The level of free DNA in the serum of 173 patients with various types of cancer and in 55 healthy individuals was determined by this radioimmunoassay. DNA concentration in the normal controls had a range of 0 to 100 ng/ml with a mean of 13 +/- 3 ng/ml (S.E.). For comparison purposes, the range of 0 to 50 ng/ml was designated as normal, and 93% of controls were found in this range. In the cancer patients, the DNA concentration ranged from zero to mug levels with a mean of 180 +/- 38 ng/ml. Fifty % of the patients values were found in the range of 0 to 50 ng/ml; the other 50% were between 50 and 5000 ng/ml. No correlation could be seen between DNA levels and the size or location of the primary tumor. Significantly higher DNA levels, however, were found in the serum of patients with metastatic disease (mean of 209 +/- 39 ng/ml), as compared to nonmetastatic patients (mean 100 +/- 30, p less than 0.02). After radiation therapy in lymphoma, lung, ovary, uterus, and cervical tumors, the levels decreased in 66 to 90% of the patients, whereas in glioma, breast, colon, and rectal tumors, the DNA levels decreased only in 16 to 33% of the patients. Generally, the decrease in DNA concene of tumor size and reduction of pain. Conversely, when DNA levels either increased or remained unchanged, a lack of response to the treatment was noted. Of 17 patients who died within a year, 13 showed DNA levels that remained high or unchanged, whereas only 4 showed lower levels during treatment. Persistent high or increasing DNA levels in the circulation, therefore, may signal a relapse and are probably a poor prognostic sign. The relatively high percentage (50%) of cancer patients with apparently normal DNA levels would suggest that this test may have low diagnostic value. It should be pointed out, however, that all these patients represent a selected group considered for radiation therapy, usually after surgery and/or chemotherapy. It is possible that a better correlation between DNA levels and cancer will be obtained prior to the initiation of treatment. On the other hand, DNA in the serum may be an important tool for the evaluation of therapy or the comparison of different regimens.
Subject(s)
DNA, Neoplasm/blood , Neoplasms/blood , Cell Survival , Female , Humans , Male , Neoplasm Metastasis , Neoplasms/pathology , Neoplasms/radiotherapyABSTRACT
Sixty-four women with Stage II breast cancer who had Sr85 bone scans at the time of radical mastectomy were followed for 8 years in a prospective study. Those women with positive scans had a slight, but statistically significant, increased incidence of metastic disease, particularly for metastases to bone.However, 40% of those women with positive bone scans and negative roentgenograms survived 8 years without evidence of any metastatic disease. Therefore, it has not been shown at this time that bone scans should be obtained in order to exclude bone metastasis before regional therapy for breast cancer is instituted. Also, a significant percentage of women with negative bone scans developed both bone and soft tissue metastases. As many as 30% of asymptomatic women with a history of breast cancer and positive bone scans and negative bone roentgenograms may still harbor disease in bone after 8 years.
Subject(s)
Bone Neoplasms/diagnosis , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Adult , Breast Neoplasms/surgery , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Mastectomy , Neoplasm Metastasis , Prognosis , Radionuclide Imaging , Time FactorsSubject(s)
Lymphoma/diagnosis , Pelvic Neoplasms/diagnosis , Adult , Female , Humans , Lymphoma/radiotherapy , Pelvic Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Pennsylvania , PrognosisABSTRACT
Three cases of primary salivary gland tumors with lung metastasis are presented with extremely long survival (six, ten, and twelve years). The tumor doubling time was calculated and the growth rate of the pulmonary metastasis was found to be slow and erratic. A simplified table was devised, which permits rapid calculation of the tumor doubling time without the use of graphs. The presence of lung metastasis from some primary malignant salivary tumor is not necessarily an ominous sign: a long survival without symtoms is possible.
