[Lymphomas originating in the otorhinolaryngeal region: 10 years' experience]. / Linfomas originados en el área otorrinolaringológica: experiencia de 10 años.

BACKGROUND: Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) originated in the otorhinolaryngological (ORL) area are rare diseases and its therapy is poorly established. METHODS: The diagnostic features, treatment and outcome based on therapy of 34 NHLs originated in the ORL area and seen in the Oncology Service from the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau during a ten year period were reviewed. RESULTS: The predominant primary localization was the tonsil (17 patients), followed by rhinopharynx (8), massive involvement of Waldeyer's ring (4), and oropharynx, maxillary sinus and larynx in the remaining cases. In 26 patients the diagnosis was high-grade lymphoma. The stage distribution was 8 patients (24%) in stage I, 16 in stage II (47%), 3 in stage III (9%), and 5 in stage IV (16%). The treatment was heterogeneous and consisted in chemotherapy in 29 patients (38%), radiotherapy in 5 (15%) or the combination of both in 16 (47%). Eleven patients relapsed (38%), more commonly those treated with radiotherapy. The specific actuarial survival was 69%. CONCLUSIONS: NHL originated in the ORL area are uncommon neoplastic diseases, with a commonly dramatic response to chemotherapy. This should be the initial therapeutic modality in all cases.

[Does total androgen suppression in advanced prostatic cancer induce a greater number of complete remissions? A phase II trial]. / Induce la supresión androgénica total en cáncer de próstata avanzado mayor no. de remisiones completas? Un ensayo en fase II.

The present Phase II study's main objective was to evaluate the rate of complete responses (CR) obtained through total androgenic suppression (TAS) in patients with disseminated prostate carcinoma. Twenty consecutive patients were recruited of which 19 were evaluable for response and toxicity. Treatment consisted in an association of orchiectomy or the analogous LH-RH Buselerin with the antiandrogenic Flutamide. There was 1 CR (5%) and 17 partial responses (PR). Sixteen patients with symptomatic disease had subjective improvement, usually during the first month of treatment. After an average follow-up of 20 months (range 7-29), 1 patient remains CR and 7 have regressed following PR, 4 of which have died. Tolerance was good, and side effects secondary to hypoandrogenism were frequent, although mild, requiring treatment discontinuation in 1 case. It is concluded that TAS is an excellent palliative approach in disseminated prostate carcinoma though the rate of CRs obtained is sensibly lower to that reported by Labrie (28.3%) and in the range of 0-8% achieved in most studies. It is questionable whether it will become standard therapy for metastatic prostate carcinoma.

Chemotherapy (CAP) for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer and second-effort surgery in the second look.

Seventy-two patients with advanced ovarian cancer received CAP chemotherapy followed by laparotomy and 'second-effort' surgery. The overall response to CAP therapy was 80%. A complete pathological response (CPR) was obtained in 16 patients and partial microscopic (PMiR) and macroscopic responses in 7 and 33 cases, respectively. The actuarial survival for the entire group was 36% at 50 months with a median survival of 34 months. No significant differences in survival between the CPR and PMiR groups were found. Radical second-effort surgery showed a somewhat beneficial effect. The tumor size before chemotherapy (less than 5 cm) and FIGO stage III had a significantly favorable effect on response rate and survival.

Carboplatin, an active drug in advanced head and neck cancer.

Because of the clinical activity of carboplatin in several types of tumors, this drug was studied in a phase II trial of 25 patients with advanced head and neck cancer [stage IV (M0)] without prior treatment. Six patients (24%) achieved objective response, including two patients with complete response. Carboplatin toxicity was mild in most patients, with nausea, vomiting, and myelosuppression being the most frequent side effects. No renal or neurologic toxicity was observed. Further trials of carboplatin in advanced head and neck cancer are warranted.

[A protocol for the treatment of cancers of the tongue]. / Protocole de traitement des cancers de la langue.

The protocole of multidisciplinary therapy of the tongue and base of the tongue tumors in the "Hospital de la Sta. Creu i Sant Pau" is presented. The exposition of the management trends by surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, in our protocole, is followed by the review of the therapeutic indications with special enphasis in the topographic ones in order to plan the surgical treatment. The non advanced tumors will be as well treated by intersticial radiotherapy as by surgery. In the treatment of the advanced tumors the multidisciplinary managament results essential. Depending on the degree of invasion, the topography of the tumor and the outline of therapeutic trials, the therapy will be chosen.

Successful treatment of poor prognostic patients with advanced prostatic carcinoma with the association of diethylstilbestrol and cyclophosphamide.

A combination of hormonal therapy and chemotherapy (diethyl-estilbestrol or orchiectomy plus cyclophosphamide) was administered to 14 patients with histologic proof of untreated stage D prostatic adenocarcinoma with poor prognosis. Objective responses were obtained in 11 out of the 14 patients (78%), two of which were considered as complete regressions (14%). Response duration lasted for a mean of 9.5 months and the survival reached a mean of 14 months. The authors feel that is worth-while to treat very advanced cases of prostatic carcinoma with hormonal therapy and chemotherapy association.

[Cerebral metastasis from breast cancer. Treatment with irradiation. Results]. / Metástasis cerebral por cáncer de mama. Tratamiento con irradiación. Resultados.

The authors describe the results of cranial radiotherapy in 22 patients with brain metastases due to mammary cancer; 77.5% of the patients responded to treatment, 45.5% showing a complete response. The mean survival attained was 6.4 months for all the patients and 18 months for those with complete response. The presence of cerebellar metastases makes worse the prognosis.

Genetic factors in breast cancer. Identification of a high risk group by means of dermatoglyphic investigation.

We have studied dermatoglyphic traits in a group of breast cancer patients. Comparison with a control group demonstrated that it is possible to delineate a high-risk group for the breast carcinoma through certain characteristic patterns of the surface markings of the hands.