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Background: Inflammatory carcinoma of the breast has been associated with a poor prognosis. Several therapeutic approaches have been under investigation in an effort to improve outcome., Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 179 patients with histologically confirmed inflammatory carcinoma of the breast: 33 treated with irradiation alone, 35 with combined irradiation and chemotherapy, 25 with irradiation and surgery, and 86 with a combination of three modalities., Results: The 5-year disease free survival (DFS) rates were 40% for patients treated with three modalities, 24% for those treated with irradiation and surgery, and 6% for those treated with irradiation alone or in combination with chemotherapy without a surgical procedure. The 10-year DFS rates were 35%, 24%, and 0%, respectively. Cause specific survival (CSS) curves closely follow the same trends. A clearly superior locoregional tumor control was observed in patients who underwent a surgical procedure: 79% with three modalities, 76% with irradiation and surgery, and only 30% with irradiation alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Distant metastasis occurred in 57% of the group treated with triple-modality therapy, 60% of those treated with irradiation plus surgery, and 85% of the patients treated with irradiation alone or in combination with chemotherapy. There was no significant correlation between the type of mastectomy or doses of irradiation and locoregional tumor control or survival. The significant morbidity of the trimodal therapy (10%), although somewhat higher than that of other modalities (3.2%), was acceptable., Conclusions: The addition of mastectomy to irradiation significantly improved locoregional tumor control, DFS, and CSS; differences were statistically significant. The combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and irradiation had a significant impact on locoregional tumor control and incidence of distant metastases compared with surgery plus irradiation, and a lesser impact, although still statistically significant, on DFS and CSS. Further clinical trials are needed to optimize the management of patients with inflammatory breast cancer.

Purpose: The impact of some technical factors on morbidity was analyzed in 738 patients with histologically confirmed carcinoma of the prostate treated with definitive irradiation., Methods and Materials: The records of all patients were reviewed, and morbidity of irradiation was evaluated according to severity. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 3 years (median observation, 6.5 years)., Results: The most frequent Grade 2 (moderate) intestinal complication was proctitis, which was observed in 5% of the patients, followed by enteritis (1%) and anal-rectal fibrosis or stricture (about 1%). Incidence of Grade 3 (severe) proctitis was less than 1% and small bowel obstruction, 0.2%. One patient developed radiation-induced ileitis complicated with peritonitis, which was fatal. The most frequent Grade 2 urinary complication was urethral stricture (5%) and cystitis with significant symptoms or hematuria (2%). A vesicosigmoid and a rectovesical fistula (.4%) were noted, which required colostomy. One patient with hemorrhagic cystitis (.2%) required an ileal bladder, and two cases of ureteral stricture (.3%) required surgical correction. Most cases of Grade 2-3 intestinal or urinary morbidity appeared within 2-5 years after therapy (8% moderate and 3% severe cumulative intestinal morbidity at 10 years, and 9% and 3%, urinary). The actuarial incidence of rectosigmoid Grade 2 and 3 morbidity was 10% for patients treated to the pelvic lymph nodes and the prostate and 3% for those treated to the prostate only (p = 0.04). The difference in urinary morbidity in these two groups of patients was not statistically significant. There was also no significant correlation of morbidity with boost portal size for prostate irradiation. Patients treated with a stationary portal technique that delivered higher doses to the urinary bladder had a significantly greater incidence of urinary morbidity (18% cumulative) compared with patients treated with rotational techniques (5%) (p < 0.1). However, patients treated with pelvic fields and rotational techniques had a higher intestinal and rectosigmoid morbidity (11%) than patients treated to the prostate only (< or = 5%) (p = 0.05). No statistically significant difference in intestinal or urinary morbidity was related to doses of irradiation (60-70 Gy)., Conclusion: Volume treated and, to a lesser extent, dose of irradiation at tolerance levels are important factors influencing significant morbidity in patients with carcinoma of the prostate treated with definitive irradiation. With recent advances in three-dimensional (3-D) treatment planning and conformal radiation therapy techniques, it is imperative to precisely determine optimal volumes and doses of irradiation required to achieve the highest local-pelvic tumor control while minimizing morbidity to enhance the role of irradiation in the management of localized carcinoma of the prostate.

Background: Patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate treated with prostatectomy who have tumor at the margins of the surgical specimen or tumor involvement of the seminal vesicles have a high risk of local recurrence and metastatic disease. It is unclear whether postoperative irradiation improves their outcome., Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients treated with prostatectomy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate who had surgical margins or seminal vesicles involved by tumor. Thirty-four patients received adjuvant postoperative irradiation (Group 1), and 43 patients did not receive irradiation (Group 2)., Results: The tumor control rates in the prostatic bed for patients who had radical prostatectomy were 100% and 84% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.017). Actuarial 10-year disease-free survival from the date of prostatectomy was 46% and 55% for Groups 1 and 2, respectively., Conclusions: Adjuvant irradiation after prostatectomy in patients with positive surgical margins or seminal vesical invasion increases prostatic bed local tumor control but does not affect survival. Postoperative irradiation is associated with acceptable morbidity.

This is a retrospective review of records of 38 patients with clinical stage A (T1a,b), 131 with stage B1 (T2a), and 113 with B2 (T2b) histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate treated with definitive irradiation. All patients have been followed for a minimum of 3 years (median follow-up: 6.5 years; maximum: 23 years). Patients were treated with high-energy photons (18-22 MV) with either 4,500 cGy to pelvic fields and a boost of about 2,000 cGy to the prostate or 6,600 cGy to the prostate and periprostatic tissues. Five patients with stage A1 (T1a) tumors had no failures. The local recurrence rate was 11% in stage T1b, 14% in T2a, and 17% in T2b tumors. Distant metastasis rates were 16% in patients with stage T1b, 20% in T2a, and 21% in T2b. The disease-free survival rate was approximately 70% at 5 years and 55% at 10 years in patients with stages T1b or T2, without significant differences among the various groups. The cause-specific survival was 90% at 5 years and 70% at 10 years in the various groups. The results are comparable to those reported in several surgical or radiation therapy series at various institutions. A significantly lower disease-free survival was observed in patients with poorly differentiated tumors (40% at 5 years) in comparison with those with well- and moderately differentiated tumors (80% DFS at 5 years) (p < .001). Likewise, the cause-specific survival was lower in patients with poorly differentiated tumors (75% at 5 years) than in the other patients (91%) (p = .0003). No difference in the local recurrence rates with various degrees of differentiation was noted. However, patients with poorly differentiated tumors had a greater incidence of distant metastasis (30%-40%) than patients with well or moderately differentiated lesions (10%-20%). Performance of transurethral resection also was associated with a higher incidence of distant metastasis (40%) in patients with stage B2 (T2b) tumors than in those diagnosed by needle biopsy (20%) (p = .12) but not in the other groups. Age, race, volume irradiated, or doses of irradiation lower or higher than 6500 cGy did not significantly affect outcome. Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for patients with stage A (T1) or B (T2) carcinoma of the prostate. Careful selection and refinement of treatment techniques, including three-dimensional treatment planning and conformal delivery irradiation or brachytherapy, may improve the management of these patients.

Purpose: The influence of some tumor-related and technical factors on therapeutic outcome is analyzed in 738 patients with histologically confirmed carcinoma of the prostate treated with definitive irradiation., Methods and Materials: This is a retrospective study of the records of the Radiation Oncology Center. The information was coded on computer-compatible forms and analyzed with multiple cross-reference checks to ensure data reliability. Detailed analysis of portal films and dose distribution isodose curves was carried out in 310 patients on whom this information was readily available. All patients were followed-up for a minimum of 3 years (median observation, 6.5 years)., Results: Disease-free survival rates in Stages A2 (T1b) and B (T2) were 76% at 5 years and 62% at 10 years; in Stage C (T3) it was 57% at 5 years and 38% at 10 years. Overall, prostate recurrence rates were: 8% for Stage A2, 17% for Stage B, 28% for Stage C, and 46% for Stage D1 (T4). The 10-year actuarial local failure rate by stage was 20% in Stage A2 (T1b), 24% in Stage B (T2), 40% in Stage C (T3), and 70% in Stage D1 (T4) tumors. When the inferior margin of the portals was at or caudal to the ischial tuberosity, the actuarial 5-year pelvic failure rate was 0% for Stage A2 (T1b), 18% for Stage B (T2), and 20% for Stage C (T3), in contrast to 60% for Stage A2 (T1b), 27% for Stage B (T2), and 38% for Stage C (T3) when the inferior margin was cephalad to the ischial tuberosity (p = 0.05 in Stage C). Local tumor control was comparable in Stages A2 (T1b) and B (T2) when either small fields limited to the prostate and periprostatic tissues were used or, in addition, the pelvic lymph nodes were irradiated (85% and 80%, respectively). In Stage C (T3) there was significantly better pelvic tumor control (80% of 274 patients) when all of the pelvic (including common iliac) lymph nodes were treated compared with 65% in a group of 137 patients on whom the lymph nodes were irradiated with smaller fields (14 x 14 cm) (p = 0.01). In Stage C (T3), 30 patients treated with doses less than 6000 cGy had a 50% overall pelvic failure rate compared with 35% in 20 patients receiving 6500 cGy and 24% in 362 patients treated with 7000 cGy (p = 0.01). Pelvic tumor control or failure was closely associated with development of distant metastasis. In patients with pelvic tumor control, the distant metastasis rate was 18% for stages A2 (T1b) and B (T2) and 30% for stage C (T3), in contrast to 30% (p = 0.02) and 65% (p < 0.01), respectively, when prostate/pelvic failure was detected., Conclusion: Volume treated and dose of irradiation are important factors influencing local/pelvic recurrence rate in carcinoma of the prostate, particularly in stage C tumors. With recent advances in three-dimensional treatment planning and conformal radiation therapy techniques, it is imperative to determine optimal volumes and doses of irradiation to be delivered to these patients while minimizing morbidity to enhance the role of irradiation in the management of localized carcinoma of the prostate.

Background: This report consists of a retrospective analysis of 50 patients with primary invasive and 17 with recurrent histologically confirmed vulvar carcinoma treated with radiation therapy for locoregional disease., Methods: Of the patients with primary tumors, 13 were treated with wide local excision plus radiation therapy; 13 had radical vulvectomy followed by irradiation to the operative fields and inguinal-femoral/pelvic lymph nodes; 8 received similar postoperative radiation therapy after partial or simple vulvectomy; 16 patients had radiation therapy alone after biopsy; and 17 had recurrent tumors treated with radiation therapy alone., Results: In patients treated with biopsy/local excision, local tumor control was 92-100% in T1-3N0 disease, 40% in similar stages with N1-3, and 27% in recurrent tumors. Among patients treated with partial/radical vulvectomy and radiation therapy, primary tumor control was 90% in those with T1-3 tumors and any nodal stage, 33% in those with any T stage and N3 lymph nodes, and 66% in patients with recurrent tumors. The actuarial 5-year disease-free survival rates were 87% for patients with T1N0 disease, 62% for those with T2-3N0 disease, 30% for those with T1-3N1 disease, and 11% for patients with recurrent tumors; there were no long-term survivors with T4 or N2-3 disease. Four of 17 patients treated for postvulvectomy recurrent disease remain disease-free after local tumor excision and radiation therapy. In patients with T1-2 tumors treated with biopsy/wide tumor excision and radiation therapy with doses less than 50 Gy, the local tumor control was 75% (three of four patients), in contrast to 100% (13 of 13 patients) with 50.01-65 Gy. With T3-4 tumors treated with local excision and radiation therapy, tumor control occurred in none of three patients with doses less than 50 Gy and 66% (six of nine) with 50.01-65 Gy. In patients with T1-2 tumors treated with partial/radical vulvectomy and radiation therapy, local tumor control was 75% (six of eight), regardless of dose level; in T3-4 tumors, it was 67% (four of six patients) with 50-60 Gy and 86% (six of seven) with 65-70 Gy. Differences were not statistically significant. There was no significant dose response for tumor control in the inguinal-femoral lymph nodes, with doses of 50 Gy being adequate for elective treatment of nonpalpable lymph nodes and 60-70 Gy controlling tumor growth in 75-80% of patients with N2-3 nodes when administered postoperatively, after partial or radical lymph node dissection. Significant treatment morbidity included one rectovaginal fistula, one case of proctitis, one rectal stricture, four bone/skin necroses, four vaginal necroses, and one groin abscess., Conclusions: Wide local tumor excision and radiation therapy or irradiation alone in T1-2 tumors is an alternative treatment to radical vulvectomy in controlling vulvar carcinoma, with significantly less morbidity. In comparison with reported rates for surgery alone, radiation therapy after radical vulvectomy for locally advanced tumors improves tumor control at the primary site and regional lymphatics. Indications and techniques of radiation therapy are discussed.

The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of 1178 patients with histologically proven invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated with irradiation alone. The minimum follow-up time was 3 years. The 10-year actuarial pelvic failure rate in Stage IB was 6% for tumors less than 3 cm, 15% for tumors 3 to 5 cm, and 30% for tumors more than 5 cm (P = 0.0018). The 10-year actuarial pelvic failure rate in Stage IIA was 10% for tumors less than 3 cm, 28% for tumors 3 to 5 cm, and 20% for tumors more than 5 cm (P = 0.09). Stage IIB unilateral nonbulky tumors (less than 5 cm) had a 20% pelvic failure rate compared with 28% for bilateral lesions and 35% for unilateral bulky tumors (more than 5 cm) (P = 0.35). In Stage IIB, pelvic failures were greater when disease extended into the lateral parametrium (30%) compared with medial parametrial involvement only (17%) (P = 0.01). In Stage III unilateral nonbulky tumors, the pelvic failure rate was 28% compared with 45% to 50% for unilateral bulky lesions (P = 0.002). Bilateral parametrial disease in Stage IIB did not increase the pelvic failure rate (21% in both subgroups) (P = 0.83), whereas in Stage III, bilateral parametrial involvement was associated with a 48% pelvic failure rate versus 28% for unilateral extension (P less than or equal to 0.01). Five-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates for IB tumors less than or equal to 3 cm was 90% versus 67% for tumors more than 3 cm (P = 0.01). In Stage IIA tumors less than or equal to 3 cm, 5-year DFS was 70% versus 45% for tumors more than 3 cm. Patients with Stage IIB nonbulky tumors (less than or equal to 5 cm in diameter) had better 10-year DFS (65% to 70%) compared with those with bilateral bulky tumors (45% to 55%) (P = 0.10). Stage III patients with unilateral nonbulky tumors had a 55% 10-year DFS compared with 35% to 40% for bulky tumors or bilateral parametrial involvement (P = 0.002). The authors concluded that clinical stage and size of tumor are critical factors in the prognosis, therapy selection, and evaluation of results in carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

From 1977 through 1985, 113 patients received radiation therapy in conjunction with definitive surgery for adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Posttreatment consisted of a minimum follow-up of 4 years. Radiation was given as postoperative (eight patients), short-course preoperative (2,000 cGy/5 fx, 21 patients), or as full-course preoperative treatment (4,500-5,000 cGy, 84 patients). Three patients received chemotherapy as part of the adjuvant treatment. The local control for the total group was 90% (local failures, 11 of 113), and the rate of recurrence at any site (distant or local) was 30% (34 of 113). Local failure was not significantly influenced by pretreatment clinical findings, tumor grade, or surgical stage. Because of distant failures, overall recurrence was significantly associated with surgical stage--0% (0 of 15) for Astler-Coller A, 23% (7 of 30) for B1, 25% (7 of 28) for B2, and 50% (20 of 40) for B3 or C lesions (p less than 0.01). Locally advanced pretreatment clinical findings were not independent of surgical stage as predictors of outcome. In particular, 14 of the tumors that received full course preoperative radiation were initially either nearly obstructing, circumferential, or deeply fixed. However, by the time of surgery, they were A or B1 lesions (probably down-staged lesions). Only one of 14 (7%) ultimately failed with a local and distant recurrence. There were four cases (3.5%) of small bowel obstruction requiring surgical management. Overall, there were 12 complications (11%) requiring either surgical or major medical management. The complication rate was not associated with radiotherapeutic factors. A strong association was noted between complications and the surgeon. Of 66 patients who had surgery with two colorectal specialists, four (6%) had serious complications. Of the remaining 47 patients who had general surgeons, eight (17%) experienced serious complications.

This report is a retrospective analysis of 317 patients with recurrent prostate carcinoma, following definitive radiation therapy to 738 patients with histologically confirmed, clinical Stage T1b-T4(A2-D1) adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Seventy-four patients (10%) experienced pelvic recurrence only; 100 (13%) both pelvic recurrence and distant metastasis, while 143 (20%) developed distant metastasis only. The diagnosis of prostate recurrence was histologically confirmed in 92/174 (53%), while in the others diagnosis was based on clinical and radiographic evidence. Ninety percent of all recurrences occurred within 7 years of initial treatment. The median survival from time of recurrence for all patients was 27 months, with 5-, 8-, and 10-year survival rates of 24%, 12%, and 7%, respectively. In patients who experienced pelvic recurrence only, the 5-, 8-, and 10-year survival rates were 50%, 30%, and 22%, respectively (p < 0.0001). The 5-year survival rate from time of recurrence for patients who experienced pelvic recurrence with initial Stage T1b(A2) and T2(B) disease was 71% as opposed to 39% for patients with initial Stage T3(C) disease. The time of recurrence (i.e., the disease-free interval from initial treatment) significantly affected subsequent survival: the 5-year survival rates from time of recurrence for patients with pelvic recurrence were 20%, 49%, and 94% for those who recurred within 2 years, 2 to 5 years, and more than 5 years, respectively. Two-thirds of the patients with recurrence received hormonal therapy, including bilateral orchiectomy. Salvage therapy with hormones, including bilateral orchiectomy, has a favorable impact on patient survival: The 5-year survival rate from time of pelvic recurrence salvaged with hormones was 70% compared with 21% for patients not receiving hormonal therapy. In conclusion, the prognostic factors that affect subsequent patient survival after pelvic recurrence include initial stage, disease-free interval from initial treatment, and salvage therapy with hormones. Patients with distant metastasis with or without pelvic recurrence showed statistically worse survival and were apparently not influenced by initial tumor stage, or disease-free interval from initial treatment.

This is a retrospective analysis of 1211 patients with invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated with irradiation alone from 1959 through 1986, of whom 322 developed distant metastases during the course of the disease. The 10-year actuarial incidence of distant metastases was 3% in Stage IA (34 patients), 16% in Stage IB (384 patients), 31% in Stage IIA (128 patients), 26% in Stage IIB (353 patients), 39% in Stage III (292 patients), and 75% in Stage IVA (20 patients). A multivariate analysis of factors influencing the incidence of distant metastases showed clinical stage, endometrial extension noted by dilatation and curettage (D&C) prior to therapy, and pelvic tumor control within each stage to be significant indicators of distant dissemination; histology, volume of disease, and age of patient were not significant. The frequency of metastases in all stages except IVA was greater when endometrial tumor extension was detected by D & C before to definitive irradiation (Stage IB, 28%; Stage IIA, 48%; Stage IIB, 42%; Stage III, 72%; and Stage IVA, 75%). In contrast, with normal D & C findings, the incidence of distant metastases was 15% in Stage IB, 29% in Stage IIA, 25% in Stage IIB, 45% in Stage III, and 84% in Stage IVA. The incidence of metastases in patients with pelvic tumor control was 11% in Stage IB, 22% in Stage IIA, 21% in Stage IIB, 34% in Stage III, and 50% in Stage IVA; in contrast, the corresponding incidence in patients failing in the pelvis was 76% in Stage IB, 88% in Stage IIA, 62% in Stage IIB, 87% in Stage III, and 74% in Stage IVA. The frequency of metastases per histology was comparable in squamous cell carcinoma and other histologic types. The incidence of metastases to other organs was 56%: Most frequent sites were lung, abdominal cavity, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. The incidence of clinically apparent lymph node involvement was 22%, predominantly to paraaortic, supraclavicular, and inguinal nodes. Bone metastases occurred in 16% of the patients, most commonly to the lumbar and thoracic spine. Despite aggressive local therapy with excellent local control, the incidence of distant metastases in patients with invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix is high. The management of these patients and their response to salvage therapy are discussed. The need for effective adjuvant systemic therapy in the management of patients with invasive carcinoma of the cervix is also discussed.

This is a retrospective study of 635 consecutively treated patients with FIGO Stage IIB or IIIB carcinoma of the uterine cervix. All patients were treated definitively with radiation therapy. The effect of volume of disease on outcome was studied. The 5-, 10-, and 15-year disease-free survivals (DFS) for the 346 Stage IIB patients were 64%, 61%, and 58%, respectively. Corresponding DFS for the 289 Stage IIIB patients were 40%, 38%, and 34%, respectively. The presence of bilateral parametrial invasion did not alter the 10-year DFS in Stage IIB patients (61% vs 64%, p = 0.60) but did decrease it in Stage IIIB patients (34% vs 50%, p = 0.006). Patients with both Stage IIB and IIIB cancers and central bulky disease (greater than or equal to 5 cm in diameter) had decreased DFS when compared to those without central bulky disease. Stage IIB patients with the lateral half of the parametrium involved had a decreased 10-year DFS in comparison with medial half involvement (52% vs 68%, p = 0.004). The total pelvic failure rate was 23% for Stage IIB and 41% for Stage IIIB patients. Central bulkiness increased the pelvic failure rate by about 11% for all patients. Bilateral parametrial disease increased the pelvic failure rate in Stage IIIB patients but not in patients with Stage IIB disease. The total pelvic failure rate for Stage IIB patients was greater in those whose disease extended into the lateral parametrium. Multivariate analysis was done using stage, lateral pelvic wall dose, parametrial disease, central bulkiness, age, and total dose to point A as variables. With local control as the endpoint, only stage (IIB vs IIIB) was significant (p = 0.008). Using DFS as the endpoint, stage (p = 0.0001) and central bulkiness of tumor (p = 0.026) were significant. Complications were not increased in patients with bulky or bilateral disease. We conclude that there is justification for subdividing FIGO Stage IIIB patients into those with unilateral or bilateral disease; however, these data do not support such a division for FIGO Stage IIB patients. These latter patients would be better analyzed with reference to medial versus lateral parametrial extension because of the difference in pelvic control and survival.

This is a retrospective analysis of 1211 patients with histologically proven invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix with a minimum follow-up of 3 years treated with irradiation alone. The pelvic failure rates by stage were 9.6% for IB, 18.6% for IIA, 23% for IIB, 41% for III, and 75% for Stage IVA disease. External beam and intracavitary irradiation doses to point A and pelvic lymph nodes were calculated. In patients with Stage IB and IIA disease there was no significant correlation between doses to these points and pelvic tumor control. In Stage IIB doses of less than 6000 cGy to point A correlated with a high pelvic failure rate (8 of 12, 66.7%) in contrast to doses of 6000 to 9000 cGy (61 of 261, 23.4%) or higher than 9000 cGy (10 of 74, 13.5%) (p less than or equal to 0.01). In Stage III the pelvic failure rate with doses below 6000 cGy to point A was 72% (18 of 25) compared to 39% (71 of 180) for 6000 to 9000 cGy or 35% (27 of 77) with doses above 9000 cGy (p less than or equal to 0.01). TDF calculation of doses was carried out. In Stage IB and IIA there was no significant correlation between TDF to point A and probability of pelvic recurrence. In Stage IIB with TDF below 135, the pelvic recurrence rate was 41.6% (20 of 48) compared to 20% (61 of 305) with higher TDF (p less than or equal to 0.01). In Stage III the pelvic failure rate was 51% with TDF below 160 (70 of 136) in comparison with 29.5% (46 of 156) with higher TDF (p less than or equal to 0.01). Grade 2 sequelae of therapy were noted in about 10% of the patients and grade 3 in 4.7% of patients with Stage IB (18 of 384), 10.2% (12 of 128) with Stage IIA, 9.3% (33 of 353) with Stage IIB, and 8.2% (24 of 293) with Stage III disease. Doses from external beam and intracavitary irradiation to the rectum or the bladder neck were calculated. The actuarial incidence of major rectal or rectosigmoid sequelae was 2% to 4% with doses to the rectum of 6000 to 8000 cGy, 7% to 8% with 8000 to 9500 cGy, and 13% with doses higher than 9500 cGy (p less than or equal to 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Although supracervical hysterectomy is becoming a vanishingly rare procedure, there are still many women with a retained cervical stump. We have reviewed 70 patients treated at the Radiation Oncology Center, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology for carcinoma of the cervical stump. The average time between the hysterectomy and the diagnosis of cancer in the stump was 26.6 years. The median age at diagnosis of 63.5 years is 8.5 years older than the median age at diagnosis of patients with cancer of the cervix with an intact uterus. Patients were treated with external beam radiation and/or intracavitary implants. Sixteen patients underwent surgery as well. The 5- and 10-year overall actuarial survival for all patients was 60% and 40%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year progression-free survival for all patients was 77% and 70%, respectively. Ten-year progression-free survival by stage was: 0--100%, 1A--100%, 1B--79%, 2A--100%, 2B--66%, and 3B--39%. Poor histologic differentiation correlated with a decreased long-term progression-free survival. Black patients, and those receiving prolonged courses of external beam irradiation, had a trend toward a worse prognosis. Neither non-squamous histology nor gross appearance affected outcome. With a median follow-up time of 12.9 years, there were only three isolated local failures and four combined with distant metastases. Complications were few, with twice as many occurring in the gastrointestinal system as in the genitourinary tract. We conclude that carcinoma of the cervical stump effectively treated by radiation therapy yields results equivalent to those seen in patients with an intact uterus.

Between 1966 and 1985, 542 of 585 patients with histologically confirmed carcinoma of the prostate, Stages B and C, were treated with definitive radiation therapy to a minimum of 6300 cGy. There were 191 Stage B patients and 351 Stage C patients. The median tumor dose for Stage B patients was 6957 cGy and for Stage C patients 7020 cGy. Daily fractions of 180 to 200 cGy were given 4 or 5 times per week with occasional rest periods of several days, usually because of side effects of radiation therapy. The minimum follow-up time was 3 years; maximum follow-up was 16.0 years, and the median was 4.8 years. In this analysis, within each stage, patients were divided into four groups based on the number of treatment days: less than or equal to 56 days (8 weeks), 57 to 63 days (9 weeks), 64 to 70 days (10 weeks), and greater than 70 days. The distribution of Stage B and Stage C patients by histologic grade and duration of therapy is fairly even within each group. The influence of duration of radiotherapy on actuarial survival, progression-free survival, pelvic control, and incidence of complications was analyzed, and no statistical difference among the four groups of patients was found. The scatterplots of pelvic failure by radiation dose and duration of radiotherapy for both Stage B and C prostate carcinoma patients did not show a correlation between failure rate and duration of radiotherapy. Tumor histologic grade did not influence the incidence of pelvic failure. In summary, within the dose range used in this analysis the overall length of radiation treatment time did not seem to affect the clinical outcome of patients with Stage B and C prostate carcinoma.

This report is a retrospective analysis of 376 patients with recurrent cervical carcinoma, following definitive radiation therapy to 1054 patients with stage IB-IVA carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated at the Radiation Oncology Center, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, from January 1959 through December 1982. The sites of failure after treatment by stage at initial diagnosis were classified as pelvic only (P), pelvic plus distant metastasis (P + DM), or distant metastasis only (DM). The sites of first failure were for stage IB, P = 0.8%, P + DM = 7.4%, DM = 7.9%; for stage IIA, P = 1.7%, P + DM = 14.7%, DM = 17.2%; for stage IIB, P = 10.4%, P + DM = 11.0%, DM = 14.9%; for stage III, P = 15.4%, P + DM = 23.9%, DM = 18.9%; and for stage IV, P = 16.7%, P + DM = 61.1%, DM = 16.7%. The actuarial probability of pelvic failure at 5 years from initial therapy was 8% for stage IB, 16% for stage IIA, 21% for stage IIB, 42% for stage III, and 100% for stage IV. The incidence of distant metastasis at 5 years was 14, 32, 28, 47, and 100% for stages IB, IIA, IIB, III, and IV, respectively. The therapy after failure was surgery, irradiation, irradiation plus surgery, or chemotherapy. There appeared to be no major difference in survival after recurrence by type of treatment or initial stage. The overall survival at 5 years for all untreated patients was 1%. The median survival was evaluated as a function of time to failure after initial treatment. Patients who developed disease more than 36 months after initial treatment had a median survival of 22.5 months. The median survival was 12.1, 7.6, 9.4, and 9.1 months for those failing less than 6, 6-12, 13-24, and 25-36 months after initial treatment. Severe treatment complications occurred in 3.6% (5/140).

Definitive radiation therapy was administered to 577 patients with histologically confirmed carcinoma of the prostate localized to the pelvis. Results of therapy and prognostic factors are evaluated and compared with other reports. All patients were followed for a minimum of 3 years, the median period of observation is 6.5 years. The disease-free survival in stages A2 and B was 78% at 5 years and 60% at 10 years; in stage C, 60% at 5 years and 36% at 10 years. The overall actuarial survival in stage B patients was 76% at 5 years and 58% at 10 years, which is similar to the life expectancy of a comparable cohort of normal males. In stage C, the actuarial survival was 65% at 5 years and 38% at 10 years, approximately 15% below the normal life expectancy for a similar cohort. Histological differentiation of the tumor had a significant impact on survival, poorly differentiated tumors showing 20% lower survival rates, most likely related to a higher incidence of distant metastases. Age was not found to be a significant prognostic factor in patients with stage B tumors; however, in stage C, the 5-year disease-free survival was 43% in patients younger than 60 and 53% in those older than 60 years (p = 0.04). In stage B, patients who had control of the pelvic tumor exhibited a 80% actuarial 5-year survival and 60% at 10 years. This compares with an actuarial survival of 30% at 5 and 10 years when there was evidence of pelvic recurrence alone or combined with distant metastases. In stage C patients with pelvic tumor control, actuarial survival was 81% at 5 years and 50% at 10 years, in comparison with 20% 5-year and 10% 10-year survival when pelvic recurrence or distant metastases or a combination of both occurred. The method of diagnosis [transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) versus needle biopsy] did not appear to be a major prognostic factor of survival or patterns of failure, except in patients with stage C moderately differentiated tumors. The interpretation of the lymphangiogram (normal, suspicious or abnormal) did not correlate with survival or tumor control. The pathologic status of the lymph nodes established at lymphadenectomy did not appear to relate to survival for patients with stage B disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)