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Biomedical subjects

R D Errington

Publications and source records attributed to R D Errington.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Sequential cisplatin/cyclophosphamide chemotherapy and abdominopelvic radiotherapy in the management of advanced ovarian cancer.

Forty-six previously untreated patients with advanced ovarian cancer were treated with combination chemotherapy comprising cisplatin 80 mg m-2 i.v. and cyclophosphamide 1 gm-2 i.v. every 28 days for 5 cycles. Eighty-five percent of patients received more than 75% of the calculated doses, and of 43 evaluable patients, a complete response was achieved in 31 (72%), a partial response in 4 (9.3%) and 8 patients had static or progressive disease. The actuarial survival of the whole group is 60% at a median follow-up of 2 years. Twenty-four patients in complete clinical or pathological remission were then treated with whole abdominal radiotherapy 2,500 cGy followed by a pelvic boost of 2,000 cGy. The pelvic boost was omitted in 3 patients, and the overall radiotherapy treatment time extended in a further 4 patients on account of myelosuppression. The actuarial survival of the 24 patients receiving both treatments at a median of 30 months follow-up is 75%. In the 10 patients with negative second-look procedures completing both treatments there have been no tumour related deaths at a median follow-up of 33 months.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1987

The implications of improved treatment of malignant salivary gland tumors by fast neutron radiotherapy.

The conventional treatment for cancer of the salivary glands is surgery, with or without X ray therapy. In advanced tumors (Stage III and IV), local control and 5-year survival rates are less than 35%. Radical surgery severs the facial nerve in the majority of operations on parotid gland tumors. Local control of unresectable salivary gland tumors was achieved, in 74% of cases, by fast neutron therapy. From the MRC cyclotron at Hammersmith Hospital neutrons were given to 65 patients, with locally advanced or recurrent tumors, 89% of which were Stage IV. Local control and 5-year survival rates were 72% and 50%, respectively. The facial nerve was not damaged by neutron therapy. In patients with parotid gland tumors, 77% regained or maintained function. Function was lost in 14% through recurrence and 9% remained paralyzed. The results were achieved using beams from primitive machines with serious disadvantages. The results from neutrons implicate improvements for locally advanced tumors of non-epidermal origin in other sites of the body, especially with the high energy neutrons now available from modern cyclotrons.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Fast neutron therapy for soft tissue sarcoma.

Seventy-nine patients with soft tissue sarcoma were treated with fast neutron therapy at the Hammersmith Hospital, MRC Cyclotron Unit. Sixty-six of these, treated between 1971 and 1983 were assessable. The histology was reviewed and graded in 82% of cases and tumors divided into groups according to maximum diameter. In sixteen patients, who were irradiated following complete macroscopic removal of tumor, there was 94% local control and 86% survived 5 years. Of the 50 patients who had gross tumors present 62% were greater than 10 cm in diameter, and 20 were recurrent after previous radiotherapy or surgery or both. Sixty-eight per cent of gross tumors completely regressed and local control was 52%. The main cause of death was metastatic spread, and median survival was 63 months for Grade 1 patients, 9 months for Grade 2, and 7 months for Grade 3. Thus, there was a significant advantage to patients with Grade 1 tumor but little difference between Grades 2 and 3. Twenty-seven patients experienced late complications of treatment, 67% of which involved the skin predominantly and were related to the low energy of neutrons used. Seventeen of the 27 had received previous radiotherapy. Neutron therapy given in this dose and fractionation produced a higher local control rate than photon therapy, but complications were more frequent. Since these mainly involved the skin a lower level of complications may be anticipated using higher energy neutrons which will have a more even distribution of dose and lower skin dosage. Forty-eight per cent of patients developed metastatic disease, indicating the need for effective systemic therapy, especially in Grades 2 and 3 tumors.

Fast Neutrons↗
PubMed1987

A comparison of clinical and laboratory data on neutron therapy for locally advanced tumors.

Experimental results suggest advantages for neutrons where cells are hypoxic, in tumors which are slowly growing and also in a relative sparing of bone damage. The neutrons available at Hammersmith were of 7.5 MeV energy and produced a poorly penetrating beam, unsuitable for treating tumors in the pelvis and abdomen. Patients with locally advanced tumors in superficial sites were therefore selected to assess the effects of neutrons on normal and malignant tissues. One hundred and eight-nine patients had between them 191 locally advanced (T4 N0-3) tumors in the oral cavity, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands, and breast. Neutron therapy resulted in complete regression in 84% of which 13% subsequently recurred. Median survival for the whole group was 32 months. Twenty-eight other patients had advanced tumors of the head and neck which were recurrent after X ray therapy and other treatments; 82% of these completely regressed for more than 1 year. Complications appeared in 27% of patients not previously treated and in 46% who had already undergone X ray therapy. Seventy-four per cent of complications started in the skin. With neutrons of this energy there is minimal sparing of the skin and uneven distribution of dose resulting in "hot" spots. These affected skin, subcutis, and muscle. The high rates of control in these large tumors, the low incidence of bone necrosis, and the repair of some bones eroded by tumor correlate well with the experimental data. There was rapid regression of the tumor and close correlation between early and late effects on skin and subcutis. These two observations may relate to the fractionation, total dose, and overall time of treatment of 1560 cGy neutron dose given in 12 fractions over 28 days.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1987

Fast neutrons in the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer.

The clinical investigation of fast neutrons at Hammersmith Hospital included 17 patients who between them had 20 T4 breast cancers. The majority of these tumours were ulcerated and all were painful. Ten had recurred after multiple other therapies. Complete local regression was achieved in all but one (95%) and no tumour recurred. Symptoms were relieved in all cases. Median survival was 26 months. Three patients developed small areas of skin necrosis following trauma of previous radiation. All the neutron treated breasts became fibrosed, but this was painless. Neutron treatment needed only 12 attendances over 28 days, in contrast to the best results from photon therapy which required 6-7 weeks followed by implant of radioactive wire and/or surgical excision. One patient who had bilateral tumours received neutrons to the left breast and X-ray therapy (photons) to the right. The photon treated tumour did not completely regress and recurred. The neutron treated one completely regressed and did not recur. Neutrons were also more effective than tamoxifen which causes complete regression in only about 30% of cases. It is suggested that neutron therapy is indicated for locally advanced tumours which do not respond to hormones. Since metastases were a common cause of death, there remains a need for an effective adjuvant treatment, acceptable to elderly patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Re-irradiation of advanced tumors of the head and neck with fast neutrons.

Twenty-eight patients who had received radical treatment with X rays to tumors of the head and neck presented with advanced recurrent tumors, 23 of them had also undergone surgery and 10 had more than one operation. Seven had also received chemotherapy. They were treated with neutrons to a tumor dose of 1560 cGy in 12 fractions over 26 days using the techniques of the Hammersmith Unit. Twenty-three of the tumors (82%) underwent complete regression that was maintained in 15 for at least 12 months. Despite the damage done by the previous radiation and surgery to the normal tissues, 15 patients had no complications following neutron therapy. In six patients, there was major necrosis, in seven others, this was minor. Eight tumors recurred. Five patients responded with partial regression of their tumors. The median survival was 20 months (range 4-69 months).

Fast Neutrons↗
PubMed1986

Advanced carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses treated with 7.5 MeV fast neutrons.

The poor prognosis of paranasal sinus carcinoma relates to its often late and advanced presentation. There are difficulties in achieving local control of the tumour and improving the quality and duration of survival with combinations of surgery and megavoltage radiotherapy. In this series of 43 patients with advanced sinus tumours treated with neutrons, the median survival was 33 months with a 75% local control rate. At 5 years the local control rate was 50% with 30% surviving. The complication rate was 5% at 12 months rising to 30% by 27 months with no further increase after this. The possible benefits of neutron therapy in treating the advanced tumours are discussed. Despite the disadvantages of low energy (7.5 MeV) neutron beams and the poor general condition of many of the patients in this series and the advanced nature of their tumours, a high local tumour control rate was observed and major facial surgery avoided.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Treatment of malignant melanoma by fast neutrons.

Fast neutron therapy has been used to treat 87 tumours of primary, recurrent or metastatic melanoma in 48 patients. Complete regression has been obtained in 71 percent of tumours and 91 per cent of all tumours were controlled for the remainder of the patients, lives. Median survival was 14.5 months; 30 of the 34 deaths were due to metastases. Complications arose in 22 per cent of sites and were either fibrosis, which was related to large treated areas, previous surgery or a higher than standard dose, or necrosis which was related to sites with poor circulation, such as in the lower limb. It is suggested that for the treatment of advanced local disease fast neutron therapy is more effective than X-ray treatment and has a local control rate similar to that of surgery.

Fast Neutrons↗
PubMed1981

Splenic irradiation in B-prolymphocytic leukaemia.

Twelve patients with B-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia (PLL) were treated with splenic irradiation at a weekly dose of 100 cGy to a maximum total dose of 1000 cGy. There was no morbidity associated with this treatment. SEven patients responded. Three achieved a good response and four a partial response. Two of the patients who had a partial response have subsequently died of unrelated causes. Four of the five patients who failed to respond have died as a result of their disease. When more than 25% of the prolymphocytes formed rosettes with mouse red blood cells (MRBC) the patients appeared to respond better to splenic irradiation. There was no correlation between response and the initial white cell count or the size of the spleen.

Aged↗