[en] In 1980, on the basis of fundamental and clinical data, a protocol was developed at the Institut Gustave-Roussy, alternating eight monthly courses of chemotherapy (CHVP) and two or three radiotherapy sequences to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of unfavourable histologies, mainly stage II, presenting bulky tumours. Systemic, haematological and digestive tolerances were satisfactory. For 19 previously untreated stage II patients, overall survival and relapse-free survival after 30 months were 85 and 65%, respectively. Three of the relapses were observed in patients who did not receive the alternating schedule in an optimal way; this suggests that these results can be further improved. (orig.)

[en] To determine if the addition of induction chemotherapy (IC) to concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC) can improve survival.

[en] This paper reports on thirty-five patients with glioma treated with synchronized chemo and radiation therapy between 1984 and 1988. Eighteen patients had glioblastoma, six had grade III astrocytoma, and three had low-grade astrocytoma. No specimen was obtained in eight patients. Vincristine and ACNU were administered on days 1 and 2, respectively. Radiation therapy was performed with a dose of 3 Gy on days 3 and 4 and with a dose of 1.5 Gy from day 5. Patients received two courses of treatment, with a total dose of 57 Gy. Leukocytopenia occurred in eight patients, thrombocytopenia in four, liver function abnormalities in four, eruption in two, and pneumonia in one. Among 18 glioblastomas, treatment resulted in complete response in six, partial response in one, and no change in seven and was not evaluable in four because of total resection of tumors. The survival rates were 94% at 1 year and 24% at 2 years. This study indicated that the synchronized chemo- and radiation therapy could improve the local control and survival rate of patients with glioma

[en] Febrile neutropenia is probably the most common oncologic emergency in patients who are treated with antineoplastic therapy. Fever in neutropenic patient should be promptly managed on the basis of local epidemiology of bacterial infections, assessment of patient´s and treatment´s risk factors, using the basic diagnostic procedures and therapeutic options. This review brings the general information and guidelines for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of febrile neutropenia according to recent recommendations. (author)

[en] Toward the end of the second paragraph in the Discussion section, there is a word missing in the sentence.

[en] This is an updated combined analysis of 2 randomized studies (NPC-9901 and NPC-9902 trials) to evaluate the 10-year outcome attributed to the addition of concurrent-adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced locoregional nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

No abstract available

[en] We present a simple guidewire insertion technique and a new way of prepping for the procedure for readvancement of partially retracted Hickman catheters with the aid of a stiff hydrophilic guidewire.

[en] The introduction of cytotoxic chemotherapy and later the combination of cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation therapy in cancer treatment is briefly reviewed. The combination of cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiotherapy has led to clinical pitfalls; the proportion of normal tissue complications has increased without significant increases in the proportion of patients cured. Some examples of the poor results obtained so far from this combination therapy are discussed. (U.K.)

[en] Preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME) in locally advanced rectal cancer is the standard of care. To date, the role of consolidation chemotherapy after CRT has rarely been addressed through randomized trials. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of CRT followed by consolidation chemotherapy compared with CRT alone.