PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C A Stiller

Publications and source records attributed to C A Stiller.

105 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

The Inter-Regional Epidemiological Study of Childhood Cancer (IRESCO). Study design, control selection and data collection.

The Inter-Regional Epidemiological Study of Childhood Cancer (IRESCC) was established to investigate the role of possible aetiological factors in childhood cancer, with particular emphasis on environmental exposures to the foetus and family history of certain diseases including cancer. Incident cases occurring in three Health Service regions (the West Midlands, Yorkshire and North Western) were matched for age and sex with two sets of control children. A total of 555 cases and 1110 controls were entered into the study. The parents of each index child were interviewed with respect to events during the relevant pregnancy, occupation, smoking habits, and past medical history of themselves, the child's siblings and other relatives. Ninety-three per cent of case parents approached agreed to be interviewed, and approximately 90% of controls were ranked first or second on the control selection lists. After the interview information was verified by reference to antenatal and other medical records. Obstetric and general practitioner records were abstracted for approximately 90% of cases and controls. Information derived from the interview and that from medical records was coded separately. The data collected by each region have been pooled and case-control comparisons of potential aetiological factors will be carried out, using matched triplet analyses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Inter-Regional Epidemiological Study of Childhood Cancer (IRESCC): childhood cancer and the consumption of debendox and related drugs in pregnancy.

Attention has recently focused on the possible teratogenic effects of the combination antiemetic doxylamine succinate, dicyclomine hydrochloride and pyridoxine hydrochloride (Debendox/Bendectin) prescribed to pregnant women. The Inter-Regional Epidemiological Study of Childhood Cancer (IRESCC), a case-control investigation has analysed data derived from interview reports and medical records of 555 mothers of children (under 15 years) with cancer and 1110 mothers of matched control children. Separate analyses of interview reports and medical records both suggested that antiemetic ingestion during the index pregnancy does not increase the risk of developing childhood malignant disease in the exposed foetus. No dose-response relationship was evident. The lack of any significant relative risks held good for diagnostic sub-groups and when the trimester of ingestion was considered. Our results suggest that antimetics of this type are unlikely to be transplacental carcinogens.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Autologous bone marrow transplantation contributes to haemopoietic recovery in children with solid tumours treated with high dose melphalan.

During a 5 year period, 64 children with advanced stage malignant solid tumours have been treated with high dose melphalan (140-220 mg/m2) combined with non-cryopreserved autologous marrow transplantation. All children developed a profound neutropenia and thrombocytopenia following high dose melphalan. Both the duration of neutropenia (median 11 d) and the duration of thrombocytopenia (median 18 d) were related to the nucleated cell count of the reinfused marrow but neither appeared to be affected by the dose of melphalan. This suggests that the initial recovery of the peripheral blood count results from the engrafted autologous marrow. We conclude that autologous marrow transplantation accelerates haemopoietic recovery in children with solid tumours treated with high dose melphalan.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Childhood medulloblastoma in Britain 1971-77: analysis of treatment and survival.

In a population-based series of 368 children undergoing surgery for medulloblastoma, 304 (83%) survived to complete a course of radiotherapy. Among those patients who completed radiotherapy, the short-term survival rates were lower for young children (those aged under 5 years) than for older children, but by 6 years the survival rates were very similar (approximately 35%) for children in both age groups. Higher survival rates were obtained in the young children where total macroscopic excision of the tumour was achieved. For older children there was no difference in survival rates between those with total or partial excision, though the survival rate was lower for those whose surgery was limited to biopsy. In young children radiotherapy dose had no effect on survival rates. In older children, survival rates were appreciably higher where doses had been at least 45 Gy to the posterior fossa and 30 Gy to the spinal cord, and there were also fewer spinal cord metastases among those who received a higher spinal cord dose. Ninety (30%) of the 304 children also received chemotherapy as part of their initially planned treatment; a wide variety of protocols was used and no conclusions could be drawn as to the effects on survival rates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Trends in childhood leukaemia in Britain 1968-1978.

Analysis of recent cancer registrations from Great Britain suggests that there has been an increase in the incidence of childhood acute lymphoid leukaemia for children born after about 1964. The increase is statistically significant for boys aged 0-4 years, and a lesser increase may also have occurred for girls in this age group. Reasons are given for believing that the increase is not purely an artifact attributable to improved registration procedures. Registration data from the Manchester Children's Tumour Registry, Denmark and Sweden support the suggestion that an increase h as occurred. It is not at present possible to say whether a change in incidence will also be seen at higher ages or will be confined to the youngest children, who may represent an aetiologically distinct sub-group. There is no obvious explanation for the findings reported here.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Prenatal factors in the aetiology of testicular cancer: an epidemiological study of childhood testicular cancer deaths in Great Britain, 1953-73.

A case-control study is reported based on 87 deaths from testicular cancer that occurred in children in Great Britain 1953-73. Factors that significantly increased relative risk were tuberculosis of the mother during the index pregnancy and maternal epilepsy; factors that increased risk but not significantly were hyperemesis in the index pregnancy, a maternal history of stillbirths, and hernia and genitourinary defects in the child. Cryptorchidism was not studied. The available evidence suggests that prenatal determinants of testicular cancer in adults are also determinants of testicular cancer in childhood. The incidence and mortality from this disease are not increasing among children in Britain and other countries, whereas there is an increasing trend in young adults in several developed countries. Probably, therefore, the secular increase in the rates of young adult testicular cancer is due to factors that affect adults but not children, the hence are likely to be postnatal.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1980

Nephroblastoma in infants, 1969-75: variations in treatment and survival.

In a series of 79 infants aged under 1 year with nephroblastoma diagnosed during 1969-75 all the patients underwent nephrectomy, 33 (42%) received a course of radiotherapy, and 49 (62%) received chemotherapy. The overall three-year survival rate for patients who survived at least one week after diagnosis was 65%. The corresponding rate for infants with stage I tumours was 76%. The survival rate in children with early-stage tumours was significantly higher in those who were treated by nephrectomy and chemotherapy alone compared with those who also received radiotherapy. In a large proportion of cases nephrectomy and chemotherapy together constituted sufficient treatment for the cure of infants with nephroblastoma, and in some instances nephrectomy alone proved adequate. There was no general tendency for children under 1 year old to be unable to withstand chemotherapy.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1979

Nephroblastoma: treatment during 1970-3 and the effect on survival of inclusion in the first MRC trial.

In 1970-3 313 children were diagnosed as having nephroblastoma in Great Britain. From the start of the first Medical Research Council nephroblastoma study in October 1970 until the end of 1973, 98 children (57% of all eligible children) were included in the trial. Of the 313 children, 288 (92%) had a nephrectomy, 248 (79%) received a course of radiotherapy, and 267 (85%) were given at least four days' chemotherapy. The three-year survival rate was 58%; the rate among children in the trial (77%) was significantly better than that among children who were eligible for the trial but not included (58%). Children who had nephrectomies at specialised children's and teaching hospitals had a higher survival rate than those treated elsewhere. All children with nephroblastoma should be treated according to well-defined protocols which take into account the age of the child and the stage of the tumour and include a full course of maintenance chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cerebellar astrocytomas. Part I. Macroscopic and microscopic features.

Some of the pathological features of 112 cerebellar astrocytomas seen at The Radcliffe Infirmary between 1938 and 1984 have been described. These include the following: Macroscopic appearance: Cerebellar astrocytomas, when compared to other gliomas, have an unusual tendency to become cystic. Thus, if all ages are considered only 22% are total solid tumors while the others have either a large solitary cyst or many smaller ones. Although patients with cystic tumors remain free of recurrence far longer than those with totally solid astrocytomas, the proportion of cystic and solid elements does not significantly influence the overall survival period. Moreover, the degree of tumor demarcation is not an absolute indicator of the degree of malignancy. Extent of disease: Approximately 8% of cerebellar astrocytomas infiltrate the brainstem and these cases are associated with the poorest prognosis. Supratentorial invasion is very rare and CSF dissemination is very uncommon. Only one example of the latter was recorded in the present study. It is important to note that subarachnoid spread may also occur from histologically benign tumors as well as malignant cerebellar astrocytomas. Classification by growth pattern: The classification of cerebellar astrocytomas by "growth pattern" is clearly of limited use. This is due to the presence of substantial transitional forms in both the "juvenile" and "diffuse" as well as in the "fibrillary" and "protoplasmic" classifications. Confusion also arises because of the disregard for the quantity and distribution of certain features which, in turn, limits the usefulness of the "A" and "B" type classification system. Failure to define rigorously the cell type which predominates in the "cerebral" and "diffuse" forms also creates substantial difficulties in using Ringertz' nomenclature. Further problems are caused by Zülich's "polar spongioblastomas" since cerebellar astrocytomas are not composed of primitive spongioblasts, the "polar spongioblastomas" merely representing one subtype of cerebellar astrocytoma, namely the piloid or pilocytic variety. Attempts to classify cerebellar astrocytomas in a manner which does not rely upon any specific cell type but which depends instead upon the degree of homogeneity or heterogeneity of cell growth is of limited value. Grading schemes: Although the tumors studied in the present report were not graded, previous authors have shown that "grading schemes" are of little predictive value in assessing the behavior of cerebellar astrocytomas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Astrocytoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cerebellar astrocytomas. Part II. Pathologic features indicative of malignancy.

The pathologic features which denote poor clinical outcome in a series of 112 cerebellar astrocytomas seen at The Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford between 1938 and 1984 have been described. These have been reviewed in relation to the findings of numerous other reports in the literature. The conclusions reached are as follows: Pleomorphism: A substantial proportion of cerebellar astrocytomas display significant nuclear and cytoplasmic size variation. This is particularly common after the age of ten. Markedly pleomorphic tumors are, moreover, associated with a very short survival time. Mitotic Figures: Mitotic figures are seen in 8.5% of cerebellar astrocytomas but are found in large numbers, in only 1.1% of cases. They are more common in adults and in totally solid tumors. The presence of any mitotic figures in cerebellar astrocytomas is associated with a marked reduction in survival to death and also a noticeable increase in the rate of recurrence. Cellularity: Marked focal hypercellularity is seen in 13.2% of cerebellar astrocytomas and is especially common in childhood tumors. When marked, it is associated with a significant reduction in survival time to death. Desmoplasia: Desmoplastic reactions adjacent to tumor are seen in one-half of all cerebellar astrocytomas but are only marked in 16% of cases. When marked, however, they are associated with a reduction in overall survival time. Perivascular Pseudorosettes: These are seen in 80.9% of all cerebellar astrocytomas. When found in large numbers, they are more commonly seen in children than in tumors with a mixed cystic and solid form. Their appearance is associated with a favorable outcome when found in association with microcystic change and endothelial hyperplasia but when found in isolation they are associated with poor survival. Necrosis: Small necrotic foci are found in 16.8% of cases. Markedly necrotic tumors are very rare and are more commonly seen in patients with short histories and associated with very poor outcome. Definite malignant features: 1. Pleomorphism, if marked; 2. Mitotic figures, in any number; 3. Cellularity, if marked; 4. Desmoplasia (probably) if marked; 5. Perivascular pseudorosettes, in isolation without microcystic change and endothelial hyperplasia; 6. Necrosis, if marked. Primary malignant cerebellar astrocytomas: These tumors are rare and represent cerebellar astrocytomas with one or more areas containing the aforementioned malignant features. Primary glioblastomas of the cerebellum: These tumors are also rare and resemble both clinically and pathologically glioblastomas found in other parts of the nervous system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Astrocytoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ependymomas: a clinical and pathologic study. Part I. Biologic features.

A series of 102 Oxford ependymomas was analyzed by comparing certain clinical data with pathologic data obtained by a review of the histologic slides of the tumors. All the data analysis was performed by computer, thus permitting a rapid search of many parameters for relationships of statistical significance. Age and site were found to be associated with the duration of pre-operative symptoms, mitotic index, tumor cell number, and some specific histologic features.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ependymomas: a clinical and pathologic study. Part II. Survival features.

A survival analysis of cases of ependymoma was performed. Patients with ependymomas of the infratentorium were found to have shorter disease-free intervals and to live for a shorter time after treatment than those with tumors of the cauda equina. Children with infratentorial tumors did not have a recurrence if they survived 3 or more years after operation, whereas adults with infratentorial tumors could have a first recurrence even 5 or more years after surgery. Younger patients did not survive as long as older patients in the group of infratentorial ependymomas. In contrast, age did not influence survival in patients with cauda equina ependymomas. Patients with ependymomas of the infratentorium and the cauda equina having long histories had a better prognosis than those with short histories. Changes in mitotic index and tumor cell number could not be correlated with the length of survival. In the infratentorial group, patients with rosette-bearing tumors had a poor prognosis, whereas patients with subependymal areas in their tumor had a better prognosis. Total surgical removal with no further treatment appeared to be as effective as subtotal removal followed by radiotherapy for the cauda equina tumors.

Adolescent↗