Biomedical subjects

C J Rominger

Publications and source records attributed to C J Rominger.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1986

An outcome study of the RTOG Cancer Control program.

The Cancer Control program, funded by the National Cancer Institute, was initiated with the goal of involving community hospitals in multi-institutional clinical trials. The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) began participating in this program in 1976. This investigation compares the survival of patients treated by protocol in RTOG Full Member versus Cancer Control institutions between 1976 and 1985. The RTOG has 28 Full Members which are major treatment centers and enter at least 50 patients on RTOG protocols each year. The 11 Cancer Control members, which are mostly community hospitals, must enter at least 12 patients on RTOG protocols each year. A comparison of survival between Full Members and Cancer Control members was made for five RTOG studies. No difference in data quality or protocol compliance was observed for these studies between Cancer Control and Full Member institutions. Overall survival comparisons, as well as comparisons adjusted for prognostic factors, were made for each of the five studies. No differences in survival between Cancer Control and Full Members were observed in either analysis.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

PubMed1985

Radiation therapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of residual or inoperable carcinoma of the rectum and rectosigmoid or pelvic recurrence following colorectal surgery. Radiation Therapy Oncology Group study (76-16).

Between 1976 and 1981, 147 patients with residual, inoperable, or locally recurrent carcinoma of the rectum were randomized to receive either radiation (XRT) alone or XRT plus chemotherapy (concomitant 5-FU during XRT and maintenance 5-FU + MeCCNU). An initial field received 4,500-5,100 rad in 5-6 weeks, with a boost field dose to a maximum of 7000 rad/8 weeks (maximum 6,000 rad/7 weeks with chemotherapy), dependent on findings of special small bowel films. One hundred twenty-nine patients were evaluable (65 XRT, 64 XRT + chemo). There were no statistically significant differences between treatments with respect to overall survival, complete remission rate, time to disease progression, local failure rate, or radiation dose distribution. Median survival was 17 months for XRT, 18 months for XRT + chemo; the 2-year survival probability was 36% for XRT, 44% for XRT + chemo. Initial performance status was a significant prognostic factor for both survival and time to disease progression. A trend was observed favoring the combination treatment for patients with residual disease. Treatment complications were greater for the combined modality arm than for radiation alone. Twenty-seven patients (22%) were alive at last data analysis, with no evidence of disease (NED) from 2-51 months (30 months median). Patients with resection of gross disease before or after irradiation had a much better result than those with gross residual or without any resection, but the relative influence of patient selection versus impact of surgery remains unclear.

Abscess↗

PubMed1975

The association of the IGA levels of serum and whole saliva with the progression of oral cancer.

Elevated IgA concentrations in the serum and whole saliva of patients with neoplastic disease have been reported. However, there does not seem to be any information available on the correlation of the secretory immunoglobulins of these patients with the progress of their disease. The whole saliva and sera of 102 cases of squamous carcinoma of the oral mucosa were studied. Patients were subclassified into age-matched groups of primary untreated cancer (21), recurrent cancer (18), and "cured" patients who had been free of disease for at least 9 months (16). A separate group of laryngeal (14) patients was included. Sixteen (16) patients treated by radiation therapy alone were also included to test the effects of radiation on whole saliva IgA. An age-matched group of patients (17) with moderate to severe periodontal disease served as controls. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected for 15 minutes and stored at 0 degrees C. IgA was quantitated by radial immunodiffusion on Hyland and Meloy Laboratory low level plates with 7S and 11S standards. Serum IgA was measured on Hyland plates with serum standards. Protein content of saliva was assayed by the Lowry method. Flow rate was quantitated for the 15-minute collection period. Primary oral and laryngeal cancer patients had a two-fold increase of serum and salivary IgA compared to controls. Recurrent cancer patients had even greater elevation of salivary IgA. Cured patients showed a persistent elevation of serum but a return to normal of salivary IgA. Radiation therapy did not markedly influence the level of salivary IgA. A followup study of 26 patients confirmed this pattern of a drop in whole salivary IgA with cure and a spike with recurrence. It would appear that IgA levels of whole saliva and serum are elevated in oral cancer patients, and that salivary IgA levels may prove useful in distinguishing patients with possible recurrent disease.

Adult↗

PubMed1972