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F Geara

Publications and source records attributed to F Geara.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Radiotherapy in the management of cutaneous epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma.

Between June 1986 and December 1988, we treated 149 patients who had AIDS-related epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma with cutaneous irradiation. According to Mitsayasu's staging, 34 patients (23%) had Stage I disease, 82 (55%) Stage II, 0 Stage III, and 33 (22%) Stage IV. Fifty-eight patients (39%) had previously presented with one or more opportunistic infections. Ninety-four patients (63%) had received previous treatment of their Kaposi's sarcoma: 85 (57%) with interferon and 43 (29%) with vinblastine. Among the 149 patients, we treated 88 (59%) with extended cutaneous irradiation using 4- and/or 8-MeV electron beam energy and 61 patients (41%) with localized irradiation using 45-kVp x-ray energy. The total prescribed dose was 30 Gy: 20 Gy in 2 weeks (2.5 Gy/fraction, 4 times/week), followed by 2 weeks of no irradiation, and then 10 Gy in one week by the same dose schedule. Twenty patients (13%) with edema of the lower limbs were treated using 4-Mv photon therapy with bolus. Of the 131 evaluable patients, 63% achieved a complete remission (CR) and 30% a partial remission (PR) after a mean period of 1.5 months (range: 0.5-3 months). The clinical disease stage, anatomic site, and irradiation technique did not significantly influence the remission rates, although we noticed a higher CR rate when localized irradiation was used (71% vs 55.5% for localized and extended irradiation, respectively; p = 0.08). The overall tolerance was acceptable. Complications were severe epidermitis with skin ulcerations (8% of patients), exudative epidermitis (26%), dry epidermitis (60%), and varying degrees of erythema (6%). Of the 87 patients whose AIDS remained relatively clinically stable during the observation period, recurrences occurred in 56 (64%) after an average of 5.5 months (range: 1.5-12 months). We conclude that radiotherapy is useful and can be recommended as a palliative treatment to relieve pain and physical discomfort or to achieve cosmetic improvements for patients with epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma. We also conclude that radiotherapy is most beneficial in the early stages of disease, when localized treatment is practical.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Estimation of clonogenic cell fraction in primary cultures derived from human squamous cell carcinomas.

Tumor clonogenic cell content is believed to play an important role in the outcome of radiotherapy. However, there is no proven method to assess the number of clonogens in human tumors accurately. All currently available assays employ in vitro plating efficiency or in vivo TD50 (the average number of cells needed to induce tumors in 50% of injected mice) to estimate the tumor clonogenic ability. In this study, a monolayer mass primary culture system was used to estimate the clonogenic cell fraction in human tumors. For this purpose, 25 growth curves were performed for 25 tumor specimens derived from 21 head and neck and 4 cervical squamous cell carcinomas. The exponential portion of each growth curve was extrapolated through the ordinate (day 0) to estimate the clonogenic cell fraction; this method is only an estimate because it assumes no lag phase before exponential growth of clonogenic cells. The mean clonogenic cell fraction, expressed as clonogens/tumor cells inoculated, was relatively low (mean: 0.71%, range: 0.11-9.28), and the variation was wide (coefficient of variation = 148%). On the other hand, the doubling time of the growing population was 1.46 days and exhibited a very narrow range (0.98-2.24, coefficient of variation = 24%). The mean and range of clonogenic cell fraction were found to be in agreement with published values of soft agar colony forming efficiencies in both murine and human tumors. However, further investigation is necessary to determine how accurately this method measures the relative clonogenic cell content in human tumors. Clinical correlations between clonogenic cell fraction values and the response to radiotherapy are still too early to determine.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1990

[Radiotherapy of epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with AIDS. Analysis of 149 cases treated by extended and/or localized cutaneous irradiation].

Between June 1986 and December 1988, 149 patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma were treated by cutaneous irradiation in our department. According to Mitsuyasu's staging, 34 patients (23 p. 100) were stage I, 82 (55 p. 100) stage II and 33 (22 p. 100) stage IV; no stage III was reported. Fifty eight patients (39 p. 100) had previously presented with one or several opportunistic infections. Ninety four patients (63 p. 100) had previously received treatment with interferon in 85 (57 p. 100) and/or Velbe in 43 (29 p. 100). 319 cutaneous localisations were treated, 59 p. 100 by extended cutaneous irradiation, using 4 and/or 8 MeV electron beam energy, and 41 p. 100 by localized irradiation, using 45 kVX-ray energy, 2.5 Gy/fraction, 4 times a week by split course 20 Gy then 10 Gy two weeks later. Twenty patients (13 p. 100) with oedema of the lower limbs were treated, using 4 MV photon therapy with bolus, and 3 (2 p. 100) were treated for lesions in the ENT regions. Only 131 patients were evaluable (257 localisations); 62 p. 100 obtained complete remission and 31 p. 100 partial remission after a mean period of 1.5 months (0.5-3 months). The overall tolerance was acceptable. The complications were epidermitis with some necrosis (8 p. 100), exudative epidermitis (26 p. 100), moderate epidermitis (63 p. 100) and slight reactions in 4 p. 100. The mean recurrence time was 5 1/2 months.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

[Total cutaneous electron beam therapy of mycosis fungoides].

Electron beam irradiation of the entire skin surface was used to treat 25 patients with mycosis fungoides from 1977 to January 1988. A plexiglas screen was used to reduce the energy of the 8 MeV beam of a Sagittaire linear accelerator to 4 MeV. A total dose of 30 Gy was delivered in 12 fractions over days. This series includes 17 men and 8 women with a mean age of 44 years (range 13-78 years) and a mean follow-up of 34 months (range 6-92 months). The following-up staging system was used: stage A: superficial lesions covering less than 50 p. 100 of the body surface; stage B: superficial lesions covering more than 50 p. 100 of the body surface; stage C: tumors of the skin, lymph nodes and/or visceral organs, Sezary's syndrome. All stage A patients achieved complete remission. One developed recurrent disease in a very limited area 17 months after radiation therapy. No stage A patient died of mycosis fungoides. 6/9 stage B patients achieved complete remission; 4 of these developed recurrent disease localized to the skin 6 to 13 months after electron therapy. These recurrences were controlled by topical nitrogen mustard, puva therapy or localized irradiation. 1 patient showed no response and died of cutaneous mycosis fungoides. 5/10 stage C patients obtained complete remission but all relapsed within a mean period of 7 months. 4/5 of the patients not responding to electron therapy died of their disease and one is alive 16 months after completion of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Radiotherapy of Kaposi's sarcoma in AIDS].

Between June 1986 and August 1988, 129 patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma were treated by cutaneous irradiation in our department. According to Mitsuyasu's staging, 25 patients (19%) were stage 1.76 (59%) stage II, no stage III was reported and 28 (22%) stage IV. Fifty four patients (42%) had previously presented with one or multiple opportunistic infections. Eighty six (66%) had previously received treatment: by interferon in 80 patients (62%) and/or Velbe in 40 (31%). Seventy six patients (59%) were treated by extensive cutaneous irradiation using 4 and/or 8 MeV electron beam energy and 53 patients (41%) by localized irradiation using 45 kV X-ray energy, 2.5 Gy/fraction, 4 times/week by split course 20 Gy then 10 Gy two weeks later. Only 111 patients were evaluable; 61% obtained complete remission and 33% partial remission after a mean period of 1.5 months (0.5-3 months). The overall tolerance was acceptable. The complications were epidermitis with some necrosis (8%), exudative epidermitis (26%) moderate epidermitis (63%) and slight reactions in 4%. The mean recurrence time was 5 1/2 months.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗