PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H C Berry

Publications and source records attributed to H C Berry.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1980

Value of radiation therapy in the management of patients with cerebral metastases from malignant melanoma: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Brain Metastases Study I and II.

Sixty patients from two Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) studies with cerebral metastases from malignant melanoma were analyzed to determine the response to whole brain irradiation. General performance status, neurologic function, and specific neurologic symptoms were evaluated for rate and duration of improvement. Also analyzed was the influence of chemotherapy and steroids, although neither was a controlled factor. Results indicate a significant benefit from radiation therapy in terms of symptomatic and neurologic function improvement. Symptomatic improvement was observed in 76%, with 31% completely improved. Of the four most frequent symptoms, complete or partial improvement was observed as follows: headache--27 of 37 patients (73%); motor loss--14 of 23 patients (61%); impaired mentation--13 of 24 patients (62%); and convulsions--10 of 12 patients (83%). Improvement in neurologic function class was observed in 18 of 44 patients (41%). Median survival for Study 1 patients was 10 weeks (range 1-200) and that of Study II patients 14 weeks (range 1-76). These results are comparable to those found in radiation therapy of brain metastases from all other primary tumors.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1977

Preliminary clinical results from U.S. fast neutron teletherapy studies.

Over 700 patients with cancer have been treated with fast neutron beams since 1972 in three U.S. programs at the M.D. Anderson-TAMVEC (Houston and College Station, Texas), University of Washington (Seattle, Washington), and MANTA (Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.). Clinical applications are about to start at the Fermilab (Batavia, Illinois) and Cleveland Clinic-NASA (Cleveland, Ohio). To date, studies have included: 1) effects of different treatment patterns and doses; 2) responses of several tumor types at many anatomic sites; and 3) acute and long-term normal tissue tolerances. Responses of several cancers, such as extensive epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix and "fixed" metastatic cervical adenopathy, have been encouraging. In patients with glioblastoma multiforme, good tumor responses have not lengthened survival compared with the following conventional radiation therapy. Both local tumor control and "cure" have been compromised by the inclusion of patients with very extensive cancers. In general, treatment has been well tolerated. These preliminary studies provide the basis for planned clinical trials.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1976

Late effects of therapeutic irradiation on the skeleton and bone marrow.

Sequelae in the skeleton and bone marrow can be important late consequences for survivors following radiation therapy of cancer. Skeletal sequelae of radiation therapy often are predictable, although they may not be avoidable. The growth suppressive effects of therapeutic irradiation may occur in any bone, but most often are noted in the spine after doses in excess of 2000 rads. Mature bone and cartilage may be devitalized by irradiation without clinical consequence until stressed. Although malignant tumors may arise in irradiated bone and cartilage, the risk is minimal and is readily accepted in modern-day radiation oncology. Radiation-induced suppression of bone marrow function usually is of immediate rather than late consequence; however, functional recovery after therapeutic irradiation, while prolonged, is more complete than formerly thought. Leukemia rarely develops secondary to therapeutic irradiation.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1976

Preliminary results of fast neutron teletherapy of metastatic cervical adenopathy.

Between September 21, 1973 and May 9, 1975, 36 patients with metastatic cervical adenopathy from cancers primarily arising in the pharynx or oral cavity, including six with bilateral cervical involvement, received fast neutron teletherapy at the University of Washington. At the conclusion of treatment, the masses were no longer palpable in nine of 42 (21%) heminecks and were reduced more than 50% in 23 (55%). In 12 patients with partial regression, the masses eventually disappeared, so that in all, 21 heminecks (50%) or 20 patients (56%) were controlled for periods up to 66 weeks. Fixed cervical masses were controlled in 11 of 23 (48%) patients. These results, which must be sustained for longer observation periods, are comparable to results reported in the literature. Treatment was well tolerated; therefore, doses can be raised to study the influence on tumor control.

Fast Neutrons↗
PubMed1976

Early assessment of normal tissue tolerance of fast neutron beam radiation therapy.

Between September 10, 1973 and May 20, 1975, 94 selected patients were treated with fast neutron beams generated by bombarding an "intermediate" beryllium target with 21 MeV deuterons. The clinical material included: 58 patients with head and neck cancers; 27 patients with cerebral glioblastoma multiforme; and 9 patients with a variety of other neoplasms. Of the 67 patients treated only with neutron beams, 31 received two increments per week and 36 received three increments per week. The calculated doses in most patients were 1800 rad n gamma (neutrons + gamma components) delivered in 6 weeks. Seventeen patients were treated with two increments of neutron beams and three increments of 60Co photons weekly to calculated total doses of 780-1050 rad n gamma + 3360-3780 rad 60Co gamma delivered over 50-54 days. Ten patients were treated with neutron bean "boosts" of 300-900 rad n gamma in three to seven increments over 8-23 days following conventional radiation therapy. Treatment has been well tolerated, with only 9 of 94 patients not completing the anticipated course. In three of these, treatment was dixcontinued because of intercurrent problems. Except for those patients with glioblastoma multiforme, treatment complications have not been dose-related. In four patients, complications probably were related to persistent cancer. Neutron beam irradiaiton may have been a factor in the neurologic deterioration of five patients with glioblastoma multiforme who did not complete treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1976

Fast neutron beam radiotherapy of glioblastoma multiforme.

Twenty-one patients with glioblastoma multiforme were treated with fast neutron beam irradiation of the whole brain. Therapy was well tolerated up to calculated doses of 1.850 radn+y in 12-18 increments over 6 weeks. The survival rate 6 month after initiation of treatment was 62%, not significantly different from conventional photon therapy; average posttreatment survival appears to be shortened compared to photon therapy. No improvement or prolonged maintenance of existing neurologic function was observed. Autopsy findings in seven patients showed replacement of tumor by coagulative necrosis persisting at least 16 months posttreatment, paucity of tumor cells with infrequent mitosis, and suppression of macrophage response. These findings differ from those in conventionally irradiated patients. No treatment-related changes were documented by conventional gross and histologic studies of the irradiated brains distant from the tumors. Thus the deaths of patients in this study appear to be related to unexplained causes other than progressive growth of tumor.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed1975

Pleomorphic Rhabdomyosarcoma: response to irradiation.

Although the usefulness of radiation in treatment of many embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas is recognized, the pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomas are frequently felt to be radioresistant and thus a potentially useful mode of therapy is overlooked. There is increasing evidence in the literature to document successful local management of pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomas with radiation. The literature is reviewed briefly and a case of rhabdomyosarcoma of the heart is reported in which radiation in doses well tolerated by normal tissues successfully controlled several local lesions at various sites until the patient's demise from widespread disease 2 years after the initial treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1974

Irradiation of brain metastases.

A series of 124 patients with intracranial metastases, treated by irradiation, has been reviewed, retrospectively and prospectively, and the results are reported. Worthwhile palliation was obtained in 79 (63%) of the total number of patients with functional improvement documented in 52 (41%). The uncorrected mean survival was 4.7 months. The addition of surgery to irradiation did not improve results significantly in this series. Therefore, surgical removal should be performed on special indications such as rapidly progressing increase in intracranial pressure unresponsive to steroids or shunt, or if the etiology of the intracranial lesion is uncertain.

Brain Neoplasms↗