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Biomedical subjects

P R Exelby

Publications and source records attributed to P R Exelby.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Prognostic factors and outcome in patients 21 years and under with colorectal carcinoma.

This study aims to identify significant predictors of survival in pediatric and adolescent colorectal carcinoma. We retrospectively analyzed our experience with 29 histologically verified cases, of which 20 were resected for cure. Variables analyzed as predictors of survival included: (1) resectability, (2) regional nodal involvement, (3) depth of invasion, (4) grade, and (5) interval from symptom onset to diagnosis. Signet ring or anaplastic lesions were considered high grade. Survival curves were generated on both the overall group and those resected for cure. Multivariate analysis was performed on the overall group. The median age at diagnosis was 19 years (range, 10 to 21). Median follow-up in survivors was 4.7 years. Signet ring tumors occurred in 45% and another 24% were poorly differentiated. Seventy-six percent presented with regional lymph node metastases. The median survival for the overall group was 16 months, whereas that for those undergoing complete resection was 33 months. In patients undergoing resection for cure, grade (P = .005), regional nodal involvement (P = .007), and depth of invasion (P = .03) were significant predictors of outcome in univariate analysis. In the overall group these variables as well as resectability and distant metastases were significant in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis high-grade lesions and lymph node involvement were highly correlated, as were resectability and metastases. Thus, either variable (but not both) of each pair added information to the multivariate model. In patients resected for cure, positive nodes or high histological grade became the only significant predictors of survival.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children: a progress report on the original patients treated with the LSA2-L2 protocol.

This report is a follow-up of the initial group of 39 children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with the LSA2-L2 protocol as previously reported in Cancer (37:123--134, 1976). The disease-free actuarial survival is 73%. All surviving patients are off therapy and have shown no evidence of recurrence with a median observation time of 70+ months. Their survival times range from 56+ to 88+ months from diagnosis. An analysis of successes and failures is discussed and modifications in the role of radiation therapy and surgery in the multidisciplinary management of children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are advocated. The results in the present series indicate that the LSA2-L2 protocol has substantially improved the prognosis for children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We have concluded that age, sex, primary site (perhaps with the exception of primary skeletal), and histology are not of prognostic significance. The amount of bulky widespread disease at initial presentation, early and aggressive therapy, and the achievement of a complete remission status within 1--2 months from onset of therapy are the most important prognostic factors.

Abdominal Neoplasms

Malignant presacral teratoma in children.

Malignant presacral teratoma is a rare tumor seen predominantly in young female children. The introduction of planned multidisciplinary treatment has improved the outlook for patients with this once dismal disease. Six female children were seen at Memorial Hospital with the diagnosis of malignant presacral teratoma. Five children were age 17 mo to 3 yr and the sixth child was 13 yr old at diagnosis. Presenting symptoms included masses in the buttock or groin, constipation, difficulty voiding, and local pain. Pathological features were varied and complex but three had predominantly endodermal sinus features. One child had the malignant presacral teratoma develop 18 mo after successful resection of a benign sacrosoccygeal teratoma in the newborn period. Treatment varied in the six cases since all were referred after failure of treatment elsewhere. All children had surgery, irradiation, and multiple drug chemotherapy. Four of the six children are surviving disease-free, 3 more than 24 mo off treatment. Evolution of treatment up to the present protocol management is discussed.

Antineoplastic Agents

Thoracotomy as adjuvant to chemotherapy in metastatic osteogenic sarcoma.

This is a review of the experience at Memorial Hospital using chemotherapy combined with surgical excision for control of pulmonary metastases in osteogenic sarcoma. Effective multiple drug chemotherapy was able to control small deposits of osteogenic sarcoma in the lung, making surgical resection of residual visible nodules worthwhile. Surgical resection was most successful for solitary nodules or where multiple nodules were shrunk or at least prevented from growing by chemotherapy. Eight percent of these patients with pulmonary metastases initially or subsequently showed bilateral lung disease. When two or more nodules were found at th oracotomy, they were never confined to one lobe. For these reasons, wedge resections or segmental resections were the most commonly indicated procedures. Results justify an aggressive surgical approach to these lesions including multiple wedge resections of all lesions found at thoracotomy, chest wall resection and multiple bilateral thoracotomies. Chemotherapy alone cannot be expected to cure metastatic osteogenic sarcoma of the lung, but combined with surgical resection of residual disease the results are encouraging.

Adolescent

Involved field radiation therapy for early stage Hodgkin's disease in children: preliminary results.

Twenty Stage I and II children with Hodgkin's disease were treated with involved field radiation therapy. Twelve patients were Stage I. The histologic types were:nodular sclerosis(seven cases), mixed cellularity (two) and lymphocyte predominant (three). There were eight Stage II patients (six nodular sclerosis and two of mixed cellularity). One Stage I and 4 Stage II patients had class B disease. Involved field irradiation was used in these children after staging laparotomy showed no disease below the diaphragm. Eight of the 20 patients relapsed, five in lymph nodes adjacent to the primary site, two in areas across the diaphragm; the other had both local and distant extension. The median time to relapse after completion of radiation therapy for Stage I and II were 15 and 5 months, respectively. Two of the eight children with recurrent disease are dead. The other six were retreated and are alive and free of disease for periods ranging from 24 to 68 months after original treatment (median, 36 months). Two of the six survivors in this group received irradiation to the site of the recurrent disease only, one was given total nodal irradiation, and three had chemotherapy. The other 12 patients are in continuous first remission. They have been followed for a median time of 26 months. The actuarial relapse-free survival and survival rates at 3 years are 57 and 89%, respectively.

Adolescent

Malignant ovarian tumors in childhood: prognosis in relation to initial therapy.

Twenty-two children with malignant ovarian tumors (12 malignant teratomas, six endodermal sinus tumors, and four embryonal carcinomas) were studied from 1960 through March 1975. Comparison is made between different modalities of therapy, such as surgery alone or surgery in combination with either radiation or chemotherapy. Because of the poor results obtained with the aforementioned treatment methods, a new approach, consisting of more aggressive initial surgery followed immediately by radiation therapy and an intensive chemotherapeutic regimen called the T2 protocol, was begun in 1971 with encouraging results. To date six of ten patients are alive and free of disease with a median observation period of 22+ months. A new grouping defining the extent of disease is also provided. Of the ten patients on the T2 protocol, only one was a Group I; eight were Group III and one was Group IV at the time treatment was initiated. An analysis of the mode of spread, as well as a discussion of the results obtained with previous modalities of therapy in relation to initial grouping and pathology, constitute the background for the proposed treatment.

Adolescent

Other abdominal tumors.

The management of cancers of the liver, adrenal cortex, testis, and sacrococcygeal region in children is discussed. Combined treatment methods of surgery, irradiation, and chemotherapy was now used for the management of these tumors, with improved survival.

Abdominal Neoplasms

Multidisciplinary treatment of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in children.

Twenty-nine children under 15 years of age with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma were treated according to a multidisciplinary protocol (T-2). The protocol consisted of surgical removal of the tumor if possible, followed by chemotherapy, and also with radiation therapy in patients with gross or microscopic residual disease. Radiation therapy was given in the 4500-7000 rads range. The chemotherapy consisted of cycles of sequential administration of dactinomycin, Adriamycin, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide, with obligatory periods of rest. The drug therapy was continued for 2 years. Following surgery, clinicopathologic staging of the disease revealed 10 patients with no residual disease (I-A), 5 with microscopic residual disease (I-B), 5 with unresectable tumors (II), 6 with unresectable tumors plus regional lymph node involvement (III), and 3 with disseminated tumors (IV). Twenty-four (82%) of the patients (20 Stages I-II, 4 Stage III) are alive with no evidence of disease for 4 plus to 42 plus months. These results are superior to those achieved between 1960-1970 among 108 children treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Adolescent

The changing management of childhood Hodgkin's disease.

Between 1929 and September 1974, 211 children under 15 years of age with biopsy-proven Hodgkin's disease were treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. For analysis these patients were placed into three historical groups which displayed the most marked changes in diagnostic workup and therapy. They are as follows: Pre-1959-80 patients with "clinical" staging, local field radiation therapy, palliative chemotherapy; 1960-1969-86 patients with lymphangiographic staging, extended field radiation therapy, palliative chemotherapy; 1970-September 1974-45 patients with "contemporary" staging, including laparotomy, involved field radiation therapy, and/or multiple drug chemotherapy. Twenty-seven children with Stage IV disease at diagnosis or those with recurrent disease received this multiple drug regimen. This consisted of Adriamycin, followed by combined prednisone, procarbazine, and vincristine, then cyclophosphamide. Drug cycles were repeated every 3-4 months for a period of about 24 months. Twenty-five achieved remission, 20 complete and 5 partial. The median duration of complete remission was 18 plus months. This multidisciplinary management of Hodgkin's disease has shown early, encouraging results. Longer followup is needed to determine that this improvement in survival will persist into adulthood.

Adolescent

Management of the acute abdomen in children with leukemia.

With the increase in remission and survival in children with acute leukemia, the complication of acute abdomen has become increasingly important in the total care of these children. A total of 286 children with acute leukemia was treated at Memorial Hospital between 1966 and 1971. Sixteen or 5.6% of these children developed an acute abdomen during the course of their disease. During the same period, many other children developed symptoms and signs mimicking an acute abdomen. Of the 9 children treated surgically, 5 were long-term survivors. Two children treated conservatively died, and 5 patients were diagnosed at autopsy. Prognosis was better in those patients in remission at the time of surgery, and where remission was maintained by immediately restarting antileukemic chemotherapy. A more aggressive surgical approach to the acute abdomen, combined with careful supportive measures, is further adding to the numbers of long-term survivors in childhood leukemia.

Abdomen, Acute

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children.

In a study of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in children, 104 children were treated and followed at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1964 throughout June 1974. Forty-three patients, previously treated and untreated, received a nonspecific group of various chemotherapeutic agents and attained an 11% disease-free survival rate. A second group of 18 previously untreated patients, who received a chemotherapeutic regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide alone, achieved a 33% disease-free survival rate. The last group, 43 previously untreated patients (77% of whom had far advanced disease and 86% of whom had diffuse histological types) who received a new and intensive multiple-drug regimen (the LSA2-L2 protocol) consisting of induction, consolidation, and maintenance phases, has maintained an 81% disease-free survival rate after a median observation time of 21+ months. Although nervous system involvement and recurrence or metastases at any time are poor prognostic factors, initial marrow involvement and the amount of bulky disease are no longer considered negative prognosticators when intensive treatment is initiated immediately after diagnosis, is continued for 2--3 years, and includes radiation therapy to sites of bulky disease and CNS prophylaxis. The LS2-L2 treatment is effective in accomplishing the dual aims of not only increasing the numbers of disease-free patients but also prolonging their survival.

Adolescent

Liver tumors in children in the particular reference to hepatoblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma: American Academy of Pediatrics Surgical Section Survey--1974.

A review of 227 cases of hepatoblastoma, hepatic cell carcinoma in children seen in the United States over a 10-yr period is presented. Both tumors were seen most commonly in infancy, but the hepatocellular carcinoma shows a second peak of incidence around puberty. Males predominated in both diseases more so in hepatoblastoma. Presenting symptoms in both diseases were very similar, most commonly an upper abdominal mass or abdominal enlargement associated with anorexia and weight loss. In the preoperative evaluation the presence of alpha-feto protein was one of the most helpful diagnostic tests. Disturbances of liver function were usually mild but were more marked in those children with hepatocellular carcinoma. Preoperative x-rays were abnormal in a large percentage of cases with the hepatic arteriogram and vena cavagram being the most useful diagnostic x-rays for liver tumors. Liver scans were positive for liver tumor in 95% of the children when this test was carried out. The follow-up for these patients ranged from 2 to 10 yr. The size of the primary tumor did not appear to correlate with survival but bilateral location of the tumor, 33% in hepatoblastoma and 45% in hepatocellular carcinoma, made many of these tumors inoperable. Multicentric tumors were also found in a large number of patients, being more common in hepatocellular carcinoma. There was a high rate of local recurrence or local extension after operation in both diseases, and metastatic spread was similar being most common to the lungs and abdomen. A wide variety of surgical procedures were carried out in these patients from biopsy only to extended hepatic lobectomy. When incomplete excision or biopsy only was carried out no patient survived in either group. Among the hepatoblastoma patients, 45 of 78 patients who had complete excision are surviving. In the hepatocellular carcinoma patients where the operability rate was much lower 12 of 33 patients are surviving when tumor was completely excised. Complications were frequent, the most common being excessive blood loss at operation. There were eight operative deaths and 17 postoperative deaths in the combined group. There was no evidence that radiation therapy or chemotherapy controlled disease which could not be completely excised surgically. The only direct evidence of a favorable effect of radiation and chemotherapy were three cases of hepatoblastoma in which the tumor changed from inoperable to operable by a combination of radiation therapy and multiple drug chemotherapy. Both tumors are highly malignant, and 90% of the children who died of hepatoblastoma died within 12 mo of diagnosis. In the hepatocellular carcinoma 80% of the deaths occurred within 1 yr of diagnosis. At this time it seems that operative excision offers the only chance of cure in children with these tumors and cure rates of 60% can be expected with hepatoblastoma and 33% in hepatocellular carcinoma if the tumor can be completely excised.

Adolescent