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Biomedical subjects

R D Jenkin

Publications and source records attributed to R D Jenkin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Tumors of the pineal and suprasellar region: Childrens Cancer Study Group treatment results 1960--1975: a report from Childrens Cancer Study Group.

Tumors of the pineal and suprasellar region form a rare and interesting group of lesions with germinomas accounting for over 50% of all lesions in this anatomic region. The Brain Tumor Committee of Childrens Cancer Study Group (CCSG) recently surveyed all CCSG member institutions to determine treatment parameters and assess the techniques. A total of 140 patients were seen during the period from 1960 to 1975; 118 patients were evaluable, having adequate treatment records. One hundred and one patients were less than 30 years of age with a 2:1 male predominance. Thirty-six of the 57 biopsied patients (63%) were found to have germinomas. The survival of patients in the germinoma group (72%) was comparable to that of the patients without biopsy (71%). The overall survival rate for all patients (biopsied and unbiopsied) was 65% with follow-up times ranging from 2 to 15 years. Nine patients developed spinal cord metastases (8%), two of whom also had simultaneous primary recurrence; none of these patients had received adjunctive spinal irradiation.

Adolescent↗

Radiation in the treatment of meningeal leukemia.

At the present time, a successful regimen for the eradication of occult meningeal leukemia, following induction of a first complete remission in acute lymphoid and undifferentiated childhood leukemia, is the combination of cranial radiotherapy in a dose of 1800 rads in 10 fractions in 12--14 days with six doses of intrathecal methotrexate. This regimen, when given with prednisone and vincristine with or without L-asparaginase for induction and daily oral 6-mercaptopurine and weekly methotrexate for maintenance, can be expected to give a relapse rate for isolated meningeal leukemia of approximately 5% during the first 2 years of follow-up. A modification of this regimen utilizing craniospinal radiation with prior and concurrent intrathecal methotrexate is given for the treatment of overt meningeal leukemia at diagnosis or for an isolated first relapse with meningeal leukemia. Radiation technique and morbidity are discussed.

Animals↗

The team approach to the management of pediatric cancer.

The last 20 years have witnessed remarkable improvements in the prognosis of children with many forms of malignant disease. The reasons for these improvements relate not only to the development of better drugs and more effective radiotherapy, but also to the multidisciplinary approach involving surgeon, chemotherapist, radiotherapist and immunotherapist in providing optimum treatment for the child with a particular cancer. In this paper, the changing role of the pediatric oncologist, surgeon and radiotherapist in improving the management of pediatric cancer is discussed.

Acute Disease↗

Pineal and suprasellar germinomas. Results of radiation treatment.

The results of radiation treatment of 52 patients with a tumor in the pineal region or a suprasellar germinoma are analyzed. The overall 5-year survival rate was 59%. Ten patients in whom initial biopsy confirmed pineal germinoma were all alive 2 to 121 months from diagnosis, although two developed meningeal seeding at 2 and 7 months. Twelve of 15 patients 25 years old or younger with an unbiopsied tumor in the pineal region were alive 12 to 225 months after irradiation, with a 5-year survival rate of 81%. In comparison only five of 16 patients older than 25 years with a pineal region tumor survived, a 5-year survival rate of 37%. This marked age dependence in survival rates was attributed to a high proportion of germinomas in the younger patients and gliomas in the older patients.

Adolescent↗

Definitive evidence for hypoxic cells influencing cure in cancer therapy.

From an analysis of 2803 patients with carcinoma of the cervix treated by radiation therapy, a 62% cure rate can be shown. In those patients with Stage IIb and III disease, a haemoglobin level during treatment of below 12 g% was associated with a significantly higher pelvic recurrence rate, and also lower cure rate, than for those with a haemoglobin level 12g% or more. A prospective study shows that the correction of anaemia is associated with a decreased pelvic recurrence rate and an increased cure rate consistent with tumour hypoxia being greater in anaemic patients than in those with a normal haemoglobin level. It is also consistent with the thesis that hypoxia controls the radiation local control rate in patients with advanced carcinoma of the cervix.

Female↗

Patterns of second malignant neoplasms in children.

A search of the records of 10 pediatric oncology centers revealed 102 children with more than one malignant neoplasm. In this group of 102 patients, all pediatric cancers were seen as initial lesions, but Wilms' tumor and retinoblastoma were over-represented and leukemia and brain tumors underrepresented. Survival variation as well as tumor susceptibility may be responsible for this disproportion. Osteosarcomas and chondrosarcomas were the most frequent second malignant neoplasms (SMN). Embryonal tumors were rare as SMN and adult-type tumors (carcinomas) appeared at earlier than expected ages, whether arising after irradiation or not related to that form of therapy. Radiation was associated with 69 SMN, genetic disease accounted for 27 SMN and both conditions were noted in 15 SMN. In the group of 21 patients for whom neither radiation nor a known genetic disorder could be implicated, there were three with colon carcinoma and glioma and five with leukemia or lymphoma and glioma. These combinations may reflect new tissue-specific hereditary cancer syndromes.

Adolescent↗

Management of craniopharyngioma in children.

The authors review 48 cases of craniopharyngioma in children treated during 25 years, 1950 to 1975. Complete excision of the tumor, attempted in 23 patients, was possible in 17. The authors advocate aggressive treatment aimed at complete excision of the tumor, using radiotherapy only when adherence of the tumor to the internal carotid artery precludes total excision, and symptoms recur.

Adolescent↗

Radiation treatment of Ewing's sarcoma and osteogenic sarcoma.

At the Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, during the period 1960 to 1975, radiation therapy was given to 59 patients with Ewing's sarcoma without overt metastases. Over this period treatment was modified to include, as well as irradiation to the primary tumour, total body irradiation (TBI) and chemotherapy according to various regiments. The 5-year survival rate of 38% in 26% patients who received TBI suggests that this may be of value. In patients with osteogenic sarcoma preoperative irradiation was not found to be of value. Recently the resection of pulmonary metastases combined with chemotherapy has increased the survival rate. When the primary site makes resection impracticable, the response to irradiation and chemotherapy is encouraging. Three cases so treated are described.

Adolescent↗

Wilms' tumour: adjuvant treatment with actinomycin D and vincristine.

In an unselected series of 49 children with Wilms' tumour treated in 1969-74 the 5-year relapse-free survival and survival rates were 78% and 81%, respectively, whereas in the series of children treated in 1963-68 the corresponding rates were 49% and 70%. The significant improvement in the relapse-free survival rate was a result of adjuvant treatment with actinomycin D and vincristine (AMD + VCR), which, in some patients, eradicated occult metastatic disease. In the treatment of lung metastases the combination of whole-lung irradiation and maintained chemotherapy with AMD + VCR proved excessively toxic: in 5 of 11 patients acute diffuse pneumonitis developed, and it was fatal in 3. Adjuvant AMD + VCR therapy is advocated in all patients with Wilms' tumour except children less than 12 months old with a tumour of moderate size, limited to the kidney and completely resectable.

Child↗

Wilms' tumour: treatment of 113 patients from 1960 to 1971.

The crude 5-year survival rate among children with Wilms' tumour increased from 54% for those diagnosed from 1960 to 1965 to 81% for the period 1966 to 1971. This resulted from an increased ability to cure metastatic disease and, to a lesser extent, to an increased ability to prevent relapse. It is proposed that, after resection and postoperative irradiation, maintained combination chemotherapy with actinomycin D and vincristine should be used electively to prevent relapse, but that this use should also be selective in order that overall morbidity be minimized. Of urgent priority, therefore, is improved delineation of present-day prognostic factors in children with Wilms' tumour.

Dactinomycin↗

Hodgkin's disease in children. A retrospective analysis: 1958-73.

One hundred nine children with Hodgkin's disease consecutively treated at The Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, during 1958-1973 are reviewed. Crude 5-year survival rates, regardless of stage, were 1958-64--50%; 1965-68--73%; and 1969-73--95%. The corresponding 5-year relapse-free rates were 19%, 20%, and 57%. This progressive improvement in results was associated with the sequential introduction of lymphography and laparotomy with splenectomy, the change from involved field to extended field irradiation, and the introduction of multiple agent chemotherapy, at first for generalized relapse and recently as elective initial therapy, combined with extended field irradiation for children in advanced stages.

Adolescent↗