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Biomedical subjects

S J Arnott

Publications and source records attributed to S J Arnott.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Prognostic factors in surgery for local recurrence of rectal cancer.

Fifty-five patients had resection of locally recurrent rectal cancer. Fourteen patients (25 per cent) had distant metastases, which were resected concurrently in six (11 per cent). Thirty-three patients (60 per cent) had preoperative (one patient) or postoperative (32) external beam radiotherapy (45-60 Gy). The 5-year survival rate was 18 per cent with a median survival of 24 months. The median symptom-free interval was 24 months. At a median follow-up of 28 months 53 per cent of patients had a second local recurrence and 24 per cent metastases only. Treatment complications occurred in 12 patients (22 per cent), three (5 per cent) of whom died 3-10 months after operation. Variables that were significantly related with longer survival and palliation were the radical nature of the operation, the absence of severe symptoms (such as pain, obstruction or sepsis), a recurrent tumour diameter of less than 5 cm measured on the resected specimen and a normal carcinoembryonic antigen level after reoperation. A Cox regression model showed that recurrent tumour diameter was the only independent prognostic variable. Surgery for local recurrence achieved local control in 47 per cent of patients with a low morbidity and mortality rate.

Disease-Free Survival↗
PubMed1995

Hip complications following chemoradiotherapy.

Chemoradiotherapy protocols are a recent development in the management of tumours where preservation of organ function is important. It is now recognized that such combined treatment may produce adverse effects below the accepted dose thresholds for either modality. This enhancement of toxicity is generally thought to reflect depletion of stem cells within the tissue concerned. We report four patients who have developed avascular necrosis or fractures of the hip following chemoradiotherapy for carcinoma of the vulva or anus. These complications developed after a radiation dose of 4500 cGy in 20 fractions. The possible role of cytotoxic agents in sensitizing bone to radiation damage is discussed, and a novel mechanism is proposed to account for this phenomenon.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Pursuit and practice of complementary therapies by cancer patients receiving conventional treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To determine what proportion of oncology patients receiving conventional medical treatment also use complementary treatments; to assess which complementary treatments are the most popular and to assess patients' motivation for using them; to evaluate associated advantages and risks. DESIGN: Postal screening questionnaire followed by semistructured interview. SETTING: Two hospitals in inner London. SUBJECTS: 600 unselected oncology patients aged 18 or over who had known their diagnosis of cancer for at least three months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence and demography of use of complementary therapies; patients' motivation and expectations of complementary therapies; areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction associated with conventional and complementary therapies. RESULTS: 415 (69%) patients returned the questionnaire. 16% had used complementary therapies. The most popular were healing, relaxation, visualisation, diets, homoeopathy, vitamins, herbalism, and the Bristol approach. Patients using complementary therapies tended to be younger, of higher social class, and female. Three quarters used two or more therapies. Therapies were mostly used for anticipated antitumour effect. Ill effects of diets and herb treatments were described. Satisfaction with both conventional and complementary therapies was high, although diets often caused difficulties. Patients using complementary therapies were less satisfied with conventional treatments, largely because of side effects and lack of hope of cure. Benefits of complementary therapies were mainly psychological. CONCLUSIONS: A sizeable percentage of patients receiving conventional treatments for cancer also use complementary therapies. Patient satisfaction with complementary therapies, other than dietary therapies, was high even without the hoped for anticancer effect. Patients reported psychological benefits such as hope and optimism.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1994

Myeloablative therapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation as consolidation therapy for recurrent follicular lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To assess myeloablative therapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) in younger patients with follicular lymphoma in the hope of prolonging remission duration and survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since June 1985, 64 patients with follicular lymphoma have received cyclophosphamide (CY) 60 mg/kg x 2 and total-body irradiation (TBI) 2 Gy x 6 supported by ABMT as consolidation of second or subsequent remission. The marrow mononuclear cell (MNC) fraction was treated in vitro with three cycles of the monoclonal antibody (MAb) anti-CD20 and baby rabbit complement before cryopreservation. At the time of treatment, 34 patients were in complete remission (CR), and 30 had residual disease present. RESULTS: The median time to engraftment was 28 days (range, 15 to 46) for both a neutrophil count greater than 0.5 x 10(9)/L and a platelet count greater than 20 x 10(9)/L. Engraftment did not occur in one patient who died at 12 weeks, and three patients (excluded from the range) have had delayed recovery (> 6 months) of RBCs and platelets. Fifty two patients are alive; three died as a consequence of the transplant procedure, two died in remission from other causes, and seven died of recurrent lymphoma. There was a significant correlation between survival and the total number of episodes of treatment required during the course of the illness (< or = to three v > three, P = .01). With a median follow-up duration of 3 1/2 years, 35 patients continue in remission between 1 and 8 years, and 24 have developed recurrent lymphoma, five with evidence of transformation to high-grade histology. Freedom from recurrence did not correlate with the time from diagnosis, the number of previous treatments, the presence or absence of residual disease at the time of treatment, or during which specific remission the treatment was given (second v > second). However, comparison with an age-matched, remission-matched, historical control group shows a significant advantage in favor of treatment with CY plus TBI plus ABMT (P = .001); currently, there is no difference in survival. CONCLUSION: These results are encouraging, although preliminary; it remains to be established whether this treatment prolongs survival.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Low dose preoperative radiotherapy for carcinoma of the oesophagus: results of a randomized clinical trial.

One-hundred-and-seventy-six patients with potentially operable squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the middle or lower thirds of the oesophagus were randomly assigned to preoperative radiotherapy or surgery alone. Patients assigned to the radiotherapy arm received 20 Gy in 10 treatments over 2 weeks, using parallel opposed 4 MV beams. The preoperative radiotherapy was not associated with any significant acute morbidity or any increase in operative complications. The median survival of the overall group of 176 patients was 8 months, and the 5-year survival was 13%. There was no significant difference in the survival of the 90 patients who received preoperative radiotherapy and the 86 who were managed by surgery alone. Proportional hazards analysis identified lymph node involvement, high tumour grade and male sex as significant adverse prognostic features, but the treatment option assigned had no prognostic significance. It was concluded that low dose preoperative radiotherapy offered no advantage over surgery alone.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

A pilot study of chemo-radiotherapy in advanced carcinoma of the vulva.

Advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva (FIGO stages III and IV) has a poor cure rate even with exenterative surgery. We report a pilot study of combined pre-operative chemo-radiotherapy (CHT/RT) in all patients with advanced vulval carcinoma presenting to St Bartholomew's Hospital between July 1987 and March 1989. Twelve patients have been treated, of whom nine had primary lesions (four FIGO stage III and five stage IV) and three had recurrent disease after simple or radical vulvectomy. Seven patients were treated with an initial split course of CHT/RT: there was one treatment-related death and the others have all died following recurrence with a median disease-free survival of 5 months (range 3-12) and a median survival of 7 months (range 3-16). Five patients have received a continuous course of CHT/RT: one died before operation with pulmonary metastases, three patients are disease free at 6 to 9 months, and another patient has been treated with only palliative intent. Toxicity was acceptable in the continuous regimen and this treatment seems to have a promising role in the management of advanced carcinoma of the vulva. A review of the literature on combined therapy is presented.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Radioactive needle implants in the treatment of anorectal cancer.

Radioactive needle implants were used to treat 44 patients with inoperable anorectal cancer. An implant dose of 60 Gy or higher was administered to 27 patients at a mean dose rate of 0.493 Gy/h (SE +/- 0.167 Gy/h). In five patients this was preceded by external beam irradiation. A further 17 patients received an implant dose of less than 60 Gy; this followed external irradiation in 10 patients. A complete response was achieved in 52% (16 out of 31) of patients assessed. Three of these patients later relapsed locally. The median duration of response was 23 months. A partial response of median duration 3 months was achieved by a further 13 patients. Five year actuarial survival was 23.9%. Serious morbidity occurred in six patients; three developed strictures and three necrosis. Features of the tumour and the treatment technique contributing to successful management are discussed. It is suggested that radioactive needle implants have an important part to play in the management of low-lying inoperable anorectal cancers.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

External beam radiotherapy for rectal adenocarcinoma.

A series of 243 patients with adenocarcinoma of the rectum treated with radiotherapy is presented. In the early part of the study radiotherapy was combined with 5-fluorouracil (5FU). Later, radiotherapy was given alone. Seventy-four patients were treated with radical external beam radiotherapy for recurrent or inoperable rectal adenocarcinoma. One hundred and forty-five patients with advanced pelvic tumours or with metastases were treated with palliative pelvic radiotherapy. Twenty-four patients who had small-volume residual pelvic tumour or who were felt to be at high risk of pelvic recurrence following radical resection received postoperative radiotherapy. Complete tumour regression was seen in 38 per cent of radically treated patients, and 24 per cent of palliatively treated patients. Partial regression was observed in 56 per cent of radically treated patients, and 58 per cent of palliatively treated patients. Long-term local tumour control was more commonly observed for small tumours (less than 5 cm diameter). Fifty-eight per cent of patients treated with postoperative radiotherapy remained free of local recurrence. Survival was significantly better in patients with small tumours. The addition of 5FU did not appear to improve survival or tumour control. The value of radiotherapy in the relief of distressing symptoms related to the presence of pelvic tumour has been confirmed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1987

Fast neutron therapy for squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck region: results of a randomized trial.

A randomized trial of fast neuron therapy compared with 4MV photons for patients with head and neck cancer is reported. One hundred and sixty-eight patients were recruited between 1977 and 1984. The minimum follow-up is 2 years. Three patients were withdrawn before treatment began. Eighty-five were allocated to neutron therapy and 80 to receive photon therapy. All patients had squamous cell cancers in one of four primary sites: oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx. Local tumor control was similar in both groups: 44.7% after neutrons and 45.0% after photons. Salvage surgery was performed on 18 patients in each treatment group for residual or recurrent cancer. Acute radiation reactions of the mucous membranes were significantly more severe after photons. The number of patients with serious late reactions was greater after neutron therapy but the difference was not statistically significant. There were six deaths related to late morbidity after neutron therapy but none after photon therapy. Survival was better after photon therapy but the difference compared with the neutron group failed to reach statistical significance. When intercurrent deaths are excluded, the difference is less marked. Photon therapy was clearly better in terms of disease-free survival giving a 2-year local disease-free rate of 41.3% (s.e. 5.5%) compared with 29.4% (s.e. 4.9%) after neutrons.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1987

An evaluation of fast neutron irradiation in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma in cervical lymph nodes.

Analyses have been made of the response of metastatic cervical lymph nodes following neutron therapy, either as part of a randomized trial or in patients treated electively. In the trial patients, the overall regression and local control rates were similar after photons and neutrons. Mobile nodes, less than 3.0 cm, appeared to respond better to neutron therapy, and node masses greater than 3.0 cm had better control after photon therapy. The differences observed however were not statistically significant. There was a highly significant association between the control of the primary tumor and control of nodal disease. No survival advantage for neutrons was observed in association with apparently better control rates in cervical nodes.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1987

Neutron therapy for malignant tumours of the salivary glands. A report of the Edinburgh experience.

A group of 28 patients with malignant tumours of the salivary glands have been treated by d(15) + Be neutron irradiation. Nineteen patients had inoperable cancers. Three had gross recurrent cancer and three had measurable residual cancer after surgery. Three patients were treated post-operatively for microscopic residual disease. Seven different histological types of tumour were included. Six out of 8 patients with adenoid cystic carcinomas have lasting local tumour control. 54.5% of the gross tumours were locally controlled. All three of those classified as microscopic residual disease have no evidence of local recurrence. 11/14 cancers given 16.0 Gy or more in 20 fractions in 4 weeks were controlled compared with only 1/8 given a lower dose. 12/19 cancers less than 10.0 cm maximum diameter were controlled. The radiation-related morbidity was similar to that observed after photon therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Carcinoembryonic antigen as a prognostic indicator in the radiotherapeutic management of rectal cancer.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels have been assessed retrospectively in a group of 32 patients with inoperable or recurrent carcinoma of the rectum treated with radiotherapy. Complete clinical regression of pelvic disease was only achieved in patients with pre-treatment CEA levels less than 30 ng/ml when no metastases were present. Pre-treatment CEA assay has a place as a prognostic indicator in the radiotherapeutic management of inoperable or recurrent carcinoma of the rectum.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗
PubMed1986

Adult neuroblastoma. Report of three cases and review of the literature.

Adult neuroblastoma is an uncommon malignancy. The authors report three additional cases and review the 39 reported cases in the world literature. Presentation in the abdomen is the most common; a high rate of lower limb presentation is also observed. Incidence is equal between sexes with median age of presentation of 34 years. Survival is greatest after surgical intervention (median, 20.5 months) compared with no surgery (median, 12.5 months). Chemotherapy may benefit individual patients but does not have a major impact on survival. Radiotherapy is indicated for localized, inoperable primaries or painful metastases. The survival rates of this group of patients parallels that of childhood neuroblastoma, Stage III-IV.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

An analysis of the radiation related morbidity observed in a randomized trial of neutron therapy for bladder cancer.

This report is an analysis of the morbidity in the bladder and bowel observed in a randomized trial of d(15)+Be neutrons versus megavoltage photons in the treatment of bladder cancer. Acute reactions in the bladder and bowel were significantly worse after photon therapy. Of the patients treated with photons 45.7% had severe reactions in the bladder compared with 10.6% after neutron therapy (p less than 0.001). Severe acute bowel reactions were observed in 8.5% of the patients after photon therapy compared with 3.8% after neutron therapy (p less than 0.05). Late reactions were significantly worse after neutrons. Severe late reactions in the bladder were seen in 58.5% of patients after neutron therapy and in 40.5% after photon therapy (p less than 0.05). In the bowel they were observed in 53.3% of patients after neutron therapy compared with 8% after photon therapy (p less than 0.0001). The disparity in the degree of early and late complications makes assessment of RBE values difficult. It is estimated that for bladder morbidity the RBE value, for photon dose fractions of 2.75 Gy, is less than 3.3 for early reactions and equal to 3.4 for late effects. The respective RBE values for early and late effects in the bowel are less than 3.4 and 3.8.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1986

The Edinburgh experience of treating sarcomas of soft tissues and bone with neutron irradiation.

The experience of treating 30 patients with sarcomas of soft tissue and bone with d(15)+Be neutron irradiation is reported. The local control of measurable soft-tissue sarcomas was 38.5% (minimum follow-up 2 years), which is similar to that expected after photon therapy. The radiation morbidity was unacceptably high (50%). Bone tumours did not respond well; in only one out of nine was lasting local tumour control achieved.

Bone Neoplasms↗