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T J Kinsella

Publications and source records attributed to T J Kinsella.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Small-cell osteosarcoma: correlation of in vitro and clinical radiation response.

Small-cell osteosarcoma is an entity which shares some clinical and pathological features with both classic osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma of bone. While noted to be "not radiosensitive" when first described, a retrospective review the National Cancer Institute experience of five patients with small-cell osteosarcoma treated with radiation therapy following biopsy (three pts) or limited excision (two pts) showed local control in all five patients with two long-term disease-free survivors (12, 18 years). This compares to three patients treated with surgery alone where one patient failed locally and one patient is a long-term disease-free survivor (7 years). We have studied the in vitro radiation response of a recently established small-cell osteosarcoma cell line (TC-252) and compared its response with that of a classic osteosarcoma cell line (U2-OS) and an Ewing's sarcoma cell line (5838). The small-cell osteosarcoma line responded with a similar Do and extent of PLDR compared to the Ewing's line and was different from the in vitro radiation response of classic osteosarcoma. Based on this small clinical series and the in vitro radiation studies, we conclude that small-cell osteosarcoma is a radioresponsive tumor. Definitive radiation therapy or conservative surgery plus radiation therapy are effective alternative therapeutic options, compared to ablative surgery, for the local treatment of this uncommon bone tumor of children and young adults.

Adolescent↗

Response of canine esophagus to intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy.

Tolerance of esophagus to intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) was investigated in dogs. Thirteen adult foxhounds were subjected to right thoractomy, mobilization of the intrathoracic esophagus, and IORT to a 6 cm full-thickness esophageal segment using 9 MeV electrons at doses of 0, 2,000, or 3,000 cGy. Dogs were followed clinically and were evaluated at regular intervals after treatment with fiberoptic esophagoscopy, barium swallows, and postmortem histologic evaluations. One sham-irradiated control dog showed no abnormalities during follow-up of 24 months. Seven dogs receiving 2,000 cGy IORT showed transient mild dysphagia and mild esophagitis, but no clinically or pathologically significant complications. Five dogs receiving 3,000 cGy demonstrated severe ulcerative esophagitis within 6 weeks of treatment which progressed to chronic ulcerative esophagitis with stricture formation by 9 months following IORT. One 3,000 cGy dog died at 13 months from an esophageal perforation. On the basis of a pilot experience using 13 experimental animals, it was concluded that intact canine esophagus tolerates IORT well to doses of 2,000 cGy, but doses of 3,000 cGy pose serious and potentially lethal risks. The clinical application of IORT to the treatment of human intrathoracic neoplasms requiring esophageal irradiation should be approached with caution, particularly at doses exceeding 2,000 cGy.

Animals↗

Selective incorporation of iododeoxyuridine into DNA of hepatic metastases versus normal human liver.

Fourteen patients received 5-iodo-2(1)-deoxyuridine (IdUrd) before surgery for placement of a hepatic arterial catheter. Biopsy specimens were obtained at the time of surgery and incorporation of IdUrd into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in tumor and normal hepatic tissue was measured by HPLC and used as an index of drug selectivity. Over a 3-day intravenous infusion of IdUrd at 1000 mg/m2/day, substitution for thymidine in tumor DNA averaged 3.1%. Normal hepatic DNA contained less than 1% substitution by IdUrd. Arterial delivery of IdUrd increased levels in DNA, whereas modulation with fluorodeoxyuridine produced mixed results. In six patients, flow cytometric analysis showed that the tumor contained a median of 32% of tumor cells that had incorporated IdUrd in 3 days, corresponding to a potential doubling time of only 10 days. Thymidylate synthetase activity in tumors was 20-fold greater than in normal liver tissue, whereas thymidine kinase activity was twofold greater in tumors. These pharmacologic studies encourage further clinical trials of IdUrd as a cytotoxic agent or radiosensitizer.

Adult↗

Preliminary results of a randomized study of adjuvant radiation therapy in resectable adult retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas.

Between January 1980 and September 1985, 35 adult patients with resectable retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas were entered on a randomized trial comparing two forms of adjuvant radiation therapy. Fifteen patients received the experimental therapy consisting of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) to 20 Gy using high-energy electrons followed by low-dose (35 to 40 Gy) postoperative external beam irradiation. Twenty patients received standard therapy consisting of high-dose (50 to 55 Gy) postoperative external beam irradiation. With a minimum follow-up of 15 months, there is no significant difference in the actuarial disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) comparing the two groups (median DFS, 34 months; median OS, 38 months). At 5 years follow-up, approximately 40% of patients are alive and 20% of patients remain disease-free. Although there is a trend towards an improvement in in-field local control in the experimental arm, the predominant pattern of failure in both groups was locoregional within the retroperitoneum and/or peritoneal cavity. Acute and late radiation enteritis were significantly reduced in the experimental group. However, four experimental patients developed late (greater than 6 months following treatment) peripheral neuropathy believed related to the use of IORT; all four recovered. We conclude that there is no difference in the therapeutic effectiveness of the combination of IORT and low-dose external beam radiation compared with conventional high-dose radiation as adjuvant treatment in retroperitoneal sarcomas, although the former appears to be less toxic. Newer combined modality treatment strategies are discussed to improve the prognosis in these patients.

Adult↗

Preliminary results of treatment of Ewing's sarcoma of bone in children and young adults: six months of intensive combined modality therapy without maintenance.

Thirty-one previously untreated patients with Ewing's sarcoma were treated with an intensive chemotherapy program of vincristine, Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH), and cyclosphosphamide (VADRIAC) in combination with radiation therapy to the primary site (greater than 50 Gy) and bone metastases (45 to 50 Gy). An intensified regimen with one further cycle of chemotherapy (VADRIAC), total body irradiation (TBI), and autologous bone marrow transplantation was given to patients with primary tumors of the pelvis, humerus, femur, and chest wall without metastases and to all patients with metastases at diagnosis. Patients with primary tumors of the distal extremity and other sites without metastases at diagnosis were treated on a less intensive chemotherapy regimen of VADRIAC without the intensification. Therapy was completed within 6 to 7 months in all patients. Thirteen patients had metastatic disease at diagnosis; only two of these had the lung as the sole site of metastatic disease. Eighteen patients had no evidence of metastatic disease at diagnosis: ten of these patients had tumors that arose in central axis and proximal extremity sites, and eight had tumors that arose in distal extremity and other sites. Thirty of the 31 patients achieved a complete remission, although two patients underwent amputation: one before chemotherapy and radiation and one after chemotherapy and radiation because of persistent local disease. Seventeen remain in their first complete remission at a median time on study of 30 months and a median time after completion of therapy of 24 months. Fourteen patients have relapsed (13) or progressed (1): ten in metastatic sites and four in the primary site. One patient had persistent local disease after radiation requiring amputation. Nine of the 13 patients with metastatic disease at diagnosis have relapsed compared with five of the 18 patients without metastatic disease. For the entire group, the actuarial survival is 78% (65% to 87%) at 30 months, and the actuarial disease-free survival is 58% (46% to 69%) at 30 months.

Adolescent↗

Pharmacology and phase I/II study of continuous intravenous infusions of iododeoxyuridine and hyperfractionated radiotherapy in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

Forty-seven adult patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) were treated in a phase I/II study combining continuous intravenous (IV) infusions of iododeoxyuridine (IdUrd) and hyperfractionated radiation therapy. IdUrd was administered as a continuous infusion (24 h/d) for two separate 14-day infusion periods. The dose of IdUrd was escalated from 500 to 1,200 mg/m2/d. The initial wide-field tumor volume was treated to 45 Gy at 1.5 Gy fractions twice daily over 3 weeks. Following a planned 2-week break, a reduced-field boost of 25 Gy was delivered using 1.25 Gy fractions twice daily over 2 weeks (total dose, 70 Gy over 9 weeks). The IdUrd infusion preceded both the wide-field and reduced-field irradiation by 1 week. All treatment was performed on an outpatient basis. Dose-limiting systemic toxicity to the bone marrow (primarily thrombocytopenia) and gastrointestinal (GI) tract (both stomatitis and diarrhea) established the maximum tolerable dose (MTD) at 1,000 mg/m2/d for a 14-day infusion. Significant local toxicity (within the radiation field) was not seen. The kinetics of IdUrd were linear with dose escalation and reached steady-state plasma concentrations of 1.3 to 3.4 mumol/L. The total body clearance of IdUrd was .82 L/min/m2. The primary metabolite, 5-iodouracil (IUra) approached steady state by day 6 of the infusion when plasma levels were 60 times higher than IdUrd. Plasma levels of uracil and thymine, but not thymidine, were elevated throughout the infusion. With a minimum follow-up of 1 year, ten patients remain alive, while 33 patients died of progressive disease, and four patients died of other causes (including one treatment-related death). The median survival for all 47 patient and for the 40 patients receiving the MTD was 45 and 47 weeks, respectively, with 12% and 14% survivals at 24 months. Using a Cox regression analysis, age (less than or equal to 50 years v greater than 50 years) and pretreatment performance status (PS) (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG]-PS 0 to 1 v PS 2 to 3) were independent, statistically significant (P2 less than .05) predictors of survival, with the ECOG status being a better predictor. Patients with a PS 0 to 1 (28 patients) had a median survival of 64 weeks with 21% survival at 24 months, compared with a median survival of 29 weeks and 0% survival at 12 months in the 19 patients with PS 2 to 3. The overall and subgroup survival data are at least comparable to other combined modality treatment approaches in patients with GBM.

Adult↗

Surgical approaches and techniques in intraoperative radiotherapy for intra-abdominal, retroperitoneal, and pelvic neoplasms.

Eighty-five patients with locally advanced intra-abdominal, retroperitoneal, and pelvic malignant diseases have been treated at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) with electron beam intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT). In general, IORT was performed after resection to the tumor bed and to areas of locoregional spread. IORT was delivered directly to some unresectable tumors. The median survival for the entire NCI patient group was 13.9 months, with 34% of the patients projected to achieve local control of disease at 5 years. Multiple abutting IORT fields were used in 76% of the patients; they encompassed treatment areas as large as 569 cm2 and involved as many as five separate IORT applications. Multiple fields were matched along straight edges on the treatment applicators or provided by means of lead shielding strips. Areas of field overlap were prevented by the use of lead shields. Surgical approaches and radiotherapeutic techniques of multiple field matching have been developed and are detailed for carcinoma of the pancreas, carcinoma of the stomach, sarcomas of the retroperitoneum, carcinoma of the rectum, and tumors of the pelvic girdle.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Treatment of high-risk sarcomas in children and young adults: analysis of local control using intensive combined modality therapy.

Although combination chemotherapy and local irradiation are quite effective treatment for some children and young adults with small round cell sarcomas, high-risk patient groups, including patients with localized disease of the trunk and proximal extremity and those who present with metastases, continue to fare poorly with standard combined modality therapy. In an attempt to improve the local and systemic response of these tumors, an intensive treatment protocol was designed that integrates five cycles of chemotherapy with vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (VADRIAC) plus radiation therapy to the primary tumor (55-60 Gy), bone, and soft tissue metastases (45-50 Gy). Patients achieving complete response to this induction therapy receive intensification treatment with total body irradiation (8.0 Gy), a cycle of VADRIAC, and autologous bone marrow transplantation. All treatment is completed within 6-7 months. From January 1983 to February 1986, 76 consecutive, previously untreated patients were entered in this study; 75 patients are evaluable. Twenty-five patients were diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, 23 with Ewing's sarcoma, 15 with primitive neuroepithelioma, 12 with primitive sarcoma, and 1 patient with metastatic neuroblastoma. Forty-three patients (57%) had metastases at presentation. Overall, 68 of 75 patients (91%) achieved complete response. Fifty-eight of 61 patients with measurable soft tissue masses at the primary site had greater than or equal to 50% tumor reduction with two cycles of chemotherapy prior to local irradiation. Seven patients failed to have complete response at the primary site following five cycles of chemotherapy and local external beam irradiation, although 3 were subsequently rendered locally disease free by intraoperative radiotherapy (2 patients) or surgery (1 patient).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Alzheimer's disease fibroblasts have normal repair of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced DNA damage determined by the alkaline elution technique.

Cultured fibroblast strains from two normal persons and from two patients with the neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's disease were exposed to the alkylating chemical N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Immediately after exposure and also after a 24-h repair incubation period the single-strand breaks in the cells' DNA were quantified by the alkaline elution technique. In contrast to a report by others using alkaline elution, MNNG, and these same strains, we found no evidence of deficient repair of MNNG-induced DNA damage in the Alzheimer's disease cells. The putative DNA repair defect in Alzheimer's disease should be investigated by methods other than the alkaline elution technique which measures only a small fraction of the damage induced by an alkylating chemical such as MNNG.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Clinical experience with intravenous radiosensitizers in unresectable sarcomas.

Traditionally, adult bone and soft tissue sarcomas have been considered to be "radioresistant." Because of this philosophy, patients who present with locally advanced, unresectable sarcomas often are treated in a palliative fashion, usually with low-dose radiotherapy. Over the last 6 years, 29 patients with unresectable primary or metastatic sarcomas were treated using a combination of intravenous chemical radiosensitizers and high-dose irradiation. Twenty-two of 29 patients achieved clinical local control, with six patients having a complete clinical response. The time to tumor response is often several months or longer, which is in contrast to other tumor histologies (carcinomas, lymphomas), where tumor response usually occurs over several weeks. Several large tumors have shown only a minimal tumor response, yet were found to be sterilized in posttreatment biopsy or autopsy examination. Of 15 patients with primary sarcomas without metastases, 11 patients (73%) remain free of local tumor progression from 12 to 83 months. Adult high-grade sarcomas can be controlled with high-dose radiotherapy and intravenous radiosensitizers, although the precise role of these agents is unclear.

Adolescent↗

History, preliminary results, complications, and future prospects of intraoperative radiotherapy.

Intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy (IORT) is a new combined modality therapy in the treatment of cancer. IORT is delivered during a surgical procedure to a tumor or tumor bed and areas of possible local regional spread, with the ability to shield or physically move normal tissues and organs out of the treatment volume. IORT is feasible for various intraabdominal, retroperitoneal, pelvic, and other malignancies. It is possible to increase the total radiation dose, thereby improving the therapeutic ratio; a better local control without an increasing morbidity. Although the optimum use of IORT is still unknown, it is believed that its greatest value is in combination with maximal surgical resection of the tumor with or without external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). IORT is still an experimental treatment modality combining surgery, EBRT, and if necessary, chemotherapy. Because IORT is an expensive treatment method, it is important to determine which method is the best and most convenient for the patient. The answer can be given only when prospective, randomized clinical IORT trials and cost-effectiveness studies are initiated.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

Response of the mediastinal and thoracic viscera of the dog to intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT).

IORT may be a potentially useful adjunctive treatment combined with surgery and/or external beam irradiation in treating locally advanced lung and esophageal tumors. To begin investigation of this modality, the tolerance of intact mediastinal structures to IORT was studied using adult American Foxhounds (wt. 25-30 kg). Groups of six animals received IORT to doses of 20, 30, or 40 Gy to two separate intrathoracic ports, using 9 MeV electrons to treat a portion of the collapsed right upper lobe, and 12 MeV electrons to treat the mediastinal structures. A group of three dogs received thoracotomy with sham irradiation. Two dogs from each treatment dose group, as well as one sham-irradiated control, were sacrificed electively at 1, 3, and 12 months following IORT. There were no acute nor late IORT related mortalities. Post-operative weight loss was minimal (average 4.5% of pre-operative weight) for all dogs. Serial esophagrams showed no inflammation or ulceration. No cardiac nor pulmonary changes were noted clinically. At autopsy, the irradiated lung showed evidence of acute pneumonitis at 1 month with progressive fibrosis at 3 months and 1 year. Esophageal reactions were minimal, with only two dogs (one 30 Gy and one 40 Gy) demonstrating histologically confirmed esophagitis at 1 month. Tracheal changes were minimal. Cardiac damage was evident in the right atrial tissues. In several dogs, this cardiac damage ranged from myocardial vascular changes to frank ischemic necrosis noted at 1 and 3 months, and dense fibrosis at 1 year. The phrenic nerves showed normal function, but had evidence of perineural fibrosis. The large vessels demonstrated only mild histologic evidence of irradiation. The results of this large animal study suggest that intact mediastinal structures will tolerate small volume IORT to doses of 20 Gy without significant clinical sequellae. Although the histologic changes in the right atrium and contralateral lung are worrisome, no cardiac nor pulmonary problems arose over the 1 year follow-up. Irradiation of the contralateral lung and other sensitive structures can be reduced by careful selection of electron beam energy and use of custom lead shielding.

Animals↗

Combined modality treatment of adult soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck.

Between 1975 and 1985, 16 adult patients high grade soft tissue sarcomas arising in the head and neck were treated with combined modality therapy at the National Cancer Institute. Fifteen patients underwent an attempt at gross resection, while only a biopsy was performed in 1 patient. All patients received conventionally fractionated, high-dose, post-operative irradiation. Twelve of 16 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and adriamycin, given concomitantly with radiation therapy. With a median follow-up of 43 months from diagnosis (range 11-116 months), 10 patients (64%) are disease-free. Of these 10 patients, 1 presented with pulmonary metastases and 2 patients later failed in the lung; all pulmonary disease was resected and these patients are disease-free at 80, 115, and 116 months following presentation. Local control was maintained in 12 patients (75%). An analysis of the iso-effect lines for local control shows a slope of 0.32. The median NSD for local control was 1720 ret. We conclude that aggressive local management of high grade sarcomas which combines gross resection and high-dose post-operative irradiation results in excellent local control. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy is less well defined in this small patient series. The acute and late complications of this combined modality approach are manageable.

Adult↗

Evaluation of incorporated iododeoxyuridine cellular radiosensitization by photon activation therapy.

Halogenated pyrimidines such as iododeoxyuridine (IdUrd), when incorporated into cellular DNA, sensitize cells to radiation. A technique known as photon activation therapy (PAT) has recently been proposed to further enhance IdUrd radiosensitization. This approach relies on the emission of high linear energy transfer Auger electrons as a result of photoelectric absorption of photons with energies slightly above the K shell binding energy for iodine. Thus, additional IdUrd radiosensitization has been predicted for this technique using photons either generated externally from orthovoltage units or with implants of radioisotopes with emissions of the appropriate energy range. We have tested this prediction by comparing the radiosensitization of Chinese V79 cells, which have incorporated IdUrd (16% replacement of thymidine with IdUrd), to megavoltage (15 MV) versus orthovoltage (100 KVp) radiation. Enhancement ratios at 1% survival levels for 15 MV vs. 100 KVp radiation were 1.8 and 1.95, respectively. This modest 10-15% additional enhancement was much less than that predicted by PAT. The discrepancy between experimental data and the theoretical predictions of PAT are discussed.

Animals↗

Enhancement of X ray induced DNA damage by pre-treatment with halogenated pyrimidine analogs.

The use of the halogenated pyrimidine analogs, including bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) and iododeoxyuridine (IdUrd), as potential clinical radiosensitizers is an area of renewed clinical research. Cellular radiation effects of these analogs using clinically achievable steady state plasma levels (10(-7)-10(-5) M) were measured in vitro using exponentially growing Chinese hamster V79 cells. Radiation response was determined by clonogenic survival and by the production of DNA single strand (SSB) and double strand breaks (DSB) using filter elution techniques. Replacement of thymidine in DNA by BrdUrd or IdUrd was also determined. Drug exposure of BrdUrd or IdUrd for two population doublings (17 hr) prior to irradiation resulted in a progressive reduction of n and D0 compared to untreated controls over the drug dose range of 10(-7)-10(-5) M. The percent thymidine replacement increased from 1% at 10(-7) M to 5% at 10(-6) M to 23% at 10(-5) M. Using a 17 hr exposure at 10(-5) of BrdUrd or IdUrd, the production of SSB and DSB was increased by greater than or equal to 2X and greater than or equal to 1.5X respectively. No differences in the kinetics of repair of SSB and DSB were found following 3 hr of post-irradiation repair. We conclude that in this in vitro model, there appears to be a direct relationship between percent thymidine replacement, reduction of radiation survival parameters (n, D0), and the production of DNA strand breaks in the clinically achievable dose range of these halogenated pyrimidine analogs. These filter elution assays may be adapted to in vivo studies and possibly may allow for monitoring of radiation-induced DNA damage and repair in clinical tumor specimens treated with these radiosensitizers.

Animals↗