Fast neutrons compared with megavoltage x-rays in the treatment of patients with supratentorial glioblastoma: a controlled pilot study

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(80)90131-5· OSTI ID:5006183

Catterall, M ^[1]; Bloom, H J.G.; Ash, D V; Walsh, L; Richardson, A; Uttley, D; Gowing, N F.C.; Lewis, P; Chaucer, B

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1. Hammersmith Hospital, London, England

The radioresistance of glioblastoma presumably results from the presence of hypoxic cells. In an attempt to overcome this problem, fast neutrons were compared in a controlled pilot study with conventional megavoltage x-rays (photons). 63 patients entered the study between January, 1973 and July, 1976, 30 patients received neutron and 33 received x-ray therapy. The overall mean survival was 11.4 months for those who received photon and 10 months for those who received neutron therapy. Survival rates at 6 and 12 months were 72 and 36% respectively for photon treated patients, and 77 and 30% for those treated with neutrons. Although neutron therapy did not improve overall survival, examination of the histological material indicated a considerably greater antitumor effect after neutron therapy than after treatment with photons. In the neutron treated group, at post-mortem examination no tumor or only minimal tumor was found in 10 of 12 patients and in one of 4 patients where tissue was obtained from a second craniotomy. In some cases, there was evidence of diffuse damage to normal brain which was in keeping with a clinical syndrome of progressive dementia without localizing signs. Dose, time, and volume factors for neutron therapy to the brain and possible ways of improving results are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 5006183
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 6:3; ISSN IOBPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550603 -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BARYONS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
DISEASES
DOSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FAST NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
HADRONS
INFORMATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
NEUTRON THERAPY
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEONS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOSENSITIVITY
RADIOTHERAPY
SURVIVAL CURVES
SURVIVAL TIME
THERAPY
X RADIATION