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Lexington studies of Cf-252 brachytherapy for advanced cervical and uterine cancer

Journal Article · · Nucl. Sci. Appl.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6718376

The most important tumors selected for study in the Lexington clinical trial of /sup 252/Cf have been the advanced stages of cervical cancer, i.e. stage III and IV. These tumors are poorly controlled by conventional photon radiotherapy and local persistence or pelvic recurrence of tumor occurs commonly after radiotherapy in 60-90% of treated patients. During 1975-1979, a group of patients were treated using conventional radiotherapy with delayed /sup 137/Cs implants, experimental radiation using a delayed /sup 252/Cf implant instead of /sup 137/Cs, and early /sup 252/Cf implants before pelvic irradiation. These schedules and the clinical responses of tumors were studied in sequential studies in the authors' clinic. The characteristics of tumor responses are reviewed as well as patient survival. The early implant schedule was developed to treat tumors when they were of maximal size and presumably radioresistance, presumed due to hypoxia. 5-year survival rates were determined for the different treatments and was 54% for the Cf implants performed early and approximately 15% when delayed /sup 137/Cs or /sup 252/Cf implants were used. These studies indicate that implant schedule was important to outcome for /sup 252/Cf neutron brachytherapy and that the early implant of cervix cancer conferred an advantage for tumor control. Primary and recurrent uterine carcinomas were also studied and were found to be neutron sensitive.

Research Organization:
Radiation Medicine - GYN/Oncology, Radiation Therapy Oncology Center, Univ. of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY 40536
OSTI ID:
6718376
Journal Information:
Nucl. Sci. Appl.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Sci. Appl.; (United States) Vol. 2:3; ISSN NSAPD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English