Efficacy of brachytheraphy with californium-252 neutrons versus cesium-137 photons for eradication of bulky localized cervical cancer: Single-institution study

Yosh Maruyama, J. R. Van Nagell, Justine Yoneda, Elvis Donaldson, Holly Gallion, Robert Higgins, Deborah Powell, Carol Turner, Richard Kryscio

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7 Scopus citations

Abstract

A fast-neutron-emitting radioisotope, 252Cf, is being tested in clinical trials of neutron brachytherapy for cervical cancer. The efficacy for histological eradication of bulky stage IB cervical tumors (mean diameter, ∼6 cm) using combined radiation and surgery was studied in 65 patients treated with 137Cs or 252Cf before surgery during 1983-1986. Forty-four patients were treated with 137Cs and 21 were treated with 252Cf at equivalent doses of radiation. Fifteen of the 44 specimens (34%) were positive after 137Cs therapy. Only one of the 21 specimens was positive after 252Cf therapy (P = .025), and that patient was treated in a delayed schedule 21 days after the start of external-beam irradiation rather than early in the course. 252Cf therapy required a much lower radiation dose and shorter treatment time. The study compared tumor destruction of an identically staged human cervical tumor in situ by direct histological means, using 252Cf neutron therapy or conventional photon therapy at an identical and equivalent dose adjusted by a relative biological effectiveness of 6.0 for 252Cf.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)501-506
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the National Cancer Institute
Volume80
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 1988

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
1Received December 17, 1987; revised March 24, 1988; accepted March 25, 1988. 2Supported by research grant PDT-222B from the American Cancer Society. 3 The 252Cf was obtained by contract from the U.S. Department of Energy. 4Departments of Radiation Medicine (Y. Maruyama, J. Yoneda, C. Turner), Obstetrics and Gynecology (J. R. van Nagell, E Donaldson, H. Gal-lion, R. Higgins), Pathology (D. Powell), and Statistics {R Kryscio), Radiation Therapy Oncology Center, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY. 3 We thank Dr. D. Y. Hou, Ann Martin, Shartene West, and L. C. Wilson for their assistance in these studies and Angela Sandifer for expert clerical assistance. * Correspondence to: Yosh Maruyama, M.D., Department of Radiation Medicine, University of Kentucky Medical Center, 800 Rose St, Lexington, KY 40536.

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