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Radiation Associated Hyperthyroidism in Patients With Gynecological Malignancies
588
ONCOLOGY AND CHEMOTHERAPY
The authors agree that the integrity of the parasympathetic efferent nerves (S2 to S4), which supply autonomic innervation to the corpora cavernosa and external genitalia, can be maintained with the preservation of potency in a substantial number of patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy without compromising the curative potential of the procedure. However, attempts to preserve sexual integrity should not supercede good clinical judgment nor compromise the ultimate goal of the procedure. J. M. K. 2 tables, 8 references
Screening for Colorectal Cancer G.
D. GERSON, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York
N. Y. State J. Med., 86: 61-62 (Feb.) 1986 Colorectal cancer has become one of the most common types of cancer in the United States, with approximately 120,000 new cases and 60,000 deaths. The fact that colorectal cancer is curable if diagnosed early renders such early detection more attractive. However, several questions still deserve investigation, that is how to improve tests for occult blood in terms of sensitivity and specificity, how a positive test translates in the investigation of the patient and what is the role of sigmoidoscopy in these patients. N. J. 5 references
Hemoccult Screening for Colorectal Cancer: Risks and Benefits
J.
G. FELDMAN, Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
N. Y. State J. Med., 86: 62-63 (Feb.) 1986 The author comments on another article in this issue that states that mass screening for the detection of colorectal cancer is effective. The major question that must be answered with certainty is whether early detection will improve survival. We may assume that this type of cancer originates from a single cell and spreads progressively to adjacent tissues, lymph nodes and distant organs. The efficacy of early screening was shown in a randomized study done in the 1960s hy the Northern California Kaiser-Permanente medical program. At 7 years 2 patients had died of colorectal cancer among the screened group compared to 10 in the unscreened group. The author concludes that the screening program for colorectal cancer will improve early detection and perhaps the survival of these patients. N. J. 15 references
Results of a Public Screening Program for Colorectal Cancer
J. TIDINGS, L. HERRERA of Cancer Control and Epidemiology, Education and Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Memorial Hospital, Buffalo, New York M. CUMMINGS, A. MICHALEK, AND C. METTLIN, Departments
K.
N. Y. State J. Med., 86: 68-72 (Feb.) 1986 A public screening program for colorectal cancer was conducted in western New York in February 1984. Of 58,934 stool guaiac slides distributed throughout the community drug stores
11,497 (19.5 per cent) were returned: 264 slides (2.3 per cent) were positive in 264 patients. Of these patients 202 were seen by the physician and 17 were proved to have colorectal cancer. Followup studies revealed that 2 participants with negative quaiac tests had colorectal cancer. Mass screening with the guaiac test is effective in the detection of certain cases of colorectal cancer. N. J. 2 figures, 3 tables, 20 references
Radiation Associated Hyperthyroidism in Patients With Gynecological Malignancies
s.
S. KATAYAMA, K. SHIMAOKA, M. PIVER, G. OSMAN, Y. TSUKADA AND 0. SUH, Departments of Clinical Phar-
macology and Therapeutics, Clinical Gynecologic Oncology, Radiation Medicine, Pathology and Biomathematics, New York State Department of Health, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, New York; Departments of Medicine, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Radiology, Pathology and Biometry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, and Department of Medicine, Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, New York J. Med., 16: 587-596, 1985 A number of studies have documented the increased rate of hyperthyroidism in patients receiving radiation to the head and neck. The effect of abdominal and/or gynecological malignancies on the future development of hyperthyroidism was studied. The authors reviewed the charts of 1,884 patients with gynecological malignancies who received abdominal and/or pelvic radiation. Among 1,269 patients who underwent this type of radiotherapy 5 had hyperthyroidism. The thyroids in these patients were estimated to have received 30 to 200 rad. This incidence is statistically significant, since 581 patients without radiation therapy suffered hyperthyroidism. N. J. 3 tables, 32 references
Peptide Growth Factors and Inflammation, Tissue Repair, and Cancer B. SPORN AND A. B. ROBERTS, Laboratory of Chemopreuention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
M.
J. Clin. Invest., 78: 329-332 (Aug.) 1986 The authors have outlined some key advances to date on the role of peptide growth factors in carcinogenesis, the similarities between carcinogenesis and the process of inflammation and repair, the role of peptide growth factors in inflammation and repair, the relevance of these factors to proliferative diseases other than cancer and the possible therapeutic implications of this approach. Cancer cells may become independent of external growth control by peptide growth factors, that is they may synthesize, secrete and respond to excessive amounts of peptide growth factors, they may synthesize and express excessive amounts of functional receptors for growth factors and they may have excessive amplification of the signal generated at a receptor for a growth factor. Current research has focused on 3 principal autocrine peptides, namely, transforming growth factor-a, transforming growth factor-/3 and platelet derived growth factor. The authors have elaborated on the present state of knowledge of these 3 peptides and their possible relationship to cancer.
ONCOLOGY AND CHEMOTHERAPY
The authors agree that the integrity of the parasympathetic efferent nerves (S2 to S4), which supply autonomic innervation to the corpora cavernosa and external genitalia, can be maintained with the preservation of potency in a substantial number of patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy without compromising the curative potential of the procedure. However, attempts to preserve sexual integrity should not supercede good clinical judgment nor compromise the ultimate goal of the procedure. J. M. K. 2 tables, 8 references
Screening for Colorectal Cancer G.
D. GERSON, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York
N. Y. State J. Med., 86: 61-62 (Feb.) 1986 Colorectal cancer has become one of the most common types of cancer in the United States, with approximately 120,000 new cases and 60,000 deaths. The fact that colorectal cancer is curable if diagnosed early renders such early detection more attractive. However, several questions still deserve investigation, that is how to improve tests for occult blood in terms of sensitivity and specificity, how a positive test translates in the investigation of the patient and what is the role of sigmoidoscopy in these patients. N. J. 5 references
Hemoccult Screening for Colorectal Cancer: Risks and Benefits
J.
G. FELDMAN, Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
N. Y. State J. Med., 86: 62-63 (Feb.) 1986 The author comments on another article in this issue that states that mass screening for the detection of colorectal cancer is effective. The major question that must be answered with certainty is whether early detection will improve survival. We may assume that this type of cancer originates from a single cell and spreads progressively to adjacent tissues, lymph nodes and distant organs. The efficacy of early screening was shown in a randomized study done in the 1960s hy the Northern California Kaiser-Permanente medical program. At 7 years 2 patients had died of colorectal cancer among the screened group compared to 10 in the unscreened group. The author concludes that the screening program for colorectal cancer will improve early detection and perhaps the survival of these patients. N. J. 15 references
Results of a Public Screening Program for Colorectal Cancer
J. TIDINGS, L. HERRERA of Cancer Control and Epidemiology, Education and Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Memorial Hospital, Buffalo, New York M. CUMMINGS, A. MICHALEK, AND C. METTLIN, Departments
K.
N. Y. State J. Med., 86: 68-72 (Feb.) 1986 A public screening program for colorectal cancer was conducted in western New York in February 1984. Of 58,934 stool guaiac slides distributed throughout the community drug stores
11,497 (19.5 per cent) were returned: 264 slides (2.3 per cent) were positive in 264 patients. Of these patients 202 were seen by the physician and 17 were proved to have colorectal cancer. Followup studies revealed that 2 participants with negative quaiac tests had colorectal cancer. Mass screening with the guaiac test is effective in the detection of certain cases of colorectal cancer. N. J. 2 figures, 3 tables, 20 references
Radiation Associated Hyperthyroidism in Patients With Gynecological Malignancies
s.
S. KATAYAMA, K. SHIMAOKA, M. PIVER, G. OSMAN, Y. TSUKADA AND 0. SUH, Departments of Clinical Phar-
macology and Therapeutics, Clinical Gynecologic Oncology, Radiation Medicine, Pathology and Biomathematics, New York State Department of Health, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, New York; Departments of Medicine, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Radiology, Pathology and Biometry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, and Department of Medicine, Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, New York J. Med., 16: 587-596, 1985 A number of studies have documented the increased rate of hyperthyroidism in patients receiving radiation to the head and neck. The effect of abdominal and/or gynecological malignancies on the future development of hyperthyroidism was studied. The authors reviewed the charts of 1,884 patients with gynecological malignancies who received abdominal and/or pelvic radiation. Among 1,269 patients who underwent this type of radiotherapy 5 had hyperthyroidism. The thyroids in these patients were estimated to have received 30 to 200 rad. This incidence is statistically significant, since 581 patients without radiation therapy suffered hyperthyroidism. N. J. 3 tables, 32 references
Peptide Growth Factors and Inflammation, Tissue Repair, and Cancer B. SPORN AND A. B. ROBERTS, Laboratory of Chemopreuention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
M.
J. Clin. Invest., 78: 329-332 (Aug.) 1986 The authors have outlined some key advances to date on the role of peptide growth factors in carcinogenesis, the similarities between carcinogenesis and the process of inflammation and repair, the role of peptide growth factors in inflammation and repair, the relevance of these factors to proliferative diseases other than cancer and the possible therapeutic implications of this approach. Cancer cells may become independent of external growth control by peptide growth factors, that is they may synthesize, secrete and respond to excessive amounts of peptide growth factors, they may synthesize and express excessive amounts of functional receptors for growth factors and they may have excessive amplification of the signal generated at a receptor for a growth factor. Current research has focused on 3 principal autocrine peptides, namely, transforming growth factor-a, transforming growth factor-/3 and platelet derived growth factor. The authors have elaborated on the present state of knowledge of these 3 peptides and their possible relationship to cancer.