Showing papers by "American Cancer Society published in 1984"

Influence of clonal selection on the expression of immunoglobulin variable region genes

Abstract: The humoral immune response of the mouse to certain antigens is characterized by the dominant expression of a single or limited number of related, immunoglobulin variable region (V) structures by antibody-secreting lymphocytes. Such dominance could be due to preferred expression of these V regions in the B cell population prior to the immune response or could result from the action of selective or regulatory mechanisms during the immune response. Expression of a heavy chain variable region (VH) gene segment that partially encodes a V region structure that dominates the immune response to para-azophenylarsonate (Ars) in strain A mice was examined in the B cell population of Ars nonimmune mice. This VH gene segment participates in encoding several hundred thousand different V region structures expressed in this B cell population. The immune system is therefore capable of recurrently selecting a single V region structure from such a repertoire for dominant expression by antibody-secreting lymphocytes during an immune response.

Prognostic and treatment factors affecting pelvic control of Stage IB and IIA-B carcinoma of the intact uterine cervix treated with radiation therapy alone.

Abstract: This is a retrospective analysis of 264 patients with Stage IB and IIA-B carcinoma of the cervix treated with curative intent at the University of Florida from October 1964 through April 1980. There is a minimum 2-year follow-up. Patients dead of distant metastases (13), dead from intercurrent disease (14), or lost to follow-up (1) less than 24 months from treatment with pelvic disease controlled were excluded from analysis of pelvic control. All patients were included in analysis of complications and survival. Tumor size and hematocrit were noted to be significant prognostic factors with regard to control of disease in the pelvis in Stage IB and IIA cancers. Tumor size and hematocrit also influenced pelvic control in Stage IIB, but to a lesser extent than in Stages IB and IIA. Patient age was a weak prognostic factor for control of disease in the pelvis for Stages IB, IIA, and IIB, but more strongly influenced pelvic control when considered in conjunction with tumor size and hematocrit. Overall treatment time influenced pelvic control in all cases when the size of the lesion was greater than or equal to 6 cm. In lesions greater than or equal to 6 cm in diameter, the amount of tumor regression noted at the time of the radium application after 3500 to 4000 rad external beam irradiation was a predictor of pelvic control. Data on treatment complications and survival are included, and future treatment strategies discussed.

Cancer Mortality Among Woodworkers

Abstract: The mortality experience of 10,322 men employed in woodworking industries was compared with that of 406,798 nonwoodworkers. All subjects were enrolled in an American Cancer Society study and followed prospectively from 1959 through 1972. Age-adjusted rates of death from all causes and from all cancers were not higher in the woodworker group, but excess rates were observed for cancers of the lung, stomach, and bladder, as well as nonmelanoma skin cancer and possibly leukemia. Woodworkers experienced significantly decreased rates of colon-rectum cancer and coronary heart disease. The elevated cancer rates could not be explained by cigarette smoking habits. If anything, there is evidence to suggest a possible interaction between employment in woodworking trades and heavy cigarette smoking, in increasing the risk of lung and bladder cancer.

The in utero findings in twin pentalogy of Cantrell.

Abstract: The antenatal sonographic diagnosis of omphalocele is well documented, 1 but because it has a verv strong association with other congenital anomalie~. the sonographer must be fully aware of these so that an accurate evaluation can be made. !!: A case of identical twins with secundum atrial septal defects, cleft sternums, abse nce ofventral diaphragms, diaphragmatic pericardia] defects, and omphalocele (Cantrell's pentalogy)l forms the basis for this report. To our knowledge Cantrell's pentalogy in twins has never been reported. The antenatal sonagraphic findings, obstetric approach . and postmortem findings are reported and a discussion of the literature is included.

Stature and Ewing's sarcoma in childhood.

Abstract: The heights and weights of 291 children with Ewing's sarcoma were compared to population norms in order to explore the association of stature with this cancer. Overall, males were not significantly different from what was expected in either height or weight. When weights for heights of males under 151 cm--the upper limit of the norms--were reviewed, the distribution favored the larger categories. Further analysis of this group revealed that males under 151 cm were, on the average, 2 cm shorter and 0.2 kg lighter than peers. By contrast, females were smaller than expected. The greatest difference was in females under 151 cm; they were, on the average, 4.1 cm shorter and 2.4 kg lighter than their peers. In this series of similarly treated patients, stature at diagnosis did not appear to affect survival. Contrary to previous report, attained height and weight at diagnosis do not appear to be important risk factors for children with Ewing's sarcoma.

Reach-to-Recovery Program of the American Cancer Society.

Abstract: The Reach-to-Recovery program and its importance is explained by asking readers to imagine themselves as patients recovering from a mastectomy. The expansion of the Reach-to-Recovery program is discussed including reconstruction visitation, preoperative visits, the man-to-man program, teaching breast self-examination, and the new "specialized visitor."