Total body irradiation: clinical experience at the Institute Jules Bordet.
Our clinical experience with 58 patients receiving TBI as part of their treatment for a malignant hematopoietic disease suggests the following comments: 6 daily fractions of 2 Gy given over 6 days have a similar antitumoral effect as a single dose of 10 Gy, using a low dose rate, but with less toxicity. 7 daily fractions of 2.25 Gy given over 8 days exceed normal lung tolerance. No leukemia recurrence was observed among patients treated with 6 times 2 Gy but the maximal period of observation is only 560 days. On the other hand, a relapse was seen 2 years after 7 times 2.25 Gy. This may suggest the necessity to find a more effective drug regimen or to deliver additional radiation to possible sanctuary sites for chemotherapy.
Regnier
R
R
Radiotherapy Department, Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium.
Piron
A
A
Debusscher
L
L
van Houtte
P
P
D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000379:methods