title: Importance of tumor size and repopulation for radiocurability of skin cancer.
abstract: Data on 946 skin cancers treated by radiation were used to estimate the importance of repopulation. Six different treatment regimes were used from a single dose to 74 Gy given in 47 fractions. High local control of the small skin cancers (L 1 cm) was independent of dose fractionation. For large tumors, only 74 Gy in 47 fractions was the optimal treatment. Time factor analysis showed a steep increase in the NTD50 values between day 28 and 65 of treatment. This implies that tumor clonogen repopulation starts around 4 weeks of treatment. The present results showed a three-component dose response curve instead of the two-component curves which were found for head and neck and bladder cancer.
authors.affiliation: Center of Oncology, M. Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Institute, Gliwice, Poland.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Maciejewski
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skates
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zajusz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lange
mesh_terms: D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome