Of 455 acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANL) patients who underwent marrow transplantation, 95 (21%) relapsed a median of 6.5 months posttransplantation and 62 received further treatment. Twenty achieved remission. Success of therapy was related to the length of time from marrow transplant to relapse and to the use of cytarabine (Ara-C) and daunomycin. Aggressive chemotherapy for patients relapsing within 100 days of marrow transplant was associated with a high incidence of early death (six of 14 patients) and a low probability of remission (one of 14). Of 23 patients who relapsed in excess of 1 year from marrow transplant, 15 achieved a complete remission. The median disease-free survival is 6 months (range, 0.4 to 53+ months). Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) recurred in 130 of 366 patients (36%), and 94 received further therapy. Fifty-two achieved a remission. Remissions were more common in late relapse patients (greater than 1 year from transplantation): 65% v 7% for those relapsing within 100 days from transplant (P less than .05). Testicular relapse occurred in 11 patients and was the sole site of relapse in seven. Three are alive and free of disease 58 to 109+ months after relapse. The median survival for the treated patients is 10.5 months (range, 5 to 109+ months). We propose that reinduction be attempted in all patients relapsing greater than 1 year from marrow transplantation. Ara-C and daunomycin should be employed in the treatment of ANL. The decision for treatment of patients relapsing earlier than 1 year should be made on an individual basis.

Sixty adult patients with incompletely excised low-grade gliomas were randomly assigned to receive radiotherapy (55 Gy over a total of 6 1/2 to 7 weeks) either alone or with 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU; 100 mg/sq m every 6 weeks). Pathological review showed that six patients were ineligible for the study. Evaluation of patient age, extent of surgery, tumor grade, and performance status showed no significant differences between the treatment arms. The response rate, as judged by the disappearance or reduction in size of the tumor on computerized tomography scans, was 79% for radiation therapy alone versus 54% for irradiation plus CCNU. The median survival time was 4.45 years for all patients, with no significant difference between treatment arms (p = 0.7). For the group as a whole, patient age and performance status were the most important prognostic parameters. The majority of patients receiving chemotherapy experienced moderate hematological toxicity. This study demonstrates that CCNU chemotherapy does not improve the results of radiation therapy in the treatment of incompletely excised low-grade gliomas.

The survival of 78 patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer entered in prospective, randomized investigational trials is compared to that of a population-based group of control patients not included in such trials. The survival of trial patients is significantly better than that of controls (P less than 0.001). This survival advantage for trial participants is most apparent among late Stage I patients, and is observed after matching for known prognostic factors (i.e., primary tumor size, nodal status, tumor histology) and after adjusting in the analysis for age, sex, and the administration of radiation therapy. Several explanations for the improved outcome for trial patients are explored, including differences in preoperative evaluation, staging, surgical technique, placebo effects, and patient motivation. These results suggest the possibility that inclusion in these controlled cancer trials may have had an inherent advantage for all participants.

Small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is a rapidly progressive and fatal disease. Historically, surgical resection or radiotherapy of the primary tumor has done little to prolong survival, although the use of combination chemotherapy is more effective. Reported here is the survival experience of 1,538 incident cases of SCLC identified through the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program in western Washington State from 1974 to 1982. The survival experience of this population series is similar to that reported from specialized referral centers. For 71 of 78 persons surviving at least 24 months, the original diagnostic slides were independently reviewed, 47 cases being confirmed as SCLC. No differences were found in actuarial survival estimates between those confirmed and those not confirmed as SCLC. Multivariate survival analysis was conducted to estimate the effects on survival of stage, therapy, age, sex, primary site, and histologic type. All factors except primary site and histologic type significantly influence initial survival rates. However, the only factor related to post--two-year (ie, long-term) survival, once stage is accounted for, is whether surgery was received as a first course of therapy. Those not receiving surgery were at four times the risk of death as those who did. These results indicate that long-term survival can be achieved in patients with SCLC treated in the community, and that the chance of surviving an additional two years for such patients is approximately 40%.

We report a case of a life-threatening, recurrent, and azole-resistant pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in a patient receiving long-term fluconazole therapy for a history of coccidioidal meningitis. Since this diagnosis, the patient has received weekly amphotericin B for more than four years and remains in remission with a stable serum Coccidioides complement fixation antibody titer.