evaluated in this regard, symptoms were

present in 27 of 55 (49%); the cancers were

in stage III at presentation in 51%. Outcome

was related to sym~tomatology and to lung

cancer stage. The median survivals for

symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were 6

and 25 months, respectively (p < 0.001); the

median survivals for patients with stage I,

II, and III lesions were 26, 9, and 6

months, respectively (p < 0.05). Post-

thoracotomy management after surgical-

radiation therapy of upper airway cancers (n

= 22) was inordinately challenging because

of pre-existing impairment of the upper air-

ways. We have reached the following

conclusions: (i) Patients with upper airway

cancer are at high risk for lung cancer of

all cell types. (2) When multiple airway

cancers occur together, the prognosis is

poor; nonetheless, cure of each cancer can

be achieved if it is

adequately treated. (3) When

cancers occur synchronously,

threatening cancer should be

(4) When the option exists,

completely and

multiple airway

the more life-

treated first.

the lung cancer

should be treated before the upper airway

cancer to avoid the impact of previous ir-

radiation and/or treatment of the upper air-

way cancer upon post-thoracotomy management.

Influence on Nandrolone Decanoate on Weight

Loss in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Chlebowski, R.T., Herrold, J., All, I. et

al. Department of Medicine, UCLA School of

Medicine, Torrance, CA; U.S.A. Cancer 58:

183-186, 1986.

The short term addition of nandrolone

decanoate to combination chemotherapy given

to patients with unresectable non-small cell

lung cancer was evaluated in a randomized,

prospective trial. Patients were treated

with doxorubicin 50 mg/m 2 intravenously,

cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m 2 intravenously,

CCNU 50 mg/m 2 orally, vincristine 1.4 mg/m 2

intravenously, with and without cisplatin 50

mg/m 2 intravenously, all given every 28

days. In addition, patients were randomized

to receive either nandrolone decanoate 200

mg intramuscularly weekly for 4 weeks or no

additional therapy. Patient age, disease ex-

tent, performance score, and pretreatment

weight loss were similar in the two treat-

ment arms. Objective antitumor response

frequency was comparable on both treatment

arms with median survival somewhat longer

for patients receiving the androgen (median

survival 5.5 months without and 8.2 months

43

with nandrolone decanoate). There was a

trend for less severe weight loss on the

nandrolone decanoate arm (average weight

loss 0.8 + or - 0.15 kg versus 0.21 + or -

0.18 kg, respectively), with half as many

patients experiencing weight loss on

nandrolone decanoate (25% versus 12%). A

separate concurrent study has demonstrated

decreased free testosterone levels in 66% of

patients with advanced cancer studied prior

to chemotherapy treatment, therefore, fur-

ther prospective studies in which pretreat-

ment testosterone levels are used to guide

androgen administration are needed to define

more precisely a role for androgen replace-

ment therapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Following Com-

plete Remission of Small Cell Carcinoma of

the Lung.

Yu, P.P., Waxman, J.S., Chahinian, A.P. et

al. Department of Neoplastic Diseases, Mount

Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, U.S.A. Med.

Pediatr. Oncol. 14: 100-103, 1986.

The treatment of patients with small

cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL) with com-

bination chemotherapy and radiation has

dramatically improved survival in the past

decade. With this increased survival, long

term complications of therapy are becoming

apparent. We report a patient who died of

acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) while in

complete remission from SCCL. Review of the

literature indicates that there may be an

increased incidence of AML following

successful induction of complete remission

in patients with SCCL.

Effect of Discontinuation of Periodical

Roentgen Screening of the Population on Mor-

bidity and Mortality of Hospitalized Bron-

chial Carcinoma Patients.

Kraan, J., Van Der Wal, A.M., Sluiter, H.J.

Academisch Ziekenhuis, Afd. Longziekten,

9713 EZ Groningen, Netherlands. Ned.

Tijdschr. Geneeskd, 130: 1281-1284, 1986.

1982 saw the end of the periodical

radiological screening of the population for

pulmonary tuberculosis, which used to be of

great importance for the early diagnosis of

lung cancer. In this study, two groups of

patients hospitalized for diagnosis and

treatment of lung cancer were analysed and

followed up. The diagnosis of bronchial car-

cinoma had been made for the discontinuation

of the screening in the first group (n =

50), and after its cessation in the second