QUANTITATIVE HISTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF 

 RADIATION EFFECTS IN HUMAN CARCINOMATA 



ALFRED GLUCKSMANN, M.D. 



Strangeivays Research Laboratory, Cambridge 



Introduction 



TUMORS of apparently similar histological type and clini- 

 cal extent in different parts of the body, or even at the 

 same site, vary considerably in their local response to 

 radiotherapy. Thus, good results are obtained in cases of car- 

 cinoma colli uteri, while almost complete failure attends the 

 treatment of carcinoma of the esophagus. In carcinoma colli 

 uteri, clinical stage 2,* 60% of the cases are cured for at 

 least 5 years, while 40% of the cases fail to respond satisfac- 

 torily. 



Attempts to discriminate between the radiocurable and the 

 radioresistant cases by means of histological grading have led 

 to widely divergent results.*' ^"'•- ^^ The most anaplastic types 

 of tumor tissue,-' ^'^ as well as the most differentiated 

 types, ^' "• ^' -"^ have been found to give the best radiotherapeutic 

 results — la finding paralleled by the clinical observation that the 

 highly differentiated keratinizing epitheliomata of the skin and 

 lip usually respond favorably to radiation treatment, and that 

 lymphosarcomata and other growths composed mainly of un- 

 differentiated cells react dramatically to radiotherapy, at least 

 locally. 



* The clinical stages in carcinoma colli uteri are defined as follows:" Stage 1: 

 The carcinoma is strictly confined to the cervix. Stage 2: The carcinoma infiltrates 

 the parametrium on one or both sides, but does not extend to the pelvic wall. Stage 

 3: The carcinomatous infiltration of the parametrium extends to the pelvic wall on 

 one or both sides. Stage 4: The carcinoma involves the parametrium up to the pelvic 

 wall and the bladder. 



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