The combination treatment of malignant bone tumors using fast neutrons

: The study deals with results of a clinical trial evaluating treatment efficacy of a 6 MeV neutron beam produced by Y-120 cyclotron (Kiev). Procedures of preoperative radiotherapy and radical treatment are discussed. Radiotherapy was administered to 52 patients suffering chondrosarcoma (30 cases), osteogenic sarcoma (15) or chordoma (7). Combined treatment (radiation + surgery) was given to 22 patients whereas neutron beam therapy--to 30. All patients with osteogenic sarcoma received adjuvant combination chemotherapy. Three-year survival rate was compared to that observed in controls in whom combined treatment had included gamma-therapy. A significant increase in three-year survival rate was observed for osteogenic sarcoma and chordoma whereas for chondrosarcoma the improvement in survival proved insignificant. The use of fast neutrons in combined treatment of bone tumors was considered promising.