Superior Mediastinal Obstruction Treated with Demecolcine Followed by Radiotherapy

Abstract

Demecolcine can produce temporary arrest of mitosis at the stage of metaphase. Cells appear to be more radiosensitive at this stage than at any other stage of the mitotic cycle. This paper describes a clinical trial to test the effect of combining demecolcine with radiotherapy. In order to determine the time interval elapsing between administration of demecolcine and maximum mitotic arrest four patients with accessible tumours were given the drug and biopsy specimens were taken at frequent intervals following this. It was found that maximum mitotic arrest occurred four hours after administration of demecolcine by mouth. Twenty patients with superior mediastinal obstruction due to carcinoma of the bronchus were treated by a daily dose of demecolcine followed after four hours by radiotherapy. The results in terms of survival were compared with comparable cases treated by radiotherapy alone. There does appear to be an improvement in results when demecolcine combined with radiotherapy is compared with radiotherapy alone. © 1965, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.