Brachytherapy: An emblematic example of extreme hypofractionated regimen

In order to provide more convenient irradiation regimens for patient comfort, radiation facility organization and health expenses, new hypofractionated protocols have been evaluated. Moderately (dose/fraction: 2.3 to 3 Gy), then ultra (dose/fraction: 5.2 to 6.1 Gy) hypofractionated irradiations were first validated. The current question is: is it possible to go forward using extreme hypofractionated regimens (EHR) based on 1 to 3 fractions. Different irradiation techniques are under investigation. However, brachytherapy remains the smartest way to deliver a high dose in a small volume. We report prospective and retrospective study results which evaluated EHR for breast and prostate brachytherapy. While oncological outcome and toxicity profile appear extremely encouraging for low-risk breast cancer after a 1 to 4 fractions (6.25 to 20 Gy/fraction), the use of a single fraction of 19 to 23 Gy appears debatable for prostate cancer. Brachytherapy represents an emblematic example of EHR but longer follow-up and more mature results are awaited in order to specify the right indications and refine the EQD2 calculation method including new biological and technical factors.     

肺癌脑转移放射治疗方式及进展

肺癌是发病率和死亡率最高的恶性肿瘤，其脑转移发生率高且预后差。近年来随着靶向以及免疫治疗药物相继研制成功，肺癌原发灶局部控制率得以提升，因此对其脑转移的治疗更加关注。放射治疗是肺癌脑转移治疗的重要手段之一，现将肺癌脑转移放射治疗方式及进展进行综述。     

接受选择性淋巴结照射的食管鳞癌患者预后和失败模式的分析

目的探讨接受选择性淋巴结照射(ENI)的食管鳞癌患者预后和失败模式。方法回顾性分析2005年1月至2012年12月河北医科大学第四医院收治的179例符合入组条件的食管鳞癌患者,分析肿瘤局部相关因素预测患者预后的价值,分析影响患者近期疗效、预后的影响因素,并对影响患者总生存率(OS)、无进展生存率(PFS)和复发的指标分别进行单因素和多因素分析。结果全组患者1、3、5年OS和PFS分别为77.1%、40.1%、26.0%和62.6%、30.6%、20.3%。多因素分析结果显示声音嘶哑、cN分期、cTNM分期、GTV-横径(GTV-D)和GTV-体积/长度(GTV-V/L)为影响患者OS的独立性影响因素(P<0.05);声音嘶哑、cTNM分期和近期疗效为影响患者PFS的独立性影响因素(P<0.05)。全组有75例(41.9%)患者出现复发,61例(34.1%)远处转移,其中19例(10.6%)为合并复发和远处转移。75例复发患者中64例(85.3%)患者为单纯食管复发,4例(5.3%)为单纯淋巴结复发,另7例(9.3%)患者为食管合并淋巴结复发。治疗后达完全缓解(CR)的63例患者中有18例患者出现复发,其中仅有2例患者出现淋巴结复发;logistic多因素分析结果显示患者周边组织/器官受侵、GTV-D和近期疗效为影响患者复发的独立性影响因素(P<0.05)。结论食管鳞癌患者接受ENI确实可行,其失败主要模式仍为食管复发;治疗前声音嘶哑、GTV-D和GTV-V/L较大、临床分期较晚和近期疗效不佳为患者预后较差的指标;肿瘤周边组织受侵、GTV-D和近期疗效是影响患者失败的独立性因素。     

An Evidence-Based Review of Total Body Irradiation

The purpose of this literature review is to investigate clinical treatment methods of total body irradiation within the context of a clinical department adopting a paediatric cohort with no existing technique. An extensive review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Clinicians Knowledge Network. Articles were limited to nonhelical tomotherapy, nonparticle therapies, and those using hyperfractionated regimes. Total marrow irradiation was excluded because of national treatment and trial limitations. Of the numerous patient positioning methods present within the literature, the most comfortable and reproducible positioning methods for total body irradiation include both supine and the supine and/or prone combination. These positions increased stability and patient comfort during treatment, while also facilitating computed tomography data acquisition at the simulation stage. Ideally, dose calculations should be performed using a three-dimensional treatment planning system and quality assurance procedures that include in vivo dosimetry measurements. The available literature also suggests inhomogeneity correction factors and intensity modulation are superior to conventional open field techniques and should be implemented within developing protocols. Dynamic machine dose modulation is suggested to reduce department impact, removing the need for tissue compensators and accessory shielding devices, while providing significant improvements to treatment time and dose accuracy. Further long-term survival and intensity modulation studies are warranted, including direct comparisons of both dose modulation and treatment efficiency.     

Risk factors for neurocognitive decline in lung cancer patients treated with prophylactic cranial irradiation: A systematic review

BackgroundProphylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) reduces brain metastasis incidence in lung cancer, however with risk of neurocognitive decline. Nevertheless, risk factors for neurocognitive decline after PCI remain unclear.MethodsWe systematically reviewed the PubMed database according to the PRISMA guideline. Inclusion criteria were: randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational/single arm trials evaluating PCI, including ≥20 patients, reporting neurocognitive test results for lung cancer. Primary aim: evaluate risk factors associated with neurocognitive decline after PCI.ResultsTwenty records were eligible (8 different RCTs, 8 observational studies), including 3553 patients in total (858 NSCLC, 2695 SCLC) of which 73.6% received PCI. Incidence of mild/moderate cognitive decline after PCI varied from 8 to 89% (grading not always provided); for those without PCI, this was 3.4–42%. Interestingly, 23–95% had baseline cognitive impairment. Risk factors were often not reported. In one trial, both age (>60 years) and higher PCI dose (36 Gy) including twice-daily PCI were associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline. In one trial, white matter abnormalities were more frequent in the concurrent or sandwiched PCI arm, but without significant neuropsychological differences. One trial identified hippocampal sparing PCI to limit the neurocognitive toxicities of PCI and another reported an association between hippocampal dose volume effects and memory decline. As neurocognition was a secondary endpoint in most RCTs, and was assessed by various instruments with often poor/moderate compliance, high-quality data is lacking.ConclusionsAge, PCI dose, regimen and timing might be associated with cognitive impairment after PCI in lung cancer patients, but high-quality data is lacking. Future PCI trials should collect and evaluate possible risk factors systematically.     

小剂量低LET辐射对人淋巴细胞SCE的影响

本文用磷酸盐Giemsa法观察了小剂量X射线照射对人离体外周血淋巴细胞SCE的影响。其结果照射组各剂量点均不明显地高于对照组,证实了SCE对电离辐射不敏感,说明染色体结构畸变和SCE的发生是彼此独立的两个不同事件。     

紫外线照射后哺乳动物细胞DNA的期外合成

本实验用~3H-TdR掺入,液体闪烁测量法测定细胞DNA期外合成的方法,测定了小鼠和大鼠的肠淋巴结细胞、人和大鼠外周血淋巴细胞、S-180V肿瘤细胞等经紫外线照射后的UDS,观察到UDS掺入量随辐照度增加而增加。在同一辐照剂量下,以小鼠肠淋巴结细胞的UDS值最高,其次是人外周血淋巴细胞和S-180V肿瘤细胞,而大鼠外周血淋巴细胞和肠淋巴结细胞最低。     

中西医结合治疗外阴色素减退性疾病55例临床观察

目的观察中西医结合治疗外阴色素减退性疾病的近期及远期疗效。方法将100例患者随机分为2组。治疗组55例以中药外阴熏洗配合自制复方维生素B6软膏涂擦、微波局部照射综合治疗；对照组45例以2％氢化可的松软膏涂擦治疗，3个月后、1年后对近期疗效与远期疗效进行比较。结果治疗组和对照组近期治愈率分别为27．27％、8．89％（P〈0．05），有效率分别为100．00％、82．22％（P〉0．05）；远期有效率治疗组和对照组分别为87．27％、26．67％（P〈0．01）；复发率分别为12．73％、73．33％（P〈0．01）。结论中西医结合疗法治疗外阴色素减退性疾病疗效显著。     

低剂量辐射增强小鼠肿瘤基因-放射治疗效应的免疫学机制研究

目的 探讨低剂量辐射全身照射对小鼠Lewis肺癌移植肿瘤基因-放疗方案中的免疫增强作用机制。方法 小鼠右后肢皮下接种Lewis肺癌细胞建立荷瘤模型,基因-放疗组中小鼠肿瘤局部注射由多聚乙烯亚胺包裹的pEgr-IL18-B7.1重组质粒,分别接受由2 Gy 局部照射和0.075 Gy 全身照射组合的不同治疗方案,通过³H-TdR标记方法检测小鼠CTL和NK细胞毒活性,ELISA方法检测TNF-α和IFN-γ分泌活性,观察各治疗组对荷瘤小鼠抗肿瘤免疫的作用。结果 在pEgr-IL18-B7.1基因治疗方案中,单次大剂量辐射局部照射后加多次低剂量全身照射与常规多次大剂量辐射局部照射相比,小鼠CTL和NK细胞毒活性显著增强,TNF-α和IFN-γ分泌活性有不同程度的增高。 结论 低剂量辐射可以通过促进CTL和NK细胞毒效应,上调TNF-α和IFN-γ细胞因子表达,从而增强机体抗肿瘤免疫功能,提高肿瘤基因-放疗的抑瘤效果。