Results of external beam radiotherapy alone for incompletely resected carcinoma of rectosigmoid or rectum: Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute experience 1981-1990

PURPOSE: To study the results of external beam radiotherapy treatment for incompletely resected nonmetastatic rectosigmoid and rectal carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective review was carried out of all patients (57) presenting to Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute from 1981 to 1990 with incompletely resected nonmetastatic rectosigmoid or rectal cancer who were treated with external beam radiotherapy. Three radiotherapy schedules were used: radical (50 to 60 Gy, 27 patients), high-dose palliative (45 Gy, 25 patients), and low-dose palliative (less than 45 Gy, 5 patients). Symptomatic response, overall survival, and the effect of prognostic factors on treatment outcome were evaluated. The median follow-up period for survivors was 49 months. RESULTS: Symptomatic response rates were 83% and 79% for the radical and high-dose palliative groups respectively. The estimated median survival time from presentation for all patients was 16.4 months (radical 26.1 months, high-dose palliative 15.7 months). Patients with microscopic residual disease survived significantly longer than patients with macroscopic residual disease (estimated median survival time 30.7 months vs. 14.3 months, p = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: No dose response effect was seen between the radical group and high-dose palliative group. Microscopic residual disease at presentation was the only significant predictor of better survival. The conventionally fractionated course of 50 to 60 Gy was not significantly better in terms of palliation and overall survival than a shorter palliative course of 45 Gy. In future, preoperative chemoradiation should improve outcome by reducing the number of patients with incompletely resected cancer.     

High Dose Rate Cobalt-60 Afterloading Intracavitary Therapyof Uterine Cervical Carcinomas in Srinagarind Hospital -Analysis of Complications

Objectives: To evaluate complications in uterine cervical cancer patients treated with teletherapy combinedwith high dose rate(HDR) cobalt-60 brachytherapy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of uterinecervical cancer patients, stages IB-IVB (International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetriciansrecommendations), treated by radiotherapy alone between April 1986 and December 1988 was conducted. Thepatients received teletherapy 50Gy / 25 fractions, five fractions per week to the whole pelvis together with HDRCobalt -60 afterloading brachytherapy of 850 cGy/ fraction weekly to point A for 2 fractions. Results: Thestudy subjects were 141 patients with uterine cervical cancer. The mean age was 49 years with a range of 30-78. The mean tumor size was 4.1 cms in diameter (range 1-8 cms ). Mean follow-up time was 2.9 years (range1 month - 6.9years). The treatments resulted in a 96.5% complete response rates but morbidity rates of grade1 and grade 2 radiation proctitis of 27.0%, and 10.6 %.The grade 1 and grade 2 radiation cystitis were 1.4%,and 1.4 %. At the level of grade 3 radiation complications, 0.71% of radiation proctitis and 0.71% small bowelobstruction were observed. The mean onset time to develop radiation proctitis after complete treatment was 15months with a range of 6-61 months, for radiation cystitis was 30 months (range 9 - 47 months) and for smallbowel obstruction was 53 months in the one case it occurred. Conclusion: Combined teletherapy along with highdose rate Cobalt -60 brachytherapy of 850 cGy/ fraction, weekly to point A for 2 fractions for uterine cancerdemonstrated a slightly higher incidence of grade 2 radiation proctitis. Therefore, treatment using HDR-60brachytherapy less than 850 cGy per fractionation for decreasing the grade 2 and grade 3 radiation morbidityis recommended.     

鼻咽癌根治放疗后残留病变的两种推量治疗方法疗效比较

Objective： To compare the efficacy between stereotactic radiotherapy （SRT） and intracavitary brachytherapy （brachytherapy） in residual tumor of nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） after treating with conventional external beam radiotherapy. Methods： 60 patients with residual tumor of NPC after radical external beam radiotherapy （range 68 to 72 Gy） were randomized into SRT group （27 patients） and brachytherapy group （33 patients）. Patients in SRT group received boost treatment of 10-20 Gy, 2-3 fractions, once every other day; patients in brachytherapy group were treated with boost 10-20 Gy, 5 Gy per fraction, twice a week. Results： Efficacy in the near future： in SRT group, the complete recession （CR）, partial recession （PR） and no change （NC） rates were 77.8% （21/27）, 18.5% （5/27）, 3.7% （1/27）, respectively and the efficacy rate was 96.3% （CR ＋ PR）; in brachytherapy group： the CR, PR and NC rates were 75.8% （25/33）, 18.2% （6/33）, 6.1% （2/33）, respectively and the efficacy rate was 93.9% （CR ＋ PR）. The efficacy rates of the above two groups were compared （x^2 = 0.032, P 〉 0.05）. Long term efficacy： in SRT group, 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 96.3%, 66.5% respectively and the median live time was 48 months; in brachytherapy group： 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 93.9%, 60.2% respectively and the median live time was 46 months. The survival rates of two groups were compared （x^2 = 0.172, P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion： Both boost techniques of SRT and brachytherapy had elevated efficacy in patients with residual tumor of NPC and there was no obvious difference between the efficacy of the near and long term in SRT and brachytherapy group.     

A phase II study of multimodality treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer: neoadjuvant carboplatin and paclitaxel followed by radical hysterectomy and adjuvant cisplatin chemoradiation.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy and adjuvant radiation concurrent with weekly cisplatin for locally advanced cervical carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients staged as IB2-IIIB were treated with three 21-day courses of carboplatin (area under the time-concentration curve 6 mg.min/ml) and paclitaxel at 175 mg/m(2) by 3-h infusion both on day 1 followed by radical type III hysterectomy and adjuvant radiation concurrent with 6-weekly doses of cisplatin at 40 mg/m(2). Response rate, resectability, toxicity and survival were evaluated. RESULTS: From December 2000 to June 2001, 43 patients were recruited. All were evaluated for response and toxicity to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A total of 129 courses were administered. Clinical responses were seen in 41 patients (95%) [95% confidence interval (CI) 89.2% to 100%] with four (9%) complete and 37 (86%) partial. Forty-one patients underwent surgery (resectability 95%); pathologically complete or near-complete responses were seen in seven (17%) and eight (20%), respectively, positive surgical margins in five (12%), and positive pelvic lymph nodes in eight (20%). Twenty-six patients were scheduled for adjuvant chemoradiation. External radiation was delivered for 42.8 days (range 33-61), with a mean dose of 49.3 Gy (range 46-56), and a median of five cisplatin courses (two to six). The mean dose of brachytherapy was 32 Gy (range 25.5-35.6). Neoadjuvant therapy was well-tolerated with neutropenia grade 3 and 4 in 12% and 3% of the courses, respectively. Toxicity to adjuvant chemoradiation was mainly hematological and gastrointestinal, mostly grades 1/2. A total of 39 patients completed all scheduled treatment. At a median follow-up of 21 months (range 3-26), the projected overall survival in the intention-to-treat analysis was 79% (95% CI 62% to 88%). CONCLUSIONS: The triple modality of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy and adjuvant radiation concurrent with cisplatin is a highly active treatment for locally advanced cervical carcinoma with acceptable toxicity.     

Pilot study in the treatment of endometrial carcinoma with 3D image-based high-dose-rate brachytherapy using modified Heyman packing: clinical experience and dose-volume histogram analysis

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate dose distribution within uterus (clinical target volume [CTV]) and tumor (gross tumor volume [GTV]) and the resulting clinical outcome based on systematic three-dimensional treatment planning with dose-volume adaptation. Dose-volume assessment and adaptation in organs at risk and its impact on side effects were investigated in parallel. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Sixteen patients with either locally confined endometrial carcinoma (n = 15) or adenocarcinoma of uterus and ovaries after bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (n = 1) were included. Heyman packing was performed with mean 11 Norman-Simon applicators (3-18). Three-dimensional treatment planning based on computed tomography (n = 29) or magnetic resonance imaging (n = 18) was done in all patients with contouring of CTV, GTV, and organs at risk. Dose-volume adaptation was achieved by dwell location and time variation (intensity modulation). Twelve patients treated with curative intent received five to seven fractions of high-dose-rate brachytherapy (7 Gy per fraction) corresponding to a total dose of 60 Gy (2 Gy per fraction and alpha/beta of 10 Gy) to the CTV. Four patients had additional external beam radiotherapy (range, 10-40 Gy). One patient had salvage brachytherapy and 3 patients were treated with palliative intent. A dose-volume histogram analysis was performed in all patients. On average, 68% of the CTV and 92% of the GTV were encompassed by the 60 Gy reference volume. Median minimum dose to 90% of CTV and GTV (D90) was 35.3 Gy and 74 Gy, respectively. RESULTS: All patients treated with curative intent had complete remission (12/12). After a median follow-up of 47 months, 5 patients are alive without tumor. Seven patients died without tumor from intercurrent disease after median 22 months. The patient with salvage treatment had a second local recurrence after 27 months and died of endometrial carcinoma after 57 months. In patients treated with palliative intent, symptom relief was achieved. No severe acute and late side effects (Grade 3/4) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Sectional image-based three-dimensional treatment planning on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging is feasible in definitive brachytherapy of endometrial carcinoma and enables by the use of dwell time and location adaptation a sufficient coverage of GTV and major parts of CTV. Local control in this limited number of patients is excellent and rate of side effects minimal.     

Six fractions per week of external beam radiotherapy and high-dose-rate brachytherapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix: A phase I/II study

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the treatment results of external beam radiotherapy administered in six fractions per week and high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for the treatment of cervical cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From July 2000 to July 2003, 43 patients were enrolled in this study. The patients received 45 Gy from a 10-MV photon beam using four-field box or anterior-posterior beams. Parametrial regions and the pelvic side walls were boosted with up to 50.4 Gy using a midline block. The daily fraction dose was 1.8 Gy administered in six-weekly fractions, from Monday to Saturday. HDR brachytherapy was also delivered at doses of 24 Gy to point A in six fractions twice a week. The median follow-up time was 37 months (range, 9-60 months). RESULTS: The median overall treatment time was 51 days for all patients (range, 44-62 days). Thirty-four patients (79.1%) achieved complete remission and 8 (18.6%) achieved partial remission after radiotherapy. Locoregional recurrence occurred in 5 patients (11.6%), and a distant metastasis was encountered in 6 patients (13.9%). The 3-year overall survival, locoregional, and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 74.7%, 87.8%, and 84.7%, respectively. Grade 2 and 3 late rectal complications were encountered in 3 (6.5%) and 1 (2.2%), respectively. There were no Grade 3 late bladder complications. CONCLUSIONS: Six fractions per week of external beam radiotherapy and HDR brachytherapy is an effective treatment for patients with a carcinoma of the uterine cervix and can be used as a possible alternative to concomitant chemoradiotherapy in elderly patients or in patients with co-morbidity.     

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with external radiotherapy, brachytherapy, and concurrent/adjuvant chemotherapy

The standard treatment for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has become external beam radiation therapy (EBXRT) 70 Gy/7 weeks + 3 cycles of concurrent cisplatin followed by 2 to 3 cycles of adjuvant cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Some reports suggest that the addition of low-dose rate brachytherapy to EBXRT also improves local control. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the "triple" combination of EBXRT, brachytherapy, and concurrent/adjuvant chemotherapy. Eleven patients treated from 1992 to 1998 were evaluated. All patients had stage III/IV (excluding T4 lesions) NPC. Treatment consisted of EBXRT (64-70 Gy/7 weeks), followed by a brachytherapy boost (6-15 Gy delivered 0.5 cm deep to the mucosa). Chemotherapy consisted of concurrent cisplatin (100 mg/m2) and post-XRT adjuvant cisplatin (80 mg/m2) and 5-FU (1,000 mg/m2/day x 4 days) for 2 cycles. All 11 patients were evaluable. The average age was 44 years, and median follow-up was 38 months (range: 23-82 months). Median EBXRT dose was 66 Gy, and median brachytherapy dose was 9 Gy (median total dose: 75 Gy). All patients obtained primary tumor complete response (CR). Two patients required post-XRT neck dissection to achieve regional CR. To date, 10 patients are alive with no evidence of disease. The 3-year actuarial survival is 100%. One patient died at 82 months of a late distant recurrence (at 37 months post-XRT). No patient has had a local or neck failure. Chemoradiation plus brachytherapy offers encouraging survival and local-regional control. Further study of this regimen as an alternative or adjunct to intensity-modulated EBXRT is warranted.     

A prospective, open-label study of low-dose total skin electron beam therapy in mycosis fungoides

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of low-dose (4 Gy) total skin electron beam therapy as a second-line treatment of Stage IB-II mycosis fungoides in a prospective, open-label study. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Ten patients (6 men, 4 women, average age 68.7 years [range, 55-82 years]) with histopathologically confirmed mycosis fungoides T2-T4 N0-N1 M0 who did not achieve complete remission or relapsed within 4 months after treatment with psoralen plus ultraviolet-A were included. Treatment consisted of low-dose total skin electron beam therapy administered at a total skin dose of 4 Gy given in 4 fractions over 4 successive days. RESULTS: Two patients had a complete clinical response but relapsed after 3.5 months. Six patients had partial clinical responses, with a mean duration of 2.0 months. One patient had no clinical response. Median time to relapse was 2.7 months. One patient died of unrelated causes and did not complete treatment. Acute side effects included desquamation, xerosis, and erythema of the skin. No severe side effects were observed. CONCLUSION: Low-dose total skin electron beam therapy can induce complete and partial responses in Stage IB-II mycosis fungoides; however, the duration of remission is short. Low-dose total skin electron beam therapy may find application in palliative treatment of mycosis fungoides because of limited toxicity and the possibility of repeating treatments for long-term disease control.     

Concurrent Chemo- Radiobrachytherapy with Cisplatin and Medium Dose Rate Intra- Cavitary Brachytherapy for Locally Advanced Uterine Cervical Cancer

Objective: Cervical carcinoma is the third most common gynecologic cancer, after ovarian and uterine cancersin Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy (response rate) and toxicity of adding Medium Dose Rate(MDR) brachytherapy with concurrent chemotherapy to External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) for the treatment oflocally advanced uterine cervical carcinoma. Methods: This phase I-II study was conducted in 2007-2008 at the cancerinstitute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Patients were treated with pelvic EBRT (50 Gy in 25 Fraction) withconcomitant chemotherapy to obtain tumor shrinkage and permit optimal intra-cavitary placement. One week after thecompletion of EBRT, patients were treated by 12 Gy MDR Intra-cavitary brachytherapy for two periods of one daywith a one week interval and concomitant platinum based chemotherapy. Response rate was evaluated by gynecologicphysical examination and pelvic MRI +- GD within three months of treatment. Acute and late toxicity were assessedusing Radiation Therapy Oncology Group criteria. Results: A total of 33 patients with locally advanced cervical cancerwere treated according to the above described treatment protocol. The patients mean age was 53.2 (range 31–78) years.Three months after the completion of treatment, the complete clinical, pathologic and radiologic response rate accordingto WHO-criteria was 81.8% (27 patients). Six cases had a partial response or stable disease. After 48 months, averagedisease free survival periods were 45.1, 23.0, 33.4 and 8 months for stage IIB, IIIA, IIIB and: IVA lesions (according toThe International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging system). The most frequently observed side effectswere leukopenia, anemia, proctitis, cystitis, nausea and vomiting (mostly grade 1 and 2). Conclusion: Concomitantbrachytherapy and chemotherapy with platinum compounds can be well tolerated and is effective in the treatment oflocally advanced cervical cancer.     

Endourethral brachytherapy for prevention of recurrent urethral stricture following internal urethrotomy--first clinical experiences and results

PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of endourethral brachytherapy for prevention of recurrent urethral stricture after internal urethrotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endourethral high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy was performed in 10 male patients with recurrent urethral strictures after radical prostatectomy or transurethral resection of prostatic adenoma. Brachytherapy commenced on the day of the actual intervention and continued over 3 days; the radiotherapy dose was 4 x 3 = 12 Gy for the first 3 patients and 4 x 4 Gy = 16 Gy for the following 7 patients. RESULTS: During follow-up (range: 8-27 months, mean: 14.8 months), 9 of 10 patients remained relapse-free, i.e., without recurrent strictures or requiring another urethrotomy. In 1 patient with a restricture after endourethral brachytherapy, a second brachytherapy course was performed; nevertheless, he experienced a further restricture 12 months after the second intervention. No radiation-induced acute toxicity occurred, but 1 patient developed incontinence after the current urethrotomy. Overall, patient satisfaction and compliance with the therapeutic procedures was high. CONCLUSIONS: Endourethral HDR brachytherapy proved to be a safe method that can reduce urethral restricture. Further follow-up is needed to prove long-term efficacy of this treatment. Further investigations are planned to evaluate the adequate fractionation and possible late treatment sequelae.     

Radical surgical resection and high-dose intraoperative radiation therapy (HDR-IORT) in patients with recurrent gynecologic cancers

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcome for patients with recurrent gynecologic tumors treated with radical resection and combined high-dose intraoperative radiation therapy (HDR-IORT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between November 1993 and June 1998, 17 patients with recurrent gynecologic malignancies underwent radical surgical resection and high-dose-rate brachytherapy. The mean age of the study group was 49 years (range 28-72 years). The site of the primary tumor was the cervix in 9 (53%) patients, the uterus in 7 (41%) patients, and the vagina in 1 (6%) patient. The treatment for the primary disease was surgery with or without adjuvant radiation in 14 (82%) patients and definitive radiation in 3 (18%) patients. The current surgery consisted of exenterative surgery in 10 (59%) patients and tumor resection in 7 (41%) patients. Complete gross resection was achieved in 13 (76%) patients. The mean HDR-IORT dose was 14 Gy (range 12-15). Additional radiation in the form of permanent Iodine-125 implant was given to 3 of 4 patients with gross residual disease. The median peripheral dose was 140 Gy. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 20 months (range 3-65 months), the 3-year actuarial local control (LC) rate was 67%. In patients with complete gross resection, the 3-year LC rate was 83%, compared to 25% in patients with gross residual disease, p < 0.01. The 3-year distant metastasis disease-free and overall survival rates were 54% and 54%, respectively. The complications were as follows: gastrointestinal obstruction, 4 (24%); wound complications, 4 (24%); abscesses, 3 (18%); peripheral neuropathy, 3 (18%); rectovaginal fistula, 2 (12%); and ureteral obstruction, 2 (12%). CONCLUSION: Radical surgical resection and combined IORT for patients with recurrent gynecologic tumors seems to provide a reasonable local-control rate in patients who have failed prior surgery and/or definitive radiation. Patient selection is very important, however, as only those patients with complete gross resection at completion of surgery appear to benefit most from this radical approach in the salvage setting.     

Contact X-Ray Brachytherapy for Early Rectal Cancer: A Review of Outcomes From a Single UK Centre

AimsColorectal cancer is the fourth most prevalent cancer in the UK. Fortunately, with modern surveillance programmes, more patients are being diagnosed at an earlier stage. Although surgical excision remains the gold standard, many patients have co-morbidities that preclude them from having radical surgery. Additionally, a number of patients do not wish to live with a permanent colostomy. Radiotherapy has an established role in the non-surgical treatment of patients with rectal cancer. Increasing the radiation dose to the tumour increases the chance of local control. Using contact X-ray brachytherapy (CXB) it is possible to escalate the dose to the tumour and minimise the dose received by surrounding normal tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients from our centre who have undergone CXB with or without external beam radiotherapy.Materials and methodsA prospectively maintained and locally managed colorectal database was used to collect clinical details and outcomes for colorectal cancer patients. All patients who were treated with CXB at our institution from the commencement of the service in April 2014 to the end of December 2019 were analysed. There was a minimum of 18 months of follow-up.ResultsOne hundred and ninety-three patients received at least one fraction of CXB. The median age at first treatment was 72 years (range 33–103 years). Seventy-three per cent of patients were male. Of the operable or high surgical risk patients, 105 were treated radically with radiotherapy, 28 were treated radically with radiotherapy after local resection and 22 patients were medically unfit for surgery. Most patients received external beam radiotherapy 45 Gy/25 fractions (87/146) or 25 Gy in five fractions (35/146). Forty-seven patients received CXB as sole treatment (51% had previous radiotherapy). Of those with a response assessment, with a median follow-up of 35 months, 78% of all patients achieved a clinical complete response (cCR) or a near cCR, 6% had a partial response and 16% had persistent disease. Of 154 radically treated patients with a response assessment, 84% achieved cCR or near cCR, 19% (24/129) of these subsequently relapsed.ConclusionThis series shows that CXB is a well-tolerated and effective treatment in a diverse cohort of patients with rectal cancer. Comparable favourable oncological outcomes were seen, in keeping with previously published work.     

Palliative radiotherapy in patients with esophageal carcinoma: A retrospective review

PurposePalliative radiotherapy has traditionally been used as a noninvasive means of palliating dysphagia in patients with incurable esophageal cancer. Insertion of an esophageal stent is a traditional alternative and newer treatment modalities such as brachytherapy and laser therapy are being increasingly investigated and employed. There are few large series in the literature which examine the role of short palliative radiotherapy regimens in this patient group. This retrospective review aims to demonstrate the useful role that external beam radiotherapy can have in the palliation of patients with incurable esophageal carcinoma.Methods and MaterialsOne hundred forty-eight patients with histologically proven esophageal cancer, who were unsuitable for radical treatment, were identified. Notes were reviewed to determine baseline characteristics, indications for radiotherapy, response to treatment, need for further intervention, time to further intervention, and survival.ResultsThe median age of patients who received palliative radiotherapy was 74 years (range, 31-91). Forty-nine percent of patients (n = 73) were performance status 2 or 3, 70% (n = 103) had adenocarcinoma, 58% (n = 86) had locally advanced disease, and 28% (n = 41) had metastatic disease. Ninety-three percent of patients (n = 138) complained of dysphagia prior to radiotherapy. Eighty-nine percent of patients (n = 132) received a dose of 20 Gy in 5 fractions. Only 2 patients (1%) failed to complete the prescribed course of treatment. Following radiotherapy, 75% of patients experienced an improvement in dysphagia and 25% of patients gained weight. Twenty-six percent of patients (n = 38) required subsequent insertion of an esophageal stent and a further 3% (n = 5) received retreatment with radiotherapy. The median stent (and retreatment)-free survival was 4.9 months. Median overall survival was 6.1 months.ConclusionsDespite a lack of randomized comparison to other modalities, external beam radiotherapy remains an effective, noninvasive, and generally well-tolerated means to palliate dysphagia in selected patients with incurable esophageal carcinoma.     

Early results of pulsed-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy for head and neck malignancies after limited surgery

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative incidence of toxicity and local control in patients with head and neck malignancies who underwent interstitial pulsed-dose-rate (PDR) brachytherapy (iBT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From October 1997 to December 1998, 61 patients underwent interstitial PDR brachytherapy procedures in our department; 47 were patients with head and neck cancer. Forty patients received brachytherapy as part of their curative treatment regimen, and 7 patients were implanted for palliative purposes and excluded from the analysis of therapy efficacy. Twenty-four patients had interstitial brachytherapy procedures alone with D(REF) = 50 Gy; in 23 patients, iBT procedures were performed with D(REF) = 24 Gy in combination with external radiation. A dose per pulse (dp) of 0.5 Gy was prescribed for 38/47 patients, and a dp = 0.7 Gy for 9/47 patients. The pulses were delivered 24 h a day, with a time interval of 1 h between two pulses, resulting in an effective dose rate of 0.5 Gy/h or 0.7 Gy/h. A follow-up of the patients was done to analyze acute and delayed toxicity, local control, and survival. The analysis was performed after median follow-up of 12 months (5-18 months). RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 12 months, soft tissue necrosis was seen in one patient and bone necrosis in another. No other serious side effects were observed. Permanent locoregional tumor control was achieved in 37 of 40 patients. No distant metastases were observed. CONCLUSIONS: PDR interstitial brachytherapy with 0.5-0.7 Gy/h is a safe therapy. These preliminary results suggest that PDR interstitial brachytherapy of head and neck cancer is comparable with low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy.     

Concomitant chemobrachyradiotherapy with ifosfamide and cisplatin followed by consolidation chemotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: results of a phase II study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of ifosfamide and cisplatin administered concomitantly with low-dose-rate brachytherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced squamous cell cervical carcinoma (LASCC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Forty-four patients with biopsy-proven LASCC were enrolled. FIGO Stages IB2 bulky to IVA were entered into this study. Patients were assigned to receive external radiotherapy (50 Gy in 25 fractions); then ifosfamide 2 g/m(2) plus cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) was applied during two low-dose-rate brachytherapy applications, and 4 cycles of consolidation chemotherapy with the same drug combination were given after completion of radiotherapy. The planned dose to point A was 85 Gy. RESULTS: All patients received both courses of concomitant chemobrachytherapy and at least 1 cycle of consolidation chemotherapy. The average duration of radiation was 45.1 days. The clinical complete response rate was 100%. Grade 3 and 4 leukopenia occurred in 25% and 11% of the cycles, respectively. After a median follow-up of 34 months (range, 20-54 months), the recurrence-free and the overall survival rates were 84% and 91%, respectively. Major delayed local complications occurred in 7 cases (16%). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that concomitant chemobrachyradiotherapy with ifosfamide and cisplatin is a feasible combination for patients with LASCC of the cervix uteri. A randomized trial is planned.     

Reirradiation and hyperthermia in rectal carcinoma: a retrospective study on palliative effect

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the palliative effect of reirradiation and hyperthermia in patients with unresectable, recurrent colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: The medical records of 54 patients with unresectable, recurrent colorectal carcinoma that caused pain and who were treated with reirradiation and hyperthermia, were evaluated retrospectively. Previous radiotherapy was given up to a total dose ranging from 25-70 grays (Gy). The median interval between prior radiotherapy and reirradiation was 22 months (range, 4-97 months). The total reirradiation dose varied from 24 Gy to 32 Gy given in fractions of 4 Gy twice weekly. Three or four hyperthermia treatments were given once weekly. Toxicity was registered. The influence of World Health Organization (WHO) performance status, maximum tumor dimension, and time between first radiotherapy and reirradiation on therapeutic outcome was evaluated. The results of this study were compared with published results on patients who received radiotherapy with or without hyperthermia. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients (87%) completed the planned treatment schedule. The maximum toxicity was Grade 2. All patients were evaluated for palliative effect. The median follow-up was 10 months. A good or complete palliative effect was achieved in 72% of patients for a median duration of 6 months. Patients who had a better WHO performance status, smaller tumors, and a longer interval between first radiotherapy and reirradiation had slightly better outcomes, although none of those parameters reached statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The described combined treatment was feasible and well tolerated. Comparison of results from radiotherapy plus hyperthermia with results after radiotherapy alone suggested that additional hyperthermia prolonged the duration of palliation. Firm proof of the contribution of hyperthermia will require performing a Phase III study.     

High dose rate brachytherapy before external beam irradiation in inoperable oesophageal cancer.

To induce fast relief of dysphagia in patients with oesophageal cancer high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy was applied before external radiotherapy in a prospective study. Seventy-four patients with inoperable oesophageal cancer (36 squamous cell, 38 adenocarcinoma) were treated with a combination of 10 Gy HDR brachytherapy, followed by 40 Gy in 4 weeks external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), starting 2 weeks later. Tumour response, as measured by endoscopy and/or barium swallow, revealed complete remission in 21 and partial response in 38 patients (overall response rate 80%). Improvement of dysphagia was induced by brachytherapy within a few days in 39%, and achieved at the end of treatment in 70% of patients. Further weight loss was prevented in 39 of the 59 patients who presented with weight loss. Pain at presentation improved in 12 out of 25 patients. Median survival was 9 months. No differences in either response rate or survival were found in squamous cell or adenocarcinoma. Side-effects were either acute with minimal discomfort in 32 (42%) or late with painful ulceration in five patients (7%), occurring after a median of 4 months. A fistula developed in six patients, all with concurrent tumour. In conclusion, brachytherapy before EBRT was a safe and effective procedure to induce rapid relief of dysphagia, especially when combined with EBRT.     

High dose rate endobronchial brachytherapy in combination with external beam radiotherapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: A phase-II study was planned to test the effect of external beam radiotherapy in combination with endobronchial brachytherapy on the local control and survival of stage-III non-small cell lung cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with stage-III non-small cell lung cancer have been treated with 60 Gy external beam radiotherapy and 3 x 5 Gy HDR endobronchial brachytherapy to control tumor and to prolong survival. RESULTS: Therapy regimen was found to be very effective for the palliation of major symptoms, palliation rates were 42.8% for cough, 95.2% for hemoptysis, 88.2% for chest pain and 80.0% for dyspnea. There was a 76.7% tumor response (53.3% complete, 23.3% partial) verified by chest CT scans and bronchoscopy. However, median locoregional disease free survival was 9+/-4 months (95% CI: 1-17) and it was only 9.6% at 5 years. Major side effects were radiation bronchitis (70.0%), esophagitis (6.6%) in the acute period and bronchial fibrosis (25%), esophagial fibrosis (12.5%) and fatal hemoptysis (10.5%) in the late period. Median survival was 11+/-4 months (95% CI: 4-18),and 5-year actuarial survival was 10%. Locoregional disease free survival (P=0.008) and the overall survival was longer (P<0.001) in the patients younger than 60, survival was also improved in the patients with complete response (P=0.019). There were no major complications during catheterisation; early side effects were quite tolerable but severe late complications were around 10%. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that endobronchial brachytherapy in combination with external irradiation provides a good rate of response, however does not eradicate locoregional disease and does not prolong survival except for some subgroups such as younger patients.     

A phase I trial of high-dose palliative radiotherapy plus concurrent weekly Vinorelbine and Cisplatin in patients with locally advanced and metastatic NSCLC

The role of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) unsuitable for radical therapy but who require locoregional treatment has not been defined. The aims of this phase I trial were thus to develop a novel regimen of weekly chemotherapy concurrent with high-dose palliative RT (40 Gy/20 fractions) and assess its tolerability, objective and symptomatic response rates. Eligible patients had stage I-IIIB NSCLC unsuitable for radical RT or limited stage IV disease, ECOG PS相似文献