C-reactive protein level predicts prognosis in patients with locoregionally advanced laryngeal carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of C-reactive protein (CRP) level on the prognosis of patients with locoregionally advanced laryngeal carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy. Fifty-seven patients with locoregionally advanced laryngeal carcinoma (cT3-4, N0-3, M0) treated with chemoradiotherapy were reviewed retrospectively. Chemoradiotherapy comprised external beam radiotherapy to the larynx (70 Gy) with three cycles of cisplatin at 3-week intervals. Elevated CRP was defined as >8 mg/L. The survival rate was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and a multivariate analysis was used to identify significant factors associated with prognosis, using a Cox proportional hazards model. During the median (range) follow-up of 5 years (1.3-5), 29 patients died from laryngeal cancer; the 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) rate was 49.12%. Fifteen patients had a high CRP level before chemoradiotherapy (>8 mg/L), and their CSS rate was significantly worse than that in the remaining patients (P = 0.003). Multivariate analysis showed that CRP and tumor site were independent prognostic indicators for CSS, with a hazard ratio of 2.66 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.22-5.82; P = 0.014) and a hazard ratio of 1.67 (95% CI, 1.01-2.77; P = 0.045), respectively. Of those with elevated CRP, the CRP levels of ten patients became normal after chemoradiotherapy, of whom four were alive with no evidence of recurrence or metastasis during the follow-up. By contrast, all six with no CRP normalization after chemoradiotherapy died within 3.8 years. The elevation of CRP before treatment predicts a poor prognosis in patients with locoregionally advanced laryngeal carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy.     

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locoregionally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma

PURPOSE: To analyze the results of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with locoregional recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 35 patients with locoregional recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma referred to our department between March 1994 and November 2002. Most patients were male (77%), Chinese (97%), and had undifferentiated carcinoma (89%). Most had extensive locally recurrent Stage rT3-T4 disease (66%) with a median age at recurrence of 49 years (range, 35-69 years). A repeat course of radiotherapy was given concurrently with cisplatin, with cisplatin/5-fluorouracil as consolidation treatment. Significant morbidities were present, including cranial nerve palsies due to extensive recurrent local disease before treatment of the recurrence. RESULTS: The response rate to concurrent chemoradiotherapy was 58% (29% complete response and 29% partial response). The 5-year progression-free and overall survival rate, calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, was 15% and 26%, respectively. Only 3 patients developed systemic metastases. Grade 3-4 acute toxicities included emesis (9%) and neutropenia (14%), and Grade 3-4 late toxicities consisted of temporal lobe necrosis (3%), cranial neuropathy (6%), and endocrine abnormalities (14%). CONCLUSION: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is feasible in a selected group of patients with locoregional recurrent NPC, but the risk of major late toxicities is significant.     

High expression of XPA confers poor prognosis for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with platinum-based chemoradiotherapy

In this study, we tried to explore if xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group-A (XPA) expression is likely a prognostic prediction factor for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients treated with platinum-based chemoradiotherapy, which was considered to bring chemotherapy-related severe toxicity compared with radiotherapy alone. Firstly, MTT assay revealed that downregulating XPA expression in NPC HONE1 and CNE1 cells decreased IC₅₀ of cisplatin and sensitized cells to cisplatin. XPA expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in cancer tissues from locally advanced NPC patients treated with platinum-based chemoradiotherapy. The relationships between XPA expression and clinicopathologic features, overall survival and progression-free survival of patients were evaluated. The results showed that XPA expression was not associated with clinicopathologic parameters, but was likely an independent prognostic factor for patient survival. High XPA level predicts a poor prognosis, and the prediction values were higher in subgroups of younger, higher EBV antibody titer, or treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Combining XPA levels and T/N classifications, we successfully classified these patients into low, medium and high risk groups for platinum-based chemoradiotherapy. These findings suggest that XPA levels may be a potential predictor of prognosis in locally advanced NPC patients treated with platinum-based chemoradiotherapy, and helpful for selecting patients likely to need and benefit from this treatment in future.     

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Treatment outcomes of a prospective,multicentric clinical study

Background and purpose

To evaluate long-term outcome in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and concurrent chemotherapy.

Material and methods

Between January 2006 and August 2008, 249 patients with stage III–IVb NPC were treated by IMRT plus concurrent chemotherapy in this multicenter prospective study.

Results

With a mean follow-up of 54.1 months, the 5-year actuarial rates of overall survival (OS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), regional recurrence-free survival (RRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were 78.4%, 86.8%, 88.4%, 78.0%, respectively. There were 29 local recurrences, 25 regional recurrences and 52 distant metastases, respectively. Distant metastasis is the main cause of treatment failure. N-stage was an independent prognostic factor for LRFS, RRFS, DMFS and OS. Acute toxicity ?grade III mainly consisted of mucositis (34.9%), neutropenia (11.2%), xerostomia (5.6%), and dermatitis (5.2%). The main documented late toxicity was xerostomia, and the severity of xerostomia decreased over time. At 24 months after treatment, 13.2% of patients had grade 2 xerostomia, and none had grade 3 or 4 xerostomia.

Conclusions

IMRT with concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy resulted in encouraging rates of local and distant control and overall survival with acceptable rates of acute and limited rates of late toxicity in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC. Distant metastasis remained the main cause of failure. More effective systemic therapy should be explored for patients with advanced N-stage.     

A prognostic model predicts the risk of distant metastasis and death for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on pre-treatment serum C-reactive protein and N-classification

PurposeChronic inflammation plays an important role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) development and progression. Aim of this study is to determine whether inflammation-related parameters predict distant metastasis in NPC patients.Materials and methods335 newly diagnosed non-metastatic NPC patients were recruited. The values of the C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, globulin, white blood cell and neutrophil at baseline were measured.ResultsAmong the above six parameters, only CRP was independently associated with distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). CRP concentration of advanced T-/TNM-classification patients was higher than those with early classification (P = 0.001). Higher-CRP (CRP ? 2.46 mg/L) predicted shorter overall survival, disease-free survival and DMFS than lower-CRP (CRP < 2.46 mg/L). In a multivariable model, higher-CRP and advanced N-classification were independent predictors of distant metastasis. On the basis of these two parameters, a prognostic NC-model was developed as following: (1) low-risk (early N-classification and lower-CRP); (2) intermediate-risk (advanced N-classification or higher-CRP) and (3) the high-risk distant metastasis (advanced N-classification and higher-CRP). When compared with the low-risk group, the hazard ratios (HRs) for distant metastasis and death for the intermediate-/high-risk patients were 3.6/16.1 and 2.26/7.61, respectively (both P < 0.001).ConclusionWe developed a new prognostic model based on CRP and N-classification for predicting distant metastasis and death of NPC patients, which may facilitate patient counselling and individualised treatment.     

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy compared with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone for the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective controlled study

Objective

We evaluated the survival benefit of providing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (ccrt) plus adjuvant chemotherapy compared with ccrt alone to patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods

This retrospective study included 130 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with ccrt plus adjuvant chemotherapy from June 2005 to December 2010. Another 130 patients treated with ccrt alone during the same period were matched on age, sex, World Health Organization histology, T stage, N stage, and technology used for radiotherapy. The endpoints included overall survival, locoregional failure-free survival, distant metastasis failure-free survival, and failure-free survival.

Results

At a mean follow-up of 42.1 months (range: 8–85 months), the observed hazard ratios for the group receiving ccrt plus adjuvant chemotherapy compared with the group receiving ccrt alone were: for overall survival, 0.77 [95% confidence interval (ci): 0.37 to 1.57]; for locoregional failure-free survival, 1.00 (95% ci: 0.37 to 2.71); for distant metastasis failure-free survival, 1.15 (95% ci: 0.56 to 2.37); and for failure-free survival, 1.26 (95% ci: 0.69 to 2.28). There were no significant differences in survival between the groups. After stratification by disease stage, ccrt plus adjuvant chemotherapy provided a borderline significant benefit for patients with N2–3 disease (hazard ratio: 0.35; 95% ci: 0.11 to 1.06; p = 0.052). Multivariate analyses indicated that only tumour stage was a prognostic factor for overall survival.

Conclusions

Patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma received no significant survival benefit from the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy to ccrt. However, patients with N2–3 disease might benefit from the addition of adjuvant chemotherapy to ccrt.     

Serum lactate dehydrogenase level is a prognostic factor in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy

We investigated the treatment results and probable prognostic factors in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) plus conventional radiotherapy (RT) or concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) at our hospital. We retrospectively evaluated 61 patients (48 males, 13 females) with locoregionally advanced NPC treated either with 2 cycles of NCT plus RT (Group A, 37 patients) or with three cycles of NCT plus CCRT (Group B, 24 patients) between September 1995 and October 2002. According to the AJCC 1997 classification system, 19 patients had Stage III disease and 42 had Stage IV. NCT consisted of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. Total RT doses were ranged between 59.4-71.6 Gy (median: 66.2 Gy). Concomitant cisplatin (75 mg/m(2)) was given on first days of Weeks 1, 4, 7 of CCRT. Patient sex, histopathologic subtype, T status, ECOG performance status, stage, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and cranial nerve involvement at diagnosis were comparable in the 2 groups. There were statistically significant differences between median follow-up times and N status for the 2 groups. Fifty-five (90.2 percent) patients completed all planned NCT. Univariate analysis revealed the pretreatment LDH level as the only statistically significant prognostic factor for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Four-year DFS rates were 55.9 percent and 21.3 percent for patients with normal and high serum LDH levels, respectively (P = 0.04). Four-year OS rates were 68.7 percent and 28.5 percent for patients with normal and high serum LDH levels, respectively (P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis also revealed that high serum LDH level was the only independent risk factor that predicted OS. The relative risk was 2.43 (95%CI: 1.08-5.45) for patients with high serum LDH levels (P = 0.03). No independent risk factors associated with DFS were found for other prognosticators. Our study demonstrated that high serum LDH level is the only independent unfavorable risk factor for OS in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC who were treated with NCT plus RT or CCRT.     

Sequential chemoradiotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

We investigated a new chemoradiotherapy (CRT) regimen for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A total of 240 patients were randomly assigned to three different CRT regimens: sequential CRT [1 cycle chemotherapy + Phase I radiotherapy (RT) + 1 cycle chemotherapy + Phase II RT + 2 cycles chemotherapy] with a cisplatin–gemcitabine (GC) regimen (800 mg/m² gemcitabine on Days 1 and 8 and 20 mg/m² cisplatin on Days 1–5, every 4 weeks) (sGC‐RT); sequential chemoradiotherapy with a cisplatin–fluorouracil (PF) regimen (20 mg/m² DDP and 500 mg/m² 5‐FU on Days 1–5, every 4 weeks) (sPF‐RT) and cisplatin‐based concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus adjuvant PF chemotherapy (Con‐RT + PF). The complete response rate was higher in the sGC + RT group than in the other two groups (98.75% vs. 92.50%, p < 0.01). The 3‐year overall survival (OS), disease‐free survival (DFS) and distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS) rates in the sGC‐RT group were significantly higher than those observed in the Con‐RT group (OS, 95.0% vs. 76.3%, p < 0.001; DFS, 89.9% vs. 67.5%, p < 0.001; DMFS, 92.5% vs. 76.0%, p = 0.004) and in the sPF + RT group (OS, 95.0% vs. 73.6%, p < 0.001; DFS, 89.9% vs. 63.3%, p < 0.001; DMFS, 92.5% vs. 74.7%, p = 0.002). There were no significant differences in 3‐year OS, DFS and MFS rates between the Con‐RT and the sPF‐RT groups. The GC‐RT group experienced more hematologic toxicity, constipation and rash; however, there were no differences in late RT toxicity between the groups. These results demonstrate that a sGC‐RT regimen is effective and well tolerated in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC.     

消癌平联合同步放化疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的临床观察

目的：观察消癌平注射液联合同步放化疗治疗晚期鼻咽癌的临床疗效。方法：选取２００７年７月１日～２００７年１０月３１日经病理学证实为局部晚期鼻咽癌６９例患者（按９２年福州分期Ⅲ、ⅣＡ期的低分化鳞状细胞癌）,随机分成两组：消癌平组（同步放化疗联合消癌平）３９例和对照组（同步放化疗）３０例。两组同步放化疗均采用常规放疗技术照射和ＴＰ方案化疗（多西他赛７５ｍｇ／ｍ２ｄ１,顺铂１００ｍｇ／ｍ２ｄ２,２８天重复）。消癌平组中消癌平注射液４０ｍｌ＋５％葡萄糖注射液２５０ｍｌ,ｄ１～ｄ７。治疗期间每周观察口咽反应、皮肤反应、骨髓抑制等副反应。同步放化疗结束后２周观察患者机能状态及免疫功能。放疗后３个月、１２个月评价有效率（ＣＲ＋ＰＲ）。结果：消癌平组患者的体力状况评分（ＫＰＳ评分）较对照组优。口咽反应、皮肤反应、骨髓抑制等不良反应在消癌平组均较对照组轻（Ｐ＜０.０５）。消癌平组有效率高于对照组（８９.７４％ ｖｓ．７３.３３％）,差别有统计学意义（Ｐ＝０.０３７５）。结论：消癌平注射液联合放化疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌能减轻放化疗的副反应,提高肿瘤患者的生存质量,并能提高有效率,值得进一步研究证实。     

Induction chemotherapy forlocoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The value of adding induction chemotherapy (IC) to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for the treatment of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. In our recent article entitled “Induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a phase 3, multicentre, randomised controlled trial” published in theLancet Oncology, we reported the results of a phase III, multicenter, randomized controlled trial comparing cisplatin, 5?lfuo?rouracil, and docetaxel (TPF) IC plus CCRT versus CCRT alone in patients with T3?4N1/TxN2?3M0 NPC (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number NCT01245959). The IC?plus?CCRT group showed signiifcantly higher 3?year failure?free survival, overall survival, and distant failure?free survival rates than the CCRT?alone group, with an acceptable toxicity proifle. Our study suggests that adding TPF IC to CCRT could increase survival rates and reduce distant failure in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC. However, long?term follow?up is required to assess the eventual effcacy and toxicity of this strategy, and a more accurate method to determine prognosis is needed to enable better tailoring of treatment strategy for individual patients.     

Prognostic factors in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated in Hospital Kuala Lumpur

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is the third most common cancer among men in Peninsular Malaysia.However, no information is available about the prognostic factors. The objective of this study was to identifyfactors with an influence on outcome in patients treated in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Methods: A total of 159patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated during 2002-2003 in Hospital Kuala Lumpurwere included in this study. All received radiotherapy. Fifty three patients were treated with radiotherapy alone,while 106 patients received combination chemotherapy. Overall survival and local recurrence-free survival wereanalyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and univariate analysis was performed using the log-rank test. Results:This study found out that 5-year overall survival and 5-year local recurrence-free survival rates were 58.6% and54.2% respectively. The stage specific 5-year overall survival rates were: Stage I, 100%; Stage II; 93.3%, StageIII, 62.7%; Stage IVA, 42.2%; and Stage IVB, 40.6%. On univariate analysis, gender (p<0.05), T-classification(p< 0.001), N-classification (p<0.05), stage (p<0.05) and cranial nerve involvement (p< 0.001) were found to besignificant prognostic factors for 5-year overall survival, while gender (p<0.05) and N-classification (p<0.05)were significant prognostic factors for 5-year local recurrence-free survival. Conclusion: The overall survivalrate of patients for this study was low. The patient factor that significantly affected 5-year overall survival wasgender, while disease factors were stage, T-classification, N-classification and cranial nerve involvement.     

TPF方案诱导化疗联合替吉奥同步放疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的临床观察

目的 探讨TPF方案诱导化疗联合替吉奥（S-1）同步调强适形放疗（IMRT）治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的临床疗效及安全性。方法采用诱导化疗联合S-1同步IMRT治疗38例局部晚期鼻咽癌患者,诱导化疗采用TPF方案：紫杉醇（PTX）135 mg/m2,静滴,d1;顺铂（DDP）80 mg/m2静滴,d1;氟尿嘧啶（5 FU）750 mg/（m2&#8226;d）,持续静脉泵入,d1～d5（120 h）。21天为1个周期,共行2个周期。同步化疗采用替吉奥（S-1）单药,40 mg/m2,口服,2次/日,d1～d14。21天为1个周期,共行2～3个周期。同步放疗PGTVnx（69.96～73.92）Gy/33 f,PGTVnd 69.96 Gy/33 f,PTV1 60.06 Gy/33 f,PTV2 50.96 Gy/28 f,PTVnd 50.96 Gy/28 f,1次/日,5次/周。结果 38例患者均完成2个周期诱导化疗和2～3个周期同步放化疗。所有患者治疗结束评价即刻疗效,获CR 29例,PR 8例,SD 1例,有效率（RR）为974%。治疗结束3个月评价近期疗效,获CR 33例,PR 5例,RR为100%。诱导化疗的主要毒副反应为恶心、白细胞减少、血红蛋白减少。同步放化疗的主要毒副反应为口腔黏膜炎、放射野内皮炎、吞咽痛。其中3级口腔黏膜炎、放射野内皮炎、吞咽痛的发生率分别为7.9%、2.6%、2.6%,均无4、5级毒副反应。结论TPF方案诱导化疗同步替吉奥化疗联合IMRT治疗鼻咽癌,近期疗效好,且毒副反应较小,患者耐受性好。     

鼻咽癌中血清C反应蛋白水平与临床分期的关系(英文)

Objective:The aim of our study was to explore the correlations between C-reactive protein(CRP) levels and clinical stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).Methods:We analyzed 108 cases,among them,68 cases were NPC,20 cases were benign inflammatory diseases of nasopharynx,20 cases were healthy volunteers as control.CRP was determined with immunoturbidimetry(ITM).Results:The mean concentrations of CRP in NPC(19.76 mg/L) were significantly increased compared to that in the control group(6.23 mg/L),while were s...     

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with/without induction chemotherapy in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Long-term results of phase 3 randomized controlled trial

To report long-term results of a randomized controlled trial that compared cisplatin/fluorouracil/docetaxel (TPF) induction chemotherapy (IC) plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with CCRT alone in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Patients with stage III–IVB (except T3–4 N0) NPC were randomly assigned to receive IC plus CCRT (n = 241) or CCRT alone (n = 239). IC included three cycles of docetaxel (60 mg/m² d1), cisplatin (60 mg/m² d1), and fluorouracil (600 mg/m²/d civ d1–5) every 3 weeks. Patients from both groups received intensity-modulated radiotherapy concurrently with three cycles of 100 mg/m² cisplatin every 3 weeks. After a median follow-up of 71.5 months, the IC plus CCRT group showed significantly better 5-year failure-free survival (FFS, 77.4% vs. 66.4%, p = 0.019), overall survival (OS, 85.6% vs. 77.7%, p = 0.042), distant failure-free survival (88% vs. 79.8%, p = 0.030), and locoregional failure-free survival (90.7% vs. 83.8%, p = 0.044) compared to the CCRT alone group. Post hoc subgroup analyses revealed that beneficial effects on FFS were primarily observed in patients with N1, stage IVA, pretreatment lactate dehydrogenase ≥170 U/l, or pretreatment plasma Epstein–Barr virus DNA ≥6000 copies/mL. Two nomograms were further developed to predict the potential FFS and OS benefit of TPF IC. The incidence of grade 3 or 4 late toxicities was 8.8% (21/239) in the IC plus CCRT group and 9.2% (22/238) in the CCRT alone group. Long-term follow-up confirmed that TPF IC plus CCRT significantly improved survival in locoregionally advanced NPC with no marked increase in late toxicities and could be an option of treatment for these patients.     

The elevated C-reactive protein level is associated with poor prognosis in prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy

BackgroundC-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker of inflammation that has been linked with prognosis in various solid tumours. In the present study, we analysed the prognostic relevance of elevated plasma CRP levels in prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.MethodsA total of 261 prostate cancer patients treated with 3D-conformal radiotherapy were evaluated retrospectively. Cancer specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS) and clinical disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis. To evaluate the independent prognostic significance of CRP plasma levels, multivariate Cox regression models were applied.ResultsThe median follow-time was 80 months. Applying receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, the optimal cut-off level for the plasma CRP was 8.6 mg l⁻¹. An elevated CRP level was associated with decreased CSS in univariate (hazard ratio (HR) 3.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42–7.91; p = 0.006) and multivariate analysis (HR 4.31, 95% CI 1.22–15.1; p = 0.023). Furthermore, a significant association with OS was detected in univariate (HR 2.69, 95% CI 1.57–4.59; p < 0.001) and multivariate analyses (HR 3.24, 95% CI 1.84–5.71, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis also showed a significant association between plasma CRP and clinical DFS (HR 2.07, 95% CI 1.02–4.17; p = 0.043).ConclusionsIn the present study, an elevated plasma CRP (⩾8.6 mg l⁻¹) has been identified as a prognostic factor for poor CSS, OS and DFS in prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. The association between elevated CRP levels and poor prognosis was independent of other measures of prognosis such as tumour stage, Gleason grading and prostate specific antigen (PSA) level at diagnosis. If confirmed by additional studies, our findings may contribute to future individual risk assessment in prostate cancer patients.     

营养状态与鼻咽癌患者同步放化疗预后的关系

目的 探讨营养状态与鼻咽癌患者同步放化疗预后的关系。方法 回顾性分析2010年8月至2011年12月于广西医科大学附属肿瘤医院进行同步放化疗的134例初治鼻咽癌患者的临床资料。分别于放疗前1周（治疗前）,放疗第4 周（治疗中期）和放疗结束时采用营养风险筛查工具（nutritional risk screening 2002,NRS2002）以及患者提供的主观整体营养状况评估（patient-generated subjective global assessment,PG-SGA）量表评估患者营养状况,并分析PG-SGA评分与患者临床病理特征及总生存期（OS）、远处无转移生存期（DMFS）的关系。结果 治疗前,治疗中期和治疗结束时NRS2002评分≥3分的患者所占比例分别为30.60% （41/134）,75.37% （101/134）和85.82%（115/134）,PG-SGA量表定性C级和B级的患者均逐渐增加,且放疗中期以及放疗结束时PG-SGA评分均较治疗前明显变差（P<0.001）。T分期、N分期、肿瘤体积以及各侵犯部位与PG-SGA评分呈正相关（均P＜0.05）。治疗前中后PG-SGA不同评分组患者的5年OS和DMFS差异有统计学意义（P<0.001）。结论 同步放化疗前鼻咽癌患者的营养不良风险较高,并在同步放化疗过程中营养状况持续恶化且与不良预后有关。     

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A phase III multicentre randomised controlled trial

BackgroundThe role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of NACT followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) versus CCRT alone in locoregionally advanced NPC.MethodsPatients with stage III–IVB (excluding T3N0-1) NPC were randomly assigned to receive NACT followed by CCRT (investigational arm) or CCRT alone (control arm). Both arms were treated with 80 mg/m² cisplatin every 3 weeks concurrently with radiotherapy. The investigational arm received cisplatin (80 mg/m² d1) and fluorouracil (800 mg/m² civ d1–5) every 3 weeks for two cycles before CCRT. The primary end-point was disease-free survival (DFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). Secondary end-point was overall survival (OS). Survival curves for the time-to-event endpoints were analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. The P value was calculated using the 5-year endpoints.ResultsFour hundred seventy six patients were randomly assigned to the investigational (n = 238) and control arms (n = 238). The investigational arm achieved higher 3-year DFS rate (82.0%, 95% CI = 0.77–0.87) than the control arm (74.1%, 95% CI = 0.68–0.80, P = 0.028). The 3-year DMFS rate was 86.0% for the investigational arm versus 82.0% for the control arm, with marginal statistical significance (P = 0.056). However, there were no statistically significant differences in OS or locoregional relapse-free survival (LRRFS) rates between two arms (OS: 88.2% versus 88.5%, P = 0.815; LRRFS: 94.3% versus 90.8%, P = 0.430). The most common grade 3–4 toxicity during NACT was neutropenia (16.0%). During CCRT, the investigational arm experienced statistically significantly more grade 3–4 toxicities (P < 0.001).ConclusionNACT improved tumour control compared with CCRT alone in locoregionally advanced NPC, particularly at distant sites. However, there was no early gain in OS. Longer follow-up is needed to determine the eventual therapeutic efficacy.     

Pretreatment serum C-reactive protein level predicts poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

C-reactive protein (CRP) is known to be associated with poor prognosis in patients with various malignancies. We investigated the relationship between the pretreatment serum CRP level and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in various stages of the disease. A cohort of 133 patients with newly diagnosed HCC was prospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups: high-CRP group (n?=?27) with the pretreatment serum CRP level?≧?1.0?mg/dl and low-CRP group (n?=?106) with the CRP level?相似文献