A case of rectal cancer with multiple liver and peritoneal metastases that responded dramatically to low-dose 5-FU plus LV and CDDP combination chemotherapy

We have experienced successful treatment of a multiple hepatic metastasis of rectal cancer with combination chemotherapy. The patient is a 57-year-old male with bowel obstruction accompanied by rectal cancer (SE, N3, P1, H3, M (-) stage IV) who underwent a Hartmann operation with D3 lymph node dissection on July 6, 2000. The histopathological findings revealed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (se, INFbeta, n3, ly2, v2, p1). From the 11th postoperative day, combination chemotherapy using 5-FU 750 mg/day and LV 300 mg/day was performed once a week. When he underwent 5 combination chemotherapy treatments, adverse effects of grade 3 occurred, and the serum CEA level rose rapidly. We changed his regimen at that time. He underwent 2 courses of combination chemotherapy with 5-FU 500 mg/day and CDDP 10 mg/day for 5 days. Additional courses of combination chemotherapy with 5-FU 500 mg/day, LV 25 mg/day and CDDP 10 mg/day were performed weekly in the outpatient department. The treatment was effective, and a complete response (CR) was noted 4 months after the chemotherapy. The same combination chemotherapy was performed biweekly for one year after CR. The patient has been receiving a subsequent single administration of UFT and has remained in remission for 3 years and 7 months after surgery.     

Phase II study of temozolomide and concomitant whole-brain radiotherapy in patients with brain metastases from solid tumors

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and possible toxicity of the combination of temozolomide (TMZ) with whole-brain irradiation (WBI) in the treatment of brain metastases from solid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 33 patients with brain metastases were included in the study and treated with TMZ 60 mg/m2/day (days 1-16) concomitantly with WBI (36 Gy/12 fractions given in 16 days). One month after the end of radiotherapy, 6 cycles of TMZ were administered as adjuvant treatment (200 mg/m2/day for 5 consecutive days every 28 days). RESULTS: Responses were assessed using computed tomography at the end of the 3rd and 6th cycle of chemotherapy. The objective response rate was 54.5% and 57.6% after the 3rd and the 6th cycle, respectively. The median overall survival was 12 months. In patients with metastases from lung cancer the objective response rate was 11/14 (78.6%) after both the 3rd and the 6th cycle of treatment. The most common side effects were anemia (24.2%), thrombocytopenia (18.2%), as well as nausea and vomiting (18.2%). The high incidence of hepatotoxicity (45.5%) might be related to concomitantly administered antiepileptic drugs and not to TMZ. CONCLUSION: WBI combined with TMZ as concomitant and adjuvant treatment is effective in treating brain metastases, with acceptable mild side effects.     

Combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide associated with radiotherapy in the treatment of small-cell lung cancer

Summary A total of 52 consecutive, previously untreated patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) were scheduled to receive six cycles of a combination of etoposide (75 mg/m² per day) and cisplatin (20 mg/m² per day), each cycle given over 5 consecutive days. In all, 28 patients had extensive disease (ED) and 24, limited disease (LD). After three cycles of chemotherapy, all responding patients were given chest radiotherapy (RT) (45 Gy in two split courses and 30 Gy in LD and ED, respectively); only patients with LD who achieved complete remission (CR) after three cycles of chemotherapy were given prophylactic brain irradiation (30 Gy). In the 51 evaluable patients, the overall response rate was 90%, with a 31% CR and a 59% partial remission (PR) rate. In LD and ED patients, 57% and 11% CR rates and 30% and 82% PR rates were noted, respectively. Myelosuppression was the most frequently observed toxicity. The median duration of response was 12 months in LD (range, 3–41+months) and 7 months (range, 2–12 months) in ED; the median survival was 15 months in LD and 9.3 months in ED, respectively. In all 30% of LD patients are alive and well at a minimal follow-up of 18 months. This trial confirms the activity of the cisplatinetoposide combination in SCLC.Bursar, Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC)     

Two cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal treated with chemoradiotherapy

We recently treated 2 patients with squamous cell carcinoma in the anal canal with bilateral inguinal nodal metastases using chemoradiotherapy. Chemotherapy (CT) consisted of 5-fluorouracil 700 mg/m2/day (continuous intravenously) on days 1-5 and cisplatin 50 mg/m2/day (continuous intravenously) on days 6-7. Chemotherapy was administered before the beginning of radiotherapy. In one patient, 2 cycles of CT were performed, and in the other patient 1 cycle only. The total radiation dose was 57.6 Gy to the primary lesion in each patient, and 53.6 Gy, 55.8 Gy to the nodal metastases, respectively. As a primary treatment response, CR was obtained in both patients. Acute grade 3-4 hematologic toxicities were observed in one patient. The patients have had 7 and 9 months survival without disease, and excellent function of the anal sphincter after treatment.     

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•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。     

Mitomycin-C, adriamycin, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin (L-FAM2) in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer: a phase II study

Thirty previously untreated patients with advanced measurable gastric cancer were given a combination chemotherapy consisting of 5-fluorouracil, 400 mg/m2, and leucovorin, 200 mg/m2 iv on days 1 to 3, mitomycin-C, 10 mg/m2 on day 1 (every other cycle) and adriamycin, 40 mg/m2 on day 2, repeated every 21 days. The overall response rate was 46% (14/30; 95% confidence limits: 28%-64%) including 4 patients with a complete remission. Eight patients progressed. Median duration of remission (CR+PR) was 10 months, with a median survival of 13, 8 and 4 months for CR+PR, NC and PD, respectively. Main toxicities were leukopenia (WHO grade III-IV in 36% of the patients) and alopecia. One patient died from myocardial infarction after an adriamycin cumulative dose of 480 mg/m2. No other treatment-related death occurred. L-FAM2 is an effective combination for advanced gastric carcinoma. Further studies based on the association of leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil in combination with other active drugs are warranted.     

High-dose salvage chemotherapy without bone marrow transplantation for adult patients with refractory Hodgkin's disease.

PURPOSE: For patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) who do not achieve complete response (CR), who experience a relapse within the first year of CR, and for those who have two or more relapses, the outcome is poor. Salvage chemotherapy regimens at conventional doses produce a CR rate that ranges from 10% to 50% and a 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) between 10% and 25%. On the other hand, high-dose chemotherapy regimens given in combination with bone marrow transplantation (BMT) produce a CR rate that ranges from 40% to 80% and a 3-year DFS of approximately 40%. We report the 5-year results of a prospective study in patients with refractory HD who were treated with three courses of intensive chemotherapy without BMT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine adult patients with refractory HD were treated with three courses of intensive chemotherapy. Each cycle of chemotherapy comprised vindesine 1 mg/m2/d in continuous intravenous (IV) infusion from day 1 to day 5; Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Roger Bellon Laboratories, Neuilly, France) 40 mg/m2/d in continuous IV infusion from day 1 to day 3; carmustine 140 mg/m2/d at day 3; etoposide 200 mg/m2/d from day 3 to day 5; and methylprednisolone 120 mg/m2/d from day 1 to day 5. After the third cycle of chemotherapy, irradiation (20 Gy) was performed whenever possible and depended on previous irradiation. RESULTS: At the end of the treatment, 31 patients (79%) were in CR. Among these patients, 10 relapsed after a median time of 3 months. The overall 5-year survival rate was 46%. The freedom from progression (FFP) and the freedom from treatment failure (FFTF) rates were 48% and 43%, respectively. The main toxicities were hematologic (neutropenia and thrombocytopenia) and digestive. Four patients died due to treatment-related complications (two from septic shocks, one from respiratory insufficiency, and one from posttransfusional AIDS). CONCLUSION: The results of this study seem to be comparable to those results obtained with high-dose chemotherapies with autologous BMT.     

Induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy in stage III unresectable non-small cell lung cancer

The favourable experience with the combination regimen of vinorelbine, ifosfamide and cisplatin (NIP) in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has led to a protocol assessing this regimen as an induction treatment in patients with stage III unresectable NSCLC, followed by thoracic radiotherapy with concurrent daily cisplatin as a radiosensitizer. Two cycles of NIP were administered 21 days apart; each cycle comprised i.v. vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, i.v. ifosfamide 3 g/m2 on day 1 with MESNA as uroprotection, and i.v. cisplatin 50 mg/m2 on day 1. Radical thoracic radiotherapy commenced on day 43 to a total dose of 64 Gy and i.v. cisplatin 6 mg/m2 was given concurrently prior to each fraction of radiation as a sensitiser. Two more cycles of NIP were given to patients who responded favourably to the induction treatment about 2 weeks after completion of radiation. Between July 1995 and July 1997, 44 patients were treated with this protocol. This treatment schedule was generally well tolerated. Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 50% of the patients and neutropenic sepsis was seen in 8. Grade 3-4 oesophagitis was uncommon. Most of the patients were able to complete the induction and concurrent chemoradiotherapy phase. Major response occurred in 75% of the patients with 2 (4.5%) complete responses (CR). A total of 6 patients achieved CR after chemoradiotherapy. At a median follow-up of 35 months, the median overall survival for all patients was 15 months with a 3-year survival rate of 24%. The median overall survival for stage IIIA patients was 19 months with a 3-year survival rate of 39% in contrast to 13 months' median overall survival and only 15% 3-year survival rate for stage IIIB. The NIP regimen results in a high response rate in NSCLC and this treatment programme seems to benefit selected patients with stage III disease.     

Histological complete response in a case of advanced gastric cancer treated by chemotherapy with S-1 plus low-dose cisplatin and radiation

A 76-year-old male was diagnosed with stage IV (cT4, cN2, cP0, cH0, cM0) gastric carcinoma with a type 3 tumor in the cardia with lymph node metastases, determined by gastrofiberscope and abdominal computed tomography (CT). The patient was treated with chemotherapy consisting of S-1 and low-dose cisplatin (CDDP) during the first cycle (3 weeks). S-1 was orally administered at a dose of 100 mg/day (60 mg/m(2)/day) on days 1-21. CDDP was infused at a dose of 10 mg/day (6 mg/m(2)/day) on days 1-5, 8-12 and 15-19. After this cycle, the clinical response was evaluated as no change (NC). In the second cycle, radiation therapy (2 Gy/day for 5 days/week) was initiated along with the chemotherapy. The CDDP dose was decreased to 7.5 mg/day because of the grade 3 thrombocytopenia and grade 2 leukocytopenia that occurred during the first cycle. The second cycle was stopped at a total radiation dose of 48 Gy due to grade 3 thrombocytopenia and grade 2 leukocytopenia. Examination after this treatment showed remarkable reduction of tumor volume in the primary lesion and lymph nodes, which was defined as a partial response (PR). The patient then underwent total gastrectomy with D1 lymph node dissection. The postoperative course was uneventful without surgical complications. At this time, no gastric cancer cells were detected in the resected specimen, including the primary lesion and lymph nodes, confirming a pathological complete response (CR grade 3). Thus, the chemo-radiation treatment regimen described here may be a potent tool to control advanced gastric carcinoma.     

A case of gastric cancer with multiple liver metastasis responding to combination therapy of CPT-11 and CDDP

A 63-year-old man suffering from advanced gastric carcinoma after distal gastric resection had multiple liver metastases 5 months after the operation. He underwent 3 courses of combination chemotherapy of 5-FU 600 mg/day with CDDP 50 mg/day, etoposide 100 mg/day and Leucovorin 30 mg/day for 5 days (FLEP), but progressive disease (PD) was noted. One additional course of combination chemotherapy with CPT-11 140 mg/day and CDDP 40 mg/day biweekly was performed and a complete response (CR) was noted. After 4 months, recurrence of a liver metastasis on S8 was demonstrated and 2 courses of the same chemotherapeutic regimen were carried out. Over 5 months, recurrence of the liver metastasis showed no change (NC) and resection of S8 of the liver was performed. No recurrence was after 6 months, but the patient died 34 months after the first detection of the occurrence of multiple liver metastases. The combination chemotherapy of CPT-11 with CDDP was also administered to other patients at our outpatient clinic and seems to be useful therapy for improving outcome.     

Treatment of sarcomas of the chest wall using intensive combined modality therapy

As part of two sequential protocols using intensive combined modality treatment in pediatric and adolescent sarcomas, 31 consecutive patients with primary chest wall tumors were treated between November 1977 and March 1986. This group included 13 patients with peripheral neuroepithelioma (Askin's tumor), 11 patients with Ewing's sarcoma, 3 patients with rhabdomyosarcoma, and 4 patients with undifferentiated sarcomas. Following complete work-up, 17 patients presented with localized disease and 14 patients presented with metastases. Patients received intensive combined modality treatment with combination chemotherapy (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, +/- actinomycin-D and DTIC) and high-dose conventionally fractionated radiation therapy to the primary (55-60 Gy) and non-pulmonary metastases (45-50 Gy). Radiation techniques used for the primary chest wall tumor varied with the clinical presentation. Patients achieving a complete response received either low-dose fractionated TBI (1.5 Gy/0.15 Gy fx/5 weeks) or high-dose TBI (8 Gy/4 Gy fx/2 days) and an intensive cycle of chemotherapy followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation. Twenty-five of 31 patients were judged to have a complete response (including 1 patient with complete resection). With minimum follow-up of 6 months and median follow-up of 36 months from completion of treatment, 14 patients remain disease-free with 2 additional patients alive in second remission after relapse. Patients with localized disease at presentation have improved disease-free survival and overall survival compared to patients with metastases at presentation. All 17 localized patients achieved a CR and 11 are NED compared to 8 of 14 metastatic patients achieving a CR and only 3 are NED. There have been 5 loco-regional recurrences with 3 "in-field" failures and 2 failures in the regional pleura. There were no treatment-related deaths and no clinically significant cases of pneumonitis. To date, 2 patients have significant treatment related morbidity, including 1 patient with scoliosis requiring surgery and 1 patient with acute leukemia developing 42 months after the start of therapy (presently in remission). We conclude that this intensive combined modality therapy results in a high CR rate and good local control with acceptable morbidity. Patients with metastatic disease at presentation remain a therapeutic challenge.     

Treatment of limited small-cell lung cancer with etoposide and cisplatin alternating with vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide versus concurrent etoposide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide and chest radiotherapy: a Southwest Oncology Group Study

The Goldie-Coldman model explaining the kinetics of tumor cell kill and drug resistance has a potential application in designing chemotherapy regimes. In this Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) trial we tested the alternation of two potentially noncrossresistant drug combinations with a concurrent drug combination in patients with limited small-cell lung cancer. The concurrent drug combination consisted of etoposide (VP-16), 75 mg/m2/intravenously (IV), days 1, 2, and 3; vincristine, 1.0 mg/m2/IV, days 1 and 8; Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH), 40 mg/m2/IV, day 1; and cyclophosphamide, 750 mg/m2/IV, day 1 (EVAC). The alternating combination consisted of VP-16, 100 mg/m2/IV, days 1, 2, and 3; and cisplatin (CDDP), 100 mg/m2/IV, day 1, alternating with vincristine, 1.0 mg/m2/IV, days 1 and 8; Adriamycin, 50 mg/m2/IV, day 1; and cyclophosphamide, 750 mg/m2/IV, day 1 (VP-16/CDDP-VAC). Chemotherapy was administered at 3-week intervals for six cycles both before and after chest (5,000 rads/5 weeks) and whole brain radiotherapy (3,000 rads/2 weeks). One hundred ninety-nine patients received EVAC and 201 received the alternating combination. There was no significant difference in the response rate to the initial six cycles of treatment with EVAC (CR, 40%) versus the alternating combination (CR, 38%). There was no significant difference between the best response, EVAC (CR, 48%) and VP-16/CDDP-VAC (CR, 51%). Median survival for all randomized patients on EVAC is 15.1 months versus 16.5 months on the alternating combination (P = .58). Toxicities consisted primarily of bone marrow suppression, anorexia, nausea and vomiting, peripheral neuropathies, and alopecia. As in previous trials, the chest was the most common site of relapse (33%). There were no differences in the incidence and sites of relapse between the two treatment arms. These treatments appear equally effective at inducing remission and prolonging survival in patients with small-cell lung cancer.     

Effects of interferon-alpha,verapamil and dacarbazine in the treatment of advanced malignant melanoma

Treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma with either dacarbazine (DTIC) or interferon-alpha (IFNalpha) as single drugs, or in combination, results in a response rate of approximately 15-20%. This study evaluated the activity and toxicity following treatment with a combination of DTIC, IFNalpha2b and verapamil (VPL). Thirty patients with disseminated metastatic melanoma received DTIC 250 mg/m(2) on days 1-5 of a 4 week schedule, IFNalpha2b 3 MIU on days 1-5 each week, and VPL 80 mg three times a day throughout the cycle, until either disease progression or serious toxicity was observed. Among the 28 evaluable patients, there were four complete responses (CRs), five partial responses (PRs) and eight patients with stable disease (SD). The overall response rate (CR + PR) was 32%. Two patients with a CR were long-term survivors (45 and 34 months) and a third is still in complete remission after 49 months. The fourth CR patient relapsed and died with progressive brain metastases after 8 months. Among the eight patients with SD, one survived for 22 months and another for 34 months. Despite one toxic death, these results suggest that this treatment regimen is well tolerated and seems to be more effective than DTIC alone in a subset of patients. A controlled randomized study would be required to determine the value of adding VPL and IFNalpha2b to DTIC.     

A phase II trial of cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and cisplatin with combined chest and brain radiotherapy in limited small-cell lung cancer: a Cancer and Leukemia Group B Study

Limited-extent small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) remains a therapeutic problem with little improvement in complete response (CR) rates and long-term survival in the past 5 years. From June 1984 through January 1985, 56 patients with limited-extent SCLC were enrolled in a Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) phase II study using five cycles of cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2 intravenously [IV] day 1), etoposide (80 mg/m2 IV days 1 to 3), and cisplatin (33 mg/m2 IV days 1 to 3) administered at 3-week intervals (CEP), with radiation therapy (50 Gy to chest and 30 Gy to brain) administered concomitant with cycles 4 and 5, followed by three cycles of cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2 IV day 1), etoposide (80 mg/m2 IV days 1 to 3), and doxorubicin (50 mg/m2 IV day 1). Of 49 patients evaluable for response, the overall response rate was 88%, with 57% CRs. The median overall survival was 14 months; the median duration of CR was 10 months, and nine CRs remain disease free at a median follow-up of 23 months. Toxicity was significant: 56% patients experienced WBC less than 1,000 microL, 32% platelets less than 25,000 microL and 10% hemoglobin less than 7 g/dL. There was one treatment-related septic death. These results are as good as the best previous CALGB study of SCLC, despite a reduction in duration of treatment from 18 to 5 months. We are currently using a variant of this multimodality treatment approach as our standard management for patients with limited-extent SCLC.     

Intensive therapy for small-cell lung cancer using carboplatin alternating with cisplatin, ifosfamide, etoposide, mid-cycle vincristine, and radiotherapy.

Forty patients with small-cell lung cancer (31 patients with limited-stage [LS] disease, and nine patients with extensive-stage [ES] disease but of good performance status) have been treated with an intensive therapy composed of carboplatin alternating with cisplatin, ifosfamide, and etoposide with vincristine on day 14 of each carboplatin cycle. A maximum of six cycles were administered at 3 weekly intervals after the cisplatin combination and 4 weekly after the carboplatin combination. Prophylactic cranial irradiation was given with the first cycle of chemotherapy and thoracic irradiation with the third cycle. The median nadir for neutrophils was 0.47 x 10(9)/L and for platelets, 40 x 10(9)/L. Chemotherapy dosages were not reduced in response to myelosuppression, but treatment was delayed to allow blood count recovery. Sixty-eight percent of patients received all six cycles of chemotherapy, and there were four deaths associated with treatment-related neutropenia. Twenty-eight patients (70%) achieved a complete response (CR) when assessed 1 month after the end of treatment, and a further five patients (12.5%) had a partial response (PR). Median duration of CR was 16 months and of PR, 8 months. Cerebral metastases occurred in 20% of all patients and was the apparent sole site of relapse in 11% of the CR patients. The median survival of the total group was 14 months with an actual 2-year survival of 30% and a minimum follow-up of 28 months.     

Multi-modality treatment of primary nonresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with 131I anti-CEA--a Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Study

Thirty-seven patients with primary nonresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (57% with prior treatment and/or metastasis) were prospectively treated with external radiation, chemotherapy, and 131I labelled anti-CEA. Therapy began in all trials with whole liver irradiation (21.0 Gy, 3.0 Gy/Fx, 4 days/week, 10 MV photons) with alternate treatment day chemotherapy (Adriamycin, 15 mg + 5-FU, 500 mg). One month after external beam therapy, chemotherapy was given (Adriamycin, 15 mg + 5-FU, 500 mg) followed the next day by the first administration of 131I anti-CEA. The treatment schedule used was 20 mCi day 0; 10 mCi day 5 as an outpatient. This schedule was derived from tumor dose estimates which indicated that 20 mCi (8-10 mCi/mg IgG) was sufficient to achieve tumor saturation with a tumor effective half-life of 3 to 5 days, depending upon the species of animal from which the antibody was obtained. The median tumor dose for the 20 mCi + 10 mCi regimen was 6.2 Gy. Antibody therapy was delivered in 2-month cycles using antibody generated in different species of animals; rabbit, pig, monkey, and bovine. Toxicity was limited to hematologic toxicity and was manifested as thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia (3.2% Grade IV for each according to RTOG toxicity criteria). Tumor remission evaluated by CT scan digitized tumor volume analysis indicated a 26.6% partial response (PR). Tumor remission by physical examination indicated a 33.3% remission rate (25.9% PR and 7.4% complete remission (CR]. The median survival for patients who responded was 15.2 months. The actuarial median survival for the entire group of patients (metastases and previous treatment) was 6.5 months. The longest partial remission is presently more than 4 years.     

Two cases of recurrent lung cancer successfully treated with concurrent radiochemotherapy with vinorelbine plus cisplatin

Case 1:A 62-year-old man, who had undergone right upper lobectomy for lung squamous cell carcinoma (pT2pN2M0, stage IIA) 4 months earlier, was diagnosed as mediastinal lymph node recurrence by chest CT. Case 2: A 63-year-old woman, who had undergone right middle-lower lobectomy for lung squamous cell carcinoma (pT2pN1M0, stage IIB) 16 months earlier, was diagnosed as hilar lymph node recurrence by chest CT. Both patients underwent radiochemotherapy with 2 cycles of cisplatin (CDDP) 80 mg/m2 on day 1 and vinorelbine (VNR) 15 mg/m2 on day 1 and another day (day 8-16), and concurrent radiation (60 Gy/30 fr) for mediastinum. After this treatment, a partial response (PR) in case 1 and a complete response (CR) in case 2 were achieved, and neither patient showed any relapse after 3 years of the treatment. Adverse reactions were grade 3 neutropenia in both patients and transient hemiparalysis in case 2. Concurrent radiochemotherapy with cisplatin and vinorelbine is considered effective without serious side effects for postoperative recurrence in localized mediastinal lymph nodes of non-small-cell lung cancer.     

Combined chemotherapy--radiotherapy of anal cancer

Forty-five patients were treated from 1984 to 1988. Thirty-eight, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months, are considered evaluable: median age, 62 years (25-88); males 6, females 32; T1 = 7, T2 = 21, T3 = 10; inguinal positive nodes, 5 patients. Chemotherapy (CT) (Mitomycin C, 15 mg/sqm, bolus day 1; 5-FU, 750 mg/sqm, 24 hr infusion, days 1 to 5) and radiotherapy (RT) started the same day. A dose of 36 Gy was given to the tumor and to the pelvis including inguinal nodes, in 20 fractions. After 2 weeks a boost of RT (18 Gy) to the ano-perineal area and a second cycle of CT completed the treatment. CR (biopsy) was achieved in 32/38 patients (84.2%). Among the six patients on PR, four received a Miles operation (2 NED), and two a wide local resection (both NED). Five out of 32 CRs relapsed: 2/5 were rescued with a Miles resection, 3 died from progression. In conclusion, 32/38 patients (84.2%) are NED after a median follow-up of 22 months and 28 of them retained their anal sphincter. A longer follow-up is needed to define optimal treatment modality, but it is clear that surgery must play a minor role in the treatment of anal cancer.     

Results of 2 multicenter therapy studies in inoperable non-small cell bronchial cancer

A total of 166 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were included in two multicenter trials testing different treatment regimens. In study I, 116 patients received 4 cycles of aggressive polychemotherapy consisting of cis-platinum 100 mg/m2 (day 1), etoposide 100 mg/m2 (days 4-6), and vindesine 3 mg/m2 (day 1) (CEV); patients without distant metastases subsequently received chest irradiation with 50 Gy. In study II, 50 patients were treated with monochemotherapy consisting of etoposide 250 mg/m2 (days 1-3), and ifosfamide 5 g/m2 as 24-h infusion (day 29). While this program was repeated in responders with extensive disease (ED), patients with limited disease (LD) subsequently received chest irradiation with 50 Gy using 20 mg/m2 cis-platinum weekly as a radiosensitizer. Response rates (CR + PR) to chemotherapy were higher in study I than in study II, and were 26% (CR 3%) vs. 8% (CR 0%) for all patients, 18% (CR 0%) vs. 4% (CR 0%) for ED, and 45% (CR 11%) vs. 13% (CR 0%) for LD. The increase in response rates by radiotherapy was marginal in study I (CR + PR 47%, CR 18%), but remarkable in study II (CR + PR 42%, CR 29%). While median survival was slightly longer in study I than in study II for ED (7.7 vs. 6.6 months) and LD (14.4 vs. 12.0 months), the 2-year survival rate was in favor of study II (10% vs. 25%). Toxicity was clearly more pronounced in study I, including 3 lethal complications and 16 discontinuations of therapy due to side effects or refusal. Thus, while in ED the efficacy of both treatment regimens was very restricted, in LD radiotherapy with cis-platinum as a radiosensitizer achieved a relatively high 2-year survival rate which justifies further testing of this treatment strategy.     

A case of recurrent esophageal cancer successfully treated with concurrent radiochemotherapy with low-dose docetaxel plus 5-FU

A 70-year-old woman, who had undergone esophagectomy for cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (pT3pN2M0, Stage III) 9 months earlier, was diagnosed as mediastinal lymph node recurrence by CT and endoscope. Patients underwent radiochemotherapy with 5 cycles of docetaxel 10 mg/m(2) on day 1 and 5-FU 250 mg/m(2) on day 1 to day 5, together with concurrent radiation (50 Gy/25 Fr) for mediastinum. After this treatment, a complete response (CR) was achieved, and there was no recurrence 9 months after the treatment. No severe adverse effects were observed. Concurrent radiochemotherapy with docetaxel and 5-FU is considered effective without serious side effects for postoperative recurrence in esophageal cancer.