Radiotherapy alone in patients with advanced nasopharyngeal cancer: comparison with an intergroup study. Is combined modality treatment really necessary?

PURPOSE: To examine the outcome of radiotherapy (RT) alone in patients with advanced nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) and to compare the results with those reported by the Intergroup study 0099 (IGS) comparing RT to combined modality therapy (CMT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the period 1985-1992, 198 NPC patients presenting without distant metastatic disease were treated for cure. Of these, 172 had stage III/IV (UICC 1987, 1992). Planned RT was 2 Gy/day fraction to 60-66 Gy to the primary tumor, with 50 and 60 Gy to the node negative and to palpable nodes, respectively. Outcomes included overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), defined from the time of registration at our institution. RESULTS: The TNM categories and other prognostic factors were similar to the IGS, though 80% had stage IV compared to 91% in IGS. The 5 year OS and DFS for the 172 patients with stage III/IV disease were 62 and 48%, respectively, as compared to the IGS results of OS 37% and DFS 29% for RT alone, and OS 67% and DFS 58% for the CMT arm of IGS. When the distribution of adverse prognostic factors was balanced between both studies the comparative results were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The early results for RT alone of this single institution experience are superior to those of the IGS control arm (RT), while somewhat inferior to those reported in the chemo-radiotherapy arm. The surprisingly poor outcome of the IGS/RT control arm may have resulted by chance, suggesting the need for a confirmatory randomized trial to fully establish the role of combined chemotherapy and radiation, as used in the IGS.     

影响子宫内膜癌术后放疗疗效的相关因素分析

目的探讨影响子宫内膜癌术后放疗疗效的相关因素。方法对74例手术后子宫内膜癌患者,应用6-MVX线加速器盆腔照射,4500～5000cGy/4.5～5周,外照射后均联合192Ir腔内后装治疗。参考点：阴道黏膜下0.5cm。DT16～20Gy,每次4～5Gy,每周1～2次。结果子宫内膜癌手术后联合放疗2年总生存率（OS）和无病生存率（DFS）分别为91.9%和81.1%,其中ⅠB～ⅡB期患者2年DFS为90.7%。子宫内膜癌手术后联合放疗2年内阴道复发率和盆腔复发率分别为8.1%和6.8%,远处转移率为9.5%。单因素分析淋巴结转移和病理分期明显影响子宫内膜癌患者的2年OS;淋巴结转移、病理分期、病理类型、年龄明显影响子宫内膜癌患者的2年DFS。多因素分析淋巴结转移明显影响子宫内膜癌患者的2年OS,病理类型和淋巴结转移明显影响子宫内膜癌患者的2年DFS。Ⅲ期病例术后单纯放疗和放疗联合化疗比较,2年OS和DFS无统计学差异。结论子宫内膜癌以手术治疗为首选治疗方法,根据手术及术后病理检查的结果,对病变范围及影响预后相关危险因素进行全面评估,从而制定最佳的治疗方案,对子宫内膜癌患者进行个体化的治疗已成为当前的总趋势。     

Chemo-radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone in the pre-operative treatment of resectable rectal cancer.

AIM: To determine the differences in downstaging, local control (LC), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between combined pre-operative chemoradiation and pre-operative radiotherapy alone in the treatment of resectable rectal cancer. METHODS: One hundred and ten patients who underwent pre-operative radiotherapy or chemo-radiotherapy were reviewed. Fifty-seven patients were treated with radiotherapy (30 Gy/3 Gy) alone and 53 patients with chemo-radiotherapy (bolus 5FU+45 Gy/1.8 Gy). The median interval between the end of neo-adjuvant treatment and surgery was 28 and 46 days for the patients treated with radiotherapy alone and chemo-radiotherapy. RESULTS: The groups were homogeneously distributed for all characteristics except for cN-stage with more clinically node positive patients in the combined modality treatment group (47 vs 73%). A significant downstaging for tumour and/or lymph node status was observed in both groups. More ypT0-x-is were observed after chemoradiation than after radiotherapy alone (26 vs 7%; p=0.02). The local control rate at 3 years was 94% for both groups. DFS after radiation and chemoradiation was comparable with a 3-year DFS of 83 and 88%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Both pre-operative schemes have similar outcomes concerning DFS, OS and LC. Tumour downstaging is associated with improved survival.     

External beam radiation therapy in the treatment of patients with extranodal stage IA non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The purpose of this report was to study the results of external beam radiotherapy for patients with extranodal stage IA non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). A retrospective review was carried out on 27 patients seen between 1984 and 1998 with stage IA NHL of extranodal sites, and followed up for a minimum of 1 year. Sites involved included eye/orbit (seven), parotid (five), breast (four), Waldeyer ring (four), thyroid (three), other head and neck (two), stomach (one), and prostate (one). All patients had biopsy-proven disease and underwent staging workup to rule out other sites of disease. Histologic analysis revealed 16 patients with low-grade NHL, 9 with intermediate-grade, and 2 with high-grade. Ten patients received chemotherapy before radiation therapy, and eight of them had a complete response. The remaining 17 patients were treated with external beam radiation therapy alone. Radiation was directed to the involved field at 1.8 Gy to 2.0 Gy per fraction to a median dose of 40 Gy (range: 20-50.4 Gy). The median patient age was 71 years (range: 39-85 years); 55% were female, and 45% were male. A complete response was attained in all 27 patients after radiation therapy. There were five failures (all in uninvolved distant sites), and two deaths during the follow-up. Median disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) have not been reached. The 5-year DFS and OS are 85% and 94%, respectively. Older age at presentation showed a trend toward worse outcome (p = 0.07), but because of the relatively few events, other factors (radiation dose, grade of disease, sex, or the use of chemotherapy) showed no statistical differences among the patients. External beam radiation therapy is a highly effective treatment for stage IA NHL found in extranodal sites.     

Outcome analysis for stage IE and IIE thyroid lymphoma

Previous reports have revealed modest results in the management of thyroid lymphoma with radiotherapy alone. This retrospective report evaluates the outcome of patients treated for thyroid lymphoma with radiotherapy alone and with combined modality therapy (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) at a single institution. Twenty-seven patients with stages IE and IIE non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the thyroid gland were treated between 1960 and 1998 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, of which 14 patients were stage IE and 13 patients were stage IIE. The median age at diagnosis was 67 years, and there were 21 females and 6 males evaluated. The median follow-up time was 38 months (range: 3-279 months). All patients had histologically proven non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, of which 22 patients (81%) were intermediate grade. Treatment consisted of radiotherapy alone in 19 patients and a combined modality therapy in 8 patients. The median radiation dose to the thyroid bed was 44 Gy, and most patients received a doxorubicin-containing regimen administered prior to radiotherapy. Patient, tumor, and treatment-related characteristics were evaluated using Cox regression analysis. Local-regional tumor control, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Four patients had local relapse in this series, with a crude local tumor control rate of 85%. No factor was determined to be significant for local tumor control. The actuarial 5-year DFS and OS for the entire cohort were 57%, and 56%, respectively. In terms of DFS, both age and stage were statistically significant. The 5-year actuarial DFS for patients less than age 65 years was 83% versus 37% for those more than this age (p = 0.024). Furthermore, the 5-year actuarial DFS for patients with stage I and II disease was 69% and 45%, respectively (p = 0.022). In multivariate analysis, age continued to be significant for DFS (p = 0.049). Overall survival analysis revealed age, local tumor control, and stage to be significant in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis was further carried out using Cox proportional hazard model, and it revealed age (p = 0.006) and local tumor control (p = 0.007) to be significant. Primary thyroid gland lymphomas have a favorable outcome with appropriate therapy, but prognosis depends on both clinical stage and age at presentation. Because of the risk of both local-regional and distant failure, combined modality approaches that use chemotherapy with radiotherapy are warranted for intermediate- and high grade thyroid lymphoma.     

Results of radiation therapy for unresected soft-tissue sarcomas

PURPOSE: Definitive radiotherapy is uncommonly used in the management of soft-tissue sarcoma (STS). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the results of radiotherapy for unresected STSs treated in a single institution. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1970 and 2001, 112 patients with STSs underwent radiotherapy for gross disease. Locations of the tumor were 43% in the extremities, 26% retroperitoneal, 24% in the head and neck, and 7% in the truncal wall. Histologic grades were 11% G1 and 89% G2 to G3. Median size of tumor at radiotherapy was 8 cm (range, 1-30 cm). Median radiation dose was 64 Gy (range, 25-87.5 Gy). Twenty percent of patients received chemotherapy. Local control (LC), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) rates were evaluated in univariate (log-rank) and then multivariate (Cox model) analysis to determine prognostic factors for STS. RESULTS: Median follow-up for patients is 139 months (range, 30-365 months). The 5-year actuarial LC, DFS, and OS were 45%, 24%, and 35%, respectively. Tumor size at radiotherapy and radiation dose influenced LC, DFS, and OS in univariate analysis. LC at 5 years was 51%, 45%, and 9% for tumors less than 5 cm, 5 to 10 cm, and greater than 10 cm, respectively. Patients who received doses of less than 63 Gy had 5-year LC, DFS, and OS rates of 22%, 10%, and 14%, respectively, compared with 5-year LC, DFS, and OS rates of 60%, 36%, and 52%, respectively, for patients who received doses of 63 Gy or more. AJCC stage was related to the OS and DFS without statistically significant influence on LC. Use of chemotherapy, histologic grade, age, and location did not influence results. In multivariate analysis, LC was related to total dose (p = 0.02), T size at radiotherapy (p = 0.003), and AJCC stage (p = 0.04); DFS was related to total dose (p = 0.007), T size at radiotherapy (p = 0.01), and AJCC stage (p < 0.0001); and OS was related to AJCC stage (p = 0.0001) and total dose (p = 0.002), but not to T size, at radiotherapy. Major radiotherapy complications were noted in 14% of patients; 27% of patients who received doses of 68 Gy or more had these complications compared with 8% of patients treated with doses of less than 68 Gy. CONCLUSIONS: Definitive radiotherapy for STS should be considered in clinical situations where no acceptable surgical option is available. Higher radiation doses yield superior tumor control and survival. A rise in complications occurs in patients who receive doses of 68 Gy or more, which provides a therapeutic window for benefit in these patients.     

Early or up-front radiotherapy improved survival of localized extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal-type in the upper aerodigestive tract

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of early or up-front radiotherapy (RT), the optimal RT dose required to achieve appropriate treatment outcome and prognostic factors for patients with localized extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal-type, in the upper aerodigestive tract. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eighty-two patients were reviewed. Eight patients were treated with chemotherapy (CT) alone, 9 patients received RT alone, and 65 patients were given combined modality treatment of CT and RT (CMT). Of those 74 patients receiving RT, 31 patients were given up-front RT, whereas CT was the initial therapy for 43 patients and 41 of those 43 patients received early RT. RESULTS: Five-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 52.3% and 39.2%, respectively. RT was the only independent prognostic factor for both OS and DFS at both the univariate and multivariate level. The 5-year OS and DFS were better in patients receiving >or=54 Gy of RT as compared with that of <54 Gy (5-year OS 75.5% vs. 46.1%, p = 0.019; 5-year DFS 60.3% vs. 33.4%, p = 0.004). Up-front RT presented better survival in Stage I patients when compared with that of initial CT followed by early RT (5-year OS 90.0% vs. 48.9%, p = 0.012; 5-year DFS 78.7% vs. 39.9%, p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Early or up-front RT had an essential role in improved OS and DFS in patients with localized extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal-type, in the upper aerodigestive tract. The recommended tumor dose was at least 54 Gy. Up-front RT may yield more benefits on survival in patients with Stage I disease.     

A randomized phase III study of radiotherapy alone or with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin-C in patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study E8282

PURPOSE: The median survival time of patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas is 8-10 months. Radiation therapy has been used to improve local control and palliate symptoms. This randomized study was undertaken to determine whether the addition of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin-C (MMC) to radiation therapy improves outcome in this patient population. Patients and METHODS: One hundred fourteen patients were randomized to receive 59.4 Gy external beam radiotherapy in 1.8 Gy fractions alone or in combination with 5-FU (1,000 mg/m2/day for 4 days by continuous infusion Days 2-5 and 28-31) and MMC (10 mg/m2 on Day 2). RESULTS: One hundred four patients were evaluable for efficacy. Hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities were more common in the combination arm. The response rates were 6% in the radiation therapy arm and 9% in the combination arm. There were no differences in median disease-free survival time (DFS) or overall survival time (OS) between the combination and radiation therapy alone arms: 5.1 vs. 5.0 months, respectively, for DFS (p = 0.19) and 8.4 vs. 7.1 months, respectively, for OS (p = 0.16). CONCLUSION: The addition of 5-FU and MMC to radiotherapy increased toxicity without improving DFS or OS in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Alternative drugs for radiosensitization may improve outcome.     

Early stage nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma: clinical outcome,prognostic factors,and the effect of treatment modality

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical outcome, prognostic factors, and effect of adding combination chemotherapy to radiation therapy on disease control and survival in early stage nasal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective "intent to treat" analysis was carried out on 79 patients treated consecutively with curative intent between 1977 and June 2001. They all had early stage (Ann Arbor Stage I(E): 63, II(E):16) nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma. Sixty-one were planned for combined modality treatment (CMT); radiotherapy alone (RT) was intended for 18. Three to 6 cycles of anthracycline-containing regimens were aimed at for patients intended for CMT. Patients selected for RT were generally older or treated during the earlier part of the study period. RESULTS: The overall complete response (CR) rate was 68.4% (54/79), of whom 44.4% (24/54) relapsed after 54.9 months median follow-up of the survivors. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 35.5% and 37.9%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, good performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] <2) was shown to be a significant favorable factor for DFS (p = 0.011), whereas good performance status (ECOG <2) and Ann Arbor Stage I(E) disease were shown to be significant favorable factors for OS (p = 0.001 and p = 0.013, respectively). The type of intended treatment was not a significant factor for DFS (5-year DFS CMT vs. RT = 35.8% vs. 30.5%, p = 0.795) or OS (5-year OS CMT vs. RT = 40.3% vs. 29.8%, p = 0.693) though only 2 of the 16 Stage II(E) patients were intended for RT alone. Resistance to treatment, especially to chemotherapy, was common. Of 61 patients intended to be given CMT, 31 showed disease progression while receiving chemotherapy, of whom 17 progressed locoregionally. Nine of the latter group were rendered CR by salvage radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The overall outcome in early stage nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma is poor. Performance status and Ann Arbor stage are significant factors influencing DFS and OS. The addition of anthracycline-containing chemotherapy to radiotherapy does not appear to confer any survival benefit in Stage I(E) patients. Therefore, radiation therapy remains the mainstay of treatment for this lymphoma type.     

嗅神经母细胞瘤的预后因素和治疗结果分析

目的 探讨嗅神经母细胞瘤（ENB）的临床特点、预后因素及适宜治疗方案。方法 回顾性分析49例经病理确诊的FNB患者,改良Kadish分期为A期3例,B期15例,C期22例,D期9例。单纯手术治疗4例,单纯放射治疗11例．手术＋放射治疗19例,放射治疗＋化疗8例,手术＋放射治疗＋化疗7例。应用SPSS10．0软件进行统计分析,Kaplan-Meier法计算生存率（OS）和无病生存率（DFS）,Logrank检验生俘曲线之间的差异。结果 49例患者的5年OS为60．7％,5年DFS为41．9％。A、B期和C、D期患者的5年OS分别为78．4％和49．7％（X^2=2．10,P=0．15）,5年DFS分别为47．1％和38．4％（X^2=0．08,P=0．78）。有颈部淋巴结转移和无颈部淋巴结转移的5年OS分别为17．8％和70．8％（X^2=2．32,P=0．13）,5年DFS分别为O和53．4％（X^2=11．67,P〈0．01）。KPS≥80和KPS〈80患者的5年OS分别为69．0％和30．1％（X^2=7．01,P〈0．01）,5年DFS分别为46．7％和24．9％（X^2=6．37,P=0．01）。综合治疗组及单纯放疗和（或）单纯手术组的5年OS分别为69．7％和46．3％（X^2=3．49,P=0．06）,5年DF、S分别为52．2％和21．8％（X^2=7．03,P〈0．01）。无颈部淋巴结转移患者,接受手术治疗苦和未接受手术治疗者的5年OS分别为71．1％和44．6％（X^2=7．99,P〈0．01）,5年DFS分别为54．0％和24．1％（X^2=6．41,P=0．01）。11例单纯放疗患者5年OS为47．7％,5年DFS为30．7％。结论 FNB患者发病年龄较早,男性较多,就诊时多已是局部晚期,一般状况评分及颈部淋巴结转移是预后的影响因素,治疗以包括手术在内的综合治疗疗效较好,放射治疗在ENB的治疗中占有重要地位。     

BEACOPP and COPP/ABVD as salvage treatment after primary extended field radiation therapy of early stage Hodgkins disease - results of the German Hodgkin Study Group

Patients with early stage favorable Hodgkin's disease who relapse after extended field radiotherapy have satisfactory results. We retrospectively analysed patients with relapsed HD after initial radiation therapy alone to determine treatment outcome and prognostic factors. Nine-hundred and forty five patients in localized stages without risk factors received either 40 Gy extended field RT or 30 Gy EF RT followed by an additional 10 Gy to involved lymph node regions. 107 patients relapsed and received salvage therapy. Characteristics of the 107 patients at relapse were as follows: median age was 34 years (range 18--75) with relapse occuring at a median of 19 months (range 4--98 months), 31% were female. The majority of patients (93%) were treated with conventional chemotherapy. Sixty-nine percent were treated with COPP/ABVD like regimens, 21% with BEACOPP, and 3% received various other regimens. Seven percent were treated with radiotherapy alone. Complete remission was achieved in 87% of all salvaged patients. The median follow-up after relapse was 45 months. FF2F (freedom from second treatment failure) and OS (overall survival) were 81% and 89%, respectively. In multivariate analysis age was the major prognostic factor for FF2F and OS (p<0.0001, for both). Further independent prognostic factors were B symptoms (p=0.05) and salvage chemotherapy (p=0.03) for FF2F, and B symptoms (p=0.03) and extranodal involvement (p=0.02) for OS. The long-term outcome of patients relapsing after EF RT is excellent. Age, B symptoms, extranodal involvement and salvage chemotherapy were identified as prognostic factors for second relapse and survival.     

Thermoradiotherapy of the chest wall in locally advanced or recurrent breast cancer with marginal resection.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Evaluation of the efficacy of combined hyperthermia and radiotherapy (TRT) in high-risk breast cancer patients with microscopic involved margins (R1) after mastectomy or with resected locoregional, early recurrence with close margins or R1-resection. Main endpoint was local tumour control (LC); secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS) and acute toxicity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1997-2001, 50 patients were treated with TRT. Thirteen patients (group 1) received a post-operative TRT in a high-risk situation (free margin <1 cm or R1, N+), 37 patients (group 2) received TRT after close/R1 resection of a locoregional recurrence. Thirteen out of 37 patients in group 2 already had had two-to-seven recurrences prior to TRT. Median radiation dose was 60 Gy (range: 44-66.4 Gy), the additional local hyperthermia (>41 degrees C, 60 min) was given twice a week. Median follow-up for patients at risk was 28 months. All statistical tests were done using Statistica software. RESULTS: Actuarial OS for all patients at 3 years accounted for 89%, DFS for 68% and LC for 80%. Actuarial OS was 90% for group 1 and 89% for group 2, with four patients having died so far. DFS at 3 years was 64% in group 1 and 69% in group 2, actuarial 3 year LC was 75% and 81%, respectively. For patients with recurrent chest wall disease, there was no difference concerning local control between patients who underwent TRT with or without prior radiation. No prognostic factors could be detected due to the small number of patients investigated. The combined modality treatment was well tolerated. Grade IV toxicity, according to the Common Toxicity Criteria, did not occur. CONCLUSION: The results concerning local tumour control and overall survival in these high-risk patients are promising, especially for TRT for the treatment of local recurrences. A longer follow-up is needed to estimate late toxicity.     

Localized aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the nasal cavity: a survey by the Japan Lymphoma Radiation Therapy Group

Purpose: To clarify the role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with localized aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) originating in the nasal cavity.

Methods and Materials: The survey, administered at 25 Japanese institutes in 1998, enabled us to collect the clinical data for 787 patients with localized aggressive NHL who were treated between 1988 and 1992.

Results: There were 42 patients (5%) with nasal lymphomas. Twelve of these patients received radiotherapy alone, and 30 were treated with a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The median radiation dose was 47 Gy (22–66). Twelve patients were reviewed histopathologically according to REAL (Revised European-American Classification of Lymphoid neoplasms) classification. T-cell or natural killer (NK) cell lymphomas were detected in 9 patients (75%), and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas in 3 (25%). The 5-year overall and disease-free survival (DFS) rates of all patients were 57% and 59%, respectively. The 5-year DFS rate for the 30 patients treated with the combined therapy was 64% and that for the 12 patients treated with radiotherapy alone was 46% (p = 0.021). For the 34 patients with stage-modified International Prognostic Index (m-IPI) 0–1, the 5-year DFS rates of those treated with the combined therapy and radiotherapy alone were 68% and 45%, respectively (p = 0.020), but there was no difference in DFS rate among the two groups of patients with m-IPI 2–3. The 5-year local control rates of the patients who received >46 Gy (n = 22) and ≤46 Gy (n = 20) were 95% and 76% (p = 0.087), respectively. There was no significant difference among the 5-year DFS rates (62% vs. 67%) and local control rates (87% vs. 100%) of the patients with T-cell or NK-cell lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Conclusions: Patients with nasal lymphomas (m-IPI 0–1) should be treated with combined therapy. For the patients with high risk (m-IPI 2–3), the effectiveness of combined therapy was not clarified because of the small number of the patients. A high radiation dose >46 Gy may need to be used to achieve good local control.     

Adjuvant radiotherapy in male breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine retrospectively the outcome of postoperative radiation therapy in male breast cancer. Local/distant control was assessed with attention to age, stage, lymph node involvement, histopathological differentiation and hormone receptor status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one male patients were irradiated postoperatively at the chest wall (mean dose 50 Gy) and 16 patients received radiation to regional lymph nodes. Tumour distribution by stage was: stage 0 (9.7%), stage I (22.6%), stage II (32.2%) and stage III (35.5%). Nine patients were subjected to additional hormone therapy and three patients to chemotherapy. RESULTS: Local control was achieved in 30/31 (96.8%) patients. Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall survival (OS), disease specific (DSS) and disease free survival (DFS) at 5 years were 77% (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.61-0.93), 84% (CI, 0.69-0.98) and 73% (CI, 0.57-0.91), respectively. Five-year DFS for stage 0 + I, II and III was 100, 56.3 and 67.3%, respectively. Favourable results were observed in patients with negative axillary nodes with 5-year OS/DFS of 90.9% (CI, 0.74-1.0). For lymph node positive patients DFS was 71% (CI, 0.4-1.0). Patients who presented lymph node metastases with extracapsular extension the 5-year OS was 80% (CI, 0.45-1.00), but the DFS was 0%. Stage of disease, lymph node involvement and histological differentiation were found to have statistically significant influence on DFS, but not on OS. CONCLUSION: Application of postoperative radiotherapy approved in females resulted in one local relapse in our study population. Other treatment modalities (hormone therapy/chemotherapy) should continue to be considered a necessary treatment option for appropriately selected patients.     

多中心食管鳞状细胞癌提高三维放疗剂量临床疗效分析——3JECROG R-03

目的 比较食管鳞状细胞癌行根治性放疗不同放疗剂量对生存的影响,并探讨预后影响因素。方法 回顾性分析2002-2016年中国10所医疗中心2344例接受根治性放化疗/放疗的食管鳞状细胞癌患者临床资料,经1∶2倾向性评分配比(PSM),根据放疗剂量分为低剂量组(EQD2Gy<60Gy)303例,高剂量组(EQD2Gy≥60Gy)606例。Kaplan-Meier法生存分析,Cox模型多因素预后分析。结果 中位随访时间为59.6个月。经PSM配比后,低剂量组和高剂量组的1、3、5年总生存率分别为66.5%、34.7%、27.2%和72.9%、41.7%、34.7%(P=0.018),无进展生存率分别为52.2%、27.2%、23.1%和58.3%、38.1%、33.9%(P=0.001)。单因素结果显示颈段/胸上段食管癌、临床分期早、无区域淋巴结转移、病变长度短、采用IMRT技术、接受同步化疗、EQD2Gy≥60Gy为总生存获益因素(均P<0.05)。多因素结果显示肿瘤部位、有无区域淋巴结转移、是否接受同步化疗以及EQD2Gy是影响总生存的重要因素(均P<0.05)。结论 局部晚期食管鳞状细胞癌患者应用三维适形或调强放疗EQD2Gy≥60Gy时生存获益。     

Feasibility and Efficacy of Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Elderly Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: a Respective Study of 116 Cases from a Single Institution

Background: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone inelderly patients with esophageal carcinoma to identify the best method of treatment. Materials and Methods: Onehundred and sixteen patients with esophageal carcinoma aged 70 and older who received definitive radiotherapyor chemoradiotherapy entered the study. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and treatmentrelatedtoxicities were assessed. Results: The median OS of the overall population was 17.9 months. For patientstreated with cCRT, sCRT and radiotherapy alone, the median OS was 22.3 months, 18.0 months and 12.4 monthsrespectively(P=0.044). Median OS for patients treated with radiotherapy dose ≥60Gy and <60Gy was 20.2 monthsand 10.9 months respectively (p=0.017). By univariate analysis, Chemoradiotherapy (include cCRT and sCRT)and radiotherapy dose ≥60Gy were found to achieve higher survival rates compared with radiotherapy aloneand radiotherapy dose <60Gy (P=0.015, P=0.017). By multivariate analysis, chemoradiotherapy (HR=1.645,P=0.022) and radiotherapy dose ≥60Gy (HR=1.642, P=0.025) were identified as independent prognostic factorsof OS. Conclusions: Definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy could be considered as a feasible and effectivetreatment in esophageal carcinoma patients aged 70 and older. Radiotherapy dose 60Gy is an effective treatmentoption compared with standard dose radiotherapy, while higher doses are not beneficial to improve survival.     

早期结外NK/T细胞淋巴瘤的预后分析

目的 分析早期上呼吸消化道结外NK/T细胞淋巴瘤(UADT ENKTCL)放疗联合以门冬酰胺酶/培门冬酶为主的化疗疗效及预后因素。方法 收集2003—2020年间贵州省肿瘤医院收治的 267例早期UADT ENKTCL患者,其中放疗或联合门冬酰胺酶/培门冬酶为主要方案化疗的 229例,单纯放疗或化疗的 38例。Kaplan-Meier计算总生存(OS)、无进展生存(PFS)并log-rank法检验和单因素分析,Cox模型多因素分析。结果 全组 5年OS、PFS分别为67.2%、61.5%;放化综合治疗、单纯放疗、单纯化疗的 5年OS分别为71.7%、35%、49%(P<0.001),5年PFS分别为66%、35%、28%(P<0.001)。放化疗患者基于NRI危险分层分为预后良好、预后不良组,5年OS分别为93.3%、64.3%(P<0.001),5年PFS分别为91.1%、56.7%(P<0.001);放疗剂量≥50Gy、<50Gy组 5年OS分别为72.4%、55.7%(P<0.001),5年PFS分别为68.3%、36.5%(P<0.001)。预后不良组化疗周期数≥4个、<4个的 5年OS分别为65.5%、59.2%(P=0.049),5年PFS分别为60.7%、50.6%(P=0.018)。单因素分析显示Ⅱ期、ECOG≥2分、超腔、单纯放疗、NRI≥1分、EB病毒-DNA≥2750 copies/ml、放疗剂量<50Gy,化疗周期数<4个为 5年OS及PFS的预后不良因素(均 P<0.05);CHOP类化疗方案仅为PFS的预后不良因素(P<0.05)。多因素分析显示超腔、ECOG≥2分、放疗剂量<50Gy均为OS和PFS的预后不良因素(均 P<0.05),Ⅱ期为OS的预后不良因素(P<0.05)。结论 早期低危UADT ENKTCL预后良好;足够剂量的扩大受累野放疗是早期UADT ENKTCL根治性手段;综合治疗较单纯放疗能改善早期预后不良组患者的预后;足疗程化疗能显著改善预后不良组的远期生存,门冬酰胺酶为基础的化疗均能较好的改善早期UADT ENKTCL的预后。     

Clinical efficacy of dose escalation in 3-dimensional radiotherapy for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma-multicenter retrospective analysis (3JECROG R-03)

Objective To evaluate the effect of definitive radiotherapy with different doses on overall survival (OS) and identify the prognostic factors of patients with non-metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods Clinical data of 2344 ESCC patients treated with definitive radiotherapy (RT) alone or chemoradiotherapy from 2002 to 2016 in 10 hospitals were collected and analyzed retrospectively. After the propensity score matching (PSM)(1 to 2 ratio), all patients were divided into the low-dose group (equivalent dose in 2Gy fractions,EQD2Gy<60 Gy;n=303) and high-dose group (EQD2Gy≥60 Gy;n=606) based on the dose of radiation. Survival analysis was conducted by Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate prognostic analysis was performed by Cox′s regression model. Results The median follow-up time was 59.6 months. After the PSM, the 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 66.5%,34.7%,27.2% in the low-dose group, 72.9%,41.7% and 34.7% in the high-dose group, respectively (P=0.018). The 1-, 3-and 5-year progression-free survival rate was 52.2%,27.2%,23.1% in the low-dose group, 58.3%,38.1% and 33.9% in the high-dose group, respectively (P=0.001). The outcomes of univariate analysis indicated that cervical/upper esophagus location, early (stage Ⅱ) AJCC clinical stage, node negative status, tumor length ≤5 cm, receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), receiving concurrent chemotherapy and EQD2Gy≥60Gy were closely associated with better OS (all P<0.05). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that tumor location, regional lymph node metastasis, concurrent chemotherapy and EQD2Gy were the independent prognostic factors for OS (all P<0.05). Conclusion Three-dimensional conformal or IMRT with EQD2Gy≥60Gy yields favorable survival outcomes for patients with locally advanced ESCC.     

The role of irradiation of the internal mammary lymph nodes in high-risk stage II to IIIA breast cancer patients after high-dose chemotherapy: a prospective sequential nonrandomized study.

PURPOSE: This phase II single-institution prospective, nonrandomized trial investigates high-dose adjuvant chemotherapy and locoregional radiotherapy in patients with breast cancer. We compared the outcome of patients in this study treated with radiotherapy fields including the internal mammary nodes (IMN) to a group of patients who did not receive IMN irradiation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 100 patients with high-risk stage II-III breast cancer received doxorubicin-based adjuvant chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy, stem-cell support, and locoregional radiotherapy. The radiotherapy included electron-beam irradiation to the IMN. For 20 months during the study, no electron-beam facility was available and we were unable to deliver the IMN irradiation as planned to 33 patients. The remaining 67 patients (32 treated before and 35 treated after this period) received IMN irradiation. Patients with receptor-positive tumors received tamoxifen for 5 years. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 77 months for all of the patients, disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly prolonged in patients receiving IMN radiation compared to those without IMN radiation (73% v 52%; P =.02). A trend was seen for overall survival (OS; 78% v 64%; P =.08). Cox regression multivariate analysis found IMN radiotherapy to be significant both for DFS and OS. Estrogen receptor positivity was also significant for DFS. There was no treatment related mortality. CONCLUSION: In patients with high-risk stage II to III breast cancer, the inclusion of the IMN in the radiotherapy field was associated with a statistically significant increase in DFS and a borderline increase in OS.     

Long-term results of combined modality therapy in primary bone lymphomas

Purpose: To report the Massachusetts General Hospital experience in the management of patients with primary bone lymphoma (PBL) treated with combined modality therapy (CMT).

Methods and Materials: Records from 37 eligible patients were reviewed. Two patients were treated with complete resection of the tumor, while 35 patients underwent radiation therapy with a median total dose of 54 Gy (range 38.35–66.5). All patients received combination chemotherapy, which contained doxorubicin in 33 cases. We compared the current data with our previous experience in patients treated with local measures only.

Results: Actuarial disease-free survival (DFS) at 5 and 10 years is 78% and 73%, respectively, while overall survival (OS) is 91% and 87%, respectively. No local failures were seen. Pathologic fracture at presentation influenced DFS (p = 0.005) and OS (p = 0.017) adversely. OS was compromised in patients older than 60 years (p = 0.059) and DFS in patients with pelvic primaries (p = 0.015). CMT was associated with improved DFS (p = 0.0008) and OS (p = 0.0001) compared to our historical controls. Ten patients (27%) developed complications requiring orthopedic procedures following completion of therapy at a median of 25.5 months (range 4–228).

Conclusion: Patients with PBL have a favorable outcome with CMT, which appears superior to radiation therapy alone. Late complications can be seen, especially in weight-bearing bones.