Operable stage IB and II cancer of the uterine neck: retrospective comparison between preoperative utero-vaginal curietherapy and initial surgery followed by radiotherapy]

PURPOSE: To identify prognostic factors and treatment toxicity in a series of operable stages IB and II cervical carcinomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between May 1972 and January 1994, 414 patients (pts) with cervical carcinoma staged according to the 1995 FIGO staging system underwent radical hysterectomy with (n = 380) or without (n = 34) bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection. Lateral ovarian transposition to preserve ovarian function was performed on 12 pts. The methods of radiation therapy (RT) were not randomised and depended on the usual practices of the surgical teams. Group I: 168 pts received postoperative RT (64 pts received vaginal brachytherapy alone [mean total dose (MD): 50 Gy], 93 pts had external beam pelvis RT (EBPRT) [MD: 45 Gy over 5 weeks] followed by vaginal brachytherapy [MD: 20 Gy], and 11 pts had EBPRT alone [MD: 50 Gy over 6 weeks]. Group II: 246 pts received preoperative utero-vaginal brachytherapy [MD: 65 Gy], and 32 of theses 246 pts also received postoperative EBPRT [MD: 45 Gy over 5 weeks] delivered to the parametric and the pelvic lymph nodes with a midline pelvic shield. The mean follow-up was 106 months. RESULTS: The 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 80%. From 75 recurrences, 35 were isolated locoregional. Multivariate analysis showed that independent factors decreasing the probability of DFS were: both exo and endocervical tumour site (p = 0.047), lymph-vascular space invasion (p = 0.041), age < or = 51 yr (p = 0.013), 1995 FIGO staging system (stage IB1 vs stage IIA, p = 0.004, stage IB1 vs stage IB2, p = 0.0009, and stage IB1 vs stage IIB with 1/3 proximal parametrical infiltration, p = 0.00002), and histological pelvic involved lymph nodes (p = 0.00009). Methods of adjuvant RT did not influence the probability of DFS (group I vs group II, p = 0.10). The postoperative complication rate was 10.2% in group I and 8.9% in group II (p = 0.7) but the postoperative urethral complication rate necessitating surgical intervention with reimplantation was lower in group I than in group II (0.6% vs 2.3%, respectively, p = 0.03). The 10-year rate for grade 3 and 4 late radiation complications according to the LENT-SOMA scoring system was 10.4%. EPRT significantly increased the 10-year rate for grade 3 and 4 late radiation complications (yes vs no: 22% vs 7%, respectively, p = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: In our series, the methods of adjuvant RT (primary surgery vs preoperative uterovaginal brachytherapy) do not seem to influence the prognosis of the stage IB, IIA, and IIB (with 1/3 proximal parametrical involvement only) cervical carcinomas. The postoperative EPRT applied according to histopathological risk factors after surgical treatment increases the risk of late radiation complications.     

FIGO stage IB1 cervical carcinoma: Place and principles of brachytherapy

The treatment of cervical cancers according to FIGO staging is well defined. For FIGO stage IB2 or more, chemoradiotherapy followed by uterovaginal brachytherapy boost is the standard treatment. Surgery is the preferred choice for less advanced tumors. However, most French institutions propose preoperative brachytherapy followed by hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy for FIGO stage IB1 tumors over 2 cm. Brachytherapy is also used for the boost after adjuvant pelvic external beam radiotherapy. Tridimensional dosimetry with optimization allows better treatment planning, delivering high doses to target volumes with limited irradiation to the organs at risk. We will discuss the indications of brachytherapy for FIGO stage IB1 tumors and the principles of pulsed-dose rate and high-dose rate techniques.     

Interstitial brachytherapy of periorificial skin carcinomas of the face: a retrospective study of 97 cases

PURPOSE: To analyze outcomes after interstitial brachytherapy of facial periorificial skin carcinomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 97 skin carcinomas (88 basal cell carcinomas, 9 squamous cell carcinomas) of the nose, periorbital areas, and ears from 40 previously untreated patients (Group 1) and 57 patients who had undergone surgery (Group 2). The average dose was 55 Gy (range, 50-65 Gy) in Group 1 and 52 Gy (range, 50-60 Gy) in Group 2 (mean implantation times: 79 and 74 hours, respectively). We calculated survival rates and assessed functional and cosmetic results de visu. RESULTS: Median age was 71 years (range, 17-97 years). There were 29 T1, 8 T2, 1 T3, and 2 Tx tumors in Group 1. Tumors were <2 cm in Group 2. Local control was 92.5% in Group 1 and 88% in Group 2 (median follow-up, 55 months; range, 6-132 months). Five-year disease-free survival was better in Group 1 (91%; range, 75-97) than in Group 2 (80%; range, 62-90; p = 0.23). Of the 34 patients whose results were reassessed, 8 presented with pruritus or epiphora; 1 Group 2 patient had an impaired eyelid aperture. Cosmetic results were better in Group 1 than in Group 2 with, respectively, 72% (8/11) vs. 52% (12/23) good results and 28 (3/11) vs. 43% (10/23) fair results. CONCLUSIONS: Brachytherapy provided a high level of local control and good cosmetic results for facial periorificial skin carcinomas that pose problems of surgical reconstruction. Results were better for untreated tumors than for incompletely excised tumors or tumors recurring after surgery.     

Function and health status outcomes in a randomized trial comparing preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy in extremity soft tissue sarcoma.

PURPOSE: Morbidity associated with wound complications may translate into disability and quality-of-life disadvantages for patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) for soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of the extremities. Functional outcome and health status of extremity STS patients randomized in a phase III trial comparing preoperative versus postoperative RT is described. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred ninety patients with extremity STS were randomized after stratification by tumor size dichotomized at 10 cm. Function and quality of life were measured by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Rating Scale (MSTS), the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS), and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) at randomization, 6 weeks, and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-five patients had function data. Patients treated with postoperative RT had better function with higher MSTS (25.8 v 21.3, P <.01), TESS (69.8 v 60.6, P =.01), and SF-36 bodily pain (67.7 v 58.5, P =.03) scores at 6 weeks after surgery. There were no differences at later time points. Scores on the physical function, role-physical, and general health subscales of the SF-36 were significantly lower than Canadian normative data at all time points. After treatment arm was controlled for, MSTS change scores were predicted by a lower-extremity tumor, a large resection specimen, and motor nerve sacrifice; TESS change scores were predicted by lower-extremity tumor and prior incomplete excision. When wound complication was included in the model, patients with complications had lower MSTS and TESS scores in the first 2 years after treatment. CONCLUSION: The timing of RT has minimal impact on the function of STS patients in the first year after surgery. Tumor characteristics and wound complications have a detrimental effect on patient function.     

Short-course preoperative radiotherapy with delayed surgery in rectal cancer - a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: In the most advanced, non-resectable primary rectal cancers, conventional long-course radiotherapy (RT) (1.8-2Gyx25-28), frequently combined with chemotherapy, has been used since tumour regression is needed in order to allow a radical (R0) resection. In Uppsala, short-course 5x5Gy with planned delayed surgery has been used in patients with contraindications to long-course RT (+/-chemotherapy). The aim is to describe our experience of using this approach in patients not eligible for standard treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During 2002 and 2005, 46 patients with non-resectable rectal cancer (+/-synchronous distant metastases) were treated with 5x5Gy and delayed surgery if possible. The clinical records were retrospectively evaluated. The first group (A) had no metastases (T4NXM0), whereas the other two groups (B+C) had metastases (T4NXM1). In group (B), the patients had predominantly loco-regional disease and were not candidates for combination chemotherapy (high age, co-morbidities), and in group (C) up-front combination chemotherapy was given, with the intention to have surgery of both the primary and the secondaries if sufficient regression at both sites were seen. RESULTS: The patients in the first two groups (A+B) were old (median 79 and 76 years, respectively), and had several co-morbidities. In group (C), median age was 63 years. The 5x5Gy RT was well tolerated by most patients, but grade IV diarrhoea was recorded in three elderly patients. One patient in the group (C) died from neutropenic fever. Many patients were reported to have less local symptoms after the treatment given. Delayed surgery was performed in all but nine patients. Radical surgery (R0+R1) was performed in 22 (92%) (group A), 4 (44%) (group B), and 6 (46%) (group C) patients, respectively. A pCR was seen in four patients (two in group A and two in group C). No postoperative deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the very high age and presence of co-morbidity, the 5x5Gy schedule is well tolerated. Further, considering the very advanced local stage, the schedule has considerable anti-tumour activity and can result in radical surgery in a high proportion of patients.     

Concomitant chemotherapy and external radiotherapy plus brachytherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer: results of a retrospective multicenter study

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: In October 1995, the Piedmont AIRO (Italian Society of Radiation Oncology) Group started a multi-institutional study of radiochemotherapy on locally advanced esophageal cancer, characterized by external radiotherapy followed by an intraluminal high dose-rate brachytherapy boost. Most patients were re-evaluated for surgery at the end of the program. The primary aim of the study was to assess efficacy of curative radiochemotherapy regarding overall survival and local control rates. The secondary aim was to evaluate the ability of radiochemotherapy to make resectable lesions previously considered inoperable. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Between January 1996 and March 2000, 75 patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer were enrolled. All were treated with definitive radiotherapy; due to age or high expected toxicity, chemotherapy was employed only in 53 of them. Treatment schedule consisted of 60 Gy external radiotherapy (180 cGy/d, 5 days/week for 7 weeks) concomitant with two 5-day cycles of chemotherapy with cisplatin and fluorouracil (weeks 1 and 5). One or two sessions of 5-7 Gy intraluminal high dose-rate brachytherapy were carried out on patients whose restaging showed a major tumor response. Surgery was performed in 14 patients. RESULTS: At the end of radiotherapy, dysphagia disappeared in 46/75 cases (61%), and in 20/75 (27%) a significant symptom reduction was recorded. Complete objective response at restaging after radiotherapy was obtained in 33% of patients and a partial response in 53%. At the end of the multimodal treatment program, including esophagectomy, complete responses were 34 (45%); 4 of 14 (28.5%) cases proved to be disease free (pT0) at pathological examination. No G3-G4 toxicity was recorded. Two- and 5-year overall survival rates of all patients were, respectively, 38% and 28%; 2- and 5-year local control rates were, respectively, 35% and 33%. In a subgroup of 20 nonsurgical patients in complete response after radiochemotherapy, the overall survival rate at 3 and 5 years was 65% and the local control rate at 3 and 5 years was 75%. According to multivariate analysis, prognostic factors for survival were Karnofsky index and esophagectomy. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with locally advanced disease, radiochemotherapy showed improved clinical and pathologic tumor response and survival compared to surgery or radiotherapy alone. Intraluminal brachytherapy with a small fraction size allows an increased dose to the tumor without higher toxicity. Esophagectomy following radiochemotherapy could improve survival rates compared to definitive radiochemotherapy, but it is necessary to optimize selection criteria for surgery at the re-evaluation phase.     

介入化疗和放疗在宫颈癌术前治疗中的作用

目的　通过对 15 7例ⅠB～ⅡB期宫颈癌术前放化疗患者进行分析 ,探讨术前不同治疗方法与手术疗效的关系。方法　分别对 76例及 81例ⅠB～ⅡB期患者行术前介入化疗及腔内放疗 ,化疗组术前采用选择性髂内动脉插管化疗 ,药物 :顺铂80～ 10 0mg、表阿霉素 70mg、5 氟脲嘧啶 1～ 1.2 5 g。放疗组术前采用192 Ir高剂量率腔内放疗 ,A点剂量 10 0 0～ 2 0 0 0cGy/2～4次共 1～ 2周 ,治疗后 2周左右行宫颈癌根治术。结果　术前介入化疗后肿瘤退缩率好于术前放疗者 ;术后病理高危因素发生率亦低于术前放疗者 ,但均无显著性差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。在巨块型宫颈癌患者 (肿瘤直径≥ 4cm)中 ,化疗组及放疗组术后 2年复发率分别为 12 .5 %及 31.9% (P <0 .0 5 ) ,而当宫颈肿瘤直径 <4cm时 ,放疗组及化疗组术后 2年复发率无明显差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。术前治疗有效者及无效者术后 2年复发率分别为 13.6 %及 30 .3% (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　巨块型宫颈癌患者术前行介入化疗者预后好于术前放疗者 ;术前治疗后肿瘤退缩情况与术后 2年复发率相关。     

Phase II study of cisplatin in cervical and endometrial carcinomas

A phase II group study of cisplatin for cervical and endometrial carcinomas was carried out in 19 institutes throughout Japan. The patients entered consisted of 62 women with cervical and 7 with endometrial carcinoma of whom 39 and 4 were evaluable, respectively. Cisplatin was administered in either of two regimens; 10-20 mg/m2 i.v., on days 1-5, or 50-100 mg/m2 i.v., on day 1, every 3 to 4 weeks. The responders comprised 4 CRs and 10 PRs for cervical carcinoma and 1 CR and 2 PRs for endometrial carcinoma, and the response rates were 35.9% and 75.0%, respectively. The response rates by histological classification were 39.4% (13/33) for squamous cell carcinoma and 16.7% (1/6) for non-squamous cell carcinoma. Response rates analysed by lesion site were 33.3% for primary tumors, 36.8% for local lesions and 33.3% for metastases. Furthermore, the response rate among patients without any prior chemotherapy was 44.4% vs. 16.7% for those with prior chemotherapy. Adverse effects included nausea and vomiting (95.3%), anorexia (93%), anemia (72.1%), leucopenia (60.5%) and elevation of BUN (16.3%). Adverse effects were tolerable. We concluded from these results that cisplatin is among the most efficacious and useful drugs against cervical (and endometrial) carcinoma(s).     

Early and late postoperative seizure outcome in 97 patients with supratentorial meningioma and preoperative seizures: a retrospective study

This study was performed to evaluate the incidence of seizures with its implications on disease progression and the diagnostic value of post-ictal magnetic resonance images (MRI) during the management of high-grade gliomas (HGGs). A total of 406 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed HGGs were retrospectively reviewed. The incidence of seizures during the management was investigated. In patients who experienced a seizure, the causality between seizures and disease progression was assessed by pre-ictal, post-ictal (<1 month), and follow-up (<3 months) MRI. After a median follow-up of 17.4 months (range 0.1–88.3), seizures developed in 127 patients (31 %). Of the 127 patients, radiological progression at the post-ictal MRI was found in 83 patients (65 %) and the follow-up MRI confirmed progression in 79 patients (62 %). Four other patients (3 %) were shown to be progression-free. Among those without radiological progression at the post-ictal MRI, the follow-up MRI confirmed progression-free in 31 patients (24 %); however, 13 patients (10 %) revealed eventual progression. In the patients with a seizure, absence of preoperative seizures (p = 0.003), <95 % tumor resection (p = 0.001), and pre-ictal Karnofsky Performance Scale score ≤70 (p = 0.025) were significantly associated with disease progression. During the management of HGG, 31 % of patients experienced seizures; of these patients, 72 % harbored progressive disease. The post-ictal MRI is useful for detecting disease progression; however, there are pitfalls. Clinical settings should be considered together for diagnosing disease progression in patients with seizures.     

Maxillary sinus carcinomas: natural history and results of postoperative radiotherapy

Between 1969 and 1985, 73 patients with maxillary sinus cancers underwent surgical excision and postoperative radiotherapy. The clinical stage distribution by the AJC system was 3T1, 16T2, 32T3, and 22T4. Six patients had palpable lymphadenopathy at diagnosis. Surgery for the primary tumor consisted of partial or radical maxillectomy, and if disease stage indicated it, ipsilateral orbital exenteration. This was followed by radiation treatment delivered through a wedge-pair or three-field technique. All but three patients received 50-60 Gy in 2 Gy fractions to an isodose line defining the target volume. Elective neck irradiation was not routinely given. Clinically involved nodes were treated with definitive radiotherapy (five patients) or combined treatment (one patient). Forty-five patients had no evidence of disease at the last follow-up. The 5-year relapse-free survival for the whole group was 51% The overall local control rate was 78%. Patients with larger tumors, particularly if they also had histological signs of nerve invasion, had a higher recurrence rate than others. The overall nodal recurrence rate without elective neck treatment was 38% for squamous and undifferentiated carcinoma, and only 5% for adenoid cystic carcinomas. Therefore, our current recommendation is to deliver elective nodal irradiation routinely to patients with squamous or undifferentiated carcinoma, except for those who have T1 lesions. Treatment complications were vision impairment, brain and bone necrosis, trismus, hearing loss, and pituitary insufficiency. The incidence of major side effects was determined by disease extent and treatment technique. Many technical refinements were introduced in order to limit the dose to normal tissues in an attempt to reduce the complication rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Californium-252 neutron brachytherapy combined with external pelvic radiotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy for cervicalcancer: a retrospective clinical study

Background: Cervical cancer is the sixth most common cancer in Chinese women. A standard treatment modality for cervical cancer is the combination of surgery, chemotherapy, external-beam radiotherapy and intracavitary brachytherapy. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the long-term treatment outcomes of patients with cervical cancer who were treated with californium-252 neutron brachytherapy combined with external-beam radiotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 150 patients with primary stages IB-IVB cervical cancer who received neutron brachytherapy combined with external-beam radiotherapy concurrently with cisplatin chemotherapy.All patients were followed up. Using an actuarial analysis, patient outcomes and treatment-related adverse effects were evaluated and compared.Results: The median overall survival (OS) was 33.2 months. The 3-year progression-free survival rates for patients with stages Ⅰ—Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ diseases were 81.0% (68/84), 65.0% (39/60), and 0% (0/6), respectively; the 3-year OS rates were 90.5% (76/84), 85.0% (51/60), and 16.7% (1/6), respectively. Vaginal bleeding was controlled within the median time of 4.0 days. One month after treatment, 97.3% of patients achieved short-term local control. The local recurrence rates for patients with stages Ⅰ—Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ disease were 4.8% (4/84), 11.7% (7/60), and 33.3% (2/6), respectively, and the occurrence rates of distant metastasis were 16.7% (14/84), 25.0% (15/60), and 100.0% (6/6), respectively. Cancer stage,tumor size, and lymph node metastasis were identified as prognostic risk factors, but only lymph node metastasis was found to be an independent prognostic factor. The most common adverse effects during treatment were grades 1 and 2 irradiation-related proctitis and radiocystitis.Conclusion: For patients with cervical cancer, neutron brachytherapy combined with external-beam radiotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy produces a rapid response and greatly improves local control and long-term survival rates with tolerable adverse effects.     

Long-term outcomes of postoperative taxane/platinum chemotherapy for early stage cervical cancer: a retrospective study

Background

Taxane/platinum (TP)-based combination chemotherapy is standard for the treatment of metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of postoperative TP therapy in early stage cervical cancer.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients with FIGO IB–IIB stage cervical cancer who were treated with radical hysterectomy and displayed surgical-pathological risk factors was performed. 122 patients were identified between 2003 and 2012. Survival was analyzed by Kaplan–Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate predictors of survival.

Results

The median follow-up period was 82.4 months. The postoperative adjuvant therapy was TP in 82 (67.2%) patients, other chemotherapies in 10 (8.2%), radiotherapy (RT) in 25 (20.5%), and no further therapy (NFT) in 5 (4.1%). Survival was analyzed using 4 subgroups according to the postoperative adjuvant therapy. The estimated 5-year overall survival was 95.1% in the TP group, 90.0% in the other chemotherapy group, 78.9% in the RT group, and 100% in the NFT group. No significant difference of survival was observed in the subgroups. However, when analyzing only patients who displayed high-risk factors, non-TP adjuvant therapy (including RT and other chemotherapies) was independently associated with shorter survival on multivariate analysis. In the TP group, multivariate analysis revealed that a positive surgical margin was a significant predictor of shorter survival.

Conclusions

Postoperative TP is effective in patients with surgically treated early stage cervical cancer. In these populations, a positive surgical margin could be associated with poor prognosis.

     

The Stockholm II trial on preoperative radiotherapy in rectal carcinoma: long-term follow-up of a population-based study

BACKGROUND: The Stockholm II trial is a population-based prospective randomized trial on preoperative radiotherapy in rectal carcinoma. METHODS: Eligibility criteria were age younger than 80 years and biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of the rectum judged resectable for cure with an abdominal procedure. Between 1987 and 1993, 557 patients were included. Patients were randomized to preoperative radiotherapy (RT+) followed by surgery within a week (n = 272) or surgery alone (RT-; n = 285). Radiotherapy was given with 25 grays in 1 week to the rectum and pararectal tissues. Curative resection was performed in 481 patients (86%). Median follow-up was 8.8 years. RESULTS: Among patients who underwent curative surgery, the incidence of pelvic recurrence was 12% (RT+) and 25% (RT-), respectively (P < 0.001). The overall survival rate in irradiated patients who underwent curative surgery was improved (46%) versus (39%; P < 0.03). For all included patients, the difference was 39% (RT+) compared with 36% (RT-; P = 0.2). Within 6 months of surgery, 13 of 272 (5%) of the irradiated patients died of intercurrent disease versus 4 of 285 (1%) of the nonirradiated (P = 0.02). Cardiovascular death was the main cause of intercurrent death and occurred in 35 of 272 (13%) of the irradiated patients compared with 20 of 285 (7%) among the nonirradiated (P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative short-term radiotherapy reduces the risk of pelvic recurrence and can improve survival after curative surgery for rectal carcinoma. An increased risk of intercurrent death may reduce the benefit especially in elderly patients.     

术前放疗对Ⅱ期和Ⅲ期肺癌切除率及远期疗效的影响

背景与目的:肺癌的早期发现及诊断有一定的困难,相当一部分病人在出现临床症状而就诊时属于中晚期(部分Ⅲb、Ⅳ期),已经不适合手术治疗。对于部分Ⅱ期和Ⅲ期的肺癌病人,因伴有同侧肺门或纵隔淋巴结转移,手术切除困难较大,或因心肺功能较差,而不能耐受较大范围的肺切除时(双肺叶或全肺切除),过去主张先进行术前放射治疗,以期提高手术切除率及远期疗效。本文的目的在于探讨术前放射治疗对Ⅱ期和Ⅲ期肺癌的手术切除率,及远期疗效的影响。方法:1985-1995年,62例肺癌病人经术前放射治疗并接受手术(A组),同期未行术前放射治疗而采用手术的肺癌病人共1615例(B组)。分析术前放射治疗的治疗作用,比较A、B两组间Ⅱ期和Ⅲ期肺癌病人的手术切除率、术后并发症的发生率及远期疗效。结果:A、B两组间Ⅱ期和Ⅲ期肺癌病人的手术切除率(84.2%vs84.5%,χ2=0.187,P>0.05);3、5年生存率无显著差异(χ2=9.86,P>0.05),A组Ⅱ期和Ⅲ期病人的术后并发症的发生率高于B组同期病人(12.3%vs5.8%,χ2=6.84,P<0.05)。结论:术前放射治疗并没有提高Ⅱ期和Ⅲ期肺癌的手术切除率和远期生存率。除非有助于选择肺癌能被理想切除的手术方式或减小手术切除的范围,否则,术前放射治疗应慎重考虑。     

114例宫颈癌术后放疗的临床分析

目的 回顾性分析宫颈癌患者术后放疗的疗效、晚期副反应及预后因素.方法 搜集2005年2月前6年接受术后放疗的ⅠA～ⅡB期官颈癌病例114例,其中年龄24～72岁(中位值42.5岁);FIGO临床分期ⅠA期6例、Ⅰb1期51例、Ⅰb2期18例、ⅡA期26例、ⅡB期13例;术后病理为鳞癌92例、腺癌19例、腺鳞癌2例、未分化癌1例.113例采用加速器6、15 MV X线盒式4个野常规放疗40～60 Gy(中位值50 Gy),81例放疗后4周加192Ir近距离治疗,参考点在阴道黏膜下T0.5 cm,1～6次,4～30Gy(中位值16 Gy).87例接受术前或(和)同步增敏化疗.随访5～75个月(中位值20个月),总随访率为92%.结果 2年总生存率、无瘤生存率、盆腔控制率分别为93.1%、88.1%、94.6%,5年总生存率、无瘤生存率、盆腔控制率分别为75.7%、62.3%、85.6%.淋巴结转移及阴道残端阳性为总生存率的独立预后因素,阴道残端阳性为盆腔控制率的独立预后因素,分期、子宫下段受累及阴道残端阳性为无瘤生存率的独立预后因素.16例患者远处转移,最常见转移部位为肺、腹股沟及骨、肝及脑.RTOG分级晚期直肠反应发生率1级11.4%、2级11.4%、3级3.5%,泌尿系反应发生率1级14.0%、2级6.1%、3级0.9%.治疗后出现下肢水肿者8例.结论 术后放疗在盆腔控制率上能达到较满意疗效,且放疗相关晚期副反应是可接受的,远处转移是致死主要问题.     

Short-course preoperative radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy,delayed surgery and local hyperthermia for rectal cancer: a phase II study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of short-course radiotherapy with oral capecitabine, hyperthermia and delayed surgery for neoadjuvant treatment of rectal cancer.

Methods: Patients with clinically staged T2-3N0-2M0 primary rectal cancer were included. All patients received short-course 25?Gy in 5?Gy fractions radiotherapy with capecitabine, local hyperthermia and metronidazole. Capecitabine 1000?mg/m² twice a day was given on days 1–14. Local hyperthermia, 41–45?°C for 60?min, was performed on days 3–5. Metronidazole 10?g/m² was administered per rectum on days 3 and 5. The time interval to surgery was not less than four weeks after neoadjuvant treatment. The primary end-point was pathological complete response (pCR). Secondary end-points included neoadjuvant treatment toxicity, tumour regression, surgical and oncological outcomes.

Results: A total of 81 patients were included in the analysis. Ten (12.3%) patients had grade 3 toxicity and one (1.2%) patient had grade 4 toxicity. Sphincter-sparing surgery was performed for 78 (96.3%) patients. There was no postoperative mortality. Postoperative complications occurred in 11 (13.8%) patients. Sixteen (20%) patients had a pCR. The median follow-up was 40.9 months. There were no local recurrences. Nine (11.1%) patients developed distant metastases. Three-year overall survival was 97% and the three-year disease-free survival was 85%.

Conclusions: Short-course radiotherapy with chemotherapy, radiosensitizers and delayed surgery is a feasible treatment for rectal cancer and may lead to tumour regression rate comparable with long-course chemoradiation.