Sequential Chemoradiotherapy Compared to Radiotherapy in Endometrial Carcinoma

Background: The role of combined modality in the adjuvant treatment of Endometrial Cancer has not been established. This study aims to assess the benefits of Sequential Chemoradiotherapy (SCRT) compared to Radiotherapy (RT) alone in the treatment of patients with Endometrial Cancer. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients with Endometrial Cancer stage I to stage III C at King Abdullah Medical city, Makkah. Each group of patients was assigned to receive External pelvic RT, brachytherapy or both. While a second group received SCRT consisting of six cycles of Carboplatin (AUC 5) and Paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 followed by radiotherapy. Results: Fifty-six women were treated of which 26 received SCRT and 30 received RT. The two groups had a median age of 58 years old ranging from 34 – 84 years old with no other statistically significant difference. Patients who received SCRT had poorer prognostic tumor characteris-tics. Median follow-up was 29.6 months (95% CI: 19.6-39.5 months). All deaths (n=5) were exclusively in the RT group. The 2 and 4-year OS rates were 100% and 100% in SCRT group versus 87.3% and 64.9% in RT group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.018 [95% CI: 0-24.4; p= 0.038); The 2- and 4-year DFS were 100% and 100% in SCRT group versus 78.1% and 43.9% in RT group (HR 0.102 [95% CI: 0.103-0.805; p= 0.008). Conclusion: Adjuvant chemotherapy given before radiotherapy for Endometrial Cancer may lessen the effect of high-risk features on the DFS and OS. Randomized clinical trials are needed to determine the benefits of early Systemic Therapy.     

Adjuvant Radiotherapy for Gastric Carcinoma: 10 years Follow-up of 244 cases from a Single Institution

Background: Postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) of gastric carcinoma improves survival among highriskpatients. This study was undertaken to analyse long-term survival probability and the impact of certaincovariates on the survival outcome in affected individuals. Materials and Methods: Between January 2000 andDecember 2005, 244 patients with gastric cancer underwent adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in our institution. Datawere retrieved retrospectively from patient files and analysed with SPSS version 21.0. Results: A total of 244cases, with a male to female ratio of 2.2:1, were enrolled in the study. The median age of the patients was 52 years(range, 20-78 years). Surgical margin status was positive or close in 72 (33%) out of 220 patients. Postoperativeadjuvant RT dose was 46 Gy. Median follow-up was 99 months (range, 79-132 months) and 23 months (range,2-155 months) for surviving patients and all patients, respectively. Actuarial overall survival (OS) probabilityfor 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year was 79%, 37%, 24% and 16%, respectively. Actuarial progression free survival (PFS)probability was 69%, 34%, 23% and 16% in the same consecutive order. AJCC Stage I-II disease, subtotalgastrectomy and adjuvant CRT were significantly associated with improved OS and PFS in multivariate analyses.Surgical margin status or lymph node dissection type were not prognostic for survival. Conclusions: PostoperativeCRT should be considered for all patients with high risk of recurrence after gastrectomy. Beside well-knownprognostic factors such as stage, lymph node status and concurrent chemotherapy, the type of gastrectomy wasan important prognostic factor in our series. With our findings we add to the discussion on the definition ofrequired surgical margin for subtotal gastrectomy. We consider that our observations in gastric cancer patientsin our clinic can be useful in the future randomised trials to point the way to improved outcomes.     

胰腺癌新辅助与辅助放疗进展

新辅助和辅助放疗在胰腺癌中的作用还不明确.对于可切除的胰腺癌首选手术,新辅助放疗只是手术存在困难时的补充;对于交界可切除及局部晚期的胰腺癌,基于化疗基础上联合放疗的新辅助治疗方案,可提高R0切除率并提高局控率;由于现有的临床试验的结果不一致,胰腺癌术后辅助放疗存在争议,但对于非R0切除及pN1的患者,建议在辅助化疗的基...     

Adjuvant chemotherapy vs radiotherapy in high-risk endometrial carcinoma: results of a randomised trial

Patients with high-risk endometrial carcinoma (stage IcG3, IIG3 with myometrial invasion >50%, and III) receive adjuvant therapy after surgery but it is not clear whether radiotherapy (RT) or chemotherapy (CT) is better. We randomly assigned 345 patients with high-risk endometrial carcinoma to adjuvant CT (cisplatin (50 mg m(-2)), doxorubicin (45 mg m(-2)), cyclophosphamide (600 mg m(-2)) every 28 days for five cycles, or external RT (45-50 Gy on a 5 days week(-1) schedule). The primary end points were overall and progression-free survival. After a median follow-up of 95.5 months women in the CT group as compared with the RT group, had a no significant hazard ratio (HR) for death of 0.95 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.66-1.36; P = 0.77) and a nonsignificant HR for event of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.63-1.23; P = 0.45). The 3, 5 and 7-year overall survivals were 78, 69 and 62% in the RT group and 76, 66 and 62% in the CT group. The 3, 5 and 7-year progression-free survivals were, respectively, 69, 63 and 56 and 68, 63 and 60%. Radiotherapy delayed local relapses and CT delayed metastases but these trends did not achieve statistical significance. Overall, both treatments were well tolerated. This trial failed to show any improvement in survival of patients treated with CT or the standard adjuvant radiation therapy. Randomised trials of pelvic RT combined with adjuvant cytotoxic therapy compared with RT alone are eagerly awaited.     

诱导化疗加放疗与同期放化疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的疗效比较

[目的]比较诱导化疗加放疗与同期放化疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的疗效.[方法]收集2007年1月至2009年12月中山大学附属肿瘤医院收治的经病理证实的局部晚期鼻咽癌258例,其中采用顺铂+5-Fu诱导化疗加调强放疗(诱导组)128例,采用顺铂同期放化疗(同期组)130例.应用Kaplan-Meier和Log-rank方法计算和比较两组患者的生存率,应用COX风险回归模型进行预后多因素分析.[结果]诱导组和同期组5年总生存率(83.1％ vs 83.0％)、无瘤生存率(80.9％ vs 79.1％)、无转移生存率(84.9％ vs 83.6％)、无复发生存率(95.0％ vs 92.8％)比较差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).同期组3、4级恶心呕吐的发生率明显高于诱导组(10％ vs 1.6％,P=0.004),体重下降的平均数也明显大于诱导组(P＜0.001).多因素分析结果显示N分期是影响局部晚期鼻咽癌总生存的独立因素.[结论]诱导化疗加调强放疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的疗效与同期放化疗相近,但同期放化疗的消化道反应较重.远处转移是局部晚期鼻咽癌治疗失败的主要原因.     

乳癌术后辅助放化治疗对远期生存的影响

本文回顾总结我院内科１９７７至１９８７年收治９８例Ⅱ、Ⅲ期乳癌术后病人辅助化疗及辅助放化治疗的远期疗效，该组５、１０年生存率７１．４％与４２．９％，较同期手术组Ⅱ、Ⅲ期病人５、１０年生存率６６．４％与２９．６％提高。在Ⅱ期病人中辅助化疗组５、１０年生存率９４．１％与７３．５％明显高于Ⅱ期放化治疗组５、１０年生存率６９．６％与２６．１％。Ⅲ期病人辅助化疗组与辅助放化组生存率相近似。     

Comparison of Effects of Hemoglobin Levels Upon Tumor Response among Cervical Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Accelerated Hyperfractionated Radiotherapy versus Cisplatin Chemoradiotherapy

Purpose: Blood hemoglobin levels are known to influence response to radiotherapy. This retrospectiveanalysis compared the effect of hemoglobin levels upon response to radiation among patients treated withradiation alone (by accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy) versus those treated with concurrent cisplatinchemoradiotherapy. Materials and Methods: Among patients treated for locally advanced carcinoma of thecervix (LACC) during 2009-10, a total of 60 fulfilled the eligibility criteria. In this time frame, external beamradiotherapy was delivered with either concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT, n=31) (45Gy over 25 fractions,with weekly cisplatin at 40mg/m2), or with accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy (AHRT, n=29) (20Gyover 10 daily fractions over the first two weeks, followed by 30Gy over 20 fractions over the next two weeks,with two fractions of 1.5Gy per day, without the use of chemotherapy). Mean weekly hemoglobin (MWH) levelsof all patients were calculated as the arithmetic means of weekly recorded blood hemoglobin levels. As perMWH, patients in both of the AHRT or the CRT groups were classified into two subgroups- those with MWHbetween 10-10.9g/dL, or with MWH>11g/dL. Complete response (CR) to external beam RT phase (prior tobrachytherapy) was declared after clinical examinations and computed tomography. The CR rate was noted forboth MWH sub-groups within each of the AHRT and CRT groups. Results: Within the AHRT group, patientswith MWH>11g/dL had a much better CR rate in comparison to those with MWH:10-10.9g/dL (80% vs. 21.1%)which was statistically significant (p 0.0045). Within the CRT group, there was no significant difference in theoutcomes within the MWH>11g/dL and MWH:10-10.9g/dL sub-groups ( CR rates of 80% vs. 61.9%, p=0.4285).Conclusions: The importance of maintaining a minimum hemoglobin level of 11g/dL during RT is much greaterfor patients treated with RT alone, than for patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Enhancedhaemoglobin levels during RT may to an extent negate the ill-effects that may otherwise arise due to non-use ofconcurrent chemotherapy.     

直肠癌术后放疗（附45例分析）

放疗在直肠癌的综合治疗中占有重要地位,特别是术后预防照射能够起到减少复发提高生存率的作用.本文收集1970年2月至1989年12月治疗的45例直肠癌术后病例:术后预防照射25例和术后复发治疗的20例.两组病例的临床所见和病理检查结果大致相同,前者5年生存率为37%(7/19),后者仅有2例活过3年,可见术后预防照射的预后明显优于复发放疗者.所以对病期偏晚的直肠癌应做预防放疗,可望改善本病的预后.     

肝外胆管癌术后辅助放化疗的现况分析

近年来,肝外胆管癌的发病率逐年递增。因其易侵犯周围肝动脉、肝静脉、门静脉,且根治性切除率低,预后较差,即使早期完成根治术,5年生存率仍不足30%。术后辅助治疗能否改善肝外胆管癌的预后一直是研究的热点及争议点,本文将结合最新的研究进展,讨论肝外胆管癌术后辅助治疗的方案,分析术后辅助治疗对于肝外胆管癌预后的意义。     

Adjuvant Modified FOLFOX-4 in Patients with Stage III Rectum Adenocarcinoma

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate efficacy and toxicity of a modified 5-fluorouracil (5-FU),folinic acid, oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX-4) regimen followed by infusional 5-FU concomitant with radiotherapy forcuratively resected stage III rectum adenocarcinoma patients. Patients and Methods: Between April 2005 andJuly 2009, 55 operated stage III rectum cancer patients were evaluated retrospectively. mFOLFOX-4 regimen(oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 1st day, folinic acid 200 mg/m2 1st day, 5-FU 400 mg/m2 iv bolus 1st day, 5-FU 1600mg/m2 46 hours continuous infusion) was applied every 2 weeks. After four courses of mFOLFOX-4, 50.4 Gy(1.8 Gy in 28 fractions) radiotherapy with continuous 5-FU 200 mg/m²/day by infusion pump were given. Oncompletion of chemoradiation four more mFOLFOX-4 courses were given. Results: Median age of the patientswas 54 years (range 23-73 years). Low anterior resection was performed in 37 (67.3%) and abdominoperinealresection in 16 (29.1%) . Ten (18.2%) patients were at stage IIIA, 24 (43.6%) at stage IIIB and 21 (38.2%) atstage IIIC. Planned chemotherapy cycles were completed in 92.7% of patients. Grades 3-4 toxicity includedneutropenia (9.1%), febrile neutropenia (3.6%), anemia (3.6%), diarrhea (21.8%), neuropathy (9.1%), renaltoxicity (3.6%), hepatotoxicity (5.5%). Median follow-up time was 30 (9-57) months. Local recurrence anddistant metastasis was observed in 3 (5.5%) and 10 (18.2%) patients, respectively. Ten (18.2%) patients diedduring follow-up. Three years disease free survival and overall survival were 67.5% and 77.3%, respectively.Conclusion: mFOLFOX-4 following chemoradiotherapy with continuous 5- FU infusion is an effective and welltolerated adjuvant treatment for stage III rectal carcinoma patients.     

同期放化疗治疗局限期小细胞肺癌的临床观察

目的探讨三维适形放疗或调强放疗同期化疗与序贯放化疗治疗局限期小细胞肺癌的疗效及毒副作用。方法 45例局限期小细胞肺癌患者随机分成三维适形放疗或调强放疗加同步化疗组（同期组,23例）与化疗后再放疗组（序贯组,22例）。同期组在化疗的第l周期开始放疗,序贯组化疗4～6个周期后再进行放疗。两组患者化疗方案均为EP方案,均接受三维适形放疗或调强放疗,1次/天,1.8～2 Gy/次,5次/周,共28～31次,总剂量50.4～62 Gy。照射野包括原发病灶和转移淋巴结及邻近一站淋巴引流区。结果原发病灶总有效率同期组为95.7%,序贯组为86.4%;1～2级急性骨髓抑制发生率同期组为82.6%,3～4级同期组为8.7%,序贯组分别为77.3%、9.1%（P〉0.05）;1～2级放射性食管炎、放射性肺炎发生率同期组分别为78.2%、86.9%,序贯组为72.7%、81.8%（P〉0.05）;两组均无3、4级发生率。同期组和序贯组的12个月、18个月生存率分别为82.6%、69.5%和77.2%、36.3%（P=0.039）,局部复发率分别为8.6%和31.8%（P=0.023）。结论三维适形放疗或调强放疗加同期化疗局限期小细胞肺癌能为绝大多数患者耐受,有较好的近期疗效,是1种安全有效的治疗手段,值得进一步研究。     

Adjuvant Therapy for High-risk Endometrial Carcinoma

About one-fifth of endometrial cancers are ‘high risk’, which carries a poorer prognosis. Management strategies to optimise their survival have been under investigation for many years. Despite recent advances, their overall survival remains relatively poor. The definition of high risk in endometrial cancers has been based on clinicopathological factors until recently, when molecular profiling has shown greater discrimination. There is, however, poor correlation between traditional clinicopathological factors and their molecular profile. This is the subject of ongoing trials to better individualise adjuvant post-hysterectomy treatment. The management of high-risk tumours is traditionally based on surgery followed by radiotherapy, despite no proven overall survival benefit in early stages. The place of chemotherapy remains under investigation, with recent trials showing benefit in more advanced stages. The Post Operative Radiation Therapy in Endometrial Carcinoma (PORTEC) and Gynecologic Oncology Group trials support the use of chemoradiation and chemotherapy for stage III and adverse histological subgroups. In addition, there is now early evidence of correlation between benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy based on molecular alterations in the tumour cells. In this review, we look at the current evidence on management strategies in the evolving era of molecular diagnosis and stratification.     

The “Sandwich” Schedule: A Well-Tolerated Adjuvant Treatment Both in Intermediate–High- and High-Risk Endometrial Cancer

(1) Background: In intermediate–high- and high-risk endometrial cancer (EC), radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT) play a basic role. However, there is controversy regarding the optimal timing of their combination. The “sandwich” schedule involves adjuvant CT followed by RT and subsequent CT. The aim of this study is to assess the tolerability and efficacy of the “sandwich” schedule. (2) Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in two gynecological oncology units in Torino, Italy, from 1 January 2003 until 31 December 2021. Intermediate–high- and high-risk patients with available clinical data were included. Compliance with treatment, CT and RT toxicities, disease-free survival (DFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. (3) Results: A total of 118 patients were selected: 27.1% FIGO I-II stages and 72.9% III-IV. Most of the patients (75.4%) received a carboplatin–paclitaxel combination, and as much as 94.9% of CT cycles were completed. Chemotherapy-related G3-4 toxicities were detected in 5.3% of the patients, almost half of which were hematological. Grade 2 gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities were reported in 8.4% and 4.2% of cases, respectively. With a median follow-up of 46 months, DFS was 77.6%, CSS was 70% and 5-year OS was 54%. (4) Conclusions: The “sandwich” schedule for CT and RT combination is an effective adjuvant treatment with low toxicity both in intermediate–high- and high-risk EC.     

64例早期食管癌放射治疗疗效探讨

 分析64例早期食管癌放射治疗的结果, 5、10、15年生存率分别为71.9%(6/64)、46.9%(30/64)、31.3%(20/64)。 局部复发和远处转移是患者死亡的主要原因。 设野应循常规, 前胸野6cm×15cm, 背部两斜野5cm×15cm, 放射剂量以50～60Gy/5～6周为宜。 从疗效和生存质量角度分析, 放射治疗不失为早期食管癌较佳的治疗手段。     

Chemoradiotherapy alone vs. chemoradiotherapy and hysterectomy for locally advanced cervical cancer: A systematic review and updated meta-analysis

The benefit of adjuvant hysterectomy after definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for locally-advanced cervical cancer (LACC) is controversial. The purpose of the present study was to systematically search the literature and perform a meta-analysis to compare overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between patients subjected to CCRT with hysterectomy and those who underwent CCRT alone. The PubMed, Scopus, Embase and Google scholar databases were searched. A meta-analysis to determine hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with meta-regression was performed for the following moderators: Disease stage, histology and proportion of radical hysterectomy. Data from 14 studies were included. The results indicated that patients who received CCRT with hysterectomy had significantly better OS (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.91; I²=19%; P=0.007) and DFS (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.93; I²=27%; P=0.01) than those treated with CCRT alone. However, in a subgroup analysis by study type, the results were significant only for retrospective studies but not for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, only 2 RCTs were included with small sample size, heterogeneity and low overall quality. Subgroup analyses based on the use of brachytherapy in the CCRT with hysterectomy group demonstrated no difference in OS and DFS between the two groups. Regarding the absolute numbers of death and recurrence events, no significant difference in mortality (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.62 to 1.33; I²=0%; P=0.64) was determined between the two groups, but a significantly reduced incidence of recurrence was observed in the CCRT with hysterectomy group (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47-0.79; I²=29%; P=0.0002). The meta-regression results point to a significant influence of the proportion of stage II patients on OS. Despite the overall analysis indicating improved OS and DFS with the use of adjuvant hysterectomy after CCRT, subgroup analysis based on similar treatment protocols failed to demonstrate any significant benefit of hysterectomy in LACC. However, the results indicated that the recurrence rate may be higher in patients undergoing CCRT without hysterectomy. The limited quality of the studies included and selection bias from retrospective studies restrict the possibility to draw strong conclusions.     

The Impact of Radiotherapy Dose in Patients with Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Receiving Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy

Objective: For patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by planned esophagectomy is used as a curative treatment modality. However, the impact of radiotherapy dose remains undefined. Method: A total of 141 patients with stage III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC; as defined by the 7th American Joint Committee on Cancer), receiving preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy between 2000 and 2015 at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, were retrospectively reviewed. The radiotherapy dose of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (36 Gy before 2009 and 50–50.4 Gy after 2009) and other clinicopathological parameters were collected and correlated with the response to chemoradiotherapy and treatment outcome. Result: Of these 141 patients, the radiotherapy dose was 36 Gy in 59 (42%) patients and 50 Gy in 82 (58%) patients. A complete pathological response was noted in 12 (20%) of 59 patients receiving 36 Gy radiotherapy, and 37 (45%) of 82 patients receiving 50 Gy radiotherapy (p = 0.002). The three-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 31% and 25% in patients receiving 36 Gy radiotherapy, and 54% and 46% in patients receiving 50–50.4 Gy radiotherapy, respectively (p = 0.023 for overall survival; p = 0.047 for disease-free survival). Multivariate analysis showed that a higher radiotherapy dose was associated with increased pathological complete response (p = 0.003, hazard ratio: 3.215), better overall survival (p = 0.024, hazard ratio: 1.585), and superior disease-free survival (p = 0.049, hazard ratio: 1.493). However, higher radiotherapy doses revealed more surgical complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (p = 0.048) and anastomosis leaks (p = 0.004). Conclusion: For patients with locally advanced ESCC, preoperative chemoradiotherapy with higher radiotherapy doses led to increased pathologic complete response rates and improved survival.     

术后辅助放化疗与单纯手术治疗在胃腺癌中的比较

Objective:Despite resection with curative intent,a majority of patients with gastric cancer will develop disease recurrence.Postoperative adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy increase the curability of surgery,prevent local recurrence and improve survival.Methods:Between December 2005 and February 2010,33 patients were eligible for the study,17 patients were randomly assigned for chemo-radiotherapy (GI) and 16 patients with surgery alone (GII).Patients in GI received chemotherapy (fluorouracil,425 mg/m 2/day,and leu...     

Adjuvant radiotherapy for stage I endometrial cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis.

The role of adjuvant radiotherapy in stage I endometrial cancer following surgery remains unclear. The management for these patients varies widely, particularly in stage I patients with different risk factors. Using the methodology of Cochrane Collaboration, we did a systematic and meta-analysis of all know randomised controlled trials which compared adjuvant radiotherapy versus no radiotherapy following surgery for patients with stage I endometrial cancer. The meta-analysis was carried out on four trials (three published and one unpublished) and a total of 1770 patients. The addition of pelvic external beam radiotherapy to surgery reduced locoregional recurrence, a relative risk (RR) of 0.28 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17-0.44, P < 0.00001], which is a 72% reduction in the risk of pelvic relapse (95% CI 56% to 83%) and an absolute risk reduction of 6% (95% CI of 4% to 8%). The reduction in the risk of locoregional recurrence did not translate into a reduction in the risks of death from all causes, endometrial cancer death or distant recurrence. A subgroup analysis showed a trend towards the reduction in the risks of death from all causes and endometrial cancer in patients with multiple high risk factors (including stage 1c and grade 3). External beam pelvic radiotherapy should be considered in patients with multiple high-risk features including stage 1c and grade 3. However, it carries an inherent risk of damage and toxicity and should be avoided in stage 1 endometrial cancer patients with no high risk factors.