74例隆突型皮肤纤维肉瘤的治疗与预后分析

Objective： To study treatment and prognostic factor in 74 patients with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Methods： From August 1990 to November 1999, 74 patients with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans （DFSP） confirmed by pathology were treated in Cancer Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. 72 cases were given wide excision and 2 cases were given local excision. All of 74 cases, 52 cases had surgical resection alone, and 22 cases had surgical resection combined with radiotherapy. Total dose of radiotherapy was 50-70 Gy. Results： The rate of recurrence was 36.1% for all patients. The 5-year recurrence-free survival （RFS） rate was 66%. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rates for resection alone and combined with radiotherapy were 58% and 90%, respectively （P=-0.0187）. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rates for positive microscopic margins and negative microscopic margins were 57% and 75%, respectively （P=0.0468）. Conclusion： Post-operation radiotherapy is an effective treatment to decrease the recurrence rate for the patients with positive microscope, or the patients without suitable surgical treatment.     

Early post-operative MRI： correlation with progression-free survival and overall survival time in malignant gliomas

Forty-seven patients with Glioblastoma （42） and Anaplastic Astrocytoma （5） were studied with MR 24 hrs after surgery. In order to evaluate the role of early MR in defining the extent of surgical resection and its relation with the prognosis of malignant glioma patients, three categories of surgical resection were considered： gross total, sub-total and partial resection. The results were correlated with progression-free survival （PFS） and overall survival （ST）. As demonstrated by early-MR, gross total resection was performed in 17 patients, sub-total and partial resection in 19 and 11 patients, respectively. The PFS was 6 months in gross total resection, 6 and 3 months in sub-total and in partial resection, respectively. The median survival time was 16 months in total resection patients, 13 months and 7 months in sub-total resection and partial resection patients, respectively.     

Clinical analysis of 45 patients with thymic carcinoma

OBJECTIVE To retrospectively evaluate the prognostic factors for advanced thymic carcinoma. METHODS The data from 45 patients with advanced thymic carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed according to Masaoka stage criteria. There were 29 Stage Ⅲ patients and 16 Stage Ⅳ patients （13 Stage ⅣA patients and 3 Stage ⅣB patients）. According to the World Heath Organization Histological Criteria （2004）, 25 cases were identified as low-grade and 20 cases were identified as high-grade. All diagnoses were confirmed by biopsy. Five patients underwent gross total resection, 21 patients underwent subtotal resection and 19 patients underwent biopsy alone. Forty-two patients received radiotherapy with a median dose of 60 Gy, and 37 patients underwent conventional radiotherapy, including local irradiation and expanded irradiation. Local irradiation volume covered the primary tumor bed and approximately 1-2 cm^2 surrounding the tumor （according to preoperative imaging）. Expanded irradiation volume covered the full mediastinal and pericardium areas （with or without prophylactic irradiation in the supraclavicular area）. Five cases received stereotactic radiotherapy. Thirty-one patients were also treated with chemotherapeutics, including Cisplatin, VP-16, Endoxan, 5-FU and taxol. RESULTS The median follow-up period was 59 months. The overall 3-year survival rate was 57.8%, and the median survival was 45 months. Univariate statistical analysis showed that the histological subtype and Masaoka stage were prognostic factors. The 3-year survival rate was 61.9% in patients treated with gross total resection and 55.0% in those who underwent biopsy only. The 3-year survival rate was 59.5% in patients treated with conventional radiotherapy and 80% in those treated with stereotactic radiotherapy. The 3-year survival rate was 64.5% in patients treated with simultaneous chemotherapy and 42.9% in patients treated without simultaneous chemotherapy （P 〉 0.05）. Chemotherapy in combination with radiation treatment and surgery achieved better outcomes for Stage Ⅳ patients than radiation treatment and surgery without chemotherapy （P 〈 0.05）.
CONCLUSION For patients with Stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ thymic carcinoma, complete resection and postoperative radiotherapy or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy constitute the best treatment solution. Chemotherapy can also be used in combination to improve prognosis. For patients with Stage Ⅳ thymic carcinoma, chemotherapy is necessary.     

The clinical characteristics and treatment outcome of 57 children and adolescents with primary central nervous system germ cell tumors

Primary central nervous system germ cell tumors （CNS-GCTs） in children and adolescents have unique clinical features and methods of treatment compared with those in adults. There is little information about Chinese children and adolescents with CNS-GCTs. Therefore, in this study we retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and treatment outcome of Chinese children and adolescents with primary CNS-GCTs. Between January 2002 and December 2012, 57 untreated patients from a single institution were enrolled. They were diagnosed with CNS-GCTs after pathologic or clinical assessment. Of the 57 patients, 41 were males and 16 were females, with a median age of 12.8 years （range, 2.7 to 18.0 years） at diagnosis; 43 （75.4%） had non-germinomatous germ cell tumors （NGGCTs） and 14 （24.6%） had germinomas; 44 （77.2%） had localized disease and 13 （22.8%） had extensive lesions. Fifty-three patients completed the prescribed treatment, of which 18 underwent monotherapy of surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy, and 35 underwent multimodality therapies that included radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy or surgery combined with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. PEB （cisplatin, etoposide, and bleomycin） protocol was the major chemotherapy regimen. The median follow-up time was 32.3 months （range, 1.2 to 139 months）. Fourteen patients died of relapse or disease progression. The 3-year event-free survival （EFS） and overall survival rates for all patients were 72.2% and 73.8%, respectively. The 3-year EFS was 92.9% for germinomas and 64.8% for NGGCTs （P = 0.064）. The 3-year EFS rates for patients with NGGCTs who underwent monotherapy and multimodality therapies were 50.6% and 73.5%, respectively （P = 0.042）. Our results indicate that multimodality therapies including chemotherapy plus radiotherapy were better treatment option for children and adolescents with CNS-GCTs.     

Clinical features,survival and prognostic factors of primary testicular diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Objective： To assess the clinical features, survival and prognostic factors of primary testicular diffuse large B-cell lymphoma （DLBCL）. Methods： A retrospective study of 37 patients with primary testicular DLBCL was carried out from November 2003 to May 2012. Their clinical features, survival and prognostic factors were analyzed. Results： During a median follow-up period of 39.8 months （5.4-93.0 months）, the median progression-free survival （PFS） was 26.2 months （95% CI：0-65 months） and the 3-year overall survival （OS） rate was 78.4%. Within the whole cohort, the factors significantly associated with a superior PFS were limited stage （stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ）, lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） ≤245 U/L, international prognostic index （IPI） ≤1, primary tumor diameter 〈7.5 cm, and patients who had complete response （CR） and received doxoruhicin-contained chemotherapy （P〈0.05）. There was a trend toward superior outcome for patients who received combined therapy （surgery/ chemotherapy/radiotherapy） （P=0.055）. Patients who had CR, primary tumor diameter 〈7.5 cm and IPI score ≤1 were significantly associated with longer PFS at multivariate analysis. Conclusions： Primary testicular DLBCL had poorer survival. CR, primary tumor diameter and IPI were independent prognostic factors. The combined therapy of orchectomy, doxorubicin-contained chemotherapy and contralateral testicular radiotherapy （RT） seemed to improve survival.     

Clinical Studies on Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma： A Report of 31 Cases

OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical manifestations, neuroimaging and pathological characteristics of primary central nervous system lymphoma （PCNSL） with a normal immunity, and to explore the methods of treatment and diagnosis. METHODS The clinical, laboratory, imaging data and pathological findings and therapeutic efficacy of 31 cases with pathologically proved PCNSL, during a period from July 1995 to June 2006, were analyzed retrospectively. The method of surgery, used in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, was evaluated in 18 cases versus a simple surgical procedure used in 5. Among the total cases, a CHOP regimen was employed in 11 and Teniposide （VM26） plus Semustine （me-CCUN） was used in 7 cases. RESULTS PCNSL had a variety of clinical features, so that its misdiagnosis rate was high. The main clinical findings of PCNSL included intracranial hypertension and （focal） neurologic impairment. No positive result was found in the CSF cellular examination. All of the 31 cases were B-cell lymphoma. Twenty-four of the 31 cases were followed-up, with a follow-up period from 6 to 98 months. The median period of survival of the group who underwent surgery in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy was 20 months, while the group with simple surgical therapy was 10 months. CONCLUSION Specific clinical manifestations were usually absent in the patients with PCNSL, giving an uncertain preoperative diagnosis and a poor prognosis. Pathological examination is the only reliable method for a final diagnosis of the disease. The main objective of surgical therapy is to relieve the intracranial hypertension caused by the tumor. Recurrence may occur in a short period following the simple operation. Therefore combined therapy, i.e. surgery plus additional radiotherapy and chemotherapy, should be adopted. This is the key point for extending survival time and improving the quality of life.     

389例脑胶质瘤立体定向放射治疗效果评价

Objective： To investigate the treatment effectiveness and side effects of stereotactic radiotherapy for brain glioma. Methods： From Jun. 1995 to Dec. 1998, 389 cases of brain gliomas were treated by stereotactic radiotherapy, among which 151 cases were treated by stereotactic radiosurgery （SRS） and the other 238 cases, by fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy （FSRT）. In the SRS group, the marginal tumor dose was 20 to 30 Gy （median, 2.6 Gy）. One to 6 isocenters （median, 2.48） and 5 to 21 irradiation arcs （median, 8.45） were applied. In the FSRT group, the per-fraction marginal tumor dose was 8 to 12 Gy with 1 to 6 isocenters （median, 2.53）, 6 to 20 irradiation arcs （median, 8.25） and 2-5 fractions delivered everyday or every other day. Results： Three months after treatment, the complete and partial response rates were 13.9% and 45.7% in SRS group respectively. The stable disease rate was 17.2%. The total effective rate was 76.8%. In FSRT group, the complete and partial remission rates were 19.7% and 47.9% respectively. The stable disease rate was 20.6%. The total effective rate was 88.2%. The total effective rate of FSRT group was higher than that in SRS group （X^2=9.874, P=0.020）. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rate of all patients was 54.3%, 29.3%, 16.5% respectively. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rate in SRS group and FSRT group was 52.3% vs 26.5%, 11.9% vs 55.5%, and 31.1 vs 19.3% respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups （X^2=2.16, P=0.1417）. The brain edema caused by the main radiation was more severe in the SRS group than in FSRT group （X^2=4.916, P=0.027）. Conclusion： It is effective for brain glioma to be treated by stereotactic radiotherapy. Compared with SRS, the FSRT has the advantage of good effect and less side response.     

Debulking treatment with CT-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation and hepatic artery infusion of floxuridine improves survival of patients with unresectable pulmonary and hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer

The survival of most patients with both unresectable hepatic and pulmonary metastases of colorectal cancer is poor. In this retrospective study, we investigated the efficacy of computed tomography （CT）-guided radiofrequency ablation （RFA） and systemic chemotherapy plus hepatic artery infusion of floxuridine （HAI-FUDR）. Sixty-one patients were selected from 1,136 patients with pulmonary and hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer. Patients were treated with RFA and systemic chemotherapy plus HAI-FUDR （ablation group, n=39） or systemic chemotherapy plus HAI-FUDR （FUDR group, n=22）. Patients in the two groups were matched by sex, age, number of metastases, and calendar year of RFA or FUDR. Survival data were evaluated by using univariate and multivariate analyses. Clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Al patients in the ablation group underwent RFA and chemotherapy. Median fol ow-up was 56.8 months. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival （OS） rates were 97%, 64%, and 37%, respectively, for the ablation group, and 82%, 32%, and 19%, respectively, for the FUDR group. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates after metastasis were 97%, 49%, and 26%for the ablation group, and 72%, 24%, and 24%for the FUDR group, respectively. The median OS times were 45 and 25 months for the ablation and FUDR groups, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, treatment al ocation was a favorable independent prognostic factor for OS （P = 0.001） and survival after metastasis （P = 0.009）. These data suggest that the addition of RFA to systemic chemotherapy plus HAI-FUDR improves the survival of patients with both unresectable hepatic and pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer.     

Clinical Analysis of 45 Patients with Thymic Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE To retrospectively evaluate the prognostic factors for advanced thymic carcinoma.METHODS The data from 45 patients with advanced thymic carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed according to Masaoka stage criteria. There were 29 Stage Ⅲ patients and 16 Stage Ⅳ patients (13 Stage IVA patients and 3 Stage IVB patients).According to the World Heath Organization Histological Criteria (2004), 25 cases were identified as low-grade and 20 cases were identified as high-grade. All diagnoses were confirmed by biopsy. Five patients underwent gross total resection, 21patients underwent subtotal resection and 19 patients underwent biopsy alone. Forty-two patients received radiotherapy with a median dose of 60 Gy, and 37 patients underwent conventional radiotherapy, including local irradiation and expanded irradiation.Local irradiation volume covered the primary tumor bed and approximately 1-2 cm2 surrounding the tumor (according to preoperative imaging). Expanded irradiation volume covered the full mediastinal and pericardium areas (with or without prophylactic irradiation in the supraclavicular area). Five cases received stereotactic radiotherapy. Thirty-one patients were also treated with chemotherapeutics, including Cisplatin, VP-16,Endoxan, 5-FU and taxol.RESULTS The median follow-up period was 59 months. The overall 3-year survival rate was 57.8%, and the median survival was 45 months. Univariate statistical analysis showed that the histological subtype and Masaoka stage were prognostic factors.The 3-year survival rate was 61.9% in patients treated with gross total resection and 55.0% in those who underwent biopsy only. The 3-year survival rate was 59.5% in patients treated with conventional radiotherapy and 80% in those treated with stereotactic radiotherapy. The 3-year survival rate was 64.5% in patients treated with simultaneous chemotherapy and 42.9%in patients treated without simultaneous chemotherapy (P >0.05). Chemotherapy in combination with radiation treatment and surgery achieved better outcomes for Stage Ⅳ patients than radiation treatment and surgery without chemotherapy (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION For patients with Stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ thymic carcinoma, complete resection and postoperative radiotherapy or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy constitute the best treatment solution. Chemotherapy can also be used in combination to improve prognosis. For patients with Stage Ⅳ thymic carcinoma,chemotherapy is necessary.     

鼻咽癌根治放疗后残留病变的两种推量治疗方法疗效比较

Objective： To compare the efficacy between stereotactic radiotherapy （SRT） and intracavitary brachytherapy （brachytherapy） in residual tumor of nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） after treating with conventional external beam radiotherapy. Methods： 60 patients with residual tumor of NPC after radical external beam radiotherapy （range 68 to 72 Gy） were randomized into SRT group （27 patients） and brachytherapy group （33 patients）. Patients in SRT group received boost treatment of 10-20 Gy, 2-3 fractions, once every other day; patients in brachytherapy group were treated with boost 10-20 Gy, 5 Gy per fraction, twice a week. Results： Efficacy in the near future： in SRT group, the complete recession （CR）, partial recession （PR） and no change （NC） rates were 77.8% （21/27）, 18.5% （5/27）, 3.7% （1/27）, respectively and the efficacy rate was 96.3% （CR ＋ PR）; in brachytherapy group： the CR, PR and NC rates were 75.8% （25/33）, 18.2% （6/33）, 6.1% （2/33）, respectively and the efficacy rate was 93.9% （CR ＋ PR）. The efficacy rates of the above two groups were compared （x^2 = 0.032, P 〉 0.05）. Long term efficacy： in SRT group, 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 96.3%, 66.5% respectively and the median live time was 48 months; in brachytherapy group： 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 93.9%, 60.2% respectively and the median live time was 46 months. The survival rates of two groups were compared （x^2 = 0.172, P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion： Both boost techniques of SRT and brachytherapy had elevated efficacy in patients with residual tumor of NPC and there was no obvious difference between the efficacy of the near and long term in SRT and brachytherapy group.     

局部晚期肝门部胆管癌根治术后放疗的价值

目的 回顾性分析及评价肝门部胆管癌根治性术后放疗的结果。方法 对接受根治术的肝门部胆管癌术后病理切缘阳性的47例进行分组研究，其中28例接受术后放疗（S＋RT组），19例未进行术后放疗（S组）。S＋RT组放疗采用6、15MVX线外照射，靶区剂量45～62Gy，中位剂量52Gy。术后中位随访期30个月（4～113个月）。结果 全组5年生存率为28％，中位生存期19．6个月。S＋RT组5年生存率、中位生存期显著高于S组，分别为34％、29个月和14％、10个月（P=0．015）。并发症发生率S组与S＋RT组分别为11％和11％，差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论 根治术结合放疗可明显延长切缘阳性患者的生存期，早、晚期放射反应可以接受。     

局部晚期肝门部胆管癌根治术后放射治疗

目的回顾性分析及评价肝门部胆管癌根治性术后放射治疗的结果.方法 1992年3月～1997年12月76例肝门部胆管癌患者接受根治性手术,其中47例术后病理显示切缘有镜下残留(R1组),47例中28例接受术后放射治疗(S RT组),6～15MV X线外照射,靶区剂量达45～62Gy,中位剂量52Gy.术后中位随访期30个月(4～113个月).结果(n=47)总5年生存率28%,中位生存期19.6个月.S RT组(n=28)5年生存率、中位生存期显著高于S组(n=19),分别为34%、29个月和14%、10.0个月(P=0.0141).结论根治性手术结合放射治疗可明显延长切缘阳性患者的生存期;早、晚期放射反应可以耐受.     

Radiotherapy and multimodality management of cholangiocarcinoma

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of radiotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma patients managed with various combinations of chemotherapy and surgical resection with selective liver transplantation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From January 1990 to December 1995, 61 patients with histologically confirmed biliary duct adenocarcinoma were seen in the Radiation Oncology Department of the University of Pittsburgh. Median follow-up was 22 months (1 to 91 months). The extent of surgery was complete resection in 23 patients (including 17 with orthotopic liver transplant), partial resection in 4, and biopsy in 34. All patients had radiotherapy; median dose was 49.5 Gy. Thirty patients received chemotherapy: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-leucovorin with interferon alpha (IFNalpha) in 27, and taxol in 3. RESULTS: The median survival was 20 months (95% CI 15-25 months). The 5-year actuarial survival was 23.8 +/- 6.8%. The only significant variable in multivariate analysis was achieving a complete resection with negative margins through conventional surgery or liver transplantation (p = 0.001, hazard rate ratio [HRR] = 0.25, 95% CI 0.12-0.54). Patients with complete resections had a 5-year actuarial survival of 53.5 +/- 10.9%. CONCLUSION: Combined modality therapy that includes complete surgical resection with or without transplantation can be curative in the majority of patients with biliary duct carcinoma. Further study is needed to better define the roles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma.     

Anal canal carcinoma: early-stage tumors < or =10 mm (T1 or Tis): therapeutic options and original pattern of local failure after radiotherapy

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical history, management, and pattern of recurrence of very early-stage anal canal cancer in a French retrospective survey. METHODS: The study group consisted of 69 patients with Stage Tis and T1 anal canal carcinoma < or =1 cm treated between 1990 and 2000 (12 were in situ, 57 invasive, 66 Stage N0, and 3 Stage N1). The median patient age was 67 years (range, 27-83 years). Of the 69 patients, 66 received radiotherapy (RT) and 3 with in situ disease were treated by local excision alone without RT. Twenty-six patients underwent local excision before RT (12 with negative and 14 with positive surgical margins). Of the 66 patients who underwent RT, 8 underwent brachytherapy alone (median dose, 55 Gy), 38 underwent external beam RT (median dose, 45 Gy) plus a brachytherapy boost (median boost dose, 20 Gy), and 20 underwent external beam RT alone (median dose, 55 Gy). RESULTS: Of the 69 patients, 68 had initial local control. Of the 66 patients treated by RT, 6 developed local recurrence at a median interval of 50 months (range, 13-78 months). Four patients developed local failure outside the initial tumor bed. Of the 3 patients with Tis treated by excision alone, 1 developed local recurrence. No relation was found among prior excision, dose, and local failure. The 5-year overall survival, colostomy-free survival, and disease-free survival rate was 94%, 85%, and 89%, respectively. The rate of late complications (Grade 1-3) was 28% and was 14% for those who received doses <60 Gy and 37% for those who received doses of > or =60 Gy (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Most recurrences occurred after a long disease-free interval after treatment and often outside the initial tumor site. These small anal cancers could be treated by RT using a small volume and moderate dose (40-50 Gy for subclinical lesions and 50-60 Gy for T1).     

High‐risk extracranial chondrosarcoma

BACKGROUND:

A study was undertaken to evaluate results of surgery and radiotherapy (RT) for high‐risk extracranial chondrosarcomas.

METHODS:

Between 1986 and 2006, 60 patients underwent surgery and RT for extracranial high‐risk chondrosarcoma. Preoperative RT (median, 50 gray [Gy]) and postoperative RT (median, 60 Gy) were used in 40% and 60% patients, respectively. Sites included pelvis/lower extremity (48%), chest wall (22%), spine/paraspinal (17%), and head and neck (13%). Overall, median tumor size was 7 cm (range, 1‐22 cm), and tumor grade was I, II, and III in 22%, 64%, and 14% of cases, respectively.

RESULTS:

Pathologically clear surgical margins (R0) were present in 50%, microscopic positive margins (R1) in 28%, and gross positive margins (R2) in 13%, half of whom had clinically detectable residual disease; surgical margin was unknown in 8%. Median follow‐up was 75 months (range, 5‐230 months). The crude local control rate was 90%. Patients with R0, R1, and R2 resections had local control of 100%, 94%, and 42%, respectively. Of the 8 cases that had R2 resection, 3 experienced uncontrolled progression, but 5 patients had stable disease with long‐term follow‐up. The 10‐year overall survival, progression‐free survival, and cause‐specific survival were 86%, 80.5%, and 89.4%, respectively. Younger age and grade III tumors were associated with worse progression‐free survival (P = .03 and .0003, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

Although surgery with complete resection is paramount in management of chondrosarcoma, RT is a useful adjuvant treatment and appears to offer excellent and durable local control where wide surgical resection is difficult to accomplish. Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.     

Treatment and prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal and middle ear: a multi-institutional retrospective review of 87 patients

PURPOSE: To examine the relative roles of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy in the management of patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the external auditory canal and middle ear. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of 87 patients with histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma who were treated between 1984 and 2005 were reviewed. Fifty-three patients (61%) were treated with surgery and radiotherapy (S + RT group) and the remaining 34 patients with radiotherapy alone (RT group). Chemotherapy was administered in 34 patients (39%). RESULTS: The 5-year actuarial overall and disease-free survival (DFS) rates for all patients were 55% and 54%, respectively. On univariate analysis, T stage (Stell's classification), treatment modality, and Karnofsky performance status had significant impact on DFS. On multivariate analysis, T stage and treatment modality were significant prognostic factors. Chemotherapy did not influence DFS. The 5-year DFS rate in T1, T2, and T3 patients was 83%, 45%, and 0 in the RT group (p < 0.0001) and 75%, 75%, and 46% in the S + RT group (p = 0.13), respectively. The 5-year DFS rate in patients with negative surgical margins, those with positive margins, and those with macroscopic residual disease was 83%, 55%, and 38%, respectively (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Radical radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for early-stage (T1) diseases, whereas surgery (negative surgical margins if possible) with radiotherapy is recommended as the standard care for advanced (T2-3) disease. Further clarification on the role of chemotherapy is necessary.     

Role of postoperative radiotherapy in the management of extrahepatic bile duct cancer

PURPOSE: To analyze the outcome of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiation for patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer who had undergone either curative or palliative surgery, and to identify the prognostic factors for these patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between March 1982 and December 1994, 91 patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer underwent RT at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital. Of these patients, 84 were included in this retrospective study. The male/female ratio was 3.7:1 (66 men and 18 women). The median age of the patients was 58 years (range 33-76). Gross total surgical resection was performed in 72 patients, with pathologically negative margins in 47 and microscopically positive margins in 25. Twelve patients underwent surgical exploration and biopsy or subtotal resection with palliative bypass procedures. All the patients received >40 Gy of external beam RT after surgery. Concurrent 5-fluorouracil was administered during external beam RT in 71 patients, and maintenance chemotherapy was performed in 61 patients after RT completion. The minimal follow-up of the survivors was 14 months, and the median follow-up period for all the patients was 23 months (range 2-75). RESULTS: The overall 2- and 5-year survival rate was 52% and 31%, respectively. The 2- and 5-year disease-free survival rate was 48% and 26%, respectively. On univariate analysis using the Kaplan-Meier product limit method, the use of chemotherapy, performance status, N stage, size of residual tumor, stage, and tumor location were significant prognostic factors. However, on multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazard model, N stage (N0 vs. N1 and N2, p = 0.02) was the only significant prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: Long-term survival can be expected in patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer who undergo radical surgery and postoperative chemoradiation. Regional lymph node metastasis is a poor prognostic factor for these patients.     

Length and quality of survival following external beam radiotherapy combined with expandable metallic stent for unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is a morbid disease with a poor prognosis because resection cannot be performed in many cases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether external beam radiotherapy (RT) combined with expandable metallic biliary stent (EMS) affects the length and quality of survival of patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinomas. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty patients received external beam radiotherapy combined with EMS (EMS+RT group), 10 patients were treated with EMS alone (EMS group), and the remaining 11 patients underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage alone (PTBD group). The length and quality of survival were analyzed and compared among the three groups. RESULTS: The mean survival of 6.4 months in the EMS group was significantly longer than that of 4.4 months in the PTBD group (P < 0.05). The EMS+RT group with a mean survival of 10.6 months had a significantly longer survival than the EMS group (P < 0.05). The average of the monthly Karnofsky scores of 74.9 in the EMS+RT group and 68.1 in the EMS group, as a parameter of quality of survival, was significantly higher than that of 57.7 in the PTBD group (P < 0.01). The number of hospital days per month of survival was significantly smaller in the EMS+RT and EMS groups than in the PTBD group (10.4, 14.2 vs. 27.3 days; P < 0.001). The EMS+RT group had a longer stent patency than the EMS group (mean: 9.8 vs. 3.7 months; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that external radiotherapy combined with metallic biliary endoprosthesis can increase the length and quality of survival and consequently provide a definite palliative benefit for patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma.     

Surgical resection and radiotherapy for primary retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Forty-five patients were consecutively treated for primary retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma with surgery in combination with radiation therapy in the same institution. The median follow-up time was 53 months (7-108). RESULTS: Seventeen (38%) patients had clear microscopic margins (R0 resection), 26 patients (58%) had gross complete surgical excision (R1 resection) and two patients (4%) had a macroscopic residual disease (R2 resection). External radiotherapy doses ranged from 40.8 to 59.4 Gy (mean and median: 49 Gy). Seventeen patients underwent intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). Moreover, 11 patients received chemotherapy. The overall 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival for all 45 patients were 93, 85 and 60%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 5-year locoregional relapse-free rate for the whole group was 91, 70 and 40%, respectively. In univariate analysis, quality of surgery was the only variable to show a significant effect for overall survival (P=0.0386) and for local control (P=0.0059). Tumor size and tumor grade had no statistically significant effect. For the patients receiving IORT+external beam radiation therapy, no difference was observed for survival or locoregional control. The most frequent acute side effects treatment complications were radiation-induced nausea or vomiting (42%) and moderate enteritis (30%). Significant late morbidity was observed for two patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the feasibility of external postoperative radiotherapy with an acceptable level of toxicity. However, the high rate of local relapses (especially in field of radiation) does not demonstrate the usefulness of radiotherapy at the level of dose used and further preferably randomized studies should be planned.     

立体定向放射治疗肝门部胆管癌疗效分析

目的探讨肝门部胆管癌立体定向放射治疗的疗效.方法 17例因内科或外科原因不能手术或患者不同意手术的肝门部胆管癌采用立体定向放射治疗,单次剂量4～8 Gy(中位剂量5.6 Gy),总剂量40～60 Gy(中位剂量48 Gy).结果 CR 8例,PR 9例,总有效率为100.0%;1年生存率为94.1%(16/17).结论立体定向放疗是肝门部胆管癌的有效治疗方法.