局部晚期头颈部鳞癌的靶向治疗进展

多学科联合治疗是局部晚期头颈部鳞癌的最佳治疗模式,而分子靶向药物也在近年应用到这一领域。由于头颈部鳞癌具有普遍的表皮生长因子受体(epithelial growth factor receptor,EGFR)的高表达,目前的靶向治疗主要针对这一靶点。西妥昔单抗作为一个人鼠嵌合的单克隆抗体,是目前唯一批准用于头颈部鳞癌的分子靶向药物。与单纯放疗相比,放疗联合西妥昔单抗能够显著改善局部晚期头颈部鳞癌患者的无进展生存和总生存,但与传统同期放化疗的比较无论在疗效还是不良反应方面尚不充分。随着诱导化疗在局部晚期头颈部鳞癌的研究进展,放疗联合西妥昔单抗为后续的治疗模式提供了新的研究思路。虽然RTOG 0522研究初步证明了在同期放化疗基础上再联合西妥昔单抗无法进一步提高疗效,但对于西妥昔单抗的化疗药物配伍的问题仍然值得探讨。而对于其他抗EGFR抑制剂而言,如何在现有证据基础上设计有针对性的临床研究是能否取得治疗更新的关键。     

局部进展期食管鳞癌全新辅助治疗可行方案的探索

新辅助放化疗联合手术为局部进展期食管癌患者的标准治疗方案, 这一治疗方案已得到广泛应用, 其疗效也已得到临床医师的认可。然而, 即使是完成了新辅助放疗和随后的手术治疗, 仍有部分患者在短期内出现局部区域复发和/或远处转移, 其中远处转移成为新辅助放化疗后接受手术患者的主要失败模式, 这从另一方面说明该模式还有进一步改善的必要。借助于直肠癌患者从全新辅助治疗模式中获益的经验, 本文探讨了局部进展期食管癌患者进行全新辅助治疗的可能性及其实施方案。     

Role of paclitaxel and cisplatin as the neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva

Objective

The therapeutic outcomes of patients with advanced vulvar cancer are poor. Multi-modality treatments including concurrent chemoradiation or different regimens of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), and surgery have been explored to reduce the extent of surgery and morbidity. The present single-institution trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel and cisplatin in locally advanced vulvar cancer.

Methods

From 2002 to 2009, 10 patients with stage III-IV locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva were prospectively treated with 3 courses of paclitaxel-ifosfamide-cisplatin or paclitaxel-cisplatin. Nine of them subsequently underwent radical local excision or radical partial vulvectomy and bilateral inguino-femoral lymphadenectomy.

Results

The clinical response rate of all enrolled patients was 80%, whereas the pathological responses included 1 case with complete remission, 2 with persistent carcinoma in situ, and 6 invasive cancer cases with tumor shrinkage of more than 50%. Four patients had positive nodes. Forty percent of patients experienced grade 3-4 bone marrow toxicity, which was successfully managed with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, even in cases of elderly patients. Median progression-free survival after surgery was 14 months (range, 5 to 44 months). Six of the 7 recurrent cases were local, and 3 of them were treated with salvage surgery while the other 3 received radiation with or without chemotherapy. After a median follow-up period of 40 months (range, 5 to 112 months), 55.5% of patients remained alive with no evidence of disease, including 2 long-term survivors after recurrence at 5 and 9 years.

Conclusion

Based on the high response rate and manageable toxicity, NACT with paclitaxel and cisplatin with or without ifosfamide followed by surgery could be considered as a therapeutic option for locally advanced vulvar cancer.     

Indications for neoadjuvant treatment based on risk factors for poor prognosis before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer

IntroductionThe oncological benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) alone for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical risk factors for poor prognosis before and after NAC for decision making regarding additional treatment in patients with LARC.Materials and methodsWe examined a total of 96 patients with MRI-defined poor-risk locally advanced mid-low rectal cancer treated by NAC alone between 2006 and 2018. Survival outcomes and clinical risk factors for poor prognosis before and after NAC were analyzed.ResultsIn the median follow-up duration after surgery of 60 months (3–120), the rates of 5-year overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and local recurrence (LR) were 83.6%, 78.4%, and 8.2%, respectively. In the multivariate analyses, patients with cT4 disease had a significantly higher risk of poor OS (HR; 6.10, 95% CI; 1.32–28.15, P = 0.021) than those with cT3 disease. After NAC, ycN+ was significantly associated with a higher risk of poor OS (HR; 5.92, 95% CI; 1.27–27.62, P = 0.024) and RFS (HR; 2.55, 95% CI; 1.01–6.48, P = 0.048) than ycN-. In addition, patients with CEA after NAC (post-CEA) ≥ 5 ng/ml had a significantly higher risk LR (HR; 5.63, 95% CI; 1.06–29.93, P = 0.043).ConclusionNAC alone had an insufficient survival effect on patients with cT4 disease, ycN+, or an elevated post-CEA level. In contrast, NAC alone is a potential treatment for other patients with LARC.     

术前同期放化疗对局部晚期宫颈癌近期疗效的综合评价

目的 观察奈达铂、替加氟新辅助化疗联合腔内后装放疗,同期治疗局部晚期宫颈癌(LACC)临床疗效。方法 回顾性分析了81例LACC患者,分为三组,分别于术前接受奈达铂+替加氟新辅助化疗(NACT)、单纯腔内后装放射治疗(CLI)、新辅助化疗联合后装放疗(CCR),比较不同的治疗方法对手术疗效的影响。结果 CCR组对宫颈局部肿瘤的治疗有效率(CR+PR)为88.9%,明显高于NACT组(70.4%,χ²=7.85,P＜0.01)及CLI组(63.0%,χ²=10.71,P＜0.01)。CLI组(25.9%)白细胞下降较NACT(81.5%,χ²=16.76,P＜0.01)及CCR(88.9%,χ²=21.89,P＜0.01)组明显减轻。宫旁脉管癌栓发生与盆腔淋巴结转移及宫旁浸润发生率三组相比无统计学差异。结论 新辅助化疗联合腔内后装治疗,有望成为局部晚期宫颈癌最佳的术前治疗方案。     

Prognostic impact of sterilized lymph nodes in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

BackgroundThe prognostic importance of sterilized lymph nodes (SLN) remains unclear in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) treated by neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). This study aimed to determine whether SLN predicted disease-free survival (DFS) in ESCC.MethodsWe enrolled 246 eligible patients who were divided into SLN (+) and SLN (-) group according to the presence or absence of fibrosis, necrosis, calcifications and/or foreign body giant cell reactions in the negative lymph nodes specimens. The prognostic value of SLN was determined using univariate and multivariate analyses. The prognostic strength of counting SLN as positive lymph nodes was evaluated using the difference of Akaike information criterion (ΔAIC).ResultsA total of 61 SLN were identified in 38 (15.4%) patients. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between SLN (+) and SLN (-) group. The most frequently detected SLN in the thoracic cavity and abdominal cavity were those along bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (21/38,55.3%) and left gastric artery (13/24,60.9%), respectively. The univariate and multivariate analyses showed SLN was an independent prognostic factor for worse DFS in the whole cohort (HR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.08–3.90, P = 0.029). The SLN (+) group additionally correlated with worse 5-year DFS than SLN (-) group in the ypT0, ypN0 and pCR subgroups. Counting SLN as positive lymph nodes showed better prognostic strength than ignoring them.ConclusionSLN was of prognostic significance for worse DFS in patients with ESCC, particularly in patients with good response to nCRT.     

The surgical management of patients following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of surgery in patients who achieve a complete clinical response (cCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer. A retrospective study of patients with either large central (T2 >30 mm, N0 or N1, M0) or locally advanced (T3, N0 or N1, M0) tumours who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery to the breast and axilla and postoperative radiotherapy. All patients had operable disease at presentation. A total of 133 patients were included. Overall, 43 (32%) patients achieved a cCR following chemotherapy. Of these, 19 patients had no pathological evidence of disease in the breast (pCR) or on imaging or core biopsy and these patients received only adjuvant radiotherapy to the breast. A further 5 patients had no pathological evidence of cancer following breast surgery. 126 patients had an axillary clearance. Increasing response to chemotherapy was related to fewer pathologically involved nodes, but 7 of 24 (29%) patients with a pCR still had evidence of axillary metastases. This is the principal conclusion of the study at the present time. The patients were followed-up for a median of 30 months (range 5–83 months) with a local recurrence rate of 3.8%. There was no difference in either distant recurrence-free or overall survival between patients experiencing a pCR and the remainder.     

手术前新辅助化疗联合放射治疗治疗局部晚期宫颈癌的临床分析

目的探讨手术前新辅助化疗联合放射治疗治疗局部晚期宫颈癌的疗效。方法分析35例Ⅰb2期～Ⅱb2期术前新辅助化疗联合放射治疗（观察组）与32例单纯手术（对照组）的局部晚期宫颈癌患者的临床资料,评价观察组和对照组患者的近期疗效,并比较两组患者术中出血量、手术时间、术后病理特征与疗效。结果观察组患者治疗总有效率为80.9%,高于对照组的9.3%（P〈0.05）。两组患者手术时间、术中出血量、脉管受侵以及阴道切缘癌残留率比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,观察组患者宫旁浸润率及淋巴结转移率低于手术组（P〈0.05）。结论手术前新辅助化疗联合放射治疗可以缩小局部肿瘤,使宫旁浸润消退,可提高局部晚期宫颈癌的疗效。     

The safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor with chemotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BackgroundNeoadjuvant therapy followed by esophagectomy has been recognized as an effective treatment for locally advanced esophageal cancer, though still has a dismal prognosis. Antibodies against programmed death 1 (PD-1) protein improve survival in patients with advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) compared with chemotherapy in second-line therapy. However, neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor combined with chemotherapy has not been tested in locally advanced ESCC. We conducted this study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pd-1 inhibitor in neoadjuvant chemotherapy.MethodsIn this study, we administered 28 adults with untreated, surgically resectable locally advanced ESCC. PD-1 inhibitor with chemotherapy [albumin paclitaxel 100 mg/m² on days 1 and 8 + carboplatin with an area under the curve (AUC) of 5 on day 1] were administered every 3 weeks intravenously, and surgery was performed approximately 3–5 weeks after the second dose. The primary purpose of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this regimen.ResultsIn all, 28 locally advanced ESCC patients were enrolled, 27 patients received surgery, 9 (33.3%) patients’ postoperative pathological specimens suggested pCR, and 11 (40.7%) patients’ primary tumor suggested complete response. Neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor with chemotherapy had an acceptable side-effect profile, 26 patients’ tumors were completely resected (96.3% were R0). According to the RESIST v.1.1, the response in all 27 patients was evaluated by a computed tomography (CT) scan before surgery, showing 12 patients with complete response (CR), 12 with partial response (PR), and 3 with stable disease (SD). For surgical procedures, 15 (55.6%) patients underwent minimal invasive surgery, 4 (14.8%) underwent right transthoracic open esophagectomy, and 8 (29.6%) underwent hybrid approaches.ConclusionsThe novel treatment of PD-1 inhibitor with chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting for locally advanced ESCC produced satisfactory outcomes: an unprecedentedly high pCR rate for neoadjuvant chemotherapy, a high R0 resection rate, and a low-toxicity profile were achieved. The long-term efficiency of this novel treatment and the validity of the present findings should be confirmed with longer follow-up and prospective comparative trials.     

TPLF方案在局部进展期胃癌新辅助化疗中的应用

目的:研究泰索帝(多西紫杉醇,TAT)联合顺铂(CDDP)及氟尿嘧啶/亚叶酸钙(5-FU/CF)方案新辅助化疗(NCT)治疗局部进展期胃癌(LAGC)的疗效和毒副作用。方法:自2003年10月~2005年10月,有28例LAGC入组临床研究。入组病例术前接受TPLF化疗方案为:TAT(T)75mg/m2,第1天静滴;CDDP(P)30mg/m2,第1~3天静滴;5-FU(F)500mg/m2,第1~5天静滴;CF(L)100mg于5-FU前30分钟静脉冲入,每3周为1周期,共3个周期。观察新辅助化疗后肿瘤原发病灶的缓解情况、手术后病理缓解情况以及新辅助化疗的毒副反应。结果:新辅助化疗后所有患者进行了根治性手术治疗,临床有效率RR(CR PR)为57·1%(16/28),其中CR17·9%(5例),PR39·3%(11例),SD21·4%(6例),PD21·4%(6例),术后4例病理水平达到完全缓解(pCR),缓解率为14·3%(4/28)。毒副反应主要为白细胞减少、恶心、脱发、呕吐及粘膜炎,其中Ⅲ~Ⅳ级的白细胞减少共6例(21·4%),未发生严重感染和死亡病例。结论:TPLF方案新辅助化疗在LAGC的治疗中近期疗效显著,耐受性良好。     

术前新辅助化疗联合手术切除治疗局部晚期食管癌的疗效观察

【摘要】目的:研究术前紫杉醇+顺铂新辅助化疗联合手术切除在局部晚期食管癌治疗中的临床效果。方法:选取2014 年 1 月 ～2016 年 12 月我院治疗局部晚期食管癌患者 60 例,进行随机分组,对照组 30 例仅在术后给予化疗治疗,观察组 30 例在手术前应用紫杉醇+顺铂新辅助化疗方案治疗,再进行手术治疗,比较两组患者食管癌完全切除率、1年复发率。结果:观察组食管癌完全切除率明显高于对照组,1年复发率低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P ＜0. 05)。结论:术前应用紫杉醇+顺铂新辅助化疗联合手术切除治疗局部晚期食管癌临床效果理想。     

Apoptosis and proliferation of tumor cells in locally advanced cervical cancer after neoadjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy

Neoadjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy (NIAC) as a new method of chemotherapy before surgery or radiotherapy has been widely used for the treatment of the locally advanced cervical cancer[1-6]. The response of NIAC was traditionally evaluated by a combination of gynecologic examination and imaging. There have been few reports about the biological changes after NIAC and the relationship between the changes and the clinical response. In this study the changes of biological markers such as p…     

埋植式动脉泵化疗与口腔鳞癌的综合治疗

目的:探讨埋植式动脉泵在口腔鳞癌化疗中的效果及在口腔鳞癌综合治疗中的应用价值。方法:采用ZW埋植式动脉泵经颈外动脉插管治疗口腔鳞癌29例,观查化疗效果及其与手术、放疗综合应用的可行性。结果:埋植式动脉泵给药治疗口腔鳞癌的有效率87.5%,未出现明显毒副作用。结论:埋植式动脉泵是口腔鳞癌化疗给药方法的较好选择,可作为多药物、多周期单一化疗;术前诱导及术后辅助化疗;化疗与放疗联合应用,多手段综合治疗中化疗最佳途径,可在临床广泛应用。     

埋植式动脉泵化疗与口腔鳞癌的综合治疗

目的：探讨埋植式动脉泵在口腔鳞癌化疗中的效果及在口腔鳞癌综合治疗中的应用价值。方法：采用ZW埋植式动脉泵经颈外动脉插管治疗口腔鳞癌29例,观查化疗效果及其与手术、放疗综合应用的可行性。结果：埋植式动脉泵给药治疗口腔鳞癌的有效率87.5%,未出现明显毒副作用。结论：埋植式动脉泵是口腔鳞癌化疗给药方法的较好选择,可作为多药物、多周期单一化疗;术前诱导及术后辅助化疗;化疗与放疗联合应用,多手段综合治疗中化疗最佳途径,可在临床广泛应用。     

Inhibitory effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma in a mouse model

The presence or absence of metastasis bears an important influence on the prognosis of head and neck cancer patients. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has become widely employed as an initial treatment. However, the actual effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on metastasis is still unestablished. Therefore, using an orthotopic implantation model in which cervical lymph node metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma can be reproduced, we investigated the inhibitory effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on metastasis. A highly invasive and metastatic human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line, OSC-19 cells, was implanted into the tongues of nude mice. After implantation, the mice were divided into four groups: S (surgery), C + S (preoperative chemotherapy + surgery), S + C (surgery + postoperative chemotherapy), and a control (nontreatment) groups. The treatment (tumor resection or chemotherapy) was started 7 days postimplantation. The effects of each treatment on cervical lymph node metastasis were investigated by examining the rate of lymph node metastasis formation at 28 days postimplantation. In the control group, five of the 11 mice died of cachexia before the end of the experiment. However, all mice in the S, C + S, and S + C groups survived until 28 days after implantation. The cervical lymph node metastasis rates were 81.8% in S, 18.1% in C + S, 63.6% in S + C, and 100% in control groups. Thus, metastasis to the cervical lymph node was markedly inhibited by the combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and tumor resection. The findings of this study indicate that neoadjuvant chemotherapy is effective for inhibiting metastasis, and that it is necessary to begin chemotherapy as early as possible to achieve an inhibitory effect on metastasis. Considering these effects, if anticancer drugs are used, better therapeutic results can be expected.     

Total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy in locally advanced stage IB2-IIB cervical cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility and morbidity of total laparoscopic class C2 radical hysterectomy (TLRH) with pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer stage IB2 to IIB after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT).

Methods

A prospective study was conducted from October 2004 to September 2009. Cervical cancer patients, stage IB2-IIB with complete clinical response after 3 courses of NACT with paclitaxel 175 mg/m², ifosfamide 5 g/m² and cisplatin 75 mg/m² (TIP) underwent TLRH.

Results

Forty patients were included, with a median age of 46 years (range, 25-65), BMI of 24 kg/m² (range, 15-49). FIGO staging was IB2 in 23, IIA > 4 cm in 6 and IIB in 11 patients. Four patients required conversion to laparotomy. Pathological evaluation showed 9 complete response (pCR), 9 partial response (pPR1) with microscopic tumour, and 15 partial response (pPR2) with macroscopic tumour. Three patients had no response. The median operative time was 305 min (range, 215-430); the median estimated blood loss was 250 ml (range, 100-400), with four postoperative blood transfusion; the median number of removed pelvic lymph nodes was 25 (range, 11-64). The median length of hospital stay was 6 days (range, 3-12). The median follow-up time was 37 months (range, 10-69), with three patients having a recurrence. One patient died of disease (DOD) after 12 months.

Conclusions

TLRH can be safely performed in patients with stage IB2-IIB carcinoma of cervix after NACT, with advantages of minimal blood loss and morbidity.     

两种新辅助化疗对局部晚期宫颈癌分子疗效的研究

目的探讨异环磷酰胺联合顺铂（IP组）和紫杉醇联合顺铂（TP）治疗局部晚期宫颈癌（locally advanced cervix cancer,LACC）分子疗效,为临床选择治疗方案及评价疗效的分子标志物提供理论依据。方法选取局部晚期宫颈鳞癌加例,分两组进行2个疗程IP或TP新辅助化疗,以流式细胞术检测化疗前后的宫颈鳞癌组织中增殖细胞指数硒-67的表达,TUNEL法检测肿瘤细胞的凋亡指数（AI）,S—P免疫组化法进行Survivin基因表达检测。结果组内NACT前后Ki-67降低,AI、Survivin基因表达检测升高,组间比较,NACT前后Ki-67、AI、Survivin基因表达检测无统计学意义。结论两种方案新辅助化疗均能显著降低局部晚期宫颈癌肿瘤细胞增殖、增加凋亡,但TP组接受治疗时间及住院时间均短,患者依从性好,值得临床推广应用。     

Consolidation chemotherapy with capecitabine after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in high-risk patients with locally advanced rectal cancer: Propensity score study

BACKGROUNDThe effects of consolidation chemotherapy (CC) in neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) have been explored. However, the optimal neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) and surgery interval, regimen, and cycles of chemotherapy remains unclear.AIMTo evaluate the effects of one to two cycles of CC with capecitabine on high-risk patients with LARC without extending NCRT and surgery interval.METHODSWe retrospectively evaluated high-risk patients with LARC, who were defined as having at least one of the following factors by magnetic resonance imaging: depth of invasion beyond the muscularis propria of more than 5 mm (cT3c-cT3d), T4, meso-rectal fascia or extramural vascular invasion positive, and treatment date between January 2015 and July 2019 in our center. Patients were divided into the CC and non-CC group according to whether they received CC (capecitabine 1000 mg/m² twice daily from days 1 to 14 every 21 d) after NCRT. Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weight (IPTW) were used to balance the differences between the two groups. The main outcome was the complete response (CR) rate.RESULTSA total of 265 patients were enrolled: 136 patients in the CC group and 129 patients in the non-CC group. The median interval was 70 d (range, 37-168). The CR rate was 24.3% and 16.3% (P = 0.107) in the CC and non-CC groups’ original samples, respectively. After PSM and IPTW, the CR rate in the CC group was higher than that in non-CC group (27.6% vs 16.2%, P = 0.045; 25.9% vs 16.3%, P = 0.045). The median follow-up was 39.8 mo (range, 2.9-74.8), and there were no differences in 3-year non-regrowth disease-free survival nor overall survival in the original samples (73.2% vs 71.9%, P = 0.913; 92.3% vs 86.7%, P = 0.294), PSM (73.2% vs 73.5%, P = 0.865; 92.5% vs 89.3%, P = 0.612), and IPTW (73.8% vs 72.1%, P = 0.913; 92.4% vs 87.4%, P = 0.294). There was also no difference in grade 2 or higher acute toxicity during neoadjuvant therapy in the two groups (49.3% vs 53.5%, P = 0.492).CONCLUSIONOne to two cycles of CC with capecitabine after NCRT was safe and increased the CR rate in high-risk LARC but failed to improve the long-term outcomes.     

T-box 2 expression is a useful indicator of the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma

Platinum-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for patients with locally advanced uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Reducing the tumor size by administering neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is beneficial for successful hysterectomy, resulting in a more favorable prognosis. Therefore, identifying biomarkers that predict the effectiveness of NAC in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma remains a priority. Cancer cells widely express T-box 2 (TBX2), which contributes to the resistance to DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agents. The present study aimed to determine the association between TBX2 protein expression in tumor tissues and the efficacy of NAC in locally advanced uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma using immunohistochemistry. Data from 46 patients with locally advanced uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma were classified into two groups based on their effective or ineffective response to NAC treatment. In addition, the effect of small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of TBX2 on the sensitivity of cervical cancer cells to cisplatin was investigated in vitro. The results revealed that there were no significant differences in patient clinicopathological features between the NAC effective and NAC ineffective groups. The overall survival of the NAC effective group was significantly improved compared with the NAC ineffective group (P=0.007). Tumors from the NAC effective group also had significantly downregulated TBX2 expression levels compared with those from the NAC ineffective group (P=0.0138). Of note, decreased TBX2 expression was indicated to be significantly associated with higher sensitivity to NAC (P=0.009). The low TBX2 expression group had a more favorable overall survival compared with the high TBX2 expression group (P=0.049). Furthermore, knockdown of TBX2 expression significantly increased cancer cell sensitivity to cisplatin in vitro. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that TBX2 expression may be a useful predictor of the response to NAC in patients with locally advanced uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma.     

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced primary breast cancers: the Nottingham experience.

AIM: Of our study was to assess and compare the outcome of patients undergoing anthracycline based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced primary breast cancers with patients receiving mitoxantrone, methotrexate and mitomycin (MMM) as neoadjuvant agents. METHODS: Records of 50 consecutive patients receiving anthrcycline based chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancers from July 1996 to July 2004 were analysed with regard to locoregional recurrence, metastasis and survival. The MMM group comprised of 56 consecutive patients receiving MMM chemotherapy between 1989 and 1994. The unit protocol for patients receiving multimodal therapy has been neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by Patey's mastectomy, radiotherapy and endocrine treatment if ER-positive. Patients were followed-up in the clinic until either death or the last clinic visit on or before December 2005 in the anthracycline group and on or before December 1999 in the MMM group. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to number of patients, tumour size, grade, ER positivity and median duration of follow-up from start of chemotherapy. Significantly more patients in the anthracycline group had complete clinical response and 44% of the patients in anthracycline group had node negative disease compared to 4% in the MMM group. Anthracycline group when compared to MMM group had a lower incidence of locoregional recurrence (6% vs 19%), distant metastasis (20% vs 55%) and survival (82% vs 45%) at the end of follow-up, which was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Anthracycline based neoadjuvant chemotherapy has better response and significantly better outcome compared to MMM chemotherapy.