Conservative surgery and radiation therapy in black women with early stage breast cancer. Patterns of failure and analysis of outcome.

Between 1977 and 1986, 75 black and 615 white women with American Joint Committee (AJC) Stages I and II breast cancer were treated with excisional biopsy, axillary dissection, and radiation therapy for breast conservation. Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil, with and without prednisone and tamoxifen, was given to 92% of premenopausal, 83% of perimenopausal, and 63% of postmenopausal node-positive women; 20 of 106 (19%) postmenopausal node-positive women received tamoxifen only. The clinical characteristics of the similarly treated patients were compared. The 5-year actuarial local only first failure rate was 5% for black women and 6% for white women (P = 0.53). Regional only failure as the first site of failure was 9% for blacks versus 1% for whites (P = 0.002), with regional recurrence as any component of first failure being 16% for blacks and 4% for whites (P = 0.001). The supraclavicular fossa was identified as the primary site of regional recurrence in black patients with either pathologically positive or negative axillae. Distant metastases as the only site of first failure were significantly greater in the black population with a 20% 5-year actuarial failure rate versus 11% in white patients (P = 0.01). The 5-year actuarial overall survival for the black patients was 82% versus 91% for the white patients (P = 0.01), with no-evidence-of-disease (NED) survival being 64% and 83% (P = 0.0002) and relapse-free survival (RFS) being 61% and 77% (P = 0.01), respectively. Black patients younger than 40 years of age or with pathologically positive axillary nodes had significantly worse NED, RFS, and overall survival compared with similarly staged white patients. Cosmetic results were analyzed at 3 and 5 years after completion of therapy. Although significantly fewer black patients had an excellent-to-good cosmetic result at 3 years compared with white patients, the results were not significantly different at 5 years. These results show that appropriately selected black patients with early stage breast cancer have excellent local control after conservative surgery and radiation therapy and should continue to be offered breast preservation as an alternative to mastectomy. Patterns of failure, however, demonstrated higher regional and distant recurrence rates and lower NED, RFS, and overall survival rates in most subsets of black patients reviewed.     

Adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The outcome of therapy is reported in 34 previously untreated patients with advanced-stage (AJC IV) nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with combination chemotherapy (cisplatin and non-cisplatin based) and sequential radiation therapy. Sixty-nine patients treated with radiotherapy alone were used as a control group. The control group was matched for T and N stage grouping but differed in that 45% had keratinizing squamous carcinoma, 14.5% had nonkeratinizing squamous carcinoma, and 40.6% had undifferentiated carcinoma, compared with 18%, 50%, and 32.4%, respectively in the combined-treatment group. Seventeen of 21 patients (81%) who received chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy achieved complete remission (CR), whereas 11 of 13 patients (85%) who received radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy achieved CR (P = NS). Patients treated by radiotherapy alone had a 91% CR rate. The combined treatment yielded a relapse-free rate of 78% versus 44% for the radiotherapy group (P = 0.001). Median survival in the combined-treatment group has not been reached (111+ months), compared with 67 months in the group receiving radiotherapy alone (P = 0.04). The recurrence rate at the primary site and in regional nodes was more frequent in the radiotherapy group (36%), compared with the combined-therapy group (7%) (P = 0.004), but the occurrence of distant metastases was similar in each group (P = 0.41). The acute toxicity of the treatment was well tolerated. The major long-term toxic effect experienced by patients in the combined-therapy group was soft tissue fibrosis. These data suggest that a prospective trial comparing chemotherapy and radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone is warranted.     

Impact of race on outcome after definitive radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

BACKGROUND: The objective of the current study was to evaluate the impact of race (black vs. white) on the outcome of patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. METHODS: Between 1983 and 1997, 686 patients completed definitive, twice-daily radiotherapy (RT) alone or combined with a planned neck dissection; no patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. The minimum follow-up was 2 years, and median follow-up was 7 years for living patients. No patients were lost to follow-up. Fifty-five patients were black (8%). RESULTS: Although the two groups had similar 5-year local-regional control rates (black patients vs. white patients: 70% vs. 76%, respectively; P = 0.275), black patients had double the risk for distant recurrence compared with white patients (27% vs. 13%; P = 0.012). The 5-year cause-specific and absolute survival rates were lower for black patients (52% vs. 74% [P = 0.001] and 29% vs. 52% [P < 0.001], respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed that race was an independent predictor of freedom from distant metastasis (P = 0.013), cause-specific survival (P = 0.005), and absolute survival (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although equal local-regional control rates can be achieved in black patients and white patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, the risk of distant recurrence was significantly higher in black patients and resulted in decreased survival. Reevaluation of current strategies for pretreatment metastatic work-ups and development of more effective systemic therapy will be key to improving the survival disparity in this group.     

Neuropsychologic impact of standard-dose systemic chemotherapy in long-term survivors of breast cancer and lymphoma.

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this study was to compare the neuropsychologic functioning of long-term survivors of breast cancer and lymphoma who had been treated with standard-dose systemic chemotherapy or local therapy only. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Long-term survivors (5 years postdiagnosis, not presently receiving cancer treatment, and disease-free) of breast cancer or lymphoma who had been treated with systemic chemotherapy (breast cancer: n = 35, age, 59.1 +/- 10.7 years; lymphoma: n = 36, age, 55.9 +/- 12.1 years) or local therapy only (breast cancer: n = 35, age, 60.6 +/- 10.5 years; lymphoma: n = 22, age, 48.7 +/- 11.7 years) completed a battery of neuropsychologic and psychologic tests (Center for Epidemiological Study-Depression, Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Fatigue Symptom Inventory). RESULTS: Multivariate analysis of variance, controlling for age and education, revealed that survivors who had been treated with systemic chemotherapy scored significantly lower on the battery of neuropsychologic tests compared with those treated with local therapy only (P <.04), particularly in the domains of verbal memory (P <.01) and psychomotor functioning (P <.03). Survivors treated with systemic chemotherapy were also more likely to score in the lower quartile on the Neuropsychological Performance Index (39% v 14%, P <.01) and to self-report greater problems with working memory on the Squire Memory Self-Rating Questionnaire (P <.02). CONCLUSION: Data from this study support the hypothesis that systemic chemotherapy can have a negative impact on cognitive functioning as measured by standardized neuropsychologic tests and self-report of memory changes. However, analysis of the Neuropsychological Performance Index suggests that only a subgroup of survivors may experience long-term cognitive deficits associated with systemic chemotherapy.     

非寡转移Ⅳ期非小细胞肺癌化疗同期胸部三维放疗预后分析

目的 非寡转移Ⅳ期非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)患者能否从原发肿瘤放疗中获益尚不明确,本研究旨在探讨非寡转移Ⅳ期NSCLC患者化疗同期胸部三维适形放疗(3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy,3DCRT)的疗效及预后影响因素.方法 选取2003-01-23-2012-05-13贵州省肿瘤医院404例患者参加两项前瞻性临床研究.入组标准:(1)初诊的且经组织病理学或细胞学确诊为NSCLC;(2)年龄18～80岁;(3)KPS评分≥70;(4)接受≥2个周期化疗且整个病程中未接受分子靶向治疗;(5)胸部原发肿瘤接受3DCRT或调强放疗(intensity modulated radiation therapy,IMRT);(6)胸部原发肿瘤接受放疗剂量≥36 Gy.寡转移定义为转移病灶＜5个,非寡转移定义为转移病灶≥5个.主要采用以铂类为基础的两药联合化疗.Kaplan-Meier法计算生存率,Log-rank法组间比较及单因素预后分析,Cox模型行多因素预后分析.结果 符合入组标准的274例患者为研究对象,其中183例为非寡转移患者.中位生存时间为13.0个月(95％CI为11.9～14.1),1、2和3年总生存率(overall survival,OS)分别为50.7％、15.8％和9.1％;原发肿瘤放疗剂量≥63 Gy的1、2和3年OS率为55.3％、22.7％和17.0％,＜63 Gy的1、2和3年OS率为46.5％、9.3％和2.5％,x2=11.497,P＜0.001;寡转移患者的1、2和3年OS率分别为59.3％、22.0％和15.2％,非寡转移患者的1、2和3年OS率分别为46.4％、12.7％和6.0％,x2 =5.741,P=0.017.寡转移(x2=7.571、P=0.006)和非寡转移(x2 =8.242、P=0.004)患者分别进行分析,原发肿瘤放疗剂量≥63 Gy仍是影响总生存的因素.非寡转移患者多因素分析显示,原发肿瘤放疗剂量、原发肿瘤体积、化疗疗效达及治疗后KPS是影响总生存的独立因素.亚组分析显示,化疗有效(完全缓解和部分缓解)的非寡转移患者,原发肿瘤放疗剂量≥63 Gy是影响生存的因素(x2=4.419,P=0.036);化疗有效和无效的非寡转移患者,原发肿瘤放疗剂量≥63 Gy与＜63 Gy的总生存相似,x2=1.947,P=0.163.结论 原发肿瘤放疗剂量、肿瘤体积、化疗疗效和治疗后KPS是影响非寡转移的Ⅳ期NSCLC患者的独立因素.在有效的系统化疗基础上,非寡转移的Ⅳ期NSCLC患者可能从原发肿瘤的积极放疗中生存获益.     

Prospective randomized evaluation of adjuvant chemotherapy in adults with soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities

Sixty-five patients with high-grade soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities were treated in a prospective randomized trial evaluating the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and high-dose methotrexate. Local therapy was administered using either amputation or wide local resection plus radiation therapy and the chemotherapy was begun in the immediate postoperative period. Actuarial analysis with median follow-up of 653 days revealed an advantage in continuous disease-free and overall survival in the patient group receiving chemotherapy (P = 0.0008 and P = 0.04, respectively, one-sided Mantel-Haenszel test). The continuous disease-free survival at three years is 92% in the chemotherapy group compared to 60% in the no chemotherapy group. Overall survival is 95% and 74% in these two patient groups. Fifty-eight percent of patients had limb-sparing surgery plus radiation therapy and 42% underwent amputation. In both treatment subgroups analyzed separately, chemotherapy resulted in an improvement in disease-free survival compared to randomized controls not receiving chemotherapy (P = 0.006 and P = 0.04 for groups receiving amputation and limb sparing, respectively). There were no local failures in the patients receiving chemotherapy and two local failures in the no chemotherapy group. The results of this trial confirm the historically controlled pilot trial performed in 26 patients between 1975 and 1977. A current update of the patients in the pilot trial, with a minimum four-year follow-up, reveals an improvement in disease-free and overall survival due to chemotherapy (P less than 0.002). Analysis of the previous pilot trial indicates that only few recurrences are seen beyond three years. Thus, it appears that adjuvant chemotherapy should be a part of the treatment adult patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities.     

Black–white differences in receipt and completion of adjuvant chemotherapy among breast cancer patients in a rural region of the US

Recent breast cancer treatment studies conducted in large urban settings have reported racial disparities in the appropriate use of adjuvant chemotherapy. This article presents the first focused evaluation of black–white differences in receipt and completion of chemotherapy for breast cancer in a primarily rural region of the United States. We performed chart abstraction on initial therapy received by 868 women diagnosed with Stages I, IIA, IIB, or IIIA breast cancer in 2001–2003 in southwest Georgia (SWGA). For chemotherapy, information collected included treatment plan, dates of delivery, concordance between therapy planned and received, and date and reasons for end of treatment. The patient’s age at diagnosis, race, marital status, insurance coverage, hormone receptor status, comorbidities, socioeconomic status, urban/rural status, treatment site, and distance to the site were also collected. Following univariate analyses, we used multivariable logistic regression modeling to examine the impact of race on the likelihood of (1) receiving chemotherapy and (2) completing planned chemotherapy. For patients terminating chemotherapy prematurely, the reasons were documented. The results showed that the unadjusted black–white difference in receipt of chemotherapy (48.3 vs. 36.0%) was significant, but in the multivariable analysis the black–white odds ratio (OR = 1.18) was not. While the unadjusted black–white difference (92.0 vs. 87.8%) in completing chemotherapy was not significant, in multivariable models black race was positively associated with completing care (p ranging from 0.032 to 0.087 and OR, correspondingly, from 2.16 to 2.64). The impact of race on completing chemotherapy was influenced by marital status, with a significant black–white difference for patients not married (OR = 4.67), but no difference for those married (OR = 1.06). We find compelling racial differences in this largely rural region—with black breast cancer patients receiving or completing chemotherapy at rates that equal or exceed white patients. Further investigation is warranted, both in SWGA and in other rural regions.     

Do patients with advanced breast cancer benefit from chemotherapy?

This study aimed to assess the proportion of patients with advanced breast cancer who report benefit from first-line palliative chemotherapy using a simple global measure of wellbeing and to identify factors predicting benefit. A consecutive series of women with advanced breast cancer undergoing first-line palliative chemotherapy was evaluated. The main outcome measure was patient report of overall wellbeing assessed at post-treatment interview. Physical, psychological and functional status were assessed using the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL) on three occasions (pretreatment, at the start of the third cycle and post treatment). It was planned that treatment would be discontinued after six cycles (i.e. 18-24 weeks). One hundred and sixty patients started treatment, of whom 155 were assessable for quality of life. After treatment, 41 (26%) patients reported they felt better, 29 (19%) felt the same and 34 (22%) felt worse than they did before treatment. The other 51 (33%) patients either died or stopped attending the hospital before the post-treatment interview and were assigned as treatment ''failures''. Patients who reported feeling better after treatment had improvements in psychological distress (P < 0.0001), pain (P = 0.01), lack of energy (P = 0.02) and tiredness (P = 0.02), as well as improvement in functional status (P = 0.07). Feeling better was also correlated with disease response (P = 0.03). Feeling worse after treatment or treatment ''failure'' was predicted by the pretreatment presence of a dry mouth (P = 0.003) and high levels of psychological distress (P = 0.03). Pretreatment lack of energy (P = 0.01), dry mouth (P = 0.02), presence of liver metastases (P = 0.03) and breathlessness (P = 0.03) predicted treatment ''failures''. The results of this study suggest that first-line palliative chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer confers benefit on a substantial proportion of patients, with about one-quarter feeling better after treatment and nearly a half feeling better or the same some 4-6 months after the start of treatment. Factors identified in this study may assist clinicians in deciding which patients should not be offered treatment, because of high risk of feeling worse or treatment ''failure''. This work now needs to be validated on a further cohort of women receiving chemotherapy for advanced breast cancer.     

Gemcitabine-induced radiation recall

PURPOSE: To study and report 6 patients with radiation recall in unique sites, secondary to gemcitabine chemotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The clinical presentations and outcomes of 6 patients with radiation recall secondary to gemcitabine chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed over the course of a 1-year period. RESULTS: Radiation recall reactions were seen in the central nervous system, skin, gastrointestinal tract, and in the lymphatic and musculoskeletal systems. The time between initiation of radiation and recall of the radiation phenomenon ranged from 3 weeks to 8 months from the time gemcitabine was initiated. The usual dosage of gemcitabine in these cases was 1000 mg/m(2) given on a weekly basis. No radiation therapy was given concomitantly with gemcitabine. Treatment of the recall reaction consisted of discontinuing gemcitabine and initiating steroid therapy, supportive therapy, and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Minimal improvement was seen in 3 out of 6 patients, and resolution of the radiation recall was seen in 3 out of 6 patients. A comprehensive review of the literature revealed that radiation recall with gemcitabine has been related to skin reactions only; no previous cases of radiation recall occurring in the central nervous system have been reported with any chemotherapy agent. CONCLUSION: Radiation recall from gemcitabine chemotherapy is rare, but can potentially arise in any site that has been previously irradiated. Treating physicians must be aware of this potential toxicity from gemcitabine and radiation and discontinue the gemcitabine if radiation recall is observed.     

Concurrent sequencing of full-dose CMF chemotherapy and radiation therapy in early breast cancer has no effect on treatment delivery

With the increasing use of breast-conserving therapy plus systemic chemotherapy for the treatment of early breast cancer, the optimal sequencing of radiation therapy and chemotherapy remains controversial. Sequencing of therapy may influence not only treatment delivery, but control rates, complications and cosmesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether concurrent sequencing of standard doses of CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil) and adjuvant radiation therapy for early breast cancer impacted on optimum treatment delivery. As both an intravenous (i.v.) 3-week regimen and classic (standard) CMF were utilised in this study, both types of CMF were compared. The effect of sequencing on complications and treatment delays were also assessed. 116 patients treated with CMF chemotherapy and adjuvant tangent breast radiation were studied. 73 patients were treated prospectively with concurrent therapy and were retrospectively compared with a matched group of 40 patients treated with sequential or sandwich therapy. All patients had stage 1 or 2 cancers. There were no planned dose reductions introduced for either treatment modality. Concurrent sequencing had no impact on the ability to deliver optimum radiation or chemotherapy doses. There was no significant difference in acute Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) skin reactions or complications between the two groups. Although small, there was a significant delay (1.32 days (0-15 versus 0.36 (0-7)) in the concurrent group (P=0.03) in the delivery of radiation therapy. Sequencing had no significant effect on haematological parameters. 'Standard' CMF had a more profound effect on treatment delivery than i.v. CMF (Radiation delay 2.2 days versus 0.26, P=0.002, % chemotherapy delivered 93% versus 99% P=0.000004). At a mean follow-up of 2.6 years, there was no difference in the cosmetic scores between the two groups. Both local and distant control rates were excellent. This study has shown that standard radiation therapy can be delivered safely concurrently with CMF chemotherapy. Whether this approach may lead to better control rates in the future needs further study.     

Late consolidative radiation therapy in the treatment of limited-stage small cell lung cancer.

Two hundred twenty-three patients were enrolled on this randomized Phase III trial testing the value of late consolidative involved-field radiation therapy in the treatment of limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Patients were treated with induction chemotherapy consisting of alternating cycles of procarbazine, vincristine, lomustine, and cyclophosphamide (POCC) and etoposide, doxorubicin, and methotrexate (VAM) for 6 to 9 months. Responding patients were then randomized at 6 or 9 months to chemotherapy alone or to involved-field radiation therapy. All partial and complete responders received prophylactic cranial irradiation. Of the 180 eligible and evaluable patients, 80 (44%) achieved a complete response and 39 (22%) achieved a partial response (overall rate of response, 66%). Actuarial median survival time was 11.6 months, with 16% of patients surviving 2 years and 11% surviving 5 years. Forty-eight patients were randomized to chemotherapy alone (24 patients) versus chemotherapy plus involved-field radiation therapy (24 patients). There were no significant differences in time to progression or survival between those patients receiving or not receiving involved-field radiation therapy. The thorax was the site of first relapse in 58% of patients randomized to chemotherapy alone versus 29% in patients randomized to chemotherapy plus involved-field radiation therapy (P equals 0.042). The major acute toxicity was reversible myelosuppression, and the major late toxicity was chronic central nervous system dysfunction. The authors conclude that the addition of late consolidative radiation therapy to induction chemotherapy in the treatment of limited-stage SCLC is well tolerated and improves local control, but does not improve time to progression or rates of survival.     

Effect of selective internal radiation therapy and hepatic arterial chemotherapy on normal liver volume and spleen volume.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) and hepatic arterial chemotherapy (HAC) on normal liver volume and spleen volume in patients receiving these treatments for advanced liver cancer. METHODS: In a phase III clinical trial to assess the benefit of SIRT over HAC one group of patients received SIRT + HAC while a second group received HAC only. All patients in this trial who had abdominal CT scans available before treatment, and at 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment were evaluated. Changes in normal hepatic parenchyma (NHP) volume, portal vein diameter and spleen volume were calculated for each patient and analysed for significant trends. RESULTS: The mean NHP volume decreased by 17% (P = 0.001) 12 months after treatment among patients receiving SIRT + HAC (N = 22), while the mean NHP volume among patients treated with HAC only (N = 15) was unchanged at 12 months. The mean portal vein diameter increased by 9% in both treatment groups, P = 0.048 and P < 0.001, respectively. The mean spleen volume increased by 48% (P < 0.001) and 26% (P = 0.001), respectively, in the two groups 12 months after treatment started. There was no clinical evidence of hepatic failure, portal hypertension or splenic dysfunction in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of patients with SIRT + HAC causes contraction of the normal hepatic parenchyma, while treatment with HAC alone has no significant effect. Treatment with either SIRT + HAC or HAC alone causes a significant increase in portal vein diameter and spleen volume by 12 months after treatment. The increase in spleen volume and portal vein size is likely to be due to portal hypertension resulting from scarring within the liver as a result of chemical and radiation hepatitis.     

Randomised phase 2 trial of SIR-Spheres plus fluorouracil/leucovorin chemotherapy versus fluorouracil/leucovorin chemotherapy alone in advanced colorectal cancer

PURPOSE: Selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) with SIR-Spheres(R) is a new technique for selectively targeting high doses of radiation to tumours within the liver. The primary objectives of this randomised trial were to compare the response rate, time to progressive disease (PD), and toxicity of a regimen of systemic fluorouracil/leucovorin chemotherapy versus the same chemotherapy plus a single administration of SIR-Spheres in patients with advanced colorectal liver metastases. The trial was designed to presage a larger trial that would have survival as the primary outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with previously untreated advanced colorectal liver metastases, with or without extrahepatic metastases, were randomised into the study. RESULTS: Using RECIST criteria, the response rate for 11 patients receiving the combination treatment was significantly greater than for 10 patients receiving chemotherapy alone (First Integrated Response; 10 PR, 1 SD vs. 0 PR, 6 SD, 4 PD, P < 0.001 and Best Confirmed Response; 8 PR, 3 SD vs. 0 PR, 6 SD, 4 PD P < 0.001). The time to PD was greater for patients receiving the combination treatment (18.6 months vs. 3.6 months, P < 0.0005). Median survival was significantly longer for patients receiving the combination treatment (29.4 months vs. 12.8 months, P = 0.02). One patient in the combination arm died from chemotherapy induced neutropenic sepsis after the fourth chemotherapy cycle. There were more Grade 3 and 4 toxicity events in patients receiving the combination treatment. There was no difference in quality-of-life over a 3 month period between the two treatments when rated by patients (P = 0.96) or physicians (P = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS: This small phase 2 randomised trial demonstrated that the addition of a single administration of SIR-Spheres to a regimen of systemic fluorouracil/leucovorin chemotherapy significantly increased both treatment related response, time to PD, and survival with acceptable toxicity. The combination of SIR-Spheres plus systemic chemotherapy is now the subject of ongoing trials to further define patient benefit.     

Excellent outcome of stage II neuroblastoma is independent of residual disease and radiation therapy

The optimal management for patients with stage II neuroblastoma has not yet been established. In order to determine the impact of adding chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to surgery, we reviewed by questionnaire 156 patients with stage II neuroblastoma treated by 28 Childrens Cancer Study Group (CCSG) institutions from 1978 to 1985. Survival and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed by life-table methods with respect to age at diagnosis, site and size of primary tumor, spinal cord involvement, extent of initial resection, and treatment in addition to surgery. The overall 5-year survival was 96%; the PFS was 90%, similar to previous CCSG studies. Age at diagnosis had a small impact on PFS, with 92% PFS for patients less than 2 years of age at diagnosis, and 84% for those greater than 2 (P = .10). The only site with an adverse outcome was the head and neck (n = 11), with a PFS of 68% compared with 93% for the remaining sites (P = .02). Size of primary and intraspinal extension of primary did not affect PFS. The extent of resection and subsequent treatment with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy did not affect the PFS. The outcome for 75 patients treated with surgery alone (6-year PFS, 89%) was not significantly different from that of 66 patients receiving radiation therapy (6-year PFS, 94%). There was no significant difference between 40 patients with gross or microscopic residual disease treated with surgery alone (PFS, 92%) and 59 patients with residual disease who also received radiation (PFS, 90%). Five of seven patients who progressed after surgery alone have been salvaged with further therapy and are now free of disease. One survives with disease, so that the 6-year survival is 98% for those treated initially with surgery alone, compared with 95% for those receiving radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. These data suggest that surgery alone, even if complete resection is not achieved, is sufficient initial therapy for stage II neuroblastoma. The data also identify another stage of neuroblastoma, in addition to stage IV-S, for which almost all patients have a favorable prognosis because their tumor may be biologically limited in growth.     

Serum Cytokeratin 18 as a Potential Early Marker for Chemotherapy Response in Breast Cancer Patients: A Prospective Study

Background: Currently, it is well recognized that response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is an important predictive factor for survival in breast cancer patients. However, it is still an area of research about which patient would respond to the neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: Serum CK18 levels were measured using ELISA from 52 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, at presentation and after first cycle of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Pre- and post-treatment CK-18 levels were correlated with several clinical and pathological parameters. At the end of neoadjuvant treatment, changes in serum CK18 levels were correlated with tumors’ response to therapy. Results: Significant elevation of pre-chemotherapy CK18 level was observed in patients who had progressive disease compared to those who had complete or partial response to therapy (P=0.006 and P<0.001, respectively). Significantly higher CK18 levels were observed post-chemotherapy in complete and partial responders, in contrast to patients with stable or progressive disease (P=0.012% and P=0.001%, respectively). The percent of change was significantly higher in complete responders compared to patients who had stable or progressive disease (P=0.043% and P=0.045%, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest that patients with increasing CK18 level following chemotherapy are potential responders to their neoadjuvant protocol. Thus, the measurement of serum CK18 early in the treatment course could be a simple, noninvasive way to predict tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.     

Predictive factors for skin reactions in patients treated with thermoradiotherapy

In this study we performed univariate analyses to analyse the predictive factors for skin reactions, i.e. erythema, thermal blisters and ulceration, that occur during thermoradiotherapy. One hundred and twenty-six fields in 126 patients were treated with thermoradiotherapy using 915 MHz external microwave hyperthermia. Mean age of patients was 62 years. All but 11 lesions received previous therapy. Prior treatment included surgery (75%), chemotherapy (60%) and/or radiation therapy (51%). The mean previous radiation dose was 54 ± 2 Gy. The concurrent tumour radiation dose was 45 ± 1 Gy, in 16 fractions, over 35 elapsed days (dose per fraction of 1·6–4·8 Gy). The mean number of heat sessions administered was 5·5 ± 0·2 (range 1–14). In 83% of cases hyperthermia was administered biweekly. Forty-two patients were treated without any skin reaction (33%), erythema occurred in 59 fields (47%), transient thermal blisters occurred in 25 fields (20%) and ulceration occurred in 23 fields (18%). In 25 cases, two or more skin reactions (20%) were observed concurrently. Concurrent radiation dose correlated with skin reactions (p = 0·02). The incidence of skin reactions was inversely correlated with previous radiation therapy (p = 0·04) and previous radiation therapy dose (p = 0·04) possibly due to fibrosis. None of the tumour or skin thermal parameters correlated with the reaction rate.     

营养状况与炎症指标对食管癌同期放化疗急性不良反应的影响

目的 观察放疗前不同营养状况及炎症反应指标对食管癌IMRT同期化疗患者急性相关不良反应的影响。方法 分析2006—2014年间在本院接受IMRT同步化疗并符合入组条件的338例食管癌患者的急性不良反应发生情况,观察治疗前不同营养状况[如体质量指数(BMI)、白蛋白(ALB)、总淋巴细胞计数(TLC)、有无贫血]以及不同炎症反应指标[如中性粒细胞淋巴细胞比值(NLR)、血小板淋巴细胞比值(PLR)]对其影响。采用连续性校正的χ²检验和Logistic回归分析。结果 338例患者以不同营养状况评价指标评价的营养不良发生率为5.62%~54.14%。营养状况指标中≥2级急性RE发生率低ALB组高于正常组(P=0.000);随着TLC的下降血液系统不良反应发生率增加(P=0.006),而RP发生率随着TLC的下降而降低(P=0.001);贫血组≥2级急性RE发生率高于非贫血组(P=0.000)。炎症指标结果分析显示高NLR、高PLR组RE发生率显著高于低NLR组、低PLR组(P=0.000、0.024)。将上述营养状况和炎症指标纳入Logistic回归分析发现TLC是急性血液系统不良反应的影响因素(P=0.001),ALB、PLR是急性RE的影响因素(P=0.017、P=0.011)。结论 食管癌患者营养状况及炎症指标与放化疗相关急性不良反应有一定相关性,在临床应用中可能具有一定程度提示价值,临床工作中应予以重视并进行积极营养支持治疗。     

A case for preplanned thoracic and prophylactic whole brain radiation therapy in limited small-cell lung cancer

Thirty patients with previously untreated limited small-cell lung cancer were treated in a prospectively randomized trial comparing chemotherapy versus chemotherapy plus prophylactic whole brain radiation therapy. Without preplanned thoracic radiation therapy in addition to the chemotherapy, 78% of patients failed in the lung (52% in the lung solely) as the first site of treatment failure. In those patients not receiving prophylactic whole brain irradiation, 73% failed in the CNS at the time of first and second failure versus 13% of the group randomized to prophylactic whole brain radiation therapy (and those two before the radiation was given). A strong case can be made for the use of both preplanned thoracic and prophylactic whole brain radiation therapy in conjunction with combination chemotherapy, at least until much more effective chemotherapy is found.     

非小细胞肺癌根治性化放疗前后外周血微转移的检测及其预后

目的探讨根治性化放疗治疗非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）患者外周血微转移的预后意义。方法应用巢式CK19 RT-PCR方法,动态检测67例NSCLC患者根治性化放疗前后外周血微转移,研究其与临床病理特征的相关性和预后价值。结果治疗前和治疗后,微转移阳性分别为44例（65．7％）和22例（32．8％）;治疗前,微转移表达与N分期（P=0．014）相关;治疗后,微转移表达与N分期（P=0．032）、病理类型（P=0．019）、体重减轻（P=0．01）和KPS评分（P=0．027）相关;治疗前微转移阳性和阴性的4年远处转移率分别为78．3％和70．4％（P=0．544）,治疗后分别为100％和62．9％（P〈0．001）。治疗前微转移阳性和阴性患者的中位生存期分别为13．8个月和17．6个月, 4年生存率分别为18．2％和17．4％（P=0．619）。治疗后微转移阳性和阴性患者的中位生存期分别为7．8个月和27．6个月,4年生存率分别为0和26．4％（P〈0．001）。多因素分析显示,治疗后微转移阳性是一独立不良预后因素（P=0．000）。结论根治性化放疗后,外周血微转移的检测有预后价值;与微转移阳性相比,阴性患者预后好。