Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical surgery compared to radical surgery alone in bulky stage IB–IIA cervical cancer

AIM: The aim of this study was evaluation of the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and radical hysterectomy on long-term survival in stage IB-IIA locally advanced cervical cancer as compared with radical surgery alone. METHODS: We reviewed all patients with cervical cancer stage IB-IIA who were treated with two treatment modalities, i.e. NACT followed by radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy, and radical hysterectomy alone between March 1996 and March 2004. There were 22 patients in the NACT group (group 1) and 160 patients in the immediate radical surgery group (group 2). All patients in group 1 were followed for more than 108months, and long-term survival and factors affecting recurrence were evaluated. RESULTS: Nineteen patients in the NACT arm underwent radical surgery. Pelvic lymph node metastasis was found in 8 patients in this group and in 36 in the radical surgery group. Eighteen patients in the NACT group and 96 patients in the radical surgery group were scheduled for adjuvant postoperative chemoradiation. During the 9-year follow-up, recurrence rate was 47.1% and 30.2% in NACT and control groups, respectively. In the NACT group lymph node metastasis was a significant independent risk factor for recurrence. Overall survival in the NACT arm was not statistically significantly lower than the control arm (p=0.06). CONCLUSION: NACT did not improve long-term overall survival of bulky early-stage cervical cancer patients compared to primary radical surgery.     

ⅠB期和ⅡA期宫颈癌患者的预后因素分析

目的 探讨影响ⅠB期和ⅡA期宫颈癌预后的高危因素。方法 1992年12月-2001年12月手术治疗的111例宫颈浸润癌,中位年龄40岁。按FIGO(1994)分期标准,ⅠB期80例(ⅠB1期和ⅠB2期各40例),ⅡA期31例。鳞癌93例(8318％),腺癌17例(15.3％),小细胞癌1例。111例患者均采用广泛性子宫切除加以撕剥式为主的盆腔淋巴清扫术,术前辅助放疗74例(66.7％),术后辅助治疗24例(21.6％)。生存率统计采用Kaplan-Meier方法,预后相关因素分析采用Cox模型和x^2检验。结果 全组患者5年生存率为85.9％,其中ⅠB1期为89.1％,ⅠB2期为90.7％,HA期为78.4％。经单因素分析显示,肿瘤大小(HR=1.479,P=0.152)、肿瘤局部类型(HR=1.440,P=0.264)、临床分期(HR=1.380,P=0.354)、术前和(或)术后辅助治疗(HR=1.210,P=0.450)、淋巴结转移(HR=1.432,P=0.540)、颈管受侵(HR=2.244,P=0.036)、深肌层浸润(HR=3.295,P=0.06)和多个性伴侣 合并妊娠(HR=10.172,P=0.000)与早期宫颈癌预后有关。经多因素分析显示,宫颈深肌层浸润和多个性伴侣 合并妊娠是影响预后的重要因素。结论 宫颈深肌层浸润和多个性伴侣 合并妊娠与早期宫颈癌预后密切相关,对具有高危因素的ⅠB期和ⅡA期宫颈癌患者应加强术前和(或)术后的辅助治疗。     

Comparative study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before radical hysterectomy and radical surgery alone in stage IB2-IIA bulky cervical cancer

Objective

To compare the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel plus platinum followed by radical hysterectomy with radical surgery alone in patients with stage IB2-IIA bulky cervical cancer.

Methods

From November 1999 to September 2007, stage IB2-IIA cervical cancers with tumor diameter >4 cm, as measured by MRI, were managed with two cycles of preoperative paclitaxel and platinum. As a control group, we selected 35 patients treated with radical surgery alone.

Results

There were no significant between group differences in age, tumor size, FIGO stage, level of SCC Ag, histopathologic type and grade. Operating time, estimated blood loss, the number of lymph nodes yielded and the rate of complications were similar in the two groups. In surgical specimens, lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), nodal metastasis and parametrial involvement did not differ significantly between the two groups. In the neoadjuvant group, pathologic tumor size was significantly smaller and fewer patients had deep cervical invasion. Radiotherapy, alone and in the form of concurrent chemoradiation, was administered to more patients treated with radical surgery alone (82.9% vs. 52.9%, p=0.006). No recurrence was observed in patients who could avoid adjuvant radiotherapy owing to improved risk factors after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. There were no significant differences in 5-year disease free and overall survival.

Conclusion

As neoadjuvant chemotherapy would improve pathologic prognostic factors, adjuvant radiotherapy can be avoided, without worsening the prognosis, in patients with locally advanced bulky cervical cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy would be improving the quality of life after radical hysterectomy in patients with bulky cervical cancer.     

Treatment of stage IB2 (bulky) cervical carcinoma

Tumour size is an important prognostic factor in patients with stage IB cervical cancer. The patient with stage IB2 (bulky) cervical cancer represents a therapeutic challenge. Neither radical hysterectomy nor primary radiation therapy are sufficiently effective and are associated with significant treatment-related complications including ovarian failure and psychosexual deficits. A number of phase III studies have explored alternative management approaches in this patient population. It appears that extrafascial hysterectomy following radiation therapy does not improve overall survival relative to radiation therapy alone. Consistent with results seen in locally advanced cervical carcinoma, chemoradiation therapy is superior to radiation therapy alone as primary treatment for stage IB2 cervical cancer and as adjuvant therapy for surgically treated patients with high-risk factors for recurrence. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has resulted in high clinical response rates and operability rates. There are two phase III trials suggesting an improvement in survival with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy versus either surgery (and selected postoperative radiation) or radiation therapy alone. These emerging treatments should be scrutinized in prospective controlled trials.     

Primary management of early stage cervical cancer (IA1-IB) and appropriate selection of adjuvant therapy

Cervical cancer is the third most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States but the leading gynecologic cancer worldwide. Most patients will present with clinical early-stage disease (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] stage IA1-IB). These patients are a clinically heterogeneous group, and primary treatment can be either surgery or radiotherapy. Standard surgery is either radical hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy (stage IA2-IB2) or simple hysterectomy for microinvasive disease (stage IA1). Interest has been increasing in using conservative fertility-sparing surgery through radical trachelectomy as an option for select patients with early-stage disease who want future fertility. Primary radiotherapy is delivered as a combination of external-beam teletherapy and brachytherapy. It is given with concurrent cisplatin-based chemotherapy, based on 5 large randomized controlled trials that showed significant improvement in overall survival with the addition of chemotherapy. Using either radical surgery or radiation therapy in stage IB disease yields 5-year survival rates of 87% to 92%. The addition of postoperative adjuvant radiation with concurrent chemotherapy is recommended in patients with high- or intermediate-risk disease after radical hysterectomy to reduce risk for recurrence and improve progression-free survival. In select patients with stage IB2 disease with bulky tumors undergoing primary chemoradiation, adjuvant hysterectomy may provide benefit after treatment.     

101例宫颈小细胞神经内分泌癌患者的临床治疗及预后分析

目的 探讨宫颈小细胞神经内分泌癌（SCNEC）患者的临床治疗及预后影响相关因素。方法 选取江西省妇幼保健院101例SCNEC患者ⅠB1期-ⅡA期手术治疗组72例,ⅡB-Ⅳ期根治性放化疗组29例,对患者的年龄、临床分期、肿瘤大小、治疗及生存率等进行回顾性分析。结果 72例手术患者中,51例生存,生存时间1~139月,五年生存率60.6%。29例根治性放化疗患者中,随访5年以上20例,五年生存率15%。不同分期患者生存率差异有统计学意义（P=0.0025）;淋巴结阴性与阳性患者生存率差异有统计学意义（P=0.0004）。混合型与单纯型患者生存率差异无统计学意义（P=0.0546）。结论 宫颈SCNEC患者临床分期、淋巴结转移情况与预后密切相关,是否混合其他病理类型对生存率无影响。早期手术治疗患者预后明显优于中晚期根治性放化疗患者。     

Extent of disease and results of adjuvant radiotherapy after radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy in the treatment of stage IB, IIA, and IIB cervical carcinoma

Background. To identify variable prognostic factors and analyze failure patterns in uterine cervix cancer after radical operation and adjuvant radiotherapy, a retrospective analysis was undertaken. Methods. We analyzed 124 patients with uterine cervix cancer, FIGO stage IB, IIA, and IIB, treated with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy between May 1985 and May 1995. Minimum follow-up period was 24 months. All these patients were treated with full-dose external radiotherapy using a linear accelerator or high-dose-rate intracavitary radiation. Results. Overall 5-year survival rate and relapse-free survival rate were 75.4% and 73.5%, respectively. Significant prognostic factors for relapse-free survival were wall involvement thickness, lymph node location and number, parametrium involvement, tumor size, stage, uterine body involvement, and vaginal resection margin involvement. By multivariate analysis, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, and vaginal resection margin involvement were significant prognostic factors. Treatment-related failure occurred in 33 cases. In stage IIB, 5-year relapse-free survival rate was only 56%, and 9 of 22 patients had recurrence. Conclusion. Postoperative radiotherapy results are good for patients with relatively low risk factors, but the results are poor for patients with multiple high-risk factors or stage IIB. To control recurrence for patients with high-risk factors, postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy alone is not a sufficient treatment method. Considering cost-effectiveness, it may be reasonable to treat with primary radical radiotherapy for patients with stage IIB cervical cancer and poor prognostic factors instead of a radical operation and adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy regimen. Further investigation should be done. Received: November 13, 1998 / Accepted: May 27, 1999     

胃癌根治术后辅助治疗的疗效及预后因素分析

目的:探讨胃癌根治术后辅助治疗的疗效及其影响生存的预后因素。方法:回顾性分析2009年1月至2012年12月期间在我院行根治术后辅助化疗的388例胃癌患者的临床和病理资料,按是否加用腹腔灌注化疗分为两组,联合腹腔灌注化疗组194例,单纯术后辅助化疗为对照组194例,计算患者的生存率并进行预后分析。结果:388例患者1年、3年、5 年总生存（OS）率为95.0%、65.3%、53.0%,1、3、5年无病生存（DFS）率为79.0%、53.0%、44.7%。单因素分析显示病理分期、淋巴结状况N、R0/R1切除术、静脉化疗周期数、联合腹腔灌注化疗是患者生存的预后因素,进一步多因素回归分析显示淋巴结状况N、R0/R1切除术、是否联合腹腔灌注化疗对OS及DFS均有统计学差异（P＜0.05）。结论:淋巴结状况N、R0/R1切除术以及联合腹腔灌注化疗是影响患者生存的独立预后因素,为进展期胃癌预后的判断及选择适宜的治疗方化疗案提供了有力依据。强调早诊早治,施以根治性手术为主的综合治疗模式,是提高胃癌术后生存率的关键。     

Patterns of care for cervical cancer in Auckland, New Zealand, 2003-2007

Introduction: The purpose of this review is to document current patterns of care for the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB1 to IVA cervical cancer in a New Zealand cancer centre. Methods: This is a retrospective review of women with newly diagnosed FIGO Stage IB1–IVA cervical cancer in the Auckland/Northland regions between 2003 and 2007. Results: Two hundred seven patients were identified. Fifty‐three percent were stage IB, 24% stage II, 19% stage III and 3% stage IVA. Factors associated with stage ≥IIB were age >50, lack of participation in cervical screening and public first specialist assessment. Ninety percent (90/100) of stage IB1 patients and 73% (8/11) of stage IB2 patients were treated with primary surgery. Thirty‐eight percent of surgically treated stage IB1 and 100% of surgically treated stage IB2 tumours had indications for adjuvant radiotherapy. Radiotherapy utilisation rates were: stage IB 49% (IB1 44%, IB2 91%); stage II 93%; stage III 90%; and stage IVA 71%. Brachytherapy utilisation rate (BTU) for stages IIB to IVA was 64% overall and 75% in definitively treated patients. Seventy‐five percent of patients treated with definitive radiotherapy received concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy. Conclusion: Both radiotherapy and brachytherapy utilization rates were below optimal and are being addressed. No formal surgical or chemotherapy utilisation estimates exist for comparison; however, the use of concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy was similar to other groups. A high rate of adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy was noted in surgically treated Stage IB patients, suggesting a need for an increased consideration of primary chemoradiotherapy in these patients to avoid the unnecessary toxicity of trimodality therapy. Future outcome analysis is planned.     

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cervical cancer: an update

The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has been investigated in order to improve prognosis of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. According to a meta-analysis, NACT followed by radiotherapy may be detrimental with a low dose of cisplatin and longer cycle intervals. Some meta-analyses showed NACT followed by surgery resulted in a reduction in the risk of death by 35% with a gain of 14% in the 5-year survival compared with radiotherapy. In a Cochrane meta-analysis, overall survival and progression-free survival were significantly improved with NACT followed by surgery versus surgery alone (23% reduction in the risk of death). The platinum/paclitaxel combination is now the preferred regimen in the neoadjuvant setting and preliminary data indicate that dose-dense regimens are feasible and effective (overall response rate: 67.8–87%). A weekly regimen with carboplatin/paclitaxel before chemoradiation showed promising results and the INTERLACE ongoing trial will help to confirm whether additional short-course chemotherapy given weekly before chemoradiation will lead to an improvement in overall survival.     

Impact of interval debulking surgery on clinical outcome in primary unresectable FIGO stage IIIc ovarian cancer patients

OBJECTIVES: To report the results of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and the impact of interval debulking surgery (IDS) on clinical outcomes of patients considered unresectable at primary surgery. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was carried out on 73 consecutive stage IIIc ovarian cancer patients treated with platinum-based NACT followed by IDS. Their clinical outcomes were compared with those of 111 consecutive stage IIIc ovarian cancer patients treated with primary cytoreduction followed by platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: Patients who underwent successful IDS had a more favorable prognosis than those who did not in terms of time to progression (TTP) (p = 0.00001), and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.0001). On the other hand, in the group of patients that underwent successful IDS, no differences in survival outcomes were observed between patients with no residual disease and patients with macroscopic residual disease <2 cm after IDS (p = n.s.). CONCLUSIONS: NACT followed by successful IDS can achieve good results in terms of survival outcomes in a high percentage of chemoresponsive IIIc ovarian cancer patients classified as unresectable at primary surgery. These results are in fact inferior to those achievable with optimal primary cytoreduction; however, they were quite similar to those seen with suboptimal primary cytoreduction.     

新辅助放化疗联合手术治疗ⅠB2~ⅡA2期子宫颈癌临床预后因素分析

背景与目的：探讨Ⅰ_B2～Ⅱ_A2期子宫颈腺癌与腺鳞癌经新辅助放化疗联合手术治疗后的生存及复发情况,并分析其预后影响因素。方法：收集蚌埠医学院第一附属医院2005年4月—2011年10月50例Ⅰ_B2～Ⅱ_A2期患者的临床病理资料。患者均接受广泛全子宫切除+盆腔淋巴结清扫术,且术前均接受1次静脉化疗,宫颈肿瘤直径大于等于6 cm,给予阴道腔内放疗1次。回顾分析患者的生存及复发情况,探讨其预后影响因素。结果：50例Ⅰ_B2～Ⅱ_A2期子宫颈腺癌和腺鳞癌患者中,随访期内死亡15例,2年和5年无进展生存率分别是80.12%和72.24%,中位无进展生存时间为68个月;2年和5年累积总生存率分别是95.38%和73.56%,中位总生存时间为80个月。单因素分析显示,盆腔淋巴结转移、宫颈间质浸润、宫旁浸润和新辅助放化疗后肿瘤最大直径缩短小于3 cm的患者预后较差(P<0.05),而年龄、术后放化疗、淋巴管间隙受累分期、FIGO分期、是否保留卵巢和病理类型与预后无明显相关性(P>0.05)。多因素COX回归分析结果显示,盆腔淋巴结转移和放化疗后肿瘤直径缩小是宫颈腺癌和腺鳞癌的独立预后影响因素。结论：新辅助放化疗联合手术治疗提高了Ⅰ_B2～Ⅱ_A2期宫颈腺癌和腺鳞癌手术切除率,而盆腔淋巴结转移及放化疗后宫颈肿瘤最大径消退程度是宫颈腺癌和腺鳞癌的独立预后因素。     

Ⅱ期结肠癌患者的预后分析

目的探讨Ⅱ期结肠癌根治术后的预后影响因素,评价术后辅助化疗在Ⅱ期结肠癌中的价值。方法回顾性分析127例接受根治性手术切除的Ⅱ期结肠癌患者的临床资料并进行随访,采用Kaplan-Meier法进行生存分析,采用Log-rank法进行生存比较,COX比例风险模型进行多因素分析。结果单因素分析显示,年龄、大体分型、组织学类型、侵犯邻近器官、脉管浸润、淋巴结解剖个数及术前CEA为不良预后因素(P<0.05);进一步多因素分析显示,组织学类型和脉管浸润是影响生存的独立预后因素。全组共85.0%(108/127)的患者接受了术后辅助化疗,辅助化疗组和未化疗组的5年生存率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但辅助化疗组中具有不良预后因素的患者显著多于未化疗组(P=0.000)。结论Ⅱ期结肠癌的预后与多种因素有关,组织学类型和脉管浸润是影响生存的独立预后因素。建议对存在不良预后影响因素的Ⅱ期结肠癌患者给予辅助化疗。     

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical surgery versus exclusive radiotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell cervical cancer: results from the Italian multicenter randomized study.

PURPOSE: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and radical surgery (RS) have emerged as a possible alternative to conventional radiation therapy (RT) in locally advanced cervical carcinoma. In 1990, a phase III trial was undertaken to verify such a hypothesis in terms of survival and treatment-related morbidity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with squamous cell, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB2 to III cervical cancer were eligible for the study. They received cisplatin-based NACT followed by RS (type III to V radical hysterectomy plus systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy) (arm A) or external-beam RT (45 to 50 Gy) followed by brachyradiotherapy (20 to 30 Gy) (arm B). RESULTS: Of 441 patients randomly assigned to NACT+RS or RT, eligibility was confirmed in 210 and 199 patients, respectively. Treatment was administered according to protocol in 76% of arm A patients and 72% of arm B patients. Adjuvant treatment was delivered in 48 operated patients (29%). There was no evidence for any significant excess of severe morbidity in one of the two arms. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 58.9% and 55.4% for arm A and 44.5% and 41.3% for arm B (P =.007 and P =.02), respectively. Subgroup survival analysis shows OS and PFS rates of 64.7% and 59.7% (stage IB2-IIB, NACT+RS), 46.4% and 46.7% (stage IB2-IIB, RT) (P =.005 andP =.02), 41.6% and 41.9% (stage III, NCAT+RS), 36.7% and 36.4% (stage III, RT) (P =.36 and P =.29), respectively. Treatment had a significant impact on OS and PFS. CONCLUSION: Although significant only for the stage IB2 to IIB group, a survival benefit seems to be associated with the NACT+RS compared with conventional RT.     

Contribution of surgery in patients with bulky residual disease after chemoradiation for advanced cervical carcinoma.

AIM: To report the outcome of 30 patients who underwent surgery after concomitant chemoradiation for locally advanced cervical cancer with residual disease > or = 2 cm. METHODS: From 1988 to 2004, 143 patients with FIGO stage IB2-IVA cervical cancer underwent surgery after concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Among them, 30 had a residual cervical tumour > or = 2 cm prior to surgery. Surgery consisted in a simple or radical hysterectomy (n=15) or in a pelvic exenteration (n=15). Endpoints were recurrence and distant metastasis rates, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) at 3 and 5 years. Analysis included FIGO stage, response to chemoradiation, para-aortic lymphatic status or type of surgery: palliative (remaining disease after surgery) or curative (no evidence of remaining disease after surgery). RESULTS: Surgery has been only palliative in 11 cases. Pelvic recurrences occurred in 8 patients after a median interval of 8.8 months. Distant metastases occurred in 8 patients after a median interval of 13 months. So far, 16 patients have died (53.3%). The 3-year and 5-year OS rates are 64.9% and 55.6%, respectively, for the 19 patients who had a curative surgery. The DFS rate is 50.8% at 3 and 5 years in this latter group. Overall 12 patients (40%) are alive and free of disease after a median follow-up of 32.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant surgery may improve the outcome of patients with bulky residual tumour after chemoradiation for locally advanced cervical cancer, allowing a 5-year OS of 55.6% after curative intervention.     

FIGO 2018分期系统对子宫颈神经内分泌癌治疗及预后的影响

  目的  探讨国际妇产科联盟（FIGO）2018分期系统对子宫颈神经内分泌癌（neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix，NECUC）患者治疗决策及预后的影响。  方法  回顾性分析2003年1月至2019年1月65例收治于重庆大学附属肿瘤医院的NECUC患者的临床病理资料，按照FIGO 2018新分期系统再分期，与FIGO 2009老分期系统进行比较，并对预后进行单因素和多因素分析。  结果  65例NECUC患者的中位发病年龄为46（18~70）岁，中位随访时间为23.6（4~151）个月，其中42例行根治性手术、16例行同步放化疗、3例行单纯化疗、4例拒绝治疗。截止随访时42例出现复发转移，38例死亡。按照FIGO 2018新分期系统进行再分期后，65例患者中有34例（52.3%）分期升级，大多数变化出现在ⅠB期和ⅢC期。患者的2年累积无进展生存（progression-freesurvival，PFS）率和总生存（overall survival，OS）率分别为40.5%和50.5%。单因素分析显示预后与FIGO分期、放疗、化疗及化疗疗程有显著性相关（均P < 0.05），而与肿瘤大小、化疗方案无显著性相关（均P>0.05）；多因素分析显示是否行放疗是PFS的独立影响因素，而FIGO 2018新分期系统及化疗疗程是OS的独立影响因素。  结论  FIGO 2018新分期系统对于判断NECUC预后要优于老分期系统，对于早期患者术前影像学评估淋巴结状态尤为重要，足疗程的化疗及放疗可能对改善患者的生存有益。      

Clinical Outcome of Iranian Patients with Advanced Ovarian Cancer with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy versus Primary Debulking Surgery

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and theimpact of interval debulking surgery (IDS) on clinical outcomes of patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer.Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis on 92 patients with advanced ovarian cancer admitted to Vali-Asr Gynecologic oncology departments during 1996–2002. Comparison was made with results of neoadjuvantchemotherapy of 24 patients with unresectable advanced epithelial ovarian cancer treated with platinum- basedNACT followed by IDS and clinical outcomes of 68 consecutive stage III and IV ovarian cancer patients treatedwith primary cytoreduction followed by platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Results: Primary cytoreductivesurgery caused longer survival compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients who underwent optimal intervaldebulking surgery (IDS) had a better progression free survival (PFS) (p=0.002) and overall survival (p=0.03)than those who did not. There were not significant differences between the two groups in complications ofsurgery. Conclusion: NACT followed by successful IDS can lead to high survival percentage in patients withchemoresponsive advanced ovarian cancer; although the result is more effective in those with optimal primarycytoreduction, we still got the same results with those with suboptimal primary cytoreduction.     

Stage IA non-small cell lung cancer: vessel invasion is a poor prognostic factor and a new target of adjuvant chemotherapy

This study reports the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with vessel invasion (Vi). We sub-divided 322 patients with surgically resected pathological stage IA NSCLC into two groups according to Vi [non-Vi (n=237) and Vi (n=85)]. Both groups were compared with regard to age, gender, performance status, smoking habits, serum carcinoembryonic antigen level, extent of surgery, tumour size, histopathology, recurrence sites, and survival. The overall 5-year survival rates of non-Vi and Vi groups were 89.6% and 71.8% (P<0.001), respectively. Distant metastasis was observed more frequently in the Vi group (P<0.001, risk ratio: 9.06). Univariate and multivariable analyses identified poor performance status, squamous cell carcinoma, tumour size>or=15 mm and Vi as poor prognostic factors (P<0.05). The overall 5-year survival rate of stage IA Vi group nearly overlapped with that of patients with stage IB NSCLC. Retrospectively, oral uracil-tegafur chemotherapy increased the overall 5-year survival rate of stage IA Vi group by more than 25% (P=0.036). In conclusion, vessel invasion is a poor prognostic factor in patients with stage IA NSCLC. Prognosis of patients with Vi-stage IA NSCLC is similar to that of patients with stage IB NSCLC and is improved significantly by postoperative oral uracil-tegafur chemotherapy. Our preliminary study suggests that stage IA Vi group benefits from adjuvant chemotherapy.     

Bulky, barrel-shaped cervical carcinoma (stages IB, IIA, IIB): the prognostic factors for pelvic control and treatment outcome.

The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic factors for pelvic control and the treatment outcome in bulky, barrel-shaped cervical carcinomas. Between September 1980 and December 1992, 65 patients with stage IB or stage IIA-B carcinoma of the uterine cervix classified as barrel-shaped or concentrically expanded (i.e., at least 5 cm in greatest diameter) were treated with curative intent. Forty patients had stage IB or stage IIA carcinoma (according to the classification of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO]), and 25 patients had FIGO stage IIB carcinoma. Seventy-two percent of the patients were treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone and 28% with radiotherapy followed by extrafascial hysterectomy (RT + S). The median follow-up time of surviving patients was 68 months (range 33-172). Survival and control rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The 10-year actuarial pelvic control rate was 75% for all patients. The likelihood of pelvic control was not affected by FIGO stage, tumor size, patient's age, histologic features, or treatment modality (RT vs. RT + S). The extent of tumor regression following external beam radiotherapy correlated with the likelihood of local control (p = 0.02). For patients treated with RT alone, increased brachytherapy dose was associated with an increased likelihood of local control. The 10-year actuarial overall and cause-specific survival rates were 53% and 68%, respectively, and did not differ significantly between treatment groups. It is concluded that for most patients with bulky cervical carcinoma, RT alone provides good local control and survival. However, for patients with tumors that respond poorly to external beam radiotherapy, local control and survival are poor. More aggressive treatment protocols should be considered for these patients. The routine use of adjuvant hysterectomy is not recommended.     

Lessons learnt from 1300 consecutive gallbladder cancer surgeries: Evolving role of peri-operative chemotherapy in the treatment paradigm

BackgroundLevel I evidence for multi-modality management of gallbladder cancers (GBC) is evolving.MethodsProspectively maintained operative GBC database of 1307 patients (year 2010–2019) was analysed to study the impact of peri-operative chemotherapy (PCT) on survival outcomes.Results1040 patients had pathologically confirmed GBC. Stage distribution showed: Stage I(85,8.2%), II(247,23.8%), III(460,44.2%), IV(248, 23.8%). PCT was used as follows: in stage II, 164 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy(ACT); in stage III, ACT was given to 444 patients, either operated upfront(244 patients) or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT)(216 patients); in stage IV, 32 patients (11 received NACT) underwent radical surgery followed by ACT and 216 patients had inoperable disease (77 received NACT) upon exploration. With a median follow-up of 30 months, the 3-year OS for stage I, II and III was 94.1%, 82.6% and 48.2% respectively. Corresponding DFS was 93.8%, 67.3% and 38.3%. Upon reassessment for surgery after NACT (n = 332), patients who underwent radical surgery (n = 235) had superior OS (p = 0.000) and DFS (p = 0.000) in comparison to those who had inoperable disease (n = 97). Amongst stage III and IV patients with operable disease (n = 492), those who were operated upfront (n = 238) had equivalent survival as those operated after NACT (n = 254). This was also confirmed by a 1:1 propensity matched analysis (118 patients each), matching for T and N stage.ConclusionThe role of peri-operative chemotherapy in management of GBC is evolving. While the role of NACT for locally advanced GBC is unsettled and merits testing prospectively, it helps in selection of patients with favourable disease biology for radical surgery.