Long-term treatment outcome of minor salivary gland carcinoma of the hard palate

Minor salivary gland carcinoma of the hard palate is rare, and its long-term survival rate is high, making it difficult to evaluate the prognostic factors and the efficacy of treatment. This study was designed to evaluate the treatment outcome of minor salivary gland carcinoma of the hard palate. 103 cases of minor salivary gland carcinoma of the hard palate treated with surgery alone or underwent surgery combined with post-operative radiotherapy hospitalized in Cancer Center, Sun Yet-Sen University, from 1968 to 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. The most common histologic types were adenoid cystic carcinoma in 48 patients(46.6%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma in 37(35.92%), malignant mixed tumor in 15(14.56%), and acinic cell carcinoma in 3(2.91%). The median follow-up time was 74.83 months (range 0.9-356.57 months). Overall outcomes at 5 and 10 years were overall survival (OS), 77.9% and 65.7%; recurrence-free survival (RFS), 64.4% and 53.2%; and disease specific survival (DSS), 77.9% and 67.7%, respectively. There was no significant difference in overall survival (P=0.52), recurrence-free survival (P=0.762) and disease specific survival (P=0.449) between patients who underwent surgery alone and those who underwent surgery plus post-operative radiotherapy. Surgery has been accepted as the primary treatment for minor salivary gland carcinoma of hard palate. Sufficient surgical excision with adequate margins is essential for a favorable outcome. We advocate using radiotherapy in the post-operative context for patients with poorly differentiated, cervical lymph node metastasis, positive or close margins, and large primary lesions.     

Cisplatin, epirubicin and 5-fluorouracil combination chemotherapy for recurrent carcinoma of the salivary gland

Nine patients (5 males, 4 females; median age, 62 years) with recurrent high-grade malignancies of major (7 cases) and minor (2 cases) salivary gland origin (4 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 2 adenocarcinomas, 2 poorly differentiated carcinomas, 1 mixed malignant tumor) were treated with cisplatin (60 mg/m2), epirubicin (50 mg/m2) and 5-fluorouracil (600 mg/m2) (CEF) by intravenous injections on the first day of a 21-day regimen. Previous therapy included surgery (1 case), radiotherapy (1 case), and surgery + radiotherapy (7 cases). There was 1 complete response (11.1%), 3 partial responses (33.3%), 2 unchanged lesions (22.2%) and 3 progressions (33.3%). Patients with local recurrence had a better response. Median remission duration was 7.5 months in CR + PR patients. Median overall survival was 8+ months; 14+ months for responders and 4 months for nonresponders. The major toxic effects were nausea/vomiting and alopecia; myelosuppression was less frequent and usually not severe.     

小细胞肺癌术后放疗的临床意义分析

分析术后放疗在Ⅰ～Ⅲ期小细胞肺癌患者综合治疗中的地位。方法:回顾性分析2000年2月至2009年12月间天津医科大学附属肿瘤医院有完整记录的接受手术治疗的Ⅰ～Ⅲ期小细胞肺癌患者临床资料,分析术后放疗对小细胞肺癌患者预后的影响。采用Kaplan-Meier法及Cox回归模型分析术后放疗的价值。结果:全组患者3年生存率为45.8%,中位生存期为34个月。单因素及多因素分析均显示术后放疗没有显著增加生存率,但是显著降低了局部区域复发率。术后放疗组与未放疗组的3年生存率分别为49.7%和39.3%,中位生存期分别为36个月和30个月（P=0.260）;3年局部区域复发率分别为7.7%和28.8%（P=0.001）。pN0患者术后放疗组与未放疗组3年生存率分别为54.5%和64.3%（P=0.705）,pN1患者分别为53.8%和33.3%（P=0.067）,pN2患者分别为46.7%和22.7%（P=0.141）。结论:术后放疗可明显降低小细胞肺癌术后局部复发率,可能会提高淋巴结阳性患者生存期。建议小细胞肺癌术后淋巴结阳性患者行术后放疗。      

头颈部唾液腺腺样囊性癌术后调强放疗预后分析

目的:探讨头颈部唾液腺腺样囊性癌(ACC)的综合治疗模式及预后因素。方法:收集2016—2018年间上海交通大学医学院附属第九人民医院放疗科收治的头颈部唾液腺ACC完成术后放疗患者资料进行回顾性分析。 Kaplan- Meier法生存分析, log- rank检验单因素预...     

涎腺恶性肿瘤174例疗效观察

目的 分析影响涎腺恶性肿瘤治疗疗效的因素.方法 本文回顾总结收治的涎腺恶性肿瘤174例患者的临床资料,患者先行接受手术治疗,术后大部分患者加用60Co、X线外照射28 ～76 Gy.结果 全组总的5a生存率为66.3％,10 a生存率为57.5％,15 a生存率为46.4％,20 a生存率为11.2％.术后放疗、手术完全切除、病变在腮腺和早期患者的预后较好,其5 a生存率高于单纯手术、肿瘤残留、病变在其他涎腺和晚期患者,差异均有统计学意义(P均＜0.05).结论 涎腺恶性肿瘤以手术加放疗为宜,疗效与手术是否完全切除、病变部位及分期有关.     

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of salivary glands in children and adolescents: assessment of proliferation markers

Malignant neoplasms represent one-third of all pediatric salivary gland tumors. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) composes 51% of malignant tumors and 16% of all salivary gland neoplasms in pediatrics. Prognostic factors in MEC in pediatric patients have not been well defined. Histopathologic features, clinical outcomes and proliferation markers in 26 pediatric patients (median age 11 years; 19F:7M) with salivary gland MECs were evaluated retrospectively. MEC histocytologic grading used a three-tiered system. Proliferation was assessed by determining the percentage of tumor cells immunoreactive for PCNA and Ki-67. Tumor site was 16 parotid, eight submandibular, one base of tongue and one maxillary lip. Median tumor size was 2.5 cm (range 1.5-5 cm). MEC grade was nine low grade (LG), 15 intermediate grade (IG) and two high grade (HG). Metastatic disease and capsular invasion occurred in five cases, while perineural invasion was noted in three cases. Mean percentage of tumor cells immunoreactive for proliferation markers is as follows: PCNA: LG 9%, IG 17%, HG 32%; and Ki-67: LG 7%, IG 12%, HG 26%. Treatment was surgical in 21 cases, and surgery with chemotherapy and radiotherapy in five cases. Two patients with high grade MECs died of disease (21, 44 months). Twenty-four patients had no evidence of disease at a median follow-up of 104 months (range 30-298 months). MECs were second malignancies in two children with prior radiotherapy and chemotherapy for leukemia and histiocytosis. Low and intermediate grade salivary gland MECS in a pediatric population may have a favorable outcome when compared with high grade MECs. Proliferation markers appear to be linked to histocytologic MEC grade and may provide information regarding biologic behavior of salivary gland MECs in children and adolescents.     

Benefits of adjuvant radiotherapy after radical resection of locally advanced main hepatic duct carcinoma

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine the benefits of adjuvant radiotherapy after radical resection of locally advanced main hepatic duct carcinoma (Klatskin tumor). METHODS AND MATERIALS: We conducted a retrospective review of 63 patients who underwent surgical resection of Stage IVA Klatskin tumor. Of the 63 patients, 47 had microscopic tumor residue (RT1). Twenty-eight of the 47 patients with RT1 were treated by adjuvant radiotherapy and the remaining 19 patients were treated exclusively by surgical resection. Seventeen of the 28 patients with RT1 were treated by both intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT); of the remaining 11 patients with RT1, 6 underwent resection and IORT, and 5 underwent resection and PORT. RESULTS: The major complication and 30-day operative death rates were significantly lower in the radiation group (9.5% and 0.0%, respectively) than in the resection alone group (28.5% and 9.5%, respectively). Of the eight 5-year survivors with RT1, 6 had adjuvant radiotherapy and the remaining 2 had resection alone. Adjuvant radiotherapy for patients with RT1 yielded significantly (p = 0.0141) higher 5-year survival rates (33.9%) than in the resection alone group (13.5 %). The best 5-year survival rate (39.2 %) was found in patients who underwent a combination of IORT and PORT after resection. The local-regional control rate was significantly higher in the adjuvant radiation group than in the resection alone group (79.2% vs. 31.2%). CONCLUSION: Our data clearly suggest the improved prognosis of patients with locally advanced Klatskin tumor by integrated adjuvant radiotherapy with IORT and PORT to complete gross tumor resection with acceptable treatment mortality and morbidity.     

颌下腺移位术预防鼻咽癌放疗后口干燥症的长期效果

目的:评价颌下腺移位术预防鼻咽癌放疗后口干燥症的长期效果.方法:70例鼻咽癌患者随机分为试验组36例和对照组34例.试验组在行常规放疗前将颌下腺移位至颏下区,放疗时颏下区设置挡块.~(99)T_c核素扫描检测放疗前后颌下腺功能,测定放疗前后唾液分泌量,放疗后60个月进行口干程度问卷调查,统计5年生存率.结果:放疗后60个月:试验组颌下腺摄取、分泌功能均明显较对照组好,两者之间有显著性差异,P值分别为0.000和0.000;试验组和对照组唾液量的平均值分别为1.65g和0.73g(P=0.000);试验组中度至重度口干燥症的发生率亦显著低于对照组(12.9% vs 78.6%,P=0.000);试验组和对照组的5年生存率分别为86.1%和82.4%,两者之间无显著性差异(P=0.67).结论:颌下腺移位术不影响鼻咽癌远期疗效,预防鼻咽癌放疗后口干燥症的长期效果良好,可改善鼻咽癌患者放疗后的生存质量.     

Patterns of failure after combined-modality approaches incorporating radiotherapy for sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma of the head and neck

PURPOSE: To report the clinical outcome of patients treated with combined-modality approaches for sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) of the head and neck. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of 21 patients with SNUC treated with curative intent at the University of California, San Francisco between 1990 and 2004 were analyzed. Patient age ranged from 33 to 71 years (median, 47 years). Primary tumor sites included the nasal cavity (11 patients), maxillary sinus (5 patients), and ethmoid sinus (5 patients). All patients had T3 (4 patients) or T4 (17 patients) tumors. Local-regional treatment included surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) with or without adjuvant chemotherapy for 17 patients; neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery for 2 patients; and definitive chemoradiotherapy for 2 patients. Median follow-up among surviving patients was 58 months (range, 12-70 months). RESULTS: The 2- and 5-year estimates of local control were 60% and 56%, respectively. There was no difference in local control according to initial treatment approach, but among the 19 patients who underwent surgery the 5-year local control rate was 74% for those with gross tumor resection, compared with 24% for those with subtotal tumor resection (p = 0.001). The 5-year rates of overall and distant metastasis-free survival were 43% and 64%, respectively. Late complications included cataracts (2 patients), lacrimal stenosis (1 patient), and sino-cutaneous fistula (1 patient). CONCLUSION: The suboptimal outcomes suggest a need for more effective therapies. Gross total resection should be the goal of all treatments whenever possible.     

硬腭小涎腺癌的疗效评价和预后因素分析

背景与目的:硬腭小涎腺癌由于发病率低、长期生存率较高,使评价其治疗效果及预后因素较为困难。本研究目的是分析硬腭小涎腺癌的治疗效果及影响预后的因素。方法:对1964年～2001年在中山大学肿瘤防治中心住院治疗的96例原发于硬腭的小涎腺癌进行回顾性分析。应用Kaplan-Meier法计算累积生存率,各因素间比较用秩和对数检验(log-rank),多因素分析采用Cox模型。结果:本组96例患者总的5年、10年生存率分别为65.60%和47.90%。单纯手术治疗53例和手术加放疗35例的5年生存率分别为73.14%和66.58%,10年生存率分别为67.40%和46.60%。多因素分析结果表明:年龄≥50岁、肿瘤≥3cm、切缘阳性及肿瘤复发者预后差(P<0.05)。结论:手术治疗或以手术为主的综合治疗是硬腭小涎腺癌的首选治疗方法。年龄、肿瘤大小、切缘情况及复发情况为影响预后的独立因素。     

Role of radiotherapy for mucoepidermoid carcinoma of salivary gland

This report analyzes 61 patients with mucoepidermoid carcinomas of the salivary gland treated by surgery alone or by surgery plus radiotherapy. Local control for all 61 patients at 5 and 10 years was achieved for 88.8 and 79.7% of the cases. Although the rate of positive surgical margin was higher in patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy (radiotherapy group) than in patients treated by surgery alone (surgery group), the local control rates of the two groups showed no statistically significant differences. There was no local recurrence in seven patients receiving post-operative radiotherapy above 55 Gy while there were three local relapses among 17 patients receiving 55 Gy or lower doses (P < 0.05). The 5- and 10-year actual survival rates were 73.4 and 63.3% respectively. Histopathologic subtype of mucoepidermoid carcinomas correlated with regional lymph node involvement and survival. There were no differences in the local control and survival rates of patients with major salivary gland tumors and patients with minor salivary gland tumors. Radiotherapy using 55 Gy or more combined with operation achieved local control and survival rates comparable with complete resection of tumors even if a positive surgical margin was more frequent in the radiotherapy groups.     

涎腺淋巴上皮癌16例临床分析

背景与目的:涎腺淋巴上皮癌是一种少见的特殊类型的恶性肿瘤,有关该病的的单独报道甚少。本文拟对在我院治疗的涎腺淋巴上皮癌病例的临床特点、治疗及疗效作一总结分析。方法:回顾性分析1990年1月至2004年9月在我院经过病理确诊和治疗的涎腺淋巴上皮癌患者共16例的临床资料,应用Kaplan-Meier法进行生存分析。结果:16例涎腺淋巴上皮癌占我院同期涎腺恶性肿瘤的3.6%(16/443)。所有患者均为单侧腺体发病,发病年龄为15～57岁,男女比例为1∶1,本组患者均来自中国南方。除1例患者未行EB病毒血清学检查以外,其余患者EB病毒血清学检查示EBV-VCA-IgA阳性率为93.3%(14/15),EBV-EA-IgA阳性率为66.7%(10/15),EBV-DNA酶阳性率为86.7%(13/15)。16例患者均接受手术治疗,其中单纯手术治疗9例,手术 术后放疗5例,手术 术后放、化疗1例,手术 化疗1例。术后病理证实4例有同侧颈淋巴结转移者,转移率为25%(4/16)。1、3、5年生存率分别约为86.15%、48.46%、24.23%。结论:涎腺淋巴上皮癌分化差,但预后较好,在治疗上宜应采取彻底手术切除加术后辅助放疗。     

Prognostic Factors and Clinical Outcome in Parotid Gland Tumors: a Single Institution Experience from the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey

Purpose: To review clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with parotid gland tumors treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 69 patients with parotid gland tumors, with a median follow-up of 52 months (range, 2-228 months). and a median radiotherapy dose of 60Gy (range, 30-69 Gy). Results: There were 24 (35%) females and 45 (65%) males, at a ratio of 1/1.9. Median age at presentation was 58.917.2 (range 13-88) years. The most common histology was adenoid cystic carcinoma (33%) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (28%). The mean overall survival (OS) was 65.38 (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.6-81.1) months and the median overall survival was 40.0 7 (95% CI, 26.2-53.7) months. The -1, -3, -5 and -10 year OS rates were 78%, 52.4%, 35.3% and 19.6% respectively. The mean disease free survival (DFS) was 79.210 (95% CI, 59.3-97.1) months and the median disease free survival was 3813 (95% CI, 7.05-88.7) months. The -1,-3,-5 and -10 year DFS rates were 71.9%, 50.1%, 43.7% and 30.1% respectively. On univariate analysis, the OS was significantly better with female sex (p<0.005), < 50 age (p<0.021), T stage (p<0.0001), absence of lymph node involvement (p<0.0001), lower tumor grade (p<0.0001), absence of lymphovascular invasion (p<0.002), absence of perineural invasion (p<0.0001), absence of extracapsuler extension (p<0.0001), surgical margin negativity (p<0.006), 60 Gy radiotherapy dose (p<0.0001) and absence of distant metastasis (p<0.027). Conclusions: Employing existing standards of postoperative radiotherapy is a possible treatment that was found to be mainly effective in patients with parotid gland carcinomas.     

Definitive radiotherapy in the management of isolated vaginal recurrences of endometrial cancer

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to assess prognostic factors and overall survival after salvage radiotherapy for patients who had endometrial carcinoma and who experienced an isolated vaginal recurrence. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed the records of 50 patients treated at our institution between 1967 and 2003 for an isolated vaginal recurrence of endometrial carcinoma. Initial treatment for endometrial carcinoma was definitive surgery in 49 patients and definitive radiotherapy in 1 patient. The median time from initial diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma to recurrence was 25 months (range, 4-179 months). Three patients (6%) received external-beam radiotherapy alone, 8 patients (16%) received brachytherapy only, and 39 patients (78%) received combined external-beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy. Median dose of radiation to the recurrence was 60 Gy (range, 16-85 Gy). Overall survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Endpoints were measured from the date of diagnosis of the vaginal recurrence. Median follow-up of survivors after recurrence was 53 months (range, 8-159 months). RESULTS: The 5-year and 10-year disease-free and overall survivals were 68% and 55%, and 53% and 40%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, age (p = 0.0242), Grade 1 or 2 vs. Grade 3 tumor (p = 0.002), and size of recurrence (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of overall survival. All patients who had Grade 3 disease were dead by 3.6 years from the time of recurrence. Five patients experienced a Grade 3 or 4 complication. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with radiotherapy for an isolated vaginal recurrence can be cured in over 50% the cases. Radiotherapy is well tolerated, with a low risk of complications. Factors predictive of overall survival include tumor grade, patient age at recurrence, and tumor size.     

Surgery alone provides long-term survival rates comparable to those of surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy for patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the palate

We compared the outcomes and rates of survival provided by surgery alone and surgery combined with postoperative radiotherapy for patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the palate (ACP), a rare, low-grade malignant tumor arising within the salivary glands. Fifty-eight patients with ACP were included in this retrospective study. ACP at stages T(1), T(2), T(3,) and T(4) was found in 11, 32, 5, and 10 patients, respectively. The patients were treated with surgery alone or underwent surgery combined with postoperative radiotherapy. The 5, 10, and 15year survival rates were 75%, 37.5%, and 25%, respectively, among the 24 patients who underwent surgery alone. These were not significantly different from the rates of 70.6%, 35.3%, and 20.8%, respectively, among the 34 patients who underwent surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy (P=0.21). The 5 and 10year survival rates were significantly greater among patients receiving ?60Gy of radiotherapy than those among patients receiving <60Gy of radiotherapy (83.3% and 45.8% vs. 40.0% and 10.0%, respectively) (P=0.04). ACP exhibited good long-term survival rates when treated with surgery alone. Addition of postoperative radiotherapy at doses of ?60Gy had no effect on survival, but postoperative radiotherapy at doses of <60Gy reduced survival. Recurrence within the palate was the main cause of treatment failure.     

The role of postoperative radiation therapy in carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of postoperative radiation therapy on the clinical course of patients with carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1960 and 2004, 63 patients were treated with definitive surgery for carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland. Forty patients (63%) received postoperative radiation therapy to a median dose of 60 Gy (range, 45-71 Gy). Adenocarcinoma (29 patients), salivary duct carcinoma (16 patients), and adenoid cystic carcinoma (9 patients) were the most common malignant subtypes. Pathologic T -stage was: 16% T1, 33% T2, 32% T3, and 19% T4. Twenty-one patients (33%) had microscopically positive margins and 39 (62%) had perineural invasion. Median follow-up was 50 months (range, 2-96 months). RESULTS: The use of postoperative therapy significantly improved 5-year local control from 49% to 75% (p = 0.005) and was associated with an improvement in survival among patients without evidence of cervical lymph node metastasis (p = 0.01). A Cox proportional hazard model identified pathologic involvement of cervical lymph nodes as an independent predictor of overall survival. Overall survival was 16% for patients with pathologic N-positive disease compared with 67% for those whose lymph node status was negative or unknown (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Surgery followed by postoperative radiation should be considered the standard of care for patients with carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma.     

54例大涎腺腺样囊性癌的治疗疗效和预后分析

目的 腺样囊性癌(ACC)是头颈部少见的恶性肿瘤,本研究分析大涎腺ACC的治疗疗效和预后因素.方法 回顾分析54例大涎腺ACC患者,其中腮腺24例,颌下腺或舌下腺30例.单纯手术治疗26例,术后放疗28例.放疗中位剂量为58 Gy(50～65 Gy).结果 随访率为94%,其中随访时间满5年者35例,术后放疗组和单纯手术组分别为15例和20例.全组5年总生存率为97%,5年局部区域控制率为71%,5年远处转移率为13%(7例均为肺转移),5年无瘤生存率为69%.局部区域失败15例,其中单纯手术组13例,术后放疗组2例.术后放疗组和单纯手术组5年局部区域控制率分别为90%和54%,无瘤生存率分别为85%和55%.单因素和多因素分析均显示术后放疗是影响局部区域控制和无瘤生存率的一个重要预后因素.结论 大涎腺ACC术后放疗与单纯手术相比明显提高了疗效,但远处转移较常见.     

Treatment of penile carcinoma: To cut or not to cut?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the outcome in patients with penile cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 60 patients with penile carcinoma were included. Of the patients, 45 (n = 27) underwent surgery, and 51 underwent definitive (n = 29) or postoperative (n = 22) radiotherapy (RT). Median follow-up was 62 months. RESULTS: Median time to locoregional relapse was 14 months. Local failure was observed in 3 of 23 patients (13%) treated with surgery with or without postoperative RT vs. in 19 of 33 patients (56%) given organ-sparing treatment (p = 0.0008). Of 22 local failures, 16 (73%) were salvaged with surgery. Of the 33 patients treated with definitive RT (n = 29) and the 4 patients refusing RT after excisional biopsy, local control was obtained with organ preservation in 13 (39%). In the remaining 20, 4 patients with local failure underwent salvage conservatively, resulting in an ultimate penis preservation rate of 17 of 33 (52%) patients treated with definitive RT. The 5-year and 10-year probability of surviving with an intact penis was 43% and 26%, respectively. There was no survival difference between the patients treated with definitive RT and primary surgery (56% vs. 53%; p = 0.16). In multivariate analysis, independent factors influencing survival were N-classification and pathologic grade. Surgery was the only independent predictor for better local control. CONCLUSION: Based on our study findings, in patients with penile cancer, local control is superior with surgery. However, there is no difference in survival between patients treated with surgery and those treated with definitive RT, with 52% organ preservation.     

Lymphoepithelial carcinoma versus large cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the major salivary glands

BACKGROUND: Undifferentiated carcinomas of the major salivary glands are rare malignant neoplasms of the head and neck region, and patients with these lesions have a poor prognosis. Patients with lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC), a specific subtype of undifferentiated carcinoma, however, have a better prognosis, and LEC seems to differ from large cell undifferentiated carcinoma (LCUC) clinically. METHODS: Sixteen patients with LEC and 12 patients with LCUC were retrieved from the records of 295 patients who had malignancies of the major salivary glands. A retrospective study on clinical manifestations, treatments, long-term outcomes, and an association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) by EBV-encoded small RNA-1 in situ hybridization was conducted to identify their differences. RESULTS: The median patient age was 44.5 years in the LEC group and 56 years in the LCUC group. At the time of presentation, patients with LCUC had a history of rapid-growing tumor and more advanced locoregional disease (Stage IV in 75% of patients with LCUC compared with 13% of patients with LEC). All 16 patients with LEC underwent curative surgery and radiotherapy, and their 5-year survival rate was 85.6%. In the LCUC group, only 7 patients were eligible to undergo radical surgery and receive radiotherapy, and their 2-year survival rate was only 36%. Age > 50 years was associated with a significantly worse prognosis for patients with LCUC. Neck metastasis and tumor size > 6 cm tended to be poor prognostic factors. Tumors were positive for harboring the EBV genome in all 16 LEC samples but in none of the LCUC samples. CONCLUSIONS: The clinicopathologic features of LEC and LCUC of the major salivary glands were different. LEC was associated with EBV, and patients with LEC had a much better prognosis compared with the prognosis for patients with LCUC. Therefore, LEC should be put in an independent group and should not be included in the same category as undifferentiated carcinomas of the salivary gland.     

Should adjuvant radiotherapy be administered in addition to front-line aggressive surgery (FAS) in patients with primary retroperitoneal sarcoma?

BackgroundAs most patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) die of local recurrence, front-line aggressive surgery (FAS) has been developed, and it seems to achieve better local control. The aim of this study was to evaluate conformal postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in patients who had enlarged surgery.Patients and methodsBetween 1994 and 2008, 110 patients with primary RPS mainly operated by FAS were analysed. Sixty-two patients underwent surgery and no PORT (group S), and 48 received surgery and PORT (group S + R). The median age was 52. Most patients had 3D conformal PORT (81%) with a median dose of 50 Gy.ResultsComparing results at 5 years in the S and the S + R group, the cumulative rate of local failure was, respectively, 36% and 22% (NS); relapse-free survival was 47% and 60% (P = 0.02), and overall survival was, respectively, 77% and 71% (NS).ConclusionEven if patients with adjuvant PORT were at higher risk of recurrence, there was a trend for radiotherapy (RT) to decrease the local relapse rate and improve recurrence-free survival. This study confirms that adjuvant conformal RT should be evaluated in a randomized trial, the control arm being FAS. Adjuvant RT in the preoperative setting is being evaluated in an EORTC trial.