Human papillomavirus predicts outcome in oropharyngeal cancer in patients treated primarily with surgery or radiation therapy

Objective:

This study examines the prognostic significance of human papillomavirus (HPV) in patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated primarily with surgery or definitive radiotherapy.

Methods:

One hundred and ninety-eight patients with Stage 3/4 SCC were followed up for recurrence in any form or death from any cause for between 1 and 235 months after diagnosis. HPV status was determined using HPV E6-targeted multiplex real-time PCR/p16 immunohistochemistry. Determinants of recurrence and mortality hazards were modelled using Cox''s regression with censoring at follow-up dates.

Results:

Forty-two per cent of cancers were HPV-positive (87% type 16). HPV predicted loco-regional control, event-free survival and overall survival in multivariable analysis. Within the surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy (n=110), definitive radiotherapy-alone (n=24) and definitive radiotherapy with chemotherapy (n=47) groups, patients with HPV-positive cancers were one-third or less as likely to have loco-regional recurrence, an event or to die of any cause as those with HPV-negative cancers after adjusting for age, gender, tumour grade, AJCC stage and primary site. The 14 patients treated with surgery alone were considered too few for multivariable analysis.

Conclusion:

HPV status predicts better outcome in oropharyngeal cancer treated with surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy as well as with definitive radiation therapy±chemotherapy.     

Traitement locorégional du cancer du sein inflammatoire après chimiothérapie néoadjuvante

Purpose

To assess the benefit of breast surgery for inflammatory breast cancer.

Patients and methods

This retrospective series was based on 232 patients treated for inflammatory breast cancer. All patients received primary chemotherapy followed by either exclusive radiotherapy (118 patients, 51%) or surgery with or without radiotherapy (114 patients, 49%). The median follow-up was 11 years.

Results

The two groups were comparable apart from fewer tumors smaller than 70 mm (43% vs 33%, P = 0.003), a higher rate of clinical stage N2 (15% vs 5%, P = 0.04) and fewer histopathological grade 3 tumors (46% vs 61%, P < 0.05) in the no-surgery group. The addition of surgery was associated with a significant improvement in locoregional disease control (P = 0.04) but with no significant difference in overall survival rates or disease-free intervals. Late toxicities were not significantly different between the two treatment groups except for a higher rate of fibrosis in the no-surgery group (P < 0.0001), and more lymphedema in the surgery group (P = 0.002).

Conclusion

Our data suggest an improvement in locoregional control in patients treated by surgery, in conjunction with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, for inflammatory breast cancer.     

Quimioterapia de inducción seguida de radioquimioterapia como alternativa a la laringuectomía en el tratamiento del cáncer de cabeza y cuello localmente avanzado

Objective

To evaluate survival in patients with loco-regional advanced head and neck cancer treated with induction chemotherapy and to assess possible larynx preservation in good responders.

Materials and methods

Between December 1997 and June 2000, patients (n=46) diagnosed as having advanced head and neck carcinoma were treated with induction chemotherapy (CT). This was followed by radiotherapy (RT) + CT if there had been complete response (CR) or partial response (RP) >80%; or followed by total laryngectomy and adjuvant RT if CR or PR was <80%.

Results

Of the 46 patients studied, 57 (80%) had CR, 10% had PR and 10% had no response or disease progression (DP). Median survival was 33%, followup was of 50 months during which the overall survival was 36%, disease-free survival (DFS) was 60% and loco-regional control was 51%.

Conclusion

RT-CT resulted in high rates of disease resolution and speech preservation in patients who, traditionally, had poor clinical and functional outcomes.     

Role of Adjuvant Therapy for Node-Negative Lung Cancer Invading the Chest Wall

Introduction

The present study investigated the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation on survival among patients undergoing chest wall resection for T3N0 non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Strahlentherapie beim Vulva- und Vaginalkarzinom

Context

In general there are two therapeutic strategies for vulvar and vaginal cancer: surgery and the combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These modalities differ especially in the side effects and complications.

Objective

The aim of this study was an evidence-based systematic review of the current status of radiotherapy for vulvar and vaginal cancer.

Material and method

The available literature for both tumor entities was evaluated and treatment recommendations are proposed depending on different clinical scenarios.

Results

In the early stages the standard primary treatment for vulvar cancer is surgery. Radiotherapy is applied in the postoperative setting depending on risk factors or is used in locally advanced disease as definitive treatment or as preoperative radio(chemo)therapy to improve resectability. Positive inguinal (and pelvic) lymph nodes have been proven to be the most important prognostic factors for affected patients. At present only patients with two or more positive lymph nodes are treated with adjuvant radiotherapy; however, patients with one lymph node metastasis might also benefit from adjuvant therapy.

Conclusions

Due to the rising incidence of the disease, especially in younger women, the goal is to improve locoregional tumor control while minimizing perioperative morbidity and maximizing long-term psychosexual and physical well-being. As many open questions remain physicians should recommend that eligible patients participate in clinical trials.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">M6P/IGF2R</Emphasis>loss of heterozygosity in head and neck cancer associated with poor patient prognosis

Background

The mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (M6P/IGF2R) encodes for a multifunctional receptor involved in lysosomal enzyme trafficking, fetal organogenesis, cytotoxic T cell-induced apoptosis and tumor suppression. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if the M6P/IGF2R tumor suppressor gene is mutated in human head and neck cancer, and if allelic loss is associated with poor patient prognosis.

Methods

M6P/IGF2R loss of heterozygosity in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck was assessed with six different gene-specific nucleotide polymorphisms. The patients studied were enrolled in a phase 3 trial of twice daily radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy; median follow-up for surviving patients is 76 months.

Results

M6P/IGF2R was polymorphic in 64% (56/87) of patients, and 54% (30/56) of the tumors in these informative patients had loss of heterozygosity. M6P/IGF2R loss of heterozygosity was associated with a significantly reduced 5 year relapse-free survival (23% vs. 69%, p = 0.02), locoregional control (34% vs. 75%, p = 0.03) and cause specific survival (29% vs. 75%, p = 0.02) in the patients treated with radiotherapy alone. Concomitant chemotherapy resulted in a better outcome when compared to radiotherapy alone only in those patients whose tumors had M6P/IGF2R loss of heterozygosity.

Conclusions

This study provides the first evidence that M6P/IGF2R loss of heterozygosity predicts for poor therapeutic outcome in patients treated with radiotherapy alone. Our findings also indicate that head and neck cancer patients with M6P/IGF2R allelic loss benefit most from concurrent chemotherapy.

     

Survival patterns in patients with carcinoma base of tongue treated with external beam irradiation and salvage surgery

Objective

The current study was designed to assess the treatment results and survival in the patients with carcinoma of base of tongue that were treated with primary radiotherapy, radiotherapy with chemotherapy and salvage surgery when indicated.

Design

A prospective study was carried out in 78 cases of carcinoma of the base of tongue between 1995 and 1999.

Methods

The majority of cases belonged to stage IV 60/78 (76.92%) as per AJCC staging. Radiotherapy in the dose of 60 Gy was given primarily to the patients with stage III tongue base cancer. Patients with early stage IV cancer were given split course radiotherapy followed by assessment for surgery. For the patients with advanced stage IV disease with poor general condition, palliative radiotherapy of 24 Gy with or without palliative chemotherapy was given. 15 patients were subjected to salvage surgery in the form of radical neck dissection alone (8 cases), extended total laryngectomy with neck dissection (3 cases), extended total laryngectomy (2 cases) and extended supraglottic laryngectomy with RND in 2 cases.

Results

Two and 5 years Kaplan — Meier actuarial survival rates were 45% and 10% respectively with local control rates equivalent to survival rates. All surviving patients maintained good function and quality-of-life with few tolerable side effects.

Conclusions

External beam radiotherapy with salvage surgery results in satisfactory local and regional control in stage III and IV carcinoma base of tongue.     

Effects of trastuzumab on locoregional recurrence in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-overexpressing breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Purpose

In the present study, the ability of adjuvant trastuzumab to reduce locoregional recurrence in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressing breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) was investigated.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively included 520 patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer who received surgery followed by adjuvant RT and cytotoxic chemotherapy from 2003 to 2011. Adjuvant trastuzumab was administered to 286 patients. Propensity score matching was conducted to compare trastuzumab-treated and non-treated cohorts.

Results

Median follow-up duration was 7.1 years (range 1.1–14.1 years). Propensity score matching yielded 171 matched pairs of patients with no significantly different clinical factors. An improved 7-year locoregional control (LRC) rate was observed in the trastuzumab-treated cohort compared with the non-treated cohort (95.6% vs. 89.9%, p?=?0.014). Based on multivariate analysis, hormone receptor negativity (hazard ratio [HR]?=?5.348, p?=?0.007), positive lymph node ratio?>?0.25 (HR?=?2.549, p?=?0.040), and lack of adjuvant trastuzumab (HR?=?3.401, p?=?0.017) were identified as significant risk factors for poor LRC. Adjuvant trastuzumab significantly reduced the locoregional recurrence rate in patients with one or two risk factors (7-year LRC?=?95.0% vs. 84.2%, p?=?0.007); however, the benefit of adjuvant trastuzumab was non-significant in patients with no risk factors (7-year LRC?=?95.8% vs. 97.9%, p?=?0.75).

Conclusions

Adjuvant trastuzumab improved LRC in patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer receiving adjuvant RT and cytotoxic chemotherapy, especially in hormone receptor-negative, HER2-enriched subtype, and high positive lymph node ratio breast cancer.

     

High-risk endometrial cancer may be benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy plus chemotherapy

Objective:To present patterns of practice and outcomes in the adjuvant treatment of intermediate-and high-risk endometrial cancer.Methods:Retrospective data on 224 women with intermediate-risk and high-risk endometrial cancer from 1999 to 2006 were reviewed.All patients underwent surgical staging.Patterns of adjuvant treatment,consisting of pelvic radiotherapy,chemotherapy,and radiotherapy plus chemotherapy,were assessed.The 3and 5-year disease-specific survival(DSS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results:The difference in 5-year DSS rate was statistically significant between adjuvant group and non-adjuvant group(80.65% vs.63.80%,P=0.040).In 110 high-risk patients who underwent adjuvant treatment,both 5-year DSS rate and recurrent rate were significantly different in combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy group compared with radiotherapy alone and chemotherapy alone groups(DSS rate,P=0.049;recurrent rate,P=0.047).In 83 intermediate-risk women who underwent adjuvant treatment,there was no significant difference in 5-year DSS rate and recurrence rate among the combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy,radiotherapy alone and chemotherapy alone groups(DSS rate,P=0.776;recurrent rate,P=0.937).Conclusions:Adjuvant radiotherapy plus chemotherapy is associated with a higher 5-year DSS rate and lower recurrence rate compared with radiotherapy alone and chemotherapy alone in high-risk endometrial cancer patients.Patients with intermediate-risk endometrial cancer may be not likely to benefit from adjuvant combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy.     

Adjuvant chemotherapy prior to postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer

Background and purpose

Induction chemotherapy prior to definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is a promising treatment option for unresectable head and neck cancer (HNC). In the postoperative setting, the efficacy of such an approach with adjuvant chemotherapy (AdjCT) followed by postoperative CCRT is unclear.

Materials and methods

Forty-one postoperative patients with stage III-IV (M0) HNC enrolled on 3 consecutive phase II clinical trials were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-five of the patients were treated on a protocol which included AdjCT with carboplatin and paclitaxel prior to postoperative CCRT (AdjCT group). Sixteen were treated on protocols with similar postoperative CCRT but without AdjCT (control group). CCRT consisted of paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, hydroxyurea, and twice-daily radiotherapy.

Results

After a median follow-up of 72 months, there were no locoregional failures (LRF) or distant metastases (DM) in the AdjCT group. In the control group, there were 2 LRF and 2 DM. The 5-year risk of disease recurrence was 0% in the AdjCT group, compared to 28.9% in the control group (p = 0.0074). No patients had disease progression during AdjCT, and all proceeded to postoperative CCRT without delay.

Conclusions

Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery followed by CCRT may be a treatment strategy associated with favorable disease outcomes in locoregionally advanced HNC. These results pose a hypothesis which warrants further investigation.     

Swallowing dysfunction in head and neck cancer patients treated by radiotherapy: Review and recommendations of the supportive task group of the Italian Association of Radiation Oncology

Purpose

Dysphagia is a debilitating complication in head and neck cancer patients (HNCPs) that may cause a high mortality rate for aspiration pneumonia. The aims of this paper were to summarize the normal swallowing mechanism focusing on its anatomo-physiology, to review the relevant literature in order to identify the main causes of dysphagia in HNCPs and to develop recommendations to be adopted for radiation oncology patients. The chemotherapy and surgery considerations on this topic were reported in recommendations only when they were supposed to increase the adverse effects of radiotherapy on dysphagia.

Materials and methods

The review of literature was focused on studies reporting dysphagia as a pre-treatment evaluation and as cancer and cancer therapy related side-effects, respectively. Relevant literature through the primary literature search and by articles identified in references was considered. The members of the group discussed the results and elaborated recommendations according to the Oxford CRBM levels of evidence and recommendations. The recommendations were revised by external Radiation Oncology, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT), Medical Oncology and Speech Language Pathology (SLP) experts.

Results

Recommendations on pre-treatment assessment and on patients submitted to radiotherapy were given. The effects of concurrent therapies (i.e. surgery or chemotherapy) were taken into account.

Conclusions

In HNCPs treatment, disease control has to be considered in tandem with functional impact on swallowing function. SLPs should be included in a multidisciplinary approach to head and neck cancer.     

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.     

408例70岁以上老年肺癌患者的预后因素分析

Objective

The incidence and mortality of lung cancer in people over 70 years were increased in the past 10 years. We defined age 70 years as boundary line of the elderly patients in lung cancer and analyzed and identified the factors affecting prognosis.

Methods

A retrospective study had enrolled 408 cases of lung cancer aged over 70 years old and SPSS13.0 software was used in univariate analysis and COX regression analysis to analyze factors affecting prognosis, such as gender, age, complications, symptoms, pathological type, clinical stage, effusion, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and so on.

Results

In univariate analysis, symptoms, stage, effusion, surgery, chemotherapy and chemotherapy cycles showed affecting prognosis significantly. In COX regression analysis, it showed that clinical stage (P = 0.000), surgery (P = 0.013), chemotherapy cycles (P = 0.001) were independent prognostic factors.

Conclusion

Elderly lung cancer patients could be benefit from surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy while early stage. At late stage, their survival time may be prolonged when receive chemotherapy at least 4 cycles. Single-agent chemotherapy would be a good choice for elderly lung cancer. Effusion, particularly, pericardial effusion significantly influenced the prognosis, so that it should be effectively controlled.     

Spinal metastasis in head and neck cancer

Background

The incidence of head and neck cancer is relatively low in developed countries and highest in South East Asia. Notwithstanding advances in surgery and radiotherapy over the past several decades, the 5-year survival rate for head and neck cancer has stagnated and remains at 50?C55%. This is due, in large part, to both regional and distant disease spread, including spinal metastasis. Spinal metastasis from head and neck cancer is rare, has a poor prognosis and can significantly impede end-stage quality of life; normally only palliative care is given. This study aims to conduct a systematic review of the evidence available on management of spinal metastasis from head and neck cancer and to use such evidence to draw up guiding principles in the management of the distant spread.

Methods

Systematic review of the electronic literature was conducted regarding the management of spinal metastasis of head and neck malignancies.

Results

Due to the exceptional rarity of head and neck cancers metastasizing to the spine, there is a paucity of good randomized controlled trials into the management of spinal metastasis. This review produced only 12 case studies/reports and 2 small retrospective cohort studies that lacked appropriate controls.

Conclusion

Management should aim to improve end-stage quality of life and maintain neurological function. This review has found that radiotherapy +/? medical adjuvant is considered the principle treatment of spinal metastasis of head and neck cancers. There is an absence of a definitive treatment protocol for head and neck cancer spinal metastasis. Our failure to find and cite high-quality scientific evidence only serves to stress the need for good quality research in this area.     

Epidemiology and prevalence of oropharyngeal candidiasis in Spanish patients with head and neck tumors undergoing radiotherapy treatment alone or in combination with chemotherapy

Objective

To describe the oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) prevalence in Spanish patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy, alone or combined with chemotherapy. Secondary objectives were to determine the prevalence of Candida species colonization, and to explore whether different Candida species colonizing the oral cavity and the treatment were associated with a higher prevalence of OPC.

Methods

This is an observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study, conducted in Spanish radiation oncology units. Patients were diagnosed with head and neck cancer and started a radiotherapy treatment alone or combined with chemotherapy at the moment of their inclusion (N?=?92).

Results

The OPC prevalence was 26?%. The identification of colonizing pathogens was performed in 49 patients, and Candida albicans was the dominant yeast (69?%), while non-albicans Candida was only found in 15 patients (31?%). Patients with C. albicans colonization had a significant higher prevalence of OPC compared to patients colonized by non-albicans Candida (p?=?0.0273), but no difference was found regarding the OPC prevalence in patients receiving only radiotherapy compared to patients with both radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments.

Conclusions

Our data represent a step further in the knowledge of Candida species present in Spanish patients with head and neck tumors under radiation therapy. This is an essential step to manage the prophylaxis and treatment of OPC, since it might lead to severe clinical complications causing treatment interruption and, thus, representing a reduction in anti-tumor efficacy.     

Competing causes of death in patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer treated with concomitant boost radiation plus concurrent weekly cisplatin

Background

This study analyzes the morbidity and the contribution of different causes of death to the outcome of patients with locally advanced head and- neck cancer after weekly cisplatin plus concomitant boost accelerated radiation treated in our center.

Materials and methods

Ninety-four patients with locally advanced head and neck carcinoma were included in this phase II trial consisting of concomitant boost radiation plus concurrent weekly cisplatin. The 43 patients treated in our centered with long-term follow-up were analyzed. Patients received radiotherapy with a concomitant boost scheme (1.8 Gy on days 1–40 and 1.5 Gy boost on days 25–40 with a total dose of 72 Gy) and concurrent cisplatin, 40 mg/m² weekly, for the first 4 weeks.

Results

Most patients (93 %) received both radiation and complete chemotherapy according to protocol. Severe late toxicity presented were subcutaneous (5 %), larynx (2 %) and esophagous (5 %). Grade I–II late toxicity included mainly xerostomy (30 %), skin (16 %) and mucosal (16 %) toxicity. With a median follow-up of 95 months (9–135), the median overall survival and progression-free survival were 26 and 19 months, respectively (95 % CI 1–52; and 95 % CI 0–45); 60 % of the patients died because of head and neck cancer and 12 % of a second neoplasm, while 27 % of non-cancer patients died.

Conclusions

Patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer treated with concomitant boost accelerated radiation plus chemotherapy show significant risks of mortality from causes other than disease progression.     

A Novel Neoadjuvant Therapy for Operable Locally Invasive Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Phase I Study of Neoadjuvant Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy. LINNEARRE I (NCT02433574)

Background

Despite improved staging and surgical techniques, the rate of incomplete resection (R1) of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not significantly decreased. Patients with R1 resection have worse survival compared with those with complete resection (R0). Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a rapid and convenient radiotherapy treatment that delivers high-dose radiotherapy to tumors with high precision while sparing normal organs. Although its efficacy in treating small lung tumors is documented, its use as neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced (LA) NSCLC has not been examined. We hypothesized that a short course of preoperative SBRT is feasible and can be delivered safely as a neoadjuvant therapy in patients at risk for incomplete resection.

Increase in stroke risk in patients with head and neck cancer: a retrospective cohort study

Background:

This study investigated the stroke risk in patients with head and neck cancers (HNCs) using population-based data.

Methods:

From claims collected in the Taiwan National Health Insurance database, we identified 13 390 HNC patients with diagnosis made in 2000–2002. A reference cohort of 53 517 non-cancer individuals matched for age, gender, and stroke risk factors was used for assessing stroke risk in follow-up to 2008.

Results:

The overall stroke incidence was 1.44-fold higher in the HNC than in the reference cohort (11.4 vs 7.9 per 1000 person-years). Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were 1.54 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40–1.68) for ischaemic stroke and 1.36 (95% CI: 1.09–1.69) for haemorrhagic stroke. The cancer-to-reference stroke incidence rate ratio was age dependent and the highest in the age group younger than 40 years (5.45, 95% CI: 3.78–7.87) and decreased with aging. Comparing different therapeutic modalities, HNC patients receiving both radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT) had the highest stroke risk (HR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.22–1.74), followed in sequence by those who had CT alone, RT alone, and without therapy.

Conclusion:

Patients with HNC are at increased risk of developing stroke, especially in the young age group and in those who received both RT and CT.     

Factors associated with delayed time to adjuvant chemotherapy in stage iii colon cancer

Background

Adjuvant chemotherapy started more than 56 days after colon cancer resection has been associated with lesser overall survival among patients with stage iii colon cancer. The objective of the present population-based study was to determine, in referred patients with resected stage iii colon cancer, factors associated with delayed time to adjuvant chemotherapy (ttac), defined as more than 56 days from the date of surgery.

Methods

Eligible patients had been diagnosed with stage iii colon cancer and had received at least 1 cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy at one of the four regional cancer treatment sites during 2008–2009. Prognostic and treatment information was prospectively collected through the BC Cancer Agency’s GI Cancers Outcomes Unit, and Charlson comorbidity score was retrospectively determined by chart review. Chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to measure associations between the timing of adjuvant chemotherapy and select prognostic and treatment variables.

Results

Median ttac from surgery for the 395 included patients was 58 days, with 54% of the patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy beyond the recommended 56 days. On multivariate analysis, only treatment at the highest-volume site was independently associated with delayed ttac. Comorbidity index, age, performance status, T stage, tumour location, and oral chemotherapy (compared with intravenous) were not independently associated with delayed ttac. Delays were observed during each interval associated with the patient’s transition from surgery to first cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusions

More than half the patients failed to receive adjuvant chemotherapy within the recommended ttac of 56 days. Delayed ttac was associated with process-related delays rather than with patient- or disease-related factors. Efforts to improve timely referral, triage of consultations, and chemotherapy wait lists are required.     

延迟辅助化疗对乳腺癌患者生存期的影响(英文)

Objective: The proper time to commence adjuvant chemotherapy after primary surgery for breast cancer is unknown. It is usually prescribed within 2-3 months after definitive surgery. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) delay beyond 3 weeks ( 21 days) in premenopausal patients with ER-absent tumors being treated for early stages breast cancer on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Methods: This retrospective study was conducted through revision of medical records of premenopausal patients diagnosed with early stage Ⅰ-ⅢA breast cancer and ER-absent tumors who received adjuvant CT after definitive surgery at the Department of Clinical Oncology, Ain-Shams University Hospitals. Results: Between 2005 and 2008, 105 patients were retrospectively analyzed and included. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Group A including 48 patients who started adjuvant CT<21 days of surgery and group B which included 57 patients who had CT delay ≥ 21 days. Both groups were matched demographically. Comparisons of overall survival, and disease-free survival between group A and group B patients all favored group A. At 5-year the OS rates were 87% and 73% for groups A and B respectively (P=0.001), while DFS rates were 85% and 64% in groups A and B respectively (P=0.001). Analysis of other prognostic factors (age, T, N, grade, HER2 status, surgery type, CT type, local radiotherapy received) were analyzed. Only nodal status predicted for worse DFS (P=0.05) and OS (P=0.006). Conclusion: Delay in initiating adjuvant chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer patients with ER-absent tumors was associated with a decrease in both OS and DFS rates.