A case of long-term survival after resection of aortic arch for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer with induction chemotherapy

Our patient was a 57-year-old male with a history of esophageal cancer. He was referred to our hospital for squamous cell lung carcinoma(SCC). Chest computed tomography identified a mass in the left lung field, which was suspected to be invading the reconstructed gastric tube, left subclavian artery, common carotid artery, and distal aortic arch. He was diagnosed as primary pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)because six years had already passed since a previous surgery for early esophageal cancer. He received three courses of induction chemotherapy including S-1/CDDP. We evaluated the therapy as a partial response. He underwent an extended resection of distal aortic arch and left subclavian artery with left upper lobectomy, and those vessels were reconstructed using prosthetic grafts. Pathological findings showed the tumor as a well differentiated SCC of pT4N0M0 at stage III A, with a residual tumor on the reconstructed gastric tube, even though the effect of induction chemotherapy was Ef2. He received three courses of S-1/CDDP after surgery. The patient has been well without recurrence for 31 months after surgery.     

A successful resected case of advanced esophageal cancer with early gastric cancer responding to neoadjuvant chemotherapy of docetaxel, CDDP and 5-FU

A 72-year-old male with a chief complaint of dysphagia was admitted to our hospital. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination showed double cancers with thoracic esophageal cancer in the middle esophagus and gastric cancer in the antrum. Pathological examinations of the double cancer revealed the first one to be moderately-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and the second to be well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen showed no distant or lymph node metastases. Clinical stagings of the double cancer were stage II (T2N0M0)in esophageal cancer and stage I A (T1N0M0) in gastric cancer. The patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy using docetaxel, CDDP and 5-FU. After 2 courses of chemotherapy, the adverse event was grade 2 in leucopenia and grade 2 in alopecia. Repeated macroscopic and histological examinations after chemotherapy revealed that the esophageal cancer had significant reductions in the size of tumors, leading to a partial response, and the gastric cancer had disappeared, leading to a complete response. He underwent thoracoscopy-assisted esophagectomy in the prone position, and laparoscopy-assisted gastric tube reconstruction. This neoadjuvant chemotherapy of docetaxel, CDDP and 5-FU might be effective and tolerable as with patients with double cancer of esophageal and gastric cancers.     

Treatment results of chemoradiotherapy for clinical stage I (T1N0M0) esophageal carcinoma

PURPOSE: In 1991, we started a clinical prospective trial for operable esophageal carcinoma, foreseeing organ preservation, to assess the treatment results after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for clinical Stage I (T1N0M0) esophageal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1992 and 2003, 63 patients were enrolled in this study. Tumor depth was mucosal cancer (T1a) in 23 and submucosal cancer (T1b) in 40. CRT consisted of 55-66 Gy/50-60 fractions (median, 59.4 Gy); from 1 to 3 cycles (median, 2) of concurrent chemotherapy (Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil), followed by high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy 10-12 Gy/2-3 fractions. RESULTS: The 5-year overall and cause-specific and disease-free survival rates were 66.4%, 76.3%, and 63.7%, respectively. The 5-year cause-specific survival rates for T1a and T1b cancer patients were 85.2% and 70.0%, respectively (p = 0.06). The 5-year disease-free survival rates for T1a and T1b were 84.4% and 50.5%, respectively (p < 0.01). Esophageal fistula as a late toxicity occurred in 2 patients (G4: 1; G5: 1), and esophageal stricture requiring a liquid diet occurred in 2 patients. Pericardial effusion was observed in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: We confirmed that patients with T1N0M0 esophageal carcinoma had their esophagus preserved in 89.2% of cases after definitive CRT, and the survival rates were equivalent to those of previous reports of surgery.     

Two cases of complete response of primary esophageal carcinoma treated with 5-FU/CDDP as neoadjuvant chemotherapy

CASE 1: A 67-year-old man with lower thoracic esophageal carcinoma, T2N0M0, cStage II, underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with 5-FU/CDDP. After 2 courses of NAC, radical resection of the esophageal carcinoma was performed. Primary tumor was not palpable, and lymph node swelling was not found in the resected specimens. Pathologic examination of the resected specimens revealed no malignant cells in the esophagus. Histologic effect of the NAC was grade 3. We obtained down-staging of carcinoma in T0N0M0, fStage 0. CASE 2: A 58-year-old man with thoracic esophageal cancer, T3N2M0, cStage III, underwent NAC with 5-FU/CDDP. After 2 courses of NAC, radical resection of the esophageal carcinoma was performed. Primary tumor was not found in the resected specimens. Pathologic examination of the resected specimens revealed only an irregular fibrosis of esophageal wall, and no malignant cells in the esophagus. Two lymph node metastasis and surrounding fibrosis was found. We obtained down-staging of carcinoma in T0N2M0, fStage II. We report two cases of complete response of primary esophageal carcinoma treated with 5-FU/CDDP as neoadjuvant chemotherapy.     

Solitary metastasis to the left axillary lymph node after curative gastrectomy in gastric cancer

Regional lymph node metastasis in advanced gastric cancer is common, whereas axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) is rare. We experienced a patient with a solitary ALNM in gastric cancer. A 48-year-old woman underwent curative distal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer (P0H0T3N3M0CY0, stage IV). Twenty-one months after the surgery, she complained of an asymptomatic left axillary tumor. Mammography and computed tomography (CT) scans showed the presence of tumors in neither breast nor lung. Fine-needle aspiration of the axillary tumor demonstrated poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma cells, which coincided with the cells of the resected gastric carcinoma. We diagnosed ALNM from gastric cancer and operated on the patient with radical left axillary lymph node dissection. One year after the reoperation, she has had no recurrence. We conclude that gastric cancer can metastasize to unusual sites. A re-radical resection is recommended if curative resection is feasible. Received: March 6, 2002 / Accepted: April 23, 2002 Offprint request to: O. Kobayashi     

Surgical treatment of concurrent cancer of the esophagus and stomach

Out of a total of 250 resections for carcinoma of the esophagus done in our department between 1965 and 1983, there were 11 patients with a concurrent esophageal cancer, nine being gastric cancer and seven of them early gastric cancer. In these nine, four underwent resection of the esophagus and lesser curvature of the stomach with gastric tube reconstruction. Two of the four patients are alive 10 and 3 yr postoperatively. We hold the view that detailed preoperative gastric examination is most important to plan the surgical repair and that the small gastric tube may serve as a substitute by resecting the lesser curvature of the stomach in cases of early proximal gastric cancer.     

Triple carcinomas in Cronkhite-Canada syndrome

The present report describes a 69-year-old man displaying the clinical features of the Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. After taking medicine for the common cold, he suffered hypogeusia and watery diarrhea, eruptions on the lower extremities and an 8 kg loss in body weight. All his finger and toenails began to fall out. He underwent an upper gastrointestinal examination, upon which multiple polyps of the stomach were detected. Three years later, he again developed diarrhea, bloody stools, body weight loss and eruptions on the lower extremities. An upper gastrointestinal series showed a diverticulum of the esophagus and multiple polyps in the stomach. A barium enema examination revealed polyps throughout the entire colon. Endoscopical biopsy specimens revealed juvenile type polyps and adenomas. The patient was treated with predonine therapy and, in a few days, his symptoms improved. Following the predonine therapy, an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed superficial esophageal cancer and early gastric cancer. The patient received successful surgical treatment. Macroscopically, the esophageal cancer was of the superficial type, and its histologic type was that of moderately-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The gross finding on the stomach cancer was one of superficial depressed type, and its histologic type was that of well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. One year later, lung cancer was detected. The gross appearance of the resected lung tumor was one of a grayish-white color and the neoplasm was histologically diagnosed as undifferentiated carcinoma, small and large cell type. The coexistence of carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome has been reported in 21 cases. We have found no report, however, of lung cancer associated with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome. The case described herein is, therefore, the first case of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome to be associated with esophageal, gastric and lung cancer.     

Management of advanced glottic cancer. A 10 year review of the Toronto experience.

This paper presents a detailed retrospective analysis of all patients with glottic cancer (with the exception of early vocal cord cancer) who were seen at the Princess Margaret Hospital from 1965 through 1974. 358 patients with this diagnosis were seen during this time period; Stage T2N0M0 comprised 46% of the total group, T3N0M0 :25%; 13% had nodal disease and 1.5% had distant disease at presentation. 293 patients were treated with radical radiotherapy; surgery was reserved for salvage of persistent or recurrent disease. The local control rate with radical radiotherapy was 66% for Stage T2N0M0, 45% for Stage T3N0M0 and 56% for Stage T4N0M0. 60% of the radiation failures were salvaged by surgery; surgical morbidity was low.The overall tumor control rates for the major stage groupings were 80% for Stage T2N0M0, 69% for Stage T3N0M0 and 63% for Stage T4N0M0. Of the survivors 82.5% of Stage T2N0M0, 65% of Stage T3N0M0 and 90% of Stage T4N0M0 had an intact larynx and natural voice.Essential features of our management policy include moderate (but effective) dose radiotherapy combined with meticulous radiotherapy planning and careful follow-up to identify radiation failures. Our philosophy of treatment and its rationale emphasize preservation of the larynx and natural voice where possible, but without sacrificing survival.     

胸段食管癌切除术患者的预后分析

目的 探讨影响胸段食管癌切除术后患者预后的因素,以及淋巴结转移数目对患者预后和TNM分期标准的影响.方法 对1224例非手术死亡的食管癌切除术患者的临床病理和随访资料进行分析,选择15个可能影响预后的因素进行多因素分析.以淋巴结转移数目(0枚、1枚和≥2枚)的不同,对Ⅱ、Ⅲ期食管癌以新的标准进行TNM分期.结果 影响食管癌切除术后患者预后的主要因素为淋巴结转移数目、肿瘤侵及深度、部位、组织类型和肿瘤长度等(P<0.01).肿瘤侵及深度、肿瘤长度和组织分化程度与淋巴结转移呈正相关(P<0.01).0、1和≥2枚转移淋巴结组患者的5年生存率分别为59.1%、32.0%和8.9%(P<0.01).转移淋巴结为1枚和≥2枚的T2N1M0期和T3N1M0期患者的5年生存率分别为43.1%、18.0%(P<0.01)和28.0%、9.6%(P<0.01).新分期中Ⅱ a期、Ⅱb期、Ⅲ a期和Ⅲ b期的5年生存率分别为56.5%、43.9%、25.6%和11.1%(P<0.01).结论 影响食管癌切除术后患者预后的主要因素为淋巴结转移,而影响淋巴结转移的主要因素为肿瘤侵及深度、肿瘤长度和组织分化程度.为提高食管癌切除术后患者5年生存率,必须加强区域淋巴结的清扫和针对淋巴结转移的综合治疗.淋巴结转移数目明显影响食管癌患者的预后,以转移淋巴结为0、1和≥2枚进行分级,能够准确地反映淋巴结转移数目与患者预后的关系;根据淋巴结转移数目的 不同进行的新分期能更好地反映食管癌切除术患者预后的变化,为国际抗癌联盟食管癌TNM分期标准提供了修订依据.     

Elective nodal irradiation (ENI) in definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus

Background and purpose

There are some reports indicating that prophylactic three-field lymph node dissection for esophageal cancer can lead to improved survival. But the benefit of ENI in CRT for thoracic esophageal cancer remains controversial. The purpose of the present study is to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of elective nodal irradiation (ENI) in definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for thoracic esophageal cancer.

Materials and methods

Patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the thoracic esophagus newly diagnosed between February 1999 and April 2001 in our institution was recruited from our database. Definitive chemoradiotherapy consisted of two cycles of cisplatin/5FU repeated every 5 weeks, with concurrent radiation therapy of 60 Gy in 30 fractions. Up to 40 Gy radiation therapy was delivered to the cervical, periesophageal, mediastinal and perigastric lymph nodes as ENI.

Results

One hundred two patients were included in this analysis, and their characteristics were as follows: median age, 65 years; male/female, 85/17; T1/T2/T3/T4, 16/11/61/14; N0/N1, 48/54; M0/M1, 84/18. The median follow-up period for the surviving patients was 41 months. Sixty patients achieved complete response (CR). After achieving CR, only one (1.0%; 95% CI, 0-5.3%) patient experienced elective nodal failure without any other site of recurrence.

Conclusion

In CRT for esophageal SCC, ENI is effective for preventing regional nodal failure. Further evaluation of whether ENI leads to an improved overall survival is needed.     

424例新疆不同民族胃癌特征分析

目的：了解近8年来就诊于我院的胃癌患者流行病学及临床病理资料的特点。方法：以我院2003年-2010年收治的行手术治疗的424例胃癌患者为研究对象,对其一般资料、病理类型、发生部位、临床分期等进行回顾性分析。结果：424例胃癌患者中,男女比为3．36：1,年龄23—83岁,中位年龄61岁,高发年龄61—70岁。临床大体病理分型上,BorrmannⅡ型占大多数（78．77％）;病理组织学类型以腺癌居多,占81．6％。分化程度以低、中分化为主。TNM临床分期中以Ⅲ期为主,占41．0％。民族分组分析发现汉族以胃下部（幽门、胃窦）多见,而维吾尔族偏上,以胃中部（胃体、胃角）多见;维吾尔族发病年龄较汉族相对提前,肿瘤大小较汉族大;维吾尔族肿瘤T分期,TNM分期较汉族晚。结论：胃癌老年男性易患,组织学病理类型以低、中分化腺癌多见。各民族组间的临床特征有所不同,在临床上应采取相应的诊疗措施。行手术治疗的大部分为中晚期患者,胃癌的早期诊断有待进一步提高。     

Prognosis of Stage II non-small cell lung cancer according to tumor and nodal status at diagnosis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic significance of tumor and node status among patients with Stage II non-small cell lung cancer using a population-based national database. METHODS: We identified all primary cases of Stage II non-small cell lung cancer diagnosed prior to autopsy from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry. Lung cancer-specific survival curves were obtained for the 5254 patients who had curative surgical resection, stratifying for tumor and node status (T1-2N1M0, T3N0M0). The 12.5-year Kaplan-Meier estimator of survival was used as a measure of lung cancer cure rate. The influence of gender, age, cell type, pathologic tumor status, nodal metastasis, surgical method, and post-operative radiation therapy were evaluated using Cox regression. RESULTS: Survival was better for T1N1 cases during the first 3--4 years after diagnosis. Five-year survival for T1N1 and T3N0 cases however, was not significantly different (46% versus 48%, p=0.4) and the cure rate was somewhat higher for T3N0 cases (33% versus to 27%, p=0.10). T2N1 cases had the worst overall survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that gender, age, tumor and nodal status, and histology were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Among Stage II cancers, T3N0 cases have the highest cure rate and an overall survival pattern that more closely resembles T1N1 tumors. Several clinico-pathologic characteristics are significantly associated with survival and may explain some of the heterogeneity in outcomes among Stage II patients. These results suggest that T3N0 cases may be better classified as Stage IIA disease.     

食管癌全食管系膜切除术的现状

食管癌外科中关于手术方式和淋巴结清扫范围仍存在相当大的争议。近年来食管癌全食管系膜切除术的概念倍受重视。全食管系膜切除术代表着一种手术原则而非手术方式,可在各种开放以及微创食管切除术中应用。全食管系膜切除术适用于T1-T3期食管癌。结合二野或三野淋巴结清扫,全食管系膜切除术旨在获得食管癌的R0切除。外科切缘（尤其是径向切缘）和切除淋巴结数目是评价手术质量的重要指标。     

食管癌患者血清CEA、SCC和Cyfra21-1含量检测及临床意义

目的：探讨血清肿瘤标志物癌胚抗原(CEA)、鳞状细胞癌相关性抗原(SCC)和角化素蛋白片段19(Cyfra21-1)在食管癌的诊断、治疗和预后判断及随访中的作用。方法：以电发光免疫测定法(ECLIA)和微粒酶联免疫测定法(MEIA)检测206例食管癌患者术前和其中71例术后血清中CEA、Cyfra21-1和SCC的水平。检测结果采用SPSS10．0统计软件进行t检验和X^2检验。结果：肿瘤体积愈大、病期愈晚、肿瘤浸润愈深,患者术前血清CEA、SCC和Cyfra21-1总体水平愈高,早期患者水平较低。三者中,CEA和Cyfra21-1的个体差异较大,Cyfra21-1相关性最好。术后检测血清的71例中,92．9％的患者三种血清标志物降至正常。全组患者CEA和Cyfra21-1的阳性率分别为29．1％和45．1％,两者联合检测阳性率为57．3％。165例手术切除者Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ期的CEA阳性率分别为16．6％、26．8％和30．8％;Cyfra21-1分别为27．8％、37．5％和50．5％;两者联合检测阳性率分别为38．9％、50．0％和63．7％。结论血清CEA、SCC、Cyfra21-1联合检测可用于食管癌的辅助诊断以及对病期及预后的判断。三者中Cyfra21-1更有意义。     

Cancer of the penis. Prognosis and treatment plans

Sixty-one patients with clinical low-stage (Jackson Stage I) and 22 patients with clinical high-stage (Jackson Stage II or III or T3-4N0-1M0) carcinoma of the penis who were seen between 1952 and 1979 and followed for at least 3 years or until death were reviewed. The majority of patients with Stage I cancer were treated with partial penectomy, either with or without ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy. The remainder of patients with these early small lesions were treated with local excision or circumcision. Forty-one of the patients with this early penile cancer (Jackson Stage I or Tcis, T1N0M0 or T2N0M0) survived at least 3 years and were considered cured. The other 20 patients died of cancer (12 cases) or unrelated disease (8 cases). If the patients who died of other diseases are excluded, the corrected 5-year survival rate was 77%. Treatment failure was primarily due to metachronous inguinal metastases after initial treatment of the primary tumor and failure of response of metastatic disease to salvage treatment. Four factors probably were associated with a poor prognosis: large primary tumor, moderately to poorly differentiated cancer, younger age at onset, and inadequate initial treatment. In advanced (Jackson Stages II and III) disease, treatment by partial or total penectomy alone or in combination with radiation to inguinal nodes after penectomy produced 3-year or longer survival in only 2 of 9 patients, whereas treatment by early extended excision of both the primary lesion and the ilioinguinal lymph nodes produced 3-year or longer survival in 11 of 13 patients. The results suggest that local excision is appropriate only for carcinoma in situ. Partial penectomy and monthly follow-up for at least 1 year is appropriate for patients with small, well-differentiated primary tumors. Patients who have large or moderately to poorly differentiated primary tumors probably should undergo partial or total penectomy and immediate ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy.     

A case of recurrent esophageal cancer treated by local injection of OK-432 for 8 months and the patient survived for 2 years and 3 months

It is sometimes difficult to decide a treatment strategy for postoperative recurrence of esophageal cancer. Such recurrent esophageal cancer cases often present with extremely poor prognosis. We report a case of an 85-year-old man with a massive recurrent tumor of mediastinum 3 years after esophagectomy for squamous cell carcinoma (T3N2M0, Stage III) of the intrathoracic esophagus. The operative procedures were transhiatal esophagectomy and gastric reconstruction via posterior mediastinal route. Endoscopic local injection of OK-432 and balloon dilation was given to this patient after mediastinal recurrence. This patient lived for two years and three months after recurrence without severe side effects. Local injection of OK-432 is effective as a palliative therapy for recurrent case.     

Two cases of gastric endocrine cell carcinoma

Gastric endocrine cell carcinoma is rare and associated with a poor prognosis. The first case was a man in his sixties with gastric endocrine cell carcinoma, of which a clinical finding was T2N1M0H1 (Stage IV). S-1 + CDDP therapy was selected and failed. CDDP+CPT-11 therapy was started and CT showed a partial response in ten months. But the tumor was re-grown and the patient died twenty months after diagnosis. The second case was a man in his seventies with gastric endocrine cell carcinoma, of which a clinical finding was T3N1M0H0P0, Stage IIIa, underwent total gastrectomy. Abdominal contrast-enhanced CT scan performed a month after the operation disclosed hepatic metastasis. After two months of S-1 regimen, CDDP + CPT-11 therapy was started.     

Incidence,Survival and Prevalence of Esophageal and Gastric Cancer in Linzhou City from 2003 to 2009

This study describes recent trends in incidence, survival and prevalence of subgroups of esophageal and gastriccancer in Linzhou city between 2003 and 2009. Data of esophageal and gastric cancer for the period of interestwere extracted from the Linzhou Cancer Registry. Using information on tumor morphology or anatomical site,data were divided into six groups; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma, otherand unspecified types of esophageal cancer, and cardia, non-cardia, and unspecified anatomical site of stomachcancer. Incidence, survival and prevalence rates for each of the six cancer groups were calculated. The majorityof esophageal cancers were squamous cell carcinomas (82%). Cardiac cancer was the major gastric cancer group(64%). The incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and gastric cardiac cancer increased between 2003and 2009. Both esophageal and gastric cancer had a higher incidence in males compared with females. Overallsurvival was poor in all sub-groups with 1 year survival ranging from 45.9 to 65.6% and 5 year survival rangingfrom 14.7 to 30.5%. Prevalence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and gastric cardiac cancer was high(accounting for 80% overall). An increased focus on prevention and early diagnosis, especially in esophagealsquamous cell carcinoma and gastric cardiac cancer, is required.     

Esophageal cancer: Determination of internal target volume for conformal radiotherapy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To evaluate esophageal tumor and OAR movement during the respiratory cycle in order to obtain optimal values for ITV and PRV. To correlate tumor motion with chest wall displacement - information of value in the free-breathing gating system. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Inclusion criteria were: histologically proven squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) or adenocarcinoma at stage T3 - T4 NX or TX N1 M0 according to the UICC 1997 classification. Two spiral scans were performed with breath-hold respiration under spirometric control: one at end expiration (EBH) and the other at end inspiration (IBH). Displacements between exhalation and inhalation were calculated according to ICRU report 42 recommendations. For the correlation study, CT-scan acquisition was performed at the isocenter over a 20 - 40 s period. After Fourier Transform, frequency spectra for amplitude and phase of tumor and chest wall motions were performed for each patient. RESULTS: Cumulative distribution of CTV motion in absolute values showed that 95% of data ranged from 0 to 1 cm. Cumulative distribution of GTV motion in absolute values showed that 95% of data ranged from 0 to 0.8 cm. The correlation study demonstrated no specific relationship between respiratory and esophageal motions. CONCLUSION: The ITV margin for 3D conformal radiotherapy in esophageal cancer was 1 cm when 95% of motions were taken into account in this clinical study involving eight patients. Before using a free-breathing gating system, the correlation between external markers and target displacement during irradiation must be established for each patient.     

A case of advanced gastric cancer with splenic vein thrombus successfully treated with S-1 plus CPT-11 neoadjuvant chemotherapy

A 63-year-old male admitted for hematemesis was diagnosed with type 3 advanced gastric cancer located in the upper and middle body of the stomach in an endoscopic examination. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated lymph nodes metastasis and a splenic vein thrombus. Since curative resection was not deemed possible, we performed neoadjuvant chemotherapy using S-1 (120 mg, day 1-21) plus CPT-11 (135 mg, day 1 and 15) except for down-staging. After 4 courses of chemotherapy, gastric tumor and metastatic lymph nodes were reduced in size and the splenic vein thrombus was disappeared, and then total gastrectomy was performed (tub2, T2 (MP) N0 H0 M0 P0 CY0, Stage IB). S-1 medication was applied as adjuvant chemotherapy. Forty months passed from the operation, the patient remains alive with no signs of relapse.