奈达铂为基础化疗联合同步放疗治疗II-III期食管鳞状细胞癌的疗效观察

目的:探索在II-III期食管鳞癌同步放化疗中多西他赛联合奈达铂方案、S-1联合奈达铂方案与单药奈达铂化疗的疗效和安全性。方法:回归性纳入2016年1月至2017年1月就诊于我院的106例行同步放化疗的II-III期食管鳞癌患者。所有患者根据化疗方案分为三组,分别为:S-1联合奈达铂治疗组、多西他赛联合奈达铂治疗组和奈达铂单药治疗组。通过电子病历系统及随访获取患者相关信息,比较三种不同化疗方案疗效和安全性。结果:106例患者中41例为S-1联合奈达铂化疗、45例接受多西他赛联合奈达铂化疗、20例为单药奈达铂化疗。总体ORR为79.25%,三组不同化疗方案患者在CR、PR、SD、PD和ORR方面均无显著统计学差异。患者中位OS和PFS分别为25.3月和17.1月,三组患者在OS和PFS之间均无显著性差异。多西他赛联合奈达铂患者3度以上白细胞减少发生率显著高于S-1联合奈达铂和奈达铂单药（29/45 vs 12/41 vs 6/20,P=0.002）,S-1联合奈达铂患者腹泻发生率显著高于多西他赛联合奈达铂和奈达铂单药组（8/41 vs 3/45 vs 0/20,P=0.031）。结论:奈达铂为基础化疗联合同步放疗是II-III期食管鳞癌的有效治疗方法,多西他赛联合奈达铂、S-1联合奈达铂化疗和奈达铂单药化疗之间疗效接近,但S-1联合奈达铂化疗和奈达铂单药化疗不良反应优于多西他赛联合奈达铂化疗。     

Postoperative radiotherapy increases locoregional control of patients with stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer treated with induction chemotherapy followed by surgery

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) in patients with Stage IIB and Stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with induction chemotherapy followed by surgery. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively reviewed the treatment records of 98 patients (58 men and 40 women; median age 61 years, range 31-91) with Stage IIB and Stage IIIA NSCLC who were treated with induction chemotherapy followed by surgery at our institution between January 1990 and December 2000. Patients were grouped by treatment (chemotherapy/surgery alone vs. chemotherapy/surgery/RT), by disease stage and nodal classification. The rates of local control (LC), disease-specific survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Of the 98 patients, 40 had Stage IIB and 58 had Stage IIIA. The clinical disease stage and N stage were significantly greater in those patients who underwent RT than in those who did not; however, no statistically significant differences were identified in the additional characteristics between those receiving and not receiving RT within each stage or nodal group. The overall 5-year actuarial LC rate was 81% in the RT group and 54% in the chemotherapy/surgery-alone group (p = 0.07). Postoperative RT significantly improved the 5-year LC rate in patients with Stage IIIA disease (from 35% to 82%, p = 0.01). Postoperative RT did not significantly improve the 5-year OS rate (30% with RT vs. 49% without) for all patients or for patients with Stage IIIA disease. The disease-specific survival and disease-free survival rates did not differ between the treatment groups. Patients who responded to induction chemotherapy had a significantly greater 5-year OS rate (49%) than did those with stable or progressive disease (22%, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Postoperative RT in patients with Stage IIIA NSCLC treated with induction chemotherapy followed by surgery significantly improved LC without improving OS. Significantly improved survival was observed in all patients who responded to induction chemotherapy compared with those with stable or progressive disease.     

Hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer

The clinical efficacy and safety of hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy were studied retrospectively in patients with primary advanced esophageal cancer. The subjects were 31 patients who were treated with hyperfractionated radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy in our institution between 1990 and 2001. The chemoradiotherapy consisted of cisplatin 70-80 mg/m2 on day one, and continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil 700-800 mg/m2/24 hours on days 1 to 3, with concurrent hyperfractionated radiotherapy (57.6-72 Gy). Complete remission (CR) was observed in 17 cases, and partial response in 13 cases (response rate: 96. 7%). Three-year survival rate and 5-year survival rate were 35.5% and 26.3%, respectively. Grade 3/4 hematological toxicities included leukocytes in 7 patients (22.6%), hemoglobin in 6 patients (19.4%), and platelets in 4 patients (12.9%). Grade 3 dysphagia-esophageal related to radiation was observed in 3 patients (9.7%). Late toxicities occurred with the following incidences: hypothyroidism in 2 patients, benign esophageal strictures in 2 patients, pericardial effusion in 8 patients, and pleural effusion in 8 patients. The results suggest that combined chemotherapy and hyperfractionated radiotherapy is an effective and well-tolerated regimen.     

Esophagectomy after concurrent chemoradiotherapy improves locoregional control in clinical stage II or III esophageal cancer patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of surgical resection on the outcome of patients with clinical Stage II or III cancer of the esophagus treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective review of 132 consecutive patients with clinical Stage II or III esophageal cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy between January 1990 and December 1998 was performed. Of the 132 patients, 60 underwent esophagectomy 6-8 weeks after chemoradiotherapy. The median radiation dose was 50 Gy (range, 30-64.8 Gy) in the definitive chemoradiation group and 45 Gy (range, 30-50.4 Gy) in the chemoradiation plus esophagectomy group. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in median age, histologic subtype, tumor location, and number of patients with T4 disease. Patients who underwent definitive chemoradiotherapy were older (p = 0.0004) and more likely to have squamous cell carcinoma than adenocarcinoma (p <0.000), upper thoracic or cervical esophageal tumors (p <0.000), and T4 tumors (p = 0.024). Patients treated with chemoradiation plus esophagectomy had statistically significant superior 5-year loco-regional control (67.1% vs. 22.1%, p <0.000), disease-free survival (40.7% vs. 9.9%, p < 0.000), and 5-year overall survival (52.6% vs. 6.5%, p < 0.000) rates and median survival time (62 vs. 12 months) compared with patients treated with chemoradiotherapy only. However, no statistically significant difference was found in the rate of distant metastasis-free survival between the two groups (67.5% vs. 65.8%, p = 0.3). Surgical resection of the tumor was an independent predictor of improved locoregional control and overall survival in both univariate and multivariate analyses. To reduce the effect of the selection bias on the outcome, 34 patients in each group with matched pretreatment characteristics were compared. The results showed statistically significant better overall survival, disease-free survival, and locoregional control in favor of the chemoradiotherapy plus esophagectomy group. No statistically significant difference in distant metastasis-free survival was found in this subgroup analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Locoregional control was better in clinical Stage II or III esophageal cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation plus esophagectomy. An improvement in survival occurred in the chemoradiation plus esophagectomy group, although this observation may have reflected selection bias. The results from this study suggest the need for a randomized trial to compare chemoradiation with or without esophagectomy in the treatment of cancer of the esophagus.     

中晚期食管癌同时放、化疗疗效观察

目的：观察放疗联合TP方案同时化疗治疗中晚期食管癌的疗效。方法：放疗联合TP方案（Taxel＋DDP）同时化疗综合治疗中晚期食管癌33例,单纯放射治疗中晚期食管癌3 3例。结果 ：放化组和单放组的近期疗效总有效率分别为84.8%和66.7%,1、2、3年生存率分别为75.7%、51.5%、39.4%和57.8%、30.3%、24.2%,放化组明显优于单放组（P〈0.05）。两组间远处转移率无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。同时放化组的毒副反应高于单放组,经对症处理后患者能耐受,不影响治疗。结论：同时放化疗优于单纯放射治疗,可明显提高中晚期食管癌的疗效。     

Preoperative hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy in resectable esophageal cancer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the local control rates, survival rates, and patterns of failure for esophageal cancer patients receiving preoperative concurrent chemotherapy and hyperfractionated radiotherapy followed by esophagectomy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From May 1993 through January 1997, 94 patients with resectable esophageal cancers received continuous hyperfractionated radiation (4,800 cGy/40 fx/4 weeks), with concurrent FP chemotherapy (5-FU 1 g/m(2)/day, days 2-6, 30-34, CDDP 60 mg/m(2)/day, days 1, 29) followed by esophagectomy 3-4 weeks later. If there was evidence of disease progression on preoperative re-evaluation work-up, or if the patient refused surgery, definitive chemoradiotherapy was delivered. Minimum follow-up time was 2 years. RESULTS; All patients successfully completed preoperative treatment and were then followed until death. Fifty-three patients received surgical resection, and another 30 were treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy. Eleven patients did not receive further treatment. Among 91 patients who received clinical reevaluation, we observed 35 having clinical complete response (CR) (38.5%). Pathologic CR rate was 49% (26 patients). Overall survival rate was 59.8% at 2 years and 40.3% at 5 years. Median survival time was 32 months. In 83 patients who were treated with surgery or definitive chemoradiotherapy, the esophagectomy group showed significantly higher survival, disease-free survival, and local disease-free survival rates than those in the definitive chemoradiation group. CONCLUSION: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy in this trial showed improved clinical and pathologic tumor response and survival when compared to historical results. Patients who underwent esophagectomy following chemoradiation showed decreased local recurrence and improved survival and disease-free survival rates compared to the definitive chemoradiation group.     

A case of locally advanced esophageal cancer effectively treated with concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy]

A case of a 69-year-old man with locally advanced esophageal cancer was reported. The patient received five courses of chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin (30 mg i.v. days 1-5), 5-fluorouracil (500 mg i.v. days 1-5) and bleomycin (5 mg i.m. days 1-5) every four weeks with a split course irradiation at a dose of 50 Gy, which was concurrently given at the second, third and fourth course of the chemotherapy. Treatment was effectively carried out without severe toxicities. The patient achieved a histologically-confirmed complete remission after completion of the treatment. The patient is disease-free and fully active 28 months after the beginning of chemotherapy. The treatment modality appears to be useful for advanced esophageal cancer.     

Effect of postmastectomy radiotherapy in patients <35 years old with stage II-III breast cancer treated with doxorubicin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy and mastectomy

PURPOSE: Postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) improves locoregional control (LRC) in patients with high-risk features after mastectomy. Young age continues to evolve as a potentially important risk factor. The objective of this study was to assess the benefits of PMRT in patients <35 years old treated with doxorubicin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy for Stage II-III breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 107 consecutive breast cancer patients <35 years old with Stage IIA-IIIC disease treated at our institution with doxorubicin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy and mastectomy, with or without PMRT. The treatment groups were compared in terms of LRC and overall survival. RESULTS: Despite more advanced disease stages, the patients who received PMRT (n = 80) had greater rates of LRC (5-year rate, 88% vs. 63%, p = 0.001) and better overall survival (5-year rate, 67% vs. 48%, p = 0.03) than patients who did not receive PMRT (n = 27). CONCLUSION: Among breast cancer patients <35 years old at diagnosis, the use of PMRT after doxorubicin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy and mastectomy led to a statistically greater rate of LRC and overall survival compared with patients without PMRT. The benefit seen for PMRT in young patients provides valuable data to better tailor adjuvant, age-specific treatment decisions after mastectomy.     

食管癌同步放化疗的临床研究

目的评价同步放化疗在食管癌中的价值。方法回顾性分析55例接受同步放化疗的食管癌患者,与同期接受单纯放疗的162例患者进行对比研究。结果单纯放疗组的1、3、5年生存率分别为83.3%、55.7%和36.2%,同步放化组的1、3、5年生存率分别为92.0%、73.8%和53.5%。中位总生存时间分别为45个月和87个月,差异有统计学意义(P=0.034)。结论同步放化疗能够显著改善食管癌患者的生存时间。     

Ⅳ期NSCLC化疗同期三维放疗的预后再分析

目的 进一步分析Ⅳ期NSCLC化疗同期三维放疗的预后因素。方法 对2003—2010年前瞻性入组201例Ⅳ期NSCLC患者重新进行预后评价,包括依据放疗剂量>36 Gy的159例OS的影响因素分析,以及120例PFS的影响因素分析。化疗以铂类为基础的两药联合方案,中位周期数4个。原发肿瘤中位放疗剂量63 Gy。Kaplan-Meier法计算生存率并Logrank检验,Cox模型预后多因素分析时间从最长的3年延长至5年。结果 全组201例1、2、3、5年OS及中位生存期分别为40.1%、17.3%、10.2%、5.1%及10个月。近期疗效中CR、PR、SD、PD分别为7.5%、66.0%、19.5%、6.9%,其中位生存期分别为19、13、8、6个月(P=0.000)。化疗4~5周期同期≥63 Gy与<63 Gy患者1、2、3、5年PFS和中位生存期分别为77.4%、36.2%、27.2%、15.9%和20个月与32.6%、21.7%、0%、0%和9个月(P=0.002)。4~5周期化疗、疗后KPS稳定或增加、GTV<175 cm³为OS影响因素(P=0.035、0.000、0.008)。原发肿瘤三维放疗≥63 Gy对PFS的影响接近有统计学意义(P=0.051)。结论 Ⅳ期NSCLC 4~5个周期化疗同期三维放疗≥63 Gy三维放疗使PFS、OS明显延长。     

尼妥珠单抗联合同步放、化疗治疗中晚期食管癌的近期疗效观察

目的:观察尼妥珠单抗联合同步三维适形放疗、化疗治疗中晚期食管癌的近期疗效及不良反应。方法:46例中晚期食管癌采用尼妥珠单抗联合放、化疗与同数量单纯放、化疗组对比,观察治疗不良反应并评价近期疗效。结果:联合治疗组完全缓解率、有效率分别为47.8%、87.0%,较对照组的43.5%、84.8%有提高。急性不良反应发生率未见显著升高,与应用尼妥珠单抗产生的相关不良反应发生率较低。结论:尼妥珠单抗联合同步三维适形放、化疗治疗中晚期食管癌近期疗效较好,不良反应未见明显增加。     

食管癌术后放疗同步紫杉醇+奈达铂方案化疗的初探

目的 评估食管鳞癌术后IMRT同步紫杉醇+奈达铂每周方案化疗的安全性和初步疗效。方法 2010-2013年共52例患者入组。IMRT临床靶区包括瘤床+相应高危淋巴引流区,放疗总剂量为50~60 Gy,2.0 Gy/次,5 次/周;同步化疗奈达铂25 mg/m²第1天+紫杉醇45~50 mg/m²第1天,放疗期间每周重复。不良反应评价采用CTCAE 4.0标准,采用Kaplan-Meier法生存分析。结果患者治疗耐受性较好,51例(98%)按既定方案完成放疗,化疗中位周期数为4个,42例(81%)完成≥3周化疗;不良反应以1-2级为主,3级主要为白细胞下降(29%)、放射性食管炎(10%)和吻合口狭窄(4%),1例患者(2%)出现5级消化道出血。全组患者中位生存时间为38.7个月,1、2、3、4年OS率分别为83%、64%、51%和38%。总复发率为46%,其中LRR率为15%,DM率为37%。结论 食管鳞癌术后IMRT同步紫杉醇+奈达铂每周方案化疗安全有效,值得开展大规模前瞻性随机分组研究。     

单纯放疗与同步放化疗治疗宫颈癌患者的临床疗效

目的 探讨单纯放疗、同步放化疗治疗宫颈癌患者的疗效及不良反应.方法 研究对象为2010年5月-2012年5月在内蒙古医科大学附属医院接受治疗的127例宫颈癌患者.根据治疗方案分为两组:单纯放疗组65例,同步化放疗组62例.观察两组患者的疗效、不良反应和生存情况.结果 全组患者均顺利完成治疗,中位随访时间为42个月.单纯放疗组完全缓解率为80.00％(52/65),同步化放疗组完全缓解率为82.26％(51/62),差异无统计学意义(x2=1.22,P=0.352).单纯放疗组和同步放化疗组患者的1年总生存率分别为95.38％、95.16％,差异无统计学意义(x2=0.32,P=0.533);3年总生存率分别为81.54％、90.32％,5年总生存率分别为72.31％、83.87％,差异均具有统计学意义(x2 =5.09,P =0.015;x2=3.87,P=0.039).46例年龄≥60岁的患者单纯放疗组和同步放化疗组1年总生存率分别为94.62％、93.91％,3年总生存率分别为85.02％、87.25％,5年总生存率分别为70.06％、73.58％,差异均无统计学意义(x2=0.06,P=0.753;x2=1.16,P=0.279;x2=0.48,P=0.511).单纯放疗组和同步放化疗组不良反应主要以1—2级为主,其中白细胞减少(56.10％∶72.20％)、血小板减少(58.82％∶76.80％)、恶心呕吐(34.04％∶56.90％)发生率的差异均有统计学意义(x2=11.23,P=0.003;x2=11.82,P=0.002;x2=12.77,P=0.000).结论 同步放化疗治疗宫颈癌的疗效优于单纯放疗,可以提高3年和5年总生存率,但同时也应注意到同步放化疗可能引起的不良反应增加,对于年龄≥60岁的宫颈癌患者同步放化疗并未取得更大的生存获益.     

Predictors of locoregional recurrence in patients with locally advanced breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, mastectomy, and radiotherapy

PURPOSE: To identify the clinical and pathologic factors predictive of locoregional recurrence (LRR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, mastectomy, and radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively reviewed the hospital records of 542 patients treated on six consecutive institutional prospective trials using neoadjuvant chemotherapy and postmastectomy radiotherapy. The clinical stage (American Joint Committee on Cancer, 1988) was Stage II in 17%, Stage IIIA in 30%, Stage IIIB in 43%, and Stage IV (ipsilateral supraclavicular disease) in 10%. All LRRs were considered events, irrespective of the timing to distant metastases. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 70 months. The 5-year and 10-year actuarial LRR rate was 9% and 11%, respectively. The clinical factors associated with LRR included combined clinical stage, clinical T stage, ipsilateral supraclavicular nodal disease, chemotherapy response, physical examination size after chemotherapy, and no tamoxifen use (p < or = 0.04 for all factors). The pathologic predictors of LRR included the number of positive nodes, dissection of <10 nodes, multifocal/multicentric disease, lymphovascular space invasion, extracapsular extension, skin/nipple involvement, and estrogen receptor-negative disease (p 相似文献   

Safety of radiotherapy with concurrent docetaxel in older patients with esophageal cancer

ObjectivesConsidering that therapeutic strategies for older adult patients with esophageal cancer (EC) remain controversial, we aimed to assess the safety of radiotherapy with concurrent docetaxel (DOC-RT) among older adult patients with EC.Materials and MethodsEligible patients included those aged ≥76 years who were diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients received radiotherapy (60 Gy in 30 fractions) and concurrent docetaxel (10 mg/m² weekly for six cycles). Survival, toxicity, and treatment completion rates were retrospectively evaluated.ResultsAmong 84 older adult patients receiving radical radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, 73 receiving DOC-RT were studied. Median follow-up duration was 14 months (range, 2–101 months). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 63%, 33%, and 13%, respectively, with a median survival time of 21 months. Grade 3 acute toxicities included esophagitis (7%), esophageal fistula (3%), pneumonitis (1%), leukopenia (10%), and anemia (8%). Grade 3 late toxicities included esophageal stenosis (4%), pleural effusion (3%), pericardial effusion (1%), and pneumonitis (1%). Grade 4 and 5 toxicities were not observed. DOC-RT was discontinued due to deterioration in the general condition (6%), esophageal fistula (3%), pneumonia (1%), and pain (1%), resulting in a DOC-RT completion rate of 89% (65/73 patients). The non-completion group comprised a higher proportion of older adults (age ≥ 80 years) and undernourished [geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI <92)] patients than the completion group.ConclusionDOC-RT can be a safe regimen for older adult patients with EC. Nonetheless, old age (≥80 years) and undernourishment (GNRI <92) should be considered prior to DOC-RT administration.     

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with intensity‐modulated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy

BACKGROUND:

The clinical benefit of routine placement of prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (pPEG) tubes was assessed in patients with oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) who are undergoing intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with concurrent chemotherapy.

METHODS:

From 1998 through 2009, 400 consecutive patients with OPC who underwent chemoradiation were included. Of these, 325 had a pPEG and 75 did not (nPEG). Weight and albumin change from baseline to mid‐IMRT, end of IMRT, 1 month post‐IMRT, and 3 months post‐IMRT were evaluated. The treating physicians prospectively recorded acute and late toxicities.

RESULTS:

Significantly lower absolute weight loss at end of IMRT (6.80 kg vs 8.38 kg, P = .007), 1 month post‐IMRT (9.06 kg vs 11.33 kg, P = .006), and 3 months post‐IMRT (11.10 kg vs 13.09 kg, P = .044) was noted in the pPEG versus nPEG groups. This benefit in reduction of percent weight loss was consistently significant only among patients with BMI < 25. Significant differences were noted in hospital admission rate (15.1% vs 26.7%, P = .026) and volume of nonchemotherapy hydration (8.9 liters vs 17.2 liters, P = .004). There were no differences in percent albumin change, acute dysphagia, acute mucositis, acute xerostomia, chronic dysphagia, radiation treatment duration, and overall survival. Multivariate analysis noted age >55 years (P < .001), female sex (P < .001), and T3/4 category disease (P < .001) were significantly associated with prolonged PEG use.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although pPEG reduced absolute and percent weight loss and need for hospitalizations in our cohort of patients with OPC undergoing chemoradiation, no differences were noted in radiation treatment duration, toxicity, and overall survival. Prolonged PEG use correlated with age >55 years, female sex, and T3/T4 tumors. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.     

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent low-dose chemotherapy for squamous cell esophageal carcinoma

Purpose: We conducted a prospective study of neoadjuvant treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, modifying the chemotherapy protocol by adding l-folinic acid and giving bifractionated radiotherapy with a cis-diaminedichloroplatinum (CDDP) injection before each fraction.Methods and Materials: Thirty-two patients, 30 men, 2 women, mean age 56.2 ± 8.9 years, with resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (TNM stage I = 4, IIA = 4, IIB = 13, III = 11) were included. Chemotherapy, CDDP (80 mg/m² D2), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 600 mg/m², D1–4), and l-folinic acid (200 mg/m², D1–4), was given in two sessions with a 3-week interval during which the patients received radiotherapy (45 Gy), two fractions per day (150 cGy/fraction). A 3-mg injection of CDDP was given prior to each fraction. Patients underwent surgery 4 to 7 weeks after neoadjuvant therapy.Results: No severe side effects were observed in 12 patients. Grade 3 effects (WBC, platelets, mucositis) occurred in 16 patients and grade 4 effects (platelets, mucositis) in four including 1 death due to septicemia with an infected catheter. Surgery was performed in 29 patients; 26 had resectable tumors (81%). Operative mortality was 10%. The 26 surgical specimens showed complete response (n = 18), persistent microscopic residues (n = 4), or not significant modification (n = 4). Survival at 1, 2, and 3 years was 81, 61, and 51.6% and disease-free survival was 75, 59, and 54% respectively.Conclusions: This new therapeutic combination is aggressive and associated with a high postoperative mortality but has a remarkable histological effect since complete response was achieved in 56% (95% CI: 39–73%) of the patients and 3-year survival reached 52%, a very high rate in our experience.