Clinical study on radiotherapy combined with surgical treatment of 162 patients with cervical cancer

Objective: To compare the 5-year survival rates and complications of internal and external irradiation therapy combined with operation in patients with Ⅱ-Ⅲ period of cervical cancer.Methods: 162 cervical cancer patients after the whole palace resection pelvic lymphadenectomy were divided into three groups, and then accepted radiotherapy.The first group with 91 cases was accepted internal and external irradiation therapy before operation; the second group with 37 cases was given internal irradiation therapy before operation; the third group with 34 cases was given routine postoperative radiotherapy.External irradiation used 60Co irradiation or a linear accelerator, to the whole basin, and the irradiation dose of "B" point in preoperative radiotherapy was 26-30 Gy, in postoperative radiotherapy was 46-50 Gy; intraluminal brachytherapy used 192lr,the dose of "A" point was 5-15 Gy.Results: The 5-year survival rate of preoperative combined radiotherapy group was 78.0%(71/91), preoperative intracavitary radiotherapy group 64.9% (24/37), and postoperative radiotherapy group 35.3% (12/34).Comparing the 5-year survival rates of the preoperative combined and postoperative irradiation groups, there was significant difference (P＜0.05).The major complications were radioactive proctitis and cystitis, the complication incidences of three groups were 35.2% (32/91), 32.4% (12/37), 38.2% (13/34), respectively, and the differences were not statistically significant (P＞0.05).Conclusion: The intraluminal brachytherapy plus external irradiation can significantly increase the 5-year survival rate of patients with Ⅱa-Ⅲa stages, and the incidence of complications was not significant difference.     

Ic期子宫内膜癌患者中MPA和EBRT的联合疗效

Objective: To report the comparative effect of combined medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and external beam pelvic radiotherapy (EBRT) with EBRT alone on local or distant recurrences, overall survival and treatment related toxicities in patients with stage Ic grade 3 endometrial cancer. Methods: A retrospective review of 80 International Federation of Gyne-cology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage Ic grade 3 endometrial carcinoma patients treated between October 1994 and October 2004 at Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, China was performed. All patients underwent surgery, of which 40 patients in arm I received combined MPA and EBRT while in arm II 40 patients received only adjuvant EBRT after surgery. The median dose of EBRT in arm I was 50 Gy (range 36-54 Gy) and in arm II was 45.2 Gy (range 43.2-50.4 Gy). Multivariate analysis was performed for the prognostic factors and Kaplan-Meier method was used for overall survival. Results: Of the 80 eligible patients, 40 in each group could be evaluated. The follow-up times ranged from 4-98 months with a median of 45 months. The overall survival rates at five years were 73% among patients treated with combined MPA and EBRT and 28.2% among patients treated with EBRT alone (P < 0.001). The rate of distant metastasis was significantly higher among patients treated with EBRT alone group than combined MPA and EBRT (55% vs 25%, P = 0.006) while no difference in loco regional recur-rence rates was observed in both treatment groups. Most of the side effects observed in the combined MPA and EBRT group. Age (P < 0.001) and the presence of progesterone receptors (P = 0.003) were independent significant prognostic factors for overall survival in multiple regression analysis. Conclusion: We has been concluded that the addition of progestagen to external beam pelvic radiotherapy significantly improved survival and reduced distant metastasis among women with stage Ic grade 3 endometrial cancer.     

鼻咽癌根治放疗后残留病变的两种推量治疗方法疗效比较

Objective： To compare the efficacy between stereotactic radiotherapy （SRT） and intracavitary brachytherapy （brachytherapy） in residual tumor of nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） after treating with conventional external beam radiotherapy. Methods： 60 patients with residual tumor of NPC after radical external beam radiotherapy （range 68 to 72 Gy） were randomized into SRT group （27 patients） and brachytherapy group （33 patients）. Patients in SRT group received boost treatment of 10-20 Gy, 2-3 fractions, once every other day; patients in brachytherapy group were treated with boost 10-20 Gy, 5 Gy per fraction, twice a week. Results： Efficacy in the near future： in SRT group, the complete recession （CR）, partial recession （PR） and no change （NC） rates were 77.8% （21/27）, 18.5% （5/27）, 3.7% （1/27）, respectively and the efficacy rate was 96.3% （CR ＋ PR）; in brachytherapy group： the CR, PR and NC rates were 75.8% （25/33）, 18.2% （6/33）, 6.1% （2/33）, respectively and the efficacy rate was 93.9% （CR ＋ PR）. The efficacy rates of the above two groups were compared （x^2 = 0.032, P 〉 0.05）. Long term efficacy： in SRT group, 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 96.3%, 66.5% respectively and the median live time was 48 months; in brachytherapy group： 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 93.9%, 60.2% respectively and the median live time was 46 months. The survival rates of two groups were compared （x^2 = 0.172, P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion： Both boost techniques of SRT and brachytherapy had elevated efficacy in patients with residual tumor of NPC and there was no obvious difference between the efficacy of the near and long term in SRT and brachytherapy group.     

肝动脉栓塞化疗结合无水酒精注射治疗中晚期原发性肝癌疗效分析

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of the combined treatment with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods:312 patients with moderate or advanced HCCs were divided into two groups: 170 cases underwent TACE treatment alone, 142 cases were treated with TACE and PEI under B-ultrasotmd guidance. Results:The rates of reduction in tumor diameter and the decline in serum AFP level were 41.2% and 40.4% in the TACE group and 75.4% and 74.1% in the TACE PEI group respectively. The 6, 12 and 24 months survival rates in the TACE group were 77.1%,34.1% and 18.8%,respectively and in the TACE PEI group 87.3%, 62.0% and 38.0%, respectively. Overall, there was a significant difference between the two treatment groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion：Treatment on HCCs with TACE PEI is convenient, safe and results in better survival rates than TACE alone.     

Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy for Inflammatory Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of preoperative chemoradiotherapy for inflammatory breast cancer. METHODS From December 1996 to December 2000, we received and treated 21 patients with inflammatory breast carcinoma with a combined-modality treatment. The chemotherapy protocol consisted of cyclophos-phamide (CTX), pirarubicin (THP-ADM) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or CTX, 5-Fu and methotrexate (MTX). The same infusion scheme was repeated on day 21. After 3-4 cycles the patients were treated with radiotherapy. When the radiation dose reached 40 Gy, the patients who were unable or unwilling to under go an operation received continued radiotherapy. When the radiation dose to the supra clavicular fossa and internal mammary lymph nodes reached 60 Gy and 50 Gy respectively, the radiotherapy was stopped. Chemotherapy was then continued with the original scheme. Patients who had indications for surgery and were willing to under go an operation received no treatment for 2 weeks, after which a total mastectomy was performed. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy was resumed with the original scheme after the operations. When the radiation dose reached 50 Gy, radiotherapy was stopped. RESULTS All patients were followed-up for more than 5 years with a follow-up rate of 100%. The overall 3 and 5-year survival rates of these patients were 42.9%, and 23.8% respectively. For patients in Stage IIIB the 3 and 5-year survival rates were 50.0% and 27.8% respectively, and for patients in Stage IV, the 3 and 5-year survival rates were both 0.0%. There was a significant difference between the 2 stage groups (P<0.05, x2=11.60). For patients who received an operation, the 3 and 5-year survival rates were 80.0% and 33.3% respectively, For patients who were not treated with an operation, the 3 and 5 -year survival rates were both 0.0%, There was a significant difference between the operated and non-operated groups (P<0.05, x2=11.64). CONCLUSION The prognosis of inflammatory breast carcinoma is poor. Before operation, a combined -modality treatment (first chemotherapy, then local therapy, finally chemotherapy and radiotherapy) is the best treatment method.     

经动脉灌注健择化疗联合三维适形放射治疗局部晚期胰腺癌的临床研究

Objective： To evaluate the clinical effect of transarterial infusion chemotherapy of gemcitabine plus three dimensional conformal radiotherapy on patients with local advanced pancreatic cancer. Methods： Fifty-one patients with local advanced pancreatic cancer from June 2002 to February 2004 were enrolled, twenty-four patients of combined group were treated with transarterial infusion chemotherapy of gemcitabine plus three dimensional conformal radiotherapy, while twenty-seven patients of control group were treated only with transarterial infusion chemotherapy of gemcitabine. Results： There were significant statistical differences between two groups in clinical benefit response （91.7% versus 74.1%, P 〈 0.01） and overall remission rate （70.8% versus 33.3%, P 〈 0.01）. The 6-month survival rate, 12-month survival rate and 24-month survival rate of combined group were 83.3%, 62.5% and 37.5% respectively, while that of control group were 55.6%, 33.3% and 11.1% respectively. This showed significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion： Transarterial infusion chemotherapy of gemcitabine plus three dimensional conformal radiotherapy may be better than single transarterial infusion chemotherapy of gemcitabine in improving survival rates and elongating survival time of patients with local advanced pancreatic cancer.     

Combination of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation with transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma： observation of clinical effects

Objective： To observe the clinical effect of radiofrequency ablation （RFA） combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （TACE） for advanced hepatocellnlar carcinoma （HCC）. Methods： A total of 92 eases of advanced primary liver cancer underwent TACE and RFA treatment from June 2005 to 2011 at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College. A total of 88 cases with complete clinical treatment and follow-up data were divided into two groups： 43 patients treated with TACE （TACE group） and 45 patients that received TACE combined with RFA treatment （TACE ＋ RFA group）. After clinical data assessment, tumor size and survival status were not significantly different between the groups as determined by stratified analysis. Results： Before and after surgery, spiral CT radiography and color comparison observed ablation conditions. The tumor necrosis rates after treatment （CR ＋ PR） were 67.4% （29/43） and 91.1% （41/45） for the TACE and combined treatment groups, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant （P〈0.05）. The quality of life was significantly improved for patients undergoing TACE ~ RFA compared with the control group. Survival duration was not significantly different in patients undergoing TACE ~ RFA compared with the control group. Conclusions： In this study, the effect of RFA combined with TACE treatment was better than TACE alone in treating advanced HCC.     

Analysis of 80 Cases of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated by Intracavitary Brachytherapy Using A New- Type Applicator

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the results and complications associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） treated with combined external-beam radiotherapy （EBR） and intracavitary brachytherapy （IB） using a new-type applicator. METHODS Eighty patients with untreated NPC were divided into two groups based on therapy methods. An experimental group was treated with EBR plus IB and a control group was treated only with EBR. IB was given to the patients of the experimental group when the external radiotherapy dose amounted to more than 60～65 Gy. The total dose of IB was 6～20 Gy and the total dose of EBR of the control group was 70～75 Gy. RESULTS Follow-up was conducted for 97.5% of the patients with re- suits as follows： the overall response rates （ORR） for the experimental and the control groups were 92.5% and 75.3% respectively （P〈0.05）; the 3 and 5-year survival rates for the experimental group were 87.5% and 74.2% and for the control group, 65.0% and 55.6% （P〈0.05）; for the experimental group, the 3 and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 72.5% and 64.5% and for the control group, 60.0% and 52.8% （P〉0.05）.Some complications following radiotherapy showed a significant difference. CONCLUSION External irradiation plus intracavitary brachytherapy using a new-type applicator may improve the ORR and survival rates, reduce radiation complications and increase the quality of life.     

康莱特加同步放化疗治疗局部晚期非小细胞肺癌的临床研究

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with Kanglaite injection in the treatment of regionally advanced unresectable non-small cell lung cancer. Methods 48 patients with regionally advanced unresectable non-small cell lung cancer were randomized to two groups, 25 patients in the combination group (concurrent chemoradiotherapy Kanglaite) and 23 patients in the control group (concurrent chemoradiotherapy).The combination group received chemotherapy of vinorelbine (NVB) plus cisplatin (DDP) regimen, radiotherapy was given with conventional fraction in 2 Gy per fraction and five fractions per week concurrently. The total tumor doses were 56-60Gy. Combined with Kanglaite injection 200 mL/d for twenty-one days for two courses in the combination group, the control group was chemoradiotherapy only. Effects and toxicities were evaluated according to the criteria of WHO. Results The CR rates in the combination group and control group were 24.0% (6/25) and 13.0% (3/23), respectively (P ＞ 0.05). Response (CR PR) rates of combination group were 76.0 % (19/25) and 69.6% (16/23) in control group, P ＞ 0.05. The incidence rates of grades 3-4 leukocytopenia, grades 3-4 digestive system (nausea and vomiting) and grades 3-4 esophagitis in the combination group and control group were 40.0% (10/25), 8.0% (2/25), 16.0% (4/25) and 69.6% (16/23), 34.8% (8/23), 43.5%(10/23), respectively (P ＜ 0.05). KPS and body weight score significantly increased in combination group after the combined treatment, P ＜ 0.05. Conclusion Concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with Kanglaite injection can relieve side effects of chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of regionally advanced unresectable non-small cell lung cancer, and improve quality of life. Kanglaite injection may increase effective rate of regionally advanced unresectable non-small cell lung cancer combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.     

Evaluation of Intraoperative Radiotherapy for Gastric Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE To study the proper sites and doses of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) for gastric carcinoma and the effects of this treatment.METHODS A total of 106 cases of stage Ⅰ- Ⅳ gastric carcinoma who received a D2 or D3 radical resection operation combined with IORT were analyzed. Sixty-seven patients with gastric cancer of the antrum and body received distal gastrectomy. The sites of irradiation were at the celiac artery and hepatoduodenal ligament area. Another 39 patients with carcinoma of the cardia and upper part of the gastric body and whole stomach received proximal gastrectomy or total gastrectomy. The sites of irradiation for this group were the upper margin of the pancreas and the regional paraaorta.The therapeutic effects (including survival and complications) of these 106cases who received a combined operation IORT (IORT group) were compared with 441 cases treated during the same time period by a radical resection operation alone (operation group).RESULTS The radiation dose below 30 Gy was safe. The therapeutic method of the operation combined with IORT did not prolong the survival time of patients with stage Ⅱ and Ⅳ gastric cancer, but the 5-year survival rates of patients with stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ gastric cancers were significantly improved.While the 5-year survival rates of the stage Ⅲ cancer patients receiving D2 resection combined with IORT had marked improvement, for those receiving a D3 radical resection, only the postoperative survival rates at 3 and 4 years of those cases in stages Ⅲ cancers were improved (P＜0.005-0.001). The 5-year survival rate for those patients was raised only 4.7%(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION The 5-year survival rates of patients with stages Ⅱ and Ⅲ gastric carcinoma who received a D2 lymphadenectomy combined with IORT were improved and had no influence on the postoperative complications and mortality.     

外照射配合肝动脉栓塞治疗不能手术切除的原发性肝癌的临床研究

Objective: This study evaluated the therapeutic effect of external beam radiotherapy(RT)combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)on the patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods: From June 1994 to April 2002, 114 patients with unresectable HCC were nonrandomized prospectively stepped into our study.All patients received TACE as initial therapy, except 54 also received combination therapy with external beam therapy.Survival failure patterns were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Results: Overall survival rates in the patients in the radiotherapy group were 65%, 47%, 38% at 1, 2, 3 years, respectively, improved over the non-radiotherapy group rates of 54%, 36.5%, 18% at 1, 2, 3 years, respectively.There was significant difference between two groups(P＜0.05).The survival rates correlated with tumor size, number of tumors, and portal vein embolus.Conclusion: TACE combined with RT is a more effective treatment than TACE alone in patients with unresectable HCC.     

Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with radiotherapy and/or chemoembolization

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the outcome, patterns of failure, and toxicity for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with radiotherapy, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), or combined TACE and radiotherapy. Forty-two patients with unresectable HCC were treated with combined radiotherapy and TACE (TACE+RT group, 17 patients), radiotherapy alone (RT group, 9 patients), or with TACE alone (TACE group, 16 patients). Mean dose of radiation was 46.9 +/- 5.8 Gy in a daily fraction of 1.8 to 2 Gy, directed only to the cancer-involved areas of the liver. TACE was performed with a combination of Lipiodol, doxorubicin, cisplatin, and mitomycin C, followed by Gelfoam or Ivalon embolization. Tumor size was smaller in the TACE group (mean: 5.4 cm) compared with the TACE+RT group (8.6 cm) and the RT group (13.1 cm) (P = 0.0003). The median follow-up was 24 months in the TACE+RT group, 28 months in the RT group, and 23 months in the TACE group. Survival was significantly worse for patients treated with radiotherapy alone due to the selection bias of patients with more advanced disease and compromised condition in this group. In contrast, the TACE+RT and TACE groups had comparable survival (two-year rates: TACE+RT 58%, TACE 56%, P = 0.69). The local control rate for the treated tumors was similar in the TACE+RT and TACE groups (P = 0.11). The intrahepatic recurrence outside the treated tumors was common and similar between these two groups (P = 0.48). The extrahepatic progression-free survival was significantly shorter for patients in the TACE+RT group than in the TACE group (two-year rates: TACE+RT 36%, TACE 100%, P = 0.002). Seven patients died from complications of treatment. Local radiotherapy may be added to treat patients with unresectable HCC, and the control of progression of the treated tumors was promising even in patients with large hepatic tumors. Survival of patients with combined TACE and radiotherapy was similar to that with TACE as the only treatment, while a significant portion of the patients treated with radiotherapy developed extrahepatic metastasis.     

外照射配合肝动脉栓塞治疗不能手术切除的原发性肝癌的临床研究

背景与目的:肝动脉栓塞化疗(transcatheter arterial chemoembotization, TACE)是目前治疗不能手术切除的原发性肝癌的常规治疗方法,但单纯TACE疗效较差,3年生存率约20%左右,本研究旨在探讨TACE结合外照射治疗不能手术的原发性肝癌的疗效。方法:1994年6月～2002年4月间,54例不能手术的原发性肝癌患者接受TACE加外照射(综合组)治疗,同时选取60例同期治疗的单纯TACE患者作为对照组,两组资料具有可比性。TACE采用Seldingers法经股动脉穿刺插管,将插管插入肝固有动脉后,注入造影剂,明确已插入肿瘤区供血血管后再注入化疗药物(MMC ADM CBP)和碘油配制的悬液,同时根据肝肿瘤的供血情况用明胶海绵栓塞供血动脉血管,4～8周后重复。综合组患者先进行TACE治疗1～4次,放射治疗在TACE后21～28天进行,用真空袋固定体位,54例中有36例采用普通增强CT扫描结合碘油沉积和体表标志进行模拟机定位,11例采用CT鄄sim设计治疗计划,靶区的确定根据CT扫描所提示的肿瘤大小和碘油的沉积情况外扩1.5cm,同时在模拟机下观察患者的呼吸运动度,视情况在照射野的Y轴方向增加1～2cm,7例患者应用3维治疗计划系统计算剂量分布,尽可能保护正常肝组织、双侧肾脏和脊髓。照射剂量36～60Gy,平均照射剂量53.3Gy,每次1.8～2Gy,5次/周。结果:TACE     

The efficacy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma may be improved by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in combination with a traditional Chinese herbal medicine formula

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the most widely used primary treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because of its survival benefit, although its clinical effect is still far from satisfactory. In China, there has been a long history of using traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of liver cancer and other malignancies. In this study, the authors evaluated the effect of combined therapy with TACE and JDF granule preparation (a traditional Chinese herbal medicine formula) in the treatment of patients with unresectable HCC on survival. Clinical data, including baseline, performance status change, and survival time of 165 patients with unresectable HCC seen between January 2002 and December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 165 patients, 80 patients (study group) received combined therapy consisting of TACE and a long‐term maintenance treatment with oral JDF granule preparation, and 85 patients (control group) received TACE alone. The survival rate of both groups was calculated by the Kaplan‐Meier method. Factors possibly affecting survival were assessed by multivariate analysis in the Cox proportional hazard model. The median overall survival was 9.2 months (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 6.94‐1.46) in the study group versus 5.87 months (95% CI, 4.21‐7.52) in the control group. In the study group (TACE + JDF), 1‐year, 2‐year, and 3‐year survival rates were 41.2%, 18.4%, and 9.6%, respectively. The Cox regression analysis revealed the therapy model to be an independent predictor of patient prognosis. Current study data demonstrated that TACE combined with JDF granule preparation could improve the prognosis of patients. TACE combined with JDF granule preparation may prolong survival of patients with unresectable HCC. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.     

Radiation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: from palliation to cure

Technologic advances have provided the means to deliver tumoricidal doses of radiation therapy (RT) to patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) while avoiding critical normal tissues, providing the opportunity to use RT for curative intent treatment of HCC. For the current report, the expanded role of external beam RT in the setting of HCC from palliation to cure was reviewed. A systematic literature search was undertaken using the MEDLINE data base and secondary references to identify peer-reviewed, English-language articles that reported clinical outcomes after external beam RT alone or in combination with other treatments for HCC. Abstracts from the 2005 American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, American Gastrointestinal Association, and Society of Surgical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium also were included in the search. More than 60 articles reporting on clinical outcomes among patients who received RT for HCC have been published since 1990, including 20 articles that described unique sets of at least 15 patients. RT was used for palliation, to improve local control, and with curative intent in a wide spectrum of patients who most often were unsuitable for surgery and other treatments. Pain reduction following RT was noted in approximately 75% of patients with bone metastases from HCC who received RT. For patients with liver-confined disease treated with conformal RT, proton beam RT, and/or image guided RT with or without transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), local control response rates ranged from 40% to 90%, and the median survival ranges from 10 months to 25 months. For patients with HCC who had portal vein thrombus, the median survival after RT to treat the thrombus and/or the hepatic tumor with or without TACE ranged from 5.3 months to 9.7 months. Although outcomes after high-dose conformal RT for liver-confined HCC were excellent, the potential survival benefit of RT should be tested in randomized controlled trials that require international collaboration.     

不同非手术治疗方案对老年性肝癌的疗效评价

 目的　探讨射频消融 (RF)术前行肝动脉化疗栓塞 (TACE)与RF术后行TACE两种联合治疗方案对老年性不可切除性肝癌的疗效。方法　将接受TACE与RF联合治疗的 6 9例不可切除性老年性肝癌患者分为两组。一组为TACE +RF组 ,35例 ;另一组为RF +TACE组 ,34例。分别将两组治疗后肿瘤缩小率 ,消融率 ,瘤周血流信号 ,AFP值及治疗后 6个月、12个月生存率进行对比。结果　两组间前述 5种指标均具有显著性差异 ,TACE +RF组优于RF +TACE组。结论　对于老年性不可切除性肝癌患者提倡采用TACE +RF联合治疗方案 ,即RF术前先行TACE ,以增强两治疗方法之间互补性与疗效。     

Combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and local radiotherapy of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE: The best prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be achieved with surgical resection; however, the number of resected cases are limited due to advanced lesions or associated liver disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of a prospective trial of combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and local radiotherapy (RT) in unresectable HCC. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with histologically proven unresectable HCC due to either advanced lesions or associated cirrhosis were eligible. From March 1992 to August 1994, 30 patients were entered into this study. TACE was performed with Lipiodol (5 ml) and doxorubicin (Adriamycin ; 50 mg), followed by gelatin sponge particle (Gelfoam) embolization. Local RT was started within 7-10 days following TACE. Mean tumor dose was 44.0+/-9.3 Gy in daily 1.8 Gy fractions. Response was assessed by computerized tomography (CT) scan 4-6 weeks following completion of the treatment and then at 1-3-month intervals. Survival was calculated from the start of TACE using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: An objective response was observed in 19 patients, giving a response rate of 63.3%. Distant metastasis occurred in 10 patients, with 8 in the lung only and 2 in both lung and bone. Survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 67%, 33.3%, and 22.2%, respectively. Median survival was 17 months. There were 6 patients surviving more than 3 years. Toxicity included transient elevation of liver function tests in all patients, fever in 20, thrombocytopenia in 4, and nausea and vomiting in 1. There was no treatment-related death. CONCLUSION: Combined TACE and local RT is feasible and tolerable. It gives a 63.3% response rate with median survival of 17 months. We feel that this regimen would be a new promising modality in unresectable HCC. Further study is required to compare the therapeutic efficacy of this regimen to TACE alone.     

Radiotherapy for large hepatocellular carcinoma combined with transcatheter arterial embolization and percutaneous ethanol injection therapy.

This study was performed to determine the effect of radiotherapy (RT) combined with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) on large HCC. Between 1988 and 1996, 102 patients with unresectable, biopsy proven HCC underwent uniform pretreatment assessment followed by TAE and PEI. Of the 102 patients, 68 (67%) had more than 2 lesions in the liver, and the largest tumor sizes in each patient ranged from 3 to 8 cm in diameter. Immediately after TAE and PEI, external beam RT (36 to 70 Gy) was administered to the largest tumors only in 44 patients. The cause-specific 5-year survival rate for all patients was 39.9%. The 3-year survival rate of the RT group was better than that of the no RT group (81.1% vs. 54.6%). The cumulative local control rates of the largest treated tumors were 53.2% in the RT group and 32.7% in the no RT, respectively (p=0.006). When the survival rate was compared between patients with and without local control in the RT group, that of patients with local control was significantly better than that with local recurrences (p=0.048). No deaths or major treatment related complications occurred. RT combined with TAE and PEI did not clearly show improvement of the survival, however, it effectively controlled large HCC, and demonstrated minimal toxicity. This treatment may represent therapeutic option for some patients with unresectable large HCC.     

Local radiotherapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma patients who failed with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of local radiotherapy (RT) as a salvage treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who failed with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods and Materials: Patients with unresectable HCC who had been treated with and eventually failed with TACE were eligible. The judgment of TACE failure was based on incomplete tumor filling of lipiodol-adriamycin mixture on either angiography or computed tomography (CT) scan. From January 1993 to December 1997, 27 patients were entered into this study. They had UICC Stage III (17) or IVA (10) disease, with a mean tumor size of 7.2 ± 2.9 cm. Local RT was done, with a mean tumor dose of 51.8 ± 7.9 Gy, in daily 1.8-Gy fractions using a 10- or 6-MV linear accelerator. Survival was calculated from both the diagnosis and the start of RT using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: An objective response was observed in 16 of 24 patients (66.7%) including 1 CR. Intrahepatic metastasis was noted outside the RT field in 10 patients (37.0%). Extrahepatic distant metastasis occurred in 4 patients. Survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 85.2%, 58.1%, and 33.2%, respectively, from the diagnosis and 55.9%, 35.7%, and 21.4%, respectively, from the start of RT. The median survivals were 26 months from the diagnosis and 14 months from the start of RT. Acute toxicity involved alteration in liver function test (13 patients) and thrombocytopenia (2 patients). Subacute and chronic toxicity involved gastroduodenal ulcer (3 patients) and duodenitis (2 patients). There was no treatment-related death.

Conclusion: In unresectable HCC patients who failed with TACE, local RT induced a substantial tumor response of 66.7%, with a 3-year survival rate of 21.4% and a median survival time of 14 months. Toxicity was significant but manageable. Although we do not know if there is survival benefit through this treatment, local RT in these patients seems to be valuable as a salvage for TACE-failed HCC.     

低分割三维适形放射结合介入治疗肝细胞癌伴门静脉癌栓的疗效

背景与目的肝细胞癌常伴有门静脉癌栓且预后极差,有学者用三维适形放射治疗常规剂量分割模式进行治疗取得了较好的疗效。本研究的目的是评价低分割三维适形放射治疗(3-dimensionalconformalradiationtherapy,3DCRT)结合经皮肝动脉化疗栓塞(transcatheterarterialchemoembolization,TACE)治疗肝细胞癌(hepatocellularcarcinoma,HCC)伴门静脉癌栓(portalveintumorthrombus,PVTT)的疗效。方法对35例不能手术切除的HCC伴PVTT患者,采用低分割3DCRT结合TACE进行治疗,根据肿瘤体积大小,放射采用每次4～8Gy,3次/周;48～60Gy,8～12分次,3.0～3.5周完成。观察近期疗效,用Kaplan-Meier法进行生存分析,采用Cox比例风险模型作多因素分析。结果肿瘤缓解率为71.4%,1、2、3年累积生存率分别是59.3%、31.6%、26.6%,中位生存期11个月。多因素分析显示Child分级是影响预后的主要因素(P<0.05)。放射性肝炎和胃肠道出血是最常见的并发症。结论大分割3DCRT结合TACE治疗HCC伴PVTT有较好的疗效。肝功能Child分级与患者的预后有密切关系。