Impact of medical and demographic factors on long-term quality of life and body image of breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The impact of various medical and demographic factors on the quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer patients has been discussed controversially. We investigated the influence of six different factors on long-term QoL and body image of women with primary breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two-hundred and seventy-four breast cancer patients were administered the QoL questionnaire following a mean interval of 4.2 years after primary diagnosis. All women had been primarily treated for stage I to III breast cancer without evidence of distant metastases. QoL was evaluated by using the QLQ-C30 questionnaire Version 2.0. Supplementary scales included body image, satisfaction with surgical treatment, cosmetic result and fear of recurrence. We analyzed the impact of tumor stage, surgical treatment, adjuvant radiotherapy, adjuvant cytotoxic therapy, age and length of follow-up period on the examined outcome parameters. RESULTS: At the time of the follow-up examination, patients showed minor impairment of QoL (mean 67.8) and body image (mean 24.8), but more fear of recurrence (mean 60.7). None of the studied factors had a significant impact on overall QoL (P >0.05) according to the QLQ-C30 questionnaire. In contrast, with the exception of the factors 'cytotoxic therapy' and 'radiotherapy' all investigated variables influenced at least one of the additional psychological scales (P <0.05). The primary surgical treatment modality had the strongest impact and affected all four scales. Patients treated with breast conservation reported a more favorable body image, compared to those treated with mastectomy (17.2 versus 37.5, P <0.01), more satisfaction with surgical treatment (4.0 versus 10.7, P = 0.01), rated a better cosmetic result (75.5 versus 57.1, P <0.01), but presented more fear of recurrence (63.9 versus 55.3, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Current QoL questionnaires do not sufficiently cover all relevant aspects of QoL, but might be complemented by breast cancer specific aspects such as body image and fear.     

食管癌放疗后复发再程治疗的疗效观察

目的　探讨食管癌放疗后复发再程治疗的价值。方法　 5 0例食管癌放疗后复发患者接受再程治疗。随机分成手术切除组和再程放疗组 ,2 5例手术切除组左侧进胸 ,行食管—胃吻合术 ;2 5例再程放疗组 ,采用超分割治疗。 1 2Gy/f,Bid ,6MV X线 ,相隔 6小时 ,剂量 44～ 60Gy。结果　 2 5例手术切除组 1、2、3年生存率分别为 80 %、3 6%、2 8% ;再程放疗组 1、2、3年生存率分别为 44 %、2 0 %、8 7%。结论　食管癌放疗后复发治疗应首选手术治疗 ,放射治疗亦可作为一种有效治疗手段。     

Phase I study of combined radiation, hyperthermia and intra-arterial carboplatin for local recurrence of cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cervical cancer who develop pelvic recurrence after primary surgery are usually treated with radiation-based therapy. However, their prognoses are dismal. We conducted a phase I study of combined radiation, hyperthermia and intra-arterial (IA) carboplatin for local recurrence of cervical cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with local recurrence of cervical cancer without extrapelvic recurrence were included in this study. Carboplatin was given as a 5-min IA infusion without hydration just before pelvic radiation every day. External pelvic irradiation (1.8 Gy/day for 28 days) was performed according to local standard schedules. After 20 Gy had been administered, hyperthermia was performed once a week with a radio frequency heating system for four cycles. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were entered through the four dose levels of carboplatin. The maximum tolerated dose was determined to be 25 mg/m(2 )and the dose-limiting toxicities were leukocytopenia, neutrocytopenia and diarrhea. Grade 3/4 leukocytopenia and diarrhea were observed in nine (60%) and three (20%) of 15 patients. Tumor responses included five complete responses and nine partial responses, and the overall response rate was 93.3% (14 of 15) (95% confidence interval 59.4% to 100%). Tumor reductions were observed only at 20 Gy in 10 cases of 14 responders (71.4%). CONCLUSION: The combination therapy of radiation, hyperthermia and IA carboplatin is safe and well-tolerated for locally recurrent cervical cancer.     

乳腺癌术后胸壁及区域淋巴结复发的治疗

本文对我科1985年6月至1988年6月收治的52例乳腺癌术后复发病例进行了分析。全部病例均完成了放射治疗，其中39例与化疗联合。全组病例局部控制率为59．6％，1年及2年生存率分别为80．8％和51.9%，本文结果提示，单纯胸壁复发的病例，预后明显好于胸壁及区域淋巴结同时复发的病例（P＜0．05)，与化疗联合对局部控制率无影响，但能显著提高长期生存率（P＜O．01）。     

Solitary meningeal recurrence in a patient with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with locally bulky disease at presentation

Patients with locally advanced transitional cell carcinoma (TCC)of the bladder are at high risk forsystemic relapse, with liver, bone and lung beingthe commonest sites of metastases.We report the case of a 52-year-old womanwith a solitary meningeal relapse, a rare siteof recurrence, after 8 months of complete remissionobtained with M-VEC for locally advanced TCC ofthe bladder. We speculate on the likely riskfactors related to this unusual site of recurrence.     

Pattern of dissemination and survival following isolated locoregional recurrence of breast cancer

Purposes: The study evaluates prognostic factors for dissemination and survival in patients with local or regional recurrence of breast cancer. Furthermore, the aim was to define subgroups of patients at different risk of developing metastases in specific anatomical sites. Patients and methods: The study included 140 patients with isolated local or regional node recurrence, who entered a prospective study for staging of patients with first recurrence of breast cancer in the period 1983–85. The primary treatment was a simple mastectomy; node positive patients received adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy or tamoxifen.If possible, the locoregional recurrence was treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy, otherwise by systemic therapy. Results: Median follow up was 10.4 years; 78 patients developed distant metastases (soft tissue, 32%; bone, 45%; viscera 40%). Median time to dissemination was 4.4 years, and the ten year dissemination rate was 72%. Median time to dissemination was 3.7 years for patients with recurrence in the regional nodes compared to 6.5 years for patients with chest wall recurrence only, p = 0.05. No specific time sequence (temporal pattern) was observed in the anatomical distribution of metastases, and the anatomical site of recurrence could not be predicted by any of the prognostic factors. At follow up, 93 patients had died. The median survival was 5.6 years and 30% were alive after 10 years. Forty-three of the 99 patients who received local therapy only did not develop metastases. Fifteen of these patients died without evidence of metastatic disease while 28 patients were still alive without distant recurrence after a median follow up time of 9.3 years (range, 6.5–11.9 years). Level of LDH and the number of positive regional nodes (NPOS) at primary diagnosis were significant independent prognostic factors for survival after recurrence. Conclusions: Approximately one third of the patients receiving local treatment only, were alive and without distant metastases up to ten years after locoregional recurrence, indicating that there is a subset of patients which may be long term survivors after local treatment only (surgery or radiotherapy). The duration of survival can be estimated by LDH and NPOS, but the model needs validation in a separate data set before clinical use.     

无法切除的复发头颈部鳞癌的姑息放疗

为评价头颈部鳞癌术后复发患者行姑息放疗的疗效及其影响因素，对１９８８年７月至１９９６年２月在我科接受姑息放疗的１０６例患者的资料行回顾性分析。结果：放疗后ＣＲ２２．６％（２４／１０６），ＰＲ３８．７％（４１／１０６），ＮＲ３８．７％（４１／１０６）；总有效率为６１．３％（６５／１０６）；放疗后挽救性手术成功率为４／９；疗后６３．２％（６７／１０６）的患者Ｋａｒｎｏｆｓｋｙ得分上升，症状减轻，生存质量提高；１、２、３年生存率分别为５４．７％（５８／１０６）、２１．７％（２３／１０６）和５．７％（６／１０６）；远处转移率２９．２％（３１／１０６），放疗并发症１０．４％（１１／１０６）。结论：姑息放疗是晚期头颈部鳞癌术后复发患者一种较好的治疗选择；为了提高疗效，放射剂量应尽可能高于５０Ｇｙ，采用超分割连续放疗技术和避免分段。     

Bihemispheric malignant glioma: One size does not fit all

Recurrence of malignant glioma following radiotherapy most commonly occurs in close proximity to the original contrast enhancing CT/MRI tumor volume. For this reason current radiation planning favors focal radiotherapy fields designed to cover the preoperative tumor contrast enhancing volume ± surrounding edema with a 2–4 centimetre margin. Two patients with bifrontal malignant gliomas treated with such radiotherapy fields experienced out of field tumor progression while on treatment. Posterior extension along the corpus callosum, not evident on pretreatment imaging, was hypothesized as the cause of the geographic miss. The literature documenting recurrence patterns of malignant glioma following radiotherapy support focal field radiotherapy fields for most patients with malignant glioma. Reporting bias may exist in the literature, however, due to the whole brain radiotherapy used in older series reporting recurrence patterns and exclusion of patients with bihemispheric or more locally extensive tumors in more modern series. Tumor location and pattern of growth at presentation may be important factors in predicting patterns of spread and relapse after radiotherapy.     

Teniposide or carboplatin in patients with recurrent or advanced cervical carcinoma: A randomized phase II trial

Thomsen TK, Pfeiffer P, Bertelsen K. Teniposide or carboplatin in patients with recurrent or advanced cervical carcinoma: A randomized phase II trial. Int J Gynecol Cancer 1998; 8 : 310–314.
The aim of the present study was to investigate response rates, time to progression, and survival with teniposide or carboplatin in patients with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer and to estimate the toxicity of each drug regimen.
Twenty-eight patients with recurrent or advanced cervical cancer entered the study. Two patients were ineligible (severe renal impairment, n = 1; performance status 3, n = 1) and were excluded from the analysis. The remaining 26 patients were randomized to either carboplatin (400 mg/m² on day 1, intravenously every four weeks) or teniposide (125 mg/m² on days 1, 2 and 3, intravenously every four weeks). Twelve patients were randomized to the carboplatin arm and 14 patients to the teniposide arm. They were all comparable with respect to age, performance status, histology, primary FIGO stage, and prior therapy.
Response was seen in four patients in each group (33% and 29%, respectively), all but one being partial. (One patient in the teniposide group had complete response). Time to progression and median survival were similar in the two groups (median time to progression 20/17 weeks and median survival 40/41 weeks, respectively.)
In general, toxicity was moderate. Leukopenia (WHO grade 3 or 4) was seen in one patient treated with teniposide, and thrombocytopenia (WHO grade 3 or 4) in one patient treated with carboplatin. Eleven patients (79%) in the teniposide group had alopecia requiring a wig. The study implies that both drugs have some activity in cervical cancer. Carboplatin has the advantage that it can be administered on an out-patient basis.     

18F-FDG符合线路SPECT显像在胃肠道恶性肿瘤术后的应用

目的探讨^18F—FDG符合线路SPECT显像在探测胃肠道恶性肿瘤术后复发和远处转移中的应用价值。方法24例胃肠道恶性肿瘤术后患者，其中食管癌4例，胃癌7例，结肠癌6例，直肠癌7例，运用SIEMENS ECAM^deut SPECT仪进行^18F—FDG显像。结果^18F—FDG显像诊断胃肠道恶性肿瘤术后转移和复发的灵敏度为94．7％，特异性80．0％，准确性91．7％。在^18F—FDG显像真阳性18例中，2例为局部复发，5例为局部复发伴转移，11例为远处转移。在有复发的7例患者中，5例^18F—FDG显像结果与CT检查结果一致，2例CT检查局部未见异常，在有转移的16例患者中，共检出转移灶55处。结论符合线路SPECT仪^18F—FDG显像是检测胃肠道恶性肿瘤术后复发和转移的敏感而有效的方法。