Prognostic Significance of Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen Normalization on Survival in Rectal Cancer Treated with Preoperative Chemoradiation / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this retrospective study was to identify factors predictive of survival in rectal cancer patients who received surgery with curative intent after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 1996 and June 2010, 104 patients underwent surgery for rectal cancer after preoperative CRT. The median dose of radiotherapy was 50.4 Gy (range, 43.2 to 54.4 Gy) for 6 weeks. Chemotherapy was a bolus injection of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin for the first and last week of radiotherapy (n=84, 77.1%) or capecitabine administered daily during radiotherapy (n=17, 16.3%). Low anterior resection (n=86, 82.7%) or abdominoperineal resection (n=18, 17.3%) was performed at a median 47 days from the end of radiotherapy, and four cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy was administered. The serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level was checked at initial diagnosis and just before surgery. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 48 months (range, 9 to 174 months), 5-year disease free survival (DFS) was 74.5% and 5-year overall survival (OS) was 86.4%. Down staging of T diagnoses occurred in 32 patients (30.8%) and of N diagnoses in 40 patients (38.5%). The CEA change from initial diagnosis to pre-surgery (high-high vs. high-normal vs. normal-normal) was a statistically significant prognostic factor for DFS (p=0.012), OS (p=0.002), and distant metastasis free survival (p=0.018) in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Patients who achieve normal CEA level by the time of surgery have a more favorable outcome than those who retain a high CEA level after preoperative CRT. The normalization of CEA levels can provide important information about the prognosis in rectal cancer treatment.

Prognostic Significance of the Lymph Node Ratio Regarding Recurrence and Survival in Rectal Cancer Patients Treated with Postoperative Chemoradiotherapy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the prognostic impact of the lymph node ratio (LNR: the ratio of positive lymph nodes to the total number of lymph nodes examined) on disease recurrence and survival among rectal cancer patients who received curative surgery and postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT). METHODS: Between 1995 and 2008, 124 patients with pathologic T3-4 or node-positive rectal cancer underwent curative surgery and postoperative CRT. Postoperative radiotherapy was delivered at a median dose of 50.4 Gy (range, 45 to 59.4 Gy) for 6 weeks. Chemotherapy consisted of a bolus injection of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in the first and last week of radiotherapy (91.9%) or daily capecitabine during radiotherapy (8.1%). Further adjuvant chemotherapy was administered after chemoradiation. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 5.1 years. In the multivariate analysis, pathologic N (pN) stage and lymphovascular invasion were significantly associated with disease-free survival and disease-specific survival (p0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The LNR predicts recurrence and survival more accurately than pN stage. The pN stage and the LNR should be considered together when estimating the risk of disease recurrence among rectal cancer patients.

Sequential Changes in Aberrant Crypt Foci and Lectin Expression in the Early and Late Stages of DMH-Induced Colon Carcinogenesis in Rats

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the malignant potential of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) by measuring the multiplicity of crypts and lectin expression in the early and late stages of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colon carcinogenesis. METHODS: Six-week-old Wistar rats were injected subcutaneously with DMH for 27 weeks. We classified ACF according to the number of crypts per ACF as a few crypts ( or =4 crypts, NC ACF). Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate lectin expression. RESULTS: In the early stage, FC ACF (590/1,902, 31.0%) occurred more frequently than NC ACF (35/449, 7.8%); whereas in the late stage, NC ACF (176/449, 39.2%) occurred more frequently than FC ACF (324/1,902, 17.0%). The number of ACF peaked at 15 to 20 weeks. The ratio of NC/FC ACF increased gradually during carcinogenesis. The expression of both UEA1 and PNA was higher in NC ACF than FC ACF. Lectin expression increased in the late stage compared with the early stage. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of lectin was higher in NC ACF and ACF in the late stage. Therefore, ACF with higher multiplicities in the late stage may have more malignant potential in DMH-induced colon carcinogenesis.

Total lymphoid irradiation based conditioning for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in severe aplastic anemia

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the outcome and toxicity of total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) based conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients who experienced an engraftment failure from prior HSCT or were heavily transfused. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1995 and 2006, 20 SAA patients received TLI for conditioning of HSCT. All patients were multi-transfused or had long duration of disease. Fifteen (75%) patients had graft failure from prior HSCT. In 18 (90%) patients, the donors were human leukocyte antigen identical siblings. The stem cell source was the peripheral blood stem cell in 15 (75%) patients. The conditioning regimen was composed of antithymocyte globulin plus TLI with a median dose of 750 cGy in 1 fraction. The graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis used cyclosporine with methotrexate. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 10.8 years, graft failures developed in 6 patients. Among them, 3 patients received their third HSCT to be engrafted finally. The Kaplan-Meier overall survival rate was 85.0% and 83.1% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. The incidence of acute and chronic GVHD was 20% and 20%, respectively. None of the patients have developed a malignancy after HSCT. CONCLUSION: In our study, TLI based conditioning in allogeneic HSCT was feasible with acceptable rates of GVHD in SAA patients who experienced graft failure from prior HSCT or was at a high risk of graft rejection. We achieved relatively better results of engraftment and survival with a long term follow-up.

The Prognostic Significance of the Lymph Node Ratio in Axillary Lymph Node Positive Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the prognostic impact of the lymph node ratio (LNR; i.e., the ratio of positive to dissected lymph nodes) on recurrence and survival in breast cancer patients with positive axillary lymph nodes (LNs). METHODS: The study cohort was comprised of 330 breast cancer patients with positive axillary nodes who received postoperative radiotherapy between 1987 and 2004. Ten-year Kaplan-Meier locoregional failure, distant metastasis, disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves. The prognostic significance of the LNR was evaluated by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 7.5 years. By minimum p-value approach, 0.25 and 0.55 were the cutoff values of LNR at which most significant difference in DFS and DSS was observed. The DFS and DSS rates correlated significantly with tumor size, pN classification, LNR, histologic grade, lymphovascular invasion, the status of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor. The LNR based classification yielded a statistically larger separation of the DFS curves than pN classification. In multivariate analysis, histologic grade and pN classification were significant prognostic factors for DFS and DSS. However, when the LNR was included as a covariate in the model, the LNR was highly significant (p0.05). CONCLUSION: The LNR predicts recurrence and survival more accurately than pN classification in our study. The pN classification and LNR should be considered together in risk estimates for axillary LNs positive breast cancer patients.

The Results of Palliative Radiation Therapy in Patients with Unresectable Advanced Pancreatic Cancer / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment results and prognostic factors of palliative radiation therapy in the patients with unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven evaluable patients with unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer who were treated by palliative radiation therapy for pain relief at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Kangnam St. Mary's hospital, the Catholic University of Korea between March 1984 and February 2005 were analysed retrospectively. There were 22 men and 15 women. Age at diagnosis ranged from 30 to 80 (median 57) years. Twelve patients (32.4%) had liver metastases and 22 patients (59.5%) had lymph node metastases. Radiation therapy was delivered to primary tumor and regional lymph nodes with 1~2 cm margin, and total dose was 3,240~5,580 cGy (median 5,040 cGy). Chemotherapy with radiotherapy was delivered in 30 patients (81%) with 5-FU alone (21 patients) or gemcitabine (9 patients). The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 44 months. Survival and prognostic factors were analysed using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test respectively. RESULTS: Overall mean and median survival were 11 and 8 months and 1-year survival rate was 20%. Among 33 patients who were amenable for response evaluation, 7 patients had good response and 22 patients had fair response with overall response rate of 87.9%. Mild to moderate toxicity were observed in 14 patients with nausea, vomiting, and indigestion, but severe toxicity requiring interruption of treatment were not observed. Chemotherapy didn't influence the survival and symptomatic palliation, but the group containing gemcitabine showed a tendency of longer survival (median 12 months) than 5-FU alone group (median 5.5 months) without statistical significance (p>0.05). The significant prognostic factors were Karnofsky performance status and liver metastasis (p0.05). CONCLUSION: Radiation therapy was effective for symptomatic palliation in the patients with unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer and would play an important part in the survival benefit with gemcitabine or other targeted agents.

Clinical Experience of Patients with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ of the Breast Treated with Breast-Conserving Surgery plus Radiotherapy: A Preliminary Report / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Breast-conserving therapy (BCT) is a practical alternative to mastectomy for treating ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). We reviewed our experience for treating patients with DCIS of the breast to evaluate the outcome after performing breast-conserving surgery plus radiotherapy (BCS-RT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1983 and December 2002, 25 patients with clinically or mammographically detected DCIS were treated by BCS-RT. One patient was diagnosed with bilateral DCIS. Thirteen cases (50%) had symptomatic lesions at presentation. All 26 cases of 25 patients underwent BCS such as lumpectomy, partial mastectomy or quadrantectomy. All of them received whole breast irradiation to a median dose of 50.4 Gy. Twenty-four cases (92.3%) received a boost to the tumor bed for a median total dose of 59.4 Gy. The median follow up period was 67 months (range: 38 to 149 months). RESULTS: Two cases (7.7%) experienced ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) after BCS-RT. The histology results at the time of IBTR showed invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and the median time to IBTR was 25.5 months. On the univariate analysis, there were no significant factors associated with IBTR in the DCIS patients. The three-year local recurrence free survival rate was 96.0% and the overall survival rate was 96.3%. CONCLUSION: After the treatment for DCIS, the IBTR rate in our study was similar to other previous studies. Considering that we included patients who had many symptomatic lesions, close or positive margins and less that complete early data, our result is comparable to the previous studies. We could not find the prognostic significant factors associated with IBTR after BCS-RT. A longer follow up period with more patients would be required to evaluate the role of any predictive factors and to confirm these short-term results.

The Role of Radiation Therapy for the Extramammary Paget's Disease of the Vulva ; Experience of 3 Cases / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

We have experienced three cases of extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) of the vulva that received radiation therapy (RT). Here, we analyze the efficacy of RT and include a literature survey. Three patients with EMPD of the vulva were treated with curative RT between 1993 and 1998. One of the patients had associated underlying adenocarcinoma of the vulva. The total doses of radiation administered were 54~78 Gy/6~8 weeks. Radiation fields encompassed 2 to 3 cm outer margins free from all visible disease including or not including the inguinal area using a 9 MeV electron or a 6 MV photon beam. Follow-up durations after radiotherapy were 0.6~11 years. Complete response was obtained in all three patients. Marginal failure occurred in one patient, and another patient with underlying adenocarcinoma treated by vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection followed by external RT showed no relapse. Radiation induced side effects were transient acute confluent wet desquamation in the treated area resulting in mild late atrophic skin changes. Although surgery is currently considered the preferred primary treatment for EMPD, it has a high relapse rate due to the multifocal nature of the disease. We conclude that RT is of benefit in some selected cases of EMPD.

Breast Conservation Therapy Versus Mastectomy - Preliminary Results of Pattern of Failure and Survival Rate in Early Breast Cancer / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was conducted to compare early preliminary results of breast conservation therapy (BCT) with mastectomy in early breast cancer. MATERIALS AND MEHTODS: We evaluated 171 women with AJCC stage I and II breast cancer who had been treated at Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital from March 1989 to August 1996. Eighty-eight patients underwent mastectomy and 85 patients did conservative surgery with breast irradiation. In the BCT group, all patients received whole breast irradiation to a total dose of 45~50 Gy/5~6 wks, followed by a boost to the original tumor site at least 60 Gy. Chemotherapy was administered to 29 (34.1%) patients in BCT and 40 (45.5%) in mastectomy, with various sequencing of surgery and/or radiation. We compared survival rate, patterns of failure in each treatment group and the prognostic factors that had a significant effect on treatment failure. The median follow-up time was 63 months (19~111 months). Log rank test was used to estimate the prognostic factors for treatment failure. RESULTS: Overall survival, disease free survival, locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis rates were not significantly different between the two treatment groups. During the follow-up period, 11 patients (12.5%) in the mastectomy group and 10 patients (11.8%) in the BCT group were failed. Six local recurrences occurred after mastectomy and 5 after BCT. Five patients failed at distant site in mastectomy and 4 in BCT. Of the local recurrence cases, five of 6 mastectomy patients and 3 of 5 BCT patients were alive with no evidence of disease after salvage surgery and/or chemoirradiation. Our results indicated that the major influence on survival was distant metastasis. Unfortunately, control of distant metastasisis was not frequently achieved. Even with salvage systemic therapy or radiotherapy, most of distant metastasis patients died or had uncontrolled disease in both treatment groups: only one of 4 BCT patients and none of mastectomy patients were alive without disease. There was no apparent difference in the incidence rate of contralateral breast cancer and non-breast 2nd primary tumor between the two treatment groups. Univariate Log-rank test identified the N stage and the involved axillary LN number as distinct prognostic factors that were highly predictive of treatment failure in both treatment groups. Additionally, marginal status in BCT and histologic nuclear grade in the mastectomy group were risk factors for treatment failure (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Although further careful follow-up is necessary to confirm the trends evident in this series, it would appear that patterns of failure and survival rate following conservative surgery and radiotherapy in early breast cancer are similar to those following mastectomy. The great majority of patients with local recurrence had an exellent salvage rate in both treatment groups. Therefore, these preliminary short term results support BCT as an equally effective management for early breast cancer as an alternative to mastectomy.

Survey on Radiotherpy Protocols for the Rectal Cancers among the Korean Radiation Oncologists in 2002 for the Development of the Patterns of Care Study of Radiation Therapy / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: To conduct a nationwide survery on the principles in radiotherapy for rectal cancer, and develop the framework of a database of Korean Patterns of Care Study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consensus committee was established to develop a tool for measuring the patterns in radiotherapy protocols for rectal cancer. The panel was composed of radiation oncologists from 18 hospitals in Seoul Metropolitan area. The committee developed a survey format to analyze radiation oncologist's treatment principles for rectal cancer. The survey items developed for measuring the treatment principles were composed of 1) 8 eligibility criteria, 2) 20 items for staging work-ups and prognostic factors, 3) 7 items for principles of combined surgery and chemotherapy, 4) 9 patient set-ups, 5) 19 determining radiation fields, 6) 5 radiotherapy treatment plans, 7) 4 physical/laboratory examination to monitor a patient's condition during treatment, and 8) 10 follow-up evaluations. These items were sent to radiation oncologists in charge of gastrointestinal malignancies in all hospitals (48 hospitals) in Korea to which 30 replies were received (63%). RESULTS: Most of the survey items were replied to without no major differences between the repliers, but with the following items only 50% of repliers were in agreement:1) indications of preoperative radiation, 2) use of endorectal ultrasound, CT scan, and bone scan for staging work-ups, 3) principles of combining chemotherapy with radiotherapy, 4) use of contrast material for small bowel delineation during simulation, 5) determination of field margins, and 6) use of CEA and colonoscopy for follow-up evaluations. CONCLUSION: The items where considerable disagreement was shown among the radiation oncologists seemed to make no serious difference in the treatment outcome, but a practical and reasonable consensus should be reached by the committee, with logical processes of agreement. These items can be used for a basic database for the Patterns of Care Study, which will survey the practical radiotherapy patterns for rectal cancer in Korea.

Suggestion of Optimal Radiation Fields in Rectal Cancer Patients after Surgical Resection for the Development of the Patterns of Care Study / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: To suggest the optimal radiation fields after a surgical resection based on a nationwide survey on the principles of radiotherapy for rectal cancer in the Korean Patterns of Care Study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consensus committee, composed of radiation oncologists from 18 hospitals in Seoul Metropolitan area, developed a survey format to analyze radiation oncologist's treatment principles for rectal cancer after a surgical resection. The survey format included 19 questions on the principles of defining field margins, and was sent to the radiation oncologists in charge of gastrointestinal malignancies in all Korean hospitals (48 hospitals). Thirty three (69%) oncologists replied. On the basis of the replies and literature review, the committee developed guidelines for the optimal radiation fields for rectal cancer. RESULTS: The following guidelines were developed: superior border between the lower tip of the L5 vertebral body and upper sacroiliac joint; inferior border 2~3 cm distal to the anastomosis in patient whose sphincter was saved, and 2~3 cm distal to the perineal scar in patients whose anal sphincter was sacrificed; anterior margin at the posterior tip of the symphysis pubis or 2~3 cm anterior to the vertebral body, to include the internal iliac lymph node and posterior margin 1.5~2 cm posterior to the anterior surface of the sacrum, to include the presacral space with enough margin. Comparison with the guidelines, the replies on the superior margin coincided in 23 cases (70%), the inferior margin after sphincter saving surgery in 13 (39%), the inferior margin after abdominoperineal resection in 32 (97%), the lateral margin in 32 (97%), the posterior margins in 32 (97%) and the anterior margin in 16 (45%). CONCLUSION: These recommendations should be tailored to each patient according to the clinical characteristics such as tumor location, pathological and operative findings, for the optimal treatment. The adequacy of these guidelines should be proved by following the Korean Patterns of Care Study.

Radioprotective Effects of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor in the Jejunal Mucosa of Mouse / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been widely used to treat neutropenia caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The efficacy of recombinant human hematopoietic growth factors in improving oral mucositis after chemotherapy or radiotherapy has been recently demonstrated in some clinical studies. This study was designed to determine whether G-CSF can modify the radiation injury of the intestinal mucosa in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and five BALB/c mice weighing 20 grams were divided into nine subgroups including G-CSF alone group (I : 10 microgram/kg or II : 100 microgram/kg), radiation alone group (7.5 or 12 Gy on the whole body), combination group with G-CSF and radiation (G-CSF I or II plus 7.5 Gy, G-CSF I or II plus 12 Gy), and control group. Radiation was administered with a 6 MV linear accelerator (Mevatron Siemens) with a dose rate of 3 Gy/min on day 0. G-CSF was injected subcutaneously for 3 days, once a day, from day -2 to day 0. Each group was sacrificed on the day 1, day 3, and day 7. The mucosal changes of jejunum were evaluated microscopically by crypt count per circumference, villi length, and histologic damage grading. RESULTS: In both G-CSF I and II groups, crypt counts, villi length, and histologic damage scores were not significantly different from those of the control one (p>0.05). The 7.5 Gy and 12 Gy radiation alone groups showed significantly lower crypt counts and higher histologic damage scores compared with those of control one (p0,05). Most of the mice in 12 Gy radiation with or without G-CSF group showed intestinal death within 5 days. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that G-CSF may protect the jejunal mucosa from the acute radiation damage following within the tolerable ranges of whole body irradiation in mice.

The Palliative Radiation Therapy in Malignant Extra-Hepatic Biliary Obstruction / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of external radiation therapy and the prognostic factors, we retrospectively analyzed therapeutic results of malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction (EHBO). METHODS AND MATERIALS: We analyzed the results of the external radiation therapy in 59 patients of inoperable malignant EHBO who had been treated with more than 10 Gy of external radiation therapy from April 1984 to December 1996. There were 21 stomach cancer (35.6%), 12 pancreas cancer (20.3%), 15 extrahepatic biliary cancer (18.6%) and 11 another cancer (18.6%). Their pathologies were confirmed in 31 patients (52.5%). They divided into 27 adenocarcinoma and 4 nonadenocarcinoma. Their chief complaints were jaundice in 47 patients (79.7%) and abdominal pain in 15 patients (49.2%). Twelve patients had slightly increased bilirubin level in liver function test without jaundice. We treated twenty four patients (40.6%) with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and 32 patients (54%) with systemic chemotherapy (CT). We performed external radiation therapy (ERT) upto 10.8~55.8 Gy (median 37.8 Gy) with palliative aim. RESULTS: Overall median survival duration was 7.80+/-1.15 months. The response rates of jaundice were 81.8% in PTBD group and 66.7% in non-PTBD group without statistical significance. The improving rate of jaundice was not significantly different in decreased ratio of total bilirubin level. But abdominal pain was more decreased in CT group than non-CT group (P70), total radiation dose more than 35 Gy and good response of pain after therapy. There were increased in bacterial cholagitis in PTBD group and gastrointestinal complications in CT group. CONCLUSION: External radiotheapy could improve jaundice and abdominal pain in malignant EHBO patients. Overall survival duration was prolonged in patients with higher performance status and patients who had been treated with more than 35 Gy of total radiation dose. In the future, we expect not only better palliative role but also the prolongation of survival of using the ERT combined with other treatment method. But to achieve certain conclusion, we need futher study consisted with many kinds of treatment methods including new technologies in RT.

Radiotherapy Results for Recurrent Uterine Cervical Cancer after Surgery / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: To evaluate prognostic factors and survival rates of the patients who received radiation therapy for locally recurrent uterine cervical cancer after curative surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 1983 and July 1996, fifty three patients who received radiation therapy for locally recurrent cervical cancer after curative surgery at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea were analysed retrospectively. Age at diagnosis ranged from 33 to 69 years (median 53 years). Pathological analysis showed that forty five (84.9%) patients had squamous cell carcinoma, seven (13.2%) patients had adenocarcinoma, and one (1.9%) patient had adenosquamous cell carcinoma. The interval between hysterectomy and tumor recurrence ranged from 2 months to 25 years (mean 34.4 months). The recurrent sites were vaginal stump in 41 patients (77.4%) and pelvic side wall in 12 patients (22.6%). Recurrent tumor size was devided into two groups : less than 3 cm in 43 patients (81.1%) and more than 3 cm in 10 patients (18.9%). External beam irradiation of whole pelvis was done first up to 46.8 Gy to 50.4 Gy in 5 weeks to 6 weeks, followed by either external beam boost to the recurrent site in 18 patients (34%) or intracavitary irradiation in 24 patients (45.3%). Total dose of radiation ranged from 46.8 Gy to 111 Gy (median 70.2 Gy). Follow up period ranged from 2 to 153 months with a median of 35 months. RESULTS: Overall response rate was 66% (35/53). Among them, six patients (17.1%) relapsed between 7 months and 116 months after radiation therapy (mean 47.7 months). Therefore overall recurrence rate was 45.3%. Overall five-year actuarial survival rate was 78.9% and distant failure rate was 10% (5/50). The significant prognostic factors affecting survival rate were interval between primary surgery and tumor recurrence (p=0.0055), recurrent tumor size (p=0.0039), and initial response to radiation therapy (p=0.0428). Complications were observed in 10 (20%) patients, which included mild to moderate lower gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or skin manifestations. One patient died of pulmonary embolism just after intracavitary irradiation. CONCLUSION: Radiation therapy is the effective treatment for the patients with locally recurrent cervical cancer after curative surgery. These results suggest that interval between primary surgery and tumor recurrence, recurrrent tumor size, and initial response to radiation therapy were significant prognostic factors for recurrent cervical cancer.

The Effects of the Induction Chemotherapy on the Radical Radiotherapy in the Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: We evaluated the prognostic factors, survivals and patterns of failure of the patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who received radical radiotherapy alone and induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy respectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May 1985 to December 1992, one hundred and sixty three patients with locally advaneed cervical cancer received curative radiotherapy. Patients were divided into two groups: control group included 69 patients who received curative radiotherapy and combined group included 94 patients who received induction chemotherapy followed by curative radiotherapy. The curative radiotherapy consisted of external pelvic radiotherapy and intracavitary brachytherapy. Induction chemotherapy was delivered in VBP (vincristine, bleomycin, cisplatin) and FP (5-FU, cisplatin). Follow up period ranged from 2 months to 99 months with median of 50 months. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 94.2% in the control group and 89.4% in the combined group. The response rate by control group was 66.7% for CR (complete response), 27.5% for PR (partial response), 5.8% for NR (no response). The response rate by combined group of CR, PR, NR were 64.9%, 24.5%, 10.6%, respectively. There was no difference in response for control group and combined group (p> 0.05). The 5-year overall survival had no significant difference in between control group and combined group (54.6% vs. 57.3%). The 5-year disease free survival also had no significant difference (52.9% vs. 55.0%). In the control group, 23 patients (33.3%) had treatment failure: twelve (17.4%) at a local recurrence, 9 (13.0%) as distant metastasis, and 2 (2.9%) with both local recurrence and distant metastasis. In the combined group, Thirty patients (31.9%) failed therapy, with local recurrence in 21 patients (22.3%), distant metastasis in 7 patients (7.5%), and both in 2 patients (2.1%). The difference between the two groups was not significant in view of patterns of failure. The major toxicities were nausea/ vomiting, leukopenia, anemia, and diarrhea. The prognostic factors affecting were hemoglobin level, KPS (karnofsky performance status), and treatment response in both group by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: This study did not prove the efficacy of induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer.

Postoperative Radiation Therapy in the Soft-tissue Sarcoma / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: The major goal of the therapy in the soft tissue sarcoma is to control both local and distant tumor. However, the technique of obtaining local control has changed significantly over the past few decades from more aggressive surgery to combined therapy including conservative surgery and radiation and/or chemotherapy. We retrospectively analyzed the treatment results of the postoperative radiation therapy of soft tissue sarcoma and its prognostic factor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between March 1983 and June 1994, 60 patients with soft tissue sarcoma were treated with surgery and postoperative radiation therapy at Kang-Nam St. Mary's hospital. Complete follow up was possible for all patints with median follow up duration 50 months (range 6- 162 months). There were 28 male and 32 female patients. Their age ranged from 6 to 83 with a median of 44 years. Extremity (58%) was the most frequent site of occurrence followed by trunk (20%) and head and neck (12 %). Histologically malignant fibrous histiocytoma (23%), liposarcoma (17%), malignant schwannoma (12%) constitute 52% of the patients. Daily radiation therapy designed to treat all areas at a risk for tumor spread upto dose of 4500-5000 cGy. A shrinking field technique was then used and total 55-65 Gy was delivered to tumor bed. Twenty-five patients (42%) received chemotherapy with various regimen in the postoperative period. RESULTS: Total 41 patients failed either with local recurrence or with distant metastasis. There were 29 patients (48%) of local recurrence. Four patients (7%) developed simultaneous local recurrence and distant metastasis and 8 patients (13%) developed only distant metastasis. Local recurrence rate was rather higher than of other reported series. This study included patients of gross residual, recurrent cases after previous operation, trunk and head andneck primary. This feature is likely explanation for the decreased local control rate. Five of 29 patients who failed only locally were salvaged by re-excision and/or re-irradiation and remained free of disease. Factors affecting local control include histologic type, grade, stage, extent of operation and surgical margin involvement, lymph node metastasis (p<0.05). All 21 patients who failed distantly are dead with progressive disease at the time of this report. Our overall survival results are similar to those of larger series. Actuarial 5 year overall survival and disease free survival were 60.4 %, 36.6% respectively. Grade, stage (being close association with grade), residual disease (negative margin, microscopic, gross) were significant as a predictor of survival in our series (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Combined surgery and postoperative radiation therapy obtained 5 year survival rate comparable to that of radical surgery.

The Results of Postoperative Radiation Therapy in the Rectal Cancer / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic factors, survival rate and local recurrence rate of the patients with rectal cancer who received postoperative radiation therapy. METHODS & MATERIALS: Seventy patients with rectal cancer received postoperative radiation therapy after curative surgery at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medial College between May 1984 and April 1993. Of the seventy patients, sixty-four evaluable patients were analysed retrospectively. There were 34 men and 28 women. Age at diagnosis ranged from 23 to 74 years. The distribution of stage according to the modified Astler-Coller (MAC) system was as follow: 12 in B2+3, 2 in C1, and 50 in C2+3. Postoperative adjuvant therapy included pelvic radiotherapy in all cases and chemotherapy in addition in 55 cases. A total dose of 45 to 60 Gy (median dose: 55.8Gy) was delivered in a period of 5 to 6 weeks and the follow-up period ranged from 26 to 133 months with a median of 55 months. RESULTS: Overall two-year and five-year actuarial survival rate were 70.3% and 51.4%, 90.9% and 90.9% in stage B2+3, and 68.2% and 53.6% in stage C. Local failure occurred in 13 (20.3%) of the 64 patients and distant failure rate was 18.8% (12/64). Severe late complication was small bowel obstruction in 4 patients and surgery was required in 3 patients (5%). The significant prognostic factors were stage (p=0.0019) and histologic differentiation (p=0.0046). CONCLUSION: This study suggested a potential adjuvant role for radiation. However, the possible reduction in local failure rates in this study compared with historic control groups must be verified in randomized trial.

Results of Postoperative Radiation Therapy in 77 Patients of Breast Cancer / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the effect of postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy of breast cancer on survival, failure patterns and to identify unfavorable prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-seven patients were analysed retrospectively. Median follow up period was 72 months. According to AJCC system, fifty-eight patients (75%) were advanced than Stage IIb. Among 77 patients, 66 patients (86%) received mastectomy and axillary LN dissection and the other 11 patients (14%) received partial mastectomy and axillary LN dissection. Postoperative radiation therapy with 6 MV X-ray was given to the chest wall and regional lymphatics with total dose of 50 to 55 Gy. Fifty-five patients (71%) received CMF or CAF chemotherapy prior to or after radiation therapy. RESULTS: The 5 year and 10 year survival rate were 64.4% and 51.3%, respectively and 5 year and 10 year disease free survival rate were 57.6% and 47.5%, respectively. Median survival duration was 91 months. Of the 77 patients, 59 patients were evaluable for pattern of failure. Of these, eighteen patients (31%) failed. Initial failure pattern was as follow: 7 (12%) at locoregional, 3 (5%) in distant metastasis, 8 (14%) with locoregional and distant metastasis. But the pattern of final failure at the time of last follow up was contrasted. Distanf failure was the predominant pattern of failure with 29% of patients. Overall survival and disease free survival was significantly influenced by 6 factors with univariated analysis (p<0.05): AJC Stage, T stage, N Stage, number of involved axilliary LN, SCL LN mets, failure pattern. By multivariate analysis the survival difference continued to be significant in 3 factors : T stage, number of involved axillary LN, failure pattern. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate high locoregional control and survival rate using the combination of surgery and radiotherapy for the patients with locally advanced breast cancer. But predominant failure pattern was distant dissemination. Therefore more effective systemic therapy is needed to improve overall survival.

Linear Accelerator-Based Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Acoustic Neurinomas / 대한암학회지

No abstract available

The Clinical Results of Thermo-Irradiation on the Locally Advanced Hepatoma With or without Hepatic Arterial Chemo-Embolization / 대한치료방사선과학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical results of thermo-irradiation treatment for surgically unresectable advanced hepatoma with or without hepatic arterial chemo-embolization (HACE), chemotherapy (CT) and interferon (IFN) therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 1990 and December 1992, 45 patients with surgically unresectable advanced hepatomas were treated by thermo-irradiation with or without hepatic arterial chemo-embolization and other treatment modalities. Among them, We analyzed retrospectively 25 patients who received more than three times of hyperthermias. Mean age was 50 years (range: 18-71 years) and male to female ratio was 20:5. In the study, treatment was administered as follows: 3 patients received radiation therapy (RT) and hyperthermia (HT). 3 received RT+HT+CT. 3 received RT+HT+HACE. 1 received RT+HT+CT+HACE. 2 received RT+HT+CT+IFN. 10 received RT+HT+HACE+IFN. 3 received RT+HT+CT+HACE+IFN. Radiation therapy was done by a 6 MV linear accelerator. Patients were treated with daily fractions of 180 cGy to doses of 11 Gy-50Gy (median 30Gy). Local hyperthermia was done by HEH-500C(Omron Com Japan), 30-45 min/session, 2 session/wk and the number of HT sessions ranged from 3 to 17 (median 7 times). 15 patients of 25 were followed by abdominal CT scan or abdominal ultra-sonogram. The following factor were analyzed : Age, histologic grade, sex, number of hyperthermia, total RT does, hepatic arterial chemo-embolization. RESULTS: Of 25 patients. There were observed tumor regression (partial response and minimal response) in 6 (24%), no response in 8 (32%), progression in 1 (4%) and not evaluable ones in 10 (40%) radiographically. The over all 1-year survival was 25% with a mean survival of 33 weeks. The treatment modes of partial and minimal responsive patients (PR+MR) were as follows: Two were treated with RT+HT+HACE, 2 were done with RT+HT+HACE+IFN Remaining 2 were treated with RT+HT+CT+HACE+IFN. The significant factor affecting the survival rate were RT dose (more than 25Gy), HACE, number of HT (above 6 times), responsiveness after treatment (PR+MR). Age, sex, histologic differentiation, chemotherapy, interferon therapy were not statistically significant factors affecting the survival rate. Conclusion : Although follow-up duration was short, the thermo-irradiation with/without hepatic arterial chemo-embolization was well tolerated and there were no serious complications. In future, it is considered the longer follow up and prospective, well controlled trails should be followed to evaluate the efficacies of survival advantage.