ABSTRACT
Background: In adults most common intracranial malignant lesion is brain metastasis, far outnumbering primary brain tumor. The most common primary site is lung cancer (18–64%), followed by breast (25–21%), malignant melanoma (4–16%), and colorectal cancer (2–12%). It is hypothesized that the incidence of brain metastasis might be increasing, as a result of increasing survival from recent advance in cancer treatment, more frequent brain screening for specific primary malignancy that known to have a higher prediction for brain metastasis and greater availability and use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain. In clinical oncology, understanding brain metastasis is important, because it has profound effect on length of survival, quality of life, and in one-third to one-half of affected patients, they represent the direct cause of death despite current improvement in therapeutic approach. Epidemiological data of brain metastasis are lacking in India. Objectives: Aims of our retrospective analysis are to study epidemiology and pattern of care of brain metastasis over last one decade in Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. Materials and Methods: Between 2006 and December 2017, a total of 710 patients of brain metastasis treated in our department with palliative intent were analyzed retrospectively. New-onset neurological symptoms in a known case of cancer we always presumed that, symptoms were due to brain metastasis until proven otherwise. Hence, all patients presenting with acute neurological signs and symptoms underwent through clinical examination, contrast-enhanced (CE) computed tomography brain, and/or CEMRI of brain. Epidemiology, pattern of care, and outcome in the form of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival were determined. Results: Fifty-seven percent patients were male. The median age was 62 years at the time of diagnosis. Lung carcinoma was most common primary site seen in 52% patients, followed by carcinoma breast second most common primary site, seen in 32% patients. Headache (73%) and motor weakness were most common presenting symptoms. Supratentorial location most common site, out of which parietal region is most common. The only small number of patients was offered best supportive care alone whereas majority of the patients were considered fit for palliative therapy. Treatment consisted of metastasectomy when possible and palliative whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) alone or followed by systemic therapy. Optimal supportive care in addition to chemotherapy or radiotherapy is given to all patients. A total of 254 patients were given blood product, erythropoietin, granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor following chemotherapy. Hospitalization required in 71% patients and tumor-related problem was most common cause (46%). Remaining patients were hospitalized for delivery WBRT or CCT. The median OS is 9 months. Patients with younger age and breast primary associated with better prognosis than lung primary. Conclusions: We can conclude that carcinoma lung in male and carcinoma breast in females was most common cause of brain metastasis. Because advance in palliative therapy, outcome of patients with brain metastasis has improved, and patients with brain metastasis benefit from palliative radiotherapy and chemotherapy and this treatment could be delivered easily on outpatients basis.
ABSTRACT
Background: Worldwide, an estimated 572,034 esophageal cancer cases and 508,585 deaths occurred in 2018 and it accounts for approximately 3.2% of all malignancy. Because esophagus has no serosal covering with extensive, longitudinal connecting system of lymphatic plexus, direct invasion to contiguous structures and lymph node metastasis occurs early. Unresectable or metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis is seen in approximately 80% of patients, with cure rate <15% and thus making carcinoma of esophagus is one of the most dreaded malignancies. As most of the patients are diagnosed in locally advanced or metastatic stage, so curative surgical resection is not an option. Hence, in these groups of patients, other treatment modalities including concurrent chemoradiation have been tried. However, many of these patients are in a poor general condition so that radical concurrent chemoradiation as an alternative surgical resection could not be offered. In this group of patients, only radiotherapy (RT) is an option in intention to improve quality of life and to increase disease-free survival (DFS) if possible. As there is more chance local failure when patients treated with only external beam RT (EBRT), increasing dose to tumor may improve local control. Intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) is an important treatment option for dose escalation along with EBRT in the treatment of locally advanced and inoperable carcinoma esophagus. ILBT provides focal dose escalation, rapid reduction tumor, rapid restoration of swallowing function with sparing of surrounding normal tissue, and potentially improving therapeutic ratio. Hence, based on these facts, following EBRT, ILBT is an effective adjuvant modality to delivered high tumoricidal dose which can facilitate good local control, DFS with acceptable toxicity. We have used ILBT alone as palliative RT and combined modality with EBRT as radical treatment approach. Objectives: The aim of our study is to evaluate efficacy and safety of external beam radiation plus ILBT in locally advanced, inoperable carcinoma of esophagus in terms of improving local control, DFS, toxicity, and quality of life. Materials and Methods: A total of 58 carcinoma esophagus patients treated with EBRT plus ILBT in our RT department from 2012 to 2015 analyzed retrospectively. EBRT, total dose of 40 Gy/20 fractions, delivered in 4 weeks, using anteroposterior posteroanterior portal in cobalt-60 machine. Two–three weeks after completion of EBRT, ILBT was done using esophageal budgie. The total dose of brachytherapy was 10 Gy in two fractions, 1 week apart, 5 Gy in each fraction. EBRT and ILBT treatment completed in 8–9 weeks. Response assessed by clinical assessment, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography chest and abdomen initially at 3 months and then at 6 months. Results: Local disease control seen in 65% of patients. With a median follow-up of 15 months, the median DFS was 8 months and median overall survival was 14 months. Regional nodal failure and distant metastasis were seen in 35% and 46% of patients, respectively. The incidence of acute mucositis was seen in 75% of patients and late toxicity is seen in 25% of cases. Swallowing function preserved in >87% of patients. Conclusion: In patients with locally advanced carcinoma of esophagus and poor performance status who are unable to tolerate radical concurrent chemoradiation, combination of EBRT plus ILBT produces good local control, DFS, and durable relief of dysphagia with acceptable toxicity.
ABSTRACT
Background: Lung cancer is the most common cancer and leading cause cancer-related death in worldwide and also in India. Around 42% of these patients have adenocarcinoma. Most of these patients presented in locally advanced stage or metastatic disease. There is no significant difference in effectiveness among different chemotherapy regimens with median survival of 8 months only. Hence, additional treatment option including newer monoclonal antibodies is needed to improve tumor control and survival. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is critical determinant of tumor angiogenesis, a process that is necessary component of tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Bevacizumab (Bev), a humanized monoclonal antibody (IgG1) targeting VEGF, effective in colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma, glioblastoma multiforme, and non-small cell lung cancer and approved for clinical use since 2004. Objectives: The aim of our study is feasibility of the combination of Bev with paclitaxel and carboplatin in locally advanced (Stage IIIB) metastatic adenocarcinoma of lung in our institute, N.R.S. Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. Materials and Methods: Between February 2015 and December 2018, ninety-eight previously untreated patients with locally advanced metastatic (Stages IIIB and IV) adenocarcinoma of lung treated with Bev with paclitaxel and carboplatin. Paclitaxel at a dose of 175 mg/m2, carboplatin at an AUC 6 mg/ml/min, and Bev at a dose of 15 mg/kg given on the 1st day of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy administered every 3 weeks up to 6 cycles with maintenance Bev until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity whichever is earlier. Patients ECOG 2 or more, brain metastasis, squamous cell histology, and hemoptysis were not included in the study. Results: The Median overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) were 9.4 and 5.2 months, respectively. Anemia (19%) and neutropenia (16 %) are most common toxicity. Conclusion: Bev with paclitaxel and carboplatin in selected patients with adenocarcinoma of lung is safe and confers survival benefit with acceptable toxicity.