Phase II study of thoracic radiation therapy with concurrent cisplatin and etoposide in unresectable non-small cell lung cancer

The primary objectives were to determine the overall response rate [ORR], progression-free survival [PFS], and overall survival [OS]. Secondary objectives were evaluation of possible prognostic factors, and toxicity profile. Induction chemotherapy consisted of Cisplatin 30mg/m2 and etoposide 130 mg/m2 on days 1 through 3 every 28 days for 3 cycles, then concurrent hyper fractionated-split course radiation with 1.5 GY per fraction bid up to 60 GY together with 2 cycles of Cisplatin and etoposide in the 1st week and last week, followed by 1-2 cycles of Cisplatin and etoposide given to patients with locally advanced stage III non small cell lung cancer. Thirty five patients were enrolled, five were excluded, ORR was 76.7%, the mean time to tumor progression was 14.57 months, the estimated one year PFS was 73.9% with CI=95%, the two year OS was 21.7% with CI=95%, grade 3 hematological toxicity developed in 6.7% of patients [n=2], no more than grade 2 non hematological toxicity was developed. Our protocol was feasible and tolerable, but it did not add any advantage over the standard concurrent chemo radiation

Serum Carbohydrate antigen-125 levels as a marker in non Hodgkin's lymphoma

Sixty-seven patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL] were included in this study. Serial measurements of serum carbohydrate antigen 125 [CA-125] levels were studied in conjunction with serum lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] in monitoring response to treatment. LDH showed increased levels in 52 out of 67 patients. Ten apparently healthy subjects were studied as a control group. A total of 36 out of 67 patients had increased serum CA-125 levels. Increased serum CA-125 levels were significantly associated with advanced stage, higher grade, abdominal serosal involvement, bone marrow involvement and bulky disease. P values were significant in abdominal involvement and in serosal involvement. Elevated serum CA-125 levels were associated with high serum levels of LDH. Of the 36 patients presented with high serum CA-125 levels, 30 patients achieved a complete remission [CR] with normalization of CA-125, four cases achieved partial response and two patients had stable disease and had not achieved normalization of CA-125 levels by the end of the treatment. In conclusion, high serum CA-125 levels were significantly associated with mediastinal, abdominal involvement, high tumor bulk and pleural effusion. Sensitivity of serum LDH and CA-125 was 83.6% and 66.6%, respectively, which indicated that the biologic information provided by them are different. Serum LDH provides a measurement of the tumor load and proliferate activity, while serum CA-125 provides the invasive potential of the tumor