Comparing cystatin C changes as a measure of renal function before and after radiotherapy in patients with stomach Cancer

The objective of this study was to determine and compare Cystatin C changes before and after radiotherapy in patients with stomach cancer who were candidate for radiotherapy. This study was conducted as a prospective cohort one. Eighteen patients with definite diagnosis of stomach cancer under treatment by radiotherapy who presented to Radiotherapy-Oncology Center of Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran-Iran, and the treatment in all cases was simultaneous chemoradiation with Xeloda were included. In all patients before radiotherapy and after radiotherapy serum creatinine [Cr] and Cystatin C were measured simultaneously. Mean cystatin level before treatment [1.2 +/- 0.4] was significantly lower than that of post-treatment [1.6 +/- 0.36], [P=0.001]. Serum Cr level before treatment was 1.15 +/- 0.33 and after radiotherapy was 1.08 +/- 0.24 and did not show significant difference. Glomerular filtration rate [GFR] of the patients before radiotherapy was-46.8 +/- 21.0 and after radiotherapy was 43.8 +/- 15.8 that did not have significant difference [P=0.146] and also blood urea nitrogen [BUN] before radiotherapy was 20.72 +/- 3.7 and 20 +/- 6.38 after radiotherapy that did not have significant difference [P=0.6]. Comparison of the Cystatin C difference with total radiation dose of the kidneys that are put in three dose groups in radiotherapy field had association that in dose of less that 18 gray [Gy] the Cystatin C change showed significant and positive association [P=0.027; r=0.52] and about 18-24 Gy the Cystatin C difference showed significant and negative association [P=0.023, r=-0.53]. It seems that for evaluating the renal function, serum Cystatin C measurement is preferable than serum Cr. level

[Conventional chemoradiation with cisplatin versus hemoradiation with cisplatin plus gemcitabine in uterine cervical cancer]

Due to high mortality and morbidity of the cervical cancer we decided to compare benefits and advers effects of Gemcitabine plus conventional chemoradiation with conventional chemoradiation with cisplatin alone in Imam Hossein hospital, in Tehran, Iran. This double blind clinical trial, was carried out on 34 patients with documented cervical carcinoma during 2006-07 the patients divided into two sub groups: [A]Conventional concurrent chemoradiation with cisplatin[N=18] versus[B] concurrent chemoradiation with cisplatin plus gemicitabine [N=16]. The patients with clinical stage of IB2-IVA and normal cell blood count with normal renal and liver function tests included in the study. Irradiation was delivered to all patients through external and internal beams with same dose and schedule. The patients followed for 3 months at least. Clinical response rate and adverse events included Neutropenin, Thrombocytopenia, anemia, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting compared in two groups with fisher exact test, and t-test Despite increasing of complete response rate with adding gemcitabine to conventional treatment[81.2% vs. 66.7%], the difference in two groups was not statistically significant. This study indicated that the addition of gemicatabine to conventional chemoradiation with cisplatinrevealed no significant benefits. All adverse events in combination chemotherapy group were greater than conventional treatment