Effect of Adjuvant Chemotherapy on Elderly Stage II High-Risk Colorectal Cancer Patients

Purpose@#Adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) is recommended for patients with stage II colorectal cancer with adverse features. However, the effect of adjuvant treatment in elderly patients with high-risk stage II colorectal cancer remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the oncologic outcomes in elderly high-risk stage II colorectal cancer patients who underwent curative resection with or without AC. @*Methods@#Patients aged over 70 years having stage II colorectal adenocarcinoma with at least 1 adverse feature who underwent radical surgery between 2008 and 2017 at a single center were included. We compared recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) between patients who received more than 80% of the planned AC cycle (the AC+ group) and those who did not receive it (the AC− group). @*Results@#The AC+ and AC– group contained 46 patients and 50 patients, respectively. The log-rank test revealed no significant intergroup differences in RFS (P = 0.083) and OS (P = 0.122). In the subgroup of 27 patients with more than 2 adverse features, the AC+ group (n = 16) showed better RFS (P = 0.006) and OS (P = 0.025) than the AC− group. In this subgroup, AC was the only significant factor affecting RFS in the multivariate analysis (P = 0.023). AC was significantly associated with OS (P = 0.033) in the univariate analysis, but not in the multivariate analysis (P = 0.332). @*Conclusion@#Among elderly patients with stage II high-risk colorectal cancer, the AC+ group did not show better RFS or OS than the AC− group. However, selected patients with more than 2 adverse features might benefit from AC.

Transmural Mesh Migration From the Abdominal Wall to the Rectum After Hernia Repair Using a Prolene Mesh: A Case Report

Mesh erosion or migration is a rare and late complication after hernia repair. Its incidence is increasing as the utilization of prosthetic mesh gains popularity for abdominal hernia repair. However, mesh migration is exceedingly rare and its clinical presentation is atypical and diverse. Therefore, the management of mesh migration should be individualized to each patient. This research reports the case of a 94-year-old man with transmural migration of Prolene mesh (Ethicon) from the abdominal wall to the rectum 14 years after incisional hernia repair. He presented with only chronic abdominal pain and constipation. Migration of the mesh and a fistula between the right abdominal wall and transverse colon was observed on computed tomography. The mesh was evacuated manually from the anus without any sequelae. These findings made this case atypical, since complete transluminal migration of mesh is exceedingly rare and mesh erosion or migration requires surgical treatment in many cases.

Prognostic Factors Affecting Disease-Free Survival and Overall Survival in T4 Colon Cancer

Purpose@#It is known that as the T stage of a carcinoma progresses, the prognosis becomes poorer. However, there are few studies about factors that affect the prognosis of T4 advanced colon cancer. This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors associated with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in T4 colon cancer. @*Methods@#Patients diagnosed with stage T4 on histopathology after undergoing curative surgery for colon cancer between March 2009 and March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed for factors related to postoperative survival. Primary outcomes were DFS and OS. @*Results@#Eighty-two patients were included in the study. DFS and OS of the pathologic (p) T4b group were not inferior to that of the pT4a group. Multivariate analysis showed that differentiation (hazard ratio [HR], 4.994; P = 0.005), and laparoscopic surgery (HR, 0.323; P = 0.008) were significant prognostic factors for DFS, while differentiation (HR, 7.904; P ≤ 0.001) and chemotherapy (HR, 0.344; P = 0.038) were significant prognostic factors for OS. @*Conclusion@#Tumor differentiation, laparoscopic surgery, and adjuvant chemotherapy were found to be significant prognostic factors in patients with T4 colon cancer. Adjuvant chemotherapy and curative resections by laparoscopy might improve the prognosis in these patients.

Transmural Mesh Migration From the Abdominal Wall to the Rectum After Hernia Repair Using a Prolene Mesh: A Case Report

Mesh erosion or migration is a rare and late complication after hernia repair. Its incidence is increasing as the utilization of prosthetic mesh gains popularity for abdominal hernia repair. However, mesh migration is exceedingly rare and its clinical presentation is atypical and diverse. Therefore, the management of mesh migration should be individualized to each patient. This research reports the case of a 94-year-old man with transmural migration of Prolene mesh (Ethicon) from the abdominal wall to the rectum 14 years after incisional hernia repair. He presented with only chronic abdominal pain and constipation. Migration of the mesh and a fistula between the right abdominal wall and transverse colon was observed on computed tomography. The mesh was evacuated manually from the anus without any sequelae. These findings made this case atypical, since complete transluminal migration of mesh is exceedingly rare and mesh erosion or migration requires surgical treatment in many cases.

Prognostic Factors Affecting Disease-Free Survival and Overall Survival in T4 Colon Cancer

Purpose@#It is known that as the T stage of a carcinoma progresses, the prognosis becomes poorer. However, there are few studies about factors that affect the prognosis of T4 advanced colon cancer. This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors associated with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in T4 colon cancer. @*Methods@#Patients diagnosed with stage T4 on histopathology after undergoing curative surgery for colon cancer between March 2009 and March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed for factors related to postoperative survival. Primary outcomes were DFS and OS. @*Results@#Eighty-two patients were included in the study. DFS and OS of the pathologic (p) T4b group were not inferior to that of the pT4a group. Multivariate analysis showed that differentiation (hazard ratio [HR], 4.994; P = 0.005), and laparoscopic surgery (HR, 0.323; P = 0.008) were significant prognostic factors for DFS, while differentiation (HR, 7.904; P ≤ 0.001) and chemotherapy (HR, 0.344; P = 0.038) were significant prognostic factors for OS. @*Conclusion@#Tumor differentiation, laparoscopic surgery, and adjuvant chemotherapy were found to be significant prognostic factors in patients with T4 colon cancer. Adjuvant chemotherapy and curative resections by laparoscopy might improve the prognosis in these patients.

Unmodifiable Clinicopathological Risk Factors of Shoulder Tip or Subcostal Pain after Laparoscopic Appendectomy

Purpose@#Appendectomy, which comprises most benign intra-abdominal surgeries, is currently assisted by laparoscopy in most cases. However, many patients complain of postoperative shoulder or subcostal pain after laparoscopic surgery. In some cases, the pain lasts even several weeks after surgery. This study aimed to analyze unmodifiable clinicopathological factors of patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy and to minimize preoperative and postoperative discomfort. @*Methods@#Patients admitted for laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis with an American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) grades I and II, and ages 12~70 years were enrolled in the study. Postoperative shoulder or subcostal pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and analyzed with the clinicopathological factors of the patients, including age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and abdominal circumference (AC) difference. @*Results@#Of the 124 patients, 40 complained of postoperative shoulder or subcostal pain with a VAS score of ≥4. The risk of the postoperative shoulder or subcostal pain increased in women (p=0.001). From a univariate analysis, the risk of postoperative shoulder or subcostal pain increased with lower height, weight and BMI (p=0.002, p=0.001, p=0.012) and with greater AC difference (p=0.012). However, a multivariate analysis showed that lower weight was the only risk factor of postoperative pain (p=0.005). @*Conclusion@#The risk of postoperative shoulder or subcostal pain after laparoscopic appendectomy was significantly increased with lower weight.

Prognostic Factors and Management for Left Colonic Perforation: Can Hartmann’s Procedure Be Preventable?

Purpose@#To identify factors significantly associated with the mortality of patients with left colonic perforation, and to compare the outcome of Hartmann’s procedure (HP) and primary repair (PR) or primary anastomosis (PA) in patients with left colonic perforation without factors associated with mortality. @*Methods@#This retrospective study included patients who underwent surgery for left colonic perforation from January 2009 to February 2018. Preoperative factors related to postoperative mortality, including vital signs, laboratory findings, and intraoperative findings, were analyzed by type of operation. The chi-square, Fisher exact, and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to analyze the data. @*Results@#Ninety-one patients were included (36 men, 55 women), and 15 (16.5%) died postoperatively. Prognostic factors were age, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, bleeding tendency, acute kidney injury, hemodynamic instability, and the existence of feculent ascites. Leukopenia and longer operative time were independent risk factors for mortality. Seventy-nine patients did not have leukopenia and 30 of these patients who underwent PR without diversion were excluded from the subanalysis. HP was performed in 30 patients, and PR with diversion and PA with or without diversion were performed in 19. Compared to the other operative methods, HP had no advantage in reducing hospital mortality (P=0.458) and morbidity. @*Conclusion@#Leukopenia could be an objective prognostic factor for left colonic perforation. Although HP is the gold standard for septic left colonic perforation, it did not improve the hospital mortality of the patients without leukopenia. For such patients, PR or PA may be suggested as an alternative option for left colonic perforation.

Factors Predicting the Need for Early Surgical Intervention for Small Bowel Obstruction

Purpose@#Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common disease that requires hospitalization. The most common cause of SBO is postoperative adhesion. Delayed timing of operations in patients who need surgical intervention results in mortality or morbidity. A number of studies on SBO have established criteria for emergency surgery. However, few objective clinical parameters are available for screening patients who need a delayed operation. Therefore, we analyzed factors that affect the clinical course of SBO to select appropriate therapeutic plans for reducing the risk of complications in these patients. @*Methods@#We investigated the clinical characteristics of patients admitted to the surgery department of our hospital between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2016, who were diagnosed with SBO. Patients were divided into an operative treatment group (n = 12) and a conservative treatment group (n = 96). We compared clinical characteristics between the 2 groups. @*Results@#The operative treatment group underwent more operations before SBO than the conservative treatment group (P = 0.007). Initial leukocyte counts (P = 0.004) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (P = 0.028) were elevated in the operative group. Body mass index (BMI) was lower in the operative group (P = 0.013). @*Conclusion@#The number of operations before SBO, leukocyte counts, CRP levels, and BMI were useful parameters for selecting patients who needed an urgent operation for SBO.

Ascariasis Presenting as Hematoma in the Sigmoid Mesocolon: A Case Report

Ascariasis is an intestinal disease caused by Ascaris lumbricoides. Most patients with ascariasis are asymptomatic; however, the presence of many larvae in the bowel can cause gastrointestinal complications, such as intestinal obstruction, obstructive jaundice, cholangitis, cholecystitis, and pancreatitis. Herein, we report a case of ascariasis presenting as hematoma and active bleeding in the sigmoid mesocolon of a 74-year-old man on computed tomography (CT). Sigmoid colon perforation was also detected on follow-up CT. Laparoscopic low anterior resection was performed; there was a large hematoma in the sigmoid mesocolon. Roundworms were microscopically identified in the mesenteric adipose tissue. The clinical and CT findings of this unusual presentation of ascariasis revealed serial complications during parasite migration from the intestinal lumen to the peritoneal cavity.

Ascariasis Presenting as Hematoma in the Sigmoid Mesocolon: A Case Report

Ascariasis is an intestinal disease caused by Ascaris lumbricoides. Most patients with ascariasis are asymptomatic; however, the presence of many larvae in the bowel can cause gastrointestinal complications, such as intestinal obstruction, obstructive jaundice, cholangitis, cholecystitis, and pancreatitis. Herein, we report a case of ascariasis presenting as hematoma and active bleeding in the sigmoid mesocolon of a 74-year-old man on computed tomography (CT). Sigmoid colon perforation was also detected on follow-up CT. Laparoscopic low anterior resection was performed; there was a large hematoma in the sigmoid mesocolon. Roundworms were microscopically identified in the mesenteric adipose tissue. The clinical and CT findings of this unusual presentation of ascariasis revealed serial complications during parasite migration from the intestinal lumen to the peritoneal cavity.

Perioperative Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen Ratio Is a Prognostic Indicator in Patients With Stage II Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the perioperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) ratio could be used as a determinant for adjuvant therapy after curative surgery in stage II colorectal cancer. METHODS: Data for 119 patients with stage II colorectal cancer who underwent radical surgery between 2010 and 2013 were collected. The perioperative CEA ratio was defined as the postoperative/preoperative serum CEA level, and the patients were grouped according to their perioperative CEA ratios: high ratio (≥0.5) and low ratio ( < 0.5). Overall survival rates were calculated, and their prognostic significances were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall survival rates of the high and the low perioperative CEA groups were 68.2% and 86.8%, respectively (P = 0.033). In patients with normal preoperative CEA levels ( < 5 ng/mL), the high perioperative CEA ratio group showed a worse survival rate than the low perioperative CEA ratio group (71.7% vs. 100.0%, P = 0.007). In patients with high preoperative CEA levels (≥5 ng/mL), the high perioperative CEA ratio group showed a worse survival rate than the low perioperative CEA ratio group (33.3% vs. 75.0%, P = 0.036). In the multivariate analysis, perioperative CEA ratio (P = 0.046), age (P = 0.034), and venous invasion (P = 0.015) were independent prognostic factors for survival. CONCLUSION: The perioperative CEA ratio is a prognostic indicator for stage II colorectal cancer. Patients with normal preoperative serum CEA levels might also be considered for adjuvant therapy if their perioperative CEA ratios are higher than 0.5.

Predictive Factors Affecting the Clinical Course of Patients With Diverticulitis: Who Needs Hospital Management?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine the predictable factors that affect the clinical course, especially the hospital stay, the operation performed, and to determine factors that will be helpful in deciding whether in-hospital or outpatient treatment is appropriate. METHODS: We retrospectively collected medical data for patients who had been diagnosed with acute diverticulitis at Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital between January and December 2016. In total, 117 patients were enrolled in this study. We examined clinical factors, including age, sex, body mass index, pain, body temperature, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, nil per os (NPO) time, hospital duration, computed tomography (CT) findings, location of diverticulitis, operation performed, and presence of comorbidity (e.g., hypertension and diabetes mellitus). RESULTS: In the multivariate analysis, the statistically significant factor related with hospital duration was the presence of perforation on the CT scan (P 7) (P = 0.011). Operations were mainly performed in patients with left-sided colonic diverticulitis (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: We suggest a perforation finding on the CT scan, a severe pain score at least above 7 on a numeric rating pain scale, and a left-sided lesion are absolute indications for in-hospital management.

Impact of Adjuvant Therapy Type on Survival in Stage II/III Rectal Cancer Without Preoperative Chemoradiation: A Korean Multicenter Retrospective Study

PURPOSE: This study compared the oncologic impact of postoperative chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy on patients with rectal cancer without preoperative chemoradiation. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 713 patients with a mean follow-up of 58 months who had undergone radical resection for stage II/III rectal cancer without preoperative treatment in nine hospitals from January 2004 to December 2009. The study population was categorized a chemotherapy group (CG, n = 460) and a chemoradiotherapy group (CRG, n = 253). Five-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed, and independent factors predicting survival were identified. RESULTS: The patients in the CRG were significantly younger (P < 0.001) and had greater incidences of low rectal cancer (P < 0.001) and stage III disease (P < 0.001). Five-year OS (P = 0.024) and DFS (P = 0.012) were significantly higher in the CG for stage II disease; however, they were not significantly different for stage III disease. In the multivariate analysis, independent predictive factors were male sex, low rectal cancer and stage III disease for OS and male sex, abdominoperineal resection, stage III disease and tumor-positive circumferential margin for DFS. However, adjuvant therapy type did not independently affect OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.243; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.794–1.945; P = 0.341) and DFS (HR, 1.091; 95% CI, 0.810–1.470; P = 0.566). CONCLUSION: Adjuvant therapy type did not affect survival of stage II/III rectal cancer patients without neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. These results suggest that adjuvant therapy can be chosen based on the patient’s condition and the policies of the surgeons and hospital facilities.

Risk Factors of a Pulmonary Thromboembolism After Colorectal Surgery

PURPOSE: Previous studies have revealed that predictors and risk factors of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) are malignancy, immobilization, diabetes, and obesity in the postoperative patients. However, in patients undergoing colorectal cancer, studies of PTE have not been enough. Thus, we investigated the risk factors of PTE related to colorectal surgery. METHODS: From January 2009 to October 2014, 312 patients received colorectal surgery without other organ resection. The postoperative patients with PTE were 14 (4.5%), and they were classified by sex, age, and stage as a 1:3 paired match to the control group. A multiple logistic regression was performed to identify which factors were associated with PTE. RESULTS: One patient was in stage I, 3 in stage II, 9 in stage III, and 1 in stage IV. In the binary logistic regression analysis, history of diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 6.498; P = 0.031) and being overweight (odds ratio, 10.018; P = 0.014) were independent risk factors for PTE in patients undergoing colorectal cancer. CONCLUSION: A history of diabetes mellitus and being overweight were independent risk factors of PTE after colorectal cancer.

Comparison of Compliance of Adjuvant Chemotherapy Between Laparoscopic and Open Surgery in Patients With Colon Cancer

PURPOSE: Many studies have shown that the completion of adjuvant chemotherapy improves the survival rate. Recently, laparoscopic surgery has been used to treat patients with colon cancer. We analyzed the relationship between the completion of adjuvant chemotherapy and the operation method. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 147 patients diagnosed with colon cancer from January 1, 2009, to May 31, 2012. The numbers of patients who underwent laparoscopic and open surgery were 91 and 56, respectively. We analyzed the relationship between the operation method and various factors such as the completion rate of chemotherapy, the patient's age, gender, and physical activity, the postoperative hospital stay, the start time of chemotherapy, and the patient's body mass index (BMI), TNM stage, and type of health insurance. RESULTS: In the laparoscopic surgery group, the postoperative hospital stay (13.5 +/- 14.82 days vs. 19.6 +/- 11.38 days, P = 0.001) and start time of chemotherapy (17.7 +/- 17.48 days vs. 23.0 +/- 15.00 days, P = 0.044) were shorter, but the percent complete of chemotherapy (71/91 [78.0%] vs. 38/56 [67.8%], P = 0.121), and survival rate (88/91 [96.7%], 47/56 [83.9%], P = 0.007) were higher than they were in the open surgery group. Patients who were elderly, had a low BMI, and a high American Society of Anesthesiologists score were less likely to complete adjuvant chemotherapy than other patients were. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery shows a shorter postoperative hospital stay, a shorter start time of chemotherapy, and a higher survival rate. Laparoscopic surgery may be expected to increase compliance of chemotherapy and to improve survival rate.

Comparative Study of a Single-Incision Laparoscopic and a Conventional Laparoscopic Appendectomy for the Treatment of Acute Appendicitis

PURPOSE: For the treatment of acute appendicitis, a conventional laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) has been widely performed. Recently, the use of single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is increasing because it is believed to have advantages over conventional laparoscopic surgery. In this study, we compared SILS and a conventional LA. METHODS: We analyzed the 217 patients who received laparoscopy-assisted appendectomies between August 2010 and April 2012 at Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital. One hundred-twelve patients underwent SILS, and 105 patients underwent LA. For the two groups, we compared the operation times, postoperative laboratory results, postoperative pain, hospital stay, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: The patients' demographics, including body mass index, were not significantly different between the two groups. There were 6 perforated appendicitis cases in the SILS group and 5 cases in the LA group. The mean operative time in the SILS group was 65.88 +/- 22.74 minutes whereas that in the LA group was 61.70 +/- 22.27 minutes (P = 0.276). There were no significant differences in the mean hospital stays, use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and wound infections between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Postoperative pain, complications and hospital stay showed no statistically significant differences between the SILS and the LA groups. However, our SILS method uses a single trocar and two latex tubes, so cost savings and reduced interference during surgery are expected.

Feasibility of Laparoscopic D2 Lymph Node Dissection in Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: There is still debate regarding the suitability of extension of laparoscopic gastrectomy to advanced gastric cancer. Due to the development of new instruments and techniques, several studies are being conducted to extend the range of laparoscopic gastrectomy. This study was conducted to investigate the appropriateness of laparoscopic D2 lymph node dissection for the treatment of gastric cancer from an oncology perspective. METHODS: A total of 109 patients, 50 of whom had undergone laparoscopy assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) and 59 patients who underwent open distal gastrectomy (ODG), that were operated on by a single surgeon in the surgery department of Sanggye Paik Hospital from April 2009 to May 2011 were analyzed. All patients underwent D2 lymph node dissection. The clinical characteristics of patients, surgical outcomes and clinicopathologic findings were then compared and analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the operation time between the two groups (252.70+/-40.81 vs. 252.20+/-45.22, p=0.698). The day 1 post operation hemoglobin was higher in the LADG group than the ODG group (12.52+/-1.53 vs. 10.54+/-1.57, p=0.011). There were nosignificant differences in resection margin (6.89+/-2.25 vs. 7.20+/-3.42, p=0.254, 4.05+/-2.57 vs. 3.68+/-2.74, p=0.254) or total number of harvested lymph nodes (30.36+/-10.67 vs. 35.44+/-12.56, p=0.508) between groups. CONCLUSION: In stomach cancer surgery, both ODG and LADG can be used to conduct lymph node dissection. Therefore, if the stability and feasibility of LADG is confirmed by prospective studies at multiple centers, laparoscopic gastrectomy may be extended to advanced gastric cancer as well.

Analysis of the Potent Prognostic Factors in Luminal-Type Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Luminal-type breast cancer has a good prognosis compared to other types, such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and triple negative types. Luminal-type breast cancer is classified into luminal A and B, according to the proliferation index. We investigated the clinicopathological factors that affect the prognosis of the luminal-type subgroups. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records and the pathologic reports of 159 luminal-type breast cancer patients who were treated between February 2005 and November 2007. We divided luminal-type breast cancer into luminal A and B, according to Ki-67 (cutoff value, 14%) and analyzed the clinicopathologic factors, such as age at diagnosis, intensity score of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor, histologic grade, and Bcl-2. Moreover, we compared the disease-free survival (DFS) of each group. RESULTS: In the univariate analysis, age (p=0.004), tumor size (p=0.010), lymph node metastasis (p=0.001), and Bcl-2 (p=0.002) were statistically significant factors in luminal-type breast cancer. In the multivariate analysis, lymph node (p=0.049) and Bcl-2 (p=0.034) were significant relevant factors in luminal-type breast cancer. In the subgroup analysis, the increased Bcl-2 (cutoff value, 33%) was related with a longer DFS in the luminal B group (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: In our study, luminal A breast cancer showed a longer DFS than luminal B breast cancer, further, Bcl-2 may be a potent prognostic factor in luminal-type breast cancer.

Ileal Stenosis Occurred 3 Months after Blunt Abdominal Trauma / 대한소화기학회지

We present a case of ileal stenosis with delayed presentation 3 months after car accident. Ileal stenosis after blunt abdominal trauma is a rare clinical entity. We present CT and small bowel series 3 months after trauma. Image showed segmental thickening of intestinal wall and proximal bowel dilation. At surgery, a stenotic bowel loop was adjacent to a fibrotic mesentery. Histological examination showed ulcers, inflammatory cells and fibroblasts infiltrated to the muscularis mucosae, submucosa, and mesentery. The most likely cause, supported by most authors, implicates an injury to the mesentery. Post-traumatic ischemic bowel stenosis may result from even small tears and contusions of mesentery. Posttraumatic intestinal stenosis should be included in the differential diagnosis in a patient with a history of blunt abdominal trauma and signs of intestinal obstruction.

Comparison of CVF (Cyclophosphamide+Vinorelbine+5-Fluorouracil) and CMF (Cyclophosphamide+Methotrexate+5-Fluorouracil) Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Early Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of adjuvant cyclophosphamide/vinorelbine/5-fluorourail (CVF) chemotherapy as an alternative to cyclophosphamide/methotrexate/5-fluorouracil (CMF) chemotherapy for treating early breast cancer. METHODS: One hundred and forty-nine patients were randomly assigned to CMF or CVF adjuvant chemotherapy for treating their early stage breast cancer between September 2000 and December 2007. The disease-free survival (DFS), the overall survival (OS), and the toxicity profiles of both groups were compared. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients underwent CMF chemotherapy whereas 82 patients underwent CVF chemotherapy. The DFS and OS were 88 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 76-101 months) and 94 months (95% CI, 83-104 months), respectively for the CMF group, and 97 months (95% CI, 93-101 months), and 101 months (95% CI, 98-104 months), respectively for the CVF group. However, those survival gains of the CVF group were not statistically significant (p-value=0.069 for the DFS and 0.99 for the OS). The CVF group showed a favorable toxicity profile in terms of the grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities as compared to that of the CMF group. CONCLUSION: Clinical outcome of CVF chemotherapy was comparable to CMF with a favorable toxicity profiles. However, it is difficult to conclude the feasibility of CVF regimen because of small number of studied patients.