Intensity-modulated or 3-D conformal radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin for locally advanced esophageal carcinoma / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the therapeutic effect and toxicity of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy (3-DCRT) with docetaxel and cisplatin in the treatment of locally advanced esophageal carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma were randomly assigned in two equal groups to receive IMRT or 3-DCRT, both combined with the chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin. The total dose of radiotherapy was 64 Gy, administered in 30 fractions in 6 weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The complete response rate (complete and partial remissions) of IMRT group was 90.0%, significantly higher than the rate of 80.0% in 3-DCRT group (P>0.05). The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates of IMRT group were 86.7%, 70.0%, and 66.7%, as compared to 70.0%, 63.3%, and 63.3% in 3-DCRT group, respectively, showing no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). IMRT showed advantages over 3-DCRT in terms of the V20 and V30 parameters of the lung (P<0.05), and the incidences of radiation-induced esophagitis were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>When combined with the chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin, IMRT appears to be a more effective treatment than 3-DCRT for locally advanced esophageal cancer.</p>

In vitro induced and expanded Epstein Barr virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes can specifically kill nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a method for efficient induction and expansion of Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro and evaluate the possibility of using this strategy for treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>EBV-transformed B lymphoblastoid cells (BLCLs) were used as the antigen stimuli and antigen-presenting cells. EBV-specific CTL was induced by co-culture of the autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the irradiated BLCLs, and expanded with a cocktail method consisting of OKT-3, irradiated homologous PBMC, and IL-2. The specific activity of the CTL against the NPC cells was measured with MTT assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>EBV-specific CTL was successfully induced and expanded by 600 folds. The killing efficiency of the CTL was 76% for autologous BLCLs, 13% for homologous BLCLs, 51% for autologous NPC cells, and 27% for homologous CNE cell line, and after expansion, the corresponding killing efficiencies were 63%, 25%, 49%, and 33%, respectively. The non-specific killing only slightly increased after the expansion.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EBV-specific CTL can be successfully induced and expanded in vitro for specific killing of autologous NPC cells, suggesting the potential of this strategy in the treatment of NPC.</p>

Effect of Selaginella combined with radiotherapy on nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the Chinese herbal medicine Selaginella-induced radiosensitization of terminal nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 180 patients with NPC were divided equally into 3 groups with the same radiotherapeutic protocols. The patients in group A received radiotherapy alone, those in group B were given daily Selaginella (30 g) prepared into 50 ml decoction during the entire course of radiotherapy, and those in group C had Selaginella 30 g daily in the late course of radiotherapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The complete remission rate of nasopharyngeal primary lesions in groups B and C was significantly higher than that in group A, with also significantly higher complete remission rates of the cervical lymph nodes. The acute toxicity of the skin and mucous membrane was milder in the latter two groups, but the differences were not significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Selaginella may induce radiosensitization for terminal NPC and does not increase the acute toxicity of radiotherapy.</p>