TGF-beta1 in serum and induced sputum for predicting radiation pneumonitis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer after radiotherapy / 癌症

<p><b>BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE</b>Research has confirmed that transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is one of the cytokines related to radiation pneumonitis. But the level of TGF-beta1 in serum needed to predict radiation pneumonitis is still not clear. This study assessed the value of TGF-beta1 in both serum and induced sputum in predicting radiation pneumonitis, providing a reference for the radiotherapy of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 23 patients with NSCLC treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in our department between November 2007 and January 2009 were analyzed and evaluated. TGF-beta1 levels in both serum and sputum were detected before and near the end of radiotherapy for all the patients. The TGF-beta1 level in serum was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunocytochemistry assays were used to detect TGF-beta1 expression in sputum sediment. Radiation pneumonitis was graded according to Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) radiation scoring criteria every 3 weeks from the start to 3 months after the end of treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Radiation pneumonitis was noted in 9 patients in this cohort. The total incidence of radiation pneumonitis was 39.1% (9/23) and those with Grade II or worse was 30.4% (7/23). The absolute TGF-beta1 level in serum after radiotherapy was higher than before radiotherapy, but there was no statistical difference (P = 0.139). Patients with increased levels of TGF-beta1 had a higher incidence of radiation pneumonitis (45.5%) than those with decreased TGF-beta1 levels post-radiotherapy (40.0%). Though there was a tendency of higher incidence of radiation pneumonitis with increases in TGF-beta1 level, no statistical difference was found (P = 1.000). Patients with tumor response had higher incidence of radiation pneumonitis (50.0%) than patients without when TGF-beta1 levels in serum increased, but there was no statistical difference (P = 0.792). TGF-beta1 was positively expressed (brown yellow) in sputum on immunocytochemistry assays and located in the cytoplasm of either macrophages or epithelial cells. Macrophages were the main cells expressing TGF-beta1. A significantly higher positive expression rate (71.4%) was found in sputum post-radiotherapy than pre-radiotherapy (28.6%) (P = 0.015). The higher incidence of radiation pneumonitis (46.7%) was found in patients with positive TGF-beta1 expression in sputum post-radiotherapy than those with negative expression post-radiotherapy (14.3%) (P = 0.193).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It may be more reasonable to predict radiation pneumonitis by combining the change of TGF-beta1 levels in serum with tumor response than just the change of TGF-beta1 levels in serum alone. TGF-beta1 can positively express in the sputum of patients with NSCLC, located in macrophages and epithelial cells, with macrophages as the main areas of expression. Patients with positively expressed TGF-beta1 in sputum after radiotherapy have a higher incidence of radiation pneumonitis than those with negative expressions. The positive expression of TGF-beta1 in sputum is expected to become a factor for predicting radiation pneumonitis.</p>

The value of radiotherapy in patients with T1 and T2 breast cancer with one to three positive nodes after modified radical mastectomy / 癌症

<p><b>BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE</b>The role of adjuvant radiotherapy to the regional nodes in women with T1 to T2 breast cancer and one to three positive nodes is controversial. This study compared and analyzed the prognosis of patients with T1-T2 breast cancer with one to three positive nodes after modified radical mastectomy with or without postoperative radiotherapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cases of 434 women patients with T1 to T2 breast cancer with one to three positive lymph nodes after modified radical mastectomy were reviewed, of which 196 patients received postoperative radiotherapy and 238 patients did not. The ipsilateral chest wall and supraclavicular fossa were irradiated with doses of 46-50 Gy in 23-25 fractions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For all patients, the 3- and 5-year rates of overall survival (OS) were 94.7% and 85.7% respectively, local control (LC) 96.5% and 95.6%;, and disease-free survival (DFS) 89.3% and 82.3% respectively. The 3- and 5-year OS rates for patients without radiotherapy were 92.7% and 97.1% and for those with radiotherapy were 82.4% and 89.2%, both with significant differences (P = 0.039). The 3- and 5-year LC rates for patients without radiotherapy were 94.8% and 98.4% and for those with radiotherapy were 93.6% and 97.7%, again with significant differences (P = 0.041). The 3- and 5-year DFS rates for patients without radiotherapy were 87.8% and 91.3% and for patients with radiotherapy were 78.5% vs 86.1% (P = 0.047).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Postoperative radiotherapy confers better rates of OS, LC, and DFS in patients with T1 to T2 breast cancer with one to three positive nodes after modified radical mastectomy.</p>

Literature analysis of radiotherapy for esophageal cancer in China / 癌症

<p><b>BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE</b>Many patterns of treatment have been used to treat esophageal carcinoma in the past years, however, an optimal treatment is still the key issue to be explored. Therefore, we analyzed the published literature about radiotherapy for esophageal cancer in recent 15 years in China, and observed the survival rate, local control rate, adverse events, and so on.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 56 eligible papers about radiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma published in Chinese core periodicals between 1994 and 2009 were selected. The survival rates, local control rates, and adverse events were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of the patients reported in the 56 papers were (67.99 ± 12.55)%, (49.59 ± 11.79)%, (34.50 ± 11.49)%, and (23.31 ± 10.21)%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year local control rates were (73.04 ± 13.37)%, (61.60 ± 15.50)%, (51.77 ± 15.00)%, and (50.15 ± 21.36)%, respectively. The acute esophageal toxicity rate was (44.84 ± 25.71)% in 32 papers reported in recent 15 years, and the acute esophageal toxicity over grade II accounted for (35.93 ± 22.90)%. The rates of acute esophageal toxicity were (26.84 ± 13.12)% for conventional radiation, (53.72 ± 21.82)% for late course accelerated hyperfractionation radiation, (61.33 ± 28.69)% for concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and (40.31 ± 27.22)% for other ways of radiation. The late toxicity rate described in 23 papers was (5.13 ± 4.07)% in recent 15 years. The late toxicity rates were (5.66 ± 3.42)% for conventional radiation, (4.53± 4.07)% for late course accelerated hyperfractionation radiation, (2.24±1.31)% for concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and (7.34 ± 5.06)% for other ways of radiation. The Meta analysis indicated that concurrent chemoradiotherapy was better than late course accelerated hyperfractionation radiation and conventional radiation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The long-term survival of patients with esophageal cancer is still disappointed in recent years. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy shows advantages in treating esophageal cancer and, currently, is the best non-surgical treatment of esophageal cancer.</p>

Cell traction forces measurement based on BioMEMS microposts matrix / 医用生物力学

A review of cell traction forces (CTFs) measurement based on Biological MiCro Electromechanical Systems (BioMEMS) microposts matrix is presented.CTFs are exerted by cells and ansmitted to the underly-ing substrate through focal adhesions and close contacts.which is essential for cells movement.Cells probe the mechanicaI compliance of the exlracellular mabix (ECM) in part by locally deforming it with nanonewton-scale traction forces.Precision measurement of CTFs is significant for many researches such as call biology and tissue engineering and so on.Enabled by the advancement in BioMEMS technology,surface treated high aspeect ratio Polydimethyisiloxane(PDMS)micropos matrix devices,which serve as BioMEMS sensom for de-tecting cellular nanoforces and studying in vitro cell mechanics,have been developed.Closely spaced vartical microposts matrixes were designed to encourage cells to attach and spread across multiple microposts,and to bend the microposts like vertical cantilevers as the cells locomote on the surface.Using this dense and dis-crete matrix of microposts rather than a convanfional continuous substrate,CTFs can be directly measured and quantified by processing the microscopy images of the deformations of microposts.The resolution of the force was in tens of nN/μm scale.At first,the conventional CTFs measurement methods were concisely summa-rized.Then BioMEMS microposts matrix method was described in detail,including principle and fabfication process,Surface treatment and cell expedment results.Furthermore,high aspect ratio structure collapse prob-lem was investigated.

Cell traction forces measurement based on BioMEMS microposts matrix / 医用生物力学

A review of cell traction forces (CTFs) measurement based on Biological MiCro Electromechanical Systems (BioMEMS) microposts matrix is presented.CTFs are exerted by cells and ansmitted to the underly-ing substrate through focal adhesions and close contacts.which is essential for cells movement.Cells probe the mechanicaI compliance of the exlracellular mabix (ECM) in part by locally deforming it with nanonewton-scale traction forces.Precision measurement of CTFs is significant for many researches such as call biology and tissue engineering and so on.Enabled by the advancement in BioMEMS technology,surface treated high aspeect ratio Polydimethyisiloxane(PDMS)micropos matrix devices,which serve as BioMEMS sensom for de-tecting cellular nanoforces and studying in vitro cell mechanics,have been developed.Closely spaced vartical microposts matrixes were designed to encourage cells to attach and spread across multiple microposts,and to bend the microposts like vertical cantilevers as the cells locomote on the surface.Using this dense and dis-crete matrix of microposts rather than a convanfional continuous substrate,CTFs can be directly measured and quantified by processing the microscopy images of the deformations of microposts.The resolution of the force was in tens of nN/μm scale.At first,the conventional CTFs measurement methods were concisely summa-rized.Then BioMEMS microposts matrix method was described in detail,including principle and fabfication process,Surface treatment and cell expedment results.Furthermore,high aspect ratio structure collapse prob-lem was investigated.

Portal size of prophylactic postoperative radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To compare and analyze the effect of prophylactic postoperative radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.Methods 102 such patients were treated with prophylactic radiotherapy after radical resection,to a total dose of 50-60 Gy.The extensive portal included supraclavicular region on both sides,entire mediastinum,the site of anastomosis and left gastric lymph node region in 43 patients.The re- gional portal range was different according to the different location of primary lesion in 59 patients.Results The 1-,3- and 5-year survival rate was 76%,51% and 43% respectively,with a median survival of 30 months.The 1-,3- and 5-year survival rate was 77%,52% and 41% in the extensive portal and 76%, 49% and 45% in the regional portal,respectively(P=0.884).According to multivariate analysis,N stage, number of metastatic lymph nodes and tumor length were independent prognostic factors.Conclusions Regional portal does not lower the survival rate when prophylactic postoperative radiotherapy is used in e- sophageal carcinoma.

Dose escalation of cisplatin with 5-fluorouracil in concurrent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To define the maximum-tolerated dnse(MTD)and observe the side effect of escalating cisplatin with 5-fluorouracil in concurrent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma in Chinese,with toxicity studied.Methods Previously untreated fifteen Chinese patients suffering from esophageal carcinoma received conventional fractionafiun radiotherapy,with 5 daily fractions of 2.0 Gy per week.The total radiation dose was 60 Gy.Concurrent chemotherapy dose escalation was given by the relatively safe and kidney-sparing modified Fibonacci sequence.The starting dose was cisplatin 37.5 mg/m~2 D1 and 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m~2 D1-5, respectively.This regimen was repeated 4 times every 28 days.Escalation dose was eisplatin 7.5mg/m~2 and 5- fluorouracil 100mg/m~2.Every cohort contained at least 3 patients.If no dose-limiting toxicity(DLT)was observed, the next dose level was opened for entry.These courses were repeated until DLT appeared.MTD was declared as one dose level below which DLT appeared.Results DLT was defined as grade 3 radiation-induced esophngitis at the level of cisplatin 60 mg/m~2,5-fluorouracil 700 mg/m~2.MTD was defined as eisplafin 52.5 mg,/m~,5- fluorouracil 700 mg/m~2.The major side effect were radiation-induced esophagitis,leucopenia,nausea,vomiting and anorexia.Conclusion Maximun tolerated dose of cisplatin with 5-fluorouracil in concurrent chemoradiotherapy in the Chinese people with esophageal carcinoma were eisplatin 52.5 mg/m~2 D1,5-fluorouracil 700 mg/m~2 D1-5,repeated 4 times every 28 days.