Application of Cox model for analyzing prognosis factors of stage Ⅳ gastric cancer / 重庆医学

Objective To investigate the related prognostic factors of stage Ⅳ gastric cancer.Methods The clinical data of 248 patients with stage Ⅳ gastric cancer and intact follow up data in the Tumor Prevention and Treatment Center of Sun Yat-Sen University from 2000 to 2010 were retrospectively summarized.The twelve clinicopathological parameters served as the observation indicators,including age,sex,body mass reduction,H b,CEA,CA19-9,Borrmann type,tumor location,tumor size,pathological pattern,operative mode,metastatic sites and therapeutic model.The survival curve was drawn by using the Kaplan-Meier method.The median survival time was calculated.The univariate analysis was conducted with Log-rank test.The prognosis multivariate analysis was conducted by the Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis.Results MST in the patients of whole group was 254 d.The univariate analysis showed that sex,Borrmann type and therapeutic mode were the related factors afecting gastric cancer prognosis,while the Cox regression model revealed that above 3 indicators were also independent factors affecting the prognosis of the patients with stage Ⅳ gastric cancer in this group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The treatment mode is an important independent factor affecting the survival of stage Ⅳ gastric cancer,the translational medicine model of palliative chemotherapy combined with palliative operation conduces to improve the prognosis in the patients with stage Ⅳ gastric cancer.

Electrochemotherapy as palliative treatment in patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma / Eletroquimioterapia como tratamento paliativo em pacientes com carcinoma papilar da tireoide

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Local progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) after failure of standard therapies may cause pain, ulceration, and bleeding. As patients are fully aware of the tumor growth, they might suffer high grade anxiety. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a new local palliative treatment for skin metastases of malignant melanoma or other tumors, including squamous head e neck cancer patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of ECT in patients with local progression of PTC. METHODS: Four patients with local progression of PTC were treated with ECT based on Bleomycin, and evaluated according to tumor response, local pain and side effects. RESULTS: In all cases, some grade of tumor response was observed, lasting 6, 7, 12 and 8 months, respectively. Also, reduction of local pain and anxiety was registered in all patients. Tumor infiltrated skin necrosis was the only collateral effect of the treatment. ECT induced a tumor response in all PTC patients with improvement of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: ECT may be an option for local palliative treatment in PTC patients with local tumor progression.

Resumo Introdução: A progressão local do carcinoma papilífero de tireoide (CPT) após a falha da terapia de rotina pode causar dor, ulceração e sangramento. Considerando que os pacientes estão perfeitamente cientes do crescimento tumoral, podem apresentar um alto grau de ansiedade. A eletroquimioterapia (EQT) é um novo tratamento paliativo para metástases de pele de melanoma maligno ou de outros tumores, inclusive em pacientes com carcinoma escamoso de cabeça e pescoço. Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto da EQT em pacientes com progressão local de CPT. Método: Quatro pacientes com progressão local de CPT foram tratados com EQT com base em bleomicina, e avaliados em relação ao grau de resposta tumoral, dor local, efeitos colaterais. Resultados: Em todos os casos, foi observado algum grau de resposta tumoral, que perdurou por 6, 7, 12 e 8 meses, respectivamente. Da mesma forma, foi registrada diminuição da dor local e da ansiedade em todos os pacientes. Necrose cutânea na infiltração tumoral foi o único efeito colateral do tratamento. EQT induziu resposta tumoral em todos os pacientes com CPT, com melhora dos sintomas. Conclusões: EQT pode ser uma opção para o tratamento paliativo tópico em pacientes com CPT com progressão tumoral local.

Experiencia de tratamiento paliativo en metástasis óseas / Bone metastases and palliative radiotherapy

Abstract Background: About 40-50% of cancer patients have indication of palliative radiotherapy during the course of their disease. Bone metastases are the most common cause of cancer-related pain. Evidence shows that there is no statistically significant difference between long and short treatments modalities in pain relief. The aim of this study is to review the experience in treatment of patients requiring palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases treated in Clinica IRAM during 2012. methods: Descriptive retrospective analysis of medical records of patients treated during 2012 at Clínica IRAM with palliative radiotherapy for painful bone metastases. results: 197 patients were included. The median time between onset of symptoms and initiation of treatment was 4 months (1-42 months). The scheme of 8 Gy in one fraction was the most prescribed.Sixty-two percent of patients had a very good/good response to treatment, and 10% had a poor response. Themedian survival was 10.5 months. One, 12 and 24 months survival was 91.8%, 46.3%, 28.7% respective ly.Ten patients were re-irradiated, 7 of them had received 8 Gy in a single fraction as first treatment dose. conclusion: The palliative treatment of cancer patients is an important indication of radiotherapy. The most common indication for treatment was 8 Gy/1 fraction; however, there was a 40% multi fractionated treatments. Since pain relief is similar between different treatment modalities, to offer a shorter treatment appears to bea more reasonable option.

Resumen Introducción: Aproximadamente 40-50% de los pacientes con cáncer tiene indicación de radioterapia paliativa durante el curso de su enfermedad. Las metástasis óseas son la causa más frecuente de dolor relacionado al cáncer. Existe evidencia que demuestra que no existe diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre esquemas de tratamientos prolongados y cortos en alivio del dolor. Objetivo: Revisión de la experiencia en el tratamiento de pacientes con indicación de radioterapia paliativa por metástasis ósea tratados en Clínica IRAM en el año 2012. Método: Análisis retrospectivo descriptivo de fichas clínicas de pacientes tratados el año 2012 en Clínica IRAM con indicación de radioterapia paliativa por metástasis óseas. Resultados: Se incluyeron 197 pacientes. La mediana de tiempo entre inicio de síntomas e inicio de tratamiento fue de 4meses (1-42 meses). El esquema de 8 Gy en 1 fracción fue el más prescrito; 62% de los pacientes tuvo una respuesta muy buena/buena al tratamiento, y 10% tuvo una respuesta pobre. La mediana de sobrevida fue10,5 meses. La sobrevida al mes, 12 y 24 meses fue 91,8%, 46,3%, 28,7% respectivamente. Diez pacientes fueron reirradiados, 7 de ellos tuvieron primer esquema de mono dosis 8 Gy/1 fracción. Conclusión: El manejo paliativo de pacientes con cáncer representa una importante indicación de radioterapia. La indicación más frecuente de tratamiento fue 8 Gy/1 fracción, sin embargo, hubo un 40% de tratamientos multifraccionados. Dado que el alivio del dolor es similar entre distintas modalidades terapéuticas, realizar un tratamiento más corto parece ser una alternativa más razonable.

Local radiotherapy for palliation in multiple myeloma patients with symptomatic bone lesions

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of symptomatic bone lesions in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who received local radiotherapy (LRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients with 87 symptomatic bone lesions treated via LRT were analyzed. LRT was delivered at a median total dose of 21 Gy (range, 12 to 40 Gy) in a median of 7 fractions (range, 4 to 20 fractions). The clinical outcomes of LRT and the factors affecting treatment response were assessed. RESULTS: After a median follow-up time of 66.7 weeks, symptom relief was achieved for 85 of 87 lesions (97.7%). The median time to symptom relief was 7 days from the start of LRT (range, 1 to 67 days). The duration of in-field failure-free survival ranged from 1.1 to 450.9 weeks (median, 66.7 weeks). The radiation dose or use of previous and concurrent chemotherapy was not significantly associated with in-field failure for LRT (p = 0.354, 0.758, and 0.758, respectively). CONCLUSION: Symptomatic bone lesions in patients with MM can be successfully treated with LRT. A higher radiation dose or the use of concurrent chemotherapy may not influence the in-field disease control. A relatively low radiation dose could achieve remission of symptoms in patients with MM.

Photodynamic Therapy for Hilar Bile Duct Cancer / 대한췌담도학회지

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is a fatal malignancy leading to high mortality rate despite recent therapeutic advances, and the photodynamic therapy has been noted as an emerging palliative strategy for the hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Photodynamic therapy is the treatment selectively destructing cancer tissue through the laser beam irradiation with particular wavelengths. Photosensitizer administered before the treatment is accumulated in malignant tissue, and activated in the limits of those wavelengths. The procedure is performed under percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and more appropriate for the periductal infiltrating type rather than mass-forming type of cholangiocarcinoma due to the shallow penetrating depth (<4.5 mm). Recent investigations demonstrated the survival gain of 4-6 months in patients with cholangiocarcinoma when it is added to palliative biliary drainage. In addition, newly developed 3rd generation photo sensitizer has enabled longer therapeutic effect with less skin phototoxicity than before. However, there are still some limitations should be concerned, including lack of large-scaled prospective studies, shallow penetrating depth of tumoricidal effects, lack of treatment response measure, and relatively expensive cost. Addressing these matters through the larger prospective studies or technical improvement may lead new era of photodynamic therapy not only for the palliative purpose but also in the therapeutic field of cholangiocarcinoma.

Choice of the treatment of palliative therapy of jaundice in cholangiocarcinom / 国际外科学杂志

Objective To compare the efficacy and indications between the biliary bypass laparotomy surgery.and the two different kinds of biliary stent insertion surgery in the palliative alleviating jaundice of cholangiocarcinoma.Methods From March 2008 to March 2013,69 patients treated with palliative alleviating jaundice therapy of cholangiocarcinoma were included,who were all came from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University.Including 17 patients who treated with the open biliary bypass surgery and 52 patients who treated with interventional therapy.We analysed the differences between these cases of biliary drainage operations in the recent jaundice reduction rate,average stay,mortality rate,the incidence of related complications,et al.Results All these different drainage ways had good effect in alleviating jaundice,incidence of alleviating jaundice have no obvious difference (P ＞ 0.05).Compared to the open biliary bypass surgery,interventional therapy had obvious advantages in the average stay and postoperative survival (P ＜ 0.05).The pancreatitis rate was lower in Percutaneous Group than that in Endoscopic Group (P ＜ 0.05).incidence of biliary tract infection and biliary tract bleeding have no obvious difference (P ＞ 0.05).There were no significant differences between the success rates of in biliary stent insertion operation in patients with each model cholangiocarcinoma (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Among the therapies of the palliative alleviating jaundice of cholangiocarcinoma,the internal biliary drainage of biliary stent insertion operation was superior to the treatment of the biliary bypass laparotomy.As to biliary stent insertion operations,endoscopic biliary stenting surgery should be the preferred choice.

Clinical observation of metallic intra-biliary stents for palliative management of 160 malignant obstructive jaundice patients / 中国综合临床

Objective To study clinical value of percutaneous intrabiliary expandable metallic biliary stenting (EMBS) for treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice. Methods One hundred and sixty patients with malignant obstructive jaundice were treated with EMBS ( EMBS group) . Thirty patients underwent only external drainage by PTCD were recruited as control. The patency rate of stent,decline of bilirubin and the complication were analyzed retrospectively. Both groups were followed up for three months. The Kaplan-Meier method (log-rank test) was used to compare the survival period between the two groups. Results Anorexia,skin pruritus and color of urine alleviated at a certain degree in both groups.In the EMBS group,plasma total bilirubin was(218. 78 ±2. 29) μmol/L pre-stent,and decreased to (134. 90 ±2. 34), (83. 18 ±2.40) , (40. 74 ±2. 29) μmol/L at the 7,14,21 days after the stenting, respectively; direct bilirubin was (128.82 ±2.40) μmol/L pre-stent, and decreased to (81.28 ± 2. 34), (51. 29 ±2. 45) and (25. 70 ±2.40)μmol/L at the 7,14,21 days after the stenting ( P =0. 000). In the PTCD group,plasma total bilirubin was (223. 57 ± 2. 58) μmol/L pe-stent, and decreased to ( 145. 68 ± 2. 57 ) ,(87.57 ±2.58) ,(38.65 ±2. 20) μmol/L at the 7,14,21 days after the stenting,respectively;direct bilirubin was (127. 6 ±2. 59)μmol/L pre-stent,and decreased to (79. 78 ±2. 70) ,(58. 36 ±2. 46) and (29.46 ±2. 20)μmol/L at the 7,14,21 days after the stenting,respectively ( P <0.001 ). No significant difference was found between the two groups at any time point ( P > 0. 05). Complications occurred in 34 patients in the EMBS group and the incidence rate was 20. 62% . Two or more complications occurred in 9 patients. In the PTCD group, complications occurred in 60.00% of the patients. In the EMBS group, 14 patients were failed to follow up, and 136 died. The median length was 214 days. In the PTCD group,all patients were followed up and all died,with a median length of survival of 75. 5 days. The survival analysis showed that the EMBS group survived longer than the PTCD group (P =0. 000). Conclusions EMBS placement showed better effect than PTCD. Compared to PTCD, internal drainage of metallic stents lead few complications and faster recover, and can improve the life quality and prolong survival time of patient with malignant obstructive jaundice. The placement of metallic stents is recommended as a preference for palliative therapy of malignant biliary obstruction.

Progress in Treatment for Advanced Gastric Cancer / 中国肿瘤临床

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Gastric cancer is usually in advanced stage at diagnosis, without opportunity for curative resection. Chemotherapy is the major treatment for advanced gastric cancer (AGC), and other treatments include palliative surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, biologic and immunologic therapy as well as Chinese medicine. Palliative therapy is used to reduce tumor load or complication occurrence, while radiotherapy is effective for locoregionally advanced gastdc cancer. At present, chemotherapy plays a leading role in AGC treatment and has a palliative effect on symptomatic patients. For advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, chemotherapy has always been the focus of studies. Results of studies of FAX, ECF/DCF regimens and Phrase ill clinical trials of REAL-2, ML17032 and SPIRITS have been released. With the application of EOX, XP, S-1/CDDP, IF, FOLFOX and XELOX regimens, the outcomes of advanced gastdc cancer are improved. However, there is no standard regimen accepted as supedor over others. Biologic and immunologic therapy are beneficial supplements to surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but are not yet the mainstream. All of these treatments have obvious side effects. Other comprehensive methods are of equal importance, such as Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion, and psychological intervention. Combined with western medicine, the above methods have certain merits in relieving clinical symptoms, reducing toxicity,increasing effectiveness, improving quality of life, preventing metastasis and recurrence, reversing multidrug resistance of tumor cells, and curing ascites and managing cancer pain.

Palliative effect of (131)I-MIBG in relapsed neuroblastoma after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation / 소아과

Neuroblastoma is one of the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood, and treatment of refractory neuroblastoma remains a significant clinical problem. Iodine-131-metaiodobenzylguanidine ((131)I-MIBG) therapy is an alternative approach to treat stage IV neuroblastoma. We report the palliative effect of (131)I-MIBG in three cases of relapsed neuroblastoma after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. (131)I-MIBG is an effective and relatively nontoxic palliative therapy resulting in reduction of pain and prolongation of survival.

Rationality of Drug Use in Cancer Patients in Beijing Tiantan Hospice Hospital / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the rationality of drug use in cancer patients in Tiantan Hospice Hospital.METHODS:By a retrospective study,the drug use in cancer patients in Tiantan Hospice Hospital who died during Jan.2008 and Sep.2008 were analyzed statistically.RESULTS & CONCLUSION:The drug use in cancer patients in Tiantan Hospice Hospital was rational on the whole.Step medication,oral medication,on time medication and individual medication were realized in Beijing Tiantan Hospice hospital and treatment on cancer patients in this hospital was in line with the Guideline for Cancer Pain Management Based on the Three-step Analgesic Ladder recommended by WHO.

Interventional therapy of cervical esophageal malignant obstruction / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To explore the feasibility of microinvasive technique in high level malignantesophageal obstruction and to provide the palliative therapy that can't be dredged by traditional methods. Methods There were 39 patients suffered from high level esophageal obstruction,involving the segments from esophageal circular pharynx to 12mm below. Tube-reticular nitinol metal stents woven by single thread were placed in orally to dredge the esophagus under fluoroscopic guidance after repeated tolerant expanding performance through expandable catheter. Interventional chemical therapy were administrated through blood-supply vessels. Results Thirty nine patients were grafted with 46 high level esophageal stents. 34 patients accepted 156 times of interventional chemical therapy. All patients restored with fine residue diet without showing side-effects except slight pain and tolerant uncomfortable feeling. The survival rate of the patients with both interventional chemical therapy and stents was longer than those with stent therapy alone. Conclusion Cervical high level segment of esophagus shouldn't be the restricted zone in the management of inner-stents. Interventional chemical therapy showed tumor-inhibiting effect in the cervical malignant diseases.

Dexamethasone Treatment of Bone Pain in Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Assessment of Pain Indices and Quality of Life / 대한마취과학회지

BACKGROUND: Steroid therapy has been considered as co-analgesic for palliative treatment of metastatic bone pain in terminal cancer. We designed prospective study to observe analgesic efficacy of dexamethasone, to evaluate different analgesic assessment methods and its correlation to actual improvement of quality of life. METHODS: Thirty seven men with symptomatic bone pain of prostate cancer were treated with dexamethasone infusions (10mg twice a day) for 2 weeks. Response to treatment was assessed by daily analgesic intake, by the McGill-Melzack pain questionnaire (MPQ), and by a series of 17 linear analog self-assessment scales (LASA) relating to pain and to various aspects of quality of life. Biochemical and radiological markers were measured. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (38%) had improvement in indices used to assess pain at 2 weeks after starting dexamethasone. Reduction in pain indices was associated with improvement in other dimensions of quality of life and in the scale for overall well-being. Even though radiological and biochemical markers showed no correlation, symptomatic relief of pain was associated with a decrease in serum concentration of adrenal androgens. CONCLUSION:g We conclude that 1) dexamethasone treatment may cause useful relief of pain in some of patients with bone pain of prostate cancer; 2) this relief of pain is associated with suppression of adrenal androgens; 3) measures of pain and quality of life can be used to assess benefits of systemic therapy with dexamethasone; and 4) this effects of dexamethasone should be further investigated in bone pain of other metastatic cancer.