Analysis of recurrence patterns of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer treated with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective:To analyze the failure patterns and influencing factors of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (ES-NSCLC).Methods:113 cases of ES-NSCLC treated with SABR from 2012 to 2020 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The failure patterns, recurrence time, recurrence site and influencing factors were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the local recurrence rate, regional lymph node recurrence rate and distant metastasis rate. Univariate analysis was performed by Log-rank test, and multivariate analysis was performed by Cox model.Results:The median follow-up time was 58 months (range: 6-108 months), and a total of 45 patients (39.8%) recurred. The median recurrence time was 36 months. Distant metastasis (DM) occurred in 31 patients (27.4%) and DM alone in 24 patients (21.2%). Local recurrence (LR) was developed in 12 patients (10.6%) and LR alone in 7(6.2%). Regional lymph node recurrence (RR) occurred in 11 patients (9.7%) and RR alone in 6 patients (5.3%). LR combined with RR was observed in 1 case (0.9%), LR combined with DM in 3(2.7%), LR combined with RR and DM in 1(0.9%), and RR combined with DM in 3(2.7%). The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-and 5-year recurrence rates were 5.4%, 16.6%, 27.5%, 44% and 51.2%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses suggested that EGFR mutation was an influencing factor of high recurrence rate.Conclusion:ES-NSCLC patients treated with SABR alone have a high recurrence rate, and DM is the most common mode of failure. Follow-up consolidation therapy is recommended, especially for EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC patients.

Analysis of recurrence pattern of neoadjuvant therapy combined with surgical treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To evaluate the recurrence pattern and identify the risk factors of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after neoadjuvant therapy combined with surgery.Methods Clinical data of 275 patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant therapy combined with surgery from December 2011 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.The follow-up data of the enrolled patients were complete and analyzable.The recurrence pattern,recurrence time,recurrence location and influencing factors after neoadjuvant therapy in combination with surgery were analyzed.The recurrence rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method.The multivariate analysis was performed by Cox regression model.Results The median follow-up time was 32 (3-84) months,and the median time of the first recurrence was 10.6(2.0-69.1) months.The 1-,2-and 3-year recurrence rates were 32.0％,45.1％ and 52.3％,respectively.A total of 152 cases (55.3％) had recurrence.Among them,77 cases (50.6％) had local-regional recurrence (LRR),34 cases (23.4％) had distant metastasis (DM),33 cases (21.7％) had LRR+DM and 8 cases (6.0％) had recurrence in unknown site.Among the patients with LRR,lymph node recurrence was the most common (n =98,89.1％).For DM patients,lung metastasis (n =33,49.3％),liver metastasis (n=16,23.9％),bone metastasis (n=14,20.9％) and non-regional lymph node metastasis (n=14,20.9％) were commonly observed.The multivariate analysis showed that postoperative T stage (P=0.008),N stage (P＜0.001) and the number of lymph node dissection (P＜0.001) were the independent risk factors for recurrence after treatment.Conclusions The recurrence rate after neoadjuvant therapy remains relatively high for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma,and the regional lymph node is the most common site of recurrence.Postoperative pathological T staging,N staging and the number of lymph node dissection are the independent risk factors for recurrence after treatment.

Outcomes and recurrence pattern after non-anatomic liver resection for solitary hepatocellular carcinomas

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Anatomic resection (AR) is preferred for eradicating portal tributaries in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the extent of resection is influenced by underlying liver disease and tumor location. We compared the surgical outcomes and recurrence pattern between non-anatomic resection (NR) and AR. METHODS: From March 2009 to February 2012, 184 patients underwent surgical resection for HCC. Among these, 79 patients who were primarily treated for a single tumor without rupture or macroscopic vascular invasion were enrolled. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the extent of resection: AR (n=31) or NR (n=48). We compared the clinical characteristics, overall survival, disease-free survival, pattern of recurrence, and biochemical liver functions during the perioperative period between the two groups. RESULTS: The extent of resection had no significant effect on overall or disease-free survival rates. The overall 1- and 3-year survival rates were 97% and 82% in the AR group, and 96% and 89% in the NR group, respectively (p=0.49). In addition, the respective 1- and 3-year disease-free survival rates for the AR and NR groups were 84% and 63%, and 85% and 65%, respectively (p=0.94). On the other hand, the presence of hepatic cirrhosis and a tumor size of >5 cm were significant risk factors for recurrence according to multivariate analysis (p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). The frequency of early recurrence, the first site of recurrence, and the pattern of intrahepatic recurrence were similar between the 2 groups (p=0.419, p=0.210, and p=0.734, respectively); in addition, the frequency of marginal recurrence did not differ between the 2 groups (1 patient in the AR group and 2 in the NR group). The NR group showed better postoperative liver function than the AR group. CONCLUSIONS: Non-anatomic liver resection can be a safe and efficient treatment for patients with a solitary HCC without rupture or gross vascular invasion.

A comparison of the risk factors of intrahepatic recurrence, early recurrencen, and multiple recurrences after resection for single nodular hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Intrahepatic recurrence is one of the most important causes of compromised prognosis after surgical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This retrospective study was designed to identify and compare the risks of recurrence, early recurrence and multiple recurrences in a single patient population. METHODS: A series of 92 consecutive patients, who received resection for single nodular HCC at our institute from January 2007 to December 2013, were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into recurrent and non-recurrent groups; the recurrent group was further divided into subgroups by applying two criteria: early and late recurrence (with a cutoff of 18 months), and single and multiple (> or =2) recurrence. The potential risk factors were compared using univariate and multivariate analyses. The subgroup analysis was performed to determine the effects of different cut-off values on the analysis. RESULTS: 41 recurrences (44.6%) occurred during a mean follow-up of 42.4 months. The Child-Pugh score, and the portal vein invasion were found to be independent risk factors of recurrence, but differentiation was the only independent risk factor of early recurrence. The serum alpha-fetoprotein, tumor size, tumor necrosis, and hemorrhage were found to be the risk factors of multiple recurrences according to the univariate analysis, but lacked significance according to the multivariate analysis. When the cutoffs for early and multiple recurrences were changed to 3 nodules, respectively, different risk factors were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Our results implicated that different factors can predict the recurrence, timing, and multiplicity of an HCC recurrence. Further studies should be conducted to prove the complex relationships between tumor burden, invasiveness, and underlying liver cirrhosis for initial tumors, and the timing and multiplicity of recurrent HCC.

Pattern of Recurrences and Metastases after a Curative Resection for Primary Colorectal Cancer

PURPOSE: We aimed to verify the pattern of recurrences or metastases after a curative resection for primary colorectal cancer. METHODS: From the prospective colorectal cancer database of Asan Cancer Center, 2,810 paitents who underwent a curative resection for primary colon (1,295) or rectal (1,515) cancer between October 1995 and December 2003 were studied retrospectively. Patients were followed for more than three years or until disease recurrence. Risk factors considered were age, gender, site of primary tumor, stage, histologic differentiation, and lymphovascular invasion. The mean follow-up duration was 60+/-29 months. RESULTS: Overall recurrence occurred in 546 patients (19.4%). According to stage, the recurrence rates were 4.7% (20/423) in stage I, 10.8% (128/1,185) in stage II, and 33.1% (398/1,202) in stage III. More than 70% of the recurrences occurred within 2 years of surgery. The most common metastatic site was the liver in colon cancer and the lung in rectal cancer. In colon cancer, recurrence was more common in left than in right colon cancer (P=0.012). In rectal cancer, local recurrence was the most common in lower rectal cancer and was more common in patients receiving abdominoperineal resection than in those receiving a sphincter-preserving operation. The liver was the most common site of metastasis within 2 years postoperatively, but metastasis to lung was significantly increased after the second postoperative year. Factors such as sex, T category, N category, and location of the primary tumor were identified to be independent risk covariates for recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of recurrences differed according to the characteristics of the primary tumor and varied with the follow-up period.

Recurrence Pattern after Laparoscopic Resection for Colorectal Cancer: Analysis according to Timing of Recurrence and Location of Primary Tumor

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the recurrence pattern after a curative laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer according to timing of recurrence and the location of the primary tumor. METHODS: Between July 1999 and December 2003, we included 318 patients who underwent a laparoscopic resection for stage I-III colorectal cancer and in whom recurrence had been detected within two postoperative years and who had been followed up for more than two years. The mean age was 57 (23~88) years. The median follow-up time was 36 (7~71) months. RESULTS: The number of rectal cancer patients was 214, and that of colon cancer patients was 104. The total recurrence rate was 15.4%, 7.7% among colon cancer patients and 19.2% among rectal cancer patients. Recurrence according to stage was as follows: stage I: 1.6%, stage II: 5.4%, stage III: 32.5%. Of the total recurrence, 79.6% occurred within two postoperative years. In patients with rectal cancer, local recurrence was more common than in patients with colon cancer. Other types of recurrence were not influenced by the location of the primary tumor. According to timing of recurrence, metastasis to distant lymph nodes developed proportionally after two postoperative years. CONSLUSIONS: Most of the recurrencs developed within two years after a laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer. The recurrence pattern varied with the location of primary tumor and the timing of recurrence. The recurrence pattern after a laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer was similar to that after open surgery for colorectal cancer.

The recurrence rate, risk factors and recurrence patterns after surgery in 3700 patients with operable breast cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: This study was aimed at evaluating the recurrence rate and recurrence patterns after surgically treating for patients with operable breast cancer. METHODS: From 1992 to 2002, 3700 patients with breast cancer (stages 0-3) who underwent mastectomy or breast conservation surgery at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, were selected for this retrospective study. We analyzed the recurrence rate, the annual hazard rate, the risk factors, the time to recurrence and the recurrence patterns according to the clinicopathologic factors. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 45 months, 523 patients (14.1%) of the total 3700 patients developed recurrences: locoregional recurrences occurred in 148 patients (4.0%), distant recurrences occurred in 319 patients (8.6%), and both types occurred in 56 patients (1.5%). The 5-year and 10-year recurrence rates were 17.7% and 23.4%, respectively. The recurrence rate increased in proportion to the cancer stage. The annual hazard rate for recurrence had a peak at 2-years of follow-up. On multivariate analysis, the stage, progesterone receptor status, and c-erbB2 expression were the independent risk factors for recurrence. The median time to recurrence among the patients with recurrence was 24.0 months. 50.5% of recurrences were found within 2 years and 92.0% of recurrences were found within 5 years after surgery. A short time to recurrence was significantly associated with an increased stage, a negative progesterone receptor status, and locoregional recurrences. The common recurrence sites included the chest wall, SCLN and the axillary lymph nodes in a locoregional order, and the bone, lung and liver in a systemic order. Of note is that distant recurrences commonly occurred at multiple sites in a simultaneous manner. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed that the 5 year-recurrence rate was 17.7% and the risk of recurrence was maintained 5 years later after surgery, although the annual hazard rate had the highest peak at 2 years after breast cancer surgery. Because the stage, progesterone receptor status, and c-erbB2 expression are independent risk factors, early detection of breast cancer is required for reducing recurrence.

Optimal Radiation Therapy Field for Malignant Astrocytoma and Glioblastoma Multiforme / 대한방사선종양학회지

PURPOSE: This study was performed to determine the optimal radiation therapy field for the treatment of malignant astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Jan. 1994 to Mar. 2000, 21 patients with malignant astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme, confirmed as recurrent by follow up MRI after surgery and radiation therapy, were analyzed. The distance from the margin of the primary lesion to the recurrent lesion was measured. The following factors were analyzed to investigate the influence of these factors to recurrence pattern; tumor size, degree of edema, surgical extent, gamma knife radiosurgery and multiple lesions. RESULTS: Among the 21 patients, 18 (86%) were recurred within 2 cm from the primary lesion site. 12 within 1 cm, 6 between 1 and 2 cm. The other 3 patients all with multiple lesions, were recurred at 3, 4, 5 cm, from the primary lesion site. The recurrence pattern was not influenced by the factors of tumor size, extent of edema, surgical extent, or gamma knife radiosurgery. However, patients with multiple lesions showed a tendency of recurrence at sites further from the primary lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Most (86%) of the recurrences of malignant astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme occurred within 2 cm from the primary lesion site. The width of treatment field does not need to be changed according to tumor size, degree of edema, surgical extent, or gamma knife radiosurgery. However, the treatment field for multiple lesions appears to be wider than that for a single lesion.

Role of Radiation Therapy in Management of Gastric Cancer

The survival between Western and Eastern studies differs markedly except the early stage. Whereas the 5-year survival rates for patients with stage II and III a gastric carcinoma in the United States are around 30% and 15%, respectively, the rates are 45% and 30% in Germany and 75% and 60% in Japan and Korea. Loco-regional failures are common even after radical resection. Gastric carcinoma is as sensitive as other types of adenocarcinoma to radiation. Preoperative radiation was proven to be effective in reducing the tumor bulk and lymph node metastasis. There are substantial data to show that adequate radiation dose with combined chemotherapy is effective in management of local failure and improvement of survival. But there is no well designed randomized study to evaluate the adjuvant treatment for patients after optimal radical operation. In summary, 1) radical operation has improved the cure rate of stomach cancer, 2) local failure is still one of the common failure patterns, 3) abdominal radiation can be delivered safely in the modern era, and 4) study of pattern of failure on patients after radical surgery is necessary before designing clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant radiation/chemotherapy.

A Clinicopathological Analysis of Recurrent Gastric Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the correlation between the clinicopathologic characteristics and the recurrence pattern of gastric cancer and to define survival difference according to treatment modality after diagnosis of recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 4184 patients who had undergone radical surgery for primary gastric cancer from 1986 through 1996. Clinicopathologic factors were analyzed for the relationship of each factor with the pattern of recurrence. And the survival after diagnosis of recurrence was compared among the treatment modalities. RESULTS: Recurrence pattern was confirmed in 1141 patients. Loco-regional recurrence occurred in 291 patients (20.1%), peritoneal recurrence in 383 (26.5%), distant recurrence in 290 (20.1%), and mixed recurrence in 177 (12.3%), respectively. Early recurrence (less than 2 years) occurred in 767 (69.3%), intermediate recurrence (2~5 years) in 286 (25.8%), and late recurrence (more than 5 years) in 54 (4.9%). In multivariate analysis, T stage, N stage, size of tumor and perineural invasion were independent prognostic factors for recurrence. Median survival from diagnosis of recurrence was 24.2 months in the curative operation group, 7.7 months in the chemotherapy group, 7.1 months in the non-curative operation group and 3.3 months in the conservative treatment group, respectively (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: The clinicopathological analysis of recurrent gastric cancer showed recurrent patterns and prognostic factors. Curative resection is suggested to have survival benefit in recurrent gastric cancer patients, although it was possible in patients with limited extent of disease.

The Patterns of Recurrence after Curative Resection in Gastric Cancer

PURPOSE: Recurrence of gastric cancer is not infrequent even though the surgery was curative. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between the clinicopathological factors and the recurrence patterns to develop the strategies for the adjuvant treatment. METHODS: We followed the postoperative courses of 578 patients with gastric cancer who underwent curative surgery at the Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital from 1990 to 1994. RESULTS: One hundred and forty patients (24.2%) died of a recurrence of the gastric cancer, and 40 (6.9%) died without recurrent disease. The most frequent mode of recurrence was peritoneal seeding (40.0%), followed by hematogenous recurrence (29.2%) and local recurrence (25.0%). The incidence of peritoneal recurrence was significantly higher in subgroups of patients with serosal invasion (47.2% and 17.2%; p=0.011) and with poorly differentiated tumors (47.4% and 27.3%; p=0.002). The incidence of hematogenous recurrence was significantly higher in subgroups of patients without serosal invasion (41.4% and 25.3%; p=0.011) and with well or moderately differentiated tumors (47.7% and 18.4%; p=0.002). The recurrence rates according to the lymph node dissection and postoperative systemic chemotherapy were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: In patients with serosal invasion or with poorly differentiated tumors, an effort to prevent peritoneal recurrence is needed. And in patients with well or moderately differentiated tumors, an effort to prevent hematogenous recurrence is also needed.