Paclitaxel and Cisplatin with Concurrent Radiotherapy for Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

PURPOSE: The prognosis of stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with radiotherapy alone has been disappointing. Combined therapy including chemotherapy and radiotherapy has potential of improving both local and distant metastatic control. Paclitaxel and cisplatin have demonstrated activity as radiation sensitizers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of paclitaxel and cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy for stage III NSCLC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 2000 and July 2002, twenty-four previously untreated patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC received paclitaxel (60 mg/m2) and cisplatin (20 mg/m2) with concurrent radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was given on the first day of each week during radiotherapy. Concurrent radiotherapy was performed in 1.8 Gy daily fractions to a total dose of 54~59.4 Gy in 6~7 weeks (median: 59.4 Gy). RESULTS: Among 24 evaluable patients, the overall response was 83.3%, with four complete responses and 16 partial responses. Median survival was 16 months, with survival rates of 62.5% at 1 year and 28.7% at 2 years. Serious side effect was generally limited to grade 3 pulmonary toxicity in 37.5% of patients. CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel and cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy has acceptable response with manageable toxicity in patients with stage III NSCLC. More randomized studies with a larger group of patients are required to improve the true efficacy

Effect of Granisetron Plus Dexamethasone in the Prevention of Delayed Nausea and Vomiting / 대한암학회지

BACKGROUND: Granisetron, a new 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, was reported as a highly effective antiemetics, especially in combination with dexamethasone, in the prevention of acute emesis induced by cisplatin. But there is lack of data about effectiveness in the prevention of delayed emesis. In this study, the efficacy of granisetron plus dexamethasone in the prevention of delayed emesis induced by cisplatin was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-four patients who were to receive high-dose cisplatin containing chemotherapy regimen were enrolled in this study. They were received 20 mg of dexamethasone and 3 mg of granisetron at 30 min and 10 minutes prior to cisplatin infusion, respectively. They were monitored for 5 days, first 24 hours for acute nausea/ vomiting and the subsequent 4 days for delayed nausea/vomiting. Antiemetic effect of granisetron was evaluated according to the criteria of Italian Group of Antiemetic Research. RESULTS: Control of delayed nausea and vomiting was achieved in 58% and 84%, respectively. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was a statistically significant prognostic factor for control of acute vomiting and delayed nausea/vomiting. There were no stastically significant differences between control of delayed nausea/ vomiting and other prognostic factors, including sex, age, and prior history of cisplatin therapy. The antiemetic effect was greater in the patients who had controled acute nausea/ vomiting than those who had not. CONCLUSION: Granisetron plus dexamethasone is an excellent regimen in the control of not only acute emesis but also delayed emesis induced by high-dose cisplatin chemotherapy.

Result of Radiotherapy in Non-metastatic Esophageal Cancer / 대한치료방사선과학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate preliminarly the role of intraluminal brachytherapy in the radiation treatment of non-metastatic esophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed follow-up result of 21 patients treated at the dept. of therapeutic radiology in Gyeongsang national university hospital between April, 1989 and August, 1992. All patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy(5-FU, Cispl-atin). Fifteen patients were treated with eternal beam alone, and in remaining 6 patients, the external beam radiotherapy followed by intraluminal brachytherapy was done. RESULTS: Among 21 patients, 7 patients showed complete tumor regression after completion of radiotherapy. But 2 of these complete responder recurred at at the site of primary disease, so ultimate local control rate was 23.8%(5/21). Local control rate according to radiation treatment modality was 6.7%(1/15) in patients treated with external irradiation only, and 66.7% in patients treated with combined external irradiation and intraluminal brachytherapy. The 2 year NED survival rate was 6.6% in the former and 66.7% in the latter. CONCLUSION: Although there should be consideration about case selection for addition of intraluminal brachytherapy, intraluminal brachytherapy may be considered as one of the method to enhance the local control probability of esophageal cancer

A case of beta-thalassemia minor / 대한혈액학회지

No abstract available.