Clinical observation of chemotherapy combined with camrelizumab in patients with inoperable microsatellite stable type colorectal cancer / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of XELOX chemotherapy （oxaliplatin+capecitabine） combined with antiangiogenic agent （apatinib） and immunotherapy （camrelizumab） in patients with inoperable metastatic colorectal cancer （CRC）of microsatellite stable （MSS） type. METHODS Clinical medical records of 40 patients with inoperable metastatic CRC of MSS type treated in Lishui People’s Hospital from January 2020 to January 2021 were retrospectively collected. According to the treatment plan， the patients were divided into control group （20 cases） and observation group （20 cases）. Control group was given XELOX+apatinib regimen， while observation group was given XELOX+apatinib+camrelizumab regimen. Every 3 weeks was a treatment cycle， and the treatment lasted for 2 consecutive cycles. The objective response rate （ORR）， disease control rate （DCR）， progression-free survival （PFS）， overall survival （OS） and adverse events （AEs） were recorded for all patients. RESULTS The ORR and DCR of observation group were 65.0% and 85.0%， respectively； and the ORR and DCR of control group were 35.0% and 75.0%， respectively， with no statistical significance between 2 groups （P＞0.05）. The median PFS of observation group and control groups were 16.0 months and 8.0 months， respectively； and the median OS were 19.0 months and 12.5 months， respectively， with statistical significance between 2 groups （P＜0.05）. Each patient in both groups had at least one AEs， and the incidences of reactive skin capillary hyperplasia and hyperthyroidism in observation group （40.0%， 20.0%） were significantly higher than those in control group （both were 0） （P＜0.05）. The incidence of nausea and vomiting in control group （90%） was significantly higher than observation group （10%） （P＜0.05）. There were 14 cases （70.0%） of patients with grade 3 or above AEs in observation group， and only 5 cases （25.0%） in control group， with statistical significance between 2 groups （P＜0.05）. However， no severe AEs that could not be tolerated or fatal occurred in the two groups， which could be alleviated after drug withdrawal or treatment. CONCLUSIONS The efficacy of XELOX chemotherapy combined with apatinib and camrelizumab in inoperable metastatic CRC patients of MSS type is comparable to that of XELOX chemotherapy combined with apatinib， but it has certain advantages in ORR， PFS and OS， and controllable safety.

Abordaje transcaval en reemplazo valvular aórtico percutáneo: primer caso en Costa Rica / Transcaval approach in valve replacement Percutaneous Aortic Surgery: First Case in Costa Rica

La estenosis aórtica severa sintomática que se presenta en pacientes de alto o mediano riesgo quirúrgico puede ser abordada de manera percutánea con reemplazos valvulares aórticos transcateter. Existe sólida evidencia de resultados favorables en estos pacientes con un perfil de seguridad adecuado. El abordaje transfemoral es el más utilizado y ha demostrado ser más seguro en comparación a los abordajes torácicos. Sin embargo, desde mitades de la década pasada el abordaje transcaval se ha convertido en una opción en los pacientes que presentan un riesgo quirúrgico alto y que presentan una vasculatura inadecuada para un abordaje transfemoral seguro. Presentamos el caso de un paciente de 65 años en quien se empleó este abordaje dado a su alto riesgo quirúrgico e inaccesibilidad para realizar un abordaje transfemoral.

Severe symptomatic aortic stenosis in patients with high surgical risk can be addressed percutaneously with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). There is solid evidence of favorable results with an adequate safety profile in these patients. The transfemoral approach is the most widely used and has shown to be safer compared to thoracic approaches. Though, since the middle of the last decade, the transcaval approach has become an option in patients who present a high surgical risk and who have inadequate vasculature for a safe transfemoral approach. We present the case of a 65-year-old patient in whom this approach was preferred due to his high surgical risk and inaccessibility to perform a transfemoral approach.

125I brachytherapy seeds implantation for an inoperable large retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma

Retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma is relatively uncommon. Leiomyosarcoma has accounted for about 5%-10% of soft-tissue sarcoma, and 1/2–2/3 of the primary lesions were retroperitoneal, with a cumulative 5-year survival rate of only 35%.Leiomyosarcoma is one kind of soft-tissue sarcoma with the lowest survival rates due to the invasive growth, difficult treatment, and poor prognosis.The present study reported a case of a 78-year-old male diagnosed as left retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma, who had received three operations. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a mass of approximately 12.9 cm × 6.9 cm × 6.6 cm in his retroperitoneal region. The Eastern cooperative oncology group and numerical rating scale scores of pain were 1 and 5, respectively. Multiple treatment strategies were administered, including the application of drainage and125I seed implantation. A total of 90125I seeds were implanted into the tumor through repetitious operations, with 30 seeds each time. Treatment planning system was involved to calculate the source distribution.125I seeds with the activity of 0.5 mCi were implanted under the guidance of CT, and dosimetric verification was performed after the operation. D90 (90% minimum prescription dose received by target volume) was 40 Gy. Follow-up was performed after 6 months, and complete response was achieved in the local lesions. However, there was no evidence-based treatment currently and the majority of our knowledge was based on results from case reports, thus further studies would be required

Palliative treatment with radiotherapy in patients of advanced esophageal carcinoma

Background: Esophageal carcinoma is high prevalence in Asia, including India and most of the patients present in advanced and inoperable stage. Most of the patients have poor nutritional status and low performance status. These patients are unable to tolerate radical treatment. Prognosis of these patients is very poor. There are no enough data of prospective study in palliation of dysphagia of the patients with inoperable esophageal carcinoma with radiotherapy in Eastern India. Objectives: The main objective of our study was palliation of dysphagia of the patients with inoperable esophageal carcinoma with radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: The study was done with 43 patients with histopathologically proven squamous cell carcinoma and/or adenocarcinoma at thoracic esophagus, intraluminal brachytherapy feasible. Patients were received external beam radiotherapy palliative dose 30 Gy in 10 fractions for 2 weeks followed by intraluminal high-dose rate brachytherapy 6 Gy per fraction per week for 2 weeks. Results: In our study, the mean age of the patients was 58 years (age range 48 years–70 years). 1 month after completion of intraluminal brachytherapy, a number of patients with improvement of dysphagia were 34 (79%). The improvement of dysphagia was maintained 25 (73.5%) patients at 3-month completion of treatment and 14 (56%) patients at 6-month completion of treatment. The median duration of dysphagia relief was 5.2 months. Post-radiotherapy complications as chest pain were seen in 10 (23.2%) patients, esophageal strictures were developed in 7 (16.3%) patients, ulcerations were in 4 (9.3%) patients, and esophageal fistula was developed in 1 (2.3%) patient. Conclusion: The patients with advanced inoperable or metastatic esophageal carcinoma and poor performance status, palliative radiotherapy are effective modality of treatment for the improvement of dysphagia.

Evaluación del efecto antitumoral del nimotuzumab combinado con radioquimioterapia en tumores de esófago / Evaluation of the antitumor effect of nimotuzumab combined with radiochemotherapy in treatment of esophageal tumors

Introducción: el cáncer de esófago en Cuba es una de las cinco primeras causas de muerte por tumores. El tratamiento incluye quimioterapia, radioterapia y cirugía, así como el descubrimiento de nuevos blancos potenciales para la inmunoterapia, entre los que se encuentra el receptor del Factor de Crecimiento Epidérmico. El anticuerpo monoclonal cubano AcM HR3 (nimotuzumab) se estudia actualmente a nivel mundial. Objetivo: evaluar la eficacia y seguridad del nimotuzumab combinado con radioquimioterapia en tumores de esófago inoperable en comparación con el tratamiento habitual en los pacientes atendidos por esta enfermedad en el Hospital Hermanos Ameijeiras, durante los meses de diciembre de 2005 a junio 2010. Método: se diseñó un estudio clínico controlado, aleatorizado, abierto con dos grupos de tratamiento, uno con Radioquimioterapia más Bioterapia y otro con Radioquimioterapia. La variable principal fue la respuesta clínica, con que clasifica la reducción del tumor, de acuerdo al criterio RECIST, en: remisión completa, remisión parcial, estabilización de la enfermedad y progresión. La toxicidad evaluó los eventos adversos que presentaron los pacientes en cada uno de los grupos de tratamiento. Resultados: en relación a la respuesta objetiva se obtuvo una mayor proporción en el grupo de nimotuzumab (88,9 por ciento) contra el grupo control (22,2 por ciento), con una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre ambos grupos de 66,7 por ciento. Fueron frecuentes los eventos tos, insomnio, síntomas gastrointestinales y dolor retroesternal en el grupo tratado, mientras que en el grupo control las molestias gastrointestinales y la astenia fueron las de mayor aparición. Conclusiones: los pacientes tratados con nimotuzumab presentaron un mejor índice de respuesta objetiva y de control de la enfermedad y su administración fue segura al combinarse con la terapia establecida para el tratamiento del cáncer de esófago inoperable según las normas terapéuticas cubanas(AU)

Introduction: esophageal cancer in Cuba is one of the first five causes of death from tumors. The treatment includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery as well as the discovery of new potential targets for immunotherapy such as the epidermal growth factor receptor. The Cuban monoclonal antibody AcM HR3 (nimotuzumab) is studied at present internationally. Objective: to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nimotuzumab combined with radiochemotherapy in inoperable esophageal tumors and to compare it with the ordinary treatment given to patients seen at Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital from December 2005 to June 2010. Method: open, controlled, randomized clinical study was designed for two groups of patients, one with radiochemotherapy plus biotherapy and the other one with radiochemotherapy. The main variable was the clinical response with which the tumor reduction is classified in accordance with the RECIST criteria: complete remission, partial remission, disease stabilization and progression. Toxicity tests evaluated the adverse events that occurred in patients of each of the groups. Results: regarding the objective response, a higher proportion was reached in the group with nimotuzumab (88,9 percent) against the control group (22,2 percent), with statistically significant difference between both groups of patients equal to 66,7 percent. Cough, insomnia, gastrointestinal problems and retrosternal pain were frequent in the treatment group whereas the control group suffered gastrointestinal disturbances and asthenia more frequently. Conclusions: the patients treated with nimotuzumab presented better index of objective response and of disease control and its administration was safe when combined with the set therapy for treatment of inoperable esophageal cancer in line with the Cuban therapeutic standards(AU)

Analysis of curative effect of implantation of radioactive seeds on inoperable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:To evaluate the curative effect of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous implantation of 125I radioactive seeds on inoperable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods:From January 2003 to December 2012, we selected 48 patients who had pathologically confirmed early-stage NSCLC (stageⅠ, 18 cases;stageⅡ, 30 cases with N0). We treated the nidus by CT-guided percutaneous implantation of 125I radioactive seeds. Six months after implantation, the chest CT-scan was reviewed, and the effect of the treatment was evaluated according to the international standards. Final follow-up was performed in December 2013. Results:All operations were successfully completed. The target tumor matched peripheral doses (MPDs) were 215.8±14.3 Gy (D100), 106.8±11.6 Gy (D90), and 148.6± 17.3 Gy (D90>MPD). Six months after implantation, chest CT was reviewed, and treatment effects were evaluated. The percentages of stage I patients achieving complete relief (CR), partial relief (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressive disease (PD) were 27.8%(5 cases), 72.2%(13 cases), 0%, and 0%, respectively. Among stageⅡpatients, CR, PR, SD, and PD percentages were 0%(3 cases), 73.3%(22 cases), 13.3%(4 cases), and 3.3%(1 case), respectively. The effective rate was 89.6%. The 1-year local control rate was 85%. Until December 2013, the 1-, 2-, and 5-year cumulative survival rates up to the end of the interval were 95.8%(46/48), 81.3%(39/48), and 56.3%(27/48), respectively. Conclusion:CT-guided percutaneous implantation of 125I radioactive seeds is an effective micro-invasive method for treating inoperable early-stage NSCLC.

Hypofractionated three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for medically inoperable early stage non-small-cell lung cancer

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical outcomes of hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) with three-dimensional conformal technique for medically inoperable patients with early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to evaluate prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 26 patients who underwent HFRT for early stage NSCLC between September 2005 and August 2011. Only clinical stage T1-3N0 was included. The median RT dose was 70 Gy (range, 60 to 72 Gy) and the median biologically equivalent dose (BED) was 94.5 Gy (range, 78.0 to 100.8 Gy). In 84.6% of patients, 4 Gy per fraction was used. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and cisplatin was given to 2 of 26 patients. RESULTS: The median follow-up time for surviving patients was 21 months (range, 13 to 49 months). The overall response rate was 53.9%, and the initial local control rate was 100%. The median survival duration was 27.8 months. Rates of 2-year overall survival, progression-free survival (PFS), local control (LC), and locoregional-free survival (LRFS) were 54.3%, 61.1%, 74.6%, and 61.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that BED (>90 vs. < or =90 Gy) was an independent prognostic factor influencing PFS, LC, and LRFS. Severe toxicities over grade 3 were not observed. CONCLUSION: Radical HFRT can yield satisfactory disease control with acceptable rates of toxicities in medically inoperable patients with early stage NSCLC. HFRT is a viable alternative for clinics and patients ineligible for stereotactic ablative radiotherapy. BED over 90 Gy and 4 Gy per fraction might be appropriate for HFRT.

Endoscopic drainage in patients with inoperable hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma has an extremely poor prognosis and is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. Palliative management plays an important role in the treatment of patients with inoperable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Surgical, percutaneous, and endoscopic biliary drainage are three modalities available to resolve obstructive jaundice. Plastic stents were widely used in the past; however, self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) have become popular recently due to their long patency and reduced risk of side branch obstruction, and SEMS are now the accepted treatment of choice for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Bilateral drainage provides more normal and physiological biliary flow through the biliary ductal system than that of unilateral drainage. Unilateral drainage was preferred until recently because of its technical simplicity. But, with advancements in technology, bilateral drainage now achieves a high success rate and is the preferred treatment modality in many centers. However, the choice of unilateral or bilateral drainage is still controversial, and more studies are needed. This review focuses on the endoscopic method and discusses stent materials and types of procedures for patients with a hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Modified FOLFOX-6 Chemotherapy for Recurrent or Inoperable Gastric Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of modified FOLFOX-6 chemotherapy for treating recurrent or inoperable gastric cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2006 to August 2007, 35 patients with recurrent gastric cancer after curative resection and 43 patients with inoperable gastric cancer underwent chemotherapy, and the results were retrospectively investigated. RESULTS: 78 patients were assessable for response and toxicity, and they underwent an average of 7.1 cycles of chemotherapy. The response was evaluated according to the RECIST criteria. 11 partial responses (14.1%), 35 cases of stable disease (44.9%), and 32 cases of progressive disease (41%) were observed. The median time to progression was 6 months, and the average overall survival was 13 months. CTCAE grade 1 or 2 anemia (52.6%) was the most prevalent toxicity. Other common toxicities included thrombocytopenia (17.9%) and peripheral neuropathy (30.8%). There were 13 changes in the chemotherapy regimen to S1-cisplatin due to disease progression, but only an average of 1.76 cycles of S1-cisplatin were delivered due to severe toxicities and poor compliance. CONCLUSION: Acceptable efficacy and toxicity were seen as 59% of the patients showed non-progression, and no grade 3 or 4 toxicities were observed. In conclusion, the modified FOLFOX-6 chemotherapy is considered to be the proper 1st-line choice as a palliative treatment for recurrent or inoperable gastric cancer patients.

A Case of Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Unresectable Hepatoblastoma / 대한소아혈액종양학회지

Hepatoblastoma is a rare pediatric malignancy which frequently presents at an advanced unresectable stage. Complete surgical resection after chemotherapy is the definitive treatment for hepatoblastoma. Liver transplantation should be considered for children who have unresectable hepatoblastoma. We report a case of a 18-month-old boy with unresectable hepatoblastoma who had transplantation with pre- and post-operative chemotherapy.

Primary Radiation Therapy of Malignant Salivary gland Tumors by Conventional Megavoltage Irradiation: Korea Cancer Center Hospital / 대한치료방사선과학회지

Retrospective analysis of survival rates was undertaken in the patients of 58 cases treated with conventional radiation therapy for malignant salivary gland tumors between January 1975 and December 1984 in Korea Cancer Center Hospital (KCCH). They were patients whose long-term follow-up was possible and who had refused surgery or had had recurrences postoperatively. Out of 58 patients, 25 patients (43.1%) had mucoepidermoid carcinomas and 24 patients (41.3%) adenoid cystic carcinoma. Total actuarial survival rates at 5 years and 10 years were 68.2% and 31.8% respectively, but disease-free survival rates, 43.2% and 13.0%, respectively. According to TNM stage, the survival rates at 5 years were 86.5% in T1, 40.0% in T2 + T3, and 0% in T4. In terms of histologic types, 5 years disease-free survival rate of adenoid cystic carcinomas (40.1%) was lower than that of mucoepidermoid carcinomas (49.8%) but overall survival rate (77.3%) was much higher than that of mucoepidermoid carcinomas (51.5%). Therefore, we concluded that the patients, who had had disease after failure of treatment, could survive during a certain period of time and their alive times were 2 years on the average. There was a difference in survival rates in the mucoepidermoid carcinomas in terms of histological grade of differentiation and it was a arbiter in prognosis: 5 YSR of low-grade was 78.8% and higher 2 times than that of high-grade. There was no difference in survival rates according to location and sex. The number of patients having minor salivary gland tumors was 6 cases and their actuarial 5 YSR was 32.3%. Consequently, prognostic factors which influence the survival rates of patients with malignant salivary gland tumors are thought to be 1) histological ubtypes 2) T and N staging (AJCC) 3) histological grade, especially in mucoepidermoids.

Intracavitary Irradiation of Locally Advanced Recurrent Adenocarcinoma of Rectum Along the Fistula tract / 대한치료방사선과학회지

Radiation therapy has been used as adjuvant therapy or primary treatment for inoperable, remnant or recurrent cancer. Many authors reported good palliation effect by external irradiation or interstitial therapy, but the report of intracavitary irradiation for recurrent, inoperable rectal cancer is very rare. We experienced a case of recurrent adenocarcinoma of rectum along fistula tract after laparotomy and postoperative radiotherapy who achieved very good palliation by intracavitary irradiation. Even though we have only good palliation without impressive survival improvement in this case, we hope that this technique may achieve good local control in other similar patients.