Salvage radiotherapy for biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy: does the outcome depend on the prostate cancer characteristics?

ABSTRACT Objective: To build a model to evaluate the impact of salvage radiotherapy (SRT) in men with PSA rise or persistent PSA after undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP). Materials and Methods: The study included 107 node-negative patients treated with SRT after RP at a single institution. Patients received SRT for either prostate-specific antigen (PSA) rising, or PSA persistence after RP. All patients received local radiation to the prostate / seminal vesicle bed. The primary measured outcome was the biochemical recurrence (BCR) free survival. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to develop a risk-stratification group to identify predictive factors associated with the probability of BCR at 5yr. Results: At a median follow-up of 52 months, the BCR free survival rate and overall survival in 5 years was 73% and 94%, respectively. At multivariable analysis, pre-SRT PSA level > 0.35ng / mL (p = 0.023), negative margins (p = 0.038), and seminal vesicles invasion (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with BCR free survival. Three risk groups using regression analysis for SRT administration was built. Low-, intermediate- and the high-risk groups had a BCR free survival in 5-years of 96%, 84%, and 44% (p = 0.0001), respectively. Conclusions: We developed a risk group stratification to show the impact of SRT based on prostate cancer characteristics. SRT showed to be extremely beneficial for patients with low- and intermediate-risk tumors. Moreover, the risk-group built could identify patients classified as high-risk who might benefit from more aggressive treatment for SRT.

Posaconazole Treatment in Korea: Single-Center Experience Over 5 Years

PURPOSE: Posaconazole is a second-generation triazole with a broad spectrum. However, there is a lack of data to support a significant role for posaconazole in the treatment of invasive fungal infection (IFI), especially in Korea. Until recently, posaconazole was available only through the Korean Orphan Drug Center. This study was designed to review the use of posaconazole at a single-center in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from patients who received posaconazole treatment at Catholic Blood and Marrow Transplantation Center were retrospectively reviewed between January 2007 and September 2012. RESULTS: A total of 11 cases (3 males and 8 females, median age 52 years) received posaconazole. Five patients were given the drug for mucormycosis, two for invasive aspergillosis, and four for unspecified IFI for which galactomannan (GM) assays were negative. The treatment duration ranged from 4-250 days. Three patients received posaconazole for management refractory IFI, two for intolerance of previous antifungal therapy, and six for long-term maintenance treatment. The overall successful response rate to posaconazole was 55% (six of eleven patients). Five of eleven patients died during the study period. However, only one death was attributed to the progression of IFI. None of the patients discontinued posaconazole therapy due to adverse events. CONCLUSION: Posaconazole is an attractive oral antifungal agent for salvage treatment of IFI, particularly upon diagnosis of mucormycosis or in cases in which mucormycosis cannot be ruled out due to a negative GM.

Laringectomia de resgate: utilização do retalho miocutâneo de peitoral maior na prevenção de fístula faringocutânea / The usefulness of a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in preventing salivary fistulae after salvage total laryngectomy

Laringectomias de resgate estão associadas a altas taxas de complicações pós-operatórias. O uso de retalhos na reconstrução do trânsito faríngeo poderia reduzir a incidência destas complicações. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a utilidade do retalho miocutâneo de músculo peitoral maior na prevenção da fístula salivar no pós-operatório de laringectomia total de resgate. MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo, realizado de abril/2006 a maio/2011, com 31 pacientes portadores de CCE de laringe recidivado, tratados previamente com quimiorradioterapia ou radioterapia isolada, submetidos à laringectomia de resgate. Destes 31 pacientes, a reconstrução da faringe foi realizada com utilização do retalho miocutâneo de músculo peitoral maior em 19 (61%) casos, enquanto o fechamento primário ocorreu em 12 pacientes (39%). RESULTADOS: Foi observada taxa de fistula salivar em (16%) dos pacientes em que se utilizou o retalho e 58% nos pacientes submetidos a fechamento primário da faringe (p < 0,02). Não foi observada diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos em relação ao tempo médio de aparecimento de fistula e reintrodução da dieta por via oral, bem como tempo de uso de cateter nasoentérico para alimentação. CONCLUSÃO: O retalho miocutâneo do músculo peitoral maior mostrou-se como opção capaz de reduzir incidência de fistula salivar em laringectomias de resgate.

Salvage laryngectomy in patients treated with organ preservation protocols is associated with high rates of postoperative complications. The use of non-irradiated tissue flaps in pharyngeal reconstruction could reduce the incidence of these complications. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in preventing salivary fistulae during the postoperative period of salvage total laryngectomy (TL). MATERIALS AND METHOD: This retrospective study enrolled 31 patients operated between April of 2006 and May of 2011. All patients had advanced cancer at the time of the salvage procedure and had been treated with chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone. Pharyngeal reconstruction was performed using pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in 19 cases (61%); primary wound closure occurred in 12 patients (39%). RESULTS: Salivary fistulae occurred in 16% of the patients who received the flap and in 58% of the patients with primary closure of the pharynx (p < 0.02). No statistically significant differences were noted between the groups with respect to the mean time for fistula formation, reintroduction of an oral diet, or use of a nasoenteric tube for feeding. CONCLUSION: The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap was found to reduce the incidence of salivary fistulae in salvage laryngectomy procedures.

Critical analysis of salvage radical prostatectomy in the management of radioresistant prostate cancer

Purpose: To critically evaluate salvage radical prostatectomy (SRP) in the treatment of patients with recurrent prostate cancer (PCa). Materials and Methods: From January 2005 to June 2007, we assessed patients with recurrent localized PCa. Recurrence was suspected when there were three or more successive increases in prostate specific antigen (PSA) after nadir. After the routine imagery examinations, and once localized PCa was confirmed, patients were offered SRP. Following surgery, we evaluated bleeding, rectal injury, urinary incontinence or obstruction and impotence. PSA values were measured at 1, 3, 6, months and thereafter twice a year. Results: Forty-two patients underwent SRP. The average age was 61 years. Following radiotherapy , the mean PSA nadir was 1.5 ng/mL (0.57-5.5). The mean prostate specific antigen doubling time (PSA-DT) was 14 months (6-20). Prior to SRP, the mean PSA was 5.7 ng/mL (2.9-18). The pathologic staging was pT2a: 13 percent; pT2b: 34 percent; pT2c: 27 percent; pT3a: 13 percent; and pT3b: 13 percent. Bleeding > 600 mL occurred in 14 percent of the cases; urethral stenosis in 50 percent; and urinary incontinence (two or more pads/day) in 72 percent. The mean follow-up post-SRP ranged from 6 to 30 months. The PSA level rose in 9, of which 6 had PSA-DT < 10 months. Conclusions: SRP is a feasible method in the management of localized radioresistant PCa. PSA-DT has shown to be important for the selection and SRP should not be performed if PSA-DT > 10 months. Due to its increased morbidity, SRP should be only offered to the patients who are more concerned about survival rather than quality of life.

Early occurrence of acute myeloid leukemia following adjuvant radiotherapy and higher cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide in carcinoma breast.

We report a case of cancer breast developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) within a relatively short interval of two and a half years of her primary treatment. This could be attributed to post operative radiotherapy and a higher cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide (14.4 gm) which had to be given as a part of her combination chemotherapy regimen, initially as adjuvant and then later as salvage chemotherapy. The successful salvage therapy for secondary AML instituted in this case is also discussed.