Patients with non-functional metastatic G2 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor benefit from palliative surgery: A 20-year single-center retrospective analysis.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET) is the most common subset (31.5%) of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in China. Based on real-world data from a single center, the present study aimed to evaluate the influence of clinical characteristics, medical treatment and surgery on the survival of non-functional metastatic G2 pNET. In total, 114 metastatic non-functional G2 pNET patients, who were treated and followed up in the Department of Medical Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) from 2001 until 2019, were analyzed retrospectively. The primary endpoint, overall survival (OS), was calculated from the date of diagnosis to the date of death. The second endpoint, progression-free survival (PFS), was calculated from the date of diagnosis to the date of disease progression. Statistical data were analyzed to evaluate the effects of a clinical characteristic, medical treatment and surgery on OS and PFS. Sixty-nine (60.5%) patients were male and 87 (76.3%) were aged < 60 years. The liver was the most common metastatic organ, with a total of 84 cases (73.7%). With respect to surgery, 32 (28.1%) patients underwent radical surgery and 37 (32.5%) underwent palliative surgery. Survival analysis showed that the 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 79.36% and 70.0%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses suggested that both radical (p < .001/.003) and palliative surgery (p < .001/.002) significantly prolonged OS, as revealed by the Kaplan-Meier test (p < .001). Subgroup analysis showed that palliative resection also significantly improves the prognosis in patients with multiple liver metastases. However, the first-line systemic anti-tumor therapy option showed no statistical differences in the present study. Overall, patients with non-functional metastatic G2 pNET receiving palliative or radical surgery demonstrated significantly better survival. Prospective clinical trials are suggested to validate our findings.

Influencing factors of lung cancer in nonsmoking women: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have shown that some factors other than smoking may affect the risk of lung cancer in women, but the results are controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to summarize the influencing factors of lung cancer in nonsmoking women. METHODS: Both English and Chinese databases were searched for publications from 1990 to 2020. All included studies were assessed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of influential factors were analyzed using the meta-analysis method, and the publication bias and sensitivity were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the five categories, the pooled OR of cooking factors category was the highest. Among 42 influencing factors, there were frequent fried food (OR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.73-3.38) and long menstrual cycle (0.54, 95% CI: 0.39-0.75). A positive association of history of lung diseases/family lung/all cancer with lung cancer among Asian nonsmoking women (1.82, 95% CI: 1.60-2.07). Unlike other regions, cooking factors were the main risk factor for lung cancer in Asian. CONCLUSION: The meta-analysis suggests that cooking habits, diet, passive smoking, history of cancer and lung disease, and female reproduction are related to lung cancer in nonsmoking women. However, additional studies are warranted to extend this finding.

Association of emergence of new mutations in circulating tumuor DNA during chemotherapy with clinical outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The understanding of molecular changes in mCRC during treatment could be used to personalise therapeutic strategies. The aim of our study was to explore the association of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) with clinical outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). METHODS: Sequential patients with mCRC receiving standard first-line chemotherapy were included prospectively. Both plasma ctDNA and serum CEA were assessed in samples obtained before treatment and after 4 cycles of chemotherapy (C4). Computed tomography (CT) scans were carried out at baseline and post-C4 (8-10 weeks) and were assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1). Target-capture deep sequencing with a panel covering 1021 genes was performed to detected somatic mutations in ctDNA. RESULTS: A total of 20 patients were prospectively included and treated with either leucovorin, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) (15/20) or leucovorin, fluorouracil, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) (5/20). Median follow-up was 6.9 months (range 1.6-26.6). Somatic mutations for baseline ctDNA analysis were identified in 85% (17/20) of the patients. Mutation variations of ctDNA after chemotherapy were tested in 16/20 (80.0%) of the patients. In multivariate analyses, a high baseline molecular tumour burden index (mTBI) in ctDNA was associated with a higher risk of disease progression, as well as emergence of new mutations in ctDNA during chemotherapy. Patients with newly detected mutations had shorter progression-free survival (PFS) compared to those without (median 3.0 versus 7.3 months; hazard ratio (HR), 5.97; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.70-50.69; P = 0.0003). Fold changes in mTBI from baseline to post-C4 were obtained in 80.0% (16/20) of the patients, which were also related to PFS. Patients with fold reduction in mTBI above 0.8-fold had longer PFS compared to those below (median 9.3 versus 4.1 months; HR, 4.51; 95% CI, 1.29-15.70; P = 0.0008). CONCLUSIONS: Newly detected mutations in ctDNA during treatment might potentially be associated with clinical outcome in mCRC and may provide important clinical information.

Systemic treatment of a metastatic carotid body tumor: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are head and neck paragangliomas (PGLs) with a low incidence of distant metastasis. To date, only a few metastatic cases treated with detailed systemic therapy are reported and effective management is still inconclusive. Herein, we reported a metastatic CBT case with systemic therapy and reviewed the reported systemic treatment. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 56-year-old man noticed multiple painless nodules on the right side of the neck and developed debilitating chest and back pain 7 years after the CBT resection. DIAGNOSES: Widespread bone and lymph nodes CBT metastases. INTERVENTIONS: Biopsies of the enlarged lymph nodes confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic CBT and 18F-FDG PET-CT detected multiple right cervical lymph nodes and bone metastases. 24 cycles of cyclophosphamide, vincristine and dacarbazine (CVD) chemotherapy were given since May 2016 to Jul 2018 and dacarbazine maintenance therapy was given in the next 15 months follow-up period. OUTCOMES: Partial remission was achieved according to the Response Evaluation in Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1 criteria. A prominent control in the metastatic lesions were also observed in 18F-FDG PET-CT scan. LESSONS: Evidence for systemic management of metastatic CBTs is mainly based on studies of PGLs and pheochromocytoma. According to our review on metastatic CBT cases treated with systemic therapy from 1981 to 2018, chemotherapy, especially the CVD regimen, was a common reported management. In SDHB mutated patients, sunitinib and temozolomide could also be considered.

Activity and Safety of Geptanolimab (GB226) for Patients with Unresectable, Recurrent, or Metastatic Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma: A Phase II, Single-arm Study.

PURPOSE: Patients with alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) are rare and have few treatment options. We assessed the activity of geptanolimab (GB226), a fully humanized programmed cell death protein 1 antibody, for patients with unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic ASPS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted this multicenter, single-arm, phase II study (Gxplore-005, NCT03623581) in patients aged 18-75 years who had unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic ASPS at 11 sites in China. Patients received intravenous geptanolimab (3 mg/kg) every 2 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was objective response rate assessed by independent review committee (IRC) per RECIST 1.1 in the full analysis set population. RESULTS: Between September 6, 2018 and March 6, 2019, we enrolled and treated 37 patients with 23 (62.2%) having received prior systemic treatment. Fourteen [37.8%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 22.5-55.2] of 37 patients had an objective response assessed by IRC with a 6-month duration of response rate of 91.7%. Median progression-free survival was 6.9 months (95% CI, 5.0-not reached) and disease control was achieved in 32 (86.5%; 95% CI, 71.2-95.5) patients. Three of 37 patients reported grade 3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), including anemia, hypophysitis, and proteinuria [one each (2.7%)]. No grade 4 TRAEs were observed. Two (5.4%) patients discontinued treatment due to TRAEs (one with hypophysitis and one with Mobitz type I atrioventricular block). The baseline percentage of CD4+ T cells was adversely associated with patient response (P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: Geptanolimab has clinically meaningful activity and a manageable safety profile in unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic ASPS.

Immune Checkpoint Markers in Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Digestive System.

Digestive system neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are rare neoplasms originating from neuroendocrine cells with a poor prognosis and limited effective treatments. Programmed cell death protein 1/ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) blockade has been used in the management of more than 10 solid tumors and has achieved promising clinical outcomes. PD-L1 expression, immune cell infiltration, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI) are all verified biomarkers that can predict the response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Here, we investigated PD-L1 expression and immune cell infiltration density by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of tumor samples from 33 patients with digestive system NECs. Tumor and paratumor normal samples from 31 of these patients underwent whole-exome sequencing to evaluate TMB and the MSI-high (MSI-H) status. In total, 29.0% of digestive system NECs had positive PD-L1 expression according to the tumor proportion score (TPS). Infiltration of CD3+, CD8+, and CD68+ cells was observed in 69.7, 27.3, and 54.5% of patients, respectively. The TMB value for patients sequenced ranged from 0.57 to 11.75 mutations/Mb, with a median of 5.68 mutations/Mb. mSINGS, MSIsensor, and MSIseq were used to analyze the MSI status according to the sequencing data, and in our evaluation, no MSI-H status was detected. Our data might indicate a limited potential of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy in digestive system NECs, although clinical trials are warranted.

Clinicopathological features and treatment outcomes of metastatic or locally unresectable small bowel adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE: Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is an uncommon malignancy with poor prognosis and therefore difficult to study. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics, treatments and prognostic factors in patients with metastatic or locally unresectable SBA. METHODS: Epidemiological and treatment data from metastatic or locally unresectable SBA patients who were admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital for first-line chemotherapy between December 2003 and November 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 34 enrolled patients, 22 (64.7%) were male and 12 (35.3%) female, with a median age of 52 years. Tumors originated in the duodenum in 24 (70.6%) patients. All patients received one of the following regimens as first-line therapy: FOLFOX or XELOX (n = 27), FOLFIRI or CAPIRI (n = 5), GEMOX (n = 1), and TP (n = 1). The response rate and disease control rate were 11.8 and 61.8%, respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 4.5 and 13.8 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that liver metastasis was independently associated with poor PFS, and both unresected primary tumor and males were significantly associated with poor OS. The survival of three metastatic patients was 52-96 months after combination treatment of chemotherapy, resection of primary tumor and metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of metastatic or locally unresectable SBA was poor, and unresected primary tumor and males were significantly associated with poor OS. Combined modality therapy of systemic chemotherapy combined with local treatment of the primary tumor and oligometastasis might improve prognosis in selected patients.

Effect of Endostar combined with chemotherapy in advanced well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of Endostar and temozolomide or dacarbazine plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs).Phase II study of 14 patients with locally advanced or metastatic well-differentiated pNETs treated between April 2013 and September 2016. Patients received temozolomide or dacarbazine plus 5-FU, and Endostar. The primary outcome was the radiographic response rate.All 14 patients had nonfunctional pNETs. Six patients received temozolomide and 8 received dacarbazine + 5-FU, combined with Endostar. Thirteen patients were assessable for treatment response: 1(7%) with complete response, 5 (39%) with partial response, 5 (39%) with stable disease, and 2 (15%) with progression. The median progression-free survival was 12 months. The most common grade 1/2 toxicities were neutropenia (43%) and leucopenia (21%).Endostar combined with temozolomide or dacarbazine + 5-FU was effective in the treatment of advanced pNETs. The combinations were well tolerated.

68Ga-BBN-RGD PET/CT for GRPR and Integrin αvß3 Imaging in Patients with Breast Cancer.

Purpose: This study was to assess a gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) and integrin αvß3 dual targeting tracer 68Ga-BBN-RGD for positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging of breast cancer and metastasis. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two female patients were recruited either with suspected breast cancer on screening mammography (n = 16) or underwent breast cancer radical mastectomy (n = 6). All the 22 patients underwent PET/CT at 30-45 min after intravenous injection of 68Ga-BBN-RGD. Eleven out of 22 patients also accepted 68Ga-BBN PET/CT within 2 weeks for comparison. A final diagnosis was made based on the histopathologic examination of surgical excision or biopsy. Results: Both the primary cancer and metastases showed positive 68Ga-BBN-RGD accumulation. The T/B ratios of 68Ga-BBN-RGD accumulation were 2.10 to 9.44 in primary cancer and 1.10 to 3.71 in axillary lymph node metastasis, 3.80 to 10.7 in distant lymph nodes, 2.70 to 5.35 in lung metastasis and 3.17 to 22.8 in bone metastasis, respectively. For primary lesions, the SUVmax from 68Ga-BBN-RGD PET in ER positive group was higher than that in ER negative group (P < 0.01). For both primary and metastatic lesions, SUVmean quantified from 68Ga-BBN-RGD PET correlated well with both GRPR expression and integrin αvß3 expression. Conclusion: This study demonstrated significant uptake of a new type of dual integrin αvß3 and GRPR targeting radiotracer in both the primary lesion and the metastases of breast cancer. 68Ga-BBN-RGD PET/CT may be of great value in discerning both primary breast cancers, axillary lymph node metastasis and distant metastases.

Efficiency of Sunitinib in Chinese Patients with Advanced Progressive Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor.

Objective To explore the efficiency of sunitinib in Chinese pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) patients. Methods Advanced pNET patients who had accepted sunitinib treatment in the oncology department of PUMC Hospital from January 2009 to June 2015 after disease progression were enrolled in this study. Data collection included clinicopathological characteristics,medical therapies and outcomes. Results Eighteen pNET patients were collected. The overall response rate (ORR) was 27.7% and the disease control rate (DCR) was 83.3%. Nine patients received sunitinib as the first-line therapy and 9 as the second/post-second line. The median progression-free survival (mPFs)(12 month vs. 12 month;HR:0.92,95%CI:0.31-2.75,P=0.88),ORR (22.2% vs.33.3%;Χ(2)=0.055,P=0.98),and DCR (88.9% vs.77.8%;Χ(2)=0.4,P=0.98)showed no significant difference between first-line therapy and post-second line therapy. The mPFS of Ki-67≥10% and Ki-67<10% group patients was not significantly different (8 months vs. 13 months;HR:1.13,95% CI:0.34-3.77,P=0.845). The commonly reported adverse events included bone marrow suppression,diarrhea,roteinuria,hypertension,and rash. Conclusions First-line or second/post-second line sunitinib treatment has certain antitumor activity in Chinese patients with advanced pNET. The efficiency and commonly reported adverse events of Sunitinib are consistent with the known Western data.

Serum chromogranin A levels for the diagnosis and follow-up of well-differentiated non-functioning neuroendocrine tumors.

Circulating chromogranin A (CgA) level is a useful marker for diagnosis and treatment efficacy monitoring of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). To evaluate the diagnostic value of serum CgA in well-differentiated non-functioning NETs and to investigate the correlation between changes in serum CgA levels and imaging responses in patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease, 60 healthy controls and 82 patients with NETs (28 with localized NETs and 54 with advanced NETs) treated between December 2010 and November 2014 were included. CgA levels were determined by ELISA. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of serum CgA. Correlation between CgA levels and tumor burden was analyzed. Serial CgA measurements and tumor responses (evaluated according to the RECIST 1.1 criteria) in 40 patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease were recorded. Using a cutoff value of 84 ng/mL, the sensitivity of serum CgA was 67 %, with a specificity of 78 %. Serum CgA levels of patients with different tumor burdens were significantly different. Progressions were observed in 38 out of 122 visits. Using a 28 % increase of serum CgA concentration as the best cutoff value, the sensitivity and specificity were 79 and 86 %, respectively, with positive and negative predictive values of 71 and 90 %, respectively, to determine disease progression. Serum CgA measurement had a modest sensitivity for the diagnosis of non-functioning NETs. However, increases of CgA levels combined with imaging might be helpful in detecting tumor progression in patients with NETs.

Lifestyle risks exposure and response predictor of gefitinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been shown to improve the prognosis of EGFR-mutated (exon 19/21) non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Positive EGFR mutation status is associated with NSCLC in non-smokers. Genetic and environmental factors have been linked to the etiology of EGFR mutations and sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs in non-smoking NSCLC patients. Cooking fume exposure (CFE) has also been proposed as an etiologic factor for NSCLC in non-smokers; however, the association of CFE with EGFR mutation status and EGFR-TKI response is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the association between CFE and clinical response to EGFR-TKI therapy in NSCLC. The association of CFE, smoking history, occupational hazard exposure, tumor pathological type, EGFR mutation status, environmental exposure, living environment, and performance status with EGFR-TKI efficacy was determined in metastatic NSCLC patients who were treated with EGFR-TKIs (gefitinib or erlotinib). Objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) were used to evaluate EGFR-TKI response. A total of 273 patients with a median age of 60.97 years (range 27-86 years) were included in this study. The proportion of patients receiving gefitinib and erlotinib was 72.53% (198/273) and 27.47% (75/273), respectively. ORRs (complete+partial responses) to gefitinib and erlotinib treatment were 20.70% (41/198) and 14.67% (11/75), respectively. Of the 273 patients, 98 (36.03%) had CFE and 112 (44.69%) had exposed to tobacco smoke. EGFR mutations were present in 55 patients, including exon 19 deletion (n=43) and exon 21 point mutations (n=12). Of the 55 EGFR mutation-positive patients, 52 (94.5%) had CFE. In the multivariate conditional logistic analysis, clinical response to EGFR-TKI was associated with non-smoking status, EGFR mutation, and CFE. Among these factors, CFE was the strongest predictor of EGFR-TKI response (odds ratio 13.66; 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.66-32.98; P<0.001). PFS was associated with a performance status of 0/1, adenocarcinoma pathological type, non-smoking status, EGFR mutation, and CFE. Among these, CFE was the most important factor for longer PFS (hazard ratio 0.37; 95% CI 0.26-0.52; P<0.001). The median PFS was 15.15 months in patients with CFE and 4.37 months in those without (P<0.0001). Knowledge of CFE history might be useful as a response predictor to EGFR-TKI treatment in NSCLC. Furthermore, CFE history might help to assess EGFR mutation status when genetic testing is not available.

Role of bicyclol in preventing chemotherapeutic agent-induced liver injury in patients over 60 years of age with cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of bicyclol in preventing chemotherapy-induced liver damage. METHODS: Patients ≥60 years of age with cancer were equally randomized into control (chemotherapy alone) or prophylactic (chemotherapy supplemented with 75 mg bicyclol, oral, daily) groups. Liver function indices were assessed immediately before treatment, during each therapy cycle and following treatment. RESULTS: Of 306 patients enrolled, 300 patiets completed the study (n = 147 and n = 153; prophylactic and control groups, respectively). Incidence of grade I-IV elevation of serum transaminase and/or bilirubin was significantly lower in the prophylactic group (17.1%) compared with the control group (47.1%). Incidence of grade II-IV hepatic injury was also significantly lower in the prophylactic group (0.7%) than in the control group (12.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic bicyclol (75 mg daily) could significantly reduce the incidence and degree of chemotherapeutic agent-induced liver damage in elderly patients with cancer. Further studies are recommended with larger sample sizes and long-term follow up.

Folfox4 regimen administered through combined hepatic arterial and systemic infusion for treatment of colorectal cancer with unresectable liver metastases.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for liver metastases is under evaluation because of the high target dose and low general toxicity. To investigate the efficacy and safety of a Folfox4 regimen administered through a combined hepatic arterial and systemic infusion for the first-line treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) with unresectable liver metastases. METHODS: Twenty-seven CRC patients with unresectable hepatic metastases and no prior chemotherapy were enrolled into the study. They received a Folfox4 regimen; 1st day: HAI of oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) and L-folinic acid 200 mg/m(2), followed by a bolus hepatic arterial injection of 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m(2), then continuous HAI of 5-FU 600 mg/m(2); 2nd day: infusion of L-folinic acid 200 mg/m(2) i.v. followed by an intravenous bolus injection of 5-Fluorouracil 400 mg/m(2), then continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2) i.v. The patients received HAI during the odd cycles, and the intravenous administration of the same Folfox4 regimen during the even cycles. RESULTS: A total of 236 treatment cycles were given with a median of 10 cycles. The therapy generated the following results after six treatment cycles: complete response (CR) 1/27 (3.7%), partial response (PR) 17/27 (63.0%), stable disease (SD) 6/27 (22.2%), and progress disease (PD) 3/27 (11.1%). Five patients had hepatectomy. The serum levels of both carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA19-9 were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). A median time to progression of 11 months and a median overall survival of 24 months were documented. The major adverse events included grade 1/2 nausea/vomiting, upper abdominal pain, peripheral neuropathy, and neutropenia/thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSIONS: The Folfox4 regimen administered through combined hepatic arterial and systemic infusions is efficacious and safe for the treatment of CRC with unresectable liver metastases, and it facilitates the control of local lesions.

[Clinical pathological characteristics and treatment patterns of breast cancer in elderly women].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical pathological characteristics and treatment patterns of breast cancer in elderly women. METHODS: A total of 87 patients (≥ 60 years) admitted to our hospital between January and December 2007 were included in this retrospective study. The patients were divided into 60-69-year group and ≥ 70-year group, and their clinical pathological data and treatment modes were summarized and compared. RESULTS: The tumor size (T2-T3), number of involved axillary lymph nodes,and positive rates of estrogen/progesterone receptors,over-expression of epidermal growth factor receptor 2, and ≥ 2 complication were not significantly different between two groups (P > 0.05). The ≥ 70-year group tended to have similar p53 gene mutation and Ki-67 labeling index with the 60-69-year group, although the P values were close to 0.05 (P = 0.09, P = 0.08,respectively). In the ≥ 70-year group, 33.3% of patients underwent extended resection,while in the 60-69-year group, all patients received modified radical treatment (P < 0.005). The percentages of adjuvant chemotherapy were 25% and 56.9% in the ≥ 70-year group and the 60-69-year group (0.005). The percentages of adjuvant endocrine therapy applied after surgery were similar in 2 groups (77.8% and 68.6% separately, P=0.347). Binary logistic regression showed that age,number of involved axillary lymph nodes,and estrogen receptor-positive rate were independently associated with adjuvant chemotherapy,while the pathological tumor size and complication were irrelevant. The 2-year disease-free survival rates of 2 groups were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical pathological characteristics of breast cancer were similar in elderly patients who are 60-69 years old or ≥ 70 years. In the treatment pattern,patients who are ≥ 70 years tend to receive endocrine therapy rather than adjuvant chemotherapy.

[Clinical characteristics of gastric cancer in the elderly patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical manifestations,treatment,and prognosis of gastric cancer in the elderly patients. METHOD: A total of 252 patients with gastric cancer who admitted to the Oncology Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital were divided into elderly group (≥ 65 years) and non-elderly group (< 65 years) and the clinical characteristics of these two groups were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The elderly accounted for 36.0% of all gastric cancer patients in our department. The proportion of male was significantly higher in elderly group than non-elderly group (male:female = 3.74:1, P=0.020). Abdominal satiety and pain were the most common symptoms,which were significantly lower in elderly group (43.3% vs. 61.7%, P=0.005). However,the frequency of weight loss was significantly higher in the elderly group (15.6% vs. 6.2%, P = 0.015). Significantly more elderly patients with gastric cancer were found the second tumors (12.2% vs. 2.5%, P=0.002). The most common tumor location was cardia (36.7%) in elderly group and antrum (34.6%) in non-elderly group. A small proportion (2.2%) of elderly patients had multi-original lesions, which was not found in non-elderly group. The overall rate of surgery and R0 resection rate were 77.8% and 70.9% respectively, which were similar in both groups. The overall rate of chemotherapy was 98%. The ratio was one third compared with younger patients who received three and more than three lines chemotherapy (3.3% vs. 9.3%), but did not reach statistical difference. More elderly patients chose FOLFOX / XELOX regimen (73.3%) compared with younger arm. The median survival time was 26.5 months in elderly group and 28.0 months in non-elderly group (P=0.835). Subgroup analysis showed that the median survival time of stage 4 gastric cancer was longer in elderly group than in non-elderly group (22.7 months and 16.1 months, respectively; P=0.057), which was marginally statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: More old men may get gastric cancer. More elderly patients may present with weight loss. Cardia is the most common tumor location. The ratio of multi-original lesions and secondary tumors is higher for elderly patients. Elderly patients with good performance status can receive surgery and chemotherapy safely. The resection rate is similar between elderly and non-elderly patients. Elderly patients receive more two-drug combination regimens. The overall prognoses are similar between elderly patients and non-elderly patients.

[Changes of exercise and the clinical effects among eldly non-small cell lung cancer survivors].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Exercise can improve circulation, muscular strength and happiness of cancer survivors. But more data were needed to demonstrate both the exercise ability of cancer suivivors after pulmonary lobectomy and the influences of exercise on their survivals. The aim of this study was to examine changes of exercise and its clinical effects among eldly non-small cell lung cancer survivors. METHODS: Elderly non-small cell lung cancer survivors who had progression-free disease after surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or tyrosine kinase inhibitors were included. Their exercises and participation rates per week before cancer diagnosis, after 3 months anticancer therapy and 1 year after diagnosis as well as their exercise motivations and prevalences were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: Forty-eight elderly non-small cell lung cancer survivors were selected. Moderate-vigorous intensity exercise had by the elderly progressin-free non-small cell lung cancer survivors after diagnosis decreased, but the participation rate of light intensity exercise was higher in 1 year after diagnosis than before diagnosis. 75.9% (14/58) patients had exercise up to the standard and the cancer recurrence rate was 20.0% (7/35). The recurrence rate of the other group was 35.7% (5/14), and the risk ratio of recurrence was 2.14 (95% CI: 0.81-5.68, P = 0.26). The most common motivations of exercise were improving health, increasing physical activity, maintaining healthy life style and improving immunity. And the main disturbances were fatigue, discomfort and lack of motivation. CONCLUSION: The exercise participation rate during anticancer treatment among the elderly non-small cell lung cancer survivors decreased and did not return to prediagnosis levels after treatments were completed. The relationship between exercise and recurrence of cancer was not clear and needed further work.

Solid malignancies complicated with pulmonary embolism: clinical analysis of 120 patients.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal event, occurs more frequently in cancer patients than in the general population. To offer an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment to such patients in China, we analyzed the incidence rate and clinical features of pulmonary embolism in patients with solid tumor hospitalized in the Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made of the hospitalized patients with solid malignancies complicated with pulmonary embolism who had been admitted into the PUMC Hospital from January 2002 to December 2008. RESULTS: The incidence of pulmonary embolism in hospitalized patients with solid malignancies was 0.27% (120/43 967). The median age at diagnosis was 57.5 years. The male to female ratio was 1.0:1.4 (49:71). Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constituted the largest proportion of the 120 patients (37.5%), followed by patients with breast (9.2%), ovarian (8.3%), pancreatic (6.7%), and liver cancer (6.7%). Eighty patients (66.7%) had stage IV cancer. Bone was the most common site of distant metastasis (46.3%). D-dimer level was elevated in 90.9% of the 66 tested patients. The incidence of bleeding due to anti-coagulation therapy was 3.6%. Thirty-six (30.0%) of the 120 patients had concurrent deep venous thrombosis in the lower extremities. Seventeen patients developed acute pulmonary embolism within 2 weeks after surgery, 3 of whom died suddenly. Four patients presented with deep venous thrombosis and 1 with pulmonary embolism prior to the identification of malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cancer of the lung, ovarian, breast, pancreas, and liver are more likely to be complicated with pulmonary embolism than those with other types of solid tumors. Patients with distant metastasis are at a higher risk of pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism without concurrent deep venous thrombosis is more frequently observed than concurrence of both disorders in the clinical setting.