Phase II trial with carboplatin/gemcitabine induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy concomitantly with paclitaxel/gemcitabine in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

7139

Background: The optimal combination of concomitant thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) and CT in stage III unresectable NSCLC remains unclear. The role of induction CT with Cb/G regimen, less toxic than Cisplatin/G, has not been established in stage III NSCLC. Methods: Forty-two patients (pts), 41 evaluable, entered this trial between January 2003 and November 2004, 27 males, 14 females, median age 60 (37–70), 19 pts with ECOG PS 0, 22 pts with PS 1, 22 pts with stage III A (N2), and 19 pts with stage III B (N2, N3). They received Cb AUC 5 i.v. on day 1 and G 1000 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 + 8 every three weeks x 2 cycles, followed on day 50 by TRT, 60 Gy over 6 weeks, concomitantly with P 50 mg/m2 i.v. and G 100 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 + 8 every three weeks x 2 cycles. Results: After induction CT, partial response (PR) was 73.1% (30 pts), stable disease (SD) 24.4% (10 pts), and 2.5% (1 pt) had progressive disease. After TRT and P/G, 19.5% (8 pts) had CR, 75.6% (31 pts) PR, and 4.9% (2 pts) PD. Median time-to-disease progression was 11.5 months. Median survival has not been reached yet, but surpassed 16.5 months; one-year survival is 71% (29 pts). Twenty three patients are still alive, after minimal follow-up of 13 months. First site of PD was in lungs in 7 pts, in brain 5 pts, in bones 4 pts; 2 pts died without PD, of cardiovascular disease. Toxicity of induction CT was minimal. During TRT and CT, grade 3 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia occurred in 8 pts, 3 pts, and 3 pts respectively, grade 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in one pt each. Nine pts received red cell transfusions, one pt platelet transfusion. One patient developed esophageal fistula with grade 4 toxicity, 3 pts had grade 3 esophagitis, 2 pts grade 3 infections, and one pt grade 3 dermatitis and elevation of liver enzymes. Conclusions: This regimen is effective, well tolerated, and appears to be an excellent choice for stage III NSCLC. Sponsored by Eli Lilly Canada.

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Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for low grade glioma at McGill University: long-term follow-up

Small, well-defined, unresectable low-grade gliomas are attractive targets for stereotactic irradiation. Fractionated stereotactic irradiation of these targets has the theoretical benefit of increased normal tissue sparing beyond that provided by the physical characteristics of stereotactic radiosurgery. From July 1987 to November 1992, 21 patients were treated for low-grade glioma at our institution using a hypofractionated regimen of stereotactic radiotherapy. All patients had well-circumscribed, < 40 mm tumors. No patient had had prior radiotherapy. All lesions were histologically proven WHO grade I or II glial tumors. Lesions involved sensitive brain structures and were deemed unresectable. A typical dose of 42 Gy was delivered in 6 fractions over a two-week period using rigid immobilization and a linac-based dynamic stereotactic radiosurgical technique. Patients had a median age of 23 years (9-74) and were predominantly female (60%). Median tumor diameter was 20 mm. With a median follow-up for living patients of 13.3 years, the actuarial 5, 10, and 15-year overall survival rates are 76%, 71%, and 63%, respectively. Treatment was acutely well tolerated although three patients experienced late post-therapy complications. Our results and those of 241 patients treated in nine other institutional series are reviewed. Despite some examples of favorable short-term outcomes, all reported series are highly selected and thus likely biased. The data regarding the use of SRS is limited and, in our opinion, insufficient to claim a clear therapeutic advantage to SRS in the initial management of low-grade glioma. Our own results with hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy are similar to those expected with standard therapy.

Erythropoietin receptor expression in biopsy specimens from patients with uterine cervix squamous cell carcinoma

Hypoxia, an important mechanism of radioresistance, is a strong stimulus for erythropoietin (EPO) production. The stimulatory effects of EPO are mediated through the activation of its receptors, EPO receptors (EPORs). The objective of this study is to determine whether EPORs are expressed in biopsy specimens of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Eighteen biopsy specimens were studied after obtaining Institutional Review Board-approved consent. Standard immunohistochemistry techniques were utilized. Expression of EPORs was present in 16 out of 18 (88.9%) specimens. The intensity (qualitative) and the frequency (semiquantitative) of EPORs expression showed a statistically significant correlation (P= 0.00379). Statistical analysis was performed to determine whether EPORs expression is related to other parameters such as age, FIGO stage, histologic grade, and hemoglobin levels. Only age showed a statistically significant correlation with EPORs frequency of expression (P= 0.00878). Currently, work is in progress in our laboratory to study the radiobiologic effects of EPO on the radiation response of cultured cancer cell lines in vitro.

Primary malignant mesodermal ovarian sarcomas

Primary malignant mesodermal ovarian sarcomas are rare tumors and have a poor prognosis. The disease is usually diagnosed at a late stage and 5-year survivals are uncommon. Most patients are treated with debulking surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. We report ten patients treated at a single institution. All patients underwent surgery and 90% received adjuvant chemotherapy. The median survival was 20 months, and only one patient survived beyond 5 years. Newer treatment strategies are urgently needed in the management of this disease.

Déplacements de la prostate et des vésicules séminales suite à l'uréthrographie : une étude par tomographie axiale

PURPOSE

It has been suggested that urethrography used for localization of the prostate apex may cause a systematic cranial displacement of the organ. Our objective was to use CT-CT image registration to identify if a clinically relevant systematic shift occurs in the position of the prostate and seminal vesicles following retrograde urethrography.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were scanned twice at the time of simulation. They were imaged supine, bladder empty. Scan resolution was 512x512 with 5 mm cuts. After the first CT sequence, with the patient still on the CT couch, an urethrogram was performed. The patients were then re-scanned. The image sets were registered through the use of external skin fiducials. A single author reviewed x, y and z-axis displacement. Z-axis motion of the prostate was also assessed by having three blinded radiation oncologists mark the cranial limit of the prostate on all 104 image sets.

RESULTS

Fifty-two pairs of CT scans were analyzed for post-urethrogram organ displacement. The mean x axis displacement of the prostate was 0.016 mm (P=0.8), the mean y-axis displacement was 1.3 mm anterior (P<0.001). Mean z-axis displacement of the prostate, using the blinded assessments, was a 1.35 mm cranial shift (P<0.0001). Analogous shifts were identified for the seminal vesicles.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest a small cranial and anterior displacement of the prostate and seminal vesicles following retrograde urethrography.