Clinical utility of a 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging-guided linear accelerator during conventionally fractionated and hypofractionated prostate cancer radiotherapy

Purpose

To report our initial experience with 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) linear accelerator (LINAC) in prostate cancer radiotherapy in terms of its use in a radiation oncology clinic.

Methods

The medical records of 14 prostate cancer patients treated with MRI-guided radiotherapy were retrospectively evaluated. The fraction time, adapt-to-position (ATP):adapt-to-shape (ATS) usage rate, machine-associated treatment interruption rate, median gamma pass rate, the percentage of planning target volume receiving at least 95% of the prescription dose coverage value of each ATS fraction, the effect of the learning curve on the fraction time and radiation-related acute gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities were evaluated.

Results

Fourteen patients have completed their treatment receiving a total of 375 fractions. Six patients (42%) were treated with the moderately hypofractionated regimen, five patients (36%) with conventionally fractionated, and three patients (22%) with the ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy regimens. The ATP : ATS usage ratio was 3:372. The median fraction time was 46 min (range, 24-81 min). For the 3%/3 mm criterion, median gamma pass rate was 99.4% (range, 94.6–100%). Machine-related treatment interruptions were observed in 11 (2.9%) of 375 fractions, but this interruption rate decreased from 4.1% to 0.8%, after an upgrade. Three patients (22%) had gastrointestinal and five patients (36%) had genitourinary toxicity. No ≥grade 3 toxicity was observed.

Conclusion

1.5 T MRI-LINAC device could be used as a conventional LINAC device, when the conditions of the radiotherapy center are appropriate. MRI-guided prostate radiotherapy is safe and feasible, and high-quality studies with a larger number of patients and long-term results are needed to better evaluate this new technology.

Computed Tomography-Guided Optimization of Needle Insertion for Combined Intracavitary/Interstitial Brachytherapy With Utrecht Applicator in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer

PURPOSE

There are no international guidelines for optimal needle insertion during interstitial intracavitary brachytherapy (IS-ICBT) for cervical cancer. We aimed to investigate the clinical feasibility and added value of computed tomography (CT) guidance to optimize needle insertion in IS-ICBT using the Utrecht applicator and to evaluate needle shifts.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We enrolled 24 patients who were treated with interstitial-brachytherapy. Two CT scans each were performed for every patient: (1) after applicator insertion without needles (CT_preneedle) and (2) after needle insertion (CT_postneedle). In addition to magnetic resonance imaging after external-beam radiation therapy, CT_preneedle was used to determine optimal needle locations and insertion lengths based on applicator and organs at risk positioning on the day of treatment; CT_postneedle was used for IS-ICBT planning. The needle-channel axis was used as a reference to determine needle-shift evolution.

RESULTS

A total of 266 interstitial needles were inserted in 76 of 93 BT fractions with high intra- and interpatient variations in the number of inserted needles. Based on CT_preneedle findings, needle insertion was avoided in 9, 4, 2, and 2 patients at the first, second, third, and fourth fractions, respectively. The unloaded needle frequency was 4%. Average needle contribution to total dwell time was 37.2% ± 19.2%. Shifting was observed in 68% of the needles (mean shift 2.0 ± 2.3 mm), mostly in the posterior direction, and in needles with a larger insertion length. Needle reinsertion was not needed in any patient. No complication due to needle insertion was observed, except for minor vaginal bleeding in 1 patient after needle removal.

CONCLUSIONS

The adaptive CT-guided IS-ICBT application was feasible and resulted in fewer unloaded needle insertions or complications and more efficient use with higher needle contribution to the treatment. Needle shift was frequent but did not require needle reinsertion with the proposed method.

Neoadjuvant volumetric modulated arc therapy in rectal cancer and the correlation of pathological response with diffusion-weighted MRI and apoptotic markers

PURPOSE

In this prospective observational study, we aimed to report the applicability and tolerability of neoadjuvant volumetric modulated arc therapy with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB-VMAT) and concurrent chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), and to evaluate the correlation of pathological response with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and apoptotic markers.

METHODS

The study enrolled 30 patients with T3 to T4 and/or N+ rectal cancer who preoperatively received SIB-VMAT and concurrent chemotherapy. Before and after the neoadjuvant treatment, apoptotic markers including the nucleosomes and cell-free DNA fragments in the serum samples were examined; DNA integrity was assessed by amplifying the ACTB gene; and the ADC measurements on the DW-MRI were analyzed.

RESULTS

No patients had acute or chronic grade III-IV toxicity. Pathologic complete response (pCR) was achieved in 8 patients (27%), while in 10 patients (33%) near-complete pathological response was obtained. Posttreatment ADC was significantly higher in patients with pCR compared with the others (1.28 vs. 1.10, p = 0.017). ROC curve analysis showed that posttreatment ADC values had a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 77.3% for distinguishing the patients with pCR from other responders. On the other hand, posttreatment DNA integrity values were revealed lower than the pretreatment values (p = 0.36). Also, the results revealed an insignificant increase in the posttreatment serum level of nucleosomes (p = 0.72).

CONCLUSIONS

Neoadjuvant SIB-VMAT with concurrent chemotherapy was proved to be a feasible treatment regimen in LARC with tolerable side effects, and improved local control rate and pCR rate.

Primary Glioblastoma Multiforme in Younger Patients: A Single-institution Experience

Aims and Background

To report our experience of patients with primary glioblastoma multiforme of young age by evaluating the characteristics, prognostic factors, and treatment outcomes.

Patients and Methods

Seventy patients with primary glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treated at our department between 1996 and 2004 were studied. The male-female ratio was 2.6:1. The median age was 53 (16-74). Sixty-eight patients (97%) were operated on before radiotherapy and 2 patients (3%) underwent only stereotactic biopsy. All patients received radiotherapy. Postoperative chemotherapy as an adjuvant to radiotherapy was given to 9 patients (12%). The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their age (group A ≤35 years, n = 21 vs group B >35 years, n = 49). Survival was determined with the Kaplan-Meier method and differences were compared using the log-rank test. Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the independent prognostic factors. Karnofsky performance status (≥70 vs <70), age (≤35 vs >35 years), gender, tumor size (≤4 vs >4 cm), number of involved brain lobes (1 vs more than 1), type of surgery (total vs subtotal), preoperative seizure history (present vs absent), radiotherapy field (total cranium vs partial), total radiotherapy dose (60 vs 66 Gy), and adjuvant chemotherapy (present vs absent) were evaluated in univariate analysis.

Results

The median survival was 10.3 months in the whole group, 19.5 months in the younger age group and 5.7 months in the older age group. During follow-up re-craniotomy was performed in 2 patients (3%), and 1 patient (1%) developed spinal seeding metastases and was given spinal radiotherapy. In univariate analysis younger age vs older age: median 19.5 months vs 5.27 months (P = 0.0012); Karnofsky performance status ≥70 vs <70: median 15.3 months vs 2.67 months (P <0.0001), and external radiotherapy dose 60 Gy vs 66 Gy: median 11.6 months vs 3 months (P = 0.02) were found as significant prognostic factors for survival. In regression analysis a worse performance status (KPS <70) was found to be the only independent factor for survival (P = 0.014, 95% CI HR = 0.0043 [0.0001-0.15]).

Conclusions

Younger patients with primary glioblastoma multiforme had a relatively long survival (median, 19.5 months, with a 2-year survival rate of 30%) compared to older patients. This was due particularly to their better performance status.

The Value of Postoperative Radiotherapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Single-Institution Experience

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy of postoperative irradiation in renal cell carcinoma.

Patients and methods

Forty patients with localized renal cell carcinoma admitted to our hospital between 1986 and 1999 were evaluated. All patients were initially treated with radical nephrectomy. Postoperative radiotherapy was given to 26 of 40 patients (65%). Fourteen patients (35%) received no adjuvant therapy. Median age was 55 years (range, 20–70 years). Twenty-four patients (60%) were men and 16 patients (40%) were women. Histopathological diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma in all of the patients. N+ disease was present in 3 patients (7%). Stage I and II disease was present in 25 patients (63%) and stage III and IV disease in 15 patients (37%). Two patients (5%) had T1a disease, 11 patients (27%) had T1b, 15 patients (38%) had T2, 11 patients (27%) had T3a and 1 (3%) patient had T3b. In the radiotherapy group, renal bed and regional lymphatic fields were irradiated with daily fractions of 180–200 cGy/fraction to a total dose of 46–50 Gy, using parallel opposing fields.

Results

The 5-year overall survival rates were 70% in the postoperative radiotherapy group and 20% in the no adjuvant treatment group, showing no significant difference (P = 0.1). The 5-year disease-free survival rates were 66% in the radiotherapy group and 16% in the no treatment group, with a significant difference in both univariate and multivariate analyses (P = 0.045 and P = 0.0007, respectively). Stage III and IV disease, tumor size ≥7 cm, presence of distant metastasis and lactate dehydrogenase level >450 U/L were found to be adverse prognostic factors for overall survival in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Analyzing the factors affecting disease-free survival, absence of postoperative radiotherapy and tumor size ≥7 cm were found to be adverse prognostic factors in univariate and multivariate analyses.

Conclusion

Multi-institutional prospective randomized trials using modern radiotherapy techniques such as conformal radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy are necessary to evaluate the real role of radiotherapy and its effect on survival in renal cell carcinoma, especially in selected patients with a high risk of local or regional failure.

Comparison of three dimensional conformal radiation therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy for low radiation exposure of normal tissue in patients with prostate cancer

Radiotherapy has an important role in the treatment of prostate cancer. Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) techniques are all applied for this purpose. However, the risk of secondary radiation-induced bladder cancer is significantly elevated in irradiated patients compared surgery-only or watchful waiting groups. There are also reports of risk of secondary cancer with low doses to normal tissues. This study was designed to compare received volumes of low doses among 3D-CRT, IMRT and VMAT techniques for prostate patients. Ten prostate cancer patients were selected retrospectively for this planning study. Treatment plans were generated using 3D-CRT, IMRT and VMAT techniques. Conformity index (CI), homogenity index (HI), receiving 5 Gy of the volume (V5%), receiving 2 Gy of the volume (V2%), receiving 1 Gy of the volume (V1%) and monitor units (MUs) were compared. This study confirms that VMAT has slightly better CI while thev olume of low doses was higher. VMAT had lower MUs than IMRT. 3D-CRT had the lowest MU, CI and HI. If target coverage and normal tissue sparing are comparable between different treatment techniques, the risk of second malignancy should be a important factor in the selection of treatment.

Metaplastic Breast Carcinoma Versus Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Survival and Response to Treatment

Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) differs from classic invasive ductal carcinomas regarding incidence, pathogenesis, and prognosis. The purpose of this study was to compare patients with MBC with clinicopathologic and treatment-matched patients with triple-negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) in terms of response to treatment, progression, and survival.Fifty-four patients with MBC and 51 with TNBC, who were treated at Istanbul University, Institute of Oncology, between 1993 and 2014, were included in the study. After correctly matching the patients with 1 of the 2 groups, they were compared to determine differences in response to treatment, disease progression, clinical course, and survival.At a median follow-up of 28 months, 18 patients (17.1%) died and 27 (25.5%) had disease progression. Metaplastic histology was significantly correlated with worse 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) (51 ± 9% vs. 82 ± 6%, P = 0.013) and overall survival (OS) (68 ± 8% vs. 94 ± 4%, P = 0.009) compared with TNBC histology. Patients who received taxane-based chemotherapy (CT) regimens or adjuvant radiotherapy had significantly better PFS (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001) and OS (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) compared with others. In the multivariate analysis, MBC (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.09, P < 0.001), presence of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) (HR: 12.8, P = 0.05), and metastasis development at any time during the clinical course (HR: 38.7, P < 0.001) were significant factors that decreased PFS, whereas metastasis development was the only independent prognostic factor of OS (HR: 23.8, P = 0.009).MBC is significantly correlated with worse PFS and OS compared with TNBC. Patients with MBC are resistant to conventional CT agents, and more efficient treatment regimens are required.

Intraoperative ultrasound reduces the need for re-excision in breast-conserving surgery

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate ultrasound-guided surgery for palpable breast cancer by comparing the standard palpation-guided surgery in terms of the extent of healthy breast tissue resection, the percentage of tumor-free margins, and cosmetic outcomes.

METHODS

This was a prospective, observational cohort study conducted from January 2009 to July 2011. Breast cancer patients, diagnosed via biopsy, were operated in guidance with either ultrasound or palpation. Patient demographics, tumor features, intraoperative findings, pathologic and cosmetic results, intraoperative-measured ultrasound margins, and pathology margins were compared.

RESULTS

Ultrasound (US)-guided lumpectomy was performed on 84 women and palpation-guided lumpectomy on 80 women. Patient demographics and tumor characteristics showed no differences. The rate of re-excision was 17 % for the palpation-guided surgery group, and 6 % for the US-guided group (p = 0.03). There was good correlation between the closest margins recorded by US and pathology margins (r = 0.76, p = 0.01). Volume of resection was significantly larger in the palpation-guided group despite the similar size of tumors (p = 0.048). Cosmetic outcome of surgery was equivalent between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative ultrasound guidance for excision of palpable breast cancers is feasible and gives results in terms of pathologic margins that are comparable with those achieved by standard palpation-guided excisions.

Abstract P1-01-22: Which cytologically proven node-positive breast cancer patients can avoid axillary lymph dissection after neaodjuvant chemotherapy?

BACKGROUND:

It is still controversial whether axillary lymph node dissection can be omitted after negative sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients with clinically positive axilla at presentation treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). The aim of this study was to analyze whether SLN biopsy could be useful in these patients.

METHODS:

After NAC of 112 patients with cytology-proven axillary node metastasis at the time of diagnosis, SLNB using radioisotope and blue dye was performed including completion node dissection between 2008 and 2012. The results of SLNB and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed for correlation with pathological axillary lymph node status.

RESULTS:

SLN was successfully identified in 107 (95.5%) patients. Tumor nonresponse and extensive residual nodal disease were found to be significantly associated with detection failure of sentinel nodes. Axillary status was predicted with 94% accuracy and a false negative rate of 8.7%. Axillary nodal status before NAC (cN2 versus cN12) was associated with higher false-negative rates (p = 0.02). Conversion to node-negative disease was achieved in 38 (35%) patients: 23% of patients with the luminal A subtype, 12% of patients with the luminal B, 39% of patients with the HER2-enriched, and 26% of patients with the triple-negative breast cancer subtype. The tripple negative and HER2-enriched breast cancer subtypes had a significantly better false negative rate and accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS:

SLNB was found to be technically feasible, but its routine use was not recommended for LABCs after NAC. However, acceptable performance was noted for tripple negative and HER2-enriched breast cancer patients presented with N1 axillary status in the beginning of NAC, and thus SLNB might be safely considered in these selected patients.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P1-01-22.

Spontaneous pneumothorax in children with osteosarcoma: report of three cases and review of the literature

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare manifestation of primary lung cancer or metastasis. It is estimated that < 1% of all cases of spontaneous pneumothorax are tumor-associated and metastatic osteogenic or soft-tissue sarcomas are associated most commonly with pneumothorax especially in the setting of cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In this article, we report three pediatric cases with osteosarcoma that developed spontaneous pneumothorax during chemotherapy with a review of the literature. Two of them had lung metastasis at the time of the detection of pneumothorax and the remaining patient was found to have a bronchopleural fistula. SPx is an emergency situation and early diagnosis and management can improve prognosis and quality of life of the patient however the optimal management has yet to be determined.

Challenges scoring radiation pneumonitis in patients irradiated for lung cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

To quantify uncertainties in scoring radiation pneumonitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Records of 434 patients irradiated for lung cancer from 2000 to 2010 were retrospectively reviewed; IRB-approved study. From these, 121 received ≥ 60 Gy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with ≥ 6 months follow-up. Patients where the physicians were uncertain of the diagnosis due to confounding factors were deemed "hard to score". Subgroups were defined based on lung dosimetric parameters, and frequencies in different subgroups were compared via Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

21/121 of patients were considered to have pneumonitis; median follow 17 months. Of these, 10/21 were "hard to score"; reasons including acute COPD exacerbation, infection, and tumor progression. "Hard to score" pneumonitis was slightly more common in patients with a COPD history (15%) vs. without COPD (4%) (p=0.05); and with a pre-RT FEV1<1.7 L (16%) vs. ≥1.7 L (4%) (p=0.09). Rates of "unambiguous" pneumonitis trended to be non-significantly slightly higher in patients higher mean lung doses, V5, and V30.

CONCLUSION

Radiation pneumonitis occurred in 17% of patients undergoing RT for NSCLC; with diagnostic uncertainty in 48% of these. Poor pre-RT pulmonary function increases the rate of "hard to score" pneumonitis. Dosimetric parameters are slightly better related to "unambiguous" than "hard to score" pneumonitis, as expected.

Leiomyoma of the seminal vesicle mimicking tumoral extension of prostatic carcinoma

Leiomyoma of the seminal vesicle is an extremely rare tumour. The diagnosis of this entity is important when it co-exists with prostatic carcinoma, since it can simulate tumour extension from prostate or bladder cancer on MR imaging and lead to overstaging. In this report, we describe a 74-year-old man with a leiomyoma of the seminal vesicle that mimics tumour extension from co-existent prostatic cancer on T2-weighted MR imaging. To our knowledge, this is the first description of imaging findings of concurrent leiomyoma of the seminal vesicle and prostatic carcinoma.

The role of surgery and radiotherapy in treatment of soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck region: review of 30 cases

BACKGROUND

Thirty adult patients with head and neck soft tissue sarcoma (HNSTS) treated between 1987 and 2000 were retrospectively analysed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The most frequent histopathological subtypes were chondrosarcomas (27%) and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (20%). The surgical resection was performed in 25 of the 30 patients (83%). Twenty-three patients in the surgical resection arm received postoperative radiotherapy.

RESULTS

Five-year local control rates for patients with negative surgical margins (n=9), microscopically positive disease (n=10), gross residual disease (n=6) and inoperable cases (n=5) were 64, 70, 20 and 0%, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in local control between patients with negative or microscopically positive disease who received postoperative radiotherapy (71 vs. 70%). The patients who received doses>or=60 Gy had significantly higher local control rates than the ones who received doses lower than 60 Gy (p=0.048). The local control rates were lower in patients with grade 2-3 tumours when compared with grade 1 tumours (44 vs. 83%). The median overall survival of whole group was 31 months. Median survivals of patients receiving both surgery and radiotherapy with negative and microscopically positive margins were significantly better than patients who were not treated with surgery (34.8 and 36 vs. 13.3 months).

CONCLUSION

Our results confirm that the optimal treatment of HNSTSs is complete surgical excision, and that postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy clearly improves local control.

Spinal cord compression due to vertebral hemangioma

This article presents a case of multiple vertebral hemangiomas in a 58-year-old man with pain in the dorsal region and bilateral progressive foot numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple vertebral hemangiomas. One hemangioma at the T7 level demonstrated epidural extension, causing spinal cord compression. After treatment with radiotherapy, the patient's symptoms improved significantly.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and risk factors in parents of children with a cancer diagnosis

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in parents of children with cancer. Five questionnaires were administered to 104 parents, including a sociodemographic questionnaire, a traumatic events check list, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder modules, and the self-rating instrument General Health Questionnaire-12. The prevalence of PTSD was 34.6%. The statistically significant tendency to develop PTSD were found in the female gender, better educational status, death of a loved one, previous history of psychiatric disorder, having a child with poorer prognosis, and the presence of radiotherapy in child's treatment. The vulnerable parents must receive psychosocial support.

The role of surgery and radiotherapy in treatment of soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck region: Review of 30 cases

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Background: To evaluate the role of surgery and radiotherapy in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck region Methods: Thirty adult patients with head and neck soft tissue sarcoma were retrospectively analyzed. The most frequent histopathologic subtypes were chondrosarcomas (27%) and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (20%). The surgical resection was performed in 25 of the 30 patients (83%). Negative surgical margins could be achieved only in 9 of 25 patients (36%). Ten patients had marginal resection (40%) and 6 patients (24%) had gross residual disease after the surgery. All patients in the surgical resection arm received postoperative radiotherapy except two patients. Results: Five-year local control rates for patients with negative surgical margins (n=9), microscopically positives (n=10), gross residual disease (n=6) and inoperable (n=5) cases were 64%, 70%, 20% and 0% respectively. The median disease free survivals were 26.6 months, 17.7 months, 8.4 and 5.5 months. However, there was no significant difference in local control between patients with negative or microscopically positive disease who receive postoperative radiotherapy (71% vs 70%). The higher dose of radiotherapy (= 60Gy) was found to be associated with a longer local control (p=0.048). The local control rates were lower in patients with grade 2–3 tumors as compared with grade 1 tumors (44% vs. 83%). The median overall survival of whole group was 31 months. Median survivals of patients receiving both surgery and radiotherapy with negative and microscopically positive margins were significantly better than patients who were not treated with surgery (34.8 and 36 months vs. 13.3 months). In univariate analysis grade 1–2 vs. 3, had statistically significant 5-year survival difference (64% vs. 14%, p=0.003). The presence of local relapse had clear negative effect on survival (absent vs. present 66% vs. 7%, p=0.0003). Conclusions: Our results and the findings in the literature confirm that the optimal treatment of head and neck soft tissue sarcomas is complete surgical excision. Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy clearly improves local control however the high locoregional failure rates still indicate the need for improved treatment strategies.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The role of postoperative radiotherapy in node negative breast cancer patients with pT3–T4 disease

AIMS

To evaluate the role of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in patients with pT3-T4N0M0 breast cancer.

METHODS

156 patients with T3-T4N0M0 breast cancer were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Locoregional recurrences were seen in 17 of 156 patients with a median time for development of 27 months (5.7-248.7 months). Two of 9 patients who were not treated with post-operative radiation therapy had locoregional recurrence as compared with 16 of 147 patients receiving radiotherapy. In multivariate analysis, presence of locoregional recurrence was the only significant prognostic factor for overall survival (18% vs. 86%, p<0.001, RR=9.05). The patients with a median number of dissected lymph nodes >or=10 had a significantly better locoregional disease free survival rate as compared with patients with dissected lymph nodes <10 (90% vs. 78%, p=0.04). Chest wall recurrences were clearly higher in patients without chest wall RT since 5 of 49 patients without RT had recurrences in the chest wall region while only 4 of 107 who received chest wall RT had recurrence. However receiving RT to peripherical lymphatic regions had no additional effect on reducing recurrences in these regions (5% vs. 4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the lack of phase III randomized trials directly addressing the role of postmastectomy radiotherapy in these stages, our series suggest that postmastectomy radiotherapy to the ipsilateral chest wall is recommended for patients with PT3N0 and T4N0 breast cancer. The need for irradiating axillary or supraclavicular region shall be neglected in patients who undergo sufficient axillary sampling.

Malignant peripheral primitive neuroectodermal (pPNET) of tongue

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are relatively rare tumors. Tumors that once would have been diagnosed as Ewing's sarcoma are now often designated as peripheral neuroepithelioma or synonymously PNET. This paper reports a case of PNET located orally on the tongue, which is, to our knowledge, the first case reported in medical literature. The patient was treated with postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Multiple liver metastases occurred 5 months after the initial diagnosis and following extensive chemotherapy the patient was only able to survive for a further 10 months.

[The results of combined treatment (surgery and postoperative radiotherapy) for tongue cancer and prognostic factors]

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the results of surgical treatment and postoperative radiotherapy and prognostic factors in patients with primary tongue carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 60 patients (31 males, 29 females; median age 54 years; range 22 to 82 years) who underwent surgery and postoperative radiotherapy for oral tongue cancer. Tumor staging based on the AJCC-1997 criteria was as follows: stage I (n=1), stage II (n=21), stage III (n=12), and stage IVA (n=26). Surgery included hemiglossectomy (n=46, 76%), partial (n=13, 22%) and total (n=1, 2%) glossectomy. Neck dissection was performed in 47 patients (78%). Radiotherapy dose was generally 6000 cGy/30 fr. The median follow-up was 51 months (range 5 to 180 months).

RESULTS

The five-year overall and relapse-free survival rates were 50% and 47%, respectively. Survival at five years was 70% for stage I-III, and 20% for stage IVA. Most of the relapses occurred in the first two years after treatment. Recurrences were encountered in 31 patients (52%). The median survival after recurrence was eight months (range 1 to 53 months). In multivariate analyses, significant prognostic factors for overall survival and locoregional control were tumor size, stage, N stage, extracapsular lymph node spread, and total duration of radiotherapy. Complications were within acceptable limits.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative radiotherapy should be standard for patients with stage III and IVA tongue cancer.

The efficiency of different chemoradiotherapy regimens in patients with paediatric nasopharynx cancer: review of 46 cases

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of combined modality treatment in patients with paediatric nasopharynx cancer (NPC). Forty-six patients with paediatric NPC were retrospectively analysed. Forty-four of 46 patients received combined modality treatment. Five-year overall survival and progression-free survivals were 70% and 72% for the whole group, and only three of 46 patients had loco-regional relapse. Complete remission was obtained in 18 of 45 patients (40%), and the overall survival (94% vs. 62% and 19%, p = 0.0009) and disease-free survivals (93% vs. 70% and 16%, p = 0.0002) were significantly better in complete responders when compared with the patients who had partial response or stable disease. The 5-year overall survival and disease-free survivals of the patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) followed by CT were superior to the other groups (77% and 80%, respectively). The number of total CT cycles (p = 0.0001), nodal stage (p = 0.05) and treatment response (p = 0.0009) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. The treatment type (p = 0.02), the number of total CT cycles (p = 0.0006), nodal stage (p = 0.05) and treatment response (p = 0.0002) were found as significant prognostic factors for disease-free survival. The survival of patients receiving six or more CT cycles was also significantly better than that of patients receiving less than six cycles (p = 0.0001). In patients with locally advanced paediatric NPC, CT should be added to RT to improve outcome. However, a standard protocol is yet to be identified, and further studies evaluating the addition of interferon or immunotherapy to CT and RT shall be performed.

Spontaneous pneumothorax in children with osteosarcoma

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Background: Spontaneous pneumothorax (SPx) is an emergency situation and early diagnosis and management is very important. SPx may sometimes be seen as a complication of malignancy or its treatment. SPx have been reported in some osteosarcoma patients, mostly in adults. The incidence of SPx in children with osteosarcoma is not well documented. The aim of this paper is to investigate the incidence, treatment and outcome of children with osteosarcoma in a single institution and to review the literature. Methods: Files of all children with osteosarcoma diagnosed and treated in a single institute during September 1989 and December 2002 and followed up until September 2005 were investigated retrospectively for the development of SPx and its outcome. Results: Three of the 81 children (3.7%) developed pneumothorax during their follow-up. Two cases had lung metastases and one case had a broncho-pleural fistula but no metastatic foci at the time pneumotorax was detected. He subsequently developed lung metastasis. Retrospectively, it was suspected that the bronchopleural fistula might have been a manifestation of an undetected micrometastasis. The incidence of developing spontaneous pneumotorax in children with osteosarcoma was 3.7% (3/81) in this single institution survey. We have also reviewed the 45 osteosarcoma cases with pneumothorax in the literature. Including the three cases reported in this paper, 39 of the 48 (81%) were metastatic. Conclusions: Although spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare event in the cancer patient, it should be kept in mind if there is worsening of pulmonary symptoms or shoulder pain. SPx is encountered mostly in metastatic patients, although it may occur in non-metastatic cases.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Treatment results and prognostic factors in oral tongue cancer: analysis of 80 patients

Treatment results and prognostic factors for 80 patients with oral tongue cancer admitted to Istanbul University Oncology Institute between 1987 and 2000 were retrospectively analysed. The patients were treated by surgery and postoperative or curative radiotherapy. Median age was 55 (22-93) out of which 41 patients (51%) were male and 39 (49%) were female. One patient (1%) had stage I disease, 28 patients (36%) stage II, 18 patients (23%) stage III and 32 patients (40%) stage IVA disease. Nineteen patients (24%) were medically inoperable or refused surgical treatment, so were treated with curative radiotherapy to a total dose of 70Gy (group A). The remaining 61 patients (76%) were treated with surgery and postoperative external beam radiotherapy (group B). The median follow-up time was 44 months. The 5-year overall and loco-regional disease-free survival rates were 42% and 46%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rates were 16% in group A and 49% in group B (P=0.0002). The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 23% in group A while in group B it was 49%; the difference was statistically significant (P=0.02). Combined treatment improves overall and disease-free survival in patients with stage II, III and IVA oral tongue cancer. In patients who are not candidates for surgery, the effect of radiotherapy may be increased with the use of brachytherapy.

Is early postradiation dysplasia almost associated with poor prognosis? A case report and review of the literature

Following radiotherapy for cervical carcinoma, abnormal cytologic changes have been reported in a number of publications. These reactions occur at varying periods of time following irradiation and do not necessarily reflect the presence of invasive cancer. On the basis of cytologic and histopathologic features, these reactions were determined as postradiation dysplasia (PRD). PRD has been reported to occur in 18.7-26% of patients treated by radiotherapy for cervical cancer. In the literature, it was reported that patients diagnosed with PRD less than 3 years after the initial diagnosis of cervical cancer had a mean survival rate of 33.8% as compared with a 100% 5-year survival rate in patients with a delayed (>3 years) onset of period. We present a case of stage IIIB cervical squamous cell carcinoma with PRD detected 6 months after radiotherapy. The patient is still tumor free 8 years after radiotherapy. In the light of this patient, we review the literature and discuss the relationship of PRD with survival in the cervical carcinomas.

Postoperative hypofractionated radiotherapy in glioblastoma multiforme

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of hypofractionated radiotherapy (HRT) in glioblastoma multiforme (GM) patients in terms of overall and progression-free survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Adult patients with GM were prospectively treated with HRT after total, subtotal or partial tumor excision. HRT was applied 3 days a week with a tumor dose of 3.33 Gy per fraction. At the first phase of treatment 12 fractions and at the second phase 3 fractions with smaller fields were delivered. The total dose was 50 Gy/15 fractions/5 weeks. The results were compared with a historical control group of GM patients treated with conventional RT.

RESULTS

20 patients with GM were treated between 1997-2000 at our department. The tumor was multifocal in one (5%) case. The types of operations used were total tumor excision 10(50%) cases, subtotal excision 5 (25%) cases and partial excision 5 (25%) cases. For the historical control group the corresponding operations were 19 (56%), 6 (18%) and 9 (26%). In the study group one-year survival was 50% and median survival 12 months. Mean overall survival was 13.5 (11.3 months for the historical control group, p=0.16) and progression-free survival 6.8 months (5.6 for the historical control group, p=0.36). Treatment was well tolerated. Acute toxicity was minimal and only one HRT patient had late toxicity (brain necrosis).

CONCLUSION

The mean overall survival with HRT was better but statistically non significant compared with the historical control group. Our study supports that HRT can be used instead of conventional and hyperfractionated radiotherapy and studies of HRT with higher doses may be meaningful.

Cerebellar and multiple spinal hemangioblastomas and intraventricular meningioma managed with subtotal resection and external beam radiotherapy; report of a case with literature review

Hemangioblastomas are cystic, highly vascular benign neoplasms that constitute 1.5-2.5% of all intracranial tumors and 7-10% of primary posterior fossa tumors. They occur sporadically (80%) or in association with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease (20%). This disease consists of multiple intracranial, retinal and spinal hemangioblastomas, pheochromocytoma, retinal angiomas, pancreatic cysts, renal cell carcinomas and adrenal tumors. Our patient was a 21-year-old male who presented with cerebellar and multiple spinal hemangioblastomas, and intraventricular meningioma. There was a positive family history (mother and brother) of VHL disease. Intracranial and spinal lesions were treated with external beam radiotherapy following subtotal excision of the cerebellar lesion. Three-year follow-up revealed radiologically stable lesions. Microsurgical resection remains the treatment of choice for the vast majority of symptomatic and sporadic cystic hemangioblastomas. However, since hemangioblastoma is a highly vascular tumor and local invasion of critical structures is frequent and multifocality is often a characteristic of the hemangioblastomas that are associated with VHL disease, subtotal excision is frequent and adjuvant therapies such as external beam radiotherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery represent a reasonable treatment in such cases.

The results of concomitant and sequential chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

PURPOSE

To report on the treatment results and demographic characteristics of patients with locally advanced non small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) who were treated with concomitant or sequential chemoradiotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

132 patients with locally advanced NSCLC (stage IIIB) were evaluated. Their median age was 60 years (range 33-80). Histopathological diagnosis was epidermoid carcinoma in 96 (73%) patients, adenocarcinoma in 33 (25%) patients and large cell carcinoma in 3 (2%) patients. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score was >/= 70 in 112 (85%) patients. Weight loss was greater than 5% in 34 (26%) patients at presentation. One hundred and six (80%) patients were treated with sequential chemoradiotherapy which consisted of 3 monthly cycles of cisplatin (100 mg/m(2), day 1) and etoposide (100 mg/m(2)/day, days 1-3) before radiotherapy. Radiotherapy consisted of a total dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions (2 Gy / fraction), given to a volume including primary tumor and mediastinum. Two to 4 cycles of chemotherapy were administered after completion of radiotherapy to patients whose disease had not progressed after initial chemotherapy. Twenty-six patients were treated with concomitant chemoradiotherapy. The same radiotherapy regimen was started with the 2nd cycle of chemotherapy which consisted of cisplatin (80 mg/m(2), day 1) and etoposide (100 mg/m(2)/day, days 1-3). Chemotherapy was completed after 4 cycles in all patients.

RESULTS

Overall survival (OS) was 14.5 months in 106 patients treated with sequential chemoradiotherapy and 14.6 months in 26 patients treated with concomitant chemoradiotherapy (p=0.99). Median time to progression was 9.77 months in the concomitant group and 11.6 months in the sequential group (p=0.47). However, progression-free survival was better in patients of both groups whose KPS was >70 (12.4 months versus 11.5 months, p= 0.02). While presence of anemia was found as an adverse prognostic factor only in univariate analysis, non-epidermoid histology, KPS less than 70 and presence of N2-N3 disease were found as adverse prognostic factors in both univariate and multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

The addition of chemotherapy to radiation concomitantly or sequentially prolongs survival in locally advanced NSCLC patients with acceptable adverse event profiles in both arms compared with results of the trials in the literature in which radiotherapy is used as single treatment modality.

The effect of epithelial and myoepithelial differentiations on survival in a parotid gland undifferentiated carcinoma: case report and review of the literature

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the parotid gland is a rare tumor, with an incidence of 5-10% among all parotid tumors. Salivary gland tumors frequently present myoepithelial cell differentiation. Recognition of myoepithelial cell differentiation is not easily apparent on routinely stained sections and it often requires immunohistochemical or ultrastructural studies. The relationship between these differentiations and survival is still not clear. We report on a 71-year-old male with left parotid undifferentiated small cell carcinoma with epithelial and myoepithelial differentiation that relapsed at the parotid region and neck nodes 4 years after he had undergone superficial parotidectomy. The relapsing disease was treated with total parotidectomy and radical left neck dissection. Also, postoperative radiotherapy was given to the left parotid region and the neck. In total, he is alive 8.5 years from the beginning of the disease, and 54 months after the second surgery and radiotherapy. No disease recurrence has occurred ever since. Undifferentiated carcinomas with epithelial and myoepithelial differentiation are rarely seen and differential diagnosis should be made with salivary gland myoepitheliomas and epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas. Better understanding of the impact of these differentiations on survival will come with the evaluation of more cases of this unusual malignancy.

Colon Cancer With Isolated Metastasis to the Kidney at the Time of Initial Diagnosis

Blood-borne metastases to the kidneys from solid tumors have received little attention in the medical literature because they usually occur in a setting of advanced systemic disease, and renal involvement is a relatively minor cause of symptoms. Although the frequency of metastases to the kidney in cancer patients is 7-13% in large autopsy series, incidental discovery of a renal metastasis as the first manifestation of a primary tumor is a very rare event. The most common primary malignancy to involve the kidney is bronchogenic carcinoma,followed by breast and gastrointestinal cancers. In this article, we report a patient with left colon cancer and isolated metastasis to the right kidney at the time of initial diagnosis. Left hemicolectomy and right nephrectomy were performed. Adjuvant systemic chemotherapy consisting of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid (FA) was given. 5-FU and FA were stopped after four cycles because metastases to the lung and liver occurred about 3 mo after the surgery during adjuvant chemotherapy. Capecitabine was started. The patient died 9 mo after the discovery of the isolated renal metastasis. Nephrectomy is more for diagnostic clarification in the setting of synchronous primary because it has no effect on survival and its effect on quality of life is minimal; as seen in our case, the other organ metastases rapidly occur and the survival is limited. Nephrectomy may also compromise the choice of chemotherapy agents that require renal clearance, thus a careful evaluation of renal functions is necessary if a nephrectomy is performed. In the matter of a decreased renal clearance,the doses of these drugs should be decreased or the choice should be reevaluated.

Unusual metastases from rectal adenocarcinoma; report of two cases with literature review

Two case reports of patients with skin and orbital metastasis from rectal carcinoma are described. The reasons for the rarity of this kind of metastases are considered. The survival of these cases was very short.