• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.275-285
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• 1998

Sarcoma of the uterus is very rare malignant tumor originating from uterine muscle or connective tissue. We have experienced 20 cases of uterine sarcoma from January 1991 to June 1998. The results were as follows: 1. The pathologic types were 13 cases(65.0%) of leiomyosarcoma, 5 cases(25.0%) of malignant mixed Mullerian tumor, 1 case of rhabdomyosarcoma, and 1 case of angiosarcoma. 2. The average age and parity was 50.2 and 3.7. The chief complaints were irregular vaginal bleeding(35.0%), lower abdominal pain(25.0%), and abdominal mass(25.0%). 3. Nine cases(45.0%) were FIGO stage I, 1 case(5.0%) was stage II, 6 cases(30.0%) were stage III, and 4 cases(20.0%) were stage IV. 4. The survival was from 1.5 months to over 130 months(median 16.5 months), and there was no correlation between survival and FIGO stage or pathologic type. The correlation between survival and number of mitotic figure was incalcurable. 5. CA 125 levels were serially measured as a tumor marker in monitoring patients and the positive rate was 40%. Further study was needed to make a conclusion for usefulness of CA 125 as a tumor marker.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.590-596
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• 2002

Background : Lung cancer is the leading cause of malignant pleural effusions, which is currently most commonly treated using pleurodesis via bedside thoracostomy. Several agents had been used for the treatment of pleural sclerosis, but with differing efficacies and associated side effects. Our purpose with this study was to compare the efficacy, side effects and disease free survival times of patients being treated with OK-432 and doxycycline sclerotherapy in lung cancer induced malignant pleureal effusions. Materials and Methods : 79 patients who underwent pleurodesis with OK-432 and doxycycline, between Jan.1994 and Aug. 2001, were retrospectively reviewed. Response 30 days following pleurodesis were determined from chest radiographs, with the disease free survival time being evaluated according to the response. Results : The success rates, 30 day followint pleurodesis, with OK-432 and doxycycline 83 and 87%, respectively (p=0.677). With regard to the side effects, fever was more common when OK-432 was used (59%, p=0.001), and pain was more common with doxycycline use (73%, p=0.008). There was no significant difference in disease free survival times between OK-432 (13.6 Months) and doxycycline (11.6 Months) (p=0.532). Conclusion : with the use of OK-432, for pleurodesis, was as effective as doxycycline, can be considered as an alternative treatment for malignant effusion in patients with lung cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.312-318
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• 2001

Purpose : To assess the locoregional recurrence rate, survival rate and prognostic factors after modified radical mastectomy and postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy with or with chemotherapy in high-risk breast cancer patients. Methods : Between $1984\~1995$, 48 patients underwent postoperative irradiation to the regional lymphatics and chest wall due to large tumor size $(\geq5\;cm)$ or small tumor size (<5 cm) with axillary lymph node involvement after modified radical mastectomy. The median age of the patients was 47 years (range, $31\~79\;years$). The clinical tumor size was <2 cm in 1 patient, $2\~5\;cm$ in 15 patients, and >5 cm in 32 patients. Thirty two patients had positive axillary lymph nodes. Forty two patients were irradiated to the chest wall and regional lymph node and 6 patients were irradiated in the chest wall only. Radiation dose to the chest wall and regional lymph node was 5040 cGy/28 fraction. The median follow-up time was 61 months. Results : Locoregional recurrence rate was $8\%$ and distant metastatic rate was $14\%$. The actuarial overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate was $53\%\;and\;62\%$ at 5 years, respectively. The median survival time was 57 months. Five-year overall survival rate by the stage is $70\%$ in IIB and $58\%$ in IIA. The significant prognostic factor for survival on multivariate analysis was the stage. Conclusion : Postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy in high-risk breast cancer can reduce the locoregional recurrence rate and increase the survival time by combined chemotherapy. The significant prognostic factor for survival rate was the stage.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2000

Purpose : To evaluate the histopathological prognostic factors, relapse pattern and survival in patients with endometrial carcinoma who were treated with surgery and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). Methods and Materials : From September 1991 to December 1997, 27 patients with endometrial carcinoma treated with surgery and postoperative adjuvant RT at Asan Medical Center were entered in this study. Surgery was peformed with total abdominal hysterectomy in six, total abdominal hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection in eight and radical hysterectomy in 13 patients. External RT of 50.4 Gy was done to all patients and among these, additional high dose rate vaginal vault irradiation of 20$\~$25 Gy with fractional dose of 4$\~$5 Gy was boosted In 16 patients. The patients were followed for 6$\~$95 months(median 30). Results : The number of patients according to FIGO stage were I 18 (67$\%$), II 1 ($4\%$) and III 7 ($26\%$). Patients with poor histologic grade, deep myometrial invasion, adnexal involvement, lymphovascular invasion showed more pelvic lymph node involvement, but no statistical significance was indicated. The 5 year overall and disease free survival were 100$\%$ and 76.8$\%$, respectively. Relapse sites were pelvic, para-aortic lymph node, and multiple metastases including lung, and no vaginal relapse was developed. Factors that were associated with disease free survival were FIGO stage (p=0.01), lymphovascular invasion (p=0.03), pelvic lymph node involvement (p=0.0001). There was only one Grade 1 rectal bleeding without moderate to severe complications. Conclusion : Postoperative adjuvant RT is considered to reduce the loco-regional failure, resulting the improvement of survival. The group of patients with the risk of vaginal failure without vaginal vault irradiation should be investigated according to stage and grade.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.6 s.275
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• pp.428-434
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• 2007

Background: Recent studies have suggested that UFT may be an effective adjuvant therapy for completely resected IB (pT2N0) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We designed this study to clarify the feasibility of performing adjuvant chemotherapy with UFT for completely resected IB nor-small cell lung cancer, Material and Method: We randomly assigned patients suffering with completely resected IB non-small cell lung cancer to receive either UFT 3g for 2 year or they received no treatment. All patients had to be followed until death or the cut-off date (December 31 2006). Result: From June 2002 through December 2004, 64 patients were enrolled. Thirty five patients were assigned to receive UFT (the UFT group) and 29 patients were assigned to observation (the control group). A follow-up surrey on the 3 year survival rate was successfully completed for all the patients. The median follow-up time for all the patients was 32.8 months. In the UFT group, the median time of administration was 98 weeks (range: $2{\sim}129$ weeks). The rate of compliance was 88.2% at 6 months, 87.5% at 12 months, 80.6% at 18 month and 66.7% at 24 months. Seven recurrences (24.1%) occurred in the control group and six (17.1%) occurred in the UFT group (p=0,489). The three-year disease free survival rate was 71.3% for the control group and 82.0% for the UFT group (p=0.331). On the subgroup analysis, the three-year disease free survival rate for the patients with adenocacinoma was 45.0% for the control group and 75.2% for the UFT group (p=0.121). The three-year disease free survival rate for the patients with non-adenocarcinoma was 88.1% for the control group and 88.9% for the UFT group (p=0.964), Conclusion: Postoperative oral administration of UFT was well-tolerated. Adjuvant chemotherapy with UFT for completely resected pT2N0 adenocarcinoma of the lung could be expected to improve the disease free survival, but this failed to achieve statistical significance. A prospective randomized study for a large number of patients will be necessary.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2005

Purpose: This retrospective study was conduced to analyze the treatment results and to evaluate the prognostic factors affecting the survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Materials and Methods: From 1987 to 2002, we analyzed 43 patients who had nasopharyngeal carcinomas that were histologically confirmed and who had also completed the planned radiation therapy course at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center According to the 6th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system, 12 patients ($27.9\%$) were at Stage 11, 13 ($30.2\%$) were at Stage III and 18 ($41.9\%$) were at Stage IV Histopathologically, there were 15 ($34.9\%$) squamous cell carcinomas, 8 ($18.5\%$) nonkeratinizing carcinomas, 17 ($39.5\%$) undifferentiated carcinomas, and 3 ($7.0\%$) lymphoepitheliomas. Among the total 43 patients, 31 patients ($72.1\%$) were treated with only radiation therapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was peformed on 7 patients ($16.3\%$) and concurrent chemoradiotherapy was performed on S patients ($11.6\%$). Cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil were administered to 11 patients for 4 cycles, and Cisplatin and Taxotere were administered to 1 patient for 6 cycles. The range of the total radiation dose delivered to the primary tumor was from 61.2 to 84 Gy (median 70.4 Gy), The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 197 months with median follow-up of 84 months. Results: The local control rate at 6 months after radiation therapy was $90.7\%$. The five year overall survival and disease free survival rates were $50.7\%$ and $48.9\%$, respectively. On the multivariate analysis, the age, T-stage ($T_{1-3}\;vs\;T_4$), N-stage and AJCC stage were the statistically significant prognostic factors affecting survival (p<0.05). The patterns of failure were as follows: local failure only in 3 patients ($7.0\%$), local and systemic failure in 1 patient ($2.3\%$), and distant metastasis only in 11 patients ($25.6\%$). Conclusion: The prognostic factors affecting the outcome of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were age, T-stage (7$T_{1-3}\;vs\;T_4$), N-stage and stage. Because systemic metastasis was the main failure pattern noted for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, systemic chemotherapy is needed to decrease the rate of distant metastasis for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In audition, research for more effective chemotherapeutical regimens and schedules is also needed.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2006

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment outcome according to the salvage treatment modalities and identify the prognostic factors influencing the survival. Materials and Methods: Forty-five patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer treated between 1994 to 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Median time from initial surgery to loal recurrence was 16months. Of the patients, 25 (56%) recurred at presacral and perirectal space. Among the 18 (40%) patients who received salvage surgery, 14 patients were treated with postoperative chemoradiotherapy. Among 27 (60%) patients who didn't receive salvage surgery, 16 were treated with chemoradiotherapy and 11 were treated with radiotherapy alone. Radiotherapy was given with total dose ranging from 37.5 to 64.8 Gy. Results: Five-year locoregional progression-free survival rate and overall survival rate of all patents were 49.5% and 34.3%, respectively. The 5-year locoregional progression-free survival rate and overall survival rate of patients undergoing salvage surgery were 77.0% and 52.1% compared with 36.0% and 37.9% f3r patients treated with chemoradiotherapy and 0% and 0% for patients treated with radiotherapy alone, respectively. The 5-year locoregional progression free survival and overall survival of patients who recurred earlier than 24 months were higher (67.5% and 59.1%) than the other patients (39.5% and 24.9%). Among the 27 patients who didn't receive salvage surgery, there was no significant difference for locoregional progression free survival and overall survival between re-irradiated patients and radiation-naive patients. Conclusion: Surgical resection is preferred to treatment for locally recurrent rectal cancer. If salvage surgery is not possible, chemoradiotherapy may achieve higher locoregional progression free survival and overall survival than radiotherapy alone.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.115-123
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• 2004

Purpose : This retrospective study was conducted to compare early preliminary results of breast conservation therapy (BCT) with mastectomy In early breast cancer. Materials and Methods : We evaluated 171 women with AJCC stage I and II breast cancer who had been treated at Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital from March 1989 to August 1996. Eighty-eight patients underwent mastectomy and 85 patients did conservative surgery with breast irradiation. in the BCT group, all patients received whole breast irradiation to a total dose of 45$\~$50 Gy/5$\~$6 wks, followed by a boost to the original tumor site at least 60 Gy. Chemotherapy was administered to 29 (34.1$\%$) patients in BCT and 40 (45.5$\%$) in mastectomy, with various sequencing of surgery and/or radiation. We compared survival rate, patterns of failure in each treatment group and the prognostic factors that had a significant effect on treatment failure. The median follow-up time was 63 months (19$\~$111 months). Log rank test was used to estimate the prognostic factors for treatment failure. Results : Overall survival, disease free survival, locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis rates were not significantly different between the two treatment groups. During the follow-up period, 11 patients (12.5$\%$)in the mastectomy group and 10 patients (11.8%$\%$ in the BCT group were failed. Six local recurrences occurred after mastectomy and 5 after BCT Five patients fatted at distant site in mastectomy and 4 in BCT. Of the local recurrence cases, five of 6 mastectomy patients and 3 of S BCT patients were alive with no evidence of disease after salvage surgery and/or chemoirradiation. Our results indicated that the major influence on survival was distant metastasis. Unfortunately, control of distant metastasisis was not frequently achieved. Even with salvage systemic therapy or radiotherapy, most of distant metastasis patients died or had uncontrolled disease in both treatment groups: only one of 4 BCT patients and none of mastectomy patients were alive without disease. There was no apparent difference in the incidence rate of contralateral breast cancer and non-breast 2$^{nd}$ primary tumor between the two treatment groups. Univariate Log-rank test identified the N stage and the involved axillary LN number as distinct prognostic factors that were highly predictive of treatment failure in both treatment groups. Additionally, marginal status in BCT and histologic nuclear grade In the mastectomy group were risk factors for treatment fallure (p < 0.05). Concousion : Although further careful follow-up is necessary to confirm the trends evident In this serles, it would appear that patterns of failure and survival rate following conservative surgery and radiotherapy in early breast cancer are similar to those following mastectomy. The great majority of patients with local recurrence had an exellent salvage rate in both treatment groups. Therefore, these preliminary short term results support BCT as an equally effective management for early breast cancer as an alternative to mastectomy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.195-203
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• 2008

Purpose: To investigate the treatment outcome and failure patterns after definitive chemoradiation therapy in locally advanced, unresectable esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: From February 1994 to December 2002, 168 patients with locally advanced unresectable or medically inoperable esophageal cancer were treated by definitive chemoradiation therapy. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) ($42{\sim}46\;Gy$) was delivered to the region encompassing the primary tumor and involved lymph nodes, while the supraclavicular fossa and celiac area were included in the treatment area as a function of disease location. The administered cone-down radiation dose to the gross tumor went up to $54{\sim}66\;Gy$, while the fraction size of the EBRT was 1.8-2.0 Gy/fraction qd or 1.2 Gy/fraction bid. An optional high dose rate (HDR) intraluminal brachytherapy (BT) boost was also administered (Ir-192, $9{\sim}12\;Gy/3{\sim}4\;fx$). Two cycles of concurrent FP chemotherapy (5-FU $1,000\;mg/m^2$/day, days $2{\sim}6$, $30{\sim}34$, cisplatin $60\;mg/m^2$/day, days 1, 29) were delivered during radiotherapy with the addition of two more cycles. Results: One hundred sixty patients were analyzable for this review [median follow-up time: 10 months (range $1{\sim}149$ months)). The number of patients within AJCC stages I, II, III, and IV was 5 (3.1%), 38 (23.8%), 68 (42.5%), and 49 (30.6%), respectively. A HDR intraluminal BT was performed in 26 patients. The 160 patients had a median EBRT radiation dose of 59.4 Gy (range $44.4{\sim}66$) and a total radiation dose, including BT, of 60 Gy (range $44.4{\sim}72$), while 144 patients received a dose higher than 40 Gy. Despite the treatment, the disease recurrence rate was 101/160 (63.1%). Of these, the patterns of recurrence were local in 20 patients (12.5%), persistent disease and local progression in 61 (38.1%), distant metastasis in 15 (9.4%), and concomitant local and distant failure in 5 (3.1%). The overall survival rate was 31.8% at 2 years and 14.2% at 5 years (median 11.1 months). Disease-free survival was 29.0% at 2 years and 22.7% at 5 years (median 10.4 months). The response to treatment and N-stage were significant factors affecting overall survival. In addition, total radiation dose (${\geq}50\;Gy$ vs. < 50 Gy), BT and fractionation scheme (qd. vs. bid.) were not significant factors for overall survival and disease-free survival. Conclusion: Survival outcome after definitive chemoradiation therapy in unresectable esophageal cancer was comparable to those of other series. The main failure pattern was local recurrence. Survival rate did not improve with increased radiation dose over 50 Gy or the use of brachytherapy or hyperfractionation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate the efficacy of radiation therapy and extrafascial hysterectomy in bulky stage IB, IIA-B uterine cervix cancers. Methods and Materials : Twenty four patients with bulky stage IB and IIA-B carcinoma of the uterine cervix were treated with extrafascial hysterectomy following radiation therapy due to doubts of residual disease at Department of therapeutic radiology, Keimyung University, Dongsan Hospital, from April 1986 to December 1997 According to FIGO staging system, there were 7 patients with stage IB, 9 patients with IIA and 8 patients with IIB stage whose median age was 45. Pathologic distribution showed 16 patients with squamous cell carcinoma and 8 patients with adenocarcinoma. Seven patients had tumors that are less than 5cm in size and 17 patients had tumors with larger than 5cm. The mean interval between radiation therapy and extrafascial hysterectomy was 57 days. The radiation therapy consisted of external irradition to the whole pelvis (180 cGy/fraction, mean 4100 cGy) and parametrial boost (for a mean total dose of 5000 cGy) with midline shield (4H 10 cm), followed by intracavitary irradiation up to 7500 cGy to point A (maximum 8500 cGy). The maximum follow up duration was 107 months and mean follow up duration was 42 months. Results :Ten out of 24 patients (41.7%) had residual disease found at the time of extrafascial hysterectomies. Five year overall survival rate (5Y OSR) and five year disease free survival rate (5Y DFSR) were 63.6% and 62.5% respectively. Five year overall survival rate for stage IB and IIA was 71.4% and 50% for stage IIB. There was a significant difference in 5Y OSR and 5Y DFSR between patients with and those without residual disease (negative vs positive, 83.3% vs. 40% (P=0.01), 83.3% vs 36% (P=0.01) respectively). There was a notable tendency of better survival with adenocarcinoma than with squamous cell carcinoma (adenocarcinoma vs squamous cell carcinoma, 85.7% vs. 53.3% (P=0.1), 85.7% vs. 50.9% (P=0.1) of 5Y OSR and 5Y DFS respectivey). Total dose to A point did not make a significant difference in survival rate or the existence of residual lesion (< 7500 cGy, ${\geq}$ 7500 cOy). It was also noted that significantly more frequent local failures have occurred in patients with positive residual disease compared with negative residual disease (5/10 vs. 0/14, p=0.003), There was no death related to the treatment. Conclusion : There was no improvement of residual disease and to the overall survival rate in spite of increased total dose to point A. We conclude that there is a possible beneficial effect of radiation therapy followed by extrafaseial hysterectomy in survival for adenocarcinoma of bulky stage IB and IIA-B uterine cervix. We need to confirm this with longer follow up and with large number of patients.