• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.49-54
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• 2009

Purpose: To report on the clinical outcome of patients with stage I testicular seminoma by postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) or surveillance after radical inguinal orchiectomy. Materials and Methods: This study is a retrospective review of 32 stage I pure seminoma patients treated between 1996 and 2005 at the Samsung Medical Center. Twenty two of the patients were treated by PORT, which was directed at the paraaortic lymphatics with a median dose of 25.2 Gy in 14 fractions for 3 weeks. The 10 remaining patients were managed by surveillance. The median follow-up period was 96 months with a range of 24 to 155 months. Results: Clinically, most patients presented with a testicular mass or discomfort. Two of the patients had a history of undescended testes. Pathologically, 23 of the patients had intratubular germ cell neoplasia with seminoma. Both recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates of patients treated by PORT were 100%. In the control group, 1 of the 10 patients suffered a para-aortic lymph node relapse. The RFS and OS rates of the surveillance group were 88.9% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: No difference in survival was observed between the two groups. Moreover, symptom recurrence was only observed in 1 patient in the control group. The use of PORT may reduce the risk of relapse. With the availability of effective diagnostic and salvage modalities, surveillance monitoring may be considered for patients in good compliance.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 1999

Purpose : This study was done to analyze prognostic factors and patterns of failure of patients with histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. Materials and Methods : From June 1988 to December 1990, a retrospective analysis was undertaken for 45 patients who were treated with curative radiation therapy for adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix at the department of Therapeutic Radiology of Keimyung University Hospital. According to FIGO staging classification, f2 patients were stage Ib, 9 patients were lla, 19 patients were IIB, and 5 patients were lIIb. Median age of the patients was 54 years. The radiation therapy consisted of a combination of external and intracavitary irradiation. Only the pelvis was treated for external irradiation, but 6 patients were treated with extended field irradiation including paraaortic nodes. Intracavitary irradiation was performed with high dose rate sources (Co-60). Neoadiuvant chemotherapy was undertaken for 10 patients. Median and maximum follow-up duration was 64 and 116 months, respectively. Results : The overall 5-year survival rate was 55.2$\%$, and the 5-year survival rates for stage Ib, IIa, IIb, and IIIb were 100$\%$, 50.8$\%$, 46.8$\%$, and 40$\%$ (3-year survival rate), respectively. Of the many clinicopathologic variables evaluated for prognosis, only the stage and the tumor size were significant prognostic factors. Statistically, pelvic failure rates for stage Ib, IIa, IIb, and IIIb were 0$\%$, 33.3$\%$, 57.9$\%$, and 60$\%$, respectively. Distant metastasis rates were 0$\%$, 33.3$\%$, 21.1$\%$, and 40$\%$ for stage Ib, IIa, IIb, and IIIb, respectively. Especially the 6 patients who were irradiated with extended field to treat the paraaortic nodes were free of distant metastasis all. But, 9 patients (23.1$\%$) of the 39 patients who were not irradiated the paraaortic nodes were suffered and expired from uncontrolled distant metastasis. Conclusions : As compared with other studies, the survival rates were similar, but distant metastasis rates including paraaortic nodes metastasis were likely somewhat higher than expected, especially for patients with stage II. So, we think that the effect of prophylactic paraaortic nodes irradiation should be studied prospectively, especially for patients with pelvic nodes involvement or advanced stage of disease.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2000

Purpose :We peformed the retrospective analysis to find the outcome of external beam radiotherapy alone in advanced esophageal cancer patients. Methods and Materials : One hundred and six Patients treated with external beam radiotherapy alone between July 1990 and December 1996 were analyzed retrospectively. We limited the site of the lesions to the thoracic esophagus and cell type to the squamous cell carcinoma. Follow-up was completed in 100 patients (94$\%$) and ranged from 1 month to 92 months (median; 6 months). Results :The median age was 62 years old and male to female ratio was 104 2. Fifty-three percent was the middle thorax lesion and curative radiotherapy was peformed in 83$\%$. Mean tumor dose delivered with curative aim was 58.6 Gy (55$\~$70.8 Gy) and median duration of the radiation therapy was 53 days. The median survival of all patients was 6 months and )-year and 2-year overall survival rate was 27$\%$ and 12$\%$, respectively, Improvement of dysphagia was obtained in most patients except for 7 patients who underwent feeding gastrostomy. The complete response rate immediately after radiation therapy was 32$\%$ (34/106). The median survival and 2-year survival rate of the complete responder was 14 months and 30$\%$ respectively, while those of the nonresponder was 4 months and 0$\%$ respectively (p=0.000). The median survival and 2-year survival rate of the patients who could tolerate regular diet was 9 months and 16$\%$ while those of the patients who could not tolerate regular diet was 3 months and 0$\%$, respectively (p=0.004). The survival difference between the patients with S cm or less tumor length and those with more than 5 cm tumor length was marginally statistically significant (u=0,06). However, the survival difference according to the periesophageal invasion or mediastinal tyrnphadenopathy in the chest CT imaging study was not statistically significant in this study. In a multivariate analysis, the statistically significant covariates to the survival were complete response to radiotherapy, tumor length, and initial degree of dysphagia in a decreasing order. The complication was observed in 10 patients (9$\%$). Conclusion :The survival outcome for advanced esophageal cancer patients treated by external beam radiotherapy alone was very poor. In the treatment of these patients, the brachytherapy and chemotherapy should be added to improve the treatment outcome.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 1998

Purpose : This study is to evaluate the efficacy of small bowel displacement system(SBDS) in post-operative pelvic radiation therapy(RT) of rectal cancer patients by measurement of small bowel volume included in the radiation fields receiving therapeutic dose. Materials and Method : Ten consecutive new rectal cancer patients referred to the department of Radiation Oncology of Samsung Medical Center in May of 1997 were included in this study. All patients were asked to drink $Castrographin^(R)$ before simulation and were laid prone for conventional simulation and CT scans with and without SBDS. The volume of opacified small bowel on CT scans, which was to be included in the radiation fields receiving therapeutic dose, was measured using Picture archiving and communication system (PACS). Results : The average small bowel volumes with and without SBDS were 176.0ml(5.2-415.6ml) and 185.1ml(54.5-434.2ml), respectively The changes of small bowel volume with SBDS compared to those without SBDS were more than $10\%$ decrease in three, less than 10% decrease in two, less than $10\%$ increase in three, and more than $10\%$ increase in two patients. Conclusion : No significant advantage of using SBDS in post-operative pelvic RT for rectal cancer patients has been shown by small bowel volume measurement using CT scan considering additional effort and time needed for simulation and treatment setup.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2006

During cancer therapy, gamma-ray irradiation and treatment of anti-cancer chemicals destroy the normal cells as well as cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of epigallocathechin-gallate(EGCG) extracted from green tea, which is known to have anti-cancer and anti-oxident activities, in order to find out the feasible method to protect the normal cells and to kill the cancer cells efficiently. We investigated the effect of EGCG on the leukemia cell growth and cell necrosis, especially when treated along with gamma radiation. The EGCG inhibited the leukemia cell, HL-60, growth at the appropriate concentration while it exhibited no influence on the normal cell growth. More significantly, it enhanced leukemia cell necrosis when its treatment was combined with gamma irradiation. Simultaneous treatment of EGCG and gamma radiation increased leukemia cell necrosis up to 35% compared with separate treatments. These results suggest that drinking of green tea or co-treatment of EGCG during gamma irradiation therapy may result in better prognosis through enhancement of the tumor cell necrosis and protection of the normal cells.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.253-258
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• 1995

Purpose : To evaluate the effects of postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy on the pattern of failure and survival for locally advanced rectal carcinoma, we analyzed the two groups of patients who received curative resection only and who received postoperative radiochemotherapy retro-spectively. Materials and Methods : From June 1989 to December 1992, ninety nine patients with rectal cancer were treated by curative resection and staged as B2-3 or C. Group I(25) patients received curative resection only and group II(74) patients postoperative adjuvant therapy. Postoperative adiuvant group received radiation therapy (4500cGy/25fx to whole pelvis) with 5-FU (500mg/$m^2$, day 1-3 IV infusion) as radiosensitizer and maintenance chemotherapy with 5-FU(400mg/$m^2$ for 5 days) and leucovorin (20mg/m^2$ for 5 days) for 6 cycles. Results : The patients in group I and group II were comparable in terms of age sex, performance status, but in group II $74{\%}$ of patients showed stage C compared with $56{\%}$ of group I. All patients were followed from 6 to 60 months with a median follow up of 29 months. Three year overall survival rates and disease free survival rates were $68\%,\;64\%$ respectively in group I and $64\%,\;61\%$, respectively in group II. There was no statistical difference between the two treatment groups in overall survival rate and disease free survival rate. Local recurrences occurred in $28{\%}$ of group I, $21{\%}$ of group II (p>.05) and distant metastases occurred in $20{\%}$ of group I, $27{\%}$ of group II(p>.05). The prognostic value of several variables other than treatment modality was assessed. In multivariate analysis for prognostic factors stage and histologic grade showed statistically significant effect on local recurrences and lymphatic or vessel invasion on distant metastasis. Conclusion : This retrospective study showed no statistical difference between two groups on the pattern of failure and survival. But considering that group II had more advanced stage and poor prognostic factors than group I, postoperative adjuvant radiochemotherapy improves the results for locally advanced rectal carcinoma as compared with curative surgery alone.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.299-305
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• 2003

Purpose: In order to develop the national guide-lines for the standardization of radiotherapy we are planning to establish a web-based, on-line data-base system for laryngeal cancer. As a first step this study was performed to accumulate the basic clinical information of laryngeal cancer and to determine the items needed for the data-base system. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the clinical data on patients who were treated under the diagnosis of laryngeal cancer from January 1998 through December 1999 In the South-west area of Korea. Eligiblity criteria of the patients are as follows: 18 years or older, currently diagnosed with primary epithelial carcinoma of larynx, and no history of previous treatments for another cancers and the other laryngeal diseases. The items were developed and filled out by radiation oncologlst who are members of forean Southwest Radiation Oncology Group. SPSS vl0.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Data of forty-five patients were collected. Age distribution of patients ranged from 28 to 88 years(median, 61). Laryngeal cancer occurred predominantly In males (10 : 1 sex ratio). Twenty-eight patients (62$\%$) had primary cancers in the glottis and 17 (38$\%$) in the supraglottis. Most of them were diagnosed pathologically as squamous cell carcinoma (44/45, 98$\%$). Twenty-four of 28 glottic cancer patients (86$\%$) had AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) stage I/II, but 50$\%$ (8/16) had In supraglottic cancer patients (p=0.02). Most patients(89$\%$) had the symptom of hoarseness. indirect laryngoscopy was done in all patients and direct laryngoscopy was peformed in 43 (98$\%$) patients. Twenty-one of 28 (75$\%$) glottic cancer cases and 6 of 17 (35$\%$) supraglottic cancer cases were treated with radiation alone, respectively. The combined treatment of surgery and radiation was used in 5 (18$\%$) glottic and 8 (47$\%$) supraglottic patients. Chemotherapy and radiation was used in 2 (7$\%$) glottic and 3 (18$\%$) supraglottic patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the use of combined modality treatments between glottic and supraglottic cancers (p=0.20). In all patients, 6 MV X-ray was used with conventional fractionation. The iraction size was 2 Gy In 80$\%$ of glottic cancer patients compared with 1.8 Gy in 59$\%$ of the patients with supraglottic cancers. The mean total dose delivered to primary lesions were 65.98 ey and 70.15 Gy in glottic and supraglottic patients treated, respectively, with radiation alone. Based on the collected data, 12 modules with 90 items were developed or the study of the patterns of care In laryngeal cancer. Conclusion: The study Items for laryngeal cancer were developed. In the near future, a web system will be established based on the Items Investigated, and then a nation-wide analysis on laryngeal cancer will be processed for the standardization and optimization of radlotherapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2001

Purpose : Granulocyle-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been widely used to treat neutropenia caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The efficacy of recombinant human hematopoietic growth factors in improving oral mucositis after chemotherapy or radiotherapy has been recently demonstrated in some clinical studies. This study was designed to determine whether G-CSF can modify the radiation injury of the intestinal mucosa in mice. Materials and Methods : One hundred and five BALB/c mice weighing 20 grams were divided into nine subgroups including G-CSF alone group $(I:10\;{\mu}g/kg\;or\;II:100\;{\mu}g/kg)$, radiation alone group (7.5 or 12 Gy on the whole body), combination group with G-CSF and radiation (G-CSF I or II plus 7.5 Gy, G-CSF I or II plus 12 Gy), and control group. Radiation was administered with a 6 MV linear accelerator (Mevatron Siemens) with a dose rate of 3 Gy/min on day 0. G-CSF was injected subcutaneously for 3 days, once a day, from day -2 to day 0. Each group was sacrificed on the day 1, day 3, and day 7. The mucosal changes of jejunum were evaluated microscopically by crypt count per circumference, villi length, and histologic damage grading. Results : In both G-CSF I and II groups, crypt counts, villi length, and histologic damage scores were not significantly different from those of the control one (p>0.05). The 7.5 Gy and 12 Gy radiation alone groups showed significantly lower crypt counts and higher histologic damage scores compared with those of control one (p<0.05). The groups exposed to 7.5 Gy radiation plus G-CSF I or II showed significantly higher crypt counts and lower histologic damage scores on the day 3, and lower histologic damage scores on the day 7 compared with those of the 7.5 Gy radiation alone one (p<0.05). The 12 Gy radiation plus G-CSF I or II group did not show significant difference in crypt counts and histologic damage scores compared with those of the 12 Gy radiation alone one (p>0,05). Most of the mice in 12 Gy radiation with or without G-CSF group showed intestinal death within 5 days. Conclusion : These results suggest that G-CSF may protect the jejunal mucosa from the acute radiation damage following within the tolerable ranges of whole body irradiation in mice.

• 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.20 no.2
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• pp.186-192
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• 2002

Purpose : Measurement of transmission dose is useful for in vivo dosimetry. In this study, previous algorithm for estimation of transmission dose was modified for use in cases with tissue deficit. Materials and Methods : The beam data was measured with flat solid phantom in various conditions of tissue deficit. New algorithm for correction of transmission dose for tissue deficit was developed by physical reasoning. The algorithm was tested in experimental settings with irregular contours mimicking breast cancer patients using multiple sheets of solid phantoms. Results : The correction algorithm for tissue deficit could accurately reflect the effect of tissue deficit with errors within ${\pm}1.0\%$ in most situations and within ${\pm}3.0\%$ in experimental settings with irregular contours mimicking breast cancer treatment set-up. Conclusion : Developed algorithm could accurately reflect the effect of tissue deficit and irregularly shaped body contour on transmission dosimetry.