• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.153-162
• /
• 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term results after breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy in early breast cancer in terms of failure, survival, and cosmesis. Materials and Methods: One hundred fifty-four patients with stage I and II breast cancer were treated with conservative surgery plus radiotherapy between January 1992 and December 2002 at the Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center. According to TNM stage, 93 patients were stage I, 50 were IIa, and 11 were IIb. The affected breasts were irradiated with 6 MV photons to 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions over 5.5 weeks with a boost irradiation dose of 10~16 Gy to the excision site. Chemotherapy was administered in 75 patients and hormonal therapy in 92 patients with tamoxifen. Follow-up periods were 13~179 months, with a median of 92.5 months. Results: The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 97.3% and 94.5%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year disease-free survival (5YDFS and 10YDFS, respectively) rates were 92.5% and 88.9%, respectively; the ultimate 5YDFS and 10YDFS rates after salvage treatment were 93.9% and 90.2%, respectively. Based on multivariate analysis, only the interval between surgery and radiation therapy ($\leq$6 weeks vs. >6 weeks, p=0.017) was a statistically significant prognostic factor for DFS. The major type of treatment failure was distant failure (78.5%) and the most common distant metastatic site was the lungs. The cosmetic results were good-to-excellent in 96 patients (80.7%). Conclusion: Conservative surgery and radiation for early stage invasive breast cancer yielded excellent survival and cosmetic results. Radiation therapy should be started as soon as possible after breast-conserving surgery in patients with early breast cancer, ideally within 6 weeks.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.24-34
• /
• 2008

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of the use of accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy(AHRT) for locally advanced uterine cervix cancers. Materials and Methods: Between May 2000 and September 2002, 179 patients were identified with FIGO stage IIB, IIIB, and IVA cancers. Of the 179 patients, 45 patients were treated with AHRT(AHRT group) and 134 patients were treated with conventional radiotherapy(CRT group), respectively. Patients undergoing the AHRT regimen received a dose of 30 Gy in 20 fractions(1.5 $Gy{\times}2$ fractions/day) to the whole pelvis. Subsequently, with a midline block, we administered a parametrial boost with a dose of 20 Gy using 2 Gy fractions. Patients also received two courses of low-dose-rate brachytherapy, up to a total dose of 85{\sim}90 Gy to point A. In the CRT group of patients, the total dose to point A was $85{\sim}90$ Gy. The overall treatment duration was a median of 37 and 66 days for patients that received AHRT and CRT, respectively. Statistical analysis was calculated by use of the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test, and Chi-squared test. Results: For patients that received cisplatin-based concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the local control rate at 5 years was 100% and 79.2% for the AHRT and CRT group of patients, respectively(p=0.028). The 5-year survival rate for patients with a stage IIB bulky tumor was 82.6% and 62.1% for the AHRT group and CRT group, respectively(p=0.040). There was no statistically significant difference for severe late toxicity between the two groups(p=0.561). Conclusion: In this study, we observed that treatment with AHRT with concurrent chemotherapy allows a significant advantage of local control and survival for locally advanced uterine cervix cancers.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.45-55
• /
• 2008

Purpose: This study evaluates the association of estrogen receptor(ER), progesterone receptor(PR), Her-2, COX-2, and survivin with the clinicopathological features and outcomes in young Korean women with breast cancer using recently developed tissue microarray(TMA) technology. Materials and Methods: A cohort of 212 young patients with breast cancer diagnosed at the age of 45 years or younger from March 1994 to August 2005, were enrolled in this study. The age range of patients was $23{\sim}45$ years(median age, 39 years). The minimum and median follow-up periods were 24 months and 60 months, respectively. Serial sections of primary tumors were processed by the use of a TMA for immunohistochemical staining for five biomarkers. The correlation of these five biomarkers and the clinicopathological features and outcomes were analyzed by statistical methods. Results: The majority of the patients were stage T1(90 patients) or T2(101 patients), and 105 patients(49.5%) had an axillary node metastasis. The 5-year overall and relapse free survival rates for all of the patients were 90.4% and 82.3%, respectively, and 36 patients had a locoregional or distant metastasis as a first event. Positive expression of ER, PR, Her-2, COX-2, and survivin was determined in 38.2%, 45.3%, 25.9%, 41.5%, and 43.4%, of the tumor samples, respectively. Tumor stage, nodal status, age, as well as expression of ER, PR, and HER-2 status were significantly associated with the disease free survival rate. Tumor stage, nodal status, as well as expression of ER, PR, and HER-2 were significantly related with the overall survival rate. Expression of COX-2 and survivin were not single independent prognostic factors for the disease free and overall survival rate although co-expression of HER-2 and COX-2 had a tendency as a poor prognostic factor. By multivariate analysis, only T stage and lymph node status were significant prognostic factors, and ER status was a marginally significant prognostic factor(p=0.075). Conclusion: Expression of ER, PR and HER-2 were significant prognostic factors for the relapse free and overall survival rate. Expression of COX-2 and survivin were not prognostic factors for young women with breast cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.282-287
• /
• 2004

Purpose: Since preoperative staging in esophageal cancer is important in both therapy and prognosis, there had been many efforts to improve its accuracy. Recent studies indicate that whole body FDG-PET has high sensitivity in detection of metastasis in esophageal cancer. Therefore, we added FDG-PET to other conventional methods in staging esophageal cancer to evaluate the usefulness of this method. Materials & Methods: Subjects were 142 esophageal cancer patients (average $62.3{\pm}8.3$ yrs) who received CT and PET just before operation. First, we compared N stage and M stage of the CT or PET with those of the post-operative results. Then we compared the stage according to the EUS (T stage) and CT (N and M stage) or SUS (T stage) and CT & PET (N and M stage) to that according to the post-operative results. Results: Among 142 patients, surgical staging of 69 were N0 and 73 were N1. In M staging, 128 were M0 and 14 were M1. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of N staging were 35.6%, 89.9%, 62.0% with CT and 58.9%, 71.0%, 64.7% with PET, respectively. In M staging, 14.3%, 96.9%, 88.7% with CT and 50.0%, 94.5%, 90.1%, with PET, respectively. The concordances of [EUS+CT] and [EUS+CT+PET] with post-operative results were 41.2% and 54.6%, respectively and there was significant improvement of staging with additional PET scan (p<0.005). Conclusion: The concordance of [EUS+CT+PET] with post-operative result was significantly increased compared to that of [EUS+CT]. Thus, the addition of FDG-PET with other conventional methods may enable more accurate preoperative staging.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.97-104
• /
• 1987

From January 1970 through December 1984, 15 patients with sinonasal Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma combined to the head and neck were treated by external irradiation.13 patients were stage It and 2 were stage IIE by Ann Arbor Classification. However, when using TNM system, 7 were locally advanced T3, T4 lesions. All patients had follow up from 3.7 to 16 years with the median follow-up of 8.5 years. The overall actuarial 5-year survival rates were $25\%,\;28\%$ for IE and $0\%$ for IIE. Total tumor dose varied from 40 to 68 Gy. $100\%$ complete response with a total tumor dose of more than 55 Gy and $73\%$ complete response with less than 55Gy. When the disease was staged using the TNM (AJC) system, the five-year disease free survival for T1 and T2 patients was $50\%$ as compared with $14\%$ for T3 and T4. Failure rate by stage was $33\%(2/6)$ for T1 and T2, $86\%(6/7)$ for T3 and T4, and $100\%$(2/2) for IIE. The results suggest that 1. Higher CR could be obtained with a total tuner dose of more than 55 Gy. 2. Use of TNM staging system is as important as Ann arbor in management of sinonasal NHL. 3. The addition of combination chemotherapy should be considered for T3, T4 and IIE the sinonasal Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma although the disease is limited to head and neck.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.184-191
• /
• 2004

Purpose: In order to improve the proper use of radiotherapy and breast-conserving treatment (BCT) in the management of breast cancer, current status of breast cancer treatment in Korea was surveyed nationwide and the use of BCT were evaluated. Materials and Methods: Patients characteristics and treatment pattern of 1048 breast cancer patients from 27 institutions diagnosed between January, 1998 and June, 1998 were analyzed. The incidence of receiving BCT was analyzed according to the stage, age, geography, type of hospital, and the availability of radiotherapy facility. Results: Radical mastectomy was peformed in 64.8$\%$ of total patients and 26$\%$ of patients received breast- conserving surgery (BCS). The proportions of patients receiving BCT were 47.5$\%$ in stage 0, 54.4$\%$ in stage I, and 20.3$\%$ in stage II, Some of the patients (6.6$\%$ of stage I, 10.1$\%$ of stage II and 66.7$\%$ of stage III) not received radiotherapy after BCS. Only 45$\%$ of stage III patients received post-operative radiotherapy after radical mastectomy. The proportion of patients receiving BCT was different according to the geography and availability of radiotherapy facilities. Conclusion: Radiotherapy was not fully used in the management of breast cancer, even in the patients received breast-conserving surgery. The proportion of the patients who received BCT was lower than the report of western countries. To improve the application of proper management of breast cancer, every efforts such as a training of physicians, public education, and improving accessibility of radiotherapy facilities should be done. The factors predicting receipt of BCT were accessibility of radiotherapy facility and geography. Also, periodic survey like current research is warranted.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.153-160
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate needs and satisfaction on the medical services of cancer patients in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. Methods: Total 174 cancer patients, who visited at the clinic of Jeju National University Hospital, submitted informed consent and participated in this study from July 13 to July 30, 2009. Self questionnaire was used and data were analyzed with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Participants expressed the needs of most economical support (3.38 out of 4), followed by counseling of treatment plan (3.22), information of disease (3.07), and disease management except cancer (2.97). Participants were satisfied most with religious counseling (3.41), followed by nursing service support (3.39), employment counseling (3.26), and counseling for family or interpersonal relationships (3.26). The satisfaction of economical support was the lowest (1.98). Satisfaction of men was higher than women, and needs in patients who were living with children was the highest. Patients who were living alone or with children showed the lowest satisfaction about the medical services. There were no significant differences in the general characteristics, however, participants who were older than 60 years of age or had higher income showed lower needs and higher satisfaction. There were no significant differences in the medical characteristics, however, thyroid cancer patients and patients who were treated with radiation therapy or transarterial embolization showed low satisfaction. Conclusion: Cancer patients seemed to need more economical support, information of treatment or disease, and symptom management. Furthermore, there were various needs about the services, depending on family formation or economical support of patients. Therefore, it is certain that patients who were suffering from other cancers, except the 5 major cancers, needed more services. In conclusion, continuous and systemic policy to consider patient's characteristics and needs are needed in community as well as health care system.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.91-97
• /
• 2004

Propose: To Analyze the survival outcomes and prognostic factors In glioblastoma patients treated with surgery and radiation therapy. Materials and Methods : One hundred twenty glloblastoma patients treated with postoperative radiation therapy from 1994 to 2003 at Samsung Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical extents were gross total resection in 22 patients (18$\%$), subtotal resection in 69 (58$\%$), and biopsy only in 29 (24$\%$). The median radiation dose was 50 Gy, ranging from 45 Gy to 72 Gy The median follow-up period was 12 months ranging from 2 to 52 months. Results The overall 1- and 2-year survival rates were 52$\%$ and 14$\%$, respectively, and the median survival duration was 13 months. Favorable prognostic factors by Uunivarlate analyses of prognostic factors on 1-year survival rate were revealed that age under 50 (p<0.01), ECOG performance status 0 or 1 (p=0.03), single lesion (p=0.02), and gross total resection (p=0.04), were the favorable prognostic (actors. and by Mmultlvarlate analyses were revealed that female (p<0.01), age under 50 (p<0.01), ECOG performance status 0 or 1 (p=0.05) and gross total resection (p=0.05) were the favorable prognostic factors. Conclusions : The results of our study were comparable with those previously reported. To Improve treatment outcome, various modifications, Including radiation dose escalation through newer radiation therapy techniques and use of effective chemotherapy regimen, should be further Investigated. Investigated. Also Furthermore, the application of Individualized treatment strategy based on 4he patient's prognostic factors might be needed.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.32-42
• /
• 2005

Purpose : To evaluate the incidence of arm morbidity following breast cancer surgery including axillary dissection and to identify related factors. Materials and Methods : One hundred and fifty nine patients were studied using a self-report questionnaire and a clinical examination. Lymphedema, reduction of range of motion in shoulder joint and subjective symptoms (pain, impaired arm movement, numbness, stiffness) were evaluated. As related factors, demographic, oncologic characteristics and types of treatment were analysed. Results : The incidence of lymphedema ($\geqq$2 cm difference comparing to unaffected arm) was $6.3\%$, $10.7\%$, $22.5\%$ and $23.3\%$ at each 10 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, and 40 cm from wrist. Reduction of range of motion in shoulder joint ($\geqq$ 20 degree difference comparing to unaffected arm) was noted In more than 1/3 patients for flexion, abduction and internal rotation. Especially the reduction of range of motion in internal rotation was severe ($>50\%$ reduction) in 1/3 patients. Approximately 50 to $60\%$ of patients complained impaired arm movement, numbness, stiffness and pain. Body mass index (BMI) was the significant risk factor for lymphedema. Conclusion : Lymphedema was present in 1/3 of patients and the common sites of edema were 30 cm 40 cm proximal from the wrist. Also most severe reduction of range of motion in shoulder joint was with internal rotation. There needs weight control for lymphedema because BMI was the significant risk factor for lymphedema. Also rehabilitation program for range of motion especially internal rotation In shoulder joint should be developed.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.164-170
• /
• 2006

[ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: This study identified the result of postoperative radiation therapy and the prognostic factors to affect survival rates in cancer patients. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: One hundred and thirty three patients with cervical cancer who were treated with postoperative radiation therapy following surgery at our institution between June 1985 and November 2002 were retrospectively analyzed. One hundred and thirteen patients had stage IB disease, and 20 patients had stage IIA disease. Histological examination revealed 118 squamous cell carcinoma patients and 15 adenocarcinoma patients. Sixty seven patients were noted to have stromal invasion greater than 10 mm, and 45 patients were noted to have stromal Invasion 10 mm or less. Positive lymphovascular invasion was found in 24 patients, and positive pelvic lymph nodes were noted in 39 patients. Positive vaginal resection margin was documented in 8 patients. All of the patients were treated with external beam radiation therapy to encompass whole pelvis and primary surgical tumor bed. Intracavitary radiation therapy was added to 19 patients who had positive or close surgical margins. $\underline{Results}$: Actuarial overall and disease-free survival rates for entire group of the patients were 88% and 84% at 5 years, respectively. Five-year disease-free survival rates for patients with stromal invasion greater than 10 mm and 10 mm or less were 76% and 97%, respectively (p<0.05). Also there was a significantly lower survival in patients with positive pelvic lymph nodes compared with patients with negative pelvic lymph nodes (p<0.05). However, lymphovascular invasion, positive vaginal resection margins were not statistically significant prognostic factors. Addition of neoadjuvant chemotherapy or type of surgery did not affect disease-free survival. $\underline{Conclusion}$: Postoperative radiation therapy appears to achieve satisfactory local control with limited morbidity in cervical cancer patients with high pathologic risk factors. Distant metastasis was a dominant failure pattern to affect survival in cervical cancer patients after radical surgery and radiation and more effective systemic treatment should be investigated in these high-risk patients.