• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2013

Background/Aims: Gemcitabine is regarded as a reference regimen for advanced pancreatic cancer and shows relatively safe toxicity profiles compared with other cytotoxic agents. However, many oncologists are appeared to be still reluctant to treat elderly pancreatic cancer patients with cytotoxic chemotherapy because of predicted low response rate and potential adverse events. Methods: All patients who were received gemcitabine based chemotherapy between 2007 and 2010 were identified and clinical, laboratory, radiographic data were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups based on their ages: less than 65, and equal or more than 65 years old. Gemcitabine, at a dose of 1,000 mg per square meter of body surface area, was administered by intravenously over 30 minutes weekly for 3 weeks followed by 1 week rest, alone or along with other chemotherapeutic agents including cisplatin, capecitabine and erlotinib. Results: A total of 61 patients were identified and all patients were not eligible to receive operation because of advanced stage at diagnosis. Twenty three patients (37.7%) were equal or more than 65 year of age. Mean age was 56 years old and 71 years old in each group. Laboratory data including CA 19-9 were not significantly different. More gemcitabine monotherapy was delivered (56.5% vs. 26.3%, p=0.029) and less second or third line therapy was adminis- tered (17.4% vs. 50.0%, p=0.014) in elderly group. Cholangitis occurred and stent placement were performed similarly in both groups. Conclusion: Gemcitabine based chemotherapy can be administered safely to elderly pancreatic cancer patients and comparable response rate and progression free survival can be expected as young patients.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 1989

Kimura's Disease is a chronic inflammatory and proliferative condition producing subcutaneous masses especially in the head and neck area. This report of our experience with 5 patients with this disease is the first in the Korean surgical literature. Kimura's Disease is thought to be part of the larger spectrum of the entity known as angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE). It is characterized pathologically by hyperplastic lymphoid follicles, eosinophilic infiltration, and vase 비 ar proliferation. It produces masses which are most common in the area of the parotid, submandibular gland and upper neck. These masses occupy the subcutaneous tissues but also extend into salivary tissue and into upper neck nodes. One of our patients had masses in the groin. The tumors are extremely vascular due to the presence of new proliferative vessels and sinusoids. The average age of our 5 patients was 35, but all but one case were younger than 38 years of age. The male: female ratio was 3 : 2, and the average duration of symptoms was 5,2years. All patients had peripheral blood eosinophilia. All had multiple masses, sometimes symmetrical. The management was surgery alone in one case, surgery and steroids in one case, surgery and radiotherapy in two cases, and all three modalities in one case. The relationship of this entity to ALHE and our experience in the management of this disease are presented. A clinicopathological discrepancy alerted us to the existence of Kimura's Disease. A nineteen-year old male presented with subcutaneous masses over both mastoid areas present for 3 years (Case III). When biopsy on each side was reported as 'eosinophilic granuloma' we submitted the slides to an internationally expert pathologist. Symmetrically occurring tumors in the peri-parotid subcutaneous areas did not fit any category of neoplasm or granuloma known to us. The diagnosis, made by Dr. Gist Fan at the Ochsner Clinic, was Kimura's Disease. We found two additional cases in a review of soft tissue eosinophilic granuloma previously reported at Presbyterian Medical Center, and since then have diagnosed two new cases. These five cases constitute the basis for this, the largest series to be reported in Korea. These vascular, tumor-like lesions of the skin, subcutaneous areas and subjacent structures of the head and neck have been a variety of names, such as angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia, eosinophilic hyperplastic lymphogranuloma, angioblastic lymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia, histioid hemangioma, and epithelioid hemangioma. The history of this disease spectrum dates back to 1937 when Kimm and Szeto (1) reported 7 cases of 'eosinophilic hyperplastic lymphogranuloma' in the Proceedings of the Chinese Medical Journal. In 1948 Kimura and his associates(2) reported additional cases in Japan under the title 'On the unusual granulation combined with hyperplastic changes of lymphatic tissue.' From then until 1966 several hundred cases were reported in China and Japan. The first report from the West was by Wells and Whimster(3) in the British Journal of Dermatology, in 1969. These authors coined the term, angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE). Since that time a debate has ensued as to whether Kimura's Disease and ALHE are distinct entities, or whether Kimura's is part of the larger spectrum of ALHE, perhaps a later or advanced phase. From the clinical perspective, surgeons should be aware of the diagnosis of Kimura's Disease not only as part of the differential diagnosis of head and neck tumors but also because these lesions are indolent, and generally require conservative surgical removal as part of the management program. CASE I. A 37-year-old female company employee presented in August 1982 with submental swelling of 12 years' duration and with inguinal swelling of 7 years' duration. The submental mass measured 5x5cm. and the inguinal mass was 8x4cm. in size. Peripheral eosinophilia varying from 14% to 40% was found. On August 20, 1982, the submental mass was removed and a superficial groin dissection was done. In May 1983 an intraoral lesion of the palate was removed. The patient is free of disease. CASE II. A 23-year-old unemployed man visited this hospital for the first time in July, 1984, with swelling of the right cheek present for 6 years. The mass was soft and ill-defined but measured 10x20cm. and extended from the submandibular upper neck to the zygomatic arch, and from the mastoid to the cheek, over the parotid gland. Eosinophilia varying from 27% to 29% was noted in the peripheral blood. On March 21, 1986, the lesion was resected. The procedure comprised an extended superficial parotidectomy from the temporalis fascia to the upper neck. Post-operatively radiotherapy 3000 rad tissue dose was administered using the 6 MeV linear accelerator. The patient remains free of disease. CASE III. A 19-year-old student came to the clinic with masses over both mastoid areas, present 3 years. On the right there were two adjacent lesions, one over the mastoid, the other in the upper jugular level of the neck. On the left it was a single mass over the mastoid. Eosinophilia varied from 13 to 32% in the peripheral blood, and 11.6% in the bone marrow. Incisional biopsy revealed 'eosinophilic granuloma' and a trial of predisolone was employed. The mass increased in size so a small dose of radiation (600 rads) was used, with substantial regression,. The lesion on the left was excised and follwed by 1000 rads radiotherapy. Finally recurrent tumor on the right side was removed on November 5, 1985. The patient remains free of disease. CASE N. A 29-year-old local merchant had had swelling of both upper necks since childhood. At the time of his first visit on March 17, 1986, the right submandibular mass measured 5x3.5cm. and the ,right upper neck and parotid tail mass measured 2.5cm. On the left there were masses in the upper neck, the largest of which measured 2.5cm, and of the parotid tail, 2.0cm. in size.(See Fig. 1) Peripheral eosinophilia of 39% was recorded. Left side partial parotidectomy and resection of the upper neck and subdigstric mases was done on May 2, 1986. The mass involving the right parotid tail and upper neck nodes was removed on Angust 7,1986. Postoperatively the patient was placed on prednisolone 30 mg. per day. No definite masses are palpable. CASE V. A 66-year-old housewife informed us, at the time of her first visit in May, 1986, that she had had multiple neck masses since 10 years ago. On the right side there was a 2.5cm. subcutaneous mass of the upper neck, over the upper jugular chain. On the left there was a 9x4.5cm. mass involving the entire parotid, the post-auricular area and the upper neck. A third mass presented in the submental area and measured 3.5cm. (See Fig. 2) Eosinophilia of 51% was noted in the peripheral blood. partial excision of the left upper neck lesion and complete excision of the submental mass were performed on june 6, 1986. post-operatively she was placed on 20 mg. of prednisolone daily, but when the mass re-grew after two months she was referred to Radiation Therapy for a 2500 rad course of treatment. A barely palpable thickening remains.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.247-256
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate anal sphincter preservation rates, survival rates, and prognostic factors in patients with rectal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Materials and Methods: One hundred fifty patients with pathologic confirmed rectal cancer and treated by preoperative chemoradiotherapy between January 1999 and June 2007. Of the 150 patients, the 82 who completed the scheduled chemoradiotherapy, received definitive surgery at our hospital, and did not have distant metastasis upon initial diagnosis were enrolled in this study. The radiation dose delivered to the whole pelvis ranged from 41.4 to 46.0 Gy (median 44.0 Gy) using daily fractions of $1.8{\sim}2.0\;Gy$ at 5 days per week and a boost dose to the primary tumor and high risk area up to a total of $43.2{\sim}54\;Gy$ (median 50.4 Gy). Sixty patients (80.5%) received 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and cisplatin, while 16 patients (19.5%) were administered 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin every 4 weeks concurrently during radiotherapy. Surgery was performed for 3 to 45 weeks (median 7 weeks) after completion of chemoradiotherapy. Results: The sphincter preservation rates for all patients were 73.2% (60/82). Of the 48 patients whose tumor was located at less than 5 cm away from the anal verge, 31 (64.6%) underwent sphincter-saving surgery. Moreover, of the 34 patients whose tumor was located at greater than or equal to 5 cm away from the anal verge, 29 (85.3%) were able to preserve their anal sphincter. A pathologic complete response was achieved in 14.6% (12/82) of all patients. The downstaging rates were 42.7% (35/82) for the T stage, 75.5% (37/49) for the N stage, and 67.1% (55/82) for the overall stages. The median follow-up period was 38 months (range $11{\sim}107$ months). The overall 5-year survival, disease-free survival, and locoregional control rates were 67.4%, 58.9% and 84.4%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival rates based on the pathologic stage were 100% for stage 0 (n=12), 59.1% for stage I (n=16), 78.6% for stage II (n=30), 36.9% for stage III (n=23), and one patient with pathologic stage IV was alive for 43 months (p=0.02). The 5-year disease-free survival rates were 77.8% for stage 0, 63.6% for stage I, 58.9% for stage II, 51.1% for stage III, and 0% for stage IV (p<0.001). The 5-year locoregional control rates were 88.9% for stage 0, 93.8% for stage I, 91.1% for stage II, 68.2% for stage III, and one patient with pathologic stage IV was alive without local recurrence (p=0.01). The results of a multivariate analysis with age (${\leq}55$ vs. >55), clinical stage (I+II vs. III), radiotherapy to surgery interval (${\leq}6$ weeks vs. >6 weeks), operation type (sphincter preservation vs. no preservation), pathologic T stage, pathologic N stage, pathologic overall stage (0 vs. I+II vs. III+IV), and pathologic response (complete vs. non-CR), only age and pathologic N stage were significant predictors of overall survival, pathologic overall stage for disease-free survival, and pathologic N stage for locoregional control rates, respectively. Recurrence was observed in 25 patients (local recurrence in 10 patients, distant metastasis in 13 patients, and both in 2 patients). Acute hematologic toxicity ($\geq$grade 3) during chemoradiotherapy was observed in 2 patients, while skin toxicity was observed in 1 patient. Complications developing within 60 days after surgery and required admission or surgical intervention, were observed in 11 patients: anastomotic leakage in 5 patients, pelvic abscess in 2 patients, and others in 4 patients. Conclusion: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy was an effective modality to achieve downstaging and sphincter preservation in rectal cancer cases with a relatively low toxicity. Pathologic N stage was a statistically significant prognostic factor for survival and locoregional control and so, more intensified postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered in these patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1114-1124
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• 1997

Background : Endothelin(ET) is a very potent vasoconstrictive peptide produced by endothelial cells of pulmonary artery. The endothelin level was increased in plasma of primary pulmonary hypertension and acute pulmonary thromboembolism and it was suggested that the endothelin might do a critical role in the cardiopulmonary dysfunction in these two conditions. But the exact mechanism of increase of ET has not been known. In these two conditions, platelet activation and thrombosis are the main pathophysiologic findings. So there is a possibility that the platelet might stimulate endothelin secretion from endothelial cells. Therefore, we performed this study to evaluate the role of platelet and its mediators on endothelin production in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial(BPAE) cells. Method : Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells, ATCC certified cell line 209, were cultured and treated with human platelets($10^6{\sim}10^8/ml$), thrombin (0.1~10u/ml), TGF-${\beta}1$(1~100uM), serotonin(1~100uM), and endotoxin(1ug/ml) in a final volume of 500ul for 18 hours. Levels of ir(immunoreactive)-ET in each conditioned medium were measured by a radioimmunoassay specific for ET. Result : The increase of ir-ET levels was platelet number and time dependent over 18 hours. When washed human platelets were added($10^8/ml$), the ir-ET levels were significantly higher than that of control(p<0.05) at 8 and 18 hours after culture. Subthreshold concentration of platelets($10^7/ml$) coincubated with endotoxin(1ug/ml) or subthreshold dose of thrombin(0.1u/ml) stimulated ir-ET secretion from BPAE cells significantly(p<0.05) compared with control. Thrombin(1ug/ml, 10ug/ml) and TGF-${\beta}1$(100pM, 1000pM) significantly increased ir-ET secretion from BP AE cells(p<0.05) compared with control, but serotoin(1~100uM) and endotoxin(1ug/ml) did not stimulate the ir-ET secretion. Conclusions : Platelets stimulate endothelin secretion from bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells. The mechanism of increase of endothelin secretion seems to be a stimulation by platelet itself or by mediators, such as TGF-${\beta}1$, secreted from activated platelets. And, in this study, the priming effect of platelets on endothelin secretion from BPAE cells could be another possibility.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.168-184
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• 2001

Purpose: KR-30035 (KR), a new MDR reversing agent, has been found to produce a similar degree of increased Tc-99m MIBI uptake in cultured tumor cells over-expressing mdr1 mRNA compared to verapamil (VP), with less cardiovascular effects. We assessed the MDR-reversing ability of KR in vivo, and effects of various doses of KR on MIBI uptake un nude mice hearing P-glycoprotein (P-gp) positive (+) and P-gp negative (-) human tumor xenografts. Methods: P-gp (+) HCT15/CL02 colorectal and P-gp (-) A549 non-small cell cancer cells were inoculated in each flank of 120 nude mice (20 mice ${\times}$ 6 groups). Group 1 (Gr1) mice received 10mg/kg KR i.p. 3 times $({\times}3)$; Gr2, 10mg/kg VP i.p. ${\times}3$; Gr3, 10mg/kg KR i.p. ${\times}2$ + 25mg/kg KR i.p. ${\times}1$; Gr4, 10mg/kg KR i.p. ${\times}2$ + 50mg/kg i.p. ${\times}1$; Gr5, 10mg/kg KR i.p. ${\times}2$ + 25mg/kg KR i.v. ${\times}1$, GrC, controls. The mice were then injected with Tc-99m MIBI and sacrificed after 10 min, 30 min, 90 min and 240 min. Tumor uptake of MIBI (TU) in each group was compared. Results: TU in P-gp (+) and (-) tumors were both higher in Gr1 than Gr2. Washout rate between the 10 min and 4 hours was lower in Gr5 of P-gp (+) cell(0.93) than the control. Percentage increases in TU were higher in P-gp (+) than P-gp (-) tumors with all KR doses. Pgp (+) TU were highest at 10 mon (173% of GrC) and persisted up to 240 min (144%) in Gr3. Larger doses of KR resulted in a lesser degree of increase in P-gp (+) TU at 10 min (130% in Gr4 and 117% un Gr5) and 30 min (178%, 129%), but TU increased by time up to 240 min (177%, 196%). Heart and lung uptakes were markedly increased in Gr4 and Gr5 at 10 and 30 min, likely due to cardiovascular effects. No mice died. Conclusion: These data further suggest that KR that has significantly lower cardiovascular toxicity than verapamil can be used as an active inhibitor of MDR. Even a relatively low dose of KR significantly increased Tc-99m MIBI uptake in P-gp (+) tumors in vivo.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2011

Purpose: To assess the usefulness of implanted fiducial markers in the setup of hypofractionated radiotherapy for prostate cancer patients by comparing a fiducial marker matched setup with a pelvic bone match. Materials and Methods: Four prostate cancer patients treated with definitive hypofractionated radiotherapy between September 2009 and August 2010 were enrolled in this study. Three gold fiducial markers were implanted into the prostate and through the rectum under ultrasound guidance around a week before radiotherapy. Glycerin enemas were given prior to each radiotherapy planning CT and every radiotherapy session. Hypofractionated radiotherapy was planned for a total dose of 59.5 Gy in daily 3.5 Gy with using the Novalis system. Orthogonal kV X-rays were taken before radiotherapy. Treatment positions were adjusted according to the results from the fusion of the fiducial markers on digitally reconstructed radiographs of a radiotherapy plan with those on orthogonal kV X-rays. When the difference in the coordinates from the fiducial marker fusion was less than 1 mm, the patient position was approved for radiotherapy. A virtual bone matching was carried out at the fiducial marker matched position, and then a setup difference between the fiducial marker matching and bone matching was evaluated. Results: Three patients received a planned 17-fractionated radiotherapy and the rest underwent 16 fractionations. The setup error of the fiducial marker matching was $0.94{\pm}0.62$ mm (range, 0.09 to 3.01 mm; median, 0.81 mm), and the means of the lateral, craniocaudal, and anteroposterior errors were $0.39{\pm}0.34$ mm, $0.46{\pm}0.34$ mm, and $0.57{\pm}0.59$ mm, respectively. The setup error of the pelvic bony matching was $3.15{\pm}2.03$ mm (range, 0.25 to 8.23 mm; median, 2.95 mm), and the error of craniocaudal direction ($2.29{\pm}1.95$ mm) was significantly larger than those of anteroposterior ($1.73{\pm}1.31$ mm) and lateral directions ($0.45{\pm}0.37$ mm), respectively (p<0.05). Incidences of over 3 mm and 5 mm in setup difference among the fractionations were 1.5% and 0% in the fiducial marker matching, respectively, and 49.3% and 17.9% in the pelvic bone matching, respectively. Conclusion: The more precise setup of hypofractionated radiotherapy for prostate cancer patients is feasible with the implanted fiducial marker matching compared with the pelvic bony matching. Therefore, a less marginal expansion of planning target volume produces less radiation exposure to adjacent normal tissues, which could ultimately make hypofractionated radiotherapy safer.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.634-639
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• 2008

Purpose : There has been considerable disagreement regarding the most appropriate dosage of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in cases of central precocious puberty. The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate dosage for suppression of the puberty in girls with central precocious or early puberty. Methods : Twenty-two girls with early puberty were randomly subjected to 3 types of dosages of leuprolide acetate for at least 6 months. The number of cases in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 7, 7, and 8, and dosages were 70, 90, and $110{\mu}g/kg/-month$, respectively. Height, weight, bone age, Tanner stage of breast development, and serum levels of LH, FSH, estradiol, and progesterone were measured before treatment and after 6 months of treatment. The number of cases of puberty suppression was compared using a modified puberty suppression score with a nonparametric chi-square test. Results : There were no significant differences of chronologic and bone ages among the groups. There was a significant decrease in height SDS gain after 6 months in group 3 (P<0.05) compared with groups 1 and 2. Serum levels of LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone were all significantly decreased after treatment in all 3 groups (P<0.05). The number of cases of puberty suppression in each group were 4 (57%), 5 (71%), and 8 (100%). There was a significantly increased proportion of suppression of puberty in group 3 (P<0.05). Conclusion : It was necessary to use a higher dose of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist to suppress early puberty in girls; however further longitudinal study will be needed for their prognosis of final adult height.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.133-151
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• 1996

After cardiac surgery, it has been recognized that various complications were associated with injured humoral and cellular immunity by cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB). Especially, in postoperative pulmonary dysfunction, transpulmonary leukostasis followed complement activation and inflammatory responses are major pathogen. Some studies have showed that pretreated-corticosteroids before CPB protected postoperative pulmonary dysfunction. Corticosteroids may inhibit complement and leukocyte activation. On based previous studies, present investigator determined changes of leukocyte counts and transpulmonary leukostasis during cardiac surgery and postoperative periods. For the evaluation of postoperative pulmonary function and edema, $PaO_2$ and chest X-ray were compared between pre-CPB and post-CPB. Fever and other parameters were also observed postoperatively. The aim of this study was to define for the prophylactic effects of corticosteroid(Solu-Medrol: 30mg/kg) on all the researched parameters. This study was prospectively designed with randomized-blind fashion for 50 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. According to the purpose of study, all patients were divided into placebo and steroid group. : Placebo group was 25 patients received normal saline(not corticosteroid), and steroid group was 25patients received corticosteroid(Solu-Medrol: 30mg/kg) before initiation of CPB. The results of study were summarized as follows. 1. Total peripheral leukocyte counts decreased significantly at 5 minutes of CPB in all patients(P<0.01), and began to increase progressively at later periods of CPB with neutrophilia. The significant rise remained at postoperative 7th day(P<0.05). 2. During partial CPB, transpulmonary leukostasis occurred in placebo group(P<0.001), whereas it was prevented in steroid group. 3. In both groups, peripheral lymphocyte counts were stable during CPB, but began to reduce at time of intensive care unit(ICU) and the lymphocytopenia remained until postoperative 3rd day. The lymphocyte counts recovered on postoperative 7th day. 4. In both groups, peripheral counts of monocyte were relatively stable in the early peroid of CPB, and increased gradually in the later periods of CPB. This significant monocytosis remained throughout postoperlative periods(P<0.05). 5. The mean value of postoperative $paO)_2$ was lower than that of pre-CPB in placebo group(P=0.01) but didn't significant in steroid group(P=0.90). In the incidence of pulmonary edema signs and fever, placebo group was higher than steroid group(P=0.001, p=0.01, respectively). However mechanical respiratory supporting and care periods at intensive care unit were not significant difference between two groups(P>.0.05).With the above results, the investigator concluded that leukocyte activation and pulmonary sequestration were caused by cardiac surgery with CPB and demonstrated that high dose corticosteroid will provide prophylactic effect for pulmonary leukostasis and higher neutrophilia. These effects may ameliorate postoperative pulmonary dysfunction and contribute to postoperative less morbidity. However, further study should be performed because postoperative lymphocytopenia continued for 3 days in both groups, which may suspected damage or suppression of cell-mediated immunity with used corticosteroid.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.125-132
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• 2010

Purpose: To retrospectively assess the advantages and side effects of prophylactic Paraaortic irradiation in cervical cancer patients with common iliac nodal involvement, the results for survival, patterns of failure, and treatment-related toxicity. Materials and Methods: From May 1985 to October 2004, 909 patients with cervical carcinoma received postoperative radiotherapy at the Seoul National University Hospital. Among them, 54 patients with positive common iliac nodes on pathology and negative Paraaortic node were included in the study. In addition, 44 patients received standard pelvic irradiation delivered 50.4 Gy per 28 fractions (standard irradiation group), and chemotherapy was combined in 16 of them. The other 10 patients received pelvic irradiation at a dose of 50.4 Gy per 28 fractions in addition to Paraaortic irradiation at 45 Gy per 25 fractions (extended irradiation group). In addition, all of them received chemotherapy in combination with radiation. Follow-up times for pelvic and Paraaortic irradiation ranged from 6 to 201 months (median follow-up time, 58 months) and 21 to 58 months (median follow-up time, 47 months), respectively. Results: The 4-year overall survival, disease free survival, and distant metastasis free survival in the standard irradiation group and extended irradiation group were 67.2% vs. 90.0% (p=0.291), 59.0% vs. 70.0% (p=0.568) and 67.5% vs. 90.0% (p=0.196), respectively. The most common site of first failure for the standard irradiation group was the paraaortic lymph node, while no paraaortic failure was observed in the extended irradiation group. Relatively, hematologic toxicity grade 3 or greater was common in the extended irradiation group (2/10 extended vs. 2/44 standard), while gastrointestinal toxicity of grade 3 or greater was lower (2/10 extended vs. 6/44 standard), and urologic toxicity of grade 3 or greater was observed in the standard irradition group only (0/10 vs. 3/44). Conclusion: Concurrent chemotherapy and prophylactic Paraaortic irradiation in patients with common iliac nodal involvement showed slightly improved clinical outcomes aside from increased hematologic toxicity, which was statistically insignificant. Considering the relatively small number of patients and short follow-up times, additional studies are needed to obtain more conclusive outcomes.

• 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.