• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.223-229
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• 2006

$\underline{Purpose}$: Combined modality therapy including chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy is considered the standard of care for the treatment of stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of paclitaxel and cisplatin with induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy for stage IIIB NSCLC. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: Between July 2000 and October 2005, thirty-nine patients with stage IIIB NSCLC were treated with two cycles of induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The induction chemotherapy included the administration of paclitaxel ($175\;mg/m^2$) by intravenous infusion on day 1 and treatment with cisplatin ($75\;mg/m^2$) by intravenous infusion on day 1 every 3 weeks. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy included the use of paclitaxel ($60\;mg/m^2$) plus cisplatin ($25\;mg/m^2$) given intravenously for 6 weeks on day 43, 50, 57, 71, 78 and 85. Thoracic radiotherapy was delivered with 1.8 Gy daily fractions to a total dose of $54{\sim}59.4\;Gy$ in $6{\sim}7$ weeks (median: 59.4 Gy). $\underline{Results}$: The follow up period was $6{\sim}63$ months (median: 21 months). After the induction of chemotherapy, 41.0% (16 patients) showed a partial response and 59.0% (23 patients) had stable disease. After concurrent chemoradiotherapy, 10.3% (4 patients) had a complete response, 41.0% (16 patients) had a partial response, and the overall response rate was 51.3% (20 patients). The 1-, 2-, 3-year overall survival rates were 66.7%, 40.6%, and 27.4% respectively, with a median survival time of 20 months. The 1-, 2-, 3-year progression free survival rates were 43.6%, 24.6%, and 24.6%, respectively, with median progression free survival time of 10.7 months. Induction chemotherapy was well tolerated. Among 39 patients who completed the entire treatment including chemoradiotherapy, 46.3% (18 patients) had esophagitis greater than grade 3 and 28.2% (11 patients) had radiation pneumonitis greater than grade 3. $\underline{Conclusion}$: Paclitaxel and cisplatin with induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy for stage IIIB NSCLC seems to be an effective treatment. Occurrence of esophagitis and pneumonitis represents a significant morbidity and suggests a modification of the treatment regimen, either with the chemotherapy schedule or with radiotherapy treatment planning.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 2006

[ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: To determine the efficacy and safety of concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy with high-dose-rate brachytherapy for cervical cancer. $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: From January 2001 to December 2002, 30 patients with cervical cancer were treated with concurrent chemotherapy (cisplatin and 5-FU) and definitive radiation therapy. The median age was 58 (range $34{\sim}74$) year old. The pathology of the biopsy sections was squamous cell carcinoma in 29 patients and one was adenocarcinoma. The distribution to FIGO staging system was as follows: stage IB, 7 (23%); IIA, 3 (10%); IIB, 12 (40%); IIIA, 3 (10%); IIIB, 5 (17%). All patients received pelvic external beam irradiation (EBRT) to a total dose of $45{\sim}50.4\;Gy$ (median: 50.4 Gy) over $5{\sim}5.5$ weeks. Ir-192 HDR intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) was given after a total dose of 41.4 Gy. HDR-ICBT was performed twice a week, with a fraction point A dose of 4 Gy and median dose to point A was 28 Gy (range: $16{\sim}32\;Gy$) in 7 fractions. The median cumulative biologic effective dose (BED) at point A (EBRT+ICBT) was $88\;Gy_{10}$ (range: $77{\sim}94\;Gy_{10}$). The median cumulative BED at ICRU 38 reference point (EBRT+ICBT) was $131\;Gy_3$ (range: $122{\sim}140\;Gy_3$) at point A, $109\;Gy_3$ (range: $88{\sim}125\;Gy_3$) at the rectum and $111\;Gy_3$ (range: $91{\sim}123\;Gy_3$) at the urinary bladder. Cisplatin ($60\;mg/m^2$) and 5-FU ($1,000\;mg/m^2$) was administered intravenously at 3 weeks interval from the first day of radiation for median 5 (range: $2{\sim}6$) cycles. The assessment was performed at 1 month after completion of radiation therapy by clinical examination and CT scan. The median follow-up time was 36 months (range: $8{\sim}50$ months). $\underline{: The complete response rate after concurrent chemoradiation therapy was 93.3%. The 3-yr actuarial pelvic control rate was 87% and 3-yr actuarial overall survival and disease-free survival rate was 93% and 87%, respectively. The local failure rate was 13% and distant metastatic rate was 3.3%. The crude rate of minor hematologic complications (RTOG grade 1-2) occurred in 3 patients (10%) and one patient had suffered from severe leukopenia (RTOG grade 4) during concurrent treatment. Acute minor enterocolitis (RTOG grade 1-2) occurred in 11 patients (37%) and one patient (3%) was suffered from colon perforation during radiation therapy. Late colitis of RTOG grade 1 occurred in 5 patients (15%). Acute cystitis of RTOG grade 1 occurred in 12 patients (40%) and late cystitis of RTOG grade 2 occurred in one patient (3%). No treatment related death was seen. $\underline{Conclusion}$: The results of this study suggest that the concurrent chemoradiation therapy with HDR brachytherapy could be accepted as an effective and safe treatment for cervical cancer.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.457-459
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• 2011

A rare case of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage from newly developed cerebral aneurysm in glioblastoma patient is presented. A 57-year-old man was presented with headache and memory impairment. On the magnetic resonance image and the magnetic resonance angiography, a large enhancing mass was found at right frontal subcortex and intracranial aneurysm was not found. The mass was removed subtotally and revealed as glioblastoma. He took concurrent PCV chemotherapy and radiation therapy, but the mass recurred one month later after radiotherapy. He was then treated with temozolomide for 7 cycles. Three months after the completion of temozolomide therapy, he suffered from a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a rupture of a small de novo aneurysm at distal anterior cerebral artery. He underwent an aneurysm clipping and discharged without neurologic complication.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.252-259
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• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate retrospectively the survival outcome, patterns of failure, and complications in patients treated with postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in advanced gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2006, 80 patients with advanced gastric cancer who received postoperative concurrent CRT were included. Pathological staging was IB-II in 9%, IIIA in 38%, IIIB in 33%, and IV in 21%. Radiotherapy consisted of 45 Gy of radiation. Concurrent chemotherapy consisted of a continuous intravenous infusion of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin on the first 4 days and last 3 days of radiotherapy. Results: The median follow-up period was 48 months (range, 3 to 83 months). The 5-year overall survival, disease-free survival, and locoregional recurrence-free survivals were 62%, 59%, and 80%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, significant factors for disease-free survival were T stage (hazard ratio [HR], 0.278; P = 0.038), lymph node dissection extent (HR, 0.201; P = 0.002). and maintenance oral chemotherapy (HR, 2.964; P = 0.004). Locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis occurred in 5 (6%) and 18 (23%) patients, respectively. Mixed failure occurred in 10 (16%) patients. Grade 3 leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in 4 (5%) and one (1%) patient, respectively. Grade 3 nausea and vomiting developed in 8 (10%) patients. Intestinal obstruction developed in one (1%). Conclusion: The survival outcome of the postoperative CRT in advanced gastric cancer was similar to those reported previously. Our postoperative CRT regimen seems to be a safe and effective method, reducing locoregional failure without severe treatment toxicity in advanced gastric cancer patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2007

[ $\underline{Purpose}$ ]: To compare radiation therapy alone to combined modality therapy about survival rate and tolerance of elderly patients ($70=or{\geq}$) with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). $\underline{Materials\;and\;Methods}$: Between 1998 and 2002, 57 patients given radiation therapy due to NSCLC (Stage III) were analysed retrospectively. Radiation therapy alone (RT), concurrent chemoradiation (CRT), and sequential chemoradiation (SCRT) was done to 33, 16 and 8 patients, respectively. Patients' median age was 74 (range $70{\sim}85$). Male and female are 51 patients and 6 patients, respectively. 23 patients were stage IIIa and 34 were stage IIIb. Patients' characteristic distribution of RT and CRT was not significantly different except mass size that RT has a bigger than CRT. The fraction size of radiation therapy was 1.8 Gy in CRT and $1.8{\sim}3\;Gy$ in other groups. Total radiation dose was $51{\sim}63\;Gy$ according to the fraction size. If the prescribed total radiation dose was successfully irradiated, we stated that it was completion of radiation therapy. $\underline{Results}$: 52 patients were dead. Median period of radiation therapy was as follow: RT, 35 days, CRT, 60.5 days and SCRT, 35 days. Overall median survival time (MST) was 10.1 months. The 1 yr- and 2 yr-overall survival rate was 39.8% and 17.6%, respectively. MST of RT, CRT and SCRT was 8.9, 8.2 and 11.7 months, respectively. The 1 yr survival rate of RT, CRT and SCRT was 38.4%, 37.5% and 50% (not significant). Patients given incomplete radiation therapy were 12 (RT, 5 CRT, 6 SCRT, 1). N stage (p=0.081) and the difference of treatment methods (p=0.079) were the factors affecting incompletion of radiation therapy, but it was not significant. In case of combined-agents chemotherapy, 4 of 8 ceased radiation therapy. T stage ($T{\geq}3$), mass size (${\geq}5\;cm$), Karnofsky performance scale (${\leq}70$) and completion of radiation therapy were the prognostic factors in uni- and multi-variate analysis. $\underline{Conclusion}$: In elderly patients with NSCLC, radiation therapy alone was a treatment method with similar survival period compared with other methods. Generally, patients given radiation therapy alone was tolerable to a treatment. Before planning concurrent chemoirradiation in elderly patients with NSCLC, physicians pay attention to a selection of patients and chemotherapy agents considering general condition and toxicity.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to assess complications and outcomes of a new approach, that is, combining short course radiotherapy (SRT), concurrent and consolidative chemotherapies, and delayed surgery. Materials and Methods: In this single arm phase II prospective clinical trial, patients with T3-4 or N+ M0 rectal adenocarcinoma were enrolled. Patients who received induction chemotherapy or previous pelvic radiotherapy were excluded. Study protocol consisted of three-dimensional conformal SRT (25 Gy in 5 fractions in 1 week) with concurrent and consolidation chemotherapies including capecitabine and oxaliplatin. Total mesorectal excision was done at least 8 weeks after the last fraction of radiotherapy. Primary outcome was complete pathologic response and secondary outcomes were treatment related complications. Results: Thirty-three patients completed the planned preoperative chemoradiation and 26 of them underwent surgery (24 low anterior resection and 2 abdominoperineal resection). Acute proctitis grades 2 and 3 were seen in 11 (33.3%) and 7 (21.2%) patients, respectively. There were no grades 3 and 4 subacute hematologic and non-hematologic (genitourinary and peripheral neuropathy) toxicities and perioperative morbidities such as anastomose leakage. Grade 2 or higher late toxicities were observed among 29.6% of the patients. Complete pathologic response was achieved in 8 (30.8%) patients who underwent surgery. The 3-year overall survival and local control rates were 65% and 94%, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that SRT combined with concurrent and consolidation chemotherapies followed by delayed surgery is not only feasible and tolerable without significant toxicity but also, associated with promising complete pathologic response rates.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2006

Objective ： This retrospective study was designed to evaluate the anti-tumor efficacy and toxicities of the radiation therapy(RT) combined with cisplatin-based chemotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer(NPC). Materials and Methods ： Fifty three patients with locally advanced NPCs(AJCC stage II, III, IV) received curative RT and cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Duration of follow-up ranged from 5.5 to 201 months(median 50.8 months). Nineteen patients(35.8%) were treated with induction chemotherapy including cisplatin $100mg/m^2$ for 1 day and 5-fluorouracil $1g/m^2$ for 5 days followed by RT(Induction CTx-RT). Another 34 patients (64.2%) were treated with concurrent chemoradiation(CCRT) using cisplatin $100mg/m^2$(D1, 22, 43). Results ： Thirty-six(67.9%) and 11(20.8%) patients achieved clinical complete response and partial response, respectively. The pattern of failure was as follows：14 locoregional recurrence(26.4%) and 7 distant metastasis(13.2%). Among them, two patients(3.8%) had both locoregional and distant failure. Median overall survival(OS) and progression-free survival(PFS) were 85.5 months and 87.5 months, respectively. Five-year OS rate was 57.1%. The stage(AJCC), tumor response to chemoradiation and T stage were significant prognostic factors for OS(p=0.0113, p=0.0362 and p=0.0469). The stage(AJCC), tumor response to chemoradiation were also significant prognostic factors for PFS(p=0.0329, p=0.0424). Compared to each treatment group(Induction CTx-RT vs. CCRT), there were no significant differences in OS and PFS(p=0.7000, p=0.8261). Grade 3-4 mucositis, nausea/vomiting and hematological toxicities were noticed in 35.8%, 11.3% and 13.2%, respectively. Delayed RT over 2 weeks was inevitable in 26.5%. Seventeen patients(50%) successfully completed planned 3 courses of cisplatin in CCRT group. Conclusions ： RT combined with cisplatin-based chemotherapy in locally advanced NPC showed high response rate, good locoregional control, and survival rate. As expected, frequency of acute toxicities increased, and the patient's compliance to treatment was need to be improved. Although our data could not show additional survival benefit of CCRT compare to that of induction chemotherapy followed by RT, patients' accrual and further follow-up are required due to limitation of retrospective study.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.184-187
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• 2001

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, which characterized by progressive ulceration and necrosis of the upper aerodigestive tract or midline facial structures, is rare disease in the otolaryngologic field. We recently experienced a case, revealed histopathologically peripheral T-cell lymphoma, involving inferior turbinate without any evidence of involving other organs. In this paper, we report two cases of peripheral T-cell lymphoma who was treated chemotherapy and concurrent radiation therapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 1995

Purpose : To assess the efficacy of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF) in the neutropenia by radiotherapy. Materials and Methods : Eleven patients with various solid tumor were treated with a daily subcutaneous dose of GM-CSF(3-7microgram/kg) for 5days during the radiotherapy. Before and during the course of the study all the patients were monitored by the recording of physical examination, the complete blood count with differential and reticulocyte count and liver function test. Eight patients received prior or concurrent chemotherapy. Results : In 10 patients, the neutrophilic nadir was significantly elevated and the lenght of time that Patients had a neutrophil count below $10^3/mm^3$ a threshold known to be critical to acquiring infective complications was shortened following GM-CSF injection. A significant rise (two fold or greater) of neutrophil count was seen in 10 of 11 patients. In most patients, discontinuation of GM-CSF resulted in a prompt return of granulocyte counts toward baseline. However the neutrophil count remained elevated over $10^3/mm^3$ during radiation therapy, and radiotherapy delays were avoided. Other peripheral blood components including monocytes and platelets also increased after GM-CSF treatment. No significant toxicity was encountered with subcutaneous GM-CSF treatment. Conclusion : GM-CSF was well tolerated by subcutaneous route and induced improvement in the neutropenia caused by radiotherapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2006

Purose: This study is to evaluate the xerostomia following 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D CRT) in nasopharynx cancer patients using the xerostomia questionnaire score (XQS). Materials and Methods: Questionnaire study was done on 51 patients with nasopharynx cancer who received 3D CRT from Dec. 2000 to Aug. 2005. 3D CRT technique is based on 'serial shrinking field' concept by 3 times of computed tomography (CT) simulation. Total target dose to the primary tumor was 72 Gy with 1.8 Gy daily fractions. Xerostomia was assessed with 4-questions XQS, and the associations between XQS and time elapsed after RT, age, sex, stage, concurrent chemotherapy, and parotid dose were analyzed. Results: Concurrent chemotherapy was given to 40 patients and RT alone was given to 11 patients. The median time elapsed after 3D CRT was 20 ($1{\sim}58$) months and the mean XQS of all 51 patients was $8.4{\pm}1.9\;(6{\sim}14)$. XQS continuously and significantly decreased over time after 3D CRT ($X^2$=-0.484, p<0.05). There was no significant difference in XQS according to sex, age, and stag. However, XQS of concurrent chemotherapy patients was significantly higher than RT alone patients (P=0.001). XQS of patients receiving total mean parotid dose ${\ge}35 Gy$ was significantly higher than <35 Gy (p=0.05). Decreasing tendency of XQS over time after 3D CRT was observed. Concurrent chemotherapy and total mean parotid dose ${\ge}35 Gy$ were suggested to adversely affect radiation-induced xerostomia.