• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.2089-2092
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• 2016

Background: The impact of mean platelet volume (MPV) on prognosis, diagnosis and response to therapy in cancer patients has been widely investigated. In the present study, we evaluated whether MPV at diagnosis has predictive value for pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Materials and Methods: A total of 109 patients with LABC from Akdeniz University and Antalya Research and Training Hospital were evaluated retrospectively. Results: ROC curve analysis suggested that the optimum MPV cut-off point for LABC patients with pCR (+) was 8.15 (AUC:0.378, 95%CI [0.256-0.499], p=0.077). The patients with MPV <8.15 had higher pCR rates (29.2% vs. 13.1%, p=0.038). After binary logistic regression analysis, MPV and estrogen receptor absence were independent predictors for pCR. Conclusions: MPV has an independent predictive value for pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with LABC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권16호
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• pp.7161-7165
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• 2015

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common cancer in the north east of India. The present study concerned the prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) in the ESCC in north eastern India and its impact on response to chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: p16 expression, a surrogate marker for HPV infection was assessed in 101 pre-treatment biopsies of locally advanced ESCC, reported from a comprehensive cancer centre in north east India, using immunohistochemistry. All patients received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Response was assessed clinically and histopathologically with attention to p16 expression. Results: p16 was expressed in 22% of ESCC (22 out of 101) and was more prevalent in patients who were more than 45 years of age (P=0.048). p16 positive tumors appeared more commonly in the upper 2/3 of the thoracic esophagus (18 in 22). Nine of the 22 (41%) p16 positive tumors achieved pathologic complete response following neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (P=0.008). There was a trend towards reduced mortality in this group (P=0.048). Some 9 of the 20 (45%) patients who achieved pathologic complete response were p16 positive. Conclusions: Expression of p16 in ESCC correlates with higher rate of pathologic complete remission in patients undergoing neo adjuvant chemotherapy and could be a predictive marker for response assessment.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.99-107
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• 2012

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify clinical predictive factors for tumor response after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: The study involved 51 patients who underwent preoperative CRT followed by surgery between January 2005 and February 2012. Radiotherapy was delivered to the whole pelvis at a dose of 45 Gy in 25 fractions, followed by a boost of 5.4 Gy in 3 fractions to the primary tumor with 5 fractions per week. Three different chemotherapy regimens were used (5-fluorouracil and leucovorin, capecitabine, or tegafur/uracil). Tumor responses to preoperative CRT were assessed in terms of tumor downstaging and pathologic complete response (ypCR). Statistical analyses were performed to identify clinical factors associated with pathologic tumor response. Results: Tumor downstaging was observed in 28 patients (54.9%), whereas ypCR was observed in 6 patients (11.8%). Multivariate analysis found that predictors of downstaging was pretreatment relative lymphocyte count (p = 0.023) and that none of clinical factors was significantly associated with ypCR. Conclusion: Pretreatment relative lymphocyte count (%) has a significant impact on the pathologic tumor response (tumor downstaging) after preoperative CRT for locally advanced rectal cancer. Enhancement of lymphocyte-mediated immune reactions may improve the effect of preoperative CRT for rectal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권18호
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• pp.7737-7740
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• 2014

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a strong predictor of mortality in patients with pancreatic, colorectal, lung, gastric cancer and renal cell carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between pathological complete response (pCR) and pretreatment NLR values in locally advanced breast cancer (BC) patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Materials and Methods: Datawere collected retrospectively from the Akdeniz University School of Medicine Database for locally advanced BC patients treated with NACT between January 2000-December 2013. Results: A total of 78 patients were analyzed. Sixteen (20%) patients achieved pCR. Estrogen receptor (ER) positivity was lower in pCR+ than pCR-cases (p=0.011). The median NLR values were similar in both arms. The optimum NLR cut-off point for BC patients with PCR+ was 2.33 (AUC:0.544, 95%CI [0.401-0.688], p=0.586) with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value (NPV) of 50%, 51,6%, 21,1%, and 80%, respectively. Conclusions: This study showed no relationship between the pCR and pretreatment NLR values. Because of a considerable high NPV, in the patients with higher NLR who had luminal type BC in which pCR is lower after NACT, such treatment may not be recommended.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.2375-2378
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• 2014

Cancer, like any disease, is a pathologic biological process. Drugs are designed to interfere with the pathologic process and should therefore also be validated using a functional screening method directed at these processes. Screening for cancers at an appropriate time and also evaluating results is also very important. Volumetric measurement helps in better screening and evaluation of tumors. Volumetry is a process of quantification of the tumors by identification (pre-cancerous or target lesion) and measurement. Volumetric image analysis allows an accurate, precise, sensitive, and medically valuable assessment of tumor response. It also helps in identifying possible outcomes such disease progression (PD) or complete response as per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권21호
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• pp.9379-9383
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• 2014

Background: Pathologic complete response (pCR) is one of the most important target end-points of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in patients with breast cancer (BC). In present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between molecular subtypes and NACT in patients with BC. Materials and Methods: Using the Akdeniz University database, 106 patients who received NACT for operable breast cancer were retrospectively identified. Prognostic factors before and after NACT were assessed. According to the molecular subtypes, molecular shifting after NACT and tumoral and nodal response to NACT were analyzed. Results: The distribution of subtypes was: Luminal A, 28.3% (n=30); Luminal B, 31.1% (n=33); HER2-like, 24.5% (n=26); and basal like/triple negative (BL/TN), 16.0% (n=17). According to molecular subtypes, pCR rates in both breast and axillary were 0%, 21.4%, 36.4% and 27.3% for luminal A, luminal B, HER2-like and BL/TN, respectively (p=0.018). Molecular subtype shifting was mostly seen in luminal A type (28.6%) after the NACT. The pCR rate in breast and axillary was significantly higher in patients with HER2-like type BC. Conclusions: In patients with HER-2 like type BC, NACT may be offered in early stages. Additionally, due to molecular shifting, adjuvant treatment schedule should be reviewed again, especially in the luminal A group.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제36권1호
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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.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.213-221
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• 2008

목 적: 직장암에 수술 전 항암화학요법과 방사선치료를 동시에 병용시행한 후 완치절제술 후 병리학적 완전관해율과 종양 병기 하향률에 영향을 주는 예측인자를 후향적으로 분석하여 환자에 따른 맞춤치료의 가능성을 알기 위하여 본 연구를 시도하였다. 대상 및 방법: 2000년 5월부터 2008년 3월까지 국소적으로 진행된 직장암으로 진단받고 원격전이가 없는 환자 39명을 대상으로 수술 전 항암화학요법과 골반강에 방사선치료 50.4 Gy ($45{\sim}59.4\;Gy$)를 시행한 후 완치적 수술후 절제된 조직을 병리학적으로 관찰하여 완전관해율과 종양 및 림프절의 병기하향률을 측정하였다. 항암화학요법은 39명 중 38명은 방사선치료 1주와 5주에 각각 1주간 5-fluorouracil과 leucovorin을 연속적으로 정맥 주입하였으며 1명은 방사선치료기간 중 하루에 2회 capecitabine를 복용하였다. 결 과: 병리학적 완전관해를 보인 환자는 39명 중 12명(31%), 종양-병기하향을 보인 환자는 24명(63%)이었으며 임상적으로 림프절이 양성인 환자 28명 중 12명은(43%) 병리학적으로 하향되었으며 2명은 임상적으로 림프절이 음성이었으나 병리학적으로 양성을 보였다. 단변량분석에 의하면 종양의 둘레범위가 직장의 50% 미만(p=0.031), 종양의 길이가 5 cm 미만(p=0.004), 치료 후 CEA 수치가 3.0 mg/mL 이하(p=0.015)인 환자에서 병리학적 완전관해율이 높았다. 또한 선암(p=0.045), 방사선량이 50 Gy 이상(p=0.021)인 환자에서 병기-하향률이 높았고, 방사선 치료 기간이 42일 이하인(p=0.018)환자에서 림프절-병기하향률이 높았다. 다변량분석에 의하면 종양의 둘레범위가 50% 미만(HR 0.150; p=0.028), 종양의 길이가 5 cm 미만인(HR 0.084; p=0.005) 환자에서 통계학적으로 유의하게 병리학적 완전관해율이 높았으며, 방사선량이 50 Gy 이상 높은 경우(HR 0.115; p=0.025) 종양-병기하향률이 높았고 방사선치료 기간이 42일 이하인(HR 0.028; p=0.010) 경우 림프절-병기하향률이 높았다. 병리학적 완전관해에 영향을 주는 예측인자는 종양의 둘레범위와 종양의 길이이었으며, 종양-병리하향에 영향을 주는 예측인자는 방사선량, 림프절-병기하향에 영향을 주는 예측인자는 방사선치료 기간이었다. 이러한 예측인자를 파악함으로써 환자의 치료결과를 예측할 수 있으며 위험인자가 있는 환자에 좀 더 적극적인 치료계획을 설정하는 데 도움이 될 것으로 생각한다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권9호
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• pp.1451-1461
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• 2021

Objective: Adequate methods of combining T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to assess complete response (CR) to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for rectal cancer are obscure. We aimed to determine an algorithm for combining T2WI and DWI to optimally suggest CR on MRI using visual assessment. Materials and Methods: We included 376 patients (male:female, 256:120; mean age ± standard deviation, 59.7 ± 11.1 years) who had undergone long-course CRT for rectal cancer and both pre- and post-CRT high-resolution rectal MRI during 2017-2018. Two experienced radiologists independently evaluated whether a tumor signal was absent, representing CR, on both post-CRT T2WI and DWI, and whether the pre-treatment DWI showed homogeneous hyperintensity throughout the lesion. Algorithms for combining T2WI and DWI were as follows: 'AND,' if both showed CR; 'OR,' if any one showed CR; and 'conditional OR,' if T2WI showed CR or DWI showed CR after the pre-treatment DWI showed homogeneous hyperintensity. Their efficacies for diagnosing pathologic CR (pCR) were determined in comparison with T2WI alone. Results: Sixty-nine patients (18.4%) had pCR. AND had a lower sensitivity without statistical significance (vs. 62.3% [43/69]; 59.4% [41/69], p = 0.500) and a significantly higher specificity (vs. 87.0% [267/307]; 90.2% [277/307], p = 0.002) than those of T2WI. Both OR and conditional OR combinations resulted in a large increase in sensitivity (vs. 62.3% [43/69]; 81.2% [56/69], p < 0.001; and 73.9% [51/69], p = 0.008, respectively) and a large decrease in specificity (vs. 87.0% [267/307]; 57.0% [175/307], p < 0.001; and 69.1% [212/307], p < 0.001, respectively) as compared with T2WI, ultimately creating additional false interpretations of CR more frequently than additional identification of patients with pCR. Conclusion: AND combination of T2WI and DWI is an appropriate strategy for suggesting CR using visual assessment of MRI after CRT for rectal cancer.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.106-112
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• 2016

Purpose: To identify possible predictors of pathologic complete response (pCR) of rectal cancer after preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 53 patients with rectal cancer who underwent preoperative CCRT followed by radical surgery at a single center between January 2007 and December 2012. The median radiotherapy dose to the pelvis was 54.0 Gy (range, 45.0 to 63.0 Gy). Five-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy was administered via continuous infusion with leucovorin. Results: The pCR rate was 20.8%. The downstaging rate was 66%. In univariate analyses, poor and undifferentiated tumors (p = 0.020) and an interval of ${\geq}7$ weeks from finishing CCRT to surgery (p = 0.040) were significantly associated with pCR, while female gender (p = 0.070), initial carcinoembryonic antigen concentration of <5.0 ng/dL (p = 0.100), and clinical stage T2 (p = 0.100) were marginally significant factors. In multivariate analysis, an interval of ${\geq}7$ weeks from finishing CCRT to surgery (odds ratio, 0.139; 95% confidence interval, 0.022 to 0.877; p = 0.036) was significantly associated with pCR, while stage T2 (odds ratio, 5.363; 95% confidence interval, 0.963 to 29.877; p = 0.055) was a marginally significant risk factor. Conclusion: We suggest that the interval from finishing CCRT to surgery is a predictor of pCR after preoperative CCRT in patients with rectal cancer. Stage T2 cancer may also be an important predictive factor. We hope to perform a robust study by collecting data during treatment to obtain more advanced results.