• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6535-6541
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• 2014

Background: To evaluate risk factors for upper extremity lymphedema due to breast cancer surgery. Materials and Methods: Clinical studies published on PubMed, Ovid, EMbase, and Cochrane Library from January 1996 to December 2012 were selected. Results: Twenty-five studies were identified, including 12,104 patients. Six risk factors related to the incidence of lymphedema after breast cancer treatment were detected: axillary lymph node dissection (OR=3.73, 95%CI 1.16 to 11.96), postoperative complications (OR=2.64, 95%CI 1.10 to 6.30), hypertension (OR=1.83, 95%CI 1.38 to 2.42), high body mass index (OR=1.80, 95%CI 1.30 to 2.49), chemotherapy (OR=1.38, 95%CI 1.07 to 1.79) and radiotherapy (OR=1.35, 95%CI 1.10 to 1.66). We found significant protective factors for lymphedema: pathologic T classification (OR=0.57, 95%CI 0.36 to 0.91) and stage (OR=0.60, 95%CI 0.39 to 0.93), while some factors, like age, number of positive lymph nodes, number of lymph node dissection, demonstrated no obvious correlation. Conclusions: Axillary lymph node dissection, postoperative complications, hypertension, body mass index, chemotherapy, radiotherapy are risk factors for lymphedema after breast cancer treatment. Attention should be paid to patients with risk factors to prevent the occurrence of lymphedema.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.182-188
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• 2012

Purpose: For recurrent esophageal cancer after primary definitive radiotherapy, no general treatment guidelines are available. We evaluated the toxicities and clinical outcomes of re-irradiation (re-RT) for recurrent esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 10 patients with recurrent esophageal cancer treated with re-RT after primary definitive radiotherapy. The median time interval between primary radiotherapy and re-RT was 15.6 months (range, 4.8 to 36.4 months). The total dose of primary radiotherapy was a median of 50.4 Gy (range, 50.4 to 63.0 Gy). The total dose of re-RT was a median of 46.5 Gy (range, 44.0 to 50.4 Gy). Results: The median follow-up period was 4.9 months (range, 2.6 to 11.4 months). The tumor response at 3 months after the end of re-RT was complete response (n = 2), partial response (n = 1), stable disease (n = 2), and progressive disease (n = 5). Grade 5 tracheoesophageal fistula developed in three patients. The time interval between primary radiotherapy and re-RT was less than 12 months in two of these three patients. Late toxicities included grade 1 dysphagia (n = 1). Conclusion: Re-RT of recurrent esophageal cancer after primary radiotherapy can cause severe toxicity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.139-144
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• 2002

Background and objectives : The various voice-conserving treatments are used for Tla staged glottic cancer. Especially, Tla staged glottic cancer has been shown excellent treatment result after laser cordectomy or radiotherapy. To evaluate which treatment results better voice after treatment made it valuable to define the exact indication and recommending treatment modality on the Tla staged glottic cancer patients. Method : The medical records of 75 patients with glottic TlaN0 cancer diagnosed at Asan medical center, University of Ulsan college of medicine form May, 1989 to July,2001 were retrospectively reviewed on the point of voice quality and oncology including 5-year survival rate and local control rate. Results : Laser cordectomy and radiotherapy showed 100% and 94.0% 5-year survival rate, respectively. And laser cordectomy had 94.3% local control rate while radiotherapy got 87.6% local control rate. Voice analysis of pretreatment and posttreatment were used to compare each result. Fundamental frequency(F0), shimmer, jitter, noise to harmony ratio(NHR), maximum confortable phonation time(MPT) and vocal efficiency(VE) were used for parameters for voice analysis. Only in shimmer and MPT, we could find significant posttreatment difference between two therapies. In addition, we reviewed the total expenses for each therapy. Conclusion : On the basis of the oncologic result, both the laser cordectomy and radiotherapy had the similar results. Laser cordectomy showed the relatively acceptable voice as radiotherapy did. Laser cordectomy cost less than radiotherapy did. Laser cordectomy can be used for treatment about Tla staged glottic cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1131-1135
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• 2012

Objective: To evaluate interoperative radiotherapy after breast conservative surgery in early breast cancer patients in terms of postoperative complications, cosmetic outcome and recurrence events. Methods: From June 2007 to Dec 2011, 143 early breast cancer patients received breast conservative surgery. Seventy-two (study group) received interoperative radiotherapy, compared with 71 patients (control group) given routine radiotherapy. Postoperative complications were evaluated 1 month after surgery; cosmetic outcome was evaluated 1 year postoperatively; recurrence and death events were followed up. Results: The average wound healing time was 13~22 d in the study group and 9~14 d in the control group. In the study group, 2 patients developed lyponecrosis, 16 patients showed wound edema while no such side effects were found in the control group. No infection or hematomas were found in either group. In the study group (59 cases), overall cosmetic outcome in 53 patients was graded as excellent or good, and in 6 as fair or poor. Meanwhile in the control group (56 cases), 42 patients were graded as excellent or good, and 14 as fair or poor (P=0.032). After a follow-up from 3 to 54 months (median: 32 months), two patients (2.78%) in study group developed local relapses, one of them (1.39%) died, 2 patients (2.78%) developed bone metastases. In control group, one patient (1.41%) developed local relapse, 2 patients (2.82%) developed bone metastases, and no one died. Conclusion: Intraoperative radiotherapy is safe and reliable with good cosmetic outcome.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4101-4105
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• 2012

Purpose: The degree of radiation injury to kidneys which are located within the limits of radiotherapy area is determined by the volume and the dose of radiation to which the organ is exposed. When the tolerance dose of the kidney is exceeded after a latent period of 6 months acute nephritis develops and after 18 months chronic nephritis ensues. Melatonin is known to prevent the oxidative injury of toxins and radiotherapy with its free radical scavenging capacity. Methods and Materials: In this study 8 weeks old 24 Sprague -Dawley rats were allocated into 4 groups: Control group; Radiotherapy group (20 Gy bilaterally in 5 fractions); Melatonin group (10 mg/kg intraperitoneally), and Melatonin+radiotherapy group (20 Gy Radiotherapy in 5 fractions+ melatonin 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally). After a follow-up period of 6 months BUN was determined in all groups. After rats were euthanized the kidneys were removed for histopathological examination under both light and electron microscopes. Results: After 6 months follow-up, both at light and electron microscopy levels, the rats in radiotherapy+melatonin group were significantly protected against the radiation injury comparing to radiotherapy group (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was shown in this experimental model that melatonin has protective effects against radiation injury to kidneys.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.247-255
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• 2014

Purpose: To determine whether neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (NADT) improves clinical outcomes in patients with prostate cancer treated with definitive radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 201 patients with prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy between January 1991 and December 2008. Of these, 156 patients with more than 3 years of follow-up were the subjects of this study. The median duration of follow-up was 91.2 months. NADT was given in 103 patients (66%) with median duration of 3.3 months (range, 1.0 to 7.7 months). Radiation dose was escalated gradually from 64 Gy to 81 Gy using intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique. Results: Biochemical relapse-free survival (BCRFS) and overall survival (OS) of all patients were 72.6% and 90.7% at 5 years, respectively. BCRFS and OS of NADT group were 79.5% and 89.8% at 5 years and those of radiotherapy alone group were 58.8% and 92.3% at 5 years, respectively. Risk group (p = 0.010) and radiation dose ${\geq}70Gy$ (p = 0.017) affected BCRFS independently. NADT was a significant prognostic factor in univariate analysis, but not in multivariate analysis (p = 0.073). Radiation dose ${\geq}70Gy$ was only an independent factor for OS (p = 0.007; hazard ratio, 0.261; 95% confidence interval, 0.071-0.963). Conclusion: NADT prior to definitive radiotherapy did not result in significant benefit in terms of BCRFS and OS. NADT should not be performed routinely in the era of dose-escalated radiotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.2939-2943
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• 2014

Background: While many studies have shown that hormones can influence background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) in breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), only few have directly address the effect of radiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of radiotherapy on BPE in breast MRI. Materials and Methods: A retrospective search identified 62 women with unilateral breast cancer who had a breast MRI both before and after radiotherapy following breast-conserving surgery. In our study, we assumed that systemic therapy affected both breasts equivalently. We rated the level of BPE of both breasts using a four-point categorical scale. A change in the level of BPE prior to and after treatment was compared in the diseased and contralateral breasts. Results: All patients received a 4256 to 6480 cGy dose of whole breast radiotherapy over 3-7 weeks. The mean timing of the follow-up study was 6.6 months after completion of radiotherapy. Although the BPE showed a decrease in both breasts after treatment, there was a significant reduction of BPE in the irradiated breast compared with the contralateral breast (1.18 versus 0.98 average reduction in BPE level, p=0.042). Conclusions: Radiotherapy is associated with decrease in BPE with MRI.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1111-1116
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• 2015

Background: To investigate the relationship between pathologic tumor response to concurrent chemoradiotherapy and variation of serum VEGF in patients with esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: Forty six patients with esophageal cancer who were treated with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy were enrolled. Endoscopic and pathologic examination was conducted before and four weeks afterwards. Serum level of VEGF was documented before, four weeks later and after chemo-radiotherapy. The relationship between pathologic response and the variation of serum level of VEGF and its influence on the prognosis were investigated. Results: Serum level of VEGF decreased remarkably during and after chemo-radiotherapy in patients whose pathologic response was severe (F=5.393, 4.587, P(0.05). There were no statistical differences of serum VEGF level before, during and after chemo-radiotherapy for patients whose pathologic response was moderate or mild. There were 18 (85.7%), 7 (53.8%) and 6 patients (50.0%) whose serum VEGF level dropped in the severe, moderate and mild group, respectively, with significant differences among these groups (p=0.046). Two year survival rates of patients with severe, moderate and mild pathologic response were 61.9%, 53.8% and 33.3% respectively, and no statistically difference between severe and mild group regarding OS (p=0.245) was tested. Conclusions: Tumor pathologic response during chemo-radiotherapy and the changes of serum VEGF lever could predict curative effects of chemo-radiotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2829-2834
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• 2013

The objective was to analyze the radiotherapy (RT) practice at the cancer centre of a tertiary academic medical institution in Delhi. This audit from an Indian public institution covered patient care processes related to cancer diagnosis, integration of RT with other anti-cancer modalities, waiting time, overall treatment time, and compliance with RT. Over a period of one year, all consecutively registered patients in radiotherapy were analyzed for the audit cycle. Analysis of 1,030 patients showed median age of 49.6 years, with presentation as stage I and II in 14.2%, stage III and IV in 71.2% and unknown stage in 14.6%. A total of 974 (95%) were advised for RT appointment; 669 (68.6%) for curative intent and 31.4% for palliation. Mean times for diagnostic workup and from registration at cancer centre to radiotherapy referral were 33 and 31 days respectively. Median waiting time to start of RT course was 41 days. Overall RT compliance was 75% and overall duration for a curative RT course ranged from 50 days to 61 days. Non-completion and interruption of RT course were observed in 12% and 13% respectively. Radiotherapy machine burden in a public cancer hospital in India increases the waiting time and 25% of advised patients do not comply with the prescribed treatment. Infrastructure, machine and manpower constraints lead to more patients being treated on cobalt (74%) and by two-dimensional (78%) techniques.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 1995

Purpose: We tried to evaluate the role of conventional radiotherapy alone or with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the hypopharyngeal cancer by retrospective analysis. Materials and Methods: Between Jul.1985 and Sep.1992, 42 patients of hypopharyngeal cancer were treated by conventional radiotherapy alone or combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The male to female ratio was 20:1 with a median age of 58 years, Twelve Patients were treated by conventional radiotherapy alone and 30 patients were treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Results: Seven Patients were Stage I,II and the patients with stage III and IV were 10 and 25, respectively at the time of presentation. The overall survival and disease-specific survival rates at 24 months were $12.9\%$ and $15.5\%,$respectively Two-year survival rates of stage I+II and III+IV patients were $50\%$ and $6.3\%,$ respectively(p(0.05). Sixteen Patients$(38\%)$ revealed CR and 26 patients$(62\%)$ revealed less than CR at the end of radiotherapy and their 2-year survival rates were $31.3\%\;and\;0\%,$ respectively(p(0.05). On univariate analysis, stage, T-stage, N-stage and treatment response were the significant prognostic factors, but only stage and treatment response were significant on multivariate analysis Conclusion : This conventional radiotherapy alone or with neoadjuvant chemotherapy does not seem to be sufficient in the treatment of most advanced hypopharyngeal cancer Therefore other treatment modalities such as hyperfractionation or concurrent chemoradiotherapy should be considered.