• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권12호
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• pp.6251-6255
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• 2012

Radiation proctitis and radiation cystitis are major complications for patients with cervical carcinoma following radiotherapy. In the present study, we aimed to determine the potential risk factors for the development of radiation proctitis and radiation cystitis after irradiation. A total of 1,518 patients with cervical carcinoma received external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) followed by high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy (HDRICB) in our hospital. The incidences of radiation proctitis and radiation cystitis were recorded and associations with different factors (age, time period, tumor stage) were analyzed with ${\chi}^2$ (chi-squared) and Fisher exact tests. We found that 161 and 94 patients with cervical carcinoma were diagnosed with radiation proctitis and radiation cystitis, respectively, following radiotherapy. The prevalence of Grade I-II radiation proctitis or radiation cystitis was significantly lower than that of Grade III (radiation proctitis: 3.82% vs. 6.76%, P < 0.05; radiation cystitis: 2.31% vs. 3.87%, P < 0.05) and was significantly enhanced in patients with late stage (IIIb) tumor progression compared to those in early stage (Ib, IIa) (P < 0.05). Moreover, the incidence of radiation proctitis and cystitis was not correlated with age or, time period following radiation, for each patient (P > 0.05). These observations indicate that a late stage of tumor progression is a potential risk factor for the incidence of radiation proctitis and cystitis in cervical carcinoma patients receiving radiotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.2109-2114
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• 2014

Background: The aim of this planned research was to determine the comfort and anxiety levels of women with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: This descriptive type study covered patients that applied to the radiation oncology breast polyclinic of our university hospital between January and May 2011. Patient Identification Form, Radiation Therapy Comfort Questionnaire (RTCQ), Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were completed and analysed. Results: The mean age of the women who participated in the study was $51.6{\pm}10.4$ years. Mean scores of women were $3.73{\pm}0.31$ for RTCQ, $29.1{\pm}5.88$ for SAI and $37.8{\pm}6.91$ for TAI. While the comfort levels of the women with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy were moderate, they experienced only low levels of anxiety. Conclusions: By determining the comfort level of the patient before radiotherapy, besides providing comfort in this direction, eliminating/minimizing anxiety and stress will positively affect radiotherapy application. More attention of nurses to this issue is to be recommended.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.478-487
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• 2003

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between fatigue and nutritional status in patients undergoing radiotherapy. Design. A correlational and crossectional study design was used. Method. One-hundred-fifty-one subjects with cancer receiving radiotherapy were recruited from a university hospital in Chonan, Korea. Fatigue was measured using Piper's Fatigue Scale (PFS). The parameters for nutritional status included body weight, body mass index, hemoglobin, and lymphocyte counts. Cancer stage was controlled in analyzing the differences in fatigue, body weight and body mass index. Results. The patients who experienced most fatigue were in their fifties, employed, had head and neck cancer, received radiotherapy on the head and neck, and had concomitant chemotherapy. Disease-related characteristics such as cancer type, and treatment type were frequently related to poorer nutritional status. Patients who showed poorer nutritional status, such as those with lower body weight, lower body mass index and lower hemoglobin levels were more fatigued than those who did not exhibit such characteristics. Lymphocyte counts did not correlate with fatigue. Conclusion: The findings can be used by nurses who are taking care of patients undergoing radiotherapy. Considering the relationship between fatigue and nutritional status, nurses can identify the risk group most vulnerable to fatigue and malnourishment in order to provide appropriate interventions for them.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.359-367
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• 2017

Purpose: This study sought to identify potential candidates for adjuvant radiotherapy and patterns of regional failure in patients who underwent curative-intent surgery for gallbladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Records for 70 patients with gallbladder cancer who underwent curative resection at a single institution between 2000 and 2016 were analysed retrospectively. No patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. Initial patterns of failure were evaluated. Regional recurrence was categorized according to the definitions of lymph node stations suggested by the Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery. Results: Median follow-up was 23 months. Locoregional recurrence as any component of first failure occurred in 29 patients (41.4%), with isolated locoregional recurrence in 13 (18.6%). Regional recurrence occurred in 23 patients, and 77 regional recurrences were identified. Commonly involved regional stations were #13, #12a2, #12p2, #12b2, #16a2, #16b1, #9, and #8. Independent prognostic factors for locoregional recurrence were ${\geq}pT2$ disease (hazard ratio [HR], 5.510; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.260-24.094; p = 0.023) and R1 resection (HR, 6.981; 95% CI, 2.378-20.491; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with pT2 disease or R1 resection after curative surgery for gallbladder cancer may benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy. Our findings on regional recurrence may help physicians construct a target volume for adjuvant radiotherapy.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.89-93
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• 2023

We present three cases of patients with breast cancer and psoriasis who received radiotherapy following breast-conserving surgery. One patient developed an extensive flare-up of psoriasis during chemotherapy. After discontinuing chemotherapy, she received conventional radiotherapy to the ipsilateral whole breast, axillary, and supraclavicular lymph nodes with 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions and boosted with 10 Gy in five fractions to the tumor bed. Two patients received hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy at a total dose of 40.05-42.4 Gy in 15-16 fractions. In all three cases, there was no flare-up of psoriatic events at least 6 months after the completion of radiotherapy. We hypothesized that there is a close relationship between psoriatic events and the extent of trauma rather than the daily dose of the fraction. Therefore, we confirmed that the effect of radiotherapy on psoriatic events is minimal if the radiation field size does not exceed that of the whole breast.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권14호
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• pp.6011-6017
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• 2015

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of selective radiotherapy after distant metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with dose-dense cisplatin plus fluorouracil. Materials and Methods: Eligible patients were randomly assigned to a study group treated with dose-dense cisplatin plus fluorouracil following selective radiotherapy and a control group receiving traditional cisplatin plus fluorouracil following selective radiotherapy according to a 1:1 distribution using a digital random table method. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate, relapse or progression rate in the radiation field and treatment toxicity. Results: Of 52 patients in the study group, 20 cases underwent radiotherapy., while in the control group of 51 patients, 16 underwent radiotherapy. The median PFS, median OS, survival rates in 1, 2 and 3 years in study and control group were 20.9 vs 12.7months, 28.3 vs 18.8months, 85.2%vs 65.9%, 62.2% vs 18.3%, and 36.6%vs 5.2% (p values of 0.00, 0.00, 0.04, 0.00 and 0.00, respectively). Subgroup analysis showed that the median OS and survival rates of 1, 2, 3 years for patients undergoing radiotherapy in the study group better than that in control group( 43.2vs24.1 months, 94.1% vs 86.7%, 82.4% vs 43.3%, 64.7% vs 17.3%, (p=0.00, 0.57, 0.04 and 0.01, respectively). The complete response rate, objective response rate after chemotherapy and three months after radiotherapy, relapse or progression rate in radiation field in study group and in control group were 19.2% vs 3.9%, 86.5% vs 56.9%, 85% vs 50%, 95% vs 81.3% and 41.3% vs 66.7% (p =0.03, 0.00, 0.03,0.30, 0.01 respectively). The grade 3-4 acute adverse reactions in the study group were significantly higher than in the control group (53.8% vs 9.8%, p=0.00). Conclusions: The survival of patients benefits from selective radiotherapy after distant metastasis of NPC treated with dose-dense cisplatin plus fluorouracil.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.1463-1469
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• 2015

Background: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone in elderly patients with esophageal carcinoma to identify the best method of treatment. Materials and Methods: One hundred and sixteen patients with esophageal carcinoma aged 70 and older who received definitive radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy entered the study. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and treatment-related toxicities were assessed. Results: The median OS of the overall population was 17.9 months. For patients treated with cCRT, sCRT and radiotherapy alone, the median OS was 22.3 months, 18.0 months and 12.4 months respectively(P=0.044). Median OS for patients treated with radiotherapy dose ${\geq}60Gy$ and <60Gy was 20.2 months and 10.9 months respectively (p=0.017). By univariate analysis, Chemoradiotherapy (include cCRT and sCRT) and radiotherapy dose ${\geq}60Gy$ were found to achieve higher survival rates compared with radiotherapy alone and radiotherapy dose <60Gy (P=0.015, P=0.017). By multivariate analysis, chemoradiotherapy (HR=1.645, P=0.022) and radiotherapy dose ${\geq}60Gy$ (HR=1.642, P=0.025) were identified as independent prognostic factors of OS. Conclusions: Definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy could be considered as a feasible and effective treatment in esophageal carcinoma patients aged 70 and older. Radiotherapy dose 60Gy is an effective treatment option compared with standard dose radiotherapy, while higher doses are not beneficial to improve survival.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.584-595
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• 2021

Objective: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has shown activity against melanoma brain metastases. Recently, promising results have also been reported for ICI combination therapy and ICI combined with radiotherapy. We aimed to evaluate radiologic response and adverse event rates of these therapeutic options by a systematic review and meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search of Ovid-MEDLINE and EMBASE was performed up to October 12, 2019 and included studies evaluating the intracranial objective response rates (ORRs) and/or disease control rates (DCRs) of ICI with or without radiotherapy for treating melanoma brain metastases. We also evaluated safety-associated outcomes. Results: Eleven studies with 14 cohorts (3 with ICI combination therapy; 5 with ICI combined with radiotherapy; 6 with ICI monotherapy) were included. ICI combination therapy {pooled ORR, 53% (95% confidence interval [CI], 44-61%); DCR, 57% (95% CI, 49-66%)} and ICI combined with radiotherapy (pooled ORR, 42% [95% CI, 31-54%]; DCR, 85% [95% CI, 63-95%]) showed higher local efficacy compared to ICI monotherapy (pooled ORR, 15% [95% CI, 11-20%]; DCR, 26% [95% CI, 21-32%]). The grade 3 or 4 adverse event rate was significantly higher with ICI combination therapy (60%; 95% CI, 52-67%) compared to ICI monotherapy (11%; 95% CI, 8-17%) and ICI combined with radiotherapy (4%; 95% CI, 1-19%). Grade 3 or 4 central nervous system (CNS)-related adverse event rates were not different (9% in ICI combination therapy; 8% in ICI combined with radiotherapy; 5% in ICI monotherapy). Conclusion: ICI combination therapy or ICI combined with radiotherapy showed better local efficacy than ICI monotherapy for treating melanoma brain metastasis. The grade 3 or 4 adverse event rate was highest with ICI combination therapy, and the CNS-related grade 3 or 4 event rate was similar. Prospective trials will be necessary to compare the efficacy of ICI combination therapy and ICI combined with radiotherapy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.116-121
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• 2015

Background: To explore the relationship between persistent post-radiotherapy pain and locoregional recurrence in head and neck cancer patients. Methods: Five year retrospective data was reviewed of 86 patients of head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy who continued to have pain at 6 weeks after completion of treatment. At follow-up after 3 months, these patients were stratified into: Group A (n = 39) constituted of patients whose pain subsided and Group B (n = 47) were patients who continued to have persistent pain. Results: At median follow-up time of 25 months (range: 8-47), one patient (2.6%) and 18 (38.3%) patients in group A and group B had locoregional recurrence respectively (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, group B patients had higher mean pain score levels as compared to group A (P = 0.03). Patients in whom pain subsided within 3 months had statistically much greater disease-free survival in comparison to those with persistent pain (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Pain in head and neck cancer is an important symptom and should be considered a poor prognostic factor. In the current study, the majority of the patients with persistent pain had recurrent disease as compared to those in whom pain subsided within 3 months of post-treatment. It is suggested that patients with persistent pain need more intense follow-up and should be investigated thoroughly to detect recurrence at an early stage to provide a better quality of life.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.268-273
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• 2017

Purpose: We performed this retrospective study to investigate the outcomes of patients with hemangioma of the cavernous sinus after fractionated radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 10 patients with hemangioma of the cavernous sinus who were treated with conventional radiotherapy between January 2000 and December 2016. The median patient age was 54 years (range, 31-65 years), and 8 patients (80.0%) were female. The mean hemangioma volume was $34.1cm^3$ (range, $6.8-83.2cm^3$), and fractionated radiation was administered to a total dose of 50-54 Gy with a daily dose of 2 Gy. Results: The median follow-up period was 6.8 years (range, 2.2-8.8 years). At last follow-up, the volume of the tumor had decreased in all patients. The average tumor volume reduction rate from the initial volume was 72.9% (range, 18.9-95.3%). All 10 of the cranial neuropathies observed before radiation therapy had improved, with complete symptomatic remission in 9 cases (90%) and partial remission in 1 case (10%). No new acute neurologic impairments were reported after radiotherapy. One probable compressive optic neuropathy was observed at 1 year after radiotherapy. Conclusion: Fractionated radiotherapy achieves both symptomatic and radiologic improvements. It is a well-tolerated treatment modality for hemangiomas of the cavernous sinus.