Extracellular matrix components and proteolytic enzymes in uterine cervical carcinoma

The important components of mucopolysaccharides and collagen have been analyzed in tissues of control and carcinoma of uterine cervix. Among these components hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate levels were found to be increased, whereas decreased level of collagen was observed in uterine cervical carcinoma. Serum cathepsin B, D and acid and alkaline phosphatases have also been analyzed in controls and carcinoma patients before and after treatments. The activities of these enzymes have been found to increase prominently in advanced stages. Among these enzymes cathepsin B and alkaline phosphatase have exhibited remarkable increase in activity in uterine cervical carcinoma. Different modes of treatment exerted reversion of the elevated activities of these enzymes. However, combined therapy type II (radiation combined with cisplatin and cyclophosphomide) seems to be more effective in reverting the activities of these enzymes to normal levels.     

Focal adhesion kinase: predictor of tumour response and risk factor for recurrence after neoadjuvant chemoradiation in rectal cancer

Rectal cancer represents about 30% of colorectal cancers, being around 50% locally advanced at presentation. Chemoradiation (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision is the standard of care for these locally advanced stages. However, it is not free of adverse effects and toxicity and the complete pathologic response rate is between 10% and 30%. This makes it extremely important to define factors that can predict response to this therapy. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression has been correlated with worse prognosis in several tumours and its possible involvement in cancer radio‐ and chemosensitivity has been suggested; however, its role in rectal cancer has not been analysed yet. To analyse the association of FAK expression with tumour response to CRT in locally advanced rectal cancer. This study includes 73 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer receiving standard neoadjuvant CRT followed by total mesorectal excision. Focal adhesion kinase protein levels were immunohistochemically analysed in the pre‐treatment biopsies of these patients and correlated with tumour response to CRT and patients survival. Low FAK expression was significantly correlated with local and distant recurrence (P = 0.013). Low FAK expression was found to be a predictive marker of tumour response to neoadjuvant therapy (P = 0.007) and patients whose tumours did not express FAK showed a strong association with lower disease‐free survival (P = 0.01). Focal adhesion kinase expression predicts neoadjuvant CRT response in rectal cancer patients and it is a clinically relevant risk factor for local and distant recurrence.     

Chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment for resected gastric cancer: should we use selection criteria?

BackgroundThe management of gastric adenocarcinoma is essentially based on surgery followed by adjuvant treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) as well as chemoradiotherapy (CTRT) have proven their effectiveness in survival outcomes compared to surgery alone. However, there is little data comparing the two adjuvant approaches. This study aimed to compare the prognosis and survival outcomes of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma operated and treated by adjuvant radio-chemotherapy or chemotherapyMaterials and methodsWe retrospectively evaluated 80 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LGC) who received adjuvant treatment. We compared survival outcomes and patterns of recurrence of 53 patients treated by CTRT and those of 27 patients treated by CT.ResultsAfter a median follow-up of 38.48 months, CTRT resulted in a significant improvement of the 5-year PFS (60.9% vs. 36%, p = 0.03) and the 5-year OS (55.9% vs. 33%, p = 0.015) compared to adjuvant CT. The 5-year OS was significantly increased by adjuvant CTRT (p = 0.046) in patients with lymph node metastasis, and particularly those with advanced pN stage (p = 0.0078) and high lymph node ratio (LNR) exceeding 25% (p = 0.012). Also, there was a significant improvement of the PFS of patients classified pN2–N3 (p = 0.022) with a high LNR (p = 0.018). CTRT was also associated with improved OS and PFS in patients with lymphovascular and perineural invasion (LVI and PNI) compared to chemotherapy.ConclusionThere is a particular survival benefit of adding radiotherapy to chemotherapy in patients with selected criteria such as lymph node involvement, high LNR LVI, and PNI.     

High-intensity aerobic interval training and resistance training are feasible in rectal cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy: a feasibility randomized controlled study

BackgroundThere has been growing evidence of the benefits of high-intensity aerobic interval training (HIIT) and resistance training (RES) for populations with cancer. However, these two modalities have not yet been performed alone in rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACR T). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the feasibility of HIIT and RES in rectal cancer patients undergoing NACR T.Materials and methodsRectal cancer patients set to undergo NACRT were randomly assigned to HIIT intervention, RES intervention, or the usual care. Feasibility of HIIT and RES was assessed by measuring recruitment rate, adherence (retention rate, attendance rate, and exercise sessions duration and intensity), and adverse events. Endpoints (changes in fatigue, health-related quality of life, depression, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, sleep quality, functional exercise capacity, and executive function) were assessed at baseline and at week 5.ResultsAmong the 20 eligible patients, 18 subjects were enrolled and completed the study, yielding a 90% recruitment rate and 100% retention rate. Attendance at exercise sessions was excellent, with 92% in HIIT and 88% in RES. No exercise-related adverse events occurred.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that HIIT and RES are feasible in rectal cancer patients undergoing NACR T.Trial registrationwww.clinicaltrials.gov, {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT03252821","term_id":"NCT03252821"}}NCT03252821 (date of registration: March 30, 2017)     

Diagnostic potential of ionomic profile in the plasma of cervical cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

Background and aimMajor and trace elements play an important role in human body, and it has been reported that ionomic distribution differ greatly in tumor patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on the ionomic profile in human plasma as a potential biomarker for the therapeutic effects of cervical cancer.MethodThirty-seven patients with cervical cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were included in this study, pretherapy and post-treatment blood samples were collected and concentrations of 24 ions were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).ResultsThe results showed that after cisplatin chemotherapy and radiotherapy, patients' plasma Pt level significantly increased, Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Se, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr, Ba levels significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and Al, Cu ions were significantly correlated with the treatment effect (P < 0.05). In addition, the pattern of elemental correlations changed dramatically after the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.ConclusionThe results indicated that the plasma ionomic profile may serve as a quick and convenient tool to reflect the therapeutic effect of cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy in cervical cancer patients, and supplement of certain essential elements may be of great importance for the maintenance of ion homeostasis in human body and for the reduction of adverse effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.     

早期乳腺癌保乳术后放射治疗的临床研究

目的:通过对早期乳腺癌保乳术后放射治疗的研究,探讨其远期疗效及瘤床加量照射和放化疗顺序等问题。方法:84例早期乳腺癌患者行保乳手术,术后行三维适形放疗,50Gy/25次,1次/天,5次/周,瘤床局部加量10～16Gy/5～8次。化疗采用蒽环类为主的方案,65例肿瘤直径>1cm者先化疗3个周期后放疗,然后再化疗1～3周期,13例肿瘤直径≤1cm者在术后3～6周放疗,然后化疗4～6个周期。ER/PR阳性者均行内分泌治疗。结果:全组病人5年生存率100%,5年无瘤生存率91.4%。3例乳腺局部复发,3例分别出现肺、肝和骨转移,其中2例死于肿瘤转移。总复发率7.1%。瘤床加量组局部复发率低于未加量组(P=0.04)。放化疗顺序对肿瘤复发率无影响(P=0.15)。美容效果优良率94%,一般者3.6%,差者2.4%。结论:放射治疗是早期乳腺癌保乳治疗的重要组成部分,瘤床加量照射可降低局部复发率。放化疗顺序对于局部复发率影响不大。     

术后放化疗对淋巴结阳性食管鳞癌患者的临床意义

目的:探讨术后放化疗在治疗淋巴结阳性食管鳞癌中的毒副作用、临床预后及可能影响因素。方法:选择淋巴结阳性食管鳞癌患者为研究对象,纳入研究患者共计64例,术后放疗剂量为50 Gy,化疗方案为顺铂联合紫杉醇(21 d方案),观察并记录患者不良反应情况,分析患者3年无瘤生存情况,并进一步探讨可能影响预后的相关因素。结果:患者出现骨髓抑制(白细胞下降),其中Ⅰ/Ⅱ度骨髓抑制39例(61.0%),Ⅲ/Ⅳ度骨髓抑制19例(29.7%);胃肠道反应Ⅰ/Ⅱ度15例(23.4%),Ⅲ/Ⅳ度6例(9.4%);无肝肾功能异常或明显过敏反应;Ⅰ/Ⅱ度放射性食管炎和放射性气管炎分别为18例(28.1%)和14例(21.9%),晚期肺损伤Ⅲ/Ⅳ度2例(3.1%)。64例患者的3年无瘤生存期为28.8个月,无瘤生存率为46.9%。本研究未发现明显影响术后放化疗治疗淋巴结阳性食管鳞癌患者预后的相关因素(P0.05)。结论:淋巴结阳性食管鳞癌患者术后放化疗的不良反应主要为白细胞下降、胃肠道反应和放射性损伤等,患者均可耐受,且3年无瘤生存显著改善,可用于淋巴结阳性食管鳞癌患者治疗。     

CYFRA21-1 and CEA are useful markers for predicting the sensitivity to chemoradiotherapy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is currently performed for patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma. Sensitivity of tumours to CRT differs from one case to another and may be influenced by the expression of biological molecules. The aim of this study was to identify biological markers which could predict sensitivities of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to CRT.

Methods: A total of 84 patients with stage I–IV ESCC were evaluated. The cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (CYFRA21-1) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were measured before CRT by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in patients with primary ESCCs using 3.4?ng ml^?1 and 3.3?ng ml^?1, respectively, as cut-off values. The relationships between pretreatment expression of CYFRA 21-1 and CEA and the effectiveness of CRT were analysed.

Results: The complete response (CR) rates of the primary tumours estimated by computed tomography in patients with high levels of CYFRA21-1 and CEA were 10% (3/30) and 4.2% (1/24), while in cases with low CYFRA21-1 and CEA the CR rates were 50% (27/54) and 48.3% (29/60), respectively (p?=?0.002 and 0.003). The effective rates (CR+PR) in CYFRA21-1 high and low groups were 60% (18/30) and 96.3% (52/54), while in CEA high and low groups they were 58.3% (14/24) and 93.3% (56/60), respectively (p?=?0.013 and 0.013).

Conclusion: CYFRA21-1 and CEA may be helpful in predicting the responsiveness in ESCC of primary lesions to CRT, although the results should be confirmed in larger, more homogeneous studies.     

紫杉醇脂质体联合顺铂同步放疗对老年宫颈癌有较好疗效

本研究将178例具有危险因素的老年宫颈癌术后患者随机分为研究组和对照组各89例,对照组给予紫杉醇联合顺铂同步放化疗方案,研究组给予紫杉醇脂质体联合顺铂同步放化疗方案,观察2组患者治疗期间的毒副反应及1年、2年、3年生存率、局部复发率和远处转移率,以期探讨老年宫颈癌患者术后不同化疗方案联合同步放疗的有效性和安全性。研究结果表明:研究组骨髓抑制、消化道反应、肝肾功能异常、脱发发生率低于对照组(p<0.05);研究组1年、2年、3年生存率与对照组相比较均无统计学差异(p>0.05);研究组与对照组1年、2年、3年局部复发率和远处转移率相比较差异均无统计学意义(p>0.05)。本研究初步结论认为,老年宫颈癌患者术后采用紫杉醇脂质体联合顺铂同步放化疗方案更为安全有效,采用紫杉醇脂质体代替紫杉醇注射液值得在临床推广应用。     

Survival outcomes for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in non–endemic region in the UK treated with intensity modulated based radiotherapy 65 Gy in 30 fractions ± weekly cisplatin chemotherapy

BackgroundNasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is rare in the UK. The aim of the current study was to investigate survival outcomes for patients with NPC treated with (chemo)radiotherapy using 65 Gy in 30 fractions in a non-endemic region.Materials and methodsAll consecutive 62 patients with histology proven non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosed between January 2009 to June 2019 were included in this retrospective analysis.ResultsMedian age was 59 years (range:19–81). The majority of patients had stage III disease (66.1%). Induction chemotherapy was given in 21% of patients and 82.3% of patients received concomitant systemic therapy. All patients were treated with 65 Gy in 30 fractions. There was disease recurrence in 17.4% patients. The 5-year disease-free, disease-specific and overall survival were 81.9%, 79.2% and 76.4%, respectively. On univariate analysis, disease recurrence was associated with N-stage (p = 0.047) and overall stage group (p = 0.023).ConclusionTo the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of the use of 65 Gy in 30 fractions of radiotherapy ± weekly cisplatin chemotherapy in NPC in a real-world setting. Our results are comparable to that from other non-endemic regions of the world using different dose fractionation of (chemo)radiotherapy. Future randomised control trials are warranted to compare various dose fractionations in these settings.