One hundred seventy of patients with cervical esophageal carcinoma (30 cases were treated by pre-operative radiation and surgery (combined group), 27 cases by surgery alone, 113 cases by radical radiation). The doses of the preoperative radiation and the radiacal radiation were D T40 Gy/4w and above D T 50 Gy/5w, respectively. The 5 year survival rates were 40% in the combined group, 15.3% in surgry alone, and 28% in radical radiation groups. The difference of survival rates in the combined group and surgery alone was significantly different statistically. Factors affecting the survivals were lymphnode metastasis in radical radiation and recurrent larygeal nerve paralysis in the combined group. The main causes of failure were local residual and recurrence (71%) in radical radiation and lymphnode metastasis (81%) in the combined group. The authors believe that pre-operative radiation combined with surgery could improve the survival of cervical esophageal carcinoma. Radical radiation is also one of effective treatment methods for cercical esophageal carcinoma.

Radiation pneumonia is a part of radiation-induced lung injury, and its injury and repair is a complex pathophysiological process involving with the participation and interaction among numerous cells and cytokines. Early diagnosis and treatment of radiation pneumonia can alleviate lung injury and protect lung fuction. Compared with infectious pneumonia, there is no obvious difference in symptoms and physical signs. However, the symptoms are relatively mild, the total count of white blood cells is not significantly elevated or only the classification of neutrophils is relatively high. Hormone can stimulate the increase of white blood cells, which should be delivered prior to relevant examination. CT scan is a sensitive tool to make the diagnosis of radiation pneumonia, which can be utilized for staging, guiding treatment and prognosis evaluation. The lung injury changes of radiation pneumonia on CT scan can be observed 7-10 d later than relevant symptoms. Besides symptomatic treatment, such as cough relief and phlegm elimination, hormone is the key treatment of radiation pneumonia. It is recommended to deliver long-acting dexamethasone or prednisone with an initial small dose, adjusted to effective dose according to disease condition, maintained for 3-4 weeks, and gradually reduced to avoid the recurrence of radiation pneumonia. Pulse therapy for hormone is likely to lead to insufficient or excessive dose and affect the therapeutic effect. Insufficient dose can cause the occurrence of recurrent radiation pneumonia.

Objective To investigate the safety of intraoperative electron radiation therapy (IOERT) for stage Ⅰ hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by a cohort study.Methods From November 2010 to May 2012,16 patients who were pathologically diagnosed with stage Ⅰ HCC underwent IOERT after radical resection.With a cohort study,87 patients with stage Ⅰ HCC who underwent radical resection alone during the same period were qualified,and according to tumor size (＞ 5 cm and ≤ 5 cm) and resection margin (close margin and negative margin),32 of 87 patients made up the control group.The intraoperative and postoperative adverse events,liver function parameters,coagulogram,and routine blood parameters,as well as IOERT-related adverse reactions,were evaluated.Independent-samples t test was used for analyzing the differences between groups.Results Compared with the control group,the IOERT group had a significantly longer operative time ((275.4 ± 71.55) min vs.(184.7 ± 64.74) min,P =0.000),a slightly higher incidence of intraoperative adverse events (18.75％ vs.6.25％,P=1.000),a slightly lower incidence of operative complications (12.50％ vs.28.12％,P =0.460),and a lower perioperative mortality (0 vs.6％,P =0.440).Liver function parameters showed no significant differences between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).There were no significant differences between the two groups in postoperative time to grade 1 or normal liver function parameters,median length of postoperative hospital stay,length of hospital stay in the surgical department,time to incision healing,and level of incision healing (P ＞ 0.05).During follow-up,no radiation hepatitis was found in the IOERT group.Conclusions As an adjuvant therapy after radical resection for early HCC,IOERT has no significant side effects on postoperative recovery and liver function,and an intraoperative dose of 15-16 Gy is safe.

Objective To assess the prognostic benefits of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with electron beam among patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer.Methods Between January 2009 and December 2014,167 patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer received IORT with electron beam (10-20 Gy) in our hospital.After surgery,12 patients were treated with external beam radiotherapy,56 patients with chemoradiotherapy (CRT),and 17 patients with chemotherapy.Overall survival (OS),local recurrence,and toxicities were retrospectively analyzed.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates,the log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis and univariate prognostic analysis,and the Cox model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis.Results The follow-up rate was 100％.The median OS time was 10.3 months,and the 2-year OS rate was 22％.The median progression-fiee survival (PFS) time was 6.3 months,and the 2-year PFS rate was 9.9％.The cancer-specific survival (CSS) time was 11.2 months,and the 2-year CSS rate was 23.6％.In the patients treated with IORT alone at doses of＜15 Gy,15 Gy and＞15 Gy,the median OS times were 6.2 months vs.9.1 months vs.22.2 months,and the 1-year OS rates were 10.0％ vs.39.6％ vs.74.4％ (P=0.000).Among the patients receiving postoperative adjuvant therapy,those treated with IORT+CRT had the best survival,with a median OS time of 11.6 months (P=0.033).The univariate analysis showed that IORT dose (P =0.000),tumor size (P =0.006),and IORT applicator diameter (P =0.007) were prognostic factors.The multivariate analysis showed that IORT dose (P=0.000) and IORT combined with CRT (P=0.006) were independent prognostic factors.Conclusions IORT with electron beam is an effective and safe treatment strategy for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer.After protecting surrounding organs,increasing the IORT dose can improve the survival.IORT combined with CRT should be recommended because it improves survival for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer without increasing toxicities.

Objective To evaluate the relation between lung dosimetric parameters and the risk of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (RP) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had re-ceived postoperative radiotherapy. Methods From November 2002 to March 2006, 90 patients with NSCLC who had received postoperative 3-dimentinal conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) were retrospectively analyzed, including 53 with stage ⅢA disease, 25 with stafe ⅢB disease and 12 with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ disease but positive margins. Seventy (78%) patients underwent lobectomy, 20 ( 22% ) underwent pneumonectomy, and 38 ( 46% ) received adjuvant chemotherapy. The median radiation dose was 60 Gy given in 30 fractions of 2 Gy using 6 MV X-ray. The percentage of the whole lung volume ( Vx ) and the ipsilateral absolute lung volume ( Vipsi-dosewhich received more than a certain dose were calculated. The endpoint was grade 2 and above RP based on CTC AE 3.0. The relation between the dosimetric factors and RP was also analyzed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results Nine patients ( 10% ) developed symptomatic RP ( grade 2 in 7 and grade 3 in 2), and all of them were in the lobectomy group. No RP was observed in patients who received pneumonectomy. Both V30 and V35 were higher in patients with RP than those without ( 19% vs 14% ,U= -2.16,P=0.030, and 15% vs 11%,U= -2.65,P =0.007, respectively). The area under curve in receiver operating characteristic curves based on the relation between incidence of RP and the value of Vipsi-dose was 0. 757. Using Vipsi-30 of 340 cm3 as a cut-off to predict RP, the sensitivity and specificity were 88% and 70%, respectively. The incidence of RP was 3% in patients with Vipsi-30< 340 cm3 compared with 29% in those with Vipsi-30>340cm3 ( X2 = 9.75 , P = 0.003 ) . Conclusions More than340 cm3 of the ipsilateral lung receiving 30 Gy is significantly related to the risk of RP in patients undergoing lobectomy. It is safe for patients who undergo pneumonectomy to receive postoperative 3DCRT if lung V20 is less than 10%.

Objective To investigate independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in extensive disease small cell lung cancer (EDSCLC). Methods Between January 2003 and December 2006, 154 patients diagnosed with extensive stage small cell lung cancer were enrolled in this study.Prognostic factors such as gender, age, performance status, smoking history, weight loss, distant metastasis, the number of matastasis, brain metastasis, the cycle of chemotherapy and thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) for EDSCLC patients were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results The median following-up time was 40. 5 months. The rate of follow-up was 92. 2%. The MST and overall survival rates at 3-year in smoking group and no-smoking group were 13 months, 11.8% and 17 months,22. 8%,respectively (χ2=3.40,P =0. 064);in ChT/TRT group and ChT group, they were 17. 2 months, 17.9%and 9.3 months,13.9%, respectively(χ2=10.47,P=0.001);and in the cycle of chemotherapy ≥4 group and ＜ 4 group, they were 16 months, 20. 1% and 9.3 months, 2. 9%, respectively (χ2=17.79,P=0. 000). By multivariate analysis, smoking history was a statistically significant unfavorable factor for OS in EDSCLC patients (versus no-smoking, hazard ratio (HR)=1.462, χ2=4.40, P=0.036). In addition, ≥4 cycles of chemotherapy and TRT were favorable prognostic factors ( ≥4 cycles vs ＜4 cycles, HR =0. 420,χ2 = 17. 17, P = 0. 000; ChT/TRT vs ChT, HR = 0. 634, χ2 = 6. 20, P = 0. 013). Conclusions Smoking is a independent unfavorable prognostic factor and ≥ 4 cycles of chemotherapy And TRT are independent favorable prognostic factors for OS in EDSCLC.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of the international union against cancer (UICC)stage,pathologic complete response (pCR),and the estimated treatment response as various means for prognostic stratifying patients after surgery in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus who received preoperative radiotherapy (RT).MethodsA retrospective review was performed on 311 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received RT before the esophagectomy. Data collected included the demographics,the RT details,the pathologic findings,and the survival.Prognostic survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and Logrank test.ResultsThe follow-up rate was 96.5％,89 and 43 patients,respectively were followed up more than 5 and 10 years.In univariate analysis,residual disease and the number of positive lymph node were predictors of the overall survival ( T-pCR,x2 =11.53,P =0.001 ;0,1 -3,≥4,x2=42.13,P=0.000,respectively).Further study found the 7th stage system of UICC cannot (can or cannot) entirely predict the prognosis of this group of patients.If categorizing the stages of their lymph nodes into three groups:N0(0),N1 (1-3) and N2(≥4)),and the modified UICC system can accurately distinguish ypStage Ⅰ with ypStage Ⅱ ( T0.3 N 1 M0 + T3 N0 M0 ) ( x2 =11.15,P =0.001 ) and ypStage Ⅱ with ypStage Ⅲ ( T4 N0-1 M0 and T0-3 N2 M0 ) ( x2 =23.39,P =0.000 ).ConclusionsThe pathologic post-radiotherapy T stage and the number of positive lymph node are predictors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma receiving preoperative radiotherapy.The modified UICC stage system can be a better survival predictor than the 7th UICC stage system.

Objective To compare postoperative three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and conventional radiotherapy (CR) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods From Nov. 2002 to Mar. 2006,162 patients with stage ⅠB～ⅢB NSCLC receiving postoperative radiotherapy in our department were restrospetcively analyzed. Among them,86 received 3DCRT and 76 re-ceived CR. The survival outcome, pattern of failure and treatment-related side effects in both groups were an-alyzed. Results The median follow-up was 29.4 months in the 3DCRT group and 24 months in the CR group. The 1-,2- and 3-year local-regional free survival was 97.5% ,83.2% and 83.2% in 3DCRT group, and 84.3% ,76.0% and 65.6% in CR group(χ2= 5.46, P = 0.019), respectively. No statistically signifi-cant difference was found in the overall survival, disease-free survival or distant metastasis-free survival be-tween the two groups. The local-regional failure rate was statistically different between the two groups (14.5% vs 33.3% ,χ2 =7.70,P =0.006). The incidence of distant metastasis in the two groups was simi-lar. Radiation pneumonitis of NCI CTC grade 2-3 occurred in 10 patients(11.6%)in 3DCRT group and 18 (23.7%) in CR group,which was statistically different(χ2 =4.10,P=0.043). Conclusions Postopera-tive 3DCRT for NSCLC provides a better local-regional control and lower incidence of radiation pneumonitis compared with CR.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) for esophageal carcinoma and identify prognostic factors in this patient group.Methods From May 2002 to Jun 2005,132 patients with unresectable or inoperable esophageal cancer were treated with 3DCRT in our hospital.Their chnical data were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsThe 1-and 2-year local control rates was 65.4% and 52.1% in the whole group,respectively.The overall 1-and 2-year survival rate was 50.7% and 32.2% ,respectively.The median survival time was 13 months.The 1-and 2-year survival rate was 56.7%and 36.7% in stageⅠ + Ⅲ ,respectively,with 35.2% and 14.7% in stage IV.The median survival time were 15 months and 9 months for stage Ⅰ +Ⅲ and Ⅳ,respectively(x2 = 8.17,P = 0.004). Of patients with stage Ⅰ + Ⅲ disease who were absent of perforation sign before radiotherapy,with lesion length less than 8.0 cm and whole course given by 3DCRT,the 1-and 2-year survival rate was 73.0% and 49.9%,respectively.Univariate analysis revealed that condition of alimentation,absence of perforation sign, short lesion length,early TNM stage were associated with good survival.Multivariate analysis confirmed that absence of perforation sign and lesion length were independent prognostic factors for survival. Conclusions 3DCRT is effective for esophageal carcinomas in terms of survival and local control.Further improvement could be achieved with muhi-modality treatment.Absence of perforation sign and lesion length are independ ent prognostic factors for survival.

Objective To retrospectively analyze treatment results of radiotherapy for medically inoperable stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ non-small cell lung cancer. Methods Between Jan.2000 and Dec.2005,fifty-eight such patients were enrolled into the database analysis,including 37 with clinical stage Ⅰ and 21 with stage Ⅱ disease.Fifty patients received radiotherapy alone and eight with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Fortythree patients were treated with 3-D conformal radiotherapy(3D-CRT)and 15 with conventional radiotherapy.Results The 1-,2-and 3- year overall survival rates were 85%,54%and 30%,and the median survival time was 26.2 months for the whole group.The corresponding figures were 88%,60%,36%and 30.8 months for cancer-specific survival:84%,64%,31%and 30.8 months for Stage Ⅰ disease;81%,47%,28%and 18.8 months for Stage Ⅱ disease;95%,57%,33%and 30.8 months for 3D-CRT group and 53%,44%,24%and 15.3 months for conventional radiotherapy group.By logrank test,tumor volume,pneumonitis of Grade Ⅱ or higher and weight loSS more than 5%showed statistically significant impact on overall survival.Tumor volume was the only independent prognostic factor in Cox muhivariable regression.Pneumonitis and esophagitis of Grade Ⅱ or higher were 16%and 2%,respectively.Age and lung function before treatment had a significant relationship with pneumonitis.Failure included the local recurrence(33%)and distant metastasis(21%).There was no difference between the treatment modalities and failure sites. Conclusions For medically inoperable early stage non-small cell lung cancer patients,tumor volume is the most important prognostic factor for overall survival.The conformal radiotherapy marginally improves the survival.The age and pulmonary function are related to the incidence of treatment induced pneumonitis.