Objective:To analyze the prognostic factors of patients with Ⅰ B1-Ⅱ A cervical cancers after surgery and to assess the effects and adverse reactions of intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)combined with concurrent chemotherapy(CCRT). Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed based on the clinical and follow-up data of 362 patients with Ⅰ B1-Ⅱ A cervical cancers who were treated in Changzhou Second People′s Hospital from January 2009 to December 2019. Meanwhile, these patients suffered large primary tumors(LPT; tumors size: ≥4 cm), lymphatic vascular space invasion (LVSI), and deep stromal invasion(DSI; stromal infiltration depth: ≥1/2) after surgery and showed at least one intermediate-risk factor. Among these cases, 161 cases were treated with CCRT, 131 cases under-went single radiotherapy (RT), and 70 cases received unadjuvanted radiotherapy. The Kaplan-Meier method and the logrank test were adopted for univariate survival analysis, the binary logistic regression was used to analyze the recurrence risk, and Cox regression model was used for multivariate survival analysis. Results:The 3 and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 94.20% and 88.39%, respectively. The retrospective analysis showed that the risk factors of recurrence included tumor size ≥ 4 cm and poorly differentiated cancers( OR=3.287, 2.870, 95% CI: 1.366-7.905, 1.105-7.457, P<0.05). Compared with the treatment without adjuvant radiotherapy and RT, CCRT reduced the recurrence rate of tumors with tumor size of ≥ 4 cm, adenocarcinomas or adenosquamous carcinomas (pathological types), and poorly differentiated carcinomas( χ2=6.725-7.518, P<0.05). A multivariate analysis showed that the CCRT improved the recurrence-free survival ( HR=0.290, 95% CI: 0.128-0.659, P=0.003) and OS ( HR=0.370, 95% CI: 0.156-0.895, P=0.024). A subgroup analysis indicated that CCRT prolonged the OS of patients with tumor size ≥ 4 cm or poorly differentiated cancers compared to the patients receiving no radiotherapy or those treated with RT (χ 2=7.614, 5.964, P<0.05). Compared with the cases receiving single radiotherapy, those receiving CCRT did not suffer an increase in the incidence of hematology, radiation enteritis, and cystitis above grade 3 according to observation ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Among the intermediate-risk factors leading to the recurrence of postoperative cervical cancers, the factors of large primary tumors or poorly differentiated cancers affect the prognosis of patients.Compared with RT and the treatment without adjuvant radiotherapy, IMRT combined with concurrent chemotherapy can prolong the recurrence-free survival and overall survival of patients with large tumors or poorly differentiated cancers and adverse reactions induced are tolerable.

Objective: To investigate the adverse events and efficacy in cervical cancer patients receiving intensity modulated radiationtherapy (IMRT) plusbrachytherapy with or without chemotherapy, and to indentify the factors that may affect the prognosis. Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we analyzed the clinical and follow-up data of the 422 cervical cancer patients, who received IMRT plus brachytherapy with or without chemotherapy.Among these patients, 353 cases received concurrent chemoradiotherapy and the other 69 cases received radiotherapy alone. Kaplan-Meier method was utilized to calculate the overall survival (OS) rates. Log-rank-test and Cox regression were performed to executing the univariate and multivariate analysis of the OS, respectively. Results: The rate of complete response (CR) in the patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy was significantly higher than that of the patients who received single radiotherapy (77.6% vs. 65.2%, χ²=4.812, P<0.05). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 93.4%, 79.4%, and 65.0%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that age, Federation International of Gynecology and Obstetr(FIGO)2009 staging, lymph node metastasis, pathological type, chemotherapy experiences concurrent with radiotherapy, short-term efficiency, and sequential chemotherapy could affect the OS (χ²=6.375-613.123, P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that FIGO staging, lymph node metastasis, pathological type, chemotherapy experiences concurrent with radiotherapy, and the short-term efficacy were the independent determinants for the prognosis (χ²=3.930-42.994, P<0.05). For patients with positive pelvic lymph node, there were no statistical differences in the para-aortic lymph node (PALN) metastasis whether undergoing prophylactic extended field irradiation of the PALN or not(PALN metastasis rates: 6.1% vs. 16.8%, P>0.05). The OS for the patients receiving prophylactic extended field irradiation of the PALN was higher than that of patients without prophylactic radiation (χ²=3.953, P<0.05). Conclusions Cervical cancer patients receiving IMRT plus brachytherapy with or without chemotherapy had achieved promising prognosis. Prophylactic extended field irradiation of the PALN contributed to the improved OS in the patients with pelvic lymph node metastasis. FIGO staging, pathology type, lymph node metastasis, radiotherapy concurrent with chemotherapy or not, and short-term efficiency were independent factors for the prognosis.

Objective To predict the tolerance range of set-up errors in clinical practice by predicting the virtual set-up errors of postoperative radiotherapy patients for breast cancer. Methods A retrospective analysis was made of the patients who underwent radiotherapy after breast cancer surgery in recent 3 years. According to different treatment method, 10 cases of breast cancer after modified radical mastectomy and 10 cases after breast conserving radical mastectomy were selected. The target area was delineated, the volume modulated radiation therapy plan was made, the virtual moving error of the center point of the plan was moved, and the maximum moving error was 5 mm by 1 mm step. After recalculating the dose, the corresponding data including the clinical target areas ( CT ) , CTV ( V50 ) , average heart volume, V20 of the affected lung and CTV volume were recorded. SPSS 19. 0 software was used for statistical analysis, and repeated measurement of variance analysis was used to analyze the changes of the actual dose in the target area after moving the center point. Linear regression analysis method was used to analyze the correlation between the CTV volume and the dose change after the CTV moving midline. Results The virtual set-up error had little influence on the axis direction of the approximate mammary tangent direction, while the vertical direction of the approximate mammary tangent direction had greater influence. After moving more than 3 mm on the vertical axis, the CTV ( V50 ) decreased to below 90％, which was lower than the general requirement for the target area of CTV. Statistical analysis of set-up errors in all directions showed that there was significant difference in dosimetric changes ( F=34. 182, 12. 877, 16. 443, 9. 846, 46. 829, 10. 122, 57. 931, P <0. 05) in all directions except the B direction of left breast set-up errors (P>0. 05). Between breast conserving surgery and modified radical mastectomy, there was little effect on target movement. Through correlation analysis, it was found that the volume of CTV in the target area of breast cancer patients was linearly related to the errors caused by the movement of B, C and B directions of left breast and right breast(F=5. 733, 18. 496, 6. 630, P<0. 05). Conclusions In postoperative radiotherapy for breast cancer, the errors perpendicular to the section of breast should be paid special attention to whether left or right breast. When the error of this direction exceeds 3 mm, CTV is obviously less than V50 below 83. 85％. The effect of set-up error on the dose of CTV was not related to the operation mode of breast cancer and there was no obvious correlation with the volume of the target area.

Objective: To observe the pathological response in tumor tissues and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) changes in serum of patients with esophageal carcinoma receiving radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy, and to investigate the relationship between these two factors and the prognosis of these patients. Methods: A total of eighty-nine patients with esophageal carcinoma treating with radiotherapy or concurrent chemo-radiotherapy were prospective included. Gastroscopy and biopsy were performed at 4 week of radiotherapy to assess pathologicalresponse. VEGF serum levels were measured by double antibody sandwich avidin-biotin ELISA prior to, at 4 week of, and 1 week after radiotherapy. The relationship between pathological response in tumor tissues and VEGF serum changes and the prognosis of the patients were analyzed. The survival curve and survival rate were respectively drawn and calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Log-rank test was used for survival analysis. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze the prognostic factors. Results: Pathological responses were classified into two degrees: Non-CR responses (22 cases), and CR responses (67 cases). The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates in CR group and non-CR group were 77.6%, 46.3%, 35.2% (median OS: 30.0 months, 95%CI 14.3-45.6 months) and 50.0%, 0.0%, 0.0% (median OS: 11.4 months, 95%CI 4.2-18.6 months), respectively, showing that the OS in CR group were significantly higher than that in non-CR group (P<0.001). Meanwhile, the 1-, 3- and 5-year PFS rates in CR group and non-group were 69.7%, 40.9%, 34.3% (median PFS: 21.7 months, 95%CI 13.1-30.3 months) and 36.4%, 0.0%, 0.0% (median PFS: 7.4 months, 95%CI 2.1-12.4 months), respectively, showing that the PFS in CR group was significantly higher than that in non-CR group (P<0.001). VEGF serum changes were classified into three degrees: increased group (16 cases), stable group (43 cases) and decreased group (30 cases). The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates in VEGF increased group were 50.0%, 18.8%, 12.5% (median OS: 9.2 months, 95%CI 2.2-17.9 months), respectively, while the 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates in VEGF stable group were 67.4%, 30.2%, 19.9% (median OS: 19.9 months, 95%CI 14.9-24.9 months), respectively, and the 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates in VEGF-decreased group were 86.7%, 50.0%, 42.9% (median OS: 28.7 months, 95%CI 5.4-51.2 months), respectively, showing that the OS in VEGF-decreased group was significantly the highest among the three groups (P<0.05). The 1-, 3- and 5-year PFS rates in VEGF-increased group were 43.8%, 12.5%, 0 (median PFS: 8.0 months, 95%CI 2.5-15.9 months), respectively, while the 1-, 3- and 5-year PFS rates in VEGF stable group were 57.1%, 26.2%, 20.8% (median PFS: 15.5 months, 95%CI 10.7-20.4 months), respectively, and the 1-, 3- and 5-year PFS rates in VEGF decreased group were 76.7%, 46.7%, 39.7% (median PFS: 20.1 months, 95%CI 2.4-40.1 months), respectively, showing that the PFS in VEGF decreased group was significantly the highest among the three groups (P=0.013). Conclusions: Pathological response and VEGF changing trend during radiotherapy were both closely related to prognosis of patients with esophageal carcinoma. Trial registration This clinical trial was registered in the United States Trial, ID: NCT01551641

Objective To observe the pathological response in the tumor tissue and the changes of serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) in esophageal cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy, in order to study the impacts of these two factors on the prognosis of patients. Methods One hundred pathologically confirmed esophageal cancer patients were treated with radiotherapy including 72 patients with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. After 4 weeks, gastroscopy was performed to collect tumor biopsies for examination of pathological changes. The responses to radiotherapy were classified into three degrees: mild, moderate and intensive. Moreover, serum samples were collected from the patients prior to, at the fourth week during radiotherapy, and one week after radiotherapy, and serum VEGF level was determined. The changes of serum VEGF were classified as increased, unchanged and decreased. Serum samples from 30 healthy subjects were collected and represented as VEGF healthy control. Results Among the eighty?nine patients evaluable, the 1? and 3?year overall survival ( OS) rates were 70.8% and 33.3%, respectively;1?year and 3?year progression?free survival ( PFS) rates were 61.8% and 28.2%, respectively;and 1?year and 3?year local control ( LC) rates were 76.9% and 50.0%, respectively. The 1?year OS rates in the patients with mild, moderate and intensive pathological responses were 50. 0%, 76. 9% and 78. 0%, respectively. The 1?year OS rate in the mild response group was significantly lower than that in the intensive response group ( P<0.05) . The 1?year and 3?year PFS rates in the three groups were 36.4%, 73.1%, 68.3%, and 0. 0%, 40.0% and 38. 9%, respectively, showing that the rate in the mild response group was significantly lower than that in the moderate and intensive response groups ( P<0.05 for both) . The PFS rate in the mild response group was significantly lower than that in the moderate and intensive response groups ( P<0.05 for both) . Moreover, the 1?year local control ( LC) rates in the three groups were 52.9%, 83.3%and 83.8%, and the three?year LC rates were 0. 0%, 64. 3% and 64. 0%, respectively, showing that the lowest LC rates in the mild response group were significantly lower than that in the moderate and intensive response groups (P<0.05 for both). The average serum VEGF levels in the patients prior to, during and after radiotherapy were (109.6±33.7) ng/L, (101.2±24.3) ng/L and (99.5±22.9) ng/L, respectively, all significantly higher than that in the healthy subjects [(79.6±39.2) ng/L, P<0.05 for both]. The level of serum VEGF was decreased during and after radiotherapy compared with that before radiotherapy ( F=6.124, P=0.004). The 1?year OS rates in the VEGF?increased, unchanged and decreased groups were 50.0%, 67.4% and 86.7%, respectively, and the 3?year OS rates in these three groups were 15. 4%, 27. 0% and 50.0%, respectively. The OS rates in the increased group were significantly lower than that in the VEGF?decreased group (P<0.05). Moreover, the 3?year PFS rates in the three groups were 7.7%, 21.6% and 46.4%, respectively, and the rate in the VEGF?increased group was significantly lower than that in the VEGF?decreased group ( P<0.05) . The multi?variate analysis showed that TNM stage, pathological response and serum VEGF were independent factors affecting the survival in the non?surgical patients with esophageal cancer (P<0.05 for all). Conclusions Tumor tissue pathological response and variation of serum VEGF level in response to chemoradiotherapy can be used to predict the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy in non?surgical patients with esophageal cancer. Hence, monitoring the pathological response and VEGF changes during the course of therapy is of utmost importance to evaluate and perform an individualized therapy in clinical practice.

Objective To observe the pathological response in the tumor tissue and the changes of serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) in esophageal cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy, in order to study the impacts of these two factors on the prognosis of patients. Methods One hundred pathologically confirmed esophageal cancer patients were treated with radiotherapy including 72 patients with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. After 4 weeks, gastroscopy was performed to collect tumor biopsies for examination of pathological changes. The responses to radiotherapy were classified into three degrees: mild, moderate and intensive. Moreover, serum samples were collected from the patients prior to, at the fourth week during radiotherapy, and one week after radiotherapy, and serum VEGF level was determined. The changes of serum VEGF were classified as increased, unchanged and decreased. Serum samples from 30 healthy subjects were collected and represented as VEGF healthy control. Results Among the eighty?nine patients evaluable, the 1? and 3?year overall survival ( OS) rates were 70.8% and 33.3%, respectively;1?year and 3?year progression?free survival ( PFS) rates were 61.8% and 28.2%, respectively;and 1?year and 3?year local control ( LC) rates were 76.9% and 50.0%, respectively. The 1?year OS rates in the patients with mild, moderate and intensive pathological responses were 50. 0%, 76. 9% and 78. 0%, respectively. The 1?year OS rate in the mild response group was significantly lower than that in the intensive response group ( P<0.05) . The 1?year and 3?year PFS rates in the three groups were 36.4%, 73.1%, 68.3%, and 0. 0%, 40.0% and 38. 9%, respectively, showing that the rate in the mild response group was significantly lower than that in the moderate and intensive response groups ( P<0.05 for both) . The PFS rate in the mild response group was significantly lower than that in the moderate and intensive response groups ( P<0.05 for both) . Moreover, the 1?year local control ( LC) rates in the three groups were 52.9%, 83.3%and 83.8%, and the three?year LC rates were 0. 0%, 64. 3% and 64. 0%, respectively, showing that the lowest LC rates in the mild response group were significantly lower than that in the moderate and intensive response groups (P<0.05 for both). The average serum VEGF levels in the patients prior to, during and after radiotherapy were (109.6±33.7) ng/L, (101.2±24.3) ng/L and (99.5±22.9) ng/L, respectively, all significantly higher than that in the healthy subjects [(79.6±39.2) ng/L, P<0.05 for both]. The level of serum VEGF was decreased during and after radiotherapy compared with that before radiotherapy ( F=6.124, P=0.004). The 1?year OS rates in the VEGF?increased, unchanged and decreased groups were 50.0%, 67.4% and 86.7%, respectively, and the 3?year OS rates in these three groups were 15. 4%, 27. 0% and 50.0%, respectively. The OS rates in the increased group were significantly lower than that in the VEGF?decreased group (P<0.05). Moreover, the 3?year PFS rates in the three groups were 7.7%, 21.6% and 46.4%, respectively, and the rate in the VEGF?increased group was significantly lower than that in the VEGF?decreased group ( P<0.05) . The multi?variate analysis showed that TNM stage, pathological response and serum VEGF were independent factors affecting the survival in the non?surgical patients with esophageal cancer (P<0.05 for all). Conclusions Tumor tissue pathological response and variation of serum VEGF level in response to chemoradiotherapy can be used to predict the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy in non?surgical patients with esophageal cancer. Hence, monitoring the pathological response and VEGF changes during the course of therapy is of utmost importance to evaluate and perform an individualized therapy in clinical practice.

Objective To optimize the method for radiotherapy target delineation after breast cancer surgery, and to observe its advantage in raising work efficiency. Methods Ten physicians in our department were selected, and 20 patients who received breast?conserving surgery were randomly selected. The 10 physicians delineated the targets for these patients with the method in the control group and the method in the study group, and the time required for each delineation was recorded. The method in the control group was commonly used in daily practice and the method in the study group was optimized. The independent?samples t test was applied to compare the differences between the two groups. Results With the optimized method, the average time of delineation in the study group was less than that in the control group ( 51 min vs. 65 min, P=0. 029) . The time curves for delineation in the control group were relatively flat;the time curves for delineation in the study group were high at first, then decreased gradually, and finally became flat. The time for each physician to finish delineation skillfully was relatively stable, while in the study group, the time started to decrease after delineation for the first few patients, with an apparent learning process. Conclusions The optimized method for target delineation in breast cancer is feasible, reliable, and easy to master, and can increase work efficiency, which is more obvious in physicians with rich experience in delineation.

Objective To establish a rabbit model of radiation-induced skeletal muscle injury in order to study the ultrastructural pathological changes and underlying mechanism.Methods 28 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups with 16 rabbits in experimental group and 12 rabbits in control group.The experimental rabbits were irradiated on hip with a single dose of 80 Gy of 9 MeV electrons from a linear accelerator.1 month and 6 months after irradiation the pathological changes were respectively observed under light microscope and electron microscope.Results One month after irradiation,the morphologic changes including degeneration,necrosis of muscle cells,and hemorrhage between the muscle cells were observed under light microscope and the swelling of myofibrillae,blurring of light and shade band,vacuolar degeneration of mitochondria and amorphous areas of necrosis were observed under electron microscope.Six months after irradiation,the morphologic changes of nucleolus chips,fibrous connective tissue,thickening of vascular wall and vascular congestion between the muscle cells and the amorphous areas of necrosis in the experimental group were much more serious than those of 1 month after irradiation.In addition,the myofilaments were lost in degeneration areas and the sarcomere became shorten.Observation with electron microscope showed that the mitochondrial size and its morphological changes were varied and the amounts of collagen between myofibrillaes were increased 6 months after irradiation.Conclusions A rabbit model of high-dose irradiated skeleton muscle injury was successfully established with a single dose of 80 Gy of 9 MeV electrons from a linear accelerator.The degeneration and necrosis of muscle cells may be promoted by mitochondrial and vascular injury,degeneration of vessel and nerve fiber.

Objective To prospectively study the dynamic variation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),the short-term efficiency and the tolerability of the esophageal cancer patients treated by radiotherapy combined with thalidomide.Methods The serum samples of 86 esophageal cancer patients were collected before,during and after the radiotherapy.The VEGF levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).3 patients interrupted the treatment because of intolerance radiotherapy.Based on the changes of VEGF level,32 esophageal cancer cases whose VEGF levels increased or remained were assigned to the group to which thalidomide was given during the whole course of radiotherapy.The rest 51 patients whose VEGF level decreased received radiotherapy without thalidomide during the whole course.In addition,30 healthy cases were included in control group.Then the efficiency and safety of the introduction of thalidomide in radiotherapy were investigated. Results The VEGF levels of 86 esophageal cancer cases were significantly higher than the 30 healthy control cases ( t =5.07,P ＜ 0.01 ),which were also correlated with the primary tumor size ( t =4.55,P ＜ 0.01 ),lymph node metastasis ( t =7.50,P ＜0.01 ),histological type( F =3.40,P ＜ 0.01 ) and clinical stage ( t =2.52,P ＜ 0.0 l ).However,it was irrelevant to the lesion site,distant metastasis,X-ray pathologic type,gender or age ( P ＞ 0.05).For the thalidomide involved group, the VEGF level after radiotherapy was significantly lower than during radiotherapy (t =2.37,P ＜0.05 ) with an effective rate of 71.88％.For the rest 51 cases without using thalidomide,the effective rate was 78.43％ yet there was no significant difference between the VEGF levels during and after radiotherapy ( t =0.18,P ＞ 0.05 ).62.50％ patients reported symptoms of dizzy and burnout after using thalidomide,while this incidence was 15.69％ for the rest patients (x2 =19.28,P =0.000).For the groups with or without thalidomide combination,the sleepiness incidences were 18.75％and 1.96％,respectively (x2 =5.168,P =0.023 ); the Ⅲ - Ⅳ grade esophagitis incidences were 12.50％ and 11.76％,respectively (x2 =0.061,P =0.806) ; the Ⅱ - Ⅳ grade leukocyte decrease incidences were 6.25％ and 9.80％,respectively (x2 =0.026,P =0.872) ; the Ⅲ - Ⅳ grade platelet descend incidences were 3.13％ and 5.88％,respectively (x2 =0.002,P =0.965 ) ; the Ⅲ - Ⅳ grade nausea and vomiting incidences were 9.38％ and 27.45％,respectively (x2 =2.913,P =0.088 ). No anaphylaxis was observed. Conclusions Thalidomide can decrease the VEGF expression level of esophageal cancer patients.Patients treated with thalidomide show good tolerance and compliance.

Objective To investigate the changes and clinical value of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level before,during and after radiotherapy in patients with esophageal carcinoma.Methods The sera of 67 esophageal carcinoma patients and 30 healthy control cases were collected.The VEGF level in serum samples were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.The relations among VEGF level changes,clinical stages and radiotherapy effect were analyzed.Results The VEGF levels of patients with esophagus cancer before,during and after radiotherapy were significantly higher than those in control group ( F =11.65,P ＜ 0.01 ).The VEGF level after radiotherapy was significant lower than that before radiotherapy ( F =10.72,P ＜ 0.01 ).The average VEGF level of patients with T3 and T4 was significantly higher than that of control group ( F =14.10,P ＜ 0.01 ).The average VEGF level of patients with N1 and N2 was significantly higher than that of control group( F =8.64,P ＜0.01).In 62 patients,the serum VEGF level increased in 21 cases but decreased in 41 cases after radiotherapy.With difference in radiotherapy efficiency of 61.90％ and 90.24％,respectively(x2 =6.08,P＜ 0.05).The average VEGF level during and after radiotherapy for 50 cases of CR + PR were significantly lower than that before radiotherapy( F =7.98,P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions Monitoring the serum VEGF level of patients with esophagus cancer can help evaluate the radiosensitivity,which has a significance in predicting the prognosis of radiotherapy.