ObjectiveTo evaluate the inter-and intra-fractional clinical target volume (CTV) positioning errors of patients receiving postoperative simplified intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIMRT) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).MethodsTwelve patients with liver tumors underwent postoperative SIMRT.CBCT images were acquired before and after the treatment.The clipbox volume for registration included the fiducial markers in the tumor bed and excluded the ribs and vertebral bodies.If any translational parameter of setup error before treatment exceeded 3 mm or rotational parameter exceeded 3°,the treatment couch was adjusted and a verification CBCT was acquired to assess residual setup error.Automatic bone match was used.A total of 214 acquisitions of CBCTs in 111 groups were analyzed.Inter-fractional translational CTV positioning errors in left-right (x),superior-inferior (y) and anterior-posterior (z) axis were calculated in 111 groups,and intra-fractional translational CTV positioning errors in 70 groups.Clinical to planning target volume (PTV) margins were calculated according to the formula:margin =2.0 ∑ + 0.7σ ( ∑ is systematic error,σ is random error).ResultsInter-fractional translational CTV positioning errors in x,y and z axis were -0.03 mm,-0.43 mm,1.02 mm,with systematic error ( ∑ ) of 1.50 mm,5.89 mm,1.97 mm,and random error (σ) of 1.76 mm,4.13 mm,2.42 mm,respectively.Intra-fractional translational CTV positioning errors in the x,y,z axis were 0.04 mm,0.86 mm,- 0.46mm,with systematic error (∑) of 0.46 mm,1.14 mm,0.31 mm,and random error (σ) of 0.95 mm,1.38 mm,0.91 mm,respectively.The calculate CTV to PTV margins were 4.5 mm,15.0 mm,5.8 mm in the x,y,z axis,respectively.ConclusionsThe CTV errors were inevitable when patients with liver tumors received SIMRT.Fiducial markers placed in tumor bed during operation were helpful for accurate positioning error analysis.

Objective To identify high-risk group among gastric cancer patients treated with curative resection and more than D1 dissection, and investigate the indications for proper adjuvant therapy.Methods 297 patients who met the following enrolled criteria were retrospectively analyzed:treated between January 2002 and December 2004, primary gastric or gastroesophageal cancer, underwent curative gastrectomy and more than D1 lymphadenectomy, pathologically staged as T3-4N0-1M0,or TxN2-3M0.The overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), local-regional recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were calculated, and possible prognostic factors were analyzed.Results The median follow-up time was 61 months.The follow-up rate was 92.3%.The 5-year OS, DFS, LRFS and DMFS were 57.9%, 52.2%, 70.6% and 71.7%, respectively.Four independent prognostic variables identified for OS, DFS, LRFS and DMFS using multivariate analysis were Borrmann type (Ⅰ+Ⅱ/Ⅲ+Ⅳ), total number of dissected lymph nodes (>18/≤18), number of positive lymph nodes (0-3/≥4), and 6th AJCC TNM stage (Ⅱ+Ⅲ a/Ⅲ b+ⅣM0)(χ2=3.94-16.34,P<0.05).If one unfavorable prognostic factor was scored as 1, according to the total scores of the four prognostic factors, four risk groups were generated as low (score:0), low-intermediate (score:1), high-intermediate (score:2) and high risk group (score:3 or 4).The 5-year OS, DFS, LRFS and DMFS were 85.7%, 61.0%, 58.6% and 38.6%(χ2=31.20,P<0.01) in low risk group, 85.2%, 61.3%, 48.1% and 31.8%(χ2=31.88,P<0.01) in low-intermediate risk group, 94.4%, 77.8%, 64.4% and 57.2%(χ2=18.36,P<0.01) in high-intermediate risk group and 87.9%, 75.0%, 74.2% and 55.5%(χ2=19.30,P<0.01) in high risk group.Conclusions Even with R0 resection and more than D1 lymphadenectomy, the outcome was poor for gastric cancer patients with two or more unfavorable prognostic factors.Prospective study is warranted to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy for this group of patients.

Objective To evaluate the role of postmastectomy radiotherapy in four subgroups of high-risk breast cancer patients, who were grouped by the status of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor 2 (Her-2). Methods A total of 437 invasive breast cancer patients with T3-4N1 or N2-3 and available immunohistochemistry results of ER, PR and Her-2 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were classified into 4 subgroups according to hormone receptors (ER or PR, Rec) and Her-2 status:Rec-/Her-2-(triple negative), Rec-/Her-2 +, Rec +/Her-2 + and Rec +/Her-2-. Rec-was defined as ER-and PR-. Rec + was defined as ER + and/or PR +. Her-2 positive was defined as Her-2 + + or Her-2 + + +. End points were isolated locoregional recurrence (LRR), distant metastasis (DM), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results The median follow up time was 48 months. Sixty-nine (15. 8%) patients were Rec-/Her-2-, 62 (14. 2%) Rec-/Her-2 +, 89 (20.4%) Rec +/Her-2 + and 217 (49.7%) Rec +/Her-2-. 480(93.4%) patients received chemotherapy and 352(80. 5%) received radiotherapy. Radiotherapy significantly reduced the 5-year LRR rates of all the four subgroups (Rec-/Her-2-: 13.1% vs. 33. 3%, Rec-/Her-2 + :9. 3% vs. 21.2%, Rec + /Her-2 + :9. 7% vs. 47.0%, Rec +/Her-2-:3. 2% vs. 15.4%). Radiotherapy significantly lowered the 5-year DM rates (26. 7% vs. 49.4%, 27.6% vs. 67. 5%, 18.4% vs. 100%) and improved the 5-year DFS rate (66. 7% vs. 33. 3% , 67.7% vs. 33. 3% , 72. 6% vs. 0%) as well as OS (73.9% vs. 25.2% ,69. 8% vs.41.5%, 91.0% vs. 32. 8%) of patients with Rec-/Her-2-, Rec-/Her-2 + and Rec +/Her-2 +. Conclusions In high-risk breast cancer patients, all subgroups of patients grouped by ER, PR and Her-2 status can benefit from postmastectomy radiotherapy.

Purpose To investigate MRI features of encephalitis in children with severe hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD). Materials and Methods The MR images of 85 cases of clinically diagnosed encephalitis in severe HFMD patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results In 85 patients, plain MRI was negative in 28;57 cases were positive including 10 cases showing punctate or patchy lesions in cerebral hemisphere, callosum, thalamus and cerebellar vermis with isointensity or slightly hypointensity on T1WI, isointensity or slightly hyperintensity on T2WI, and hyperintensity on T2FLAIR and DWI. In 47 cases, the lesions were located in the brainstem, tegmentum of pons and medulla oblongata. MRI features included symmetric high signal on DWI in posterior portions of brainstem, hypointensity or isointensity on T1WI and hyperintensity or isointensity on T2WI and T2FLAIR (n=17);patchy long T1, long T2 signal in posterior portions of brainstem, normal or mild hyperintensity on DWI, hyperintensity on T2FLAIR (n=30); lesion extending around the fourth ventricle in 9 patients, one of which involved bilateral cerebral peduncles. Conclusion Encephalitis in children with severe HFMD has characteristic MRI features. The lesions are mostly located in the posterior portion of the brainstem. DWI and T2FLAIR can better detection lesions.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of postmastectomy hypofractionation radiotherapy in patients with high-risk breast cancer. Methods Postmastectomy radiation of 43.5 Gy in 15 fractions of 2.9 Gy over 3 weeks was delivered to 38 patients with breast cancer. The incidence of acute radi-ation toxicity and lecoregional recurrence was evaluated. Results With a median follow up of 13 months, all patients were alive. No patient had locoregional recurrence within radiation field. Five (13%) had dis-tant metastases. Five (13%) developed grade 3 radiation dermatitis at 2 to 3 weeks after the course of radia-tion. Three (8%) had grade 2 radiation pneumonitis. Conclusions Hypofractionation radiation of 43.5 Gy in 15 fractions of 2.9 Gy over 3 weeks is effective in the near time for patients with high-risk breast cancer after mastectomy, and the acute toxicities are tolerable.

Objective To analyze the clinical results and prognostic factors of patients with early-stage primary gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT) lymphoma. Methods Seventy-seven pa-tients with primary gastric MALT lymphoma treated from 1985 to 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. All pa-tients were pathologically confirmed as MALT lymphoma in stage Ⅰ ,Ⅱ and ⅡE (by modified Blackedge staging system). Thirty-seven patients had stage Ⅰ disease,23 stage Ⅱ and 17 stage ⅡE. Sixty patients un-derwent surgical resection and 17 received non-surgical treatment. Survival rates were calculated by the Kap-lan-Meier analysis with the Logrank test. Results With a median follow up of 57 months for the surviving patients(ranging from 1 to 198 months for all patients), the 5-year overall survival rate, disease-free survival rate,loco-regional control rate and distant metastasis free survival rate were 74% ,70% ,76% and 87% ,re-spectively. In univariate analysis, clinical stage was significantly associated with overall survival. Patients with stage Ⅰ or Ⅱ disease had a better overall survival than those with stage ⅡE (P = 0.01). Tumor size and surgical resection were significantly associated with disease-free survival. Patients with primary tumor 8 cm or less in diameter had better disease-free survival than those with primary tumor more than 8 cm in diameter(P =0.03). Patients who underwent complete resection had better disease-free survival than those who under-went incomplete resection or no surgery (P =0.02). Clinical stage, tumor size and surgical resection were significantly associated with loco-regional control. Patients with stage Ⅰ or Ⅱ disease had better loco-regional control than those with stage ⅡE (P = 0. 03). Patients with primary tumor 8 cm or less in diameter had better loco-regional control than those with primary tumor more than 8 cm in diameter(P =0.01). Patients who un-derwent complete resection had better loco-regional control than those who underwent incomplete resection or no surgery(P=0.03). Patients with stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ disease treated with surgery had more local recurrence, and patients treated without surgery tended to recur systematically. Patients with stage ⅡE disease tended to recur locally in spite of surgery or not. Conclusions The efficacy of surgical and non-surgical treatment for primary gastric MALT lymphoma are similar. Surgical resection is no longer a necessary approach in the primary treatment. Clinical stage is an important prognostic factor for primary gastric MALT lymphoma.

Objective To evaluate the outcome of radiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Methods From January 2000 to December 2007,41 patients with inoperable locally advanced (stage Ⅲ) pancreatic cancer were treated with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy(3DCRT) or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Among these patients, 30 received concurrent radio-chemo-therapy. Results The median survival time(MST) and 1-year overall survival were 9.2 months and 23%. Patients with pretreatment KPS≥80 ,no regional lymph nodes metastasis, and CR/PR after radiotherapy had better prognosis. The corresponding MSTs were 11.1 months vs 5.8 months (χ2 = 7.50, P = 0.006), 10. 8months vs 6.5 months (χ2 = 5.67, P = 0.017), and 19.5 months vs 9.1 months (χ2= 7.28, P = 0. 007), re-spectively. Concurrent radio-chemotherapy tended to improve the overall survival (χ2 = 3.25, P = 0. 072). After radiotherapy, 18 patients had clinical benefit response, mainly being abdominal pain relief. Neither grade 4 hematologic nor grade 3 non-hematologic toxicities were observed. Conclusions For patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, both 3DCRT and IMRT are effective in alleviation of disease-related symptoms. Patients with better porformance status before treatment, no regional lymph nodes metastasis, and better response to radiotherapy may have better prognosis. Concurrent radio-chemotherapy trend to improve overall survival when compared with radiotherapy alone.

ObjectiveTo compare the role of AJCC 6th and 7th TNM staging systems in predicting the long term survival of locally advanced gastric cancer patients after curative surgery. Methods All patients who met the following criteria were included for analyses: treated between January 2002 and December 2004, primary gastric or gastroesophageal cancer, underwent curative gastrectomy ( UICC R0 ) and at least more than D1 lymphadenectomy, pathologically staged as T3-4N0-1 M0, or any T, N2-3M0. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival ( DFS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were calculated and compared according to N and TNM stage of the two TNM staging systems (T stage were not analyzed due to its extremely unbalanced distribution). The N and TNM stage and other significant variables in univariate analyses were evaluated further for both OS and DFS by Cox regression. ResultsThe median follow-up time was 61 months. The follow-up rate was 92. 3％.Among the 297 enrolled patients, 56. 9％ of the patients had a stage migration between the two staging systems. According to 6th, no difference in DMFS was detected between different N and TNM stages (x2 =6. 65, P =0. 084 ; x2 =6. 61, P =0. 108 ). When using 7th, statistically significant difference was found in DMFS between different N stages ( x2 =9. 035,P =0. 029), and TNM stage also tended to have an influence on DMFS ( x2 =7.27,P =0. 064). The N and TNM stage had similar significant influence on OS, DFS and LRFS based on both staging systems ( x2 =9. 23 - 19. 00,P =0. 000 -0. 026 and x2 =11.67 - 19. 11 ,P =0. 000 -0. 009).In Cox regression, TNM stage was an independent prognostic variable for both OS and DFS based on these two staging systems (x2=9.05-25.51, P=0.000-0.003 ), but the 7thappeared to be a better predictor than the 6 th ( OS : RR =1.6 1 8 vs 1.4 9 6 ; DFS : RR =1.5 9 4 vs 1. 5 6 4 ).ConclusionsThe N and TNM stage in 7th TNM staging system are more predictive for DMFS than in 6th TNM staging system for locally advanced gastric cancer patients. The 7th TNM staging system provides a better prognostic estimation of both OS and DFS.

Objective To investigate the treatment outcome and failure in patients with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma(PMBL). Methods Between Jan. 1992 and Oct. 2006, a total of 46 patients with pathologically confirmed PMBL were reviewed, including 14 with Ann Arbor Stage I disease, 23 with Stage Ⅱ disease,3 with Stage Ⅲ disease and 6 with Stage Ⅳ disease. Stage Ⅰ+Ⅱ disease was present in 80% of the patients. All patients were treated with chemotherapy ,and 29 also received radiotherapy. Twenty-seven patients(59%) were treated with first generation regimen(CHOP),9(20%) with third generation regimens (MACOP-B, ProMACE/CytaBOM, m-BACOD, or ProMACE-MOPP), and 10(22%) with high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT/APBSCT). Rituximab was administered to 16 patients (35%). For most patients who received radiotherapy,an involved field was used with a median dose of 45 Gy in 23 fractions.Results The rate of complete remission, partial remission and progression disease was 41%, 30% and 24% ,respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate(OS) for all patients was 35%. The 2- and 5-year OS was 79% and 63% for stage Ⅰ+Ⅱ and 51% and 0 for stage Ⅲ+Ⅳ ,respectively(X2=4.35 ,P=0. 037).The 2-year progression free survival rate was 63 % and 11%, respectively (X2=17.77, P=0.1300). The 5-year OS was 80% for the patients with CR,50% for those with PR,and 0 for those with progression disease(X2= 19.58 ,P=0.003 ). With a median follow-up of 22 months, progression disease and relapse occurred in 19 patients. Conclusions Survival of patients with advanced stage PMBL is poor. Further studies areneeded to confirm the optimal treatment. Radiotherapy often plays a pivotal role in local control.

Objective A phase Ⅰ study was conducted to determine the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) and the dose-limiting toxicity(DLT) of chemotherapy of oral doxifluridine(5-dFUR) and leucovorin with concurrent standard radiotherapy(RT) as adjuvant treatment in patients with rectal cancer. Methods Patients aged 18-75 years old, Karnofsky scored ≥70%, stage Ⅱ/Ⅲ rectal cancer after curative surgery were eligible. Total RT dose was delivered as DT 50 Gy in the fraction of 2.0 Gy per day for 5 weeks to the pelvic area. 5-dFUR was administered concurrently with radiotherapy in escalating doses, and oral leucovorin was The DLTs included grade 3 or grade 4 hematologic and nonhematologic toxicity. Results From Aug. 2005 the most common side effects although all neutropenia was less grade 3. The DLT was observed in 1 patient of RT. In the following 3 enrolled patients, one suffered grade 3 abdominal cramp pain, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea/vomit and grade 2 neutropinea and fever. Grade 3 diarrhea was also observed in all the additional 3 papatients didn't complete the scheduled concurrent chemoradiotherapy due to severe side effects,including 1 at grade 3 abdominal cramp pain,fatigue and nausea/vomit. Conclusions Diarrhea is the most common and severe side effect in this phase Ⅰ study. The MTD of doxifluridine, concurrently with RT and fixed dose of oral cramp pain is often accompanied with diarrhea and nauser/vomit when the dose of doxifluridine exceeds 550 mg/( m2 · d) or 900 mg/d,patients need to be observed carefully.