PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of the use of accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy (AHRT) for locally advanced uterine cervix cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May 2000 and September 2002, 179 patients were identified with FIGO stage IIB, IIIB, and IVA cancers. Of the 179 patients, 45 patients were treated with AHRT (AHRT group) and 134 patients were treated with conventional radiotherapy (CRT group), respectively. Patients undergoing the AHRT regimen received a dose of 30 Gy in 20 fractions (1.5 Gyx2 fractions/day) to the whole pelvis. Subsequently, with a midline block, we administered a parametrial boost with a dose of 20 Gy using 2 Gy fractions. Patients also received two courses of low-dose-rate brachytherapy, up to a total dose of 85~90 Gy to point A. In the CRT group of patients, the total dose to point A was 85~90 Gy. The overall treatment duration was a median of 37 and 66 days for patients that received AHRT and CRT, respectively. Statistical analysis was calculated by use of the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test, and Chi-squared test. RESULTS: For patients that received cisplatin-based concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the local control rate at 5 years was 100% and 79.2% for the AHRT and CRT group of patients, respectively (p=0.028). The 5-year survival rate for patients with a stage IIB bulky tumor was 82.6% and 62.1% for the AHRT group and CRT group, respectively (p=0.040). There was no statistically significant difference for severe late toxicity between the two groups (p=0.561). CONCLUSION: In this study, we observed that treatment with AHRT with concurrent chemotherapy allows a significant advantage of local control and survival for locally advanced uterine cervix cancers.
Chemoradiotherapy

No abstract available.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Rectal Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Rectal Neoplasms

The standard treatment for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer is preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision. This approach is supported by randomized trials, but there are still many unanswered questions about the multimodal management of rectal cancer. In surgical terms, these include the optimal time interval between completion of chemoradiotherapy and surgery; adequate distal resection margin and circumferential radial margin; sphincter preservation; laparoscopic surgery; and conservative management, including a 'wait and see' policy and local excision. This review considers these controversial issues in preoperative chemoradiotherapy.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms

No abstract available.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Rectal Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: In cases of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the leading therapeutic modality. However, much controversy exists about the chemotherapeutic regimens and radiation methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During concurrent chemoradiotherapy, three or four cycles of gemcitabine (500 mg/m2) and cisplatin (30 mg/m2) were administered every two weeks while 50.4 Gy of irradiation was administered in 28 fractions (once/day, 5 treatment days/week) to the tumor site, mediastinum, and the involved lymph node region. In addition, a booster irradiation dose of 18 Gy in 10 fractions was administered to the primary tumor site unless the disease progressed. Two or three cycles of consolidation chemotherapy were performed with gemcitabine (1,200 mg/m2, 1st and 8th day) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2) every three weeks. RESULTS: A total of 29 patients were evaluable for modality response. Response and treatment toxicities were assessed after concurrent chemoradiotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy, respectively. One patient (4%) achieved a complete response; whereas 20 patients (69%) achieved a partial response after concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Following the consolidation chemotherapy, three patients (10.3%) achieved complete responses and 21 patients (72.4%) achieved partial responses. The median follow-up period was 20 months (range 3m39 months) and the median survival time was 16 months (95% CI; 2.4m39.2 months). The survival rates in one, two, and three years after the completion of treatment were 62.7%, 43.9%, and 20%, respectively. Complications associated to this treatment modality included grade 3 or 4 esophagitis, which occurred in 15 patients (51.7%). In addition, an incidence of 24% for grade 3 and 14% for grade 4 neutropenia. Lastly, grade 2 radiation pneumonitis occurred in 6 patients (22%). CONCLUSION: The response rate and survival time of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with biweekly gemcitabine (500 mg/m2) and cisplatin (30 mg/m2) were encouraging in patients with locally advanced NSCLC. However, treatment related toxicities were significant, indicating that further modification of therapy seems to be warranted.
Incidence ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Lung Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Various treatment techniques have been attempted for the radiotherapy of anal cancer because of acute side effects such as perineal skin reactions. This study was performed to investigate an optimal radiotherapy technique in anal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study subjects included 35 patients who underwent definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy for anal cancer in Yonsei Cancer Center between 1990 and 2007. The patients' clinical data, including irradiation technique, were reviewed retrospectively. The primary lesion, regional lymph nodes, and both inguinal lymph nodes were irradiated by 41.4~45 Gy with a conventional schedule, followed by a boost does to the primary lesion or metastatic lymph nodes. The radiotherapy technique was classified into four categories according to the irradiation field and number of portals. In turn, acute skin reactions associated with the treatment interruption period were investigated according to each of the four techniques. RESULTS: 28 patients (80.0%) had grade 2 radiation dermatitis or greater, whereas 10 patients (28.6%) had grade 3 radiation dermatitis or greater during radiotherapy. Radiation dermatitis and the treatment interruption period were relatively lower in patients belonging to the posterior-right-left 3 x-ray field with inguinal electron boost and in patients belonging to electron thunderbird techniques. The interruption periods were 8.2+/-10.2 and 5.7+/-7.7 for the two technique groups, respectively. Twenty-seven patients (77.1%) went into complete remission at 1 month after radiotherapy and the overall 5 year survival rates were 67.7%. CONCLUSION: Field size and beam arrangement can affect patients' compliance in anal cancer radiotherapy, whereas a small x-ray field for the perineum seems to be helpful by decreasing severe radiation dermatitis.
Chemoradiotherapy ; Neoplasm Metastasis

No abstract available.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Pancreatic Neoplasms*