A Retrospective study to analyze the failure pattern in locally advanced stomach cancer, trated with radical surgery and post-op chemotherapy was perfomed. Among 107 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy in Asan Mdical Center between June 1989 and August 1990. there were 20 stage II(T2NO,T2N1) and 87 stage III(T3N1,T3N2) and 91 patients were eligible for study. 57 patients treated with 6 cycles of postop adjuvant chemotherapy. A mong 57 patients treated with postop adjuvant chemotherapy, local failure occurred in 21% and distant failure in 12%. Among 34 patients who were not treated with postop chemotherapy, local failure occurred in 24% and distant failure in 26%. Among 29 failures including 13 locoregional, 9 distant metastasis and 7 locoregional and distant metastasis, 11 cases recurred in the anastomotic aite, 3 in the gastric bed, 7 in the regional lymph nodes and peritoneal seeding occurred in 6 cases. The true incidences of gastric bed, nodal and peritoneal failures may be higher in the longer follow-up or reoperative or autopsy series. Our data suggest that postop chemocherapy is beneficial by reducing distant failure rate. Potop adjuvant locoregional radiotherapy in addition to the systemic adjuvant therapy may reduce the local failure rate and potentially benefit in at least 20% of patients who developed the local failure only.
Autopsy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Drug Therapy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach*

Ninety patients of esophageal cancer treated with radiation since November 1985 to June 1990 at the Deprtment of Therapeutic Radiology, Chonnam University Hospital, were analysed retrospectively regarding survival. Seventy five patients (94.9%) revealed squamous cell carcinoma in its histologic type, and most ofpatients were in advanced stage with 25 patients (27.8%) of T2 and 64 patients (71.1%) of T3 Minimum follow up period was 12 months and median was 5 months. Overall actuarial 2 year survival rate was 11.6%. Two year survival rates according to the parameters such as treatment aim, T stage, site, length, radiation dose and response were compared and resulted that survival by tumor length only had statistically significant impact on survival of esophageal carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Radiation Oncology ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

This is a retrospective study of 62 patients with unresected squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus treated by radiotherapy alone (25 patients) or combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy (37 patients). Of these, 14 of 25 patients treated by radiation therapy alone and 25 of 37 patients treated by combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy completed radiotherapy consisting of 55 to 60 Gy in 5 to 6 weeks and were analyzed for local control rate and survival rate. Follow up ranged from 6 days to 58 months. Three (8%) of 39 patients had a complete response, twenty-eight(72%) a partial reponse and eight(20%) minimal or no resonse. Overall median survival was 11 months for all stages. The 1 year and 2 year actuarial survival rates were 48.6% and 13% respectively. Age and stage had prognostic significances (p<0.05, p<0.05 respectively). The 1 year survival rate was 70.1% for stage I, 47.6% for stage II, and 28.4% for stage III. The median survival was 19 months for stage I, 11 months for stage II, 6 months for stage III, and 5.5 months for stage III with distant metastases. The 1 year survival rate of patients 55 years and above was 69.6%, 54 years and below was 0%. There was no significant difference in survival rate between treatment modalities, locations of tumor, and responses of tumor.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Drug Therapy* ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Esophagus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Authors described the remote afterloading endobronchial brachytherapy (EBBT) technique using the microSelectron HDR Ir-192 and the Asan Medical Center experience. Total 28 EBBT in 9 patients were performed since November 1989 and 24 EBBT in 8 patients were emploiyed for palliation and 3 EBBT in 1 patient was treated curatively. Authors observed a significant relief of obstructive symptom with tumor regression in 7 patients out of 8 who were treated palliatively but one of them died of pulmonary congestion in 3 weeks after EBBT. One patient with prior therapy of extensive electrocautery expired within 1 day after 2nd EBBT procedure with massive hemorrhage from the lesion. EBBT procedure has been tolerable and can be performed as an outpatient
Brachytherapy* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Electrocoagulation ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Outpatients

Twenty five patients with unresectable non-small cell carcinoma of the lung have been treated with hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concomitant boost technique since September, 1989. Those patients with history of previous surgery or chemotherapy, pleural effusion or significant weight loss (greater than 10% of body weight) were excluded from the study. Initially, 27 Gy were delivered in 15 fractions in 3 weeks to the large field. Thereafter, large field received 1.8 Gy and cone downboost field received 1.4Gy with twice a day fractinations up to 49.4Gy. After 49.4Gy, only boost field was treated twice a day with 1.8 and 1.4 Gy. Total tumor doses were 62.2Gy for 12 patients and 65.4Gy for remaining 13 patients. Follow up period was ranged from 6 to 24 month. Actuarial survival rates at 6, 12, and 18 month were 88%, 62%, and 38%, respectively. Corresponding disease free survival rates were 88%, 41%, and 21%, respectively. Actuarial cumulative local failure rates at 9,12 and 15 month were 36%, 42%, and 59%, respectively. No significant increase of acute or late complications including radiation pneumonitis was noted with maximum follow up of 24 month. Although the longer follow up is needed, it is worthwhile to try the prospective randomized study to evaluate the efficacy of hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concomitant boost technique for unresectable non-small cell lung cancers in view of excellent tolerance of this treatment. In the future, further increase of total radiation dose might be necessary to improve local control for non-small cell lung cancer.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Pleural Effusion ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Radiotherapy* ; Survival Rate ; Weight Loss

To evaluate the effect of MVP chemotherapy and hyperfractionated radiotherapy in Stage III unresectable non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), authors have conducted a prospective randomized study since January 1991. Stage IIIa or IIIb unresectable NSCLC patients were treated with hyperfractionated radiotherapy (120 cGy/fx BID) up to 6500 cGY following 3 cycles of induction MVP (Mitomycin C 6 mg/m2, vinblastine 6 mg/m2, Cisplatin 60 mg/m2) and randomized for either oservation or 3 cycles of maintenance MVP chemotherapy. Until August 1991, 18 patients were registered to this study. 4 cases were stage IIIa and 14 were stage IIIb. Among 18 cases 2 were lost after 2 cycles of chemotherapy, and 16 were analyzed for this preliminary report. The response rate of induction chemotherapy was 62.5%; partial response, 50% and minimal response, 12.5%. Residual tumor of the one partial responder was completely disappeared after radiotherapy. Among 6 cases who were progressed during induction chemotherapy, 4 of them were also progressed after radiotherapy. All patients were tolerated BID radiotherapy without definite increase of acute complications, compared with conventional radiotherapy group. But at the time of this report, one patient expired in two month after the completion of the radiotherapy because of treatment related complication. Although the longer follow up is needed, authors are encouraged with higher response rate and acceptable toxicity of this treatment. Authors believe that this study is worthwhile to continue.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Maintenance Chemotherapy* ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Prospective Studies ; Radiotherapy* ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Vinblastine

In order to determine the value of induction chemotherapy (CT) for inoperable head and neck cancer, the authors conducted a retrospective study. Fifty-five patients were treated with CT and radiotherapy(RT)(CT + RT group). This group was compared with a group of 54 patients treated RT alone (RT alone group). The CT regimen used were CF (cis-platine + 5-FU), CVB(cyclophos-phamide + vincristine + bleomycin), CAP (cyclophosphamide + adriamycin + prednisolone) or PVBM(cis-platine + vincristine + bleomycin + methotrexate). Toxicity from induction chemotherapy was minimal, and toxicity was limited primarily to nausea and vomiting, mucositis and myelosuppression. The complete response (CR) rate to CT was 14.5% and the partial response (PR) rate was 47.3% for an overall major response rate of 61.8%. The major response rate at the completion of loco-regional therapy was 87.3% (48/55) with 32 CR (58.2%) and 16 PR (29.1%) for CT-RT group and 81.5% (44/55) with 27 CR(50.0%) and 17 PR (31.5%) for RT alone group (p=0.57). Median follow-up of CT-RT group was 17 months and 11 months for RT alone group. Median survival was 36 months for CT-RT group and 24 monts for RT alone group (p=0.3). The overall survival rate at 2 years, 3years and 5 years, respectively was 60.9%, 48.6% and 42.5% for CT-RT guoup, and 54.9%, 49.9% for RT alone group (p=0.33). Comparision between patients in both groups, stratified by overall stage, T and N stage, site, and pathology, all failed to show any significant difference in survival rates. We conclude that this retrospective study failed to demonstrate an advantage for induction chemotherapy in inoperable head and neck cancer.
Bleomycin ; Doxorubicin ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head and Neck Neoplasms* ; Head* ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Mucositis ; Nausea ; Pathology ; Radiotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Vincristine ; Vomiting

A retrospective study of 53 patients suffering from non-small cell carcinoma of lung with brain metastases is presented. They were treated in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology of Kyung Hee University Hospital from 1983 to 1990. There were 37 male and 16 female patients. The age range was 39 to 85 years (median=59). The most common histologic cell type of tumor was adenocarcinoma (50.9%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma. All patients were treated with whole-brain photon irradiation(WBI) using lateral opposing fields. The overall median survival time was 5 months. Age, sex, histologic type, and initial performance status were not prognostically important. The most important prognostic factors were the response to radiotherapy and the presence of brain metastases alone. Lncreasing the dose of radiotherapy to the main bulk of tumor may improve the symptom-free survival or overall survival in patients who present with brain metastases as the sole site of extrathoracic disease.
Adenocarcinoma ; Brain ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Female ; Humans ; Lung* ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Radiation Oncology ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies

Seventy four patients with pituitary adenoma received radiation therapy(RT) on the pituitary area using 6 MV linear accelerator during the past 7 years at the Division of Radiation Therapy, kangnam St. mary's hospital, Catholic University Medical College. Thirty nine were men and 35 were women. The age ranged from 7 to 65 years with the mean being 37 years. Sixty five (88%) patients were treated postoperatively and 9(12%) primary RT. To evaluate the effects of RT, we analyzed the series of endocrinologic studies with prolactin(PRL), growth hormone(GH), adrenocortiotrophic hormone (ACTH), leuteinizing hormone (LH), follicular stimulating hormone(FSH) and thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) etc after RT. All but one with Nelson's syndrome showed abnormal neuroradiologic changes in the sella turica with invasive tumor mass around supra-and/or parasella area. The patients were classified as 23(29%) prolactinomas and 20 (26%) growth hormone (GH) secreting tumors, and 6(8%) ACTH secreting ones consisting of 4 Cushing's disease and 2 Nelson's syndrome. Twentynine(37%) had nonfunctioning tumor and four (5%) of those secreting pituitary tumors were mixed PRL-GH secreting tumors. The hormonal level in 15(65%) of 23 PRL and 3(15%) of 20 GH secreting tumors returned to normal by 2 to 3 years after RT, but five PRL and five GH secreting tumors showed high hormonal level requiring bromocriptine medication. Endocrinologic insufficiency developed by 3 years after RT in 5 of 7 panhypopituitarisms, 4 of seven hypothyroidisms and one of two hypogonadisms, respectively, Fifteen(20%) patients were lost to follow up atter RT.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Bromocriptine ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Male ; Particle Accelerators ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Prolactinoma ; Thyroid Gland

From December 1984 to February 1990, 16 patients with tumors of pineal and suprasellar location were treated with radiation therapy. Tissue diagnoses were obtained before radiation therapy in 5 patients and 11 were irradiated without histologic confirmation. Initial treatments for these patients were craniospinal plus boost primary irradiation(six), whole brain plus boost primary irradiation(nine), primary tumor site irradiation(one). The 5 year actuarial survival rate is 71%. Three cases with elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) responded favorably to radiation, but pineal tumors with elevated alpha-fetoprotein(AFP) did not respond well. Spinal metastasis developed in 2 cases (2/15) with elevated AFP : one received prophylactic spinal irradiation, another did not. Our studies suggest that more aggressive treatment would be necessary in patient with elevated AFP and in this patient, radiation therapy may be initiate without pathologic confirmation. From the result of our study, routine use of prophylactic spinal irrdiation for all patients with pineal region tumor is not indicated and use of prophylactic spinal irrdiation is considered for the patients with positive craniospinal fluid cytology, meningeal seeding, disease extension along the ventricular wall and biopsy proven germinoma
Biopsy ; Brain ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Diagnosis ; Germinoma ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pinealoma* ; Radiotherapy* ; Survival Rate ; Biomarkers, Tumor