Aim Poly (methoxypolyethyleneglycol cyanoacrylate-co-hexadecyl cyanoacrylate) (PEGPHDCA) and PHDCA niosomes were prepared and the influence of the PEG chain length on the niosomes physicochemical characteristics, complement consumption and phagocytic uptake were studied. Methods The physicochemical parameters of PEG-PHDCA niosomes were characterized in terms of particle size, zeta potential, surface PEG density and fixed aqueous layer thickness. The relationship between physicochemical characteristics and in vitro complement consumption and phagocytic uptake was further illustrated. Results Experimental results showed that PEG10000-PHDCA had most loose structure and least PEG surface density among three groups. Configuration simulation through fixed aqueous layer thickness confirmed that PEG folding and less flexibility of the PEG chains of PEG10000-PHDCA niosomes were accountable for its poor stealth effects. Compared with PEG2000-PHDCA, PEG5000-PHDCA showed a thicker fixed aqueous layer (FALT) of 4. 20 nm, less negative zeta potential of -10.03 mV, and consumption and phagocytic uptake. Conclusion Excessive chain length of PEG was not necessary for stealth effects of PEG-PHDCA niosomes. PEG5000-PHDCA niosomes had best effects on evading complement consumption and subsequent phagocytic uptake.

Objective:To analyze the feature of cranial nerve involvement in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its relationship with the prognosis.Method:A total of 1892 patients who were diagnosed as NPC in our hospital from January 2002 to December 2003,of which the cranial nerve involvement was 183 (9.6%) patients, were analyzed the effect of cranial nerve involvement on the prognosis.Result:The percentage of cranial nerve involvement was 9.4%. The 5 year overall survival rate was 61.0%,disease free survival rate was 55.3%,local relapse free survival rate was 75.2% and distant metastasis free survival rate was73.4%.Periods of cranial nerve involvement,clinical stage,the diameter of the lymph nodes,involvement of cavernous sinus, and the level of the recovery of cranial nerve involvement were significantly associated with prognosis in univariate analysis(P<0.05).With multivariate analysis,the recovery level of cranial nerve involvement was the independent factor that affected the 5-year overall survival (RR=2.087). The diameter of the lymph nodes and involvement of cavernous sinus were the independent factors that affected the 5-year distant metastasis-free survival(RR=1.954 and 2.136,respectively).Conclusion:Periods of cranial nerve involvement and the level of the recovery of cranial nerve involvement were significantly correlated with prognosis. Involvement of cavernous sinus could increase the rate of distant metastasis.

Objective To compare the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone for T3-4 N0-1 M0 and T14 N2-3 M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after induction chemotherapy.Methods From 2002 to 2005,400 patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳa NPC were randomly divided into 2 groups :induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy group (IC/CCRT,201 patients),and induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy alone group (IC/RT, 199 patients).Subgroup analysis was conducted for 197 patients with stage T3-4N0-1M0 NPC and 203 with stage T1-4N2-3M0 NPC.Results The follow-up rate were 96.2%, with a median followg-up time of 3.9 years.For T3-4N0-1 M0 NPC patients in IC/CCRT group (104 patients) and IC/RT group (93 patients), the 3-year overall survival, disease-free survival, locoregional recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 84.0% and 85.9% (χ2=0.08,P =0.780) ,77.0% and 72.0% (χ2=0.44,P =0.510) ,89.5% and 92.3% (χ2=0.65 ,P = 0.420), and 84.9% and 77.0% (χ2= 1.59, P = 0.210), respectively; For T1-4 N2-3 M0 NPC patients in IC/CCRT group (97 patients) and IC/RT group (106 patients), the corresponding rates were 67.4% and 82.2% (χ2=3.48,P=0.060), 61.5% and 68.0% (χ2= 1.86,P=0.170), 86.2% and 87.0% (χ2=0.57 ,P =0.450) and 66.2% and 75.6% (χ2=2.07 ,P =0.150), respectively.Acute sideeffects were similar except more leucocytopenia in IC/CCRT group than IC/RT group.Conclusions Compared with IC/RT, IC/CCRT dose not improve the overall survival in patients with T3-4N0-1 M0 and T1-4 N2-3 M0 NPC.

Objective To evaluate the impact of chemotherapy compliance on the therapeutic efficacy of induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus induction chemotherapy plus radiotherapy alone for patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods Based on intention to treat analysis (ITT) for 400 patients, 314 patients were analyzed by per protocol (PP) analysis. The patients were divided into induction chemotherapy plus concurrent chemoradiotherapy group (IC/CCRT, 127 patients) or induction chemotherapy plus radiotherapy group (IC/RT, 187 patients). The patients who completed 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy and at least 2 cycles of concurrent chemotherapy in the IC/CCRT group and the patients who completed 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy in the IC/RT group were analyzed. Radiotherapy was given by two-dimensional technique with γ-ray, X-ray and electron beams. The chemotherapy regimen was FUDR plus carboplatin for induction chemotherapy and carboplatin alone for concurrent chemotherapy. Results The follow-up rate was 96.2%. 295 patients were followed to at 3 years. Based on PP analysis, Grade 3/4 toxicity was found in 23.6% of the patients in IC/CCRT group and 13.4% in the IC/RT group (χ~2 =5,50,P=0.019). No grade 4 toxicity was found in the IC/RT group. The median follow-up time was 3.9 years, and no significant difference was found between the two groups in 3-year overall survival (78.1% : 84.6% ;χ~2 = 0. 61, P =0. 435), disease-free survival (74.3 % : 70.1% ;χ~2= 0. 12, P= 0.731), Iocoregional relapse-free survival (89.7% : 89.5% ; χ~2= 0. 10, P= 0.748), or distant metastasis-free survival (78.9%:76.5% ;χ~2=0.05,P=0.825). Conclusions With more severe toxicities, the IC/CCRT regimen does not improve the overall survival in locally advanced NPC patients compared with the IC/RT regimen.

Objective: To investigate the long-term effect of submandibular salivary gland transfer on xerostomia induced by radiation in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods: A total of 70 eligible patients with NPC were divided into the test group (36 cases) and the control group (34 cases). In the test group, the submandibular salivary glands were transferred to the submental space before conventional radiotherapy (XRT) and shielded during XRT. Submandibular gland function and salivary fluid before and after radiotherapy, questionnaire of xerostomia at 60 months after XRT, and 5-year survival rate were compared between the two groups. Results: At 5 years after XRT, the trapping and excretion function of submandibular glands were significantly better in the test group (P=0.000 and P=0.000, respectively). The mean weight of saliva after XRT was greater in the test group than in the control group (1.65gvs.0.73g, P=0.000). Incidence of moderate to severe degree of xerostomia was significantly lower in the test group than in the control group (12.9%vs.78.6%, P=0.000). No significant difference was found in 5 year survival rate between the two groups (86.1%vs.82.4%, P＞0.05). Conclusion: Submandibular gland transfer procedure is safe for NPC patients. It can prevent XRT induced xerostomia and improve the quality of life of NPC patients.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the feature of cranial nerve involvement in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its relationship with the prognosis. METHOD: A total of 1892 patients who were diagnosed as NPC in our hospital from January 2002 to December 2003, of which the cranial nerve involvement was 183 (9.6%) patients, were analyzed the effect of cranial nerve involvement on the prognosis. RESULT: The percentage of cranial nerve involvement was 9.4%. The 5 year overall survival rate was 61.0%, disease free survival rate was 55.3%, local relapse free survival rate was 75.2% and distant metastasis free survival rate was 73.4%. Periods of cranial nerve involvement, clinical stage, the diameter of the lymph nodes, involvement of cavernous sinus, and the level of the recovery of cranial nerve involvement were significantly associated with prognosis in univariate analysis(P < 0.05). With multivariate analysis, the recovery level of cranial nerve involvement was the independent factor that affected the 5-year overall survival (RR = 2.087). The diameter of the lymph nodes and involvement of cavernous sinus were the independent factors that affected the 5-year distant metastasis-free survival (RR = 1.954 and 2.136, respectively). CONCLUSION Periods of cranial nerve involvement and the level of the recovery of cranial nerve involvement were significantly correlated with prognosis. Involvement of cavernous sinus could increase the rate of distant metastasis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cranial Nerves ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Young Adult