Objective To evaluate the effcacy of electron-beam chest-wall irradiation in patients with breast cancer after mastectomy.Methods From June 1999 to December 2007,280 women with localized breast cancer received postmastectomy radiotherapy using electron beam to chest wall.The effcacy and toxicity of these 280 women was compared with 118 women treated during the same period using tangential field with photon beam.Results The follow-up rate was 93.2%.140 patients had a minimum followed up time of 5 years and 12 patients had a minimum follow up time of 10 years.The 5-year and 10-year chest wall recurrence rates were 6.8%and 5.0%.14.8%and 10.1%for patients irradiated with electron and photon(X2=1.12,P=0.290).The corresponding 5-year and 10-year disease-free survival rates were 60.6%and 65.5%,47.6%and 57.3%(X2=0.97,P=0.325).The 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates were 77.5%and 79.6%,48.4%and 53.3%(X2=0.37,P=0.545).Grade Ⅱ or more acute skin toxicity occurred in 10.4%and 16.9%of patients irradiated with electron and photon(X2=3.34.P=0.090).Pulmonary fibrosis developed in 28.8%and 22.1% of patients irradiated with electron and photon(X2=1.27,P=0.300).Conclusion Electron-beam chest-wall irradiation is as effective as photon-beam irradiation in breast cancer after mustectomy.

Objective To analyze the prognosis of T1-T2 stage breast cancer with 1 -3 positive axillary nodes after mastectomy, and to explore a subgroup of patients who could benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy. Methods In the retrospective study of 412 eligible patients, survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Log-rank method and Cox regression analysis, respectively. Results The follow-up rate was 98. 7%. 215 and 41patients were followed up for 5 and 10 years,respectively. The 5-and 10-year overall survival (OS) rate was 90. 0% and 81.3%, respectively. The 5-and 10-year locoregional recurrence (LRR) rate was 10. 7% and 18. 6%, respectively. In univariate analysis, T2 statging, more than one positive node, hormone receptornegative ( ER&PR-negative), ratio of positive lymph nodes (LNR) ＞ 25%, Her-2 positive, no hormonal therapy were associated with a significantly higher rate of LRR. T2 staging, more than one positive node,hormone receptor-negative were the risk factors for LRR with statistical significance in the multivariate analysis. Basing on these 3 risk factors, the high-risk group (with 2 -3 factors) had a 10-year LRR rate of 36. 9% compared with 3.9% in the low-risk group ( with 0 - 1 factors;x2 =20. 64,P =0. 000). The 5-year and 10-year distant metastasis (DM) rate was 12.9% and 24. 5%, respectively. LRR, and LNR ＞25%were statistically significant predictors of DM in the multivariate analysis. The 5-year DM rate for patients with LRR was 36. 6% compared with 9. 7% without LRR (x2 = 16. 34,P =0. 000). The 5-year OS rate for patients with LRR was 69. 9% compared with 92. 9% without LRR ( x2 = 20. 79, P = 0. 000). LRR was associated with a higher risk of distant metastasis and worse survival. Conclusions LRR after mastectomy has a significant impact on the outcome of patients with T1 -T2 breast cancer and 1 - 3 positive axillary nodes.Patients who have 2 -3 risk factors might benefit from radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVETo establish a method of culturing endothelial cells (EC) from human vascular malformation.

METHODSVenous malformation specimens obtained from the patient undergoing oral surgery were plated into glass, plastic and gelatin-coated dishes. Pure cultures of human vascular malformation endothelial cells (VMEC) were isolated by the ways of discarding the tissues at early stage of primary culture, scraping and trypsinizing. Morphological characteristics were studied under phase-contrast microscope and electron microscope (EM), and determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe cells were pure and could be maintained in culture up to 4 approximately 5 passages, or 40 approximately 50 days. VMEC formed contact-inhibited "cobblestone" monolayer on glass and plastic, and capillary-like "tubes" on gelatin. EM revealed that there were Weibel-Palade bodies in the culture cells. The cells showed positive staining for CD(34), vWF, and negative for alpha-SMA.

CONCLUSIONSThe culture technique for growing VMEC has been established. And these cells can provide a useful tool for studying biological characteristics of human vascular malformation in vitro.

Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Humans

PURPOSE: Several accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) techniques are being investigated in patients with early-stage breast cancer. The present study evaluated the feasibility, early toxicity, initial efficacy, and cosmetic outcomes of accelerated partial breast intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for Chinese female patients with early-stage breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery. METHODS: A total of 38 patients met the inclusion criteria and an accelerated partial breast intensity-modulated radiotherapy (APBI-IMRT) plan was designed for each patient. The prescription dose was 34 Gy in 10 fractions, 3.4 Gy per fraction, twice a day, in intervals of more than 6 hours. RESULTS: Of the 38 patients, six patients did not meet the planning criteria. The remaining 32 patients received APBI-IMRT with a mean target volume conformity index of 0.67 and a dose homogeneity index of 1.06. The median follow-up time was 53 months and no local recurrence or distant metastasis was detected. The most common acute toxicities observed within 3 months after radiotherapy were erythema, breast edema, pigmentation, and pain in the irradiated location, among which 43.8%, 12.5%, 31.3%, and 28.1% were grade 1 toxicities, respectively. The most common late toxicities occurring after 3 months until the end of the follow-up period were breast edema, pigmentation, pain in the irradiated location, and subcutaneous fibrosis, among which 6.2%, 28.1%, 21.9%, and 37.5% were grade 1 toxicities, respectively. Thirty-one patients (96.8%) had fine or excellent cosmetic outcomes, and only one patient had a poor cosmetic outcome. CONCLUSION: It is feasible for Chinese females to receive APBI-IMRT after breast conserving surgery. The radiotherapeutic toxicity is acceptable, and both the initial efficacy and cosmetic outcomes are good.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Edema ; Erythema ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pigmentation ; Prescriptions ; Radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated* ; Recurrence