Objective To explore the methods, dosimetric features and short-term effects of partial breast irradiation carried out by three-dimensional external-beam irradiation (3DCPBI) assisted by active breathing control (ABC) . Methods Computed tomography (CT) simulation assisted by active breathing control (ABC) was carried out for each patient and intended to get CT images in condition of 75% deepest inspiration named moderate deep inspiration breath hold (mDIBH). The extent labeled by the silver slips located in the cavity was delineated as gross target volume (GTV) , GTV plus the margin of 15 mm was defined as planning target volume (PTV). 6 MV X-ray was selected as the radiation source and noncoplanar radiation with four three-dimensional conformal fields was used, the described dose was 34 Gy /10f/5d. The volume of GTV, PTV, the affected whole breast, and the percentage of PTV accounted for the affected whole breast , the percentages of PTV included by 100% , 95% and 90% isodose curve, the percentage of volume of the affected breast irradiated by 34. 0, 27. 2, 20. 4, 13. 6 and 6. 8 Gy , and Dmean,D5,V20 of the lungs and heart were calculated respectively. Acute radiation skin response was recorded and the cosmetic effect of the breast after radiotherapy were appraised, with the local tumor control and survival rate followed. Results The mean of volume ratio of PTV and affected whole breast was 14. 88% ; the mean of the volume covered by 90% isodose curve accounted for 92. 54% of the PTV; the volume irradiated by 34 Gy (100% of described dose) accounted for 17. 23% (mean) of the whole breast and 6. 8 Gy (20% of described dose) for 46. 11% , in other words, the volume covered by 20% of described dose was less than 50% of the whole breast. The Dmean, D5, V20 for the affected lateral lung were 1.97, 9. 25 Gy and 1. 58% , it was 0.20, 0. 87 Gy , and 0% for the unaffected lateral lung. The Dmean,D5, V20 for the heart was 0.65 Gy , 2. 82 Gy , and 0. 85%. Zero grade of acute radiation skin reaction was seen in 14 patients and gradel in 3 patients and there was not equal to or more than grade 2 of skin reaction for all the patients. Cosmetic effect were appeci-ated and satisfaction defined as excellent or good appearance of the irradiated breasts for all the patients. No recurrence of local tumor for all of the patients followed for one year. Therefore, the cosmetic result of 1 yr. follow - up was 100% and no recurence was found after 1 yr. follow - up. The 1-year tumor-free survival rate were all 100%. Conclusions For selected patients with early breast cancer after breast-conservative surgery, 3DCPBI assisted by ABC is feasible, however, the selection criteria for the patients, technique protocol and dose fractionation of 3DCPBI and its influence on late cosmetic effect, local tumor control and survival need to be continuously explored and observed in the future.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of irinotecan combined with xeloda (CAPIRI regimen) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of chemotherapy with oxaliplatin.

METHODSTotally 38 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of chemotherapy with oxaliplatin were enrolled. Patients received xeloda 1 000 mg/m2 orally twice daily on day 1 to 14 and intravenous irinotecan 100 mg/m2 on day 1 and 8 every 3 weeks.

RESULTSThe median age of 38 patients was 58.5 (27-77) years. CAPIRI regimen was used 11.0 (3.0-24.0) months after the diagnosis of metastatic colorectal cancer (CAPIRI regimen as second-line chemotherapy in 33 patients, third-line in 4 patients, and fourth-line in 1 patient). A total of 121 cycles of chemotherapy (median 3.0) were administered. Thirty-four patients were evaluable for response. The overall response rate and disease control rate were 5.9% and 61.8%, respectively. The median time to progression and overall survival were 4.5 months (95% CI, 3.4-5.6 months) and 11.0 months (95% CI, 10.2-11.8 months), respectively. All 38 patients were evaluable for safety. The most common adverse events were leukopenia (73.7%), neutropenia (65.8%), nausea and vomiting (60.5%), and diarrhea (28.9%). The occurrence rates of these grade 3-4 events were 10.5%, 13.2%, 10.5%, and 7.9%, respectively. All adverse events were tolerable.

CONCLUSIONCAPIRI regimen is effective and well-tolerated in Chinese patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of chemotherapy with oxaliplatin.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Camptothecin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Capecitabine ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

The objective of this study was to investigate the expressions of TPO receptor (c-mpl) proteins on CD34 positive bone marrow cells (CD34+ BMCs), platelets and the expression of c-mpl mRNA in bone marrow cells of the patients with polycythemia vera (PV). The expressions of c-mpl proteins on CD34+ bone marrow hematopoietic cells of 13 PV patients and 15 normal controls were assessed by bicolor flow cytometry and the expressions of c-mpl proteins on platelets of 15 PV patients and 15 normal controls were assessed by monocolor flow cytometry, and the expressions of c-mpl mRNA in bone marrow hematopoietic cells (BMHCs) were assessed by RT-PCR. The results showed that no difference was found between the expression of c-mpl proteins on CD34+ BMHCs of PV patients (0.99% +/- 0.14%) and that of normal controls (0.92% +/- 0.12%) (p > 0.05). There was no difference too between the expression of c-mpl protein on platelets in PV patients (20.33% +/- 4.84%) and that in normal controls (23.50% +/- 3.64%) (p > 0.05). No difference between the expression of c-mpl mRNA in BMHCs of PV patients and that in normal controls was seen. In conclusion, the expressions of c-mpl proteins on CD34+ BMHCs, platelets and c-mpl mRNA in BMHCs of PV patients were not obviously abnormal.
Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Blood Platelets ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Polycythemia Vera ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, Thrombopoietin ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDPulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal event, occurs more frequently in cancer patients than in the general population. To offer an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment to such patients in China, we analyzed the incidence rate and clinical features of pulmonary embolism in patients with solid tumor hospitalized in the Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was made of the hospitalized patients with solid malignancies complicated with pulmonary embolism who had been admitted into the PUMC Hospital from January 2002 to December 2008.

RESULTSThe incidence of pulmonary embolism in hospitalized patients with solid malignancies was 0.27% (120/43 967). The median age at diagnosis was 57.5 years. The male to female ratio was 1.0:1.4 (49:71). Patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constituted the largest proportion of the 120 patients (37.5%), followed by patients with breast (9.2%), ovarian (8.3%), pancreatic (6.7%), and liver cancer (6.7%). Eighty patients (66.7%) had stage IV cancer. Bone was the most common site of distant metastasis (46.3%). D-dimer level was elevated in 90.9% of the 66 tested patients. The incidence of bleeding due to anti-coagulation therapy was 3.6%. Thirty-six (30.0%) of the 120 patients had concurrent deep venous thrombosis in the lower extremities. Seventeen patients developed acute pulmonary embolism within 2 weeks after surgery, 3 of whom died suddenly. Four patients presented with deep venous thrombosis and 1 with pulmonary embolism prior to the identification of malignancy.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with cancer of the lung, ovarian, breast, pancreas, and liver are more likely to be complicated with pulmonary embolism than those with other types of solid tumors. Patients with distant metastasis are at a higher risk of pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism without concurrent deep venous thrombosis is more frequently observed than concurrence of both disorders in the clinical setting.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anticoagulants ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Heparin ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; classification ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the gastric function after esophagectomy and cardiectomy with vagus nerve preserved and reconstruction of gastric funds (VPRG)in patients with esophageal cancer (EC) and cardiac cancer (CC).

METHODSSixty-eight patients with early or middle staged EC or CC received esophagectomy and cardiectomy with vagus nerve preserved and reconstruction of gastric funds (VPRG),while other 68 patients esophagectomy and cardiectomy with vagus nerve severed and no reconstruction of gastric funds (VSNG) as control. The symptoms,the pressure of the residual esophagus and thoracic stomach, 24-hour pH monitoring, mean basic gastric acid output, gastric emptying time of the intrathoracic stomach,fasting serum gastrin level, fibreoptic endoscopic results were compared before and after operation between the two groups.

RESULTSThe patients with VPRG had less symptoms after operation than those with VSNG such as anorexia, belch, reflux, heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, postcibal satiety (P< 0.01). In VPRG group,compared with the results before operation,there were no significant differences in 24-hour pH monitoring,the mean basic gastric acid output, the fasting serum gastrin level,the gastric emptying time of intrathoracic stomach one month and one year after operation (both P > 0.05). The pressure of the residual esophagus above the anastomosis in VPRG group was significantly higher than that in VSNG group (both P< 0.05). Fibreoptic endoscopic examination revealed higher incidences of postoperative atrophic gastritis and reflux esophagitis in VPRG group one month and one year after operation than those in VSNG group (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPreservation of the vagus nerve and reconstruction of gastric funds after esophagectomy and cardiectomy for esophageal and cardiac cancer can prevent digestive disorder and improve the life quality of the patients.

Adult ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Stomach ; physiopathology ; Vagus Nerve ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study aberrant expression of cell cycle control genes in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

METHODSReverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to investigate the expression of cell cycle control genes (cyclin D2, cyclin D3, cyclin A1, cyclin E, CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, p21, p27, p57, Rb and E2F1) in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) from 29 normal control, 27 MDS and 19 de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

RESULTSThe expression levels of cyclin D3 (0.65 +/- 0.17, P < 0.05) and cyclin A1 (0.48 +/- 0.04, P < 0.05) in MDS were higher than those in normal control and significantly lower than those in AML. The expression rates and levels of cyclin D2 (40.7% and 0.78 +/- 0.21) and cyclin E (51.9% and 0.52 +/- 0.10) in MDS were statistically higher than those in normal control and AML. The expression level of CDK2 in MDS (0.66 +/- 0.19, P < 0.01) was higher than that in normal control (0.42 +/- 0.04) and the expression rate of CDK6 in MDS (25.9%) higher than in normal control (3.4%, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of the expression rates and levels of CDK4 in MDS, AML and normal control. The expression rates and levels of p21 (77.8% and 1.18 +/- 0.21) and p27 (48.1% and 1.14 +/- 0.40) in MDS were statistically higher than those in normal control and AML. The expression level of p57 in MDS (0.69 +/- 0.06) was higher than that (0.53 +/- 0.05, P < 0.01) in normal control but lower than in AML (0.96 +/- 0.16, P < 0.01). The expression rate (55.6%) and level (0.85 +/- 0.17) of Rb in MDS were significantly higher than those in normal control and AML. The expression rate (7.4%) and level (0.39 +/- 0.04) of E2F1 in MDS were comparable to those in normal control but lower than those in AML.

CONCLUSIONMDS clones have aberrant mechanism of cell cycle control: high expressions of cyclin family members, CDK2 and CDK6 may lead to high proliferation; high expression of p21 and p27 may cause the G1 phase arrest.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; Child ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor Proteins ; genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases ; genetics ; E2F1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; pathology ; Retinoblastoma Protein ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the quantitative and functional changes of T helper (Th) cell subsets in the bone marrow of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients and the relationship between these changes and the patients hematopoietic function.

METHODSBy FACS, the quantity and ratio of Th1 and Th2 cells, the percentage of CD3(+)CD8(+) cells in the bone marrow were detected in 24 patients with SAA at active phase, 15 patients with SAA at recovery phase, and 16 normal controls. By radioimmunoassay, the serum levels of TNF-alpha, or IL-4 in 20 SAA patients at active phase, 12 at recovery phase and 16 normal controls were measured. The relationships between CD3(+)CD8(+) cells, TNF-alpha and Ret, ANC; and between Th1 cells and CD3(+)CD8(+) cells, TNF-alpha or Ret, ANC; between IL-4, balance of Th1/Th2 and Ret, ANC were evaluated.

RESULTSThe percentages of Th1 and Th2 cells, and ratio of Th1/Th2 in bone marrow of SAA patients at active phase were (4.87 +/- 2.64)%, (0.41 +/- 0.26)% and 21.22 +/- 5.07, respectively, being higher than those of normal controls [(0.42 +/- 0.30)% (P < 0.01), (0.24 +/- 0.17)% (P < 0.05) and (1.57 +/- 0.93) (P < 0.01), respectively] and all of them reduced to normal levels of SAA at recovery phase (P > 0.05). The percentage of CD3(+)CD8(+) cells significantly decreased from (32.32 +/- 8.69)% at active phase to (13.76 +/- 2.96)% at recovery phase (P < 0.01). The serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-4 at active phase was (4.29 +/- 3.15) microg/L and (1.24 +/- 0.73) microg/L, respectively, being higher than those of normal controls (1.21 +/- 1.16) microg/L, (1.18 +/- 0.97) microg/L, but only the difference of TNF-alpha was statistically significant (P < 0.01). In recovery SAA patients, the serum levels of TNF-alpha significantly decreased to (1.46 +/- 1.41) microg/L (P < 0.01), and the levels of IL-4 increased markedly to (3.05 +/- 1.94) microg/L. The CD3(+)CD8(+) cells and TNF-alpha of patients negatively correlated with Ret (P < 0.05; P < 0.05) and ANC (P < 0.05; P < 0.05), Th1 cells correlated with CD3(+)CD8(+) cells and TNF-alpha positively (P < 0.01; P < 0.05), the Ret and ANC negatively (P < 0.01; P < 0.01), IL-4 and the balance of Th1/Th2 positively correlated with Ret and ANC (P < 0.05, P < 0.01; P < 0.01, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe bone marrow failure in SAA might be caused not only by the increase of Th1 cells, Th1 type effector cells and cytokines, but also by insufficient compensation of Th2 cells and Th2 type cytokines, which shifted the balance of Th1/Th2 favorable to Th1.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; pathology ; CD3 Complex ; blood ; CD8 Antigens ; blood ; Child ; Female ; Hematopoietic System ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radioimmunoassay ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; metabolism ; pathology ; Th1 Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Th2 Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo measure the subsets of dendritic cells 1 (DC1) in the bone marrow of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients and evaluate the relationships between the CD11c+CD83+ cells and Th1 cells, CD3+CD8+ cells or hematopoietic function and explore the role of DC1 in the pathogenesis of SAA.

METHODSBy FACS, the quantities and ratios of CD11c+CD1a+ cells, CD11c+CD83+ cells, Th1 cells, and CD3+CD8+ cells in the bone marrow of SAA patients and normal controls were detected respectively. The relationships between CD3+CD8+ cells and reticulocyte absolute value (Ret) or neutrophil absolute value (ANC), between Th1 cells and CD3+CD8+ cells, Ret or ANC, between CD11c+CD83+ cells, and Th1 cells, CD3+CD8+ cells, Ret or ANC were evaluated.

RESULTSIn normal controls' bone marrow, the percentages of Th1 cells, CD11c+CD1a+ cells, CD11c+CD83+ cells and the ratio of CD11c+CD83+/CD11c+CD1a+ were (0.42 +/- 0.30)%, (0.38 +/- 0.29)%, (0.37 +/- 0.32)% and 1.07 +/- 0.10, respectively. In untreated SAA patients, they were (4.87 +/- 0.54)%, (1.73 +/- 0.24)%, (3.38 +/- 0.56)% and 2.21 +/- 0.32 respectively, which were higher than that in normal controls (P < 0.01). In recovering SAA patients, the percentages of Th1 cells, CD11c+CD1a+ cells and CD11c+CD83+ cells decreased significantly to (0.53 +/- 0.22)%, (0.61 +/- 0.23)%, (0.65 +/- 0.22)%, respectively (P < 0.01). The ratio of CD11c+CD83+/CD11c+ CD1a+ in recovering SAA patients decreased to 1.37 +/- 0.25, which was similar to that in normal controls (P > 0.05). The percentage of CD3+CD8+ cells in untreated SAA patients was (32.32 +/- 10.22)%, and in recovering SAA patients decreased to (13.67 +/- 5.24)% (P < 0.01). The percentage of CD3+CD8+ cells in SAA patients was negatively correlated with their Ret and ANC (P < 0.05), while their Th1 cell percentages were positively correlated with their CD3+CD8+ cells (P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with their Ret and ANC (P < 0.01). SAA patient's CD11c+CD83+ cell percentages were positively correlated with their Th1 cell and CD3+CD8 cells (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), but negatively with their Ret and ANC (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth immature DC1 and activated DC1 increased in the bone marrow of SAA patients, and the balance of DC1 subsets shifted from stable form to active one, which might promote Th0 cells to polarize to Th1 cells, and cause the over-function of T lymphocytes and hematopoiesis failure in SAA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; immunology ; Antigens, CD ; immunology ; Antigens, CD1 ; immunology ; Bone Marrow ; immunology ; CD11c Antigen ; immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Child ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; immunology ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESTo explore the proliferative capacity of bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells and the function of T helper (Th) lymphocytes of patients with immuno-related pancytopenia (IRP).

METHODSTwenty-five untreated IRP patients, 15 IRP patients in complete remission (CR) and 10 normal controls were studied for in vitro yields of CFU-GM, CFU-E and BFU-E from bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC). The mRNA expressions of IL-4, IL-10, IFN-gamma and IL-2 genes in unstimulated BMMNC from 25 untreated IRP patients,15 IRP patients in CR, 19 patients with other hematological diseases presenting pancytopenia and 10 normal controls were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThere was no significant difference of the yields of CFU-E, CFU-GM or BFU-E among the untreated, and in CR IRP patients and normal controls (P > 0.05). The mRNA expressions of IL-4 and IL-10 of Th2 cells were significantly higher in untreated IRP patients than in the other groups. The mRNA expressions of IFN-gamma and IL-2 of the Th1 cells in all IRP patients were not higher than those in the other groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe cytopenia of IRP patients was not caused by the qualitative abnormality of the hematopoietic stem cells but by the destruction or suppression of hematopoietic stem cells from certain extrinsic insults. The imbalance of Th lymphocytes subtypes and overfunction of Th2 lymphocytes played important roles in the pathogenetic mechanism of IRP leading to increased and overfunctional B lymphocytes, which produced autoantibodies destructing or suppressing hematopoiesis in IRP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Division ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Cytokines ; genetics ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo understand the clinical feature and natural course of polycythemia vera (PV).

METHODSThe clinical symptoms, signs, laboratory examination and prognosis of 185 patients with PV were analysed.

RESULTSThere are 122 males and 63 females. The mean age was (52.7 +/- 14.1) years. The mean hemoglobin level was (208.3 +/- 21.2) g/L. Pancytosis was displayed in 74 (40%) cases, excess of red blood cells in 33 (17.8%), excess of red blood cells and granulocytes in 67 (36.2%) and excess of red blood cell and platelets in 11 (5.9%). Splenomegaly was found in 123 (66.5%) patients and hepatomegaly in 30 (16.2%). Quantitative assess of serum Epo was done in 25 patients. The level was low in 16 (64.2%) and normal in 9 (36.0%). Hematopoietic progenitor culture yields was elevated in 11 patients, endogenous erythroid colonies (EEC) formation was found in 10 cases (90.9%). Eighty two patients (44.3%) had 101 attacks of vascular thrombotic incidents, 7 patients developed myelofibrosis (MF). Secondary cancer occurred in 1 patient. Two patients died of thrombosis.

CONCLUSIONPV is an elderly adult myeloproliferative disease with a high frequency of thrombosis. EEC can be found out in PV patients. The serum Epo level is not increased in PV patients. The main sequelae of PV is MF.

Adult ; Aged ; Erythrocyte Count ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; metabolism ; Hepatomegaly ; etiology ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polycythemia Vera ; blood ; complications ; pathology ; Primary Myelofibrosis ; etiology ; Splenomegaly ; etiology ; Thrombosis ; etiology