Objective To re-evaluate the prognostic value of the 6th edition of UICC/AJCC staging system in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity-medulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Methods From February 2001 to March 2007, Clinical data of 570 NPC patients initially treated with IMRT in Cancer Center of Sun yat-sen University were reviewed and the long-term survival was analyzed according to T, N and overall stages. Results The median follow-up was 42 months. 184 patients were followed up to 5 years. The 5-year local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and overall survival (OS) of the whole group were 93. 0%, 85.4% and 83. 3% ,respectively. No statistically significant difference of LRFS was detected between the either two of stage T_1, T_(2a) and T_(2b)(100%, 100% and 94. 5% ;T_1 vs. T_(2b), χ~2 = 1.92, P =0. 166 ;T_(2a) vs. T_(2b), χ~2= 0. 35, P =0. 555), stage T_(2b) and T_3 (94. 5% and 91.3% ;χ~2 = 2. 62, P = 0. 106), or stage T_3 and T_4 (91.3% and 89. 5% ; χ~2 = 1.55, P =0. 214). The 5-year DMFS of stage N_2 was similar with stage N_1 or stage N_3(80. 2%, 86. 2% and 61. 4% ; N_2 vs. N_1, χ~2=2.22, P=0.136;N_2 vs. N_3, χ~2= 1.92, P=0.165). No statistically significant difference of 5-year OS was observed among stage Ⅰ , Ⅱ_a and Ⅱ_b(91.7%, 100% and 95. 3% ; Ⅰ vs. Ⅱ_b χ~2 =0.32, P=0.574;Ⅱ_a vs. Ⅱ_b,χ~2-0.25, P=0.617), or between Ⅳ. And Ⅳ_b(67.9% and 75. 0% ;χ~2 = 0.25, P = 0. 616). Conclusions The 6th edition of UICC/AJCC staging system shows poor predictive value for the long-term survival of NPC patients treated with IMRT.

Chemokines and chemokine receptors involve in biological activity and pathological process widely.It has been reported that many tumor cells overexpress functional chemokines.In lung cancer,chemo-kines involve in its proliferation,apoptosis,invasion and metastasis.Chemokines and chemokine receptor over-expressed in lung cancer can be used as specific target for pertinent anti-tumor treatment.

Objective To evaluate the importance of three-dimensional radiotherapy for elderly patients of stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods Comparing with treatment outcome of ≥65 years 67 patients and ＜ 65 years 134 patients using concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic threedimensional radiotherapy during 2003 to 2010 years.Survival analysis was taken by Kaplan-Meier method.The multivariate prognosis was analyzed by Cox model.Results The follow-up was 97.8％.The percentage of ≥65 years and ＜ 65 years patients accepted with concurrent 4-5 cycles chemotherapy were 30％ and 55％,and with 42％ and 49％ patients with radiotherapy ≥63 Gy.The median survival time (MST) were 17 months and 14 months (x2 =0.76,P =0.384) for ≥65 years and ＜ 65 years patients accepted with concurrent 4-5 cycles chemotherapy concurrent ≥63 Gy radiotherapy respectively.The MST and 1-,2-,3year overall survival rate were 17 months and 8 months,65％ and 23％,30％ and 13％,24％ and 9％(x2 =7.90,P =0.005) for whole groups patients treated with chemotherapy concurrent ≥63 Gy and ＜ 63 Gy radiotherapy.And the MST of patients ≥ 63 Gy was significantly longer than those with ＜ 63 Gy either concurrent chemotherapy any cycles (x2 =9.54,P =0.023).The MST were 14 months and 8 months (x2 =1.82,P=0.178),17 months and 17 months (x2 =0.47,P=0.492) for ≥ 65 years and ≥ 63 Gy radiotherapy patients accepted with concurrent 4-5 cycles and 2-3 cycles chemotherapy concurrent respectively.Multivariate analysis showed local response (β =0.600,P =0.003) and numbers of tumor metastasis (β =0.670,P =0.040) were independent factors for survival.Conclusions For a part of elderly patients of stage Ⅳ NSCLC,concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic three-dimensional radiotherapy can prolong survival time with acceptable toxicity.Perhaps radiotherapy is more important.

ObjectiveThis study evaluates the feasibility of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to treat patients with 1 -5 brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods 30 IMRT patients with brain metastases for NSCLC studied retrospectively.Whole brain radiotherapy plus three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (WBRT + 3DCRT) and WBRT plus stereotactic radiotherapy ( WBRT + SRT) plans were generated.Planning target volume ( PTV ) and organs at risk dose were measured and compared by dose volume histogram.Differences were analyzed in the three techniques by Wilcoxon Z -test.Results D99％ of the shoulder ( D99％-D90％ ) from IMRT were higher than from WBRT +3DCRT and WBRT+SRT in all cases.From D15％ of slope (D90％-D10％) to D5％ of tail (D10％ -D1％ ),IMRT were lower than WBRT + 3DCRT and WBRT + SRT ( Z =- 4.72,P =0.000 and Z =- 4.72,P =0.000).D10％ and D5％ of IMRT were (35.1 ±1.42) Gy and (37.7 ±2.91) Gy,WBRT +3DCRT were (36.5±2.86) Gy and ( 39.1 ± 3.56) Gy ;WBRT + SRT were (36.2 ± 2.57) Gy and ( 38.7 ± 3.67) Gy.IMRT vs WBRT+ 3DCRT and WBRT + SRT were significant ( Z=-3.18,-3.18,P=0.001,0.001 and Z=- 4.11,- 3.02,P =0.000,0.002) in 13 patients with 3 - 5 brain metastases.The total mean monitor units were 14756.3,9614.8 and 9043.2 for IMRT,WBRT +3DCRT and WBRT + SRT plans,respectively,with a 38.7％ reduction from IMRT to WBRT + SRT (Z =-4.78,-4.78,P =0.000,0.000).The brain doses around metastases were similar in the three techniques with 1 -2 metastases,but IMRT was the best with 3 -5 metastases.ConclusionsIMRT can advance brain metastases dose and improve the planning target minimum dose and spare the dose around brain metastases.Only IMRT is the best choice for just sparing the dose around brain metastases among 3 -5 brain metastases.

Objective To prospectively evaluate the survival of different metastasis organs with concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic three-dimensional radiotherapy (CCTTRT) for stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods Two hundred and one patients of stage Ⅳ NSCLC were enrolled from January,2003 to July,2010.Of the 182 patients eligible for analysis,The number of patients with single-organ metastasis or multiple-organ metastasis was 107 and 75,respectively.Patients were treated by platinum-based chemotherapy,the median number of cycle was 4.The median dose to planning target volume of primary tumor (DTPTv) was 63 Gy.Survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the Logrank.Results The follow-up rate of 201 patients was 97.5％.with 201,170 and 134 patients finished ＜ 1,1 -2 and ≥3 years'follow up.Of 182 patients,the 1-,2-,and 3-year overall survival (OS) rate and median survival time (MST) was 41.0％,17.0％,10.0％ and 10.5 months,respectively ;with single-organ metastasis and multi-organ metastasis were 50％,20％,14％ and 13 months and 29％,12％,0％ and 8.5 months ( x2 =10.10,P =0.001 ),respectively; compared with multi-organ metastasis,the 1-,2-,and 3-year OS arte and MST of patients with bone,lung metastasis only was 58％,25％,16％ and 14 months (x2 =10.42,P=0.001 ) and 49％,21％,21％ and 11 months (x2 =6.39,P=0.011 ) respectively;patients with brain metastasis only did not show advantage of survival comparing with patients with multi-organ metastasis (49％,8％,0％ and 12 months and 29％,12％,0％ and 8 months,respectively;x2 =0.71,P =0.401 ) ;the 1-,2-,and 3-year OS rate and MST was 63％,23％,19％ and 15 months and 42％,15％,0％ and 10 months,respectively for patients with single-organ metastasis and multi-organ metastasis patients who accepted 4 - 5 cycles of chemotherapy ( x2 =6.47,P =0.011 ) ; for patients under the same metastasis and 4 - 5 cycles of chemotherapy,no matter whether single-organ or multiple-organ metastases,the 1 -,2-,3-year OS rate and MST of patients with enough radiotherapy on DTPTV ≥63 Gy were better than patients without enough radiotherapy ( DTPTV ＜ 63 Gy ) ( 71％,25 ％,25％ and 16.8 months and 33％,17％,0％ and 10.5 months,respectively;x2 ＝4.73,P =0.030 ;54％,21％,0％ and 14.3 months and 29％,10％,0％ and 7.6 months,respectively,x2 =8.16,P =0.004).The MST of liver metastases was 6 months,there was significantly difference when comparing with non liver matastasis ( x2 =17.21,P =0.000).Conclusions It is very important to treat stage Ⅳ NSCLC with CCTTRT,especially patients with single-organ metastasis.Liver metastases is a unfavorable prognostic factor.

Objective To evaluate the overall survival and safety among patients for stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic three-dimensional radiotherapy (CCTTRT).Methods From Jan.2003 to July 2010,201 patients with stage Ⅳ NSCLC were included.All patients were treated with CCTTRT.Those patients who received only one cycle chemotherapy were not included in survival analysis,but analysis of toxicity.One hundred and eighty-two patients were eligible for survival analysis.All patients received platinum-based two-drug chemotherapy.The median number of cycles was 4.The median dose to planning target volume of primary tumor ( DTPTV ) was 63 Gy.Treatment-related gastrointestinal and hematological toxicity were scored according to WHO criteria.Radiation-related pneumonitis and esophagitis were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTC) version 3.0.Survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the Logrank.Cox regression model was used to examine the effect of CCTTRT on overall survival.Results The follow-up rate of 201 patients was 97.5％.with 201,170 and 134 patients finished ＜ 1,1 -2 and ≥3 years' follow-up,respectively.Of the 182 patients eligible for survival analysis,further stratified analysis showed that the 1-,2-and 3-year overall survival rate and median survival time (MST) was 54％,20％,13％ and 14.3 months,respectively for patients treated with concurrent 4 -5 cycles chemotherapy and CCTTRT,and 66％,23％,19％ and 16.1 months,respectively for those treated with 4 -5 cycles chemotherapy and DTPTV ≥ 63 Gy.Under similar chemoradiotherapy intensity,the MST of patients with single organ metastasis was significantly longer than that with multiple organ metastases ( 13.0 months versus 8.5 months,x2 =10.10,P =0.001 ).For patients eligible for survival analysis and received 4 - 5 cycles of systemic chemotherapy,MST of patients treated with DTPTV≥63 Gy was significantly longer than those treated with DTPTV ＜63 Gy[14.9 months vs.8.4 months (x2 ＝20.48,P =0.000) and 16.1 months vs.8.8 months ( x2 =11.75,P =0.001 )].For patients with single organ metastasis,MST was 16 months for those treated with DTPTV ≥63 Gy and 9 months for those with DTPTV ＜63 Gy (x2 =10.51,P=0.000) ;for patients with multiple organ metastasis,it was 11 months and 7 months,respectively ( x2 =7.90,P =0.005 ).Multivariate analysis showed that concurrent 4 - 5 cycles chemotherapy and DTPTV ≥63 Gy (β =0.243,P=0.019) and improved KPS (β =1.268,P=0.000) were independent factors for survival.For the whole group,45％ patients had Grade 2 -3 gastrointestinal toxicity,35.0％ grade 3- 4 leukopenia,18％ grade 3- 4 thrombocytopenia.15.0％ grade 3- 4 anemia,9.5％ Grade 2 - 3 radiation pneumonia and 13.4％ radiation esophagitis,respectively.Conclusions For stage Ⅳ NSCLC,CCTTRT can prolong survival time with acceptable toxicity.Radiotherapy to thoracic primary tumor should be under consideration.

ObjectiveTo prospectively investigate the impact of short-time response on survival of concurrent chemotherapy and thoracic three-dimensional radiotherapy (CCTTRT) for stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods From Jan.2003 to Oct.2010,201 patients with pathologically or cytologically proven stage Ⅳ NSCLC were included.All patients received platinum-based chemotherapy.Of the 167 patients eligible for analysis,the median number of chemotherapy were 4 cycles.The median dose for planning target volume (PTV) of thoracic primary tumor was 63 Gy.Response was scored according to WHO criteria. Survival was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the Logrank. Cox regression model were used to examine the effect of response on overall survival.ResultsThe follow-up rate of 201 patients was 97.5％.with 201,170 and 134 patients finished ＜ 1,1 -2 and ≥3 years' follow-up.For the 167 patients eligible for analysis,the CR,PR,NC and PD rate of primary tumor was 5.4％,65.9％,21.0％ and 7.7％,respectively.The effective group ( CR + PR) and ineffective group ( NC + PD) was 71.3％ and 28.7％,respectively.The median survival time (MST) for patients with CR,PR,NC and PD was 22.6,13.4,8.8 and 4.8 months,respectively ( χ2 =44.79,P =0.000).The MST for effective and ineffective group was 13.9 and 7.6 months,respectively in the whole group ( χ2 =8.3 0,P =0.004 ),12.1months and 7.3 months in those treated with 2 - 3 cycles chemotherapy ( χ2 =7.71,P =0.007 ),and 13.9months and 7.9 months in those treated with 2 -5 cycles chemotherapy and radiation dose to PTV ≥36 Gy ( χ2 =4.00,P =0.045 ).No significant MST difference was detected between patients of effective group and ineffective group treated with 4 -5 cycles chemotherapy ( χ2 =0.67,P =0.413),or those treated with 4 -5 cycles of chemotherapy and radiation dose to primary lesion ≥36 Gy (χ2 =0.00,P =0.956).Multivariate analysis showed that 4-5 cycles of chemotherapy and CR and PR achieved in primary tumor (β =0.182,P=0.041 ) were independent favorable factors for survival. Conclusion CCTTRT can improve local control,and prolong the survival time for Stage Ⅳ NSCLC.

Objective To explore the incidence, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of radiation encephalopathy (REP) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients after intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Methods 870 NPC patients confirmed pathologically and without distant metastasis received radical IMRT,570 of which received chemotherapy simultaneously,and followed up for 6 -104 months (with a median of 40 months),undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) once every 3 months within the first 3 years after treatment and then once every year.The clinical manifestations were observed.In 29 of these 42 patients diagnosed as with REP,the dose distributions of REP lesions were evaluated.Results 4.83％ of the NPC patients (42/870) were diagnosed as with REP.There were 39 cases with pure temporal lesion (bilateral in 6 cases),with a median latency period of 30 months (6 -56 months),2 cases with pure cerebral stem lesion both with a latency period of 14 months,and one case with lesions in temporal lobe and cerebral stem with the latency period of 18 months.REP was not observed in the stage T1-2 patients.The incidence rate of REP was 3.09％ for the stage T3 patients and 14.35％ for the stage T4 patients.Twenty-two patients underwent following-up MRI after initial diagnosis of REP.After medication or surgical treatment the conditions became better or stable in the most cases. Dosimetric analysis of 32 injured temporal lobes in 29 patients found that the maximal dose was in the contrastenhanced lesions in 27 injured temporal lobes and in edema regions in 5 injured temporal lobes.For each patient,the maximal dose in the normal temporal lobe was lower than that in the injured temporal lobe.In the same patient,the maximal dose,minimal dose,and mean dose of contrast-enhanced lesions were all higher than those in the edema region.Conclusions The incidence of REP after IMRT is high,especially in local advanced NPC patients. Active treatment stabilizes or improves the REP condition. REP is positively correlated with dose of irradiation to brain tissue.

Objective To evaluate the outcomes and toxicities of early stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)alone. Methods From February 2001 to January 2008, 198 early stage NPC patients according to AJCC/UICC 2002 staging system were treated by radical radiotherapy with IMRT technique in our institute, the clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. Results The 5-year disease-specific survival, local recurrence-free survival(LRFS)and distant metastasis-free survival(DMFS)were 97.3%, 97.7% and 97. 8% respectively. The 5-year LRFS for T1, T2 patients were 100%, 96. 7%(x2 = 2. 24 ,P = 0. 135)respectively. The 5-year DMFS for T1 N0,T2N0, T1N1, and T2N1 patients were 100%, 98. 8%, 100% and 93. 8%(x2= 2. 35, P= 0. 125)respectively. Grade 1 and 2 mucositis and pharyngitis were most common acute toxicities. Radiation encephalopathy and cranial nerve injury were not observed in all patients. Conclusions IMRT alone for early stage NPC patients can produce satisfactory results and acceptable treatment-relative toxicities. Patients with T2b and T2bN1 had a relatively higher incidence of local recurrence and distant metastasis, which suggested that combination of IMRT and chemotherapy may improve clinical results in those patients.

Objective To compare the Chinese'92 and 2008 staging systems of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) based on the long term survival of the patients. Methods Clinical data of 498 NPC patients treated with definitive IMRT were retrospectively analyzed. The distributions of patients in the two staging systems were compared. The long term outcomes according to T, N and overall stages in each system were evaluated. Kappa value and Pearson coefficient were used to evaluate the agreement and correlation of the two systems. Results The distributions of both T and N stage between'92 and 2008 stage systems were different. In both staging systems, the local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) curves of T_1, T_2 andT_3 were close up (even overlaped), though they were apart from T_4. The distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) curves overlaped of N_1 and N_2 in the'92 staging system, while separated of N_1, N_2 and N_3 in the 2008 staging system. Significant difference of DMFS was not found between N, and N_2 in'92 staging system, while did exist among N_0, N_1, N_2 and N_3 stages in 2008 staging system. In the both staging systems, the disease-specific survival (DSS) of stage Ⅰ did not significantly differ from that of stage Ⅱ or Ⅲ. The statistical analysis showed the conformality of DSS curves in the two system was 89% (Kappa =0. 833 ,P <0.01), with agood relative rate (r=0. 919,P<0. 01). Conclusions The difference between'92 and 2008 staging system is mainly in N stage. The 2008 N stage seems more reasonable compared with'92 N stage, which is able to better forecast the DMFS. There are some agreements and correlations between the two staging systems.