Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) consist of a heterogeneous group of rare malignancies with mesenchymal origin. Surgical resec-tion is the primary treatment for STS, but radiation therapy (RT) also plays an important role in the treatment. Radiotherapy for STS has advanced significantly over the past 50 years. Both preoperative and postoperative radiotherapies are equivalent in local control but are associated with different toxicity profiles. Boost techniques for STS include brachytherapy, intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), and external beam. Long-term toxicities of RT to normal tissues have been reduced because of improvements in image guid-ance and intensity-modulated radiotherapy, which significantly increase the precision and delivery of RT. This review discusses RT tech-nologies and their acceptable treatment principles.

Objective We investigate the possible effect of inflammative indicator C reactive protein(CRP) ,interleukin‐6(IL‐6) and procalcitonin(PCT) on the outcome of HBV infection .Methods The clinical data and peripheral serum of 48 patients with HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma and 48 patients with decompensated cirrhosis were collected ,HBV copy numbers ,PCT ,IL‐6 , CRP ,ALT ,AST ,prothrombin time(PT ) and other indicators were tested for comparison and correlative analysis .Results HBV copy numbers ,PCT ,CRP ,lymphocytes and mononuclear cells showed no significant difference between primary hepatocellular car‐cinoma and decompensated cirrhosis group;however ,IL‐6 level was significantly higher in decompensated liver cirrhosis than in hep‐atocellular carcinoma ,as opposed to the absolute number of neutrophils .Conclusion IL‐6 increase may be related to final outcome of HBV infection ,dynamic monitoring IL‐6 is helpful to evaluate the prognosis of HBV infection .

Objective To identify high-risk group among gastric cancer patients treated with curative resection and more than D1 dissection, and investigate the indications for proper adjuvant therapy.Methods 297 patients who met the following enrolled criteria were retrospectively analyzed:treated between January 2002 and December 2004, primary gastric or gastroesophageal cancer, underwent curative gastrectomy and more than D1 lymphadenectomy, pathologically staged as T3-4N0-1M0,or TxN2-3M0.The overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), local-regional recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were calculated, and possible prognostic factors were analyzed.Results The median follow-up time was 61 months.The follow-up rate was 92.3%.The 5-year OS, DFS, LRFS and DMFS were 57.9%, 52.2%, 70.6% and 71.7%, respectively.Four independent prognostic variables identified for OS, DFS, LRFS and DMFS using multivariate analysis were Borrmann type (Ⅰ+Ⅱ/Ⅲ+Ⅳ), total number of dissected lymph nodes (>18/≤18), number of positive lymph nodes (0-3/≥4), and 6th AJCC TNM stage (Ⅱ+Ⅲ a/Ⅲ b+ⅣM0)(χ2=3.94-16.34,P<0.05).If one unfavorable prognostic factor was scored as 1, according to the total scores of the four prognostic factors, four risk groups were generated as low (score:0), low-intermediate (score:1), high-intermediate (score:2) and high risk group (score:3 or 4).The 5-year OS, DFS, LRFS and DMFS were 85.7%, 61.0%, 58.6% and 38.6%(χ2=31.20,P<0.01) in low risk group, 85.2%, 61.3%, 48.1% and 31.8%(χ2=31.88,P<0.01) in low-intermediate risk group, 94.4%, 77.8%, 64.4% and 57.2%(χ2=18.36,P<0.01) in high-intermediate risk group and 87.9%, 75.0%, 74.2% and 55.5%(χ2=19.30,P<0.01) in high risk group.Conclusions Even with R0 resection and more than D1 lymphadenectomy, the outcome was poor for gastric cancer patients with two or more unfavorable prognostic factors.Prospective study is warranted to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy for this group of patients.

Hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies (McAb) directed against Trichomonas vaginalis have been produced by fusing NSI myeloma cells with spleen cells of BALB/c mice immunized with Trichomonas vaginalis.IFA technique was used to test the binding activity of four McAbs produced.The McAb belonged to the IgG subtypes IgGl(2A2,2A4 McAb),IgG3 (2H9 McAb) and IgG 2b (2A12 McAb).Three McAbs,designated 2A2,2A4,2A12,reacted with a surface membrane component of live Trichomonas vaginalis.One (2A12) of them produced com-plement-dependent cytolysis of the parasites.Others (2A2.2A4) produced complement-independent cytotoxicity of the parasites.2H9 McAb which reacted with the nucleus of the organisms did not agglutinate the parasites.The four McAbs which did not have cross reaction with some protozoa of Zoomastigophorea species were specific antibodies against Trichomonas vaginalis.(Figs.1-3)

Objective To evaluate the role of postmastectomy radiotherapy in four subgroups of high-risk breast cancer patients, who were grouped by the status of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor 2 (Her-2). Methods A total of 437 invasive breast cancer patients with T3-4N1 or N2-3 and available immunohistochemistry results of ER, PR and Her-2 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were classified into 4 subgroups according to hormone receptors (ER or PR, Rec) and Her-2 status:Rec-/Her-2-(triple negative), Rec-/Her-2 +, Rec +/Her-2 + and Rec +/Her-2-. Rec-was defined as ER-and PR-. Rec + was defined as ER + and/or PR +. Her-2 positive was defined as Her-2 + + or Her-2 + + +. End points were isolated locoregional recurrence (LRR), distant metastasis (DM), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results The median follow up time was 48 months. Sixty-nine (15. 8%) patients were Rec-/Her-2-, 62 (14. 2%) Rec-/Her-2 +, 89 (20.4%) Rec +/Her-2 + and 217 (49.7%) Rec +/Her-2-. 480(93.4%) patients received chemotherapy and 352(80. 5%) received radiotherapy. Radiotherapy significantly reduced the 5-year LRR rates of all the four subgroups (Rec-/Her-2-: 13.1% vs. 33. 3%, Rec-/Her-2 + :9. 3% vs. 21.2%, Rec + /Her-2 + :9. 7% vs. 47.0%, Rec +/Her-2-:3. 2% vs. 15.4%). Radiotherapy significantly lowered the 5-year DM rates (26. 7% vs. 49.4%, 27.6% vs. 67. 5%, 18.4% vs. 100%) and improved the 5-year DFS rate (66. 7% vs. 33. 3% , 67.7% vs. 33. 3% , 72. 6% vs. 0%) as well as OS (73.9% vs. 25.2% ,69. 8% vs.41.5%, 91.0% vs. 32. 8%) of patients with Rec-/Her-2-, Rec-/Her-2 + and Rec +/Her-2 +. Conclusions In high-risk breast cancer patients, all subgroups of patients grouped by ER, PR and Her-2 status can benefit from postmastectomy radiotherapy.

Objective The benefit of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy remains controversial for gastric cancer patients treated with more than D1 dissection. This retrospective analysis is to distinguish the first site of recurrence in patients treated with curative resection and more than D1 dissection and to find any feasible adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy recommendation for them. Methods All patients treated between January 2002 and December 2004 who met the following criteria were analyzed: primary gastric or gastroesophageal cancer, underwent curative gastrectomy ( UICC R0 ) and more than D1 lymphadenectomy,pathologically staged as T3-4N0-1 M0, or any Tx N2-3M0. There were 297 patients analyzed and 19.5%,52. 2%, 17. 8% , 10. 4% of patients had stage Ⅱ ( T3 N0 M0, T1 N2 M0 ), Ⅲa, Ⅲb and Ⅳ ( M0 ) diseases,respectively. 76. 1% of patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, while Only 2 patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. Failure patterns and the prognostic factors for locoregional recurrence were analyzed. Results The median follow-up time was 61 months and the follow-up rate was 92. 3%. 145 patients developed recurrence with a median recurrent time of 26 months. Locoregional recurrence was observed in 82 patients and distant metastasis in 79 patients. Gastric stump, anastomosis, intra-abdominal lymph nodes were the most common sites of locoregional recurrence. Liver and lung were the most frequent sites of distant metastasis. Prognostic variables for locoregional recurrence were identified after univariate analysis,including pathologic type ( χ2 = 11.50, P = 0. 009 ), total number of dissected lymph nodes ( χ2 = 6. 65,P =0. 010), the number of positive lymph node ( χ2 =5. 80,P =0. 016), lymph node capsular invasion ( χ2 =pathologic type, total number of dissected lymph nodes, lymph node capsular invation, AJCC TNM stage and Borrmann type were independent prognostic factors for locoregional recurrence ( χ2 = 6. 77,19. 33,17. 84 and 6. 02,P =0. 009,0. 000,0. 000 and 0. 014). ConclusionsLocoregional recurrence remains the main cause of failure for locally advanced gastric or gastroesophageal cancer patients even though the patients have had more than D1 lymphadenectomy. The role of adjuvant concurrent hemoradiotheray for those patients is warranted.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of postmastectomy hypofractionation radiotherapy in patients with high-risk breast cancer. Methods Postmastectomy radiation of 43.5 Gy in 15 fractions of 2.9 Gy over 3 weeks was delivered to 38 patients with breast cancer. The incidence of acute radi-ation toxicity and lecoregional recurrence was evaluated. Results With a median follow up of 13 months, all patients were alive. No patient had locoregional recurrence within radiation field. Five (13%) had dis-tant metastases. Five (13%) developed grade 3 radiation dermatitis at 2 to 3 weeks after the course of radia-tion. Three (8%) had grade 2 radiation pneumonitis. Conclusions Hypofractionation radiation of 43.5 Gy in 15 fractions of 2.9 Gy over 3 weeks is effective in the near time for patients with high-risk breast cancer after mastectomy, and the acute toxicities are tolerable.

Objective To analyze the clinical results and prognostic factors of patients with early-stage primary gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT) lymphoma. Methods Seventy-seven pa-tients with primary gastric MALT lymphoma treated from 1985 to 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. All pa-tients were pathologically confirmed as MALT lymphoma in stage Ⅰ ,Ⅱ and ⅡE (by modified Blackedge staging system). Thirty-seven patients had stage Ⅰ disease,23 stage Ⅱ and 17 stage ⅡE. Sixty patients un-derwent surgical resection and 17 received non-surgical treatment. Survival rates were calculated by the Kap-lan-Meier analysis with the Logrank test. Results With a median follow up of 57 months for the surviving patients(ranging from 1 to 198 months for all patients), the 5-year overall survival rate, disease-free survival rate,loco-regional control rate and distant metastasis free survival rate were 74% ,70% ,76% and 87% ,re-spectively. In univariate analysis, clinical stage was significantly associated with overall survival. Patients with stage Ⅰ or Ⅱ disease had a better overall survival than those with stage ⅡE (P = 0.01). Tumor size and surgical resection were significantly associated with disease-free survival. Patients with primary tumor 8 cm or less in diameter had better disease-free survival than those with primary tumor more than 8 cm in diameter(P =0.03). Patients who underwent complete resection had better disease-free survival than those who under-went incomplete resection or no surgery (P =0.02). Clinical stage, tumor size and surgical resection were significantly associated with loco-regional control. Patients with stage Ⅰ or Ⅱ disease had better loco-regional control than those with stage ⅡE (P = 0. 03). Patients with primary tumor 8 cm or less in diameter had better loco-regional control than those with primary tumor more than 8 cm in diameter(P =0.01). Patients who un-derwent complete resection had better loco-regional control than those who underwent incomplete resection or no surgery(P=0.03). Patients with stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ disease treated with surgery had more local recurrence, and patients treated without surgery tended to recur systematically. Patients with stage ⅡE disease tended to recur locally in spite of surgery or not. Conclusions The efficacy of surgical and non-surgical treatment for primary gastric MALT lymphoma are similar. Surgical resection is no longer a necessary approach in the primary treatment. Clinical stage is an important prognostic factor for primary gastric MALT lymphoma.

Objective To evaluate the outcome of radiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Methods From January 2000 to December 2007,41 patients with inoperable locally advanced (stage Ⅲ) pancreatic cancer were treated with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy(3DCRT) or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Among these patients, 30 received concurrent radio-chemo-therapy. Results The median survival time(MST) and 1-year overall survival were 9.2 months and 23%. Patients with pretreatment KPS≥80 ,no regional lymph nodes metastasis, and CR/PR after radiotherapy had better prognosis. The corresponding MSTs were 11.1 months vs 5.8 months (χ2 = 7.50, P = 0.006), 10. 8months vs 6.5 months (χ2 = 5.67, P = 0.017), and 19.5 months vs 9.1 months (χ2= 7.28, P = 0. 007), re-spectively. Concurrent radio-chemotherapy tended to improve the overall survival (χ2 = 3.25, P = 0. 072). After radiotherapy, 18 patients had clinical benefit response, mainly being abdominal pain relief. Neither grade 4 hematologic nor grade 3 non-hematologic toxicities were observed. Conclusions For patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, both 3DCRT and IMRT are effective in alleviation of disease-related symptoms. Patients with better porformance status before treatment, no regional lymph nodes metastasis, and better response to radiotherapy may have better prognosis. Concurrent radio-chemotherapy trend to improve overall survival when compared with radiotherapy alone.

Objective To investigate the treatment outcome and failure in patients with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma(PMBL). Methods Between Jan. 1992 and Oct. 2006, a total of 46 patients with pathologically confirmed PMBL were reviewed, including 14 with Ann Arbor Stage I disease, 23 with Stage Ⅱ disease,3 with Stage Ⅲ disease and 6 with Stage Ⅳ disease. Stage Ⅰ+Ⅱ disease was present in 80% of the patients. All patients were treated with chemotherapy ,and 29 also received radiotherapy. Twenty-seven patients(59%) were treated with first generation regimen(CHOP),9(20%) with third generation regimens (MACOP-B, ProMACE/CytaBOM, m-BACOD, or ProMACE-MOPP), and 10(22%) with high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT/APBSCT). Rituximab was administered to 16 patients (35%). For most patients who received radiotherapy,an involved field was used with a median dose of 45 Gy in 23 fractions.Results The rate of complete remission, partial remission and progression disease was 41%, 30% and 24% ,respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate(OS) for all patients was 35%. The 2- and 5-year OS was 79% and 63% for stage Ⅰ+Ⅱ and 51% and 0 for stage Ⅲ+Ⅳ ,respectively(X2=4.35 ,P=0. 037).The 2-year progression free survival rate was 63 % and 11%, respectively (X2=17.77, P=0.1300). The 5-year OS was 80% for the patients with CR,50% for those with PR,and 0 for those with progression disease(X2= 19.58 ,P=0.003 ). With a median follow-up of 22 months, progression disease and relapse occurred in 19 patients. Conclusions Survival of patients with advanced stage PMBL is poor. Further studies areneeded to confirm the optimal treatment. Radiotherapy often plays a pivotal role in local control.