OBJECTIVETo examine the association of preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level with the efficacy of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy and postoperative metastasis and relapse in patients with rectal cancer.

METHODSBetween January 2011 and January 2014, 325 patients with local advanced rectal cancer underwent preoperative radiochemotherapy and radical operation in Department of Colorectal Cancer Surgery, Beijing University Cancer Hospital, including 194 males and 131 females. According to preoperative MRI, all the patients suffered from clinical T3-4 tumors or positive lymph nodes. Their Zubrod-ECOG-WHO score was 0-1. These patients received preoperative intensity modulated radiotherapy which consisted of 50.6 Gy in 22 fractions (IMRT GTV 50.6 Gy/CTV 41.8 Gy/22 f) with capecitabine(825 mg/m, twice per day) as radiosensitizer. According to the preoperative serum CEA level, patients were divided into high group (125 cases) and normal group (200 cases). In high group, serum CEA level decreased into normal range in 60 patients (high-normal group) after radiochemotherapy, while it was still in high level in other 65 patients (high-high group). The differences in sensitivity to radiochemotherapy and 3-year disease free survival (DFS) of these patients were both evaluated.

RESULTSIn high group and normal group, the complete response rates were 18.4% (23/125) and 17.5% (35/200) (χ=0.319, P=0.660); the percentages of tumor regression grade(TRG) 0-1 patients were 68.0%(85/125) and 67.5%(135/200)(χ=0.009, P=0.925); the T downstage rates were 63.2%(79/125) and 70.0%(140/200)(χ=1.266, P=0.274), respectively, whose differences were all not significant. The 3-year DFS rate in high group was 62.4%, which was significantly lower than 93.5% in normal group (χ=53.147, P=0.000). There were 65 patients in high-high group, accounting for 52% (65/125) of high group. Among these 65 patients, 44(67.7%) presented recurrence and metastasis within 3 years and the 3-year DFS was 32.3%, which was much lower than 95.0% of 60 patients in high-normal group(χ=182.085, P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONSPreoperative serum CEA level may not be used to predict tumor response of rectal cancer patients who receive preoperative radiochemotherapy. However, the prognosis of patients with high CEA level is worse. Recurrence and metastasis are more likely to occur in patients with high CEA level after radiochemotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Chemoradiotherapy ; statistics & numerical data ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; statistics & numerical data ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; statistics & numerical data ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; prevention & control ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; surgery ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility, safety and efficacy of intraoperative regional infusion chemotherapy by celiac trunk in advanced gastric cancer patients.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-six patients with advanced gastric cancer(stageII(-III() were screened from database of Gastrointestinal Surgery Department of Taizhou People's Hospital between January 2008 and December 2010 who underwent R0 resection and D2 lymphadenectomy, received postoperative chemotherapy(XELOX or FOLFOX), and had complete follow-up data. They were divided into infusion chemotherapy group (65 cases) and control group (61 cases) according to regional infusion chemotherapy or not (fluorine 1 000 mg and cisplatin 60 mg). The side effects of chemotherapy, parameters related to the operation, long-term survival and relapse rate were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe baseline data between the two groups were comparable(all P>0.05). Postoperative III( and IIII( adverse reaction of chemotherapy was not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). The time of postoperative intestinal function recovery [(67.9±14.8) hours vs. (68.9±15.0) hours, t=-0.380, P=0.705), volume of postoperative 1-week drainage [(66.1±17.1) ml vs.(61.9±18.2) ml, t=1.478, P=0.142], recent morbidity of complications[55.4%(36/65) vs. 49.2%(30/61), χ=0.256, P=0.613], and the long-term morbidity of complications [16.9% (11/65) vs. 14.8% (9/61), χ=0.111, P=0.739] were all not significantly different between the two groups. The 3-year survival rate and 3-year relapse-free survival rate in infusion chemotherapy group were significantly higher than those in control group(58.4% vs. 37.7%, χ=5.382, P=0.020; 58.4% vs. 34.4%, χ=6.636, P=0.010).

CONCLUSIONRegional infusion chemotherapy by celiac trunk during operation for advanced gastric cancer patients is safe and feasible, and can reduce the risk of local recurrence and improve survival rate.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Celiac Artery ; Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion ; adverse effects ; methods ; mortality ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Fluorine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Fluorouracil ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; therapeutic use ; Lymph Node Excision ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Postoperative Complications ; Recovery of Function ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; surgery ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical behavior and management outcome of recurrent endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS). METHODS: A retrospective review of charts of 10 patients with recurrent ESS was performed and relapse-free interval, relapse site, treatment, response to treatment, duration of follow-up and clinical outcome extracted. Survival outcome measures used were post-relapse survival which was defined as the time from first evidence of relapse to death from any cause. Living patients were censored at the date of last follow-up. RESULTS: The median age and median relapse-free interval at the time of initial relapse were 51.5 years and 66.5 months, respectively. The number of relapses ranged from one to five. Sixteen surgical procedures for recurrent disease included nine (56.0%) complete resections. There was no statistically significant difference between initial recurrent tumors and second/subsequent recurrent tumors in the rate of complete surgery (44.4% vs. 71.4%, respectively, p=0.36). Of the eleven evaluable occasions when hormonal therapy was used for recurrent disease, disease control was achieved in eight (72.7%). There was no difference between initial recurrent tumors and second/subsequent recurrent tumors in disease control rate by hormonal therapy (85.7% vs. 50.0%, respectively, p=0.49). The 10-year post-relapse survival rate was 90.0% and the overall median post-relapse survival 119 months (range, 7 to 216 months). CONCLUSION: Post-relapse survival of patients with ESS can be expected to be >10 years when treated by repeated surgical resection and hormonal therapy or both.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/therapeutic use ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant/mortality ; Disease-Free Survival ; Endometrial Neoplasms/drug therapy/*mortality/surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/*mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal/drug therapy/*mortality/surgery ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records and clinicopatholgic outcomes of patients (n=552) treated with RNU between 1986 and 2013. Patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and those for whom LVI status was not recorded were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups according to LVI (n=86) or no LVI (n=256). RESULTS: The study included 344 patients (240 men and 104 women) with a median of 53.9 months of follow-up (range, 1-297 months) after RNU. Tumors were organ confined (T2/N0) in 211 (61.3%) and tumor grade high in 291 (84.6%). AC was administered in 64 patients (18.6%). A total of 280 patients (81.4%) were treated with surgery alone. Patients with LVI tended to be older (p=0.049), have a higher pT stage (pT3/T4, p<0.001), be pN+ (p<0.001), have a high tumor grade (p<0.001), and experience recurrence (p<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, LVI was an independent prognostic factor for cancer-specific survival and overall survival (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that in the subgroup of patients with LVI, AC was a significant prognostic factor for cancer-specific survival and overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.51; p=0.027 and hazard ratio, 0.50; p=0.025, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: AC does not seem to reduce mortality in patients with advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma after RNU. In the subgroup of patients with LVI, AC had a positive impact on cancer-specific survival and overall survival. LVI would be helpful for selecting patients who are appropriate for AC.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/drug therapy/*mortality/surgery ; *Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms/drug therapy/*mortality/surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nephrectomy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Ureter/pathology ; Ureteral Neoplasms/drug therapy/*mortality/surgery ; Urinary Tract/pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of sirolimus on the long-term survival of patients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSClinic data of 165 consecutive patients who underwent OLT for HCC from February 2005 to March 2012 was analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 94 patients were treated with a sirolimus-based immunosuppressive protocol after OLT, while the other 71 patients with a FK506-based protocol. Postoperative survival time, survival, disease-free survival (DFS) and tumor recurrence rates between the two groups were compared.

RESULTSThe 2 groups were comparable in all clinicopathologic parameters. The sirolimus-based group had higher patient survival rates than the control group at 1-year (87% vs. 97%, P = 0.03), 2-year (80% vs. 88%), 3-year (76% vs. 85%) and 5-year (63% vs. 75%). The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 5-year recurrence rates were 12% vs. 3%, 17% vs. 9%, 21% vs. 9% (P = 0.04) and 31% vs. 16% (P = 0.03). Early and mid-HCC (I - II stage) of 131 cases (control group 61 cases, sirolimus-based group of 70 patients). The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 90% vs. 97% , 80% vs. 90%, 78% vs. 86% and 65% vs. 82% (P = 0.04) and recurrence rates were 10% vs. 3%, 16% vs. 8%, 18% vs. 8% and 29% vs. 11% (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe sirolimus-based immunosuppressive protocol reduce long-term postoperative recurrence rate and improve the survival rate of patients after OLT for HCC significantly (especially early-mid HCC).

Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; mortality ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Retrospective Studies ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use ; Survival Rate ; Tacrolimus ; therapeutic use

Most prostate cancer cases ultimately relapse after a period of initial response to castration therapy and progress to intractable castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Hardly any therapeutic options currently used can improve the 2- to 3-year survival of the patient. Recently, some new drugs for the treatment of CRPC through various action mechanisms have been approved, and others are in the advanced stage of clinical trial. This review provides an overview of these new therapeutic agents.
Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Orchiectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; drug therapy ; mortality

OBJECTIVETo evaluate efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy after D2 dissection on survival for patients with gastric cancer.

METHODSRandomized clinical trials (RCT) that compared adjuvant chemotherapy after D2 dissection with D2 dissection alone for gastric cancer were searched with Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase and CBM databases. Eligible trials published between 1990 and 2012 were included in the study. The quality of RCTs was assessed by the Jadad scale. Data synthesis and statistical analysis were performed by RevMan 5.1 software.

RESULTEight RCTs with 3633 patients were included in this study. Among them, 1824 patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and 1809 patients didn't. Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a significant benefit in terms of overall survival (RR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.69-0.84), disease free survival (RR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.66-0.80) and recurrence rate (RR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.62-0.77).

CONCLUSIONAdjuvant chemotherapy was associated with survival benefit for gastric cancer after D2 dissection.

Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; surgery ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Ruji Recipe (RR) in preventing disease recurrence/metastasis and improving quality of life (QOL) for female breast cancer patients after operation.

METHODSTotally 102 female patients with stage I - III breast cancer were retrospectively analyzed. They were assigned to the treatment group (54 cases) and the control group (48 cases) according to whether they would rather accept RR therapy. Estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) positive patients also accepted endocrine therapy. The overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), recurrence and metastasis, and QOL were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSTotally 100 patients completed the study. The median follow-up was 59 months. The median OS was 60 months in the treatment group and 52.5 months in the control group (chi2 = 3.274, P > 0.05). The median DFS was 55.0 months in the treatment group and 47.5 months in the control group (chi2 = 10.145, P < 0.01). The DFS rate was 75.9% (41/54) in the treatment group and 54.3% (25/46) in the control group (chi2 = -2.259, P < 0.05). There was statistical difference in the 2-, 3-, and 5-year DFS between the two groups (P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in the 2-year DFS 3-year DFS between stage II and III and stage III (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in the ER positive patients between 2-year DFS and 3-year DFS (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). There was statistical difference in the 3-and 5-year distant metastasis rate (DMR) in the treatment group, lower than that of the control group (3.7% vs 31.0%, 20.7% vs 60.7%; P < 0.01). By the end of follow-up, disease progression occurred in 13 cases of the treatment group, local recurrence in 3 cases, single organ metastasis in 7 cases, multi-metastasis in 3 cases, while the corresponding numbers were 21, 1, 11, and 9 in the control group (P < 0.05). As for 1 week before study and at 2-year follow-up using Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Breast Cancer (FACT-B) system, there was statistical difference in the QOL between the two groups (P < 0.05), and better effect was obtained in the treatment group.

CONCLUSIONRR, as an assistant therapy, could improve the OS rate, the DFS rate, and the QOL for post-surgical female breast cancer patients in 2 -3 years.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; prevention & control ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Phytotherapy ; Postoperative Period ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: Although neoadjuvant therapy has been accepted as a treatment option in locally-advanced gastric cancer, its prognostic value has been difficult to evaluate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-four gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy after neoadjuvant treatment were divided into two groups according to the pathologic response: favorable (ypT0) and others (ypT1-4). The clinicopathologic characteristics, predictive factors for pathologic response, and oncologic outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: Eleven patients (14.8%) demonstrated ypT0 and the remaining 63 patients (85.2%) were ypT1-4. Chemoradiotherapy (CCRTx) rather than chemotherapy (CTx) was the only predictive factor for a favorable pathologic response. Chemotherapeutic factors and tumor marker levels did not predict pathologic response. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year disease-free survivals were 83.4%, 70%, and 52.2%. The 1-, 3-, 5-year overall survivals were 88.5%, 67.5%, and 51.2%, respectively. Although a complete pathologic response (ypT0N0M0) was achieved in 7 patients, 28.6% of them demonstrated recurrence of the tumor within 6 months after curative surgery. CONCLUSION: CCRTx rather than CTx appears to be more effective for achieving good pathologic response. Although favorable pathologic response has been achieved after neoadjuvant treatment, the survival benefit remains controversial.
Aged ; Chemoradiotherapy/*methods ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/*drug therapy/mortality/pathology/*radiotherapy/surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Markers, Biological

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effects of Jiedu granules, a Chinese medicine (CM) compound, plus cinobufacini injection, which was extracted from skin of Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor, to prevent the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgical resection.

METHODSIn this case-control trial, a total of 120 patients who stayed in Changhai Hospital were enrolled from December 2001 to December 2006. Sixty patients were treated with Jiedu granules plus cinobufacini injection to prevent tumor recurrence after operation (CM group) and 60 patients were treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) after operation (TACE group). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were determined to evaluate the therapeutic effects of post-operative management of patients with HCC.

RESULTSPFS in the CM group was 18.07 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 12.49-23.65] and the 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year PFS rates were 61%, 39%, 26%, 22% and 12%, respectively. PFS in the TACE group was 8.03 months (95% CI: 6.63-9.44) and the 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year PFS rates were 34%, 11%, 7%, 2% and 0%, respectively. There was significant difference in survival rate between the two groups (P<0.01). The mean survival time (MST) of patients in the CM group was 49.53 months versus 39.90 months of the TACE group. The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-year survival rates were 90%, 82%, 80%, 70% and 63%, respectively, in the CM group, and 79%, 70%, 60%, 60% and 36%, respectively, in the TACE group. There was significant difference in survival time between the two groups (P=0.045).

CONCLUSIONSJiedu granules plus cinobufacini injection, a combination that is commonly used for post-operation management of HCC, can postpone tumor recurrence and metastasis, prolong the survival time and increase the survival rate of post-surgical patients with HCC. However, these findings need to be confirmed in a prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Amphibian Venoms ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; mortality ; surgery ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intra-Arterial ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult