Objective:To prospectively observe the changes of tumor-related symptoms in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma following the administration of nimotuzumab one week before radiotherapy.Methods:Non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with positive epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and symptoms caused by the primary lesion or metastatic cervical lymph nodes admitted to Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were prospectively recruited. Investigators recorded tumor-related symptoms in recruited patients one day before the first administration of nimotuzumab (D0) and conducted follow-up visits from day 2 to day 7 after the first administration (D2-D7) to document symptom changes. All recruited patients were asked to assess tumor-related symptoms on D0 and D7 by visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. VAS scores were analyzed by paired t-test. Results:From June 2020 to April 2023, a total of 21 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 49 years (range: 27-69 years), with a male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. Among the patients, 17 patients (81%) received concurrent nimotuzumab for 8 cycles, 7 cycles for 3 cases (14%), and 6 cycles for 1 case (5%), respectively. All patients completed symptom assessments as required. The overall response rate of symptoms after the first administration of nimotuzumab was 62%, with response rates of 4/6、5/8、4/10、4/10、4/11、3/11 for tinnitus, headache, aural fullness, secondary pain caused by neck mass, nasal bleeding, and nasal obstruction, respectively. The VAS scores for overall symptoms were significantly decreased after the administration of nimotuzumab one week before radiotherapy ( P<0.001), with the most significant decrease in VAS scores for tinnitus, aural fullness, and headache. Conclusion:The administration of nimotuzumab one week before radiotherapy significantly alleviates tumor-related symptoms in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, particularly in alleviating tinnitus, aural fullness, and headache.

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features and treatment outcomes of the value of response-adapted treatment following radiotherapy and induction chemotherapy follwing subsequent comprehensive therapy in patients with resectable locally advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods:This cohort study was conducted from September 2010 to September 2020 in our hospital, 231 patients pathologically confirmed stage Ⅲ and ⅣB resectable locally advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma included. For the IC-directed ART strategy, IC is used to select good candidates to receive radical RT or CCRT, and others undergo surgery. He response-adapted strategy was determined based on the primary tumor response, which was evaluated at a dose of 50 Gy. If the response reached complete response or partial response（more than 80% tumor regression）, patients received radical RT or CCRT; otherwise, they received surgery, if possible, at 4 to 6 weeks after RT. The end points of the study were OS（overall survival）, progression free survival（PFS）, locoregional recurrence-free survival（LRRFS） and LDFS. Results:In IC-directed group, 75.0%（57/76） patients reached PR after 2 cycles of induction chemotherapy. While in RT-directed group, 70.3%（109/155） patients reached large PR at dose of 50 Gy. The median interquartile range follow-up period of the whole cohort was 63.8 months. The 5-year OS, PFS, LRRFS and SFL of the whole cohort were 47.9%、39.6%、44.3% and 36.2%, respectively. In evaluations based on the different treatment strategies, the 5-year OS and SFL were 51.3% versus 37.0%（HR 0.67; 95%CI 0.43-1.05; P=0.07） and 27.8% versus 39.8%（HR 0.68; 95%CI 0.46-0.99; P=0.04） between IC-directed and RT-directed groups. In additional, surgery complications did not significantly differ between these two groups. Conclusion:In this cohort study, the response-adapted strategy based on an early RT response facilitated better treatment tailoring, and higher laryngeal preservation compared with IC-directed strategies. This approach could provide a feasible laryngeal preservation strategy in patients with resectable locally advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma.
Male ; Humans ; Cohort Studies ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Carcinoma ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms/therapy* ; Induction Chemotherapy

Objective:To evaluate the incidence, clinical characteristics and prognosis of second primary malignancies (SPMs) among patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HPC) in real-world analysis.Methods:A total of 594 HPC patients admitted to Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College from 2010 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.The incidence and clinical characteristics of HPC patients complicated with SPMs were analyzed. Clinical efficacy was compared among different groups.Results:With a median follow-up time of 66.9 months, SPMs were present in 36.4% (216/594) of HPC patients: 22.2% (132/594) were synchronous and 14.1% (84/594) were metachronous. The upper aerodigestive tract was the most common involved region. Compared with patients without SPMs, patients with synchronous and metachronous carcinoma in situ had similar 5-year overall survival (OS) of 42.2% vs. 44.5% ( P=0.958) and 62.2% vs. 44.5% ( P=0.240), respectively. Patients with synchronous invasive SPMs had a worse 5-year OS of 27.2% vs. 44.5% in their counterparts without SPMs ( P=0.001). Patients with metachronous invasive SPMs had similar 5-year OS of 50.2% vs. 44.5% in their counterparts without SPMs ( P=0.587). SPMs accounted for 42.5% of total death in metachronous invasive SPMs group. Conclusions:Patients with HPC have a high probability of developing SPMs. Moreover, the incidence of complicated with esophageal/gastric carcinoma in situ or metachronous SPMs exerts no effect on prognosis, while the occurrence of synchronous SPMs significantly affectes the prognosis of patients. However, the incidence of SPMs is still one of the main death causes in metachronous invasive SPMs group.

We reported the clinical data of a neonate admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital (Yuying Children's Hospital) of Wenzhou Medical University in November 2021 with autosomal recessive complete signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 ( STAT1) deficiency identified by whole exome sequencing. The baby boy received bacillus of calmette-guerin (BCG) vaccine 2 d after birth and presented with persistent high fever, increased white blood cell count and increased level of C-reactive protein (CRP) on 21 d after birth. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) was detected in both blood and bone marrow specimens. The patient improved after comprehensive treatment with antiviral agents, antibiotics and intravenous gammaglobulin. Oral anti-viral drugs were prescribed on discharge. However, the baby was rehospitalized due to a fever at 55 days. HCMV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex were detected in blood samples. The infant was transferred to the Children's Hospital of Fudan University due to persistent high fever even after active management and died after treatment withdrawal at 69 d after birth because of worsening infections and multiple organ failure. A homozygous mutation in the STAT1 gene was detected [c.1011_1012del, NM_007315: exon11: c.1011_1012del (p.V339Pfs*18)] and the child was diagnosed as autosomal recessive complete STAT1 deficiency. We concluded that the clinical manifestations of autosomal recessive complete STAT1 deficiency are bacterial infections caused by lethal low-pathogenic mycobacteria and life-threatening virus infections. Whole exome sequencing is of great value for early diagnosis and timely treatment. The prognosis of this disease is very poor, but the condition of the patients might be improved in a short period with early anti-tuberculosis and anti-viral treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the prognostic value of pretreatment systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods:We retrospectively collected the data of 839 patients with non-metastatic NPC from National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital and Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2007 and October 2015. All patients received intensity modulated radiation based treatment. Optimal cutoff value of SII and LDH were determined by X-title software. The association between SII, LDH and clinical prognosis of non-metastatic NPC patients were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and Log rank test was used for comparison of survival rates between groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was carried out to minimize the effects of confounding factors. The risk stratification model of prognosis by combining N stage, SII and LDH was constructed to compare the prognosis of patients in high risk group, middle risk group and low risk group, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate its prognostic value.Results:The optimal cutoff value of SII is 447.2×10 9/L for predicting the 5-year overall survival (OS) of NPC patients, and the best cutoff value of LDH is 198.9 U/L. The proportion of patients with stage T3-4 and stage III-IVB in high SII group was higher than that in low SII group ( P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that N stage, SII and LDH were independent factors of OS, progression-free survival (PFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) of NPC patients (N stage, HR=1.705, 95% CI: 1.247-2.332; HR=1.755, 95% CI: 1.342-2.295; HR=2.161, 95% CI: 1.515-3.082. SII, HR=1.525, 95% CI: 1.097-2.119; HR=1.518, 95% CI: 1.150-2.004; HR=1.837, 95% CI: 1.272-2.653. LDH, HR=2.041, 95% CI: 1.403-2.968; HR=1.725, 95% CI: 1.233-2.414; HR=2.492, 95% CI: 1.690-3.672, respectively). After PSM, SII was still an independent prognostic factor of OS, PFS and DMFS in NPC patients ( HR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.09-2.12; HR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.15-2.00; HR=1.82, 95% CI: 1.26-2.63, respectively). Combined with N 2-3 stage, SII (>447.2×10 9/L), and LDH (>198.9 U/L), patients were divided into high-(3 risk factors), intermediate- (2 risk factors) and low-risk (0-1 risk factors) groups. The 5-year OS rates of patients in low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups were 86.1%, 79.8% and 41.2% respectively, the 5-year PFS rates were 80.7%, 70.2% and 33.9% respectively, and the 5-year DMFS rates were 88.9%, 79.2% and 47.5% respectively. There were significant differences in OS, PFS and DMFS among these three groups ( P<0.001). Distant metastasis was the main failure pattern in low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups, and the highest rate of distant metastasis was 83.3% (15/31) in high-risk group. ROC curve of the risk stratification model for predicting 5-year OS of NPC patients is 0.610, which is higher than TNM stage (0.609), SII (0.574) and LDH (0.558). Conclusions:Pretreatment SII and LDH are significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients with non-metastatic NPC. The combination of SII, LDH and N stage can stratify the prognostic risk of NPC patients. The risk stratification model can enhance the accuracy of prognosis.

Objective:To evaluate the prognostic value of pretreatment systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods:We retrospectively collected the data of 839 patients with non-metastatic NPC from National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital and Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2007 and October 2015. All patients received intensity modulated radiation based treatment. Optimal cutoff value of SII and LDH were determined by X-title software. The association between SII, LDH and clinical prognosis of non-metastatic NPC patients were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and Log rank test was used for comparison of survival rates between groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was carried out to minimize the effects of confounding factors. The risk stratification model of prognosis by combining N stage, SII and LDH was constructed to compare the prognosis of patients in high risk group, middle risk group and low risk group, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate its prognostic value.Results:The optimal cutoff value of SII is 447.2×10 9/L for predicting the 5-year overall survival (OS) of NPC patients, and the best cutoff value of LDH is 198.9 U/L. The proportion of patients with stage T3-4 and stage III-IVB in high SII group was higher than that in low SII group ( P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that N stage, SII and LDH were independent factors of OS, progression-free survival (PFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) of NPC patients (N stage, HR=1.705, 95% CI: 1.247-2.332; HR=1.755, 95% CI: 1.342-2.295; HR=2.161, 95% CI: 1.515-3.082. SII, HR=1.525, 95% CI: 1.097-2.119; HR=1.518, 95% CI: 1.150-2.004; HR=1.837, 95% CI: 1.272-2.653. LDH, HR=2.041, 95% CI: 1.403-2.968; HR=1.725, 95% CI: 1.233-2.414; HR=2.492, 95% CI: 1.690-3.672, respectively). After PSM, SII was still an independent prognostic factor of OS, PFS and DMFS in NPC patients ( HR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.09-2.12; HR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.15-2.00; HR=1.82, 95% CI: 1.26-2.63, respectively). Combined with N 2-3 stage, SII (>447.2×10 9/L), and LDH (>198.9 U/L), patients were divided into high-(3 risk factors), intermediate- (2 risk factors) and low-risk (0-1 risk factors) groups. The 5-year OS rates of patients in low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups were 86.1%, 79.8% and 41.2% respectively, the 5-year PFS rates were 80.7%, 70.2% and 33.9% respectively, and the 5-year DMFS rates were 88.9%, 79.2% and 47.5% respectively. There were significant differences in OS, PFS and DMFS among these three groups ( P<0.001). Distant metastasis was the main failure pattern in low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups, and the highest rate of distant metastasis was 83.3% (15/31) in high-risk group. ROC curve of the risk stratification model for predicting 5-year OS of NPC patients is 0.610, which is higher than TNM stage (0.609), SII (0.574) and LDH (0.558). Conclusions:Pretreatment SII and LDH are significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients with non-metastatic NPC. The combination of SII, LDH and N stage can stratify the prognostic risk of NPC patients. The risk stratification model can enhance the accuracy of prognosis.

Objective:To compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based and computed tomography (CT)-based target volume delineation and dose coverage in partial breast irradiation (PBI) for patients with breast cancer, aiming to explore the application value of MRI localization in PBI after breast-conserving surgery.Methods:Twenty-nine patients with early breast cancer underwent simulating CT and MRI scans in a supine position. The cavity visualization score (CVS) of tumor bed (TB) was evaluated. The TB, clinical target volume (CTV), planning target volume (PTV) were delineated on CT and MRI images, and then statistically compared. Conformity indices (CI) between CT- and MRI-defined target volumes were calculated. PBI treatment plan of 40 Gy in 10 fractions was designed based on PTV-CT, and the dose coverage for PTV-MRI was evaluated.Results:The CVS on CT and MRI images was 2.97±1.40 vs. 3.10±1.40( P=0.408). The volumes of TB, CTV, PTV on MRI were significantly larger than those on CT, (24.48±16.60) cm 3vs. (38.00±19.77) cm 3, (126.76±56.81) cm 3vs. (168.42±70.54) cm 3, (216.63±81.99) cm 3vs. (279.24±101.55) cm 3, respectively, whereas the increasing percentage of CTV and PTV were significantly smaller than those of TB. The CI between CT-based and MRI-based TB, CTV, PTV were 0.43±0.13, 0.66±0.11, 0.70±0.09( P<0.001), respectively. The median percentage of PTV-MRI receiving 40 Gy dose was 81.9%(62.3% to 92.4%), significantly lower than 95.6%(95.0%~97.5%) of PTV-CT. Conclusions:The CVS between CT and MRI is not significantly different, but the MRI-based TB, CTV, PTV are significantly larger than CT-based values. The PTV-MRI is of underdose if PBI treatment plan is designed for PTV-CT. As a supplement of CT scan, MRI can enhance the accuracy of TB delineation after breast-onserving surgery.

Objective: To analyze the failure patterns of locoregional recurrence (LRR) and investigate the range of radiotherapy in T_1-2N₁ breast cancer patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy. Methods: From September 1997 to April 2015, 2472 women with T_1-2N₁ breast cancer after modified radical mastectomy without neoadjuvant systemic therapy were treated in our hospital. 1898 patients who did not undergo adjuvant radiotherapy were included in this study. The distribution of accumulated LRR was analyzed. The LR and RR rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the prognostic factors were identified in univariate analyses with Log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox logistic regression analysis. Results: With a median follow-up of 71.3 months (range 1.1-194.6), 164 patients had LRR, including supraclavicular/infraclavicular lymph nodes in 106(65%), chest wall in 69(42%), axilla in 39(24%) and internal mammary lymph nodes (IMNs) in 19 patients (12%). In multivariate analysis, age (>45 years vs.≤45 years), tumor location (other quadrants vs. inner quadrant), T stage (T₁ vs. T₂), the number of positive axillary lymph nodes (1 vs. 2-3), hormone receptor status (positive vs. negative) were significant prognostic factors for both LR and RR. Conclusions In patients with T_1-2N₁ breast cancer after modified radical mastectomy, the most common LRR site is supraclavicular/infraclavicular nodal region, followed by chest wall. The axillary or IMN recurrence is rare. The prognostic factors for LR and RR are similar, which indicates that supraclavicular/infraclavicular and chest wall irradiation should be considered for postmastectomy radiotherapy.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of chest wall boost radiotherapy in stage T 4 breast cancer patients after modified radical mastectomy. Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the data of 148 stage T 4 breast cancer patients who were admitted from 2000 to 2016 and received radiotherapy after modified radical mastectomy. There were 57 cases in the chest wall boost radiotherapy group and 91 cases in the conventional dose group. Radiotherapy was performed by conventional+ chest wall electron beam, three-dimensional conformal+ chest wall electron beam, intensity modulated radiotherapy+ chest wall electron beam irradiation. EQD 2 at the boost group was >50Gy. All patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze survival; Logrank was used to test differences; and Cox model was used to do multivariate prognostic analysis. Results:The median follow-up time was 67.2 months. The 5-year rates of chest wall recurrence (CWR), locoregional recurrence (LRR), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were 9.9%, 16.2%, 58.0%, and 71.4%, respectively. The 5-year rates of CWR, LRR, DFS, and OS with and without chest wall boost radiotherapy were 14% vs. 7%, 18% vs. 15%, 57% vs. 58%, 82% vs. 65%( P>0.05), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that chest wall boost radiotherapy had no significant effect on prognosis ( P>0.05). Among 45 patients in the recurrent high-risk group, boost radiotherapy seemed to have higher OS rate ( P=0.058), DFS rate ( P=0.084), and lower LRR rate ( P=0.059). Conclusions:Stage T 4 breast cancer patients had strong heterogeneity. Chest wall boost radiotherapy did not apparently benefit all patients. For patients with 2-3 high risk factors including positive vascular tumor embolus, pN 2-N 3, and hormone receptor negative, chest wall boost radiotherapy showed a trend of improving efficacy.

Objective:To evaluate the incidence of early cardiac injury in patients with left-sided breast cancer receiving hypofractionated radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery, and to investigate the correlation between cardiac injury and hypofractionated radiotherapy dose.Methods:We prospectively enrolled 103 breast cancer patients who received whole breast with or without regional nodal irradiation after breast conserving surgery using either deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) or free breathing (FB) radiotherapy technique. Cardiac examinations that included N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), electrocardiogram, and myocardial perfusion imaging were performed routinely before and after radiotherapy. The effects of heart dose, systemic therapy and individual factors (Framingham score) on the incidence of cardiac events were analyzed.Results:The median age was 48 years. The mean dose (Dmean) of the heart, left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), left ventricular (LV), and right ventricular (RV) were 4.0, 16.9, 6.3, and 4.4 Gy, respectively. With a median follow-up of 13.4 months, no patient had clinical cardiac abnormalities. The incidence rates of subclinical cardiac events at 1- 6- and 12-month were 23.5%, 31.6%, and 41.3%, respectively. The DIBH group had a lower mean dose, maximum dose, and V5-V40 in the heart, LAD, LV, and RV than the FB group ( P<0.001). Univariate analysis showed an increased incidence of subclinical cardiac events with heart Dmean >4 Gy, LAD V40 > 20%, LV Dmean >6 Gy, RV Dmean >7 Gy, or cumulative doses of anthracycline or taxane > 300 mg/m 2 (All P<0.05). Anti-HER2 targeted therapy, endocrine therapy and Framingham score were not associated with the incidence of subclinical cardiac events (all P>0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that Dmean of LV and RV were independently associated with the increased incidence of subclinical cardiac events. Conclusions:Early subclinical heart injury are found in patients with left-sided breast cancer after hypofractionated radiotherapy. The increased incidence of subclinical cardiac events after radiotherapy is positively associated with the cardiac radiation doses.