Chemoradiation Therapy In Patients Research Articles

Resectability After Concurrent Gemcitabine-Based Chemoradiation Therapy for Patients With Locally-Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Resectability After Concurrent Gemcitabine-Based Chemoradiation Therapy for Patients With Locally-Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

CEA – A Predictor for Pathologic Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Therapy for Rectal Cancer

Preoperative chemoradiation therapy in patients with rectal cancer results in pathologic complete response in approximately 10% to 30% of patients. Accurate predictive factors for obtaining pathologic complete response would likely influence the selection of patients best treated by chemoradiation therapy as the primary treatment without radical surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of tumor size, stage, location, circumferential extent, patient characteristics, and pretreatment CEA levels on the development of pathologic complete response after chemoradiation therapy. This study is a retrospective review. Five hundred thirty patients treated with preoperative chemoradiation therapy and radical surgery for rectal adenocarcinoma between 1998 and 2011 were identified. A total of 469 patients remained after excluding patients with a history of pelvic radiation (n = 2), previous transanal endoscopic microsurgery or polypectomy of the primary lesion (n = 15), concurrent malignant tumor (n = 14), and no information about pre- or posttreatment T stage in the chart (n = 30). Preoperative CEA levels were available for 267 patients (57%). Preoperative chemoradiation therapy and total mesorectal excision were performed in patients with rectal cancer. The primary outcome measured was pathologic complete response. : Ninety-six patients (20%) were found to have a pathologic complete response in the operative specimen. Low pretreatment CEA (3.4 vs 9.6 ng/mL; p = 0.008) and smaller mean tumor size (4.2 vs 4.7 cm; p = 0.02) were significantly associated with pathologic complete response. Low CEA levels and interruption in chemoradiation therapy were significant predictors of pathologic complete response in the multivariate analysis. When stratifying for smoking status, low CEA level was significantly associated with pathologic complete response only in the group of nonsmokers (p = 0.02). This study was limited by its retrospective design, missing CEA values, and lack of tumor regression grade assessment. We demonstrated an association between low pretreatment CEA levels, interruption in chemoradiation therapy, and pathologic complete response in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer. The predictive value of CEA in smokers can be limited, and further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of smoking on the predictive value of CEA levels for pathologic complete response in rectal cancer.

Role of clinical variables for predicting pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer.

e14691 Background: pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation is a strong prognostic factor for rectal cancer. Some studies have suggesting a wait and see approach for rectal cancer after clinical complete response to chemoradiation. In this study, we tried to identify clinical predictive factors of pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Methods: we retrospectively reviewed data of 129 patients from a prospective database, treated between January, 2008 and December, 2012. Patients with mid and low rectal adenocarcinoma, clinically staged (MRI) as T3,T4 any N or any T, N+, received pre-operative chemoradiation, which consists in 5040 cGy, concomitant to 5-FU-based chemotherapy. All patients were operated, by radical TME procedures. The clinical variables analyzed were: age, gender, distance from dentate line, cT stage, cN stage, pre-treatment CEA level, NIH toxicity during chemoradiation, endoscopic assessment of response, and interval between the end of radiation and surgery. We investigate associations between these variables with complete pathological response (cPR) and “good” pathological response (gPR), defined as ypT0orT1 N0. Results: the rate of cPR was 20.2%. The rate of gPR was 31.8%. For predicting cPR, only the endoscopic assessment of response showed significant association with cPR. Among 18 patients with complete endoscopic response, 8 (44.4%) confirmed cPR after resection. Among 93 patients with endoscopic findings suggesting residual disease, 14 (15.1%) presented cPR (p=0.008). 55.6% (10/18) of patients with complete endoscopic response still have microscopic residual disease in the resected specimen. For predicting gPR, only the cN staging was significantly associated with ypT0orT1 N0 (23.9% of gPR among cN+ patients against 41.3% among cN0 patients; p=0.038). Conclusions: clinical tools are very poor for predicting pathological response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in patients with locally advanced rectal carcinomas. Despite endoscopic assessment of response by retoscopy have showed significant association with cPR, the predictive value was weak.

Covered self‐expandable metal stent deployment promises safe neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic head cancer

Patients with borderline resectable pancreatic head cancer (BRPHC) have been treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NACRT) using metallic stents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and complications of covered self-expanding metallic stents (CSEMS) during the NACRT and surgical period. We reviewed the outcomes of patients with BRPHC, then divided them chronologically into three groups as follows. Group A: upfront surgery with plastic stent (PS) deployment; group B: PS deployment plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and/or NACRT; group C: CSEMS deployment plus NAC/NACRT. Patients were categorized as borderline resectable based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines, 2010. Days to reintervention (DR), reintervention rate, and the rate of R0 and complications were studied. Safe margin-negative resection (R0) surgery was defined as R0 surgery without reintervention during the NACRT period and no postoperative complications. DR were as follows. Groups A, B and C were 32, 55 and 97 days, respectively (P < 0.05). R0 surgery obtained in groups A, B and C was 53% (9/17), 100% (17/17) and 93% (14/15), respectively. CSEMS did not interfere with surgery. Safe R0 surgery obtained in groups B and C was 11% (2/19) and 67% (10/15), respectively (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the odds ratio for safe R0 surgery was 16.210 (95% CI 2.457-106.962, P = 0.003) for CSEMS placement. CSEMS should be considered to relieve symptomatic biliary obstruction in patients with BRPHC receiving NACRT in view of the high attainability rate of safe R0 surgery compared to that with PS deployment.

Temporary stent placement with concurrent chemoradiation therapy in patients with unresectable oesophageal carcinoma: is there an optimal time for stent removal?

To investigate the influence of the timing of stent removal on the outcome of temporary stent placement with concurrent chemoradiation therapy in patients with unresectable oesophageal carcinoma. Retrospective analysis was performed on 52 patients undergoing temporary stent placement. Stents were electively removed within 4 weeks in 15 patients (group A), 4-6 weeks in 17 patients (group B) and after 6 weeks in 20 patients (group C). Recurrent symptoms after stent removal, dysphagia score and overall survival periods were compared among the groups. Stent placement and removal were technically successful in all patients. The dysphagia score was significantly improved in all groups (P < 0.001). In 19 patients (36 %), recurrent symptoms occurred 15-441 days after stent removal. In group A, recurrent obstruction was significantly higher than in groups B (P = 0.049) and C (P = 0.019). Incidence of oesophago-respiratory fistulas in group C was significantly higher than in group A (P = 0.027). There was no significant difference in survival periods. The ideal time for stent removal likely falls between 4 and 6 weeks following the start of palliative CCRT allowing the temporary stents to relieve dysphagia effectively in patients with unresectable oesophageal carcinoma. • Stents are usually required for unresectable oesophageal carcinoma • Optimal timing of stent removal is 4-6 weeks after starting palliative CCRT. • Early stent removal (<4 weeks) is associated with higher recurrence rates. • Delayed stent removal (>6 weeks) is associated with greater oesophago-respiratory fistula development.

Pretreatment Diffusion-Weighted and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI for Prediction of Local Treatment Response in Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck

The objective of our study was to predict response to chemoradiation therapy in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) by combined use of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and high-spatial-resolution, high-temporal-resolution dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) parameters from primary tumors and metastatic nodes. Thirty-two patients underwent pretreatment DWI and DCE-MRI using a modified radial imaging sequence. Postprocessing of data included motion-correction algorithms to reduce motion artifacts. The median apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), volume transfer constant (K(trans)), extracellular extravascular volume fraction (v(e)), and plasma volume fraction (v(p)) were computed from primary tumors and nodal masses. The quality of the DCE-MRI maps was estimated using a threshold median chi-square value of 0.10 or less. Multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used to determine the best model to discriminate responders from nonresponders. Acceptable χ(2) values were observed from 84% of primary tumors and 100% of nodal masses. Five patients with unsatisfactory DCE-MRI data were excluded and DCE-MRI data for three patients who died of unrelated causes were censored from analysis. The median follow-up for the remaining patients (n = 24) was 23.72 months. When ADC and DCE-MRI parameters (K(trans), v(e), v(p)) from both primary tumors and nodal masses were incorporated into multivariate logistic regression analyses, a considerably higher discriminative accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.85) with a sensitivity of 81.3% and specificity of 75% was observed in differentiating responders (n = 16) from nonresponders (n = 8). The combined use of DWI and DCE-MRI parameters from both primary tumors and nodal masses may aid in prediction of response to chemoradiation therapy in patients with HNSCC.

Clinical Nodal Staging and Clinical Target Volume for Preoperative Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy in Patients With Advanced Oral Cancer

Clinical Nodal Staging and Clinical Target Volume for Preoperative Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy in Patients With Advanced Oral Cancer

Tumor Response After Small Dose of Chemoradiation Therapy in Patients With Esophageal Carcinoma

Tumor Response After Small Dose of Chemoradiation Therapy in Patients With Esophageal Carcinoma

The Phase II Trial of Erotinib and Radiation Therapy Following Chemoradiation Therapy for Patients With Stage III Non-small Cell Lung Cancer has Shown a Favorable Response Profile

The Phase II Trial of Erotinib and Radiation Therapy Following Chemoradiation Therapy for Patients With Stage III Non-small Cell Lung Cancer has Shown a Favorable Response Profile

Pelvic and Paraortic Lymph Node Response to Chemoradiation Therapy in Patients With Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: Does a Higher Boost Dose Impact Nodal Control?

HR-CTV D90 -5.0 8 -3.0 6 -1.7 4 -0.9 2 0.4 2 1.0 5 1.2 8 1.4 13 HR-CTV D100 -6.2 11 -3.9 8 -2.4 5 -1.0 2 1.0 3 2.3 4 3.2 8 3.8 14 Rectum D2cc 37.1 5 22.5 3 12.9 2 6.3 1 -5.1 1 -9.8 2 -15.3 4 -21.4 6 Bladder D2cc -11.0 5 -7.5 3 -4.9 2 -2.6 1 2.5 1 5.4 2 9.6 4 15.4 6 Sigmoid D2cc -6.7 7 -4.1 5 -2.5 3 -1.2 1 0.7 1 1.5 2 2.4 4 3.2 6 Point A Left -5.5 9 -3.2 6 -1.8 4 -0.8 2 0.7 2 1.2 5 1.9 8 2.8 12 Point A Right -7.0 11 -4.5 8 -2.8 5 -1.5 3 1.1 3 2.7 6 4.7 11 7.5 19 ICRU Rectum 23.7 27 14.9 16 8.7 9 4.3 4 -4.1 3 -8.2 6 -13.5 9 -20.0 12 ICRU Bladder -4.2 10 -2.6 7 -1.6 5 -0.7 2 0.7 2 1.6 5 2.5 9 3.9 15 Volume 84 Number 3S Supplement 2012 Poster Viewing Abstracts S435

Role of 18F‐Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography in Predicting the Pathologic Response to Preoperative Chemoradiation Therapy in Patients With Resectable T3 Pancreatic Cancer

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in combination with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) could correctly predict the pathologic response to preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for resectable pancreatic cancer. Each of the 40 patients underwent FDG-PET/CT before and after preoperative CRT. The maximum standard uptake value (SUV) was measured for the primary tumor before and after preoperative CRT, defined as pre-CRT SUV and post-CRT SUV, respectively. The proportional alteration of the SUV decline (regression index) between post-CRT SUV and pre-CRT SUV was also calculated. These three indicators were associated with the pathologic response. Patients were classified as 21 responders and 19 nonresponders according to the histologic features. A pre-CRT SUV ≥ 4.7 was seen in 15 (71 %) of 21 responders and in 6 (32 %) of 19 nonresponders (p = 0.03). A regression index ≥ 0.46 was seen in 15 (71 %) responders and 5 (26 %) nonresponders (p = 0.01). A better pathological response can be expected for pancreatic cancer patients who have a high regression index (≥ 0.46) and a high pre-CRT SUV (≥ 4.7). The SUV measurement using FDG-PET/CT is a useful tool for predicting the pathologic response to preoperative CRT.

Erlotinib and chemoradiation in patients with surgically resected locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a GICOR phase I trial

Standard treatment of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is concurrent chemoradiation. Erlotinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor, which has shown activity in SCCHN. Phase I study aims to determine the maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of adding erlotinib to chemoradiation therapy in patients with surgically resected locally advanced SCCHN. Inclusion criteria--SCCHN patients with T3 or T4 primary lesion (except T3N0 with negative resection margins); pathologic N2-N3 disease; poor prognostic findings; age 18-70 years; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of zero to one; no evidence of metastasis; adequate organic function and written informed consent. Study design--dose-escalating phase I study with three cohorts of three to six patients each that received increasing doses of erlotinib (100-150 mg/day p.o.) and cisplatin (30-40 mg/m(2) i.v., day 1) for 7 weeks. Radiotherapy--standard regimen of 1.8 Gy daily (5 fractions/week) to a maximum total dose of 63 Gy in 7 weeks. Thirteen male (median age: 57 years) were enrolled. Overall, the regimen was well tolerated. Two of three patients treated at dose level III (erlotinib: 150 mg/day; cisplatin: 40 mg/m(2)) developed DLT consisting of grade 3 infection and grade 3 mucositis. Other toxic effects included diarrhea, asthenia, and rash. Recommended dose for additional studies: erlotinib 150 mg/day p.o.; cisplatin 30 mg/m(2)/week i.v. Erlotinib can be safely combined with chemoradiation without requiring dose reduction of chemo- or radiotherapy in this postsurgical population.

Use of KRAS codon 13 mutations to predict response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in patients with rectal adenocarcinoma.

453 Background: The predictive role of KRAS mutation in therapeutic management of metastatic colorectal cancer has been much investigated. However, the association between KRAS mutations and rectal cancer response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) remains unclear. Our objectives were to determine the incidence of KRAS mutations in patients with rectal cancer and identify potential correlations with response to CRT. Methods: Patients with Stage II-III rectal cancer (n=148) from a multicenter prospective clinical trial were assessed. DNA was extracted from pretreatment tumor biopsies; and genotyping of KRAS was completed by PCR and direct sequencing. All patients underwent pre-operative CRT followed by surgery; and treatment response was evaluated by a pathologist. Surgical specimens without evidence of residual disease were deemed to have a pathologic complete response (pCR). Results: Overall, 60 of 148 (40.5%) patients had KRAS mutation. Breakdown of the different KRAS mutations revealed that 40 (66.7%) mutations occurred in codon 12, 12 (20.0%) in codon 13, 5 (8.3%) in codon 61, and 3 (5.0%) in other locations. When examining the relationship between KRAS and CRT response, we observed that detection of any KRAS mutation was associated with a decreased rate of pCR compared to wild-type KRAS (13.3% vs. 33.0%, respectively; p=0.007). More specifically, patients with KRAS codon 13 mutations did not respond to CRT compared to non-codon 13 mutations (p=0.037). In contrast, the detection of codon 12 or codon 61 mutations was not associated with response to CRT ( Table ). Conclusions: Patients with KRAS mutation have lower response rates to CRT compared to patients with wild-type KRAS. However, our results indicate that this association does not apply to all KRAS mutations, rather to KRAS codon 13 mutation alone. Thus, these data are the first to show that patients with KRAS codon 13 mutations may not derive pCR from neoadjuvant CRT. [Table: see text]

Predicting response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer: Diffusion‐weighted 3 tesla MR imaging

To evaluate the efficacy of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) on 3 Tesla (T) MR imaging to predict the tumor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Thirty-five patients who underwent neoadjuvant CRT and subsequent surgical resection were included. Tumor volume was measured on T2-weighted MR images before and after neoadjuvant CRT and the percentage of tumor volume reduction was calculated. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value was measured on the DWI before and after neoadjuvant CRT, and the change of ADC (Δ ADC) was calculated. The histopathologic response was categorized either as a responder to CRT or as a nonresponder. The relationship between the ADC parameters and the percentage of tumor volume reduction or histopathologic response was then evaluated. There was a significant correlation between tumor volume reduction and pre-CRT ADC and Δ ADC, respectively (r = -0.352, r = 0.615). Pre-CRT ADC of the histopathologic responders was significantly lower than that of the histopathologic nonresponders (P = 0.034). Δ ADC of the histopathologic responders was significantly higher than that of the histopathologic nonresponders (P < 0.005). DWI on 3T MR imaging may be a promising technique for helping to predict and monitor the treatment response to neoadjuvant CRT in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Molecular Diagnosis of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) is an important prognostic factor in locally advanced rectal cancer. However, it is uncertain if histopathological techniques accurately detect pCR. We tested a novel molecular approach for detecting pCR and compared it with current histopathological approaches. Pretreatment tumor biopsies and surgical specimens were collected from 96 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant CRT and surgery. Tumor response was categorized by tumor regression grade. Tumor DNA from pre-CRT tumor biopsies was screened for K-ras and p53 mutations. DNA from paired surgical specimens was then screened for the same mutations using highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction-based techniques. Sixty-eight of 96 (71%) pretreatment biopsies harbored K-ras and/or p53 mutation; 36 (38%) had K-ras mutations, 52 (54%) had p53 mutations, and 20 (21%) carried both mutations. Of 70 patients with tumor regression grades 1 to 3, sixty-six (94%) had a concordant K-ras and p53 mutation profile in pre- and post-treatment tissues. Of 26 patients with tumor regression grade 0 (pCR), 12 had K-ras or p53 mutations in pretreatment biopsies. Of these, 2 (17%) patients had the same K-ras (n = 1) or p53 (n = 1) mutation detected in post-treatment tissue. Sensitive molecular techniques detect K-ras and p53 mutations in post-CRT surgical specimens in some patients with a pCR. This suggests histopathological techniques might not be completely accurate, and some patients diagnosed with a pCR to CRT might have occult cancers cells in their surgical specimens.

Value of diffusion-weighted imaging in the detection of viable tumour after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer: comparison withT2weighted and PET/CT imaging

To evaluate the added value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in combination with T(2) weighted imaging (T2WI) compared with T2WI alone or positron emission tomography (PET)/CT for detecting viable tumour after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. 50 consecutive patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (≥T3 or lymph node positive) who underwent neoadjuvant CRT and subsequent surgery were enrolled in this retrospective study. All patients underwent 3.0 T rectal MRI and PET/CT after completing CRT. For qualitative analysis, two radiologists independently reviewed T2WI alone and DWI with T2WI over a 1-month interval. One nuclear medicine physician reviewed PET/CT images using a five-point scale. Diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for detecting viable tumour were assessed. For quantitative analysis, the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of the lesions were measured and compared between the viable tumour group and non-viable tumour groups. For detecting viable tumours, DWI with T2WI improved diagnostic accuracies (Reviewer 1 detected 90%; Reviewer 2, 86%) over T2WI alone (Reviewer 1 detected 76%, p=0.5; Reviewer 2, 64%, p=0.013) or PET/CT (48%, p<0.001). The sensitivity of DWI with T2WI (Reviewer 1 detected 98%; Reviewer 2, 91%) was significantly higher than those of T2WI alone (Reviewer 1 detected 77%; Reviewer 2, 64%) or PET-CT (43%, p<0.05). Only for Reviewer 2 was the NPV of DWI with T2WI (43%) significantly different from that of PET/CT (17%, p<0.05). The specificities and PPVs of DWI with T2WI were not improved over those of T2WI alone or of PET/CT (both p>0.05). The mean ADC of the viable tumour group (0.93 × 10(-3) mm(2) sc(-1)) was significantly lower than that of the non-viable tumour group (1.55 × 10(-3) mm(2) sc(-1), p<0.0001). Adding DWI to T2WI is helpful for detecting viable tumours after neoadjuvant CRT compared with T2WI alone or PET/CT in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Complete Clinical Response After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy for Distal Rectal Cancer: Characterization of Clinical and Endoscopic Findings for Standardization

Complete tumor regression may develop after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy for distal rectal cancer. Studies have suggested that selected patients with complete clinical response may avoid radical surgery and close surveillance may provide good outcomes with no oncologic compromise. However, definition of complete clinical response is often imprecise and may vary between different studies. The aim of this study is to provide a clear definition for a complete clinical response after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in patients with distal rectal cancer in addition to actual endoscopic videos from patients managed nonoperatively. Patients with nonmetastatic distal rectal cancer treated by neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy, including 50.4 Gy and concomitant 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin, were assessed for tumor response at least 8 weeks after chemoradiation therapy completion. Complete and incomplete clinical responses were defined based on clinical and endoscopic findings. Patients with complete clinical response were not immediately operated on and were closely followed. Early and late endoscopic findings were recorded. Definition of a complete clinical response should be based on very strict clinical and endoscopic criteria. The finding of any residual superficial ulceration, irregularity, or nodule should prompt surgical attention, including transanal full-thickness excision or even a radical resection with total mesorectal excision. Standard or incisional biopsies should be avoided in this setting. Complete clinical responders should harbor no more than whitening of the mucosa, teleangiectasia with mucosal integrity to be considered for a nonoperative approach. In the presence of these findings, regularly scheduled reassessments may provide a safe alternative to these patients with early detection of recurrent disease. Strict definition of the clinical and endoscopic findings of patients experiencing complete clinical response after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy may provide a useful tool for the understanding of outcomes of patients managed with no immediate surgery allowing standardization of classifications and comparison between the experiences of different institutions.

Thymidylate Synthase Gene Polymorphism Affects the Response to Preoperative 5-Fluorouracil Chemoradiation Therapy in Patients With Rectal Cancer

This study aims to correlate thymidylate synthase (TS) gene polymorphisms with the tumor response to preoperative 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in patients with rectal cancer. Forty-four patients with rectal cancer treated with 5-FU-based preoperative CRT were prospectively enrolled in this study. Thymidylate synthase expression and TS gene polymorphisms were evaluated in tumor obtained before preoperative CRT and were correlated with the pathologic response, as assessed by histopathologic staging (pTNM) and tumor regression grade. Patients exhibited 2R/3R and 3R/3R tandem repeat polymorphisms in the TS gene. With regard to TS expression in these genotypes, 2R/3RC and 3RC/3RC were defined as the low-expression group and 2R/3RG, 3RC/3RG, and 3RG/3RG as the high-expression group. There was no significant correlation between TS expression and tumor response. There was no significant difference in the tumor response between patients homozygous for 3R/3R and patients heterozygous for 2R/3R. However, 13 of 14 patients in the low-expression group with a G>C single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (2R/3RC [n = 5] or 3RC/3RC [n = 9]) exhibited a significantly greater tumor downstaging rate, as compared with only 12 of 30 patients in the high-expression group without the SNP (2R/3RG [n = 10], 3RC/3RG [n = 9], or 3RG/3RG [n = 11]) (p = 0.001). The nodal downstaging rate was also significantly greater in this low-expression group, as compared with the high-expression group (12 of 14 vs. 14 of 30, p = 0.014). However, there was no significant difference in the tumor regression grade between these groups. This study suggests that SNPs within the TS enhancer region affect the tumor response to preoperative 5-FU-based CRT in rectal cancer.

Adjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy for Adenocarcinoma of the Distal Pancreas

This study was designed to examine the effect of adjuvant 5-FU-based chemoradiation therapy (CRT) after distal pancreatectomy for adenocarcinoma of the distal pancreas. All patients underwent curative resection for adenocarcinoma of the distal pancreas between December 1985 and June 2006. Patients who received adjuvant CRT were compared with those who underwent surgery alone. A Kaplan-Meier estimate of the survival curve was used to determine estimates of the median survival and proportion alive at 1 and 2 years; log-rank tests were used to make comparisons between groups. A total of 123 patients underwent distal pancreatectomy; 29 patients were excluded for distant metastases at the time of surgery (n = 12, 10%) or before adjuvant therapy (n = 11, 9%), death within 2 months of surgery (n = 2, 2%), or if CRT treatment status was unknown (n = 4, 3%). Of the remaining 94 patients, 72% received adjuvant 5-FU-based CRT and 28% underwent surgery alone. Overall median survival was 16.2 (95% confidence interval (CI), 13.1-18.9) months. The groups were similar with respect to tumor size, nodal status, and margin status. There was no significant difference in overall survival between patients treated with adjuvant CRT versus surgery alone (p = 0.23). An exploratory subgroup analysis suggested a potential survival benefit of adjuvant CRT in patients with lymph node metastases (16.7 vs. 12.1 months, p < 0.01). Adjuvant CRT did not increase survival compared with surgery alone; however, patients with node-positive disease appear to benefit from adjuvant CRT.

Risk Factors for Fatal Hemoptysis after Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Received: March 8, 2010, Accepted for Publication: March 18, 2010 *Corresponding author: In-Jae Oh, 519-809, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Lung and Esophageal Cancer Clinic, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Phone: +82-61-379-7617, FAX: +82-61-3797619, E-mail: droij@chonnam.ac.kr 전남의대학술지 제46권 제1호 Chonnam Medical Journal Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 19∼24 DOI: 10.4068/cmj.2010.46.1.19