Hui Liu

Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Sheng, China

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Publications (18)17.01 Total impact

  • Article: Dosimetric analysis of respiratory-gated radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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    ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to define individualized internal target volume (ITV) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using 4D computed tomography (4DCT), and to determine the geometric and dosimetric benefits of respiratory gating. Gross tumor volumes (GTVs) were contoured on 10 respiratory phases of 4DCT images for 12 patients with HCC. Three treatment plans were prepared using different planning target volumes (PTVs): (1) PTV(3D), derived from a single helical clinical target volume (CTV) plus conventional margins; (2) PTV(10 phases), derived from ITV(10 phases), which encompassed all 10 CTVs plus an isotropic margin of 0.8 cm; (3) PTV(gating), derived from ITV(gating), which encompassed three CTVs within gating-window at end-expiration plus an isotropic margin of 0.8 cm. The PTV(3D) was the largest volume for all patients. The ITV-based plans and gating plans spared more normal tissues than 3D plans, especially the liver. Without increasing normal tissue complication probability of the 3D plans, the ITV-based plans allowed for increasing the calculated dose from 50.8 Gy to 54.7 Gy on average, and the gating plans could further escalate the dose to 58.5 Gy. Compared with ITV-based plans, the dosimetric gains with gating plan strongly correlated with GTV mobility in the craniocaudal direction. The ITV-based plans can ensure target coverage with less irradiation of normal tissues compared with 3D plans. Respiratory-gated radiotherapy can further reduce the target volumes to spare more surrounding tissues and allow dose escalation, especially for patients with tumor mobility >1 cm.
    Medical dosimetry: official journal of the American Association of Medical Dosimetrists 01/2011; 36(2):213-8. · 1.26 Impact Factor
  • Article: How many sets of 4DCT images are sufficient to determine internal target volume for liver radiotherapy?
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    ABSTRACT: To determine the feasibility of using limited four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) images for treatment planning. The 4DCT scans of 16 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were analyzed. Gross tumor volumes (GTVs) were manually contoured on all 10 respiratory phases, and different internal clinical target volumes (ICTVs) were derived by encompassing volumes of the respective CTVs. Volume, position, and shape of ICTVs were calculated and compared. The ICTV(2 phases), ICTV(3 phases), ICTV(4 phases), and ICTV(6 phases) all showed excellent agreement with ICTV(10 phases), and the ICTV(2 phases) encompassed ICTV(10 phases) by 94.1+/-1.8% on average. The 3D shift between the centers of mass of the ICTVs was only 0.6mm. The surface distance between ICTV(10 phases) and ICTV(2 phases) was 1.7+/-0.8mm in the left-right (LR) and anteroposterior (AP) directions. Contouring two extreme phases at end-inhalation and end-exhalation is a reasonably safe and labor-saving method of deriving ITV for liver radiotherapy with low and medium tumor motion amplitude (1.6 cm). Whether the larger tumor movement affects the results is the subject of ongoing research.
    Radiotherapy and Oncology 07/2009; 92(2):255-9. · 5.58 Impact Factor
  • Article: Studies on pentoxifylline and tocopherol combination for radiation-induced heart disease in rats.
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    ABSTRACT: To investigate whether the application of pentoxifylline (PTX) and tocopherol l (Vit. E) could modify the development of radiation-induced heart disease and downregulate the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1mRNA in rats. A total of 120 Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into four groups: control group, irradiated group, experimental group 1, and experiment group 2. Supplementation was started 3 days before irradiation; in experimental group 1, injection of PTX (15 mg/kg/d) and Vit. E (5.5 mg/kg/d) continued till the 12th week postirradiation, whereas in experimental group 2 it was continued until the 24th week postirradiation. All rats were administrated a single dose of 20 Gy irradiation to the heart except the control group. Histopathologic evaluation was performed at various time points (Days 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 and 24th week) up to 24 weeks after irradiation. Changes of levels of TGF-beta1 mRNA expression were also investigated at the same time points using competitive polymerase chain reaction. Compared with the irradiated group, levels of TGF-beta1 mRNA of the rat hearts were relatively low in the two experimental groups on the 12th week postirradiation. In experimental group 1, there was a rebound expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA on the 24th week postirradiation, whereas that of the experimental group 2 remained low (p < 0.05). The proportions of collagen fibers of the two experimental groups were lower than that of irradiated group (p < 0.05). A rebound could be observed in the experimental group 1. PTX and Vit. E downregulated the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA. The irradiated rat hearts showed a marked pathologic response to the drugs. The withdrawal of drugs in the 12th week postirradiation could cause rebound effects of the development of fibrosis.
    International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics 05/2009; 73(5):1552-9. · 4.59 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Phase II clinical trial of sodium glyci-didazole (CM-Na) combined with concurrent radiochemotherapy for advanced esophageal carcinoma].
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    ABSTRACT: Although concurrent radiochemotherapy is popularly accepted as a standard treatment for advanced esophageal carcinoma, there is still great room to improve the clinical efficacy. This phase II clinical trial was to further verify the efficacy of sodium glyci-didazole (CM-Na), as a valid sensitizer, combined with concurrent radiochemotherapy on advanced esophageal carcinoma, and observe adverse events. A total of 37 patients with esophageal carcinoma received radiotherapy at a dose of 54-60 Gy to the gross tumor volume (GTV) and a course of PF regimen [continuous intravenous drip of cisplatin 20 mg x (m(2) x d) g(-1) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 500 mg x (m(2) x d) g(-1) on Days 1-5] every 3 weeks. All patients were given intravenous drip of CM-Na 700 mg/m(2) at 1 h before irradiation or chemotherapy three times weekly. All patients completed the treatment. Three months after treatment, 16 (43.2%) patients achieved complete remission (CR) and 17 (46.0%) achieved partial remission (PR); the overall response rate was 89.2%. The 1-and 2-year survival rates were 78.6% and 48.7%. The median survival time was 23.2 months. The occurrence rate of grade III adverse events was 21.6%; no neurotoxicity was observed. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with CM-Na could enhance the response rate and prolong survival of the patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma.
    Ai zheng = Aizheng = Chinese journal of cancer 07/2008; 27(6):622-6.
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    Article: [Short-term efficacy of endoscopy-guided debridement on radiation-related nasopharyngeal necrosis in 20 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after radiotherapy].
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    ABSTRACT: Nasopharyngeal necrosis is an unusual sequelae after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). It is mostly managed by conservative treatment, but the efficacy is unsatisfied. This study was to investigate the efficacy of endoscopy-guided debridement on irradiation-related nasopharyngeal necrosis in NPC patients after radiotherapy. Between Jul. 2006 and Mar. 2007, 20 NPC patients with irradiation-related nasopharyngeal necrosis after radiotherapy were treated with endoscopy-guided debridement and systemic anti-inflammatory treatment in Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University. The short-term outcomes were analyzed. RESULTES: Nasopharyngeal necrosis was cured in 5 patients. Clinical symptoms such as foul odor, headache, and hemorrhage were alleviated in 12 patients. Three patients died of nasopharyngeal massive hemorrhage within 1 year although their clinical symptoms were alleviated. Endoscopy-guided debridement is effective in treating irradiation-related nasopharyngeal necrosis, but the prognosis of the NPC patients with severe nasopharyngeal necrosis and internal carotid artery involvement is relatively poor.
    Ai zheng = Aizheng = Chinese journal of cancer 07/2008; 27(7):729-33.
  • Article: [Correlation of TGF-beta1 mRNA expression to irradiation-induced heart damage in rats].
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    ABSTRACT: Radiation-induced heart damage is one of the prognostic factors of the patients who had received radiation to the mediastinum. This study was to investigate the correlation of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA expression to the radiation response of the heart in rats, in order to provide references for further study on irradiation-induced heart damage. Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups: the 30 rats in irradiation group were irradiated with 20 Gy on the heart; the 30 rats in control group received no irradiation. At each time point of the 1st day, the 2nd, 4th, 8th 12th, and 24th week after irradiation, 5 rats in each group were killed. The serum levels of cardiac troponin and isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) were detected. The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Heart damage was observed with Masson staining under microscope. The serum level of cardiac troponin was elevated at 24 h after irradiation, and reached the peak at 2 weeks after irradiation, which was significantly higher than that in control group [(0.73+/-0.11) ng/mL vs. (0.11+/-0.04) ng/mL, P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in the serum level of CK-MB between two groups (P>0.05). The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA was elevated at the 1st day after irradiation, and reached peaks at 2 and 12 weeks after irradiation, which were significantly higher than those in control group [(8.55+/-1.19)x10(-8) microg/mL vs. (1.27+/-0.11)x10(-8) microg/mL, (4.63+/-0.41)x10(-8) microg/mL vs. (1.35+/-0.15)x10(-8) microg/mL, P<0.05]. The proportion of collagen fibers was increased since 2 weeks after irradiation, which was significantly higher than that in control group [(2.87+/-0.37)% vs. (1.14+/-0.55)%, P<0.05]. The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA was positively correlated to the proportion of collagen fibers in the rat hearts after irradiation (r=0.48, P<0.05). TGF-beta1 is involved not only in the onset but also in the development of radiation fibrosis. Inhibiting the peak expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA may reduce the radiation-induced damage to the heart.
    Ai zheng = Aizheng = Chinese journal of cancer 01/2008; 27(1):18-24.
  • Article: Defining internal target volume (ITV) for hepatocellular carcinoma using four-dimensional CT.
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    ABSTRACT: To define individualized internal target volume (ITV) for hepatocellular carcinoma using four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT). Gross tumor volumes (GTVs) and clinical target volumes (CTVs) were contoured on all 10 respiratory phases of 4DCT scans in 10 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The 3D and 4D treatment plans were performed for each patient using two different planning target volumes (PTVs): (1) PTV(3D) was derived from a single CTV plus conventional margins; (2) PTV(4D) was derived from ITV(4D), which encompassed all 10 CTVs plus setup margins (SMs). The volumes of PTVs and dose distribution were compared between the two plans. The average PTV volume of the 4D plans (328.4+/-152.2cm(3)) was less than 3D plans (407.0+/-165.6cm(3)). The 4D plans spared more surrounding normal tissues than 3D plans, especially normal liver. Compared with 3D plans, the mean dose to normal liver (MDTNL) decreased from 22.7 to 20.3Gy. Without increasing the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP), the 4D plans allowed for increasing the calculated dose from 50.4+/-1.3 to 54.2+/-2.6Gy, an average increase of 7.5% (range 4.0-16.0%). The conventional 3D plans can result in geometric miss and include excess normal tissues. The 4DCT-based plans can reduce the target volumes to spare more normal tissues and allow dose escalation compared with 3D plans.
    Radiotherapy and Oncology 10/2007; 84(3):272-8. · 5.58 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Changes of hypoxia in primary lesion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma during the treatment course and the clinical value thereof].
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    ABSTRACT: To investigate the hypoxia status in the primary lesion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) during the treatment and the clinical value thereof. Sixty-two patients with untreated NPC were examined by 99m Tc-4, 9-diaza-3, 3, 10, 10-tetramethy ldodecan-2, 11-dione dioxime (99 Tcm-HL91) SPECT imaging and CT-simulation (CT-Sim) scan before the treatment, in the mid-treatment (after receiving about 40 Gy) and at the end of treatment respectively. (1) All hypoxia images obtained at the 3 time pints were analyzed by visual analysis and semi-quantitative analysis, the radioactivity ratio of the high density region in the nasopharyngeal lesion to the normal nasopharyngeal tissue (T+/N) was calculated with the technique of region of interesting (ROI). Then the changes of hypoxia status during the treatment were evaluated according to the changes of the visual results and the ratios of T+/N. (2) The tumor volumes in different time points were measured by relevant CT-Sim images in the CT-Sim working station (Exomio 2.0, Medintec), and the percentage of tumor shrinkage in the mid-treatment and at the end of treatment were calculated to evaluate the tumor's response to treatment. The relationships between the hypoxia status before treatment, hypoxic changes during the treatment, and the tumor's response to treatment were analyzed finally. Fifty-six of the 62 NPC cases were hypoxia-positive before the treatment, the hypoxic location in the same patient remained in the same site in different time points, and no new hypoxic area was found during the treatment. Eight cases changed to negative in the mid- treatment and 19 changed to negative at the end of treatment. The ratio of T+/N decreased gradually in the same case (F = 109.073, P = 0.000). The tumor shrinkage rates in the mid-treatment and at the end of treatment of those with high-grade hypoxia (T+/N >or= 1.52) were all both significantly lower than those of the cases with low-grade hypoxia (T+/N < 1.52) (P = 0.019 and 0.000) and those of the hypoxia-negative group (P = 0.038 and 0.000). The ratios of T+/N variation in the mid-treatment and at the end of treatment were both positively correlated with the percentages of tumor shrinkage in the mid-treatment and at the end of treatment (r = 0.587, P = 0.003 and r = 0.655, P = 0.001). The hypoxia of the primary lesion of NPC alleviates gradually or disappears along with the treatment course. Hypoxia has some negative effects on the tumor response to treatment.
    Zhonghua yi xue za zhi 10/2007; 87(38):2698-702.
  • Article: [Internal target volume definition using four-dimensional CT and dosimetric evaluation for hepatocellular carcinoma].
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    ABSTRACT: Accurate definition of target volume is difficult in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT) for liver tumors because of the wide moving extent of tumors with respiration. This study was to define individualized internal target volume (ITV) using four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT), and compare planning target volumes (PTVs) and dose distribution of 3D planning with 4D planning for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Seven primary HCC patients received 4D-CT scanning. Gross tumor volumes (GTVs) and clinical target volumes (CTVs) were contoured on all 10 respiratory phases of CT images. The 3D and 4D treatment plans were made for each patient using different PTVs, namely, PTV-3D derived from a single CTV plus conventional margins; PTV-4D derived from ITV-4D which encompassing all 10 CTVs plus setup margins (SM). The two plans were designed at the 20% respiratory phase CT images using 3D treatment planning system and compared with respect to PTVs, dose distribution to normal tissues, normal tissue complication probability. The prescription dose and design of irradiating fields were identical for both plans. The average PTV was (417.6+/-197.7) cm(3) in 3D plan and (331.9+/-183.1) cm(3) in 4D plan, decreased by 20.50% (12.60%-34.40%). PTV coverage and dose uniformity were similar in the 2 plans. 4D plans spared more normal liver, kidney, stomach, and small intestine than 3D plans, especially for the liver. The V30 and V40 of the liver were lower in 4D plans than in 3D plans (33.59% vs. 38.77%, 22.62% vs. 27.32%); the mean dose to normal liver was decreased from 24.13 Gy to 21.5 Gy; liver complication probability was decreased from 21.57% to 15.86%. Without increasing the normal tissue complication probability, the prescription dose was higher in 4D plans than in 3D plans [(54.86+/-2.79) Gy vs. (50.57+/-1.51) Gy], increased by 9.72% (4%-16%). The 3D plans have pitfalls of geometric miss or over coverage of target volume. The 4D plans can accurately definite target volume to spare more normal tissues and make dose escalation as compared with 3D CRT.
    Ai zheng = Aizheng = Chinese journal of cancer 02/2007; 26(1):1-8.
  • Article: [Clinical value of barium swallow in observing esophageal tumor regression during radiotherapy].
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    ABSTRACT: Barium swallow is widely used to observe the treatment response of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and as a routine examination for long-term follow-up in China because of its convenience and inexpensiveness. This study was to observe esophageal tumor regression by barium swallow during radiotherapy, analyze the correlations of tumor regression speed to short-term response and long-term survival, and evaluate the clinical value of barium swallow during radiotherapy for ESCC. Clinical data from 94 patients with ESCC, treated with radiotherapy (39 patients) or chemoradiotherapy (55 patients) from Jan. 2001 to Jun. 2003 at Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University, were retrospectively reviewed. Of the 94 patients, 18 (19.1%) were at stage II, 36 (36.3%) at stage III, and 42 (44.6%) at stage IV. Barium swallow was performed at the radiation dose of 40 Gy and the radiation end, and the X-ray appearance was classified according to Zhengzhou Meeting criteria. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to their tumor regression speed: Group A had rapid regression, with the X-ray appearance classified as grade I or II at 40 Gy, Group B had slow regression, with the X-ray appearance classified as grade III or IV at 40 Gy, but as grade I or II at the radiation end, Group C had obvious residual tumors, with the X-ray appearance kept being classified as grade III or IV till radiation end. The correlations of tumor regression speed to short-term response and long-term survival were analyzed. The complete response (CR) rates were 100.0% in Group A, 65.2% in Group B, and 28.3% in Group C (P<0.001), the 3-year survival rates were 44.0%, 24.2%, and 17.3%, respectively (P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that short-term response and M stage were independent prognostic factors. The 3-year survival rates of CR patients were 44.0% in Group A, 32.6% in Group B, and 42.2% in Group C (P=0.814). The locoregional failure rates were 50% in Group A, 88% in Group B, and 81% in Group C, and the occurrence rates of severe radiation-related complications were 19%, 0%, and 6%, respectively. Barium swallow during radiotherapy for ESCC could be used to judge tumor regression speed, which is closely related to short-term response. Short-term response is an important prognostic factor of ESCC.
    Ai zheng = Aizheng = Chinese journal of cancer 07/2006; 25(6):723-7.
  • Article: [Clinical features and prognosis of nasal type NK/T cell lymphoma].
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    ABSTRACT: To investigate the clinical features, treatment modalities and the prognosis of nasal type NK/T cell lymphoma. The data of 39 such patients treated from June 2000 to December 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty three patients were treated by combined chemoradiotherapy, basing on anthracycline-containing CHOP or similar regimens (median 5 cycles). Eleven patients by chemotherapy alone, 2 by radiotherapy alone and 2 aged patients by palliative chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Radiotherapy was given by high energy photon ray combined with electron beam with a median curative dose of 56 Gy in conventional fractionation. Bivariate correlations and univariate prognostic factors were analyzed. Median follow-up time for the 21 patients who were still alive was 22.5 months. The overall remission rate (RR) after initial treatment was 66.7% (21 CR, 3 PR). Chemotherapy alone got a CR rate of only 37.5%. The overall local control rate was 59.4%. Local relapse rate after curative radiotherapy was 25.0%. Radiotherapy was positively correlated with local control (P = 0.000) and time to disease progression (TTP, P = 0.002). Skin and intestine were among the extranodal relapse sites. Fifteen patients had highly aggressive tumors with a median survival time of only 5 months. Univariate analysis showed that significant favorable survival prognostic factors were: radiotherapy (P = 0.001); lower risk International Prognostic Index (IPI, P = 0.001); complete remission after primary treatment (P = 0.000); pre-diagnostic history > 2 months (P = 0.024); and free of skin involvement (P = 0.034). Most of nasal type NK/T cell lymphoma are in early stage when diagnosed. Radiotherapy remains to be the mainstay of treatment. Combined chemoradiotherapy needs further improvement for the progressive disease type. Some patients may have highly aggressive tumors with poor prognosis. Optimal prognostic factors and individualized treatment regimens need to be investigated.
    Zhonghua zhong liu za zhi [Chinese journal of oncology] 01/2006; 28(1):50-3.
  • Article: [New clinical staging system for carcinoma of nasal cavity].
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    ABSTRACT: To establish a new staging system based on analysis of several presently used clinical staging systems for carcinoma of nasal cavity. The data of 122 patients treated from 1985 to 1997 in the cancer center of Sun Yat-sen University were analyzed, and a new clinical staging system was established using computer optimizing and screening combined with the clinical results. The survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier estimates, and the multivariate analysis was achieved by Cox proportional hazard model. The flaws in the presently used clinical staging systems proposed by Zhuang, Qiu, Department of Head and Neck of Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University and University of Florida and the AJCC'2002, were as follows: insufficient consideration of the modern tomography resulting in indefinite location of the tumor in clinical practice, the uneven distribution of patients in different stages, being unable to separate survival curves of different stages, and not containing of all necessary clinical staging information in some staging systems. However, based on our new staging system, the cases distributed in T1, T2, T3 and T4 was 16, 32, 42 and 32, and the 5-year survival rate was 78.8%, 64.6%, 49.9% and 30.0%, respectively. The cases distributed in stage I, II, III and IV was 16, 26, 45 and 35, and the 5-year survival rate was 78.8%, 68.4%, 51.3% and 29.0%, respectively. The overall 5-year survival rate was 61.6%. Compared to the presently used clinical staging systems, the new staging system may have more advantages in various parameters for the clinical staging in the carcinoma of nasal cavity, and may be worth to be widely and clinical used.
    Zhonghua zhong liu za zhi [Chinese journal of oncology] 07/2005; 27(6):355-9.
  • Article: [Multivariate prognostic analysis for patients with unresectable esophageal carcinoma after concurrent chemoradiotherapy].
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    ABSTRACT: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is recommended as standard treatment for unresectable esophageal carcinoma now. This study was to analyze the prognostic factors of unresectable esophageal carcinoma after concurrent chemoradiotherapy. A total of 132 unresectable esophageal carcinoma patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy from Jan. 1996 to Dec. 2003 in our hospital. All patients received chemotherapy at the beginning of radiotherapy, and when the radiation dose escalated to 40 Gy. Total dose of irradiation was 60-70 Gy. Gender, age, disease course, focus location, swallow embarrassment, weight loss, Karnofsky's performance status (KPS) score, family history, hemoglobin (HB) before therapy, X-ray type, pathologic grade, focus length, TNM stage, irradiation method and technology, irradiation dose, radiotherapy interval, short-term effect, esophagus perforation, esophagus haemorrhage, and retreatment methods were used as analysis factors for Cox regression univariate and multivariate analyses. Univariate analysis showed that diseases course, focus location, weight loss, M stage, short-term effect, esophagus perforation, esophagus haemorrhage, and retreatment methods were prognostic factors of these patients. Multivariate analysis showed that M stage [P=0.014, odds ratio (OR)=2.515], short-term effect (P < 0.001, OR=2.181), esophagus perforation (P=0.022, OR=3.266), and retreatment methods (P=0.026, OR=1.142) were independent prognostic factors. The main prognostic factors of the patients with unresectable esophageal carcinoma treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy are M stage, short-term effect, esophagus perforation, and retreatment methods.
    Ai zheng = Aizheng = Chinese journal of cancer 07/2005; 24(6):731-4.
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    Article: [Phase I study of CM-Na combined with concurrent radiochemotherapy for advanced esophageal carcinoma].
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    ABSTRACT: Although concurrent radiochemotherapy is recommended as the standard treatment for advanced esophageal carcinoma, the local failure still reaches up to 44%-54%. This study aimed to explore maximum tolerance dose (MTD) of sodium glycididazole(CM-Na) in the combined planning as the recommended dose for phase II study. Twenty-two patients with pathologically confirmed esophageal squamous carcinoma of stage III-IV were recruited according to the inclusion criteria. All patients were divided into 4 groups (at least 3 patients in a group) by turn as the dose of CM-Na escalated from 400 to 600, 700, and 800 mg x (m(2) x d)(-1) by Fibonacci's method, and treated according to the plan. All patients underwent the same concurrent radiochemotherapy. Conventional radiotherapy was performed with total dose of 60 Gy within 6 weeks. CM-Na was given 1 h before radiotherapy at Monday, Wednesday, and Friday every week, combined with 2 circles of continuous 5-day chemotherapy of 500 mg x (m(2) x d)(-1) of 5-fluoruracil (5-FU) and 20 mg x (m(2) x d)(-1) of cisplatin (DDP) at the first and the fifth week. Low-grade gastrointestinal adverse reactions were observed in the 4 groups during the period of chemotherapy, but no adverse reactions of nervous system, kidney, or heart were observed. Severe adverse reactions occurred in 800 mg x (m(2) x d) (-1) group, included 3 cases of grade III radioactive esophagitis, 2 cases of grade IV aminopherase risen, and 1 case of grade III thrombocytopenia. All the 19 patients in the rest 3 groups suffered grade I-II thrombocytopenia. The rates of complete remission and partial remission were 27% (6/22) and 68% (15/22) at the end of treating, and 46% (10/22) and 54% (12/22) 1 month after treating. Liver disfunction is the main dose-limited toxicity of the treatment schemeu 700 mg x (m(2) x d) (-1) of CM-Na is recommended to phase II clinical study.
    Ai zheng = Aizheng = Chinese journal of cancer 06/2005; 24(5):582-6.
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    Article: [Local failure-related factors of esophageal carcinoma after concurrent chemoradiotherapy].
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    ABSTRACT: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for unresectable esophageal carcinoma. Local failure and recurrence are main reasons of treatment failure. This study was to discuss the factors related with local failure and recurrence of unresectable esophageal carcinoma after concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Records of 132 patients with esophageal carcinoma, treated with concurrent chemotherapy in our hospital from Jan. 1996 to Dec. 2003, were reviewed. The patients received the first cycle of chemotherapy at the beginning of radiotherapy, and the second cycle of chemotherapy when radiation dose escalated to 40 Gy. Local failure-related factors were analyzed by binary logistic regression. To the terminal of follow-up, of the 132 patients, 54 had local failure or in-fields recurrence, 20 had in-fields recurrence and lymph nodes or distant metastasis, 5 had out-fields recurrence. Logistic regression analysis showed that short-term effect and irradiation dose were correlated with local failure and recurrence. Local failure and recurrence rate was lower in patients with complete remission (CR) than in patients with partial remission (PR) after chemoradiotherapy (44.9% vs. 79.6%, P < 0.001); and the mean time to recurrence was longer in CR patients than in PR patients (12.9 months vs. 6.1 months, P=0.002). When irradiated with 50-60 Gy,60.1-69.9 Gy, >/=70 Gy of x-ray, the local failure rates of the patients were 69%, 61%, and 52% (P=0.027), respectively, the mean time to recurrence were 5.3, 9.1, and 10.3 months, respectively. Radiation dose and short-term effect may influence local control of unresectable esophageal carcinoma.
    Ai zheng = Aizheng = Chinese journal of cancer 04/2005; 24(4):498-501.
  • Article: [Prognostic factors and treatment of 74 patients with dermatofibro-sarcoma protuberans].
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    ABSTRACT: To analyze treatment and prognostic factors of 74 patients with dermatofibro-sarcoma protuberans (DFSP). From August 1990 to November 1999, 74 patients with DFSP confirmed pathologically were treated. There were 52 males and 22 females with a median age of 37 years (range 4 to 80 years) on diagnosis. Seventeen patients were treated by extensive excision and 2 by limited excision. Fifty-two patients had surgical resection alone (S), and 22 postoperative radiotherapy (S + R) of 50-70 Gy. The multivariate parameters were analyzed using Cox model. Kaplan-Meier and Log-Rank test were used to evaluate the results of the recurrence-free survival. The rate of recurrence was 28.4% for all patients. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate (RFSR) was 66.6% and the 10-year RFSR was 52.5%. The 5-year and 10-year in the S group were 58.4% and 41.2%, compared with 90.0% and 83.3% in the S + R group (P < 0.05). The 5-year and 10-year RFSR in the pathologically positive margin group were 57.5% and 41.4% respectively, compared with the 75.0% and 56.6% in the pathologically negative group (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis suggested radiotherapy and negative pathological margins were favorable prognostic factors. Post-operation radiotherapy and pathological margin are the independent prognostic factors.
    Zhonghua zhong liu za zhi [Chinese journal of oncology] 02/2005; 27(2):122-5.
  • Article: [External radiation and combined transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for unresectable primary liver cancer].
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    ABSTRACT: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the routine treatment for unresectable primary liver cancer, but 3-year survival rate of patients received TACE alone is only about 20%. This research was to evaluate efficacy of external radiotherapy (RT) combined with TACE on unresectable primary live cancer. From Jun. 1994 to Apr. 2002, 114 patients with unresectable primary liver cancer were non-randomized to receive TACE plus RT (54 patients), or TACE alone (60 patients) as control. For TACE, after skiagram confirmed catheterization, suspension of 300 mg of carboplatin, 50-60 mg of epirubicin, 14-20 mg of mitomycin, and 10-30 ml of iodized oil was perfused into hepatic arteries, 1-2 mm of Gelfoam particles was given to embolize hepatic arteries according to blood supply conditions of tumors, this process was repeated every 4-8 weeks. Either group was treated with 1-4 sessions of TACE. In TACE+RT group, patients received radiation on tumor and generous margin 21-28 days after TACE. The radiation dose was 46-60 Gy in daily 2 Gy fractions. In TACE+RT group, response rate (AFP titer decrease of >50%) was 61.1%, and 1-, 2-, 3-year survival rates of TACE+RT group were significantly higher than those of TACE group (66.5% vs. 53.9%, 48.4% vs. 37.2%, and 37.4% vs. 17.8%, P<0.05). Three-year survival rate correlated with tumor size, liver function grade, and portal vein embolus. TACE combined with RT may prolong survival time of patients with unresectable primary live cancer.
    Ai zheng = Aizheng = Chinese journal of cancer 01/2005; 24(1):82-6.
  • Article: [Analysis of prognostic factors for 63 patients with brain metastasis from lung cancer after radiochemotherapy].
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    ABSTRACT: Brain metastasis is often found in the patients with lung cancer. Radiotherapy is regular and effective method, and it aims at palliating symptoms and prolonging survival time. However, now there are different viewpoints on protocols of radiotherapy and prognostic factors. A retrospective analysis was used to evaluate the results of treatment for 63 cases with brain metastasis from lung cancer and explore the prognostic factors. Sixty-three patients of brain metastasis from lung cancer from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 2000 were studied retrospectively. All of them have received radiotherapy (RT) and 42 cases received combined chemotherapy. The median dose of radiotherapy was 40Gy(24-62.4 Gy). Mean survival times from two factors were compared by t-test and the cumulative survival rate was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier estimates, and the influencing factors were screened by Cox proportional hazard model. The mean survival times were 9.5 months in the radiochemotherapy group and 6.3 months in radiotherapy alone group, 9.3 months in good response group and 5.0 months in the poor response group (P = 0.043), 10.8 months in the > or = 50 Gy group and 6.7 months in the < 50 Gy group(P = 0.028), and 10 months in > or = 1.8 Gy fraction group and 4.8 months in the < 1.8 Gy fraction group (P = 0.015). Survival analysis results suggested that the patients with combined chemotherapy and good response have better prognosis. Combined chemotherapy and efficacy at the end of treatment are independent prognosis factors of brain metastasis from lung cancer.
    Ai zheng = Aizheng = Chinese journal of cancer 10/2002; 21(10):1141-4.