R-CHOP regimen can significantly decrease the risk of disease relapse and progression in patients with non-germinal centerB-cell subtype diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

To further explore the role of rituximab when added to the CHOP-like regimen in the treatment of immunohistochemically defined non-germinal center B-cell subtype (non-GCB) diffuse large B-celllymphoma (DLBCL), 159 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients were studied retrospectively based on the immunohistochemical evaluation of CD10, Bcl-6, MUM-1, and Bcl-2. Altogether, 110 patients underwent the CHOP-like regimen, and rituximab was added for the other 49 patients. Cox regression analysis showed that compared with the CHOP-like regimen, the rituximab-based regimen (R-CHOP regimen)significantly decreased the risk of disease relapse and progression in CD10-negative patients (P=0.001),Bcl-6-negative patients (P=0.01), and MUM-1-positive patients (P=0.003). The risk of disease relapse in patients with non-GCB subtype (P=0.002) also decreased. In contrast, patients with the opposite immunohistochemical marker expression profile and GCB subtype did not benefit from treatment with the R-CHOP regimen. In addition, non-GCB subtype patients had a significantly higher expression rate of Bcl-2 than GCB subtype patients (P=0.042). Although univariate analysis found that both Bcl-2-positive and-negative patients had significantly higher event-free survival rates with the R-CHOP regimen, only Bcl-2 positivity (P=0.004) maintained significance in the Cox regression analysis. We conclude that the addition of rituximab can significantly improve the prognosis of patients with non-GCB subtype DLBCL, which is closely related to the expression of CD10, Bcl-6, MUM-1, and Bcl-2.

Primary early-stage intestinal and colonic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Clinical features, management, and outcome of 37 patients

AIM: To analyze the clinical features, management, and outcome of treatment of patients with primary intestinal and colonic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (PICL).METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 37 patients with early-stage PICL who were treated in our hospital from 1958 to 1998. Their clinical features,management, and outcome were assessed. Prognostic factors for survival were analyzed by univariate analysis using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method and log-rank test.RESULTS: Twenty-five patients presented with Ann Arbor stage I PICL and 12 with Ann Arbor stage Ⅱ PICL. Thirty-five patients underwent surgery (including 31 with complete resection), 22 received postoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both. Two patients with rectal tumors underwent biopsy and chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. The 5- and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates were 51.9% and 44.5%. The corresponding diseasefree survival (DFS) rates were 42.4% and 37.7%. In univariate analysis, multiple-modality treatment was associated with a better DFS rate compared to single treatment (P = 0.001).While age, tumor size, tumor site, stage, histology, or extent of surgery were not associated with OS and DFS,use of adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved DFS (P = 0.031) for the 31 patients who underwent complete resection. Additional radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy led to a longer survival than chemotherapy alone in six patients with gross residual disease after surgery or biopsy.CONCLUSION: Combined surgery and chemotherapy is recommended for treatment of patients with PICL.Additional radiotherapy is needed to improve the outcome of patients who have gross residual disease after surgery.

Phase Ⅰ study of postoperative radiotherapy combined with capecitabine for gastric cancer

AIM:To determine the maximum tolerated dose(MTD)and dose-limiting toxicity(DLT)of capecitabine combined with postoperative radiotherapy for gastric cancer.METHODS:We enrolled patients with any T stage and node-positive gastroesophageal or gastric adenocarcinoma after complete resection with negative margins(R0)or microscopic(R1)or macroscopic(R2)resection.Intensity modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)using a fiveto-seven-field,coplanar,sliding window technique was delivered to the tumor bed(T4b),anastomosis site,duodenal stump and regional lymph nodes(LNs)to a total dose of 45 Gy(1.8 Gy/fraction,5 d/wk).Patients with R1 or R2 resection received 10.8 Gy as a boost.Capecitabine was administered twice daily on every radiotherapy treatment day in a dose-escalation schedule (mg/m2)of 625(levelⅠ,n=6),700(levelⅡ,n=6),800(levelⅢ,n=6),900(levelⅣ,n=0)and 1000(levelⅤ,n=0).DLT was defined as grade 4 leukopenia or neutropenia,grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia or anemia and grade 3-4 non-hematological toxicity.RESULTS:Between October 2007 and August 2009,18 patients(12 men,6 women;median age,54 years)were enrolled in the study.The median number of positive LNs was 6,and total number of resected LNs was19.Twelve patients underwent R0 resection(66.7%).Fifteen patients received adjuvant chemotherapy under the leucovorin,fluorouracil and oxaliplatin(FOLFOX4)regimen.Six patients each were enrolled at dose levelsⅠ,ⅡandⅢ.Grade 1-3 leukopenia(16 patients,88.9%),anorexia(15,83.3%)and nausea(15,83.3%)were the most common toxicities.Grade 3 anorexia/nausea and grade 4 vomiting occurred in one level-Ⅰpatient.Grade 3 anorexia and nausea occurred in one level-Ⅱpatient.One level-Ⅲpatient developed grade 4neutropenia,while another developed grade 3 radiation esophagitis.No abnormal liver or renal function examinations were observed.Three patients did not finish chemoradiotherapy because of DLTs and two without DLTs received sequential boosts(total dose,55.8 Gy).CONCLUSION:The MTD of capecitabine was 800 mg/m2twice daily concurrent with IMRT for gastric cancer after surgery.The DLTs were anorexia/nausea,vomiting,neutropenia and radiation esophagitis.

Efficacy and toxicity of capecitabine combined with intensitymodulated radiotherapy after D1/D2 lymph node dissection in patients with gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy(ACRT)with oral capecitabine and intensitymodulated radiotherapy(IMRT)were well tolerated in a phase I study in patients who had undergone partial or total gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer(GC).This phase II study aimed to further determine the efficacy and toxicity of this combination after radical resection and D1/D2 lymph node dissection(LND)for patients with locally advanced GC.AIM To further determine the efficacy and toxicity of this combination after radical resection and D1/D2 LND for patients with locally advanced GC.METHODS Forty patients(median age,53 years;range,24-71 years)with pathologically confirmed adenocarcinoma who underwent D1/D2 LND were included in this study.The patients received ACRT comprising IMRT(total irradiation dose:45 Gy delivered in daily 1.8-Gy fractions on 5 d a week over 5 wk)and capecitabine chemotherapy(dose:800 mg/m²twice daily throughout the duration of radiotherapy).The primary study endpoint was disease-free survival(DFS),and the secondary endpoints were overall survival(OS),toxic effects,and treatment compliance.RESULTS The 3-year DFS and OS were 66.2%and 75%,respectively.The median time to recurrence was 19.5 mo(range,6.1-68 mo).Peritoneal implantation(n=10)was the most common recurrence pattern,and the lung was the most common site of extra-abdominal metastases(n=5).Nine patients developed grade 3 or 4 toxicities during ACRT.Two patients discontinued ACRT,while eleven underwent ACRT without receiving the entire course of capecitabine.There were no treatmentrelated deaths.CONCLUSION The ACRT protocol described herein showed acceptable safety and efficacy for patients with locally advanced GC who received radical gastrectomy and D1/2 LND.

Oral contrast agents lead to underestimation of dose calculation in volumetric-modulated arc therapy planning for pelvic irradiation

Background:The effects of oral contrast agents(OCAs)on dosimetry have not been studied in detail.Therefore,this study aimed to examine the influence of OCAs on dose calculation in volumetric-modulated arc therapy plans for rectal cancer.Methods:From 2008 to 2016,computed tomography(CT)images were obtained from 33 rectal cancer patients administered OCA with or without intravenous contrast agent(ICA)and 14 patients who received no contrast agent.CT numbers of organs at risk were recorded and converted to electronic densities.Volumetric-modulated arc therapy plans were designed before and after the original densities were replaced with non-enhanced densities.Doses to the planned target volume(PTV)and organs at risk were compared between the plans.Results:OCA significantly increased the mean and maximum densities of the bowels,while the effects of ICA on these parameters depended on the blood supply of the organs.With OCA,the actual doses for PTV were significantly higher than planned and doses to the bowel increased significantly although moderately.However,the increase in the volume receiving a high-range doses was substantial the absolute change of intestine volume receiving≥52 Gy:1.46[0.05-3.99,cubic centimeter range:-6.74 to 128.12],the absolute change of colon volume receiving≥50 Gy:0.34[0.01-1.53 cc,range:-0.08 to 3.80 cc].Dose changes due to ICA were insignificant.Pearson correlation showed that dose changes were significantly correlated with a high intestinal volume within or near the PTV(ρ>0.5,P<0.05)and with the density of enhanced intestine(ρ>0.3,P<0.05).Conclusions:Contrast agents applied in simulation cause underestimation of doses in actual treatment.The overdose due to ICA was slight,while that due to OCA was moderate.The bowel volume receiving≥50Gy was dramatically increased when OCA within the bowel was absent.Physicians should be aware of these issues if the original plan is barely within clinical tolerance or if a considerable volume of enhanced intestine is within or near the PTV.