Efficacy and Safety of Primary Radiotherapy in Combination with EGFR-TKIs for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Harboring EGFR Mutation

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of EGFR-TKI with the radiotherapy in EGFR mutant metastatic NSCLC. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 72 patients with stage IV lung cancer with EGFR-sensitive mutation. Patients in the A group were treated with the first-generation EGFR-TKI (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor) combined with radiotherapy for primary tumors (34 cases). The B group was treated with the first-generation EGFR-TKI alone until the disease progressed (38 cases). PFS, OS, pulmonary infection and hematological toxicity during treatment were commented in both groups. Results: The objective remission rate was 47.1% (16/34) in the A group and 21.1% (8/38) in the B group. There was a significant difference between the two groups. There was no significant difference in hematological toxicity between the A group and the B group. There were 10 patients (29.4%) with degree II pulmonary infection in the A group and 3 patients (7.9%) in the B group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant, suggesting that the incidence of pneumonia in the A group was higher than that in the B group. The median PFS (Progression-Free Survival)) and OS (Overall Survival) of the A group were significantly longer than those of the B group (16.5 months vs 9 months) and the median OS (36 months vs 19 months). The PFS and OS in the A group were significantly longer than those in the B group. Conclusion: EGFR-TKI combined with primary radiotherapy can significantly prolong the drug resistance time of EGFR mutant metastatic NSCLC.

Pang Fuwan Uses Yao Medicine to Observe the Therapeutic Effects on the Physical and Mental Symptoms of Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Objective: Investigate the efficacy and safety of Yao Medicine in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma, and explore the best therapeutic measure for clinical benefit. Methods: From July 2020 to July 2022, 84 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma were selected and randomly divided into the Observation Group and control group, and the control group was treated with routine Western medicine, with 42 cases in each group. The activity of daily living (ADL) was assessed before and after treatment, meanwhile, the self-rating depression scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety SAS (SAS) were used to assess the improvement of a bad mood, and quality of life SF-36 was used to assess the quality of life, to judge the efficacy and safety. Results: The effective rate of observation group was 91.67%. The effective rate of the control group was 76.19%. The effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P 0.05). There were no significant differences in the scores of SDS, SAS and quality of life between the two groups before treatment (P > 0.05), and after treatment, the scores of SDS, SAS and quality of life in the two groups were compared with those in the control group (P > 0.05), the scores of VAS, SDS and SAS decreased significantly, while ESCV, angle of straight leg elevation, ADL, physiological score, emotional score, social score and health status score increased significantly, the difference was statistically significant (P 0.05). Conclusion: Yao Medicine can improve the psychosomatic symptoms of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma better, with better efficacy and higher safety.

Analysis and Review of Downregulated Actin Cytoskeletal Proteins in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Actin, a highly conserved protein, plays a dominant role in Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Late diagnosis and the aggressive nature of NSCLC pose a significant threat. Studying the clinic pathological properties of NSCLC proteins is a potential alternative for developing treatment strategies. Towards this, 35 downregulated actin cytoskeletal proteins on NSCLC prognosis and treatment were studied by examining their protein-protein interactions, gene ontology enrichment terms, and signaling pathways. Using PubMed, various proteins in NSCLC were identified. The protein-protein interactions and functional associations of these proteins were examined using the STRING database. The focal adhesion signaling pathway was selected from all available KEGG and Wiki pathways because of its role in regulating gene expression, facilitating cell movement and reproduction, and significantly impacting NSCLC. The protein-protein interaction network of the 35 downregulated actin cytoskeleton proteins revealed that ACTG1, ACTR2, ACTR3, ANXA2, ARPC4, FLNA, TLN1, CALD1, MYL6, MYH9, MYH10, TPM1, TPM3, TPM4, PFN1, IQGAP1, MSN, and ZXY exhibited the highest number of interactions. Whereas HSPB1, CTNNA1, KRT17, KRT7, FLNB, SEPT2, and TUBA1B displayed medium interactions, while UTRN, TUBA1B, and DUSP23 had relatively fewer interactions. It was discovered that focal adhesions are critical in connecting membrane receptors with the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, protein kinases, phosphatases, and adapter proteins were identified as key signaling molecules in this process, greatly influencing cell shape, motility, and gene expression. Our analysis shows that the focal adhesion pathway plays a crucial role in NSCLC and is essential for developing effective treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.

Chemotherapy combined with bevacizumab for small cell lung cancer with brain metastases:A case report

BACKGROUND Small cell lung cancer(SCLC)is a common and aggressive subtype of lung cancer.It is characterized by rapid growth and a high mortality rate.Approximately 10%of patients with SCLC present with brain metastases at the time of diagnosis,which is associated with a median survival of 5 mo.This study aimed to summarize the effect of bevacizumab on the progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival of patients with brain metastasis of SCLC.CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old man was referred to our hospital in February 2023 because of dizziness and numbness of the right lower extremity without headache or fever for more than four weeks.The patient was diagnosed with limited-stage SCLC.He received 8 cycles of chemotherapy combined with maintenance bevacizumab therapy and achieved a PFS of over 7 mo.CONCLUSION The combination of bevacizumab and irinotecan effectively alleviated brain metastasis in SCLC and prolonged PFS.

Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Stage I Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma in Patients Aged 75 Years and Older

Purpose: We report our single-institution experience using hypofractionated radiotherapy in a patient population 75 years and older diagnosed with stage IA or IB (T1/T2 N0) Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma. Materials and methods: This is a single-institution, retrospective analysis examining disease free and overall survival and toxicity after hypofractionated radiation therapy in a patient population 75 years and older diagnosed with stage IA or IB (T1/T2 N0) NSCLC. Between 1991 and 2005, a total of 33 such patients were identified with a median age of 79 years. Patients were treated with a median total dose of 7000 cGy using median daily dose fractions of 250 cGy. Analysis of competing risks (local failure, distal failure or death as the first event) was performed and cumulative incidence functions (CIF) were estimated. Results: The median length of follow-up was 19.8 months (range: 4.3 - 103.8 months). Of the 33 patients treated, 21 (63.6% of total) had no evidence of disease recurrence on follow-up imaging over the course of the study. Of the 12 patients with disease recurrence, 6 (18.2% of total) had local failure as the first event and 6 (18.2% of total) had distant metastasis as the first event. Analysis of competing risks showed that at 5 years, the probability of local failure as the first detected event was 19.5% (95%CI: 7.6%, 35.6%);the probability of distal failure as the first detected event was 21.5% (95%CI: 7.9%,39.4%);and the probability of death without recording a failure was 44.1% (95%CI: 26.1%, 60.7%). There were no treatment related deaths reported. Conclusions: Elderly patients diagnosed with stage I non-small cell lung cancer may safely be offered hypofractionated radiotherapy as an effective option with curative intent.

Synchronous multiple lung cancers with hilar lymph node metastasis of small cell carcinoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Synchronous multiple lung cancers are rare and refer to the simultaneous presence of two or more primary lung tumors,which present significant challenges in terms of diagnosis and treatment.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of multiple synchronous lung cancers with hilar lymph node metastasis of small cell carcinoma of unknown origin in a 73-year-old man.Transbronchial lung biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma.Although enlargement of lymph node 12u was detected,no distant metastases were observed.The patient was preoperatively diagnosed with T1cN0M0 and underwent thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy with nodal dissection(ND2a).Based on histopathological findings,the primary lesion was squamous cell carcinoma.A microinvasive adenocarcinoma was also observed on the cranial side of the primary lesion.Tumors were detected in two resected lymph nodes(#12u and#11s).Both tumors were pathologically diagnosed as small cell carcinomas.The primary lesion of the small cell carcinoma could not be identified even by whole-body imaging;however,chemotherapy was initiated for hilar lymph node metastasis of the small cell carcinoma of unknown origin.CONCLUSION Multiple synchronous lung cancers can be accompanied by hilar lymph node metastasis of small cell carcinomas of unknown origin.

Survival and prognostic factors of non-small cell lung cancer patients with postoperative locoregional recurrence treated with radical radiotherapy

Background: Locoregional recurrence remains the challenge for long-term survival of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients after radical surgery, and curative-intent radiotherapy could be a treatment choice. This study aimed to assess the survival and prognostic factors of patients with postoperative locoregionally recurrent NSCLC treated with radical radiotherapy.Methods: We reviewed medical records of 74 NSCLC patients with postoperative locoregional recurrence who received radical radiotherapy between April 2012 and February 2016 at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center(Guangzhou, China). The efficacy and safety of radical radiotherapy were analyzed. The probability of survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify prognostic factors.Results: Grade 3/4 adverse events included neutropenia(8 cases, 10.8%), esophagitis(7 cases, 9.5%), pneumonitis(1 case, 1.4%), and vomiting(1 case, 1.4%).The 2-year overall survival, progression-free survival, local recurrencefree survival(LRFS), and distant metastasis-free survival(DMFS) rates of all patients were 84.2,42.5,70.0, and 50.9%,respectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that a higher biological effective dose(BED) of radiation was associated with longer LRFS [hazard ratios(HR)=0.317,95% confidence interval(CI) = 0.112-0.899, P = 0.016] and that wild-type epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) was associated with longer DMFS compared with EGFR mutation(HR = 0.383,95% CI=0.171-0.855, P = 0.019).Conclusions: Radical radiotherapy is effective and well-tolerated in NSCLC patients with postoperative locoregional recurrence. High BED is a predictor for long LRFS, and the presence of wild-type EGFR is a predictor for long DMFS.

Treatment of Skin Reaction Induced by Nivolumab Combined with Radiotherapy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer:A Case Report

Skin reaction or dermatological toxicities induced by immunotherapy is common.It usually manifests skin rash or erythema and can be cured by skin lotion or steroid.Nivolumab,a human IgG4 programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)inhibitor,blocks T cells activation preventing signal and allows the immune system to clear cancer cells.Nivolumab was approved in the second-line therapy in squamous cell lung cancer by FDA,with less than 10%unusual skin reaction,like sensory neuropathy,peeling skin,erythema multiforme,vitiligo,and psoriasis.Radiotherapy could aggravate this skin reaction through inflammatory response and promotion of immunity.The combined treatment of anti-PD-1 and radiotherapy represented a new promising therapeutic approach in many studies,but the risk of side effects may be high.We reported a patient with advanced squamous cell lung cancer who suffered from serious skin immune-related adverse events when he was treated with nivolumab and radiotherapy.The immune overreaction of the treatment of anti-PD-1 treatment and radiotherapy might cause these serious skin adverse events.Our report warranted careful workup to reduce the risk of side effects by combinative therapy with anti-PD-1 and radiotherapy.

Effect analysis of chemoradiotherapy after operation in patients with stage ⅢA non-small cell lung cancer

Objective:To investigate the effect of chemoradiotherapy after surgery onⅢA stage nonsmall cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods:A total of 156 NSCLC patients undergoing total pneumonectomy or pulmonary lobectomy were included in this study.The chemotherapy group (n=75) received the protocol of cisplatin(DDP) + gemcitabine(GEM) / docetaxel(DOC) / vinorelbine (NVB);the radiotherapy + chemotherapy group(n=81) received sequential chemoradiotherapy. The response rale,local control rale in1 to 2 years,overall survival(OS),progression-free survival(PFS) and adverse reactions were evaluated.Results:The overall response rate was obviously higher in radiotherapy + chemotherapy group(79.4%) than in chemotherapy group(56.8%) (P【0.01).The 1 year local control rates for chemotherapy group and radiotherapy + chemotherapy group were(69.1±7.9)%and(77.8±8.2)%respectively and the difference reached statistical significance (P【0.001).The 2 year local control rates were(42.1±6.1%and(61.5±6.9)%respectively(P【0.001). The difference in median follow-up time between the two groups did not reach statistical meaning(P】0.05),while the median PFS of two groups were 10.8 months and 16.9 months respectively(P【0.001).1-year and 3-year survival rates were obviously higher in radiotherapy + chemotherapy group than in chemotherapy group,and the difference reached statistical significance(P【0.05 or P【0.01).The adverse reactions manifested as hematological toxicity and digestive tract reaction in the two groups.In the radiotherapy + chemotherapy group,incidences of radiation-induced esophagus injury and lung injury were 24.7%and 34.6%respectively,all occurring within 2 to 6 weeks after the start of radiation and both below grade 2.Conclusions: Chemoradiotherapy after surgery can improve local control rate and reduce or prevent distant metastasis,but there are still many controversies.In clinical work,we should carefully evaluate each patient’s age,lung function,basic physical condilion scoring and complications to choose a therapeutic schedule that is suitable for the patient.

Relevance of EGFR gene mutation with pathological features and prognosis in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma

Objective:To study the relevance of EGFR gene mutation with pathological features and prognosis in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma.Methods:A total of 297 patients from July 2009 to May 2013 were chosen as objects.EGFR gene mutation were detected with fluorescence quantitative PCR.Relevance of EGFR gene mutation with clinical and pathological features was analyzed,and the prognosis of EGFR- mutant-patients and that of EGFR- wide type-patients was compared.Results:In 297 patients.136(45.79%) showed EGFR gene mutation.EGFR gene mutation had no significant relevance with age.gender,smoking history,family history of cancer and clinical stage(P>0.05);there was significant relevance between EGFR gene mutation and blood type,pathologic types,differentiation and diameter of cancer(P<0.05).The difference between prognosis of EGFR- mutant-patients and that of EGFR- wide type-patients was statistical significance(P<0.05).Conclusions:EGFR gene mutation has significant relevance with pathological features,the prognosis of EGFRmutant-paticnts is better than that of EGFR- wide type-patients.

Review of the treatment of metastatic non small cell lung carcinoma:A practical approach

In recent years,as we have a better knowledge and understanding of the biology of non small cell lung carcinoma(NSCLC),which leads us to targeting biomarkers driving the NSCLC carcinogenesis and metastatic potential,we now have an increased number of options to offer our patients with NSCLC.We also realize the importance of distinguishing squamous and non squamous histology to guide our treatment decisions of NSCLC.The palliative care concomitant with therapies from the very start of the treatment also showed an impact on survival.This review examines the treatment options in all lines of therapy for metastatic NSCLC that have been approved in Canada,the United States,or Europe.

Inhibitory Effect of MiR-449b on Cancer Cell Growth and Invasion through LGR4 in Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma

Non-small-cell lung carcinoma （NSCLC） is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies worldwide. Previous studies have shown that microRNA-449b （miR-449b） functions as a tumor suppressor in many cancers. However, the role of miR- 449b in NSCLC is still unknown. In the present study, miR-449b was significantly down- regulated in NSCLC samples and cell lines. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that 3＇-UTR region of leucine rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 （LGR4） mRNA had putative complementary sequences to miR-449b, which was further confirmed by the luciferase assay. Western blotting showed that restoration of miR-449b in NSCLC cells decreased the expression of LGR4. Interestingly, over-expression of miR-449b inhibited growth and invasion of NSCLC cells in vitro. Furthermore, ectopic expression of LGR4 reversed miR-449b-suppressed proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells. Therefore, the data of the present study demonstrate that miR-449b inhibits tumor cell growth and invasion by targeting LGR4 in NSCLC.

Molecularly targeted therapies for advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung carcinoma

Non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC)remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women in the United States.Platinum-based doublet chemotherapy has been a standard for patients with advanced stage disease.Improvements in overall survival and quality of life have been modest.Improved knowledge of the aberrant molecular signaling pathways found in NSCLC has led to the development of biomarkers with associated targeted therapeutics,thus changing the treatment paradigm for many NSCLC patients.In this review,we present a summary of many of the currently investigated biologic targets in NSCLC,discuss their current clinical trial status,and also discuss the potential for development of other targeted agents.

AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF OCCULT MICRO- METASTASES IN REGIONAL LYMPH NODES OF 94 PATIENTS WITH STAGE I NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CARCINOMA

In the study, 739 regional lymph nodes from 94 patients with stage I non- small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) were studied by immunohistochemical techniques. These lymph nodes contained no metastatic tumor as assessed by conventional histopatholgy were recut. A series of consecutive sections from the original blocks were immunostained with poly-and monoclonal antibodies to cytokeratins, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and human milk fat globulin membrane antigen (HMFG-2). Single tumor cells or small clusters of tumor cells, not visible on routine examination, were readily detected. The actual number of lymph nodes that contained occult tumor cells was 123 (16.6%) from 53 patients (56.4%). The majority of 102 immunostalned positive nodes were distributed in the hllar (29% ) and peribronchlal (25%) regions. Our data indicate that (1) a series of consecutive sections and immunohistochemistry may greatly Increase the diagnostic yield of occult micrometastases in lymph nodes; (2) the high incidence of occult metastases in NSCLC may be of Importance in relation to their rapid dissemination and high death rates; (3) the high frequencyof occult nodal metastases in NSCLC raises questions in regard to our presently used criteria for staging, prognosis and treatment of ostensibly stage I disease; and (4) perhaps dissections of hllar and peribronchlal nodes will have an Importantly clinical significance in prevention of wide dissemination of tumor cells.

Glabridin and Anti-Non-Muscle Myosin IIA Therapy Disrupts Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Motility

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death in the United States killing over 130,000 people each year. While a combination of chemo and radiation therapy may be effective, surgery is still required for many patients. Without surgery, the disease may progress and lead to metastases. We sought to determine if treatment with anti-non-muscle myosin IIA antibody would inhibit movement of the cells in the presence and absence of glabridin (an isoflavonoid compound shown to inhibit cell migration by inhibiting myosin). We compared inhibition by glabridin to that of an anti-non-muscle myosin IIA antibody and a combination therapy of both at 12 and 24 hours post wound creation. Cells that took up the anti-non-muscle myosin IIA antibody were greatly inhibited in motility and exhibited no significant change in wound healing. Glabridin treatment resulted in a dramatic increase in wound size within 12 hours and regeneration within 24 hours. The greatest decrease in motility was observed in cells treated with the combination of both glabridin and anti-non-muscle myosin IIA antibody. By 24 hrs, cell migration had halted due to death of the cells resulting from this combination. Further testing needs to be done to determine a safe mode of delivery of the combination therapy to ensure only local distribution. Controlled release drug delivery depot systems have been used as a means to provide local release of drugs intra-tumorally or adjacent to the cancerous tissue after surgical resection and have great potential.

Feasibility of cetuximab and chemoradiotherapy combination in Chinese patients with unresectable stage Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer:a preliminary report

Objective： In recent years, the combination of cetuximab and chemoradiotherapy （CRT） has been used to treat stage III non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）; however, limited data are available for Chinese patients. Herein, we report preliminary data from a phase I/II study testing the combination of cetuximab with inductive chemotherapy, followed by concurrent CRT （CCRT） in Chinese patients with stage III NSCLC. Methods： Eligibility criteria were Zubrod performance status （PS） 0-1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second （FEV1） 〉_1.2 L and adequate organ function. Enrolled patients received weekly cetuximab （initial dose of 400 mg/m2 on day 1 of week 1 and a maintenance dose of 250 mg/m2 on week 2 to the end of CCRT） with cisplatin/vinorelbine （NP） chemotherapy （every 3 weeks for 2 cycles from week 2, followed by two cycles of concomitant NP chemotherapy and intensity-modulated thoracic radiotherapy （TRT） （60-66 Gy/2 Gy）. The primary endpoints were toxicity and feasibility. All patients received positron emission tomography- computerized tomography （PET-CT） scans within the 2 weeks prior to enrollment. Univariate analyses were used to assess the correlation between SUV-T, SUV-N, SUV-TOTAL, gender, age, histology, tumor-node- metastasis （TNM） stage, PS and smoking status and survival. Survival curves were generated for different populations using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using a log-rank test. Results： Seventeen patients were enrolled and 16 completed the full regime. The overall response rate （ORR） was 58.8% and 82.3% after the induction and CCRT phases, respectively. With a median follow-up duration of 27.6 months, the median survival was 27.6 months [95% confidence interval （CI）： 11.3-43.9 months] with 1- and 2-year survival rates of 88.2% （95% CI, 60.6-96.9%） and 58.8% （95% CI, 60.6-77.8%）, respectively. Three patients remain progression-free to date, and the median progression-free survival （PFS） was 13.5 months （95% CI, 6.8-20.2 months）. No treatment-related death occurred; however, 76% of the patients experienced grade 3＋ adverse events （AEs）, including nansea/vomiting, intestinal obstruction, and esophagitis （〈6%）, while other AEs were mostly of hematological nature （71%）. The cut-off values for SUV-T and SUV-TOTAL were 11 and 20, respectively. Univariate analyses revealed SUV-TOTAL （P=0.027）, SUV-T （P=0.025）, and PS （P=0.006） as potential survival predictors, with a hazard ratio （HR） of 3.4, 3.7, and 9.9, respectively. Conclusions： The combination of cetuximab with induction chemotherapy followed by CCRT appears feasible and promising. Local and locoregional maximal SUVs, defined by 18F-FDG PET-CT scanning, may represent a prognostic indicator for long-term survival for these patients, which warrants further study.

Aquaporin 5 Expression and Its Relationship to Apoptosis in Different Grades of Differentiated Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Aquaporin 5 has been recently found as an important oncogenic marker whose expression levels seem to be determined by the level of cellular differentiation. Despite aquaporin volume decrease (AVD) being the most conserved earliest event in apoptosis, there is still a paucity of studies exploring on aquaporin expression and its relationship with apoptosis in cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of aquaporin 5 channel protein and to explore on its relationship with apoptosis in well and poorly differentiated non-small cell lung carcinoma both in-vivo and in-vitro. Findings from the study showed that the expression of AQP5 both in-vivo and in-vitro was dependent on the type and degree of tumour differentiation. In-vivo, an increase in aquaporin 5 expression was associated with an increased apoptosis in both poorly and highly differentiated adenocarcinoma (AC) while there was no association between aquaporin 5 expression and apoptosis in both poorly and highly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In vitro, differentiation therapy in the form of ATRA decreased both cell proliferation and increased the expression of AQP5 in A549 cells. The cytomorphological changes, expression of differentiation markers and flow cytometry apoptotic results were dependent on the dose of ATRA treatment. In conclusion, a higher expression of aquaporin 5 was found to promote the rate of the apoptotic process in lung adenocarcinoma (AC).

A Clinic-Epidemilogical Study of Cases of Locally Advanced Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) That Received Radiotherapy at NCI Cairo in the Period from 2001-2010

Purpose: This work was to study the clinic-epidemiological characteristics of patients with locally advanced NCSLC and to analyze their prognostic factors and also the results of different treatment modalities for local control and their effect on overall survival (OAS). Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study including 121 patients with primary locally advanced NSCLC diagnosed between 2001 and 2010 at the radiotherapy department , National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt. Results: The study showed significant correlation between the tumor size 60, moderately differentiated tumors G2 and treatment outcomes;better locoregional control and better survival rates. On the opposite side poorly differentiated tumors G3, tumor size > 7 cm had the worst locoregional control and survival rates. The study also showed significant statistical correlation between treatment modality, locoregional control and survival rates. Patients who were treated by either concommitent chemo-radiotherapy or sequential chemo-radiotherapy had better local control compared to other patients who were treated by radical radiotherapy, and they also had the best survival rates among all the other treatment groups. The average 6 months OAS rates for all studied patients were 60.3% while 12 months survival rates were 38.8%. The median OAS was 7 months. Conclusions: From the present study, we concluded that concomitant chemo-radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for locally advanced non small cell lung cancer;also we concluded that better performance status and higher hemoglobin levels have better treatment outcome in these cases.

Initial outcome of induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy and concurrent weekly paclitaxel for stage Ⅲ non-small cell lung cancer

Objective： The aim of our study was to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of induction chemotherapy （ICT） followed by three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy （3D CRT） and concurrent weekly paclitaxel on unresectable non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods： Stage III NSCLC patients with favorable conditions were treated with 2 to 4 cycles of carboplatin （AUC = 5-6, dl） combined with paclitaxel （175 mg/m〈 dl）, then followed by weekly paclitaxel （40 mg/m2） and concurrent 3D CRT within 3-4 weeks. The prescription dose was given as high as possible under the condition that V20 〈 31% and spinal cord dose 〈 50 Gy. Results： Thirty-one patients were enrolled. ICT was well tolerated. During the concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the treatment of 3 patients was ended ahead of the schedule because of severe pulmonary and heart toxicities; the treatment of 2 patients was delayed for 7 and 12 days because of fatigue. Myelosuppression was mild （16/31）： all were grade 1-2 except 1 was grade 3. Lymphocytopenia was more obvious （29/31, grade 3 in 21）. Three patients developed grade 3 radiation-induced esophagitis, and 2 developed grades 3-4 radiation-induced pneumonitis. Two developed grade 3 esophageal stricture. No grades 3-4 pulmonary fibrosis was observed. The overall response rate was 74.1%. The 1-, 2-, 3-year overall survival rates were 74.2%, 41.9%, and 34.6%, respectively, with the median survival time of 18.5 months. The 1-, 2-, 3-year local progression-freely survival rates were 64.5%, 32.3%, and 20.5%, respectively, with the median local progression-freely survival time of 14.3 months. Conclusion： The program of ICT followed by weekly paclitaxel and 3D CRT is accomplished in most of the favorable stage III NSCLC patients. The toxicity is tolerable, and the response rate is inspiriting.

The ^(18)F-FDG uptake in non small cell lung carcinoma correlates with the DNA-grading of malignancy

In order to evaluate correlation of glucose metabolism and DNA ploidity of tumors, the uptake of 18F-Deoxyglucose (FDG) by PET prior to surgery and the DNA cotent and DNA-grading of malignancy (DNA-MG) of Schiff-stained nuclei obtained from fresh tumor fragments by means of image cytometry were studied, and thereafter the correlation between standardized uptake value (SUV) and (DNA-MG) was analysed in forty-nine patients with histologically proven non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). As a result of the DNA histograms of these 49 patients, 46 (93.88%) were aneuploid and only 3(6.12%) were tetraploid. A linear correlation of the SUV versus the (DNA-MG) (r=0.336, p=0.024) was found, demonstrating that 18F-FDG PET as a non-invasive metabolic imaging technique, may also provide inforrnation correlated to malignant DNA patterns which may be valuable in malignant differentiation and prognostic prediction.