2种不同术式治疗咽癌放疗后颈淋巴结残留效果

目的探讨2种不同术式治疗咽癌放疗后颈淋巴结残留远期效果。方法对43例鼻咽癌放疗后颈淋巴结残留的患者,据淋巴结大小及是否单发分为2组,孤立性且直径≤3cm者22例为A组,行根治性颈淋巴结清扫术;其余21例均进入B组,行功能性颈淋巴结扫除术。结果术后病理显示,所有标本均为转移鳞状细胞癌,其中低分化31例,中分化7例,高分化5例,包膜外侵袭者30例,未见侵袭者13例。术后仅A组发生1例皮瓣部分坏死,2组并发症发生率比较无显著性差异(P>0.05)。所有患者随访满5 a,2组5 a死亡率无显著性差异。结论根治性和功能性颈淋巴结扫除术等挽救性手术,可控制或延缓病情发展,提高生活质量,延长患者生存时间;术后合理放化疗可有效提高5 a生存率。

鼻咽癌放疗的注意事项

鼻咽冲洗在鼻咽癌的放疗期间,由于放射性损害,坏死细胞脱落堆积,局部细菌繁殖,容易引发鼻咽腔的炎症,降低肿瘤的放射敏感性,分泌物过多时还可导致口腔异味难闻,用生理盐水进行有效的鼻腔冲洗,可预防和控制放疗并发症.冲洗办法将冲洗瓶的橄榄头塞入一侧鼻孔,头与上身前倾并稍向对侧倾斜,用手挤压冲洗器,使冲洗液缓慢流入鼻咽,再由口腔留出,同样方法冲洗对侧.鼻咽冲洗每日3~4次,如分泌物增多,口腔异味较重者,酌情增加冲洗次数.

Clinical Analysis of Xerostomia in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma after Radiation Therapy

Objective: To investigate the severity of xerostomia and its impact on the quality of life in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after conventional radiation therapy. Methods: One hundred and thirty-six patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, treated by conventional radiation therapy in Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, were surveyed by interview at the outpatient department. A questionnaire and a visual analog scale (VAS) were used to analyze xerostomia and xerostomia-related problems. Results: Of 136 patints, 73.5% experienced a moderate to severe degree of xerostomia; 82.4% had to sip water to facilitate speech; 92.6% had to sip water to facilitate chewing and swallowing; 91.2% changed their feeding pattern (eating only mashed food); 61.3% had to wake up to drink water because of dry mouth; 75.0% had dental lesions to varying degrees. Conclusion: 73.5% of the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after conventional radiation therapy experienced a moderate to severe degree of xerostomia. Xerostomia has a significant impact on the patient's speech, deglutition, and sleep, and can increase the morbidity of the dental diseases.

Treatment results and prognostic analysis of 1093 primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma: the experience of a single institution of Guangzhou in the beginning of the 21st century

Objective： To analyze the treatment results of primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） treated in our institution in the beginning of the 21st century to identify key failures and late effects for refining future treatments. Methods： 1093 patients with primary NPC treated during December 2001 and June 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. The distribution according to the AJCC/UICC （2002 edition） staging system was stage Ⅰ in 5.8%, stage Ⅱ 40.2%, stage Ⅲ 32.7% and stage Ⅳa-b 21.3%. Four different ERT techniques were used： fluoroscopy simulation conventional radiotherapy （CR） in 74.3% of patients, computer tomography simulation conventional radiotherapy （CT-sim CR） 14.2%, three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy （3D-CRT） 6.3%, intensity modulated radiotherapy （IMRT） 5.2%. In the whole series, 46.7% of patients had additional treatment with chemotherapy. Results： The 4-year local failure-free rate （LFFR）, nodal failure-free rate, distant metastasis-free rate, progression-free survival and overall survival （OS） was 89.6%, 96.1%, 85.9%, 73.0% and 82.4%, respectively. The stage was the most important prognostic factor. The 4-year OS and LFFR of patients treated by CR, CT-sim CR, 3D-CRT and IMRT was 80.2%, 89.8%, 89.8%, 92.4% and 87.7%, 96.4%, 91.0%, 96.5%, respectively. The morbidity and degree of xerostomia and trismus were lower in the patients treated by 3D-CRT and IMRT than by CR and CT-sim CR. Conclusion： Treatment results of primary NPC in our institution have been substantially improved. Distant metastasis is the main failure. The CT simulation and conformal radiotherapy can enhance the OS and LFFR, and conformal radiotherapy can reduce the morbidity and degree of late effects.

Analysis of 80 Cases of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated by Intracavitary Brachytherapy Using A New-Type Applicator

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the results and complications associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） treated with combined external-beam radiotherapy （EBR） and intracavitary brachytherapy （IB） using a new-type applicator. METHODS Eighty patients with untreated NPC were divided into two groups based on therapy methods. An experimental group was treated with EBR plus IB and a control group was treated only with EBR. IB was given to the patients of the experimental group when the external radiotherapy dose amounted to more than 60～65 Gy. The total dose of IB was 6～20 Gy and the total dose of EBR of the control group was 70～75 Gy. RESULTS Follow-up was conducted for 97.5% of the patients with re- suits as follows： the overall response rates （ORR） for the experimental and the control groups were 92.5% and 75.3% respectively （P〈0.05）; the 3 and 5-year survival rates for the experimental group were 87.5% and 74.2% and for the control group, 65.0% and 55.6% （P〈0.05）; for the experimental group, the 3 and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 72.5% and 64.5% and for the control group, 60.0% and 52.8% （P〉0.05）.Some complications following radiotherapy showed a significant difference. CONCLUSION External irradiation plus intracavitary brachytherapy using a new-type applicator may improve the ORR and survival rates, reduce radiation complications and increase the quality of life.

Comparison of efficacy between two boost treatments in residual tumor of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radical radiotherapy

Objective： To compare the efficacy between stereotactic radiotherapy （SRT） and intracavitary brachytherapy （brachytherapy） in residual tumor of nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） after treating with conventional external beam radiotherapy. Methods： 60 patients with residual tumor of NPC after radical external beam radiotherapy （range 68 to 72 Gy） were randomized into SRT group （27 patients） and brachytherapy group （33 patients）. Patients in SRT group received boost treatment of 10-20 Gy, 2-3 fractions, once every other day; patients in brachytherapy group were treated with boost 10-20 Gy, 5 Gy per fraction, twice a week. Results： Efficacy in the near future： in SRT group, the complete recession （CR）, partial recession （PR） and no change （NC） rates were 77.8% （21/27）, 18.5% （5/27）, 3.7% （1/27）, respectively and the efficacy rate was 96.3% （CR ＋ PR）; in brachytherapy group： the CR, PR and NC rates were 75.8% （25/33）, 18.2% （6/33）, 6.1% （2/33）, respectively and the efficacy rate was 93.9% （CR ＋ PR）. The efficacy rates of the above two groups were compared （x^2 = 0.032, P 〉 0.05）. Long term efficacy： in SRT group, 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 96.3%, 66.5% respectively and the median live time was 48 months; in brachytherapy group： 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 93.9%, 60.2% respectively and the median live time was 46 months. The survival rates of two groups were compared （x^2 = 0.172, P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion： Both boost techniques of SRT and brachytherapy had elevated efficacy in patients with residual tumor of NPC and there was no obvious difference between the efficacy of the near and long term in SRT and brachytherapy group.

Clinical analysis of PF plus concurrent radiotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective： The prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC） depends on the stage of the disease at diagnosis. Unfortunately, at diagnosis, most of patients have locally advanced, non-metastatic stage III or IVa disease. The study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicities of cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil combined with concurrent radiotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods： Sixty-six patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma received chemotherapy of cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil jointing concurrent radiotherapy; concurrent radiotherapy started on day 1 in the first cycle of chemotherapy of PF, 5-fluorouraci1500 mg/m^2 intravenous infusion on days 1-5, cisplatin 80 mg/m2 intravenous infusion on days 1-3, 21 days for a cycle, a total of three cycles; nasopharyngeal lesions and positive lymph node were given a total amount of 70 Gy, prophylactic neck radiation were given the amount of 50 Gy, radiotherapy five times a week, Gy/f. Results： All patients who can be evaluated, the response rate （RR） was 100%; 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival （OS） were 100%, 86.4%, 21.2%, respectively; 3-year, 5-year disease-free survival （DFS） were 72.7% and 18.2%, respective- ly; the average survival time and median survival time were 49.0 months and 48.5 months, respectively; the average survival time and median survival time of DFS were 46.1 months and 46.5 months, respectively. Conclusion： For patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, who accepted RT combining concurrent chemotherapy of cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil, clinical efficacy is satisfaction and toxicities could be tolerated.

Role of JNK signaling pathway in sensitivity to radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective:The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase(JNK) signaling pathway on influencing the sensitivity to radiotherapy of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE cells.Methods:Human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE multicellular spheroids(MCS) were constructed with three dimensional cell culture methods.Western blot was employed to analyze the activity of JNK signaling pathway in MCS after X-ray irradiation,and the expression of caspase-3 protein before and after using SP600125(a special inhibitor of JNK).X-ray induced cell apoptosis in MCS before and after treated with SP600125 were detected by TUNEL.Results:The level of JNK phosphorylation in MCS was a dynamic course after radiation,and there was a phosphorylation peaks at 2 h later,the apoptotic rate of MCS(P < 0.05) and the expression of caspase-3 protein(P < 0.05) were significantly increased after treated with SP600125.Conclusion:The transient activation of JNK played a important role in sensitivity to radiotherapy of CNE MCS via mediating survival signals,blocking this pathway accelerate cell apoptosis,which may be related to the increased expression of caspase-3.

Analysis of the Prognosis for Patients with Stage T3N0-1M0 Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated by Chemotherapy Combined with Radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between the therapeutic modality and prognostic factors for the patients with T3N0-1M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS The clinical data from 127 cases of T3N0-1M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with initial treatment, during the period from January 4th, 2000 to November 12th, 2001, were retrospectively analyzed. The cases were divided into Group A with simple radiotherapy (90) and Group B with the radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy (37), based on various patients' conditions. In group B, inductive chemotherapy was conducted for 18 cases, inductive chemotherapy plus homochronous chemotherapy for 5 and homochronous chemotherapy for 14. RESULTS The 5-year overall survival (OS) in the groups A and B was 73.4% and 72.3% respectively (P>0.05); the cancer-correlated survival (CCS) in the 2 groups was 76.4% and 72.3% respectively (P>0.05); the disease-free survival (DFS) in group A and B was 65.5% and 71.7% respectively (P<0.05). A multiple analysis showed that the mode of radiation therapy plus chemotherapy was a favorable independent impact factor for DFS. CONCLUSION Chemotherapy plus radiotherapy can improve the DFS of patients with T3N0-1M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but fails to prolong the survival time of the patients. The modality of chemotherapy plus radiotherapy is not the necessary choice in treatment of patients with T3N0-1M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Clinical role of ^(18)F-FDG PET/CT-based simultaneous modulated accelerated radiotherapy treatment planning for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective The aim of this study was to compare the long-term local control, overall survival, and late toxicities of positron emission tomography/computed tomography （PET/CT）-guided dose escalation radio- therapy versus conventional radiotherapy in the concurrent chemoradiotherapy treatment of locally ad- vanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC）. Methods Atotal of 48 patients with stage IIl-IVa NPC were recruited and randomly administered PET/CT- guided dose escalation chemoradiotherapy （group A） or conventional chemoradiotherapy （group B）. The dose-escalation radiotherapy was performed using the simultaneous modulated accelerated radiotherapy technique at prescribed doses of 77 gray （Gy） in 32 fractions （f） to the gross target volume （GTV）： planning target volume （PTV） 1 received 64 Gy/32 f, while PTV2 received 54.4 Gy/32 f. Patients in group B received uniform-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy, PTV1 received 70 Gy/35 f and PTV2 received 58 Gy/29 f. Concurrent chemotherapy consisted of cisplatin [20 mg/m2 intravenous （IV） on days 1-4] and docetaxel （75 mg/m2 IV on days 1 and 8） administered during treatment weeks 1 and 4. All patients received 2-4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy of the same dose and drug regimen. Results The use of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose （18F-FDG） PET/CT significantly reduced the treat- ment volume delineation of the GTV in 83.3% （20/24） of patients. The 5-year local recurrence-free survival rates of the two groups were 100% and 79.2%, respectively （P = 0.019）. The 5-year disease free survival （DFS） rates were 95.8% and 75.0%, respectively （P = 0.018）. The 5-year local progression-free survival and DFS rates were significantly different. The 5-year overall survival （OS） rates were 95.8% and 79.2%, re- spectively. Differences in OS improvement were insignificant （P = 0.079）. Late toxicities were similar in the two groups. The most common late toxicities of the two arms were grade 1-2 skin dystrophy, xerostomia, subcutaneous fibrosis, and hearing loss. There were no cases of grade 4 late toxicity. Conclusion The use of 18F-FDG PET/CT-guided dose escalation radiotherapy is well tolerated and can reduce local recurrence rates for patients with locally advanced NPC compared to conventional chemora- diotherapy.

Clinical Study on Simultaneous Modulated Accelerated Radiotherapy and Concurrent Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical efficacy and toxicities of simultaneous modulated accelerated radiotherapy （SMART） and concurrent chemotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS Eightyseven patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma received SMART from April 2002 to September 2006. According to the UICC staging system, 30 patients were diagnosed as stage IIb, 42 patients stage III, 13 patients stage IVa and 2 patients stage IVb. The intensitymodulated radiotherapy was delivered with the ＂step and shoot＂ SMART technique with the prescribed dose of 66-76 Gy （2.2-2.4 Gy/day） to the gross tumor volume （GTV） and positive neck lymph nodes （GTVLN）, with 60 Gy （2.0 Gy/day） to the highrisk clinical target volume （CTV1）, encompassing the area around the nasopharynx and the upper neck, and with 54 Gy （1.8 Gy/day） to the lowrisk clinical target volume （CTV2）, including the lower neck and supraclavicular area. Among all the patients, 31 received 2 cycles of SMART concurrently with 5 fluorouracil （5-Fu） and cisplatin （the FP group） and 56 received 2 cycles of concurrent cisplatin. All the patients received 3 to 4 cycles of adjuvant combination chemotherapy of cisplatin and 5fluorouracil starting from the 1st month after completion of SMART. RESULTS With a median follow up of 59 months （ranging from 19 to 85 months）, the 1, 2 and 3year overall survival rates were 100%, 94.6% and 91.3% respectively. Acute mucositis and pharyngitis were more frequently observed in the FP group than in the cisplatin group. CONCLUSION SMART technique provides an excellent opportunity to spare normal tissue and is probably more biologically effective. Combination of single cisplatin was more tolerable.

Technical and Dosimetric Study of Four Facio-cervical Fields Conformal Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Objective： The aim of this study is to establish the methods of four facio-cervical fields＇ conformal radiotherapy （4F-CRT） for nasopharyngeal carcinoma （NPC）, and to optimize the methods for clinical practice. Methods and Materials： 40 patients with untreated NPC of T1-T4 （1997AJCC Staging System） were rolled into this study. Conventional and four ratio-cervical fields conform plans were designed for each patient using Pinnacle 8.0 three-dimension treatment planning system （3D-TPS）： 1） Improved plan, four ratio-cervical fields＇conform plans, anterior, posterior ratio-cervical and 2 lateral opposing facio-eervical fields; 2） Conventional plan, two lateral opposing facio-cervical fields only with the same dose delivered to the target in each plan, close volume histograms （DVHs） of the targets and normal organs, brain stem, spinal cord, parotid glands, and temporal mandibular joints （TMJs） were compared and the dose distribution were evaluated. Results： 1） The dose distribution of the improved plan could meet the requirements for the target volume. 2） There was not any significant difference in the dose of spinal cord between the two plans. The mean doses of Dmax for brain stem in conventional plan were much lower than those in the improved plan, though both were within safety limits. 3） Compared with the conventional plans, the improved plan significantly decreased the hotspot areas in the target volume and had better parotid glands and temporal mandibular joints sparing effect. Conclusion： Compared with the conventional plan, the improved plan provides satisfactory dose coverage to the tumor volume and better sparing of the parotid gland, TMJs and other normal tissues in external beam radiotherapy of NPC.

A dosimetric comparative study between conformal and intensity modulated radiation therapy in the treatment of primary nasopharyngeal carcinomas: the Egyptian experience

Objective: The study is a comparative study, the aim of which is to compare 3D conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in treating nasopharyngeal carcinomas; dosimetrically evaluating and comparing both techniques as regard target coverage and doses to organs at risk (OAR). Methods: Twenty patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated by 3D-CRT technique and another 20 patients were treated by IMRT. A dosimetric comparison was done by performing two plans for the same patient using Eclipse planning system (version 8.6). Results: IMRT had a better tumor coverage and conformity index compared to 3D-CRT plans (P value of 0.001 and 0.004), respectively. As for the dose homogeneity it was also better in the IMRT plans and the reason for this was attributed to the dose inhomogeneity at the photon/electron junction in the 3D-CRT plans (P value 0.032). Also, doses received by the risk structures, particularly parotids, was significantly less in the IMRT plans than those of 3D-CRT (P value 0.001). Conclusion: IMRT technique was clearly able to increase the dose delivery to the target volume, improve conformity and homogeneity index and spare the parotid glands in comparison to 3D-CRT technique.

Clinical observation of nedaplatin concurrent with radiotherapy for mid-advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma and esophageal carcinoma

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy and the toxic reaction of nedaplatin concurrent with radiotherapy for mid-advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma and esophageal carcinoma. Methods: Thirty-four patients were confirmed diagnosis with cancer by pathologic results. All patients were given 6MV X-ray for radiotherapy, Dt 66-70 Gy/33-35 f/6-7 w, concurrently administrated nedaplatin (30 mg/m2) once a week (6 times). Results: A total 34 patients were enrolled, of whom 33 patients were available for objective response, 1 patient of esophageal cancer quit for allergic reaction. The response rate (RR) of nedaplatin-contained therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma and esophageal carcinoma were 90.0% and 76.9%, respectively. The major toxic reaction was bone marrow suppression observed in 25 patients (73.5%), in which grade III aleukocytosis was observed in 3 patients (8.8%), grade III + IV thrombocytopenia in 3 patients (8.8%). And 6 patients (17.6%) showed gastrointestinal tract reaction. There were 4 patients with radiation esophagitis in the 13 patients with esophageal carcinoma. Conclusion: Nedaplatin can increase the therapeutic effect of radiation. Its incidence rate of bone marrow suppression is high, but the gastrointestinal tract reaction and renal toxicity is low and mild.