Response to chemotherapy in patients with recurrent rectal cancer in previously irradiated area.

BACKGROUND: Tumor lesions in previously irradiated area may have a less favorable response to chemotherapy compared to tumor sites outside the radiation field. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the response to chemotherapy of locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) within the previous radiation field compared to the response of distant metastases outside the radiation field. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients with LRRC referred between 2000 and 2012 to our tertiary university hospital were reviewed. The response to chemotherapy of LRRC within previously irradiated area was compared to the response of synchronous distant metastases outside the radiation field according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). RESULTS: Out of 363 cases with LRRC, 29 previously irradiated patients with distant metastases were treated with chemotherapy and eligible for analysis. Twenty-six patients (89 %) suffered a first recurrence and three patients (11 %) a second recurrence. These patients were followed with a median of 22 months (IQR, 9-40 months) and had a median survival of 33 months (IQR, 14-42). In 23 patients (79 %), the local recurrence showed stable disease, but the overall response rate of the local recurrences in the previously irradiated area was significantly lower than the response rate of distant metastases outside the radiation field (10 vs. 41 %,p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Previously irradiated patients with LRRC have a lower response rate to chemotherapy of the local recurrence within the radiation field compared to the response rate of distant metastases outside the radiation field. This suggests that chemotherapy for local palliation may not have the desired effect.

The poor responder in IVF: is the prognosis always poor?: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND In IVF treatment a considerable proportion of women are faced with a low number of oocytes retrieved. These poor responders have reduced pregnancy rates compared with normal responders. However, this may not be applicable to all poor responders. This review aims at identifying patient characteristics and ovarian reserve tests (ORT) that will determine prognosis for pregnancy in poor responders. METHODS A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and SCOPUS databases in April 2010. Studies regarding patient characteristics or ORT in poor responders and their pregnancy prospects were included. All included papers were summarized in descriptive tables. RESULTS Nineteen studies were included. Pooled data of six studies comparing poor and normal responders demonstrated clearly lower pregnancy rates in poor responders (14.8 versus 34.5%). Ten studies indicated that older poor responders have a lower range of pregnancy rates compared with younger (1.5-12.7 versus 13.0-35%, respectively). Four studies showed that pregnancy prospects become reduced when fewer oocytes are retrieved (0-7% with 1 oocyte versus 11.5-18.6% with 4 oocytes). Five studies concerning pregnancy rates in subsequent cycles suggested a more favourable outcome in unexpected poor responders, and if ≥2 oocytes were retrieved. CONCLUSIONS Poor responders are not a homogeneous group of women with regards to pregnancy prospects. Female age and number of oocytes retrieved in particular will modulate the chances for pregnancy in current and subsequent cycles. Applying these criteria will allow the identification of couples with a reasonable prognosis and balanced decision-making on the management of poor responders.