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BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine postoperative recurrence after curative pancreatic resection following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) in patients with resectable (R-) and borderline resectable (BR-) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), focusing on its relationship with the standardized uptake value (SUV) on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). METHOD: The postoperative initial recurrence patterns were examined in patients with R- and BR-PDAC who underwent NACRT followed by curative pancreatic resection. Data collected from three prospective clinical trials were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 29 months, 91 (60 %) of 151 patients experienced postoperative recurrence. The median recurrence-free survival (RFS) for all patients was 18 months. The sites of first recurrence were lung-only in 24 (26 %) patients, liver-only in 23 (25 %), local-only in 11 (12 %), peritoneum-only in 10 (11 %), other single site in 5 (5 %), and multiple sites in 19 (21 %) patients. Multivariate analysis identified the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on FDG-PET at diagnoses ≥5.40 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.62; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.01-2.61; p = 0.045) and node-positive pathology (HR, 2.01; 95 % CI, 1.32-3.08; p = 0.001) as significant predictors of RFS. Furthermore, the SUVmax at initial diagnosis and after NACRT correlated with liver metastasis. CONCLUSION: R- and BR-PDACs with high SUV on FDG-PET at diagnosis are risk factors for postoperative recurrence. Among patients who undergo surgery after NACRT, those with a high SUVmax at diagnosis or post-NACRT require careful attention for postoperative liver recurrence.
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The purpose of the present retrospective study was to evaluate whether dosimetric differences existed in nodal clinical target volume (CTV) using options for geometric expansion and lymph node (LN) stations based on the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology guideline for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the treatment planning computed tomographic images of 17 patients with cT4N2M0 NSCLC, nodal CTVs were contoured based on the guideline options of: i) Geometric expansion, with CTV including the nodal gross tumor volume plus 5 mm margin; and ii) LN stations, with CTV including the affected LN stations. Treatment planning of 60 Gy in 30 fractions was performed using volumetric modulated arc therapy; Dmean was the mean irradiated dose to the structure; and VnGy was the volume of the structure receiving ≥n Gy. Dose-volume parameters were compared between the two options. Consequently, the option of geometric expansion was associated with a significantly lower V60Gy and Dmean of the esophagus, V20Gy, V5Gy and Dmean of the lungs, and Dmean of the heart than the option of LN stations in all patients (P=0.017, P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001 and P=0.029, respectively). For the V20Gy of the lungs, the 8 patients (47%) with LN metastases in stations 2 or 3 had significantly larger differences in the values between the two options than the 9 patients (53%) without those metastases; the median values of the difference of V20Gy of the lungs between the two options were 2.8% (range, 0.2 to 9.6%) with LN metastases in stations 2 or 3 and 0.5% (range, -0.2 to 5.0%) without these metastases (P=0.027). In conclusion, using the option for geometric expansion might help reduce the V60Gy and Dmean of the esophagus, V20Gy, V5Gy and Dmean of the lungs, and Dmean of the heart in all patients, and the V20Gy of the lungs in patients with LN metastases in stations 2 or 3.
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Background: The efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) followed by pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) in elderly patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. Methods: This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data examined the effect of NACRT followed by PD in elderly patients with PDAC. A total of 112 patients with resectable (R-) and borderline resectable (BR-) PDAC, who were planned for PD and received NACRT between 2009 and 2022, were assessed. Changes induced by NACRT, surgical outcomes, nutritional status, renal and endocrine functions, and prognosis were compared between elderly (≥75 years, n = 43) and non-elderly (<75 years, n = 69) patients over two years following PD. Results: Completion and adverse event rates during NACRT, nutritional status, renal function, endocrine function over two years postoperatively, and prognosis did not significantly differ between the two groups. Low prognostic index after NACRT and the absence of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy may be adverse prognostic indicators for elderly patients undergoing NACRT for R- and BR-PDAC. Conclusions: Despite a higher incidence of postoperative complications, NACRT followed by PD can be safely performed in elderly patients, resulting in a prognosis similar to that in non-elderly patients.
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BACKGROUND/AIM: We compared three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for avoiding dosimetric risk factors related to pulmonary complications after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery (NACRT-S) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed simulations in 11 patients with dosimetric risk factors during their treatment with NACRT-S for NSCLC. Radiation treatment plans were generated using 3D-CRT and IMRT to avoid dosimetric risk factors. Regarding dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters, we calculated the percentage of lung volume that received more than x Gy (Vx) using 1) the total lung volume minus gross tumor volume (DVHg), 2) the lung volume remaining after surgery (DVHr), and 3) the contralateral lung volume (DVHc). We analyzed the dosimetric differences between 3D-CRT and IMRT. RESULTS: V35g and V40g were significantly lower with IMRT than with 3D-CRT (p=0.001 each); the median V35g and V40g were 16.1% and 14.9% with 3D-CRT versus 12.0% and 9.2% with IMRT, respectively. Overall, 0% and 55% of the patients were able to avoid all dosimetric risk factors with 3D-CRT and IMRT, respectively (p=0.006). Even with IMRT, tumor location and length of the planning target volume (PTV) significantly affected the avoidance of all dosimetric risk factors (p=0.015 and 0.022, respectively). CONCLUSION: IMRT is more useful than 3D-CRT for avoiding dosimetric risk factors in NACRT-S for NSCLC. For further improvements in avoiding these factors, respiratory motion managements to reduce the length of the PTV may be required for patients with middle or lower lobe tumors.
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BACKGROUND/AIM: We evaluated the treatment outcomes of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using a standard radiation dose in patients with high-grade glioma (HGG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, single-institutional, single-arm trial. Patients aged 20-75 years with histologically proven HGG were enrolled. Surgical procedures and chemotherapy regimens were not regulated. The prescribed dose of postoperative IMRT was 60 Gy in 30 fractions over six weeks. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), completion rate of IMRT, and Grade 3 or higher non-hematological toxicity. RESULTS: Between 2016 and 2019, 20 patients were enrolled. According to the World Health Organization 2016 Classification, glioblastoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, and anaplastic oligodendroglioma were present in nine, six, and five of the recruited patients, respectively. Gross total resection, partial resection, and biopsy were performed in four, nine, and seven patients, respectively. All patients received concurrent and adjuvant chemotherapy using temozolomide with or without bevacizumab. The completion rate of IMRT was 100%. The median follow-up period was 29 months (range=6-68 months). Median OS and PFS were 30 and 14 months, respectively. No patients experienced Grade 3 or higher non-hematological toxicity. The 2-year OS rates were 100%, 57%, and 33% in Radiation Therapy Oncology Group-Recursive Partitioning Analysis (RTOG-RPA) classes I/II, IV, and V, respectively (p=0.002; log-rank test). CONCLUSION: IMRT using the standard radiation dose in patients with HGG can be carried out safely. RTOG-RPA class appears to be useful to estimate patient prognoses.
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PURPOSE: To retrospectively review locally advanced cervical cancer (CC) cases treated with three-dimensional image-guided brachytherapy (3D-IGBT) and two-dimensional (2D)-IGBT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with Stage IB-IVa CC who underwent intracavitary irradiation between 2007 and 2021 were divided into the 3D-IGBT and 2D-IGBT groups. Local control (LC), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and gastrointestinal toxicity (G3 or more) were investigated at 2/3 years post-treatment. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients in the 2D-IGBT group from 2007 to 2016 and 61 patients in the 3D-IGBT group from 2016-2021 were included in the study. The median follow-up period was 72.7 (4.6-183.9) months in the 2D-IGBT group and 30.0 (4.2-70.5) months in the 3D-IGBT group. The median age was 65.0 (40-93) years in the 2D-IGBT group and 60.0 (28-87) years in the 3D-IGBT group, but there was no difference in FIGO stage, histology, or tumor size between the groups. In treatment, the median A point dose was 56.1 (40.0-74.0) Gy in the 2D-IGBT group and 64.0 (52.0-76.8) Gy in the 3D-IGBT group (P < 0.0001), and the proportion of patients who underwent chemotherapy more than five times was 54.3% in the 2D-IGBT group and 80.8% in the 3D-IGBT group (P = 0.0004). The 2/3-year LC, DMFS, PFS, and OS rates were 87.3%/85.5%, 77.4%/65.0%, 69.9%/59.9%, and 87.9%/77.9% in the 2D-IGBT group, and 94.2%/94.2%, 81.8%/81.8%, 80.5%/80.5%, and 91.6%/83.0% in the 3D-IGBT group, respectively. A significant difference was observed in PFS (P = 0.02). There was no difference in gastrointestinal toxicity, but there were four intestinal perforations in the patients from the 3D-IGBT group, three of whom had a history of bevacizumab treatment. CONCLUSION: The 2/3-year LC of the 3D-IGBT group was excellent and PFS also tended to improve. Care should be taken with concomitant use of bevacizumab after radiotherapy.
Subject(s)
Brachytherapy , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms , Female , Humans , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Retrospective Studies , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Bevacizumab/therapeutic use , Radiotherapy Dosage , Brachytherapy/methods , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The benefit of preoperative treatment followed by pancreatic resection in older patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. In this retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data, we evaluated the significance and safety of preoperative treatment followed by curative resection for older PDAC patients. METHODS: We evaluated 122 patients with resectable and borderline resectable PDAC who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) followed by curative resection between 2009 and 2019. Changes in the prognostic nutritional indices during NACRT, surgical outcomes, and prognosis were compared between older (≥75 years, n = 44) and younger patients (<75 years, n = 78). RESULTS: The completion rate, adverse event rate, changes in prognostic nutritional indices during NACRT, and prognosis were similar between the groups. In multivariate analysis, an elevated C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CRP/Alb) ≥ 33.1% during NACRT (p = 0.035) and no postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.041) were identified as significant predictors of overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: NACRT followed by pancreatic resection could be safely performed in older patients, with a similar prognosis as that of younger patients, despite an increased frequency of postoperative complications. Elevated CRP/Alb during NACRT and no postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were poor prognostic factors for older patients.
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal , Chemoradiotherapy , Neoadjuvant Therapy , Aged , Humans , Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy , Adenocarcinoma/pathology , Adenocarcinoma/surgery , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/pathology , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/surgery , Chemoradiotherapy/methods , Neoadjuvant Therapy/methods , Pancreatectomy/adverse effects , Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology , Pancreatic Neoplasms/surgery , Retrospective Studies , Pancreatic NeoplasmsABSTRACT
The high-density measurement (HDm) mode of the ArcCHECK device can achieve a twofold resolution enhancement compared to the standard measurement (Sm) mode. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of HDm on the gamma passing rate (GPR) for the patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) in head and neck cancer. We retrospectively evaluated 30 patients who underwent volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for head and neck cancer. Absolute gamma analysis was performed on Sm and HDm data. We also investigated correlations between the modulation complexity score for VMAT (MCSv) and differences in the GPR between the two measurement modes. The global GPR of Sm and HDm was 81.0% ± 8.4% and 82.6% ± 7.6% for the 2%/2 mm criterion, 94.0% ± 4.1% and 94.9% ± 3.6% for the 3%/2 mm criterion, and 96.6% ± 2.4% and 97.0% ± 2.4% for the 3%/3 mm criterion, respectively. HDm slightly improved GPR (p < 0.01) for the 2%/2 mm criterion. Differences in GPR between Sm and HDm for the 2%/2 mm, 3%/2 mm, and 3%/3 mm criteria were 1.6% ± 3.0%, 0.8% ± 2.0%, and 0.4% ± 1.2%, respectively. No correlation was identified between the MCSv and the difference in GPR between Sm and HDm. Despite an improvement in GPR with HDm, the difference in GPR between Sm and HDm was approximately 2% even when the tighter criteria were used. Moreover, the change in the GPR between Sm and HDm did not depend on plan complexity. Thus, the effect of HDm on GPR is limited for the PSQA in VMAT for head and neck cancer.
Subject(s)
Head and Neck Neoplasms , Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated , Humans , Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted , Retrospective Studies , Head and Neck Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Gamma RaysABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Indications of preoperative treatment for resectable (R-) or borderline resectable (BR-) pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are unclear, and the protocol remains to be standardized. METHODS: Included 65 patients with R- and BR-PDAC with venous involvement (V-) received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with S-1 and 50 Gy of radiation as the 5-week regimen. The outcomes of this group were compared with those of 52 patients who underwent S-1 and 30 Gy of radiation as the 2-week regimen, previously collected as our prospective phase II study. RESULTS: Compared with the 2-week regimen, there were no significant differences in the rate of protocol completion, adverse events, mortality and morbidity, or R0 resection in the 5-week regimen. In subgroup analyses of R-PDAC, there were no significant differences in overall survival and recurrence-free survival between the groups. In contrast, the 5-week regimen had significantly better overall survival and recurrence-free survival than the 2-week regimen for BRV-PDAC. Similar results were observed after propensity score matching analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The 5-week regimen of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy has good clinical efficacy and safety for R- and BRV-PDAC. The 5-week regimen could achieve better outcomes than the 2-week regimen for BRV-PDAC. In contrast, both regimens achieved similar outcomes for R-PDAC.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal , Pancreatic Neoplasms , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/pathology , Humans , Neoadjuvant Therapy/adverse effects , Neoadjuvant Therapy/methods , Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology , Prospective Studies , Pancreatic NeoplasmsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIM: We conducted a prospective exploratory study to investigate the relationship between radiation pneumonitis (RP) and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The inclusion criteria were: patients who 1) received thoracic radiotherapy (RT) for lung cancer, 2) were aged ≥20 years, and 3) provided written informed consent. EBC was collected before and 1 month after RT. TGF-ß1 levels in EBC were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We evaluated RP using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4 and analyzed the relationship between grade (G) 2 RP and TGF-ß1 levels in EBC. RESULTS: Ten patients were enrolled [median age, 75 years (range=60-81 years)], and none of them had interstitial lung disease. Conventional fractionation, accelerated hyperfractionation, hypofractionation, and stereotactic ablative fractionation were used in four, one, two, and three patients, respectively. G1 and G2 RP were observed in five patients each; no G3-G5 RP occurred. The median TGF-ß1 levels in EBC before and 1 month after RT were 79.1 pg/ml (0.1-563.7 pg/ml) and 286.9 pg/ml (33.7-661.3 pg/ml), respectively. Of the seven patients with increased TGF-ß1 levels in EBC 1 month after RT than before RT, five (71%) experienced G2 RP, whereas the remaining three patients with decreased TGF-ß1 levels had G1 RP (p=0.083, one-sided Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSION: Increased TGF-ß1 levels in EBC 1 month after RT might be promising for the detection of G2 RP.
Subject(s)
Lung Neoplasms , Radiation Pneumonitis , Aged , Dose Fractionation, Radiation , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Prospective Studies , Radiation Pneumonitis/diagnosis , Radiation Pneumonitis/etiology , Transforming Growth Factor beta1ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is little data on the correlation between the reduction in fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) radioactive accumulation and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels with pathological tumor responses (PTRs) and prognosis after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 102 patients with resectable (R-) and borderline resectable (BR-) PDAC who received NACRT, followed by curative resection. Data were prospectively collected and compared between the responders and nonresponders to NACRT. RESULTS: Patients with 60% or more reduction in maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on FDG-PET, with 75% or more reduction in CA19-9 levels, or with 50%-100% of tumor cells destroyed due to NACRT had significantly better recurrence-free survival (RFS) than each of the nonresponders (p = 0.028, <0.001, and 0.022, respectively). The reduction rates of SUVmax and CA19-9 levels were correlated with PTR. The combined evaluation of these biomarkers reflected RFS. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction rates of FDG uptake and CA19-9 levels were preoperative predictors of pathological response to NACRT. These biomarkers of local response had prognostic value in R-PDAC and BR-PDAC. The combined evaluation of these biomarkers allowed for reliable prediction of RFS after surgery.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal , Pancreatic Neoplasms , CA-19-9 Antigen , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/surgery , Chemoradiotherapy , Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 , Humans , Neoadjuvant Therapy , Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology , Pancreatic Neoplasms/therapy , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Pancreatic NeoplasmsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: We evaluated retrospectively the daily target coverage using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in breath-hold image-guided radiotherapy (BH-IGRT) for gastric lymphoma. METHODS: BH-IGRT was performed using a prescribed dose of 30.6 Gy in 17 fractions for the whole stomach. We assessed the target coverage of the whole stomach on daily CBCT images [daily clinical target volume (CTV)], which was delineated individually by two observers. We evaluated V95% (percentage of volume receiving ≥95% of the prescribed dose) of daily CTV. RESULTS: In total, 102 fractions from 6 patients were assessed. The mean V95% of daily CTV was 97.2%, which was over 95%. In two of six patients, the V95% of daily CTV was over 95% for either observer in all fractions. One patient had significant interobserver variation (p = 0.013). In 95 fractions (93%), the V95% of daily CTV was over 95% for either observer. CONCLUSION: Daily target coverage for CTV in BH-IGRT for gastric lymphoma seems to be favorable, even when using CBCT. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: A previous study ascertained good daily target coverage in BH-IGRT for gastric lymphoma using in-room CT. Even when using CBCT in our study, daily target coverage for CTV in BH-IGRT for gastric lymphoma seems to be favorable.
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PURPOSE: To investigate the risk factors for hip displacement in patients with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (DCP). METHODS: We evaluated 81 patients with DCP, 45 males and 36 females, aged 10-22 years, risk factors for hip displacement were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis with primary brain lesions, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, gestational age, birth weight, Cobb's angle, and complication of epilepsy as independent factors. Hip displacement was defined as migration percentage >30%. Primary brain lesions were classified into globus pallidus (GP), thalamus and putamen (TP), and others using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Perinatal and clinical features were compared between patients with GP lesions and those with TP lesions. RESULTS: Hip displacement was observed in 53 patients (67%). Higher GMFCS levels (p = 0.013, odds ratio [OR] 2.6) and the presence of GP lesions (p = 0.04, OR 16.5) were independent risk factors for hip displacement. Patients with GP lesions showed significantly higher GMFCS levels, more frequent hip displacement, and lower gestational age and birth weight than those with TP lesions. CONCLUSION: Primary brain lesion location may be an important factor in predicting hip displacement among patients with DCP. Appropriate risk assessment using brain MRI may contribute to the early detection and intervention of hip displacement because brain lesion location can be assessed during infancy before GMFCS level is decided.
Subject(s)
Cerebral Palsy/complications , Hip Dislocation/etiology , Adolescent , Adult , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Brain/pathology , Cerebral Palsy/diagnosis , Child , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Hip/diagnostic imaging , Hip/pathology , Hip Dislocation/diagnosis , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Radiography , Risk Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
The purpose of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the feasibility of hippocampal dose-volume parameters associated with memory decline for intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). In total, 18 patients who underwent IMRT for supratentorial tumors were analyzed. Prescribed doses of IMRT in 30 fractions were 60 Gy to planning target volume (PTV) 1 of the local area and 48-51 Gy to PTV2 of the extended local area. Based on previous literature, the present study investigated dose-volume parameters of the bilateral hippocampi: D40% of 13.1 Gy, D50% of 29.6 Gy, and V55Gy of 5.0%. It was evaluated which of the parameters was most achievable, and unfavorable factors that interfere with reaching these parameters were identified. As a result, D40% of 13.1 Gy, D50% of 29.6 Gy and V55Gy of 5.0% were achieved in 17, 67 and 33% of patients, respectively. For D50% of 29.6 Gy, PTV2 ≥500 cc (P=0.004) and tumor in temporal/corpus callosum/basal ganglia (P=0.009) were significant unfavorable factors. In conclusion, D50% of 29.6 Gy was most achievable. In daily clinical practice, it should be primarily attempted to achieve D50% of 29.6 Gy of the bilateral hippocampi.
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BACKGROUND: The target volume increases when the prostate and pelvic lymph nodes (PLNs) are combined, and the fiducial markers (FMs) are placed at the edge of the irradiation field. Thus, the position of FMs may be changed by the rotational errors (REs) of "whole pelvis". The aim of this study was to examine the impact of REs of "whole pelvis" on the dose of FMs-based image-guided radiotherapy to the PLNs and the small bowel in prostate cancer including the PLNs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 10 patients who underwent prostate cancer radiotherapy involving the PLNs. The position of FMs was calculated from the radiographs obtained before and after the 6D correction of pelvic REs. We simulated the delivery dose considering the daily pelvic REs and calculated the difference from the planned dose in the D98% of the PLN clinical target volume and the D2cc, and V45Gy of the small bowel. RESULT: The position of FMs strongly correlated with the pelvic REs in the pitch direction (r = 0.7788). However, the mean delivered doses to PLNs for 10 patients were not significantly different from the planned doses (p = 0.625). Although the D2cc and V45Gy of the small bowel strongly correlated with the pitch rotation of the pelvis, there was no significant difference between the delivered and planned doses (p = 0.922 and p = 0.232, respectively). CONCLUSION: The dosimetric effect of pelvic REs on the dose to PLNs and the small bowel was negligible during the treatment course.
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BACKGROUND: Inflammatory nutritional factors, such as the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), modified GPS (mGPS), and C-reactive protein/albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio, have prognostic values in many types of cancer. In this study, the prognostic values of inflammatory nutritional scores were evaluated in the patients with resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT). METHODS: A total of 49 patients who underwent pancreatectomy after NACRT from September 2009 to May 2016 were enrolled. The NACRT consisted of hypofractionated external-beam radiotherapy (30 Gy in 10 fractions) with concurrent S-1 (60 mg/m2) delivered 5 days/week for 2 weeks before pancreatectomy. Inflammatory nutritional scores were determined before and after NACRT in this series. RESULTS: The median NLR increased after NACRT (from 2.067 to 3.302), with statistical difference (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, high pre-NACRT mGPS (2 or 1; p = 0.0478) and significant increase in CRP/Alb ratio after NACRT (⧠0.077; p = 0.0036) were associated with shorter overall survival. All patients were divided into two groups according to the ΔCRP/Alb ratio after NACRT: the group with high ΔCRP/Alb ratio (⧠0.077) and the group with low ΔCRP/Alb ratio (< 0.077). The group with high ΔCRP/Alb ratio after NACRT (n = 13) not only had higher post-NACRT CRP levels (p < 0.001) but also had lower post-NACRT Alb levels (p = 0.002). Patients in the group with high ΔCRP/Alb ratio lost more body weight during NACRT (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: In addition to pre-NACRT mGPS, ΔCRP/Alb after NACRT could provide prognostic value in the patients with PDAC treated by NACRT.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal , Pancreatic Neoplasms , Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/therapy , Humans , Neoadjuvant Therapy , Pancreatectomy , Pancreatic Neoplasms/therapy , Prognosis , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Diagnostic positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) images can be fused to the planning CT images by a deformable image registration (DIR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the standardized uptake value (SUV) and target delineation on deformed PET images. METHODS: We used a cylindrical phantom and removable inserts of four spheres (16-38 mm in diameter) and three ellipsoids with a volume equal to the 38-mm-diameter sphere (S38) in each. S38 was filled with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose activity, and then PET/CT images were acquired. The contours of S38 were generated using original PET images by PET auto-segmentation (PET-AS) methods of (1) SUV2.5, (2) 40% of maximum SUV (SUV40%max), and (3) gradient-based (GB), and were deformed to the other inserts by DIR. We compared the volumes and the SUVmax with the generated contours using the deformed PET images. RESULTS: The SUVmax was slightly decreased by DIR; the mean absolute difference was -0.10 ± 0.04. For SUV2.5 and SUV40%max, the differences in S38 volumes between the original and deformed PET images were less than 5%, regardless of deformation type. For the GB, the contoured volumes obtained from deformed PET images were larger than those of the original PET images for the deformation type of ellipsoids. When the S38 was deformed to the 16-mm-diameter sphere, the maximum volume difference was -22.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Although SUV fluctuations by DIR were negligible, the target delineation on deformed PET images by the GB should be carefully considered owing to the distortion of intensity profiles.
Subject(s)
Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography , Positron-Emission Tomography , Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 , Phantoms, ImagingABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIM: We retrospectively investigated the relationship between pathological complete response (pCR) and tumor volume (TV) reduction during neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NACRT) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated patients who received NACRT (50 Gy/25 fractions with platinum-doublet) plus surgery for NSCLC. TVs before and during NACRT (TVbefore and TVduring, respectively) were measured based on the sums of the volumes of primary tumors and clinically positive lymph nodes. Relative change in TV was computed as % (TVduring - TVbefore)/TVbefore Results: In total, 31 patients were analyzed. The median of the relative change in TV was - 49% and ranged from -83 to -10%. Postoperatively, pCR was achieved in 11 patients (35%). In multivariate analysis, the relative change in TV was found to be an independent predictor of pCR (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: TV reduction during NACRT appears to be associated with pCR in NSCLC.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/therapy , Lung Neoplasms/therapy , Neoadjuvant Therapy , Tumor Burden , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Chemoradiotherapy , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
In this study, we evaluated the performance of ID NOW Influenza A & B 2 (ID NOW 2), a rapid molecular point-of-care test for influenza within 13 min, in comparison with currently available tests. A total of 254 nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and 271 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) collected from 373 children and 152 adults with influenza-like illness were tested using ID NOW 2, viral culture, rapid antigen detection test, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification test to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity compared with real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction as the reference method. The sensitivities of ID NOW 2 for influenza A were 95.9% and 95.7% in NPS and NPA, respectively, and for influenza B were 100% and 98.7% in NPS and NPA, respectively. The specificity was 100% for both influenza A and influenza B in NPS and NPA. Sensitivity of each test method reflected the difference of analytical sensitivity among the tests, and ID NOW 2 was not affected by time after illness onset and patient age. In conclusion, ID NOW 2 demonstrated a high sensitivity and specificity that is useful for diagnosis of influenza in the clinical setting and infection control.
Subject(s)
Influenza A virus/isolation & purification , Influenza B virus/isolation & purification , Influenza, Human/diagnosis , Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods , Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antigens, Viral/isolation & purification , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Influenza A virus/genetics , Influenza B virus/genetics , Male , Middle Aged , Point-of-Care Systems , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sensitivity and Specificity , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The perioperative factors predicting or influencing early pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma recurrence are unclear. This study attempted to identify the predictive factors for early pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma recurrence post-pancreatectomy and the influence of pre- and post- operative adjuvant therapy. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen patients undergoing curative resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between 2000 and 2016 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: those who did (n = 34) and did not (n = 81) experience a recurrence within 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses demonstrated postoperative CA19-9 de-normalization, no postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and serosal invasion were independent risk factors for early recurrence (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, and P = 0.010, respectively). A subgroup analysis showed patients with (n = 51) and without (n = 64) preoperative chemoradiotherapy had different predictors. Although postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was not a significant indicator in patients with preoperative chemoradiotherapy, CA19-9 de-normalization and no postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy were significant indicators in patients without preoperative chemotherapy. Preoperative chemotherapy strongly prevented early local recurrence while postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy prevented early distant recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: CA19-9 de-normalization was an important predictor of early recurrence of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Although postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was an important preventive measure against early recurrence, particularly for distant recurrence, preoperative chemoradiotherapy could strongly prevent the early local recurrence of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. These perioperative adjuvant therapies could have a complementary relationship.