Randomized Phase III Trial Evaluating Radiation Following Surgical Excision for Good-Risk Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: Long-Term Report From NRG Oncology/RTOG 9804.

PURPOSE: To our knowledge, NRG/RTOG 9804 is the only randomized trial to assess the impact of whole breast irradiation (radiation therapy [RT]) versus observation (OBS) in women with good-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), following lumpectomy. Long-term results focusing on ipsilateral breast recurrence (IBR), the primary outcome, are presented here. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients underwent lumpectomy for DCIS that was mammogram detected, size ≤ 2.5 cm, final margins ≥ 3 mm, and low or intermediate nuclear grade. Consented patients were randomly assigned to RT or OBS. Tamoxifen use was optional. Cumulative incidence was used to estimate IBR, log-rank test and Gray's test to compare treatments, and Fine-Gray regression for hazard ratios (HRs). RESULTS: A total of six hundred thirty-six women were randomly assigned from 1999 to 2006. Median age was 58 years and mean pathologic DCIS size was 0.60 cm. Intention to use tamoxifen was balanced between arms (69%); however, actual receipt of tamoxifen varied, 58% RT versus 66% OBS (P = .05). At 13.9 years' median follow-up, the 15-year cumulative incidence of IBR was 7.1% (95% CI, 4.0 to 11.5) with RT versus 15.1% (95% CI, 10.8 to 20.2) OBS (P = .0007; HR = 0.36; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.66); and for invasive LR was 5.4% (95% CI, 2.7 to 9.5) RT versus 9.5% (95% CI, 6.0 to 13.9) OBS (P = .027; HR = 0.44; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.91). On multivariable analysis, only RT (HR = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.64; P = .0007) and tamoxifen use (HR = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.25 to 0.78; P = .0047) were associated with reduced IBR. CONCLUSION: RT significantly reduced all and invasive IBR for good-risk DCIS with durable results at 15 years. These results are not an absolute indication for RT but rather should inform shared patient-physician treatment decisions about ipsilateral breast risk reduction in the long term following lumpectomy.

Assessment of pain in older Asian Americans with cancer.

This cross-sectional study focused on pain assessment in a group of older Asian Americans with cancer. Thirty-six participants and their primary nurses were interviewed, and pain intensity was measured using 3 different scales: the Numeric pain intensity 0-10 scale, the Faces expression scale, and Visual analog scale (VAS). Overall, 56% of participants reported pain. Younger age (65-75 years old) was significantly associated with higher pain intensity (p < 0.05). High correlation was found between the participants' and their nurses' pain intensity ratings (r = 0.69, p < 0.0001). High correlation was also found among different pain intensity scales, with a Spearman correlation coefficient ranging from 0.89 to 0.96 (p < 0.0001), suggesting that they are reliable measures in this population.

5-azacitidine: An alternative treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes in patient with refractory response to hematopoietic growth factor, a case report and review of literatures.

Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) comprises a heterogeneous group of clonal hemopathies derived from an abnormality affecting a multipotent hematopoietic stem cell and characterized by maturation defects resulting in ineffective hematopoiesis. It most frequently occurs in elderly patients. Despite trials testing numerous agents in patients with MDS, no single drug has yet emerged as the accepted standard of treatment. Most MDS patients, due to their age and co morbidity, are not eligible for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; the only established curative regimen. The effect of available lineage-specific growth factors is limited to improvement of single lineages and has not resulting in the survival benefit. Treatment with low dose Ara-C is disappointing in regard to response rate or duration. No benefit has been demonstrated in differentiation inducers such as retinoids and Vitamin D3 as single agents. We report a case of a patient with transfusion dependent MDS who was not a candidate for allogeneic stem cell transplantation or cytotoxic chemotherapy, who also failed to response to erythropoietin support but had a favorable response to 5-azacitidine. His blood transfusion requirement reduced significantly, and was correlated with the remarkable improvement of the pancytopenia, particularly anemia and thrombocytopenia after receiving the investigational therapy with 5-azacitidine. In summary, 5-azacitidine appears to be a promising alternative therapy for patient with refractory anemia secondary to MDS.