• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was designed to analyze the outcome and toxicity of thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) and chemotherapy for patients who suffer with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively studied 35 patients with LS-SCLC. TRT was administered once daily (1.8 to 2 Gy per fraction) and it was directed to the primary tumor for a total 50 to 66 Gy in 6 to 7 weeks. The patients received four cycles of etoposide plus cisplatin. TRT was begun on day 1 of the first cycle of chemotherapy in the concurrent arm and after the fourth cycle in the sequential arm. Results: The median progression-free survival time was 16.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.0 to 24.1 months) for the sequential arm, and 26.3 months (95% CI, 16.6 to 35.9 months) for the concurrent arm. The 2-year progression-free survival rate was 16.0 percent for the sequential arm and 50.0 percent for the concurrent arm (p=0.0950 by log-rank test). Leukopenia was more severe and more frequent in the concurrent arm than in the sequential arm. However, severe esophagitis was infrequent in both arms. The radiotherapy was interrupted more frequently in the concurrent arm than in the sequential arm due to hematologic toxicities (p=0.001). Conclusion: This study suggests that concurrent TRT with etoposide plus cisplatin is more effective for the treatment of LS-SCLC than sequential TRT. However, there is a significant increase in the risk of toxicities, and radiotherapy was frequently interrupted in the concurrent arm due to hematologic toxicities.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 1998

Purpose : To evaluate the results of the treatment of locally advanced but resectable rectal cancers and to analyze prognostic factors. especially with the emphasis on the treatment time factor. Materials and Methods : There were 71 patients with rectal cancer who had been treated by curative surgical procedure and postoperative radiotherapy from August 1989 to December 1993. The minimum follow up period was 24 months and the median follow-up was 35 months Radiation therapy had been given by 6 MV linear accelerator by parallel opposing or four-box portals. Whole pelvis was treated up to 5040 cGy in most cases. Systemic chemotherapy had been given in 94$\%$ of the patients, mostly with 5-FU/ACNU regimen. Assessment for the overall and disease-free survival rates were done by life-table method and prognostic factors by Log-Rank tests. Results : Five-year overall survival, disease-free survival were 58.8$\%$ and 57$\%$, respectively. Two-year local control rate was 76.6$\%$. Stage according to Modified Astler-Coller (MAC) system, over 4 positive lymph nodes, over 6weeks interval between definitive surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy and over 7 days of interruption during radiotherapy period were statistically significant, or borderline significant prognostic factors. Conclusion : The treatment results of patients with rectal cancers are comparable to those of other large institutes. The treatment results for the patients with bowel wall penetration and/or positive regional lymph nodes were still discouraging for their high local recurrence rate for the patients with MAC 'c' stage diseases and high distant metastases rate even for the patients with node-negative diseases. Maybe more effective regimen of chemotherapy would be needed with proper route and schedule. To maximize postoperative adjuvant treatment. radiotherapy should be started at least within 6 weeks after surgery and preferably as soon as wound healing is completed. Interruption of treatment during radiotherapy course affects disease-free survival badly, especially if exceeds 7 days. So, the total treatment period trout definitive surgery to the completion of radiotherapy should be kept as minimal as possiable.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2001

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is a moderately prevalent disorder. Even though much progress has been made in the diagnosis of this disorder, the cost-effectiveness of nocturnal polysomnography is undertermined and physicians and patients are still hesitant to undergo this procedure. The authors wanted to see the validity of chin press/tongue curl maneuver in estimating the severity of OSA which is easy to measure and was originally proposed by Simmons etc. by looking at the correlations between this score and the conventional respiratory disturbance indices. Methods: Forty-three sleep-related breathing disorder patients (28 OSA patients and 15 upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) patients) who underwent investigation for posssible OSA were studied. Two conventional indices of OSA (apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) and oxygen saturation dip rate (SaO2 dips)), four other sleep variables (lowest SaO2, % of time with SaO2<90% (%SaO2 <90), % of sleep stage 1, mean length of SaO2 dips) and the score of Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) were compared with the chin press score (CPS) which was newly revised by the author and ranges from 0 to 6. Results: The age of subjects was $45.95{\pm}12.47$ (range 14-76) and their average BMI was $25.98{\pm}3.61$ (range 19.65-37.64). There were no significant differences in age, sex and BMI except repiratory disturbance indices and ESS (p<0.05) between OSA and UARS group. Grouped median CPS of the all subjects was 4.14 (range 1-6). There was a remarkable relationship between CPS and diagnosis category (Likelihood Ratio $X^2$ test; $X^2$=17.41, df=5, p=0.004) and measures of association (Somers' $d=0.65{\pm}0.12$, t=4.83, p=0.000) indicated that CPS increased when the diagnosis changed from UARS to OSA. Spearman's rank correlations between CPS and SaO2 dips (R=0.83), between CPS and AHI (R=0.77) were good (p<0.001). Other variables except mean length of SaO2 dips showed good correlations with CPS as well (p<0.05). Regression analysis indicated that when CPS is 3 there is a provability of 0.35 to have AHI of less than 5. Conclusion: Chin press scores that can be measured easily is well correlation with the conventional sleep apnea indices. They may therefore provide a useful guide in diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea synrome.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.469-475
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• 1998

Purpose : To determine the role of Pelvic irradiation in stage I or IIA cervical carcinoma with pelvic nodal metastasis after hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. Materials and Methods : This is a retrospective study of 68 cervical carcinoma patients who were found to have pelvic nodal metastasis at hysterectomy and received pelvic irradiation from 1983 to 1996 at Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital. External beam radiation therapy to pelvis was delivered using 4 MeV Linac and intracavitary irradiation was given via vaginal ovoids or cylinders. Five-year survival and disease-free survival were estimated by Kaplan-Meier Method and prognostic factors related to survival were analysed by log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results : Median length of follow-up was 52months. Five-year overall survival and disease-free survival (DFS) were 81.8$\%$ and 81.7$\%$ respectively. Patients with endometrial invasion had a 57.1$\%$ 5-year DFS compared to 87.5$\%$ for those without endometrial invasion (p=0.0074). Multivariate analysis revealed endometrial invasion as an only statistically significant prognostic factor for 5-year DFS. Among total 15 (22$\%$) recurrences. pelvic recurrences occurred in 4 cases and distant metastases occurred in 13 cases. Conclusion : We have been able to confirm previous results demonstrating marked decrease in local recurrence after pelvic irradiation. In view of the high proportion of distant metastasis found in this study, a trial of aggressive adjuvant systemic therapy and irradiation in early stage cervical carcinoma patients with pelvic nodal metastasis, especially with endometrial invasion, appears to be warranted.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.315-327
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• 2023

Purpose: Oxaliplatin, a component of the capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) regimen, has a more favorable toxicity profile than cisplatin in patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC). However, oxaliplatin can induce sensory neuropathy and cumulative, dose-related toxicities. Thus, the capecitabine maintenance regimen may achieve the maximum treatment effect while reducing the cumulative neurotoxicity of oxaliplatin. This study aimed to compare the survival of patients with advanced GC between capecitabine maintenance and observation after 1st line XELOX chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Sixty-three patients treated with six cycles of XELOX for advanced GC in six hospitals of the Catholic University of Korea were randomized 1:1 to receive capecitabine maintenance or observation. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), analyzed using a two-sided log-rank test stratified at a 5% significance level. Results: Between 2015 and 2020, 32 and 31 patients were randomized into the maintenance and observation groups, respectively. After randomization, the median number of capecitabine maintenance cycles was 6. The PFS was significantly higher in the maintenance group than the observation group (6.3 vs. 4.1 months, P=0.010). Overall survival was not significantly different between the 2 groups (18.2 vs. 16.5 months, P=0.624). Toxicities, such as hand-foot syndrome, were reported in some maintenance group patients. Maintenance treatment was a significant factor associated with PFS in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 0.472; 95% confidence interval, 0.250-0.890; P=0.020). Conclusions: After 6 cycles of XELOX chemotherapy, capecitabine maintenance significantly prolonged PFS compared with observation, and toxicity was manageable. Maintenance treatment was a significant prognostic factor associated with PFS.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.349-356
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• 1997

Purpose : To evaluate the efficacy of hyperfractionated radiation therapy in carcinoma of the cervix, especially on huge exophytic and endophytic stage Ib, IIa and IIb Materials and Materials : Fourty one patients with carcinoma of the cervix treated with hyperfractionated radiation therapy at the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Dongsan Hospital, Keimyung University. School of Medicine from Jul, 1991 to Apr, 1994. According to FIGO s1aging system, therewere stage Ib (3 patients) IIa (6 patients) with exophytic ($\geq$5cm in dinmeter) and huge endophytic mass. and IIb (32 patients) with median age of 55 yeavs old. Radiation therapy consisted of hyperfractionated external irradition to the whole pelvis (120cGy/fraction, 2 fraction/day (minimum interval of 6 hours), 3600-5520cGy) and boost parametrial doses (for a total of 4480-6480cGy) with midline shield $(4\times10cm)$, and combined with intracavitary irradiation (up to 7480-8520cGy in Ib, IIa and 8480-9980cGy in IIb to point A). The maximum and mean follow up durations were 70 and 47 months respectively . Results : Five year local control rate was $78\%$ and the actuarial overall five year survival rate was $66.1\%$ for all patients, $44.4\%$ for stage Ib, IIa and $71.4\%$ for stage IIb. In bulky IIb (above 5cm in tumor size, 11 patients) five year local control rate and five rear survival rate was $88.9\%,\;73\%$ respectively Pelvic lymph node status (negative : $74\%,\;positive:25\%$, p=0.0015) was significant Prognostic factor affecting to five rear survival rate. There was marginally significant survival difference by total dose to A point ($>84Gy\;:\;70\%,\;>84Gy\;:\;42.8\%$, p=0.1). We consider that the difference of total dose to A point by stage (mean Ib,IIa : 79Gy. IIb 89Gy P=0.001) is one of the causes in worse local control and survival of Ib,IIa than IIb The overall recurrence rate was $39\%$ (16/41). The rates of local failure alone. distant failure alone. and combined local and distant failure were $9.7\%,\;19.5\%,\;and\;9.7\%$, respectively. Two Patients developed leukopenia ($\geq$ grade 3) and Three patients develoued grade 3 gastrointestinal complication. Above grade 3 complication was not noted. There was no treatment related death noted. Conclusion : We thought that it may be necessary to increase A point dose to more than 85Gy in hyperfractionated radiotherapy of huge exophytic and endophvtic stage Ib,IIa. We considered that hyperfractionated radiation therapy may be tolerable in huge exophytic and endophytic stage IIb cervical carcinoma with acceptable morbidity and possible survival gain but this was results in small patient group and will be confirmed by long term follow up in many patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.322-332
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• 1998

Background: Accurate staging is important to determine treatment modalities and to predict prognosis for the patients with lung cancer. The simple two-stage system of the Veteran's Administration Lung Cancer study Group has been used for staging of small cell lung cancer(SCLC) because treatment usually consists of chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. However, this system does not accurately reflect segregation of patients into homogenous prognostic groups. Therefore, a variety of new staging system have been proposed as more intensive treatments including either intensive radiotherapy or surgery enter clinical trials. We evaluate the prognostic importance of TNM staging, which has the advantage of providing a uniform detailed classification of tumor spread, in patients with SCLC. Methods: The medical records of 166 patients diagnosed with SCLC between January 1989 and December 1996 were reviewed retrospectively. The influence of TNM stage on survival was analyzed in 147 patients, among 166 patients, who had complete TNM staging data. Results: Three patients were classified in stage I / II, 15 in stage III a, 78 in stage IIIb and 48 in stage IV. Survival rate at 1 and 2 years for these patients were as follows: stage I / II, 75% and 37.5% ; stage IIIa, 46.7% and 25.0% ; stage III b, 34.3% and 11.3% ; and stage IV, 2.6% and 0%. The 2-year survival rates for 84 patients who received chemotherapy(more than 2 cycles) with or without radiotherapy were as follows: stage I / II, 37.5% ; stage rna, 31.3% ; stage IIIb 13.5% ; and stage IV 0%. Overall outcome according to TNM staging was significantly different whether or not received treatment. However, there was no significant difference between stage IIIa and stage IIIb though median survival and 2-year survival rate were higher in stage IIIa than stage IIIb. Conclusion: These results suggest that the TNM staging system may be helpful for predicting the prognosis of patients with SCLC.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 2002

Purpose : To evaluate the role of postoperative chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer, we retrospectively analyzed the treatment results of patients treated by curative surgical resection and postoperative chemoradiotherapy. Materials and Methods : From April 1989 through December 1998, 119 patients were treated with curative surgery and postoperative chemoradiotherapy for rectal carcinoma in Gyeongsang National University Hospital. Patient age ranged from 32 to 73 years, with a median age of 56 years. Low anterior resection was peformed in 59 patients, and abdominoperineal resection in 60. Forty-three patients were AJCC stage II and 76 were stage III. Radiation was delivered with 6 MV X rays using either AP-PA two fields, AP-PA both lateral four fields, or PA both lateral three fields. Total radiation dose ranged from 40 Gy to 56 Gy. In 73 patients, bolus infusions of 5-FU $(400\;mg/m^2)$ were given during the first and fourth weeks of radiotherapy. After completion of radiotherapy, an additional four to six cycles of 5-FU were given. Oral 5-FU (Furtulone) was given for nine months in 46 patients. Results : Forty $(33.7\%)$ of the 119 patients showed treatment failure. Local failure occurred in 16 $(13.5\%)$ patients, 1 $(2.3\%)$ of 43 stage II patients and 15 $(19.7\%)$ of 76 stage III patients. Distant failure occurred in 31 $(26.1\%)$ patients, among whom 5 $(11.6\%)$ were stage II and 26 $(34.2\%)$ were stage III. Five-year actuarial survival was $56.2\%$ overall, $71.1\%$ in stage II patients and $49.1\%$ in stage III patients (p=0.0008). Five-year disease free survival was $53.3\%$ overall, $68.1\%$ in stage II and $45.8\%$ in stage III (p=0.0006). Multivariate analysis showed that T stage and N stage were significant prognostic factors for five year survival, and that T stage, N stage, and preoperative CEA value were significant prognostic factors for five year disease free survival. Bowel complication occurred in 22 patients, and was treated surgically in 15 $(12.6\%)$, and conservatively in 7 $(5.9\%)$. Conclusion : Postoperative chemoradiotherapy was confirmed to be an effective modality for local control of rectal cancer, but the distant failure rate remained high. More effective modalities should be investigated to lower the distant failure rate.