Publications by authors named "Francis Ann-Shing Lee"

Importance: Previous studies showed that 42% to 50% of patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) achieved complete remission (CR) after combined locoregional therapy (LRT) plus immunotherapy (IO). However, data on predictors of CR and long-term clinical outcomes without surgery and after discontinuation of IO are lacking.

Objective: To assess the long-term clinical outcomes among patients with unresectable HCC who achieved CR after LRT-IO and were placed on a watch-and-wait protocol.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study compares the effectiveness and safety of combining stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with immunotherapy versus SBRT alone in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • Results show that the combination therapy (SBRT-IO) led to significantly improved overall survival rates and response compared to SBRT alone, with higher rates of complete and partial responses among patients.
  • Despite some cases of severe side effects from immunotherapy, the combination treatment demonstrated better outcomes, suggesting that further research through randomized trials is needed.
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Introduction: Limited evidence compares short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) and long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCCRT), both of which are followed by consolidative chemotherapy before radical rectal surgery. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess treatment response, survival outcomes, and toxicity in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Patients (cT3-4 and/or N+) treated with SCRT or LCCRT, consolidative chemotherapy, or total mesorectal excision between 2013 and 2021 were identified.

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Introduction: Capecitabine, irinotecan, and panitumumab (CAPIRI-P) is a controversial regimen for metastatic colorectal cancer, with concerns regarding the efficacy and toxicity. However, its toxicity profile has been improved with dose reduction, and concerns regarding efficacy have been extrapolated from other trials. This retrospective study reports the real-world effectiveness and safety of modified CAPIRI-P (mCAPIRI-P).

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Background: The synergy between locoregional therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors has not been investigated as conversion therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. We aimed to investigate the activity of sequential transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) and stereotactic body radiotherapy followed by avelumab (an anti-PD-L1 drug) for locally advanced, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: START-FIT was a single-arm, phase 2 trial in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who were not suitable for curative treatment, conducted in two hospitals in Hong Kong and one in Shenzhen, China.

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Background: The incidence and survival of colorectal cancer (CRC) are increasing. There is an increasing number of long-term survivors, many of whom are elderly and have comorbidities. We conducted a population-based study in Hong Kong to assess the long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence associated with adjuvant fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy among CRC survivors.

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Introduction: Adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in gastric cancer inevitably results in an unintentional spleen radiation dose. We aimed to determine the association between the spleen radiation dose and the observed severity of lymphopenia which may affect the clinical outcomes (survival time and infection risk).

Methods: Patients who received adjuvant CRT for gastric cancer between January 2015 and December 2020 were analyzed.

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Article Synopsis
  • Immunotherapy combined with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT-IO) shows significantly better progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  • In a matching study of 226 patients, those receiving SBRT-IO exhibited a PFS of 93.3% at 12 months and 77.8% at 24 months, while TACE patients had only 16.7% and 2.1%, respectively.
  • The SBRT-IO group also reported a higher overall response rate (ORR) of 87.5% with fewer severe treatment
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Background: For advanced rectal cancer with involved or threatened mesorectal fascia (MRF), current standard is pre-operative long course chemoradiotherapy (PLCRT) with either capecitabine or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). However, few Chinese data on its clinical outcome are available, especially for those with pelvic MRI staging.

Methods: Between Jan-2009 and Oct-2014, 123 consecutive patients with biopsy proven adenocarcinoma of rectum, all with pelvic MRI staging, selected for PLCRT after multi-disciplinary team discussion were recruited.

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