Individualized clinical target volume delineation and efficacy analysis in unilateral nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT): 10-year summary.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term local control, failure patterns, and toxicities after individualized clinical target volume (CTV) delineation in unilateral nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Methods: Unilateral NPC was defined as a nasopharyngeal mass confined to one side of the nasopharynx and did not exceed the midline. From November 2003 to December 2017, 95 patients were retrospectively included.

Analysis of late toxicity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy.

Purpose: To observe the late toxicities in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients who achieved long-term survival after intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Methods: 208 untreated NPC patients who received IMRT and survived more than five years with locoregional disease control and no metastasis were evaluated in this study. The prescription dose to the gross target volume of nasopharynx (GTVnx), positive neck lymph nodes (GTVnd), clinical target volume 1 (CTV1) and 2 (CTV2) was 68Gy/30f, 60-66Gy/30f, 60 Gy/30f and 54Gy/30f, respectively.

Results of a phase 2 study examining the effects of omitting elective neck irradiation to nodal levels IV and Vb in patients with N(0-1) nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the patterns of nodal failure and toxicity in clinically negative necks of N0-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients who were treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) but did not receive elective neck irradiation (ENI) to level IV and Vb nodes.

Methods And Materials: We conducted a phase 2 prospective study in N0-1 NPC patients treated with IMRT. ENI included the retropharyngeal nodes and levels II to Va but omitted levels IV and Vb in clinically negative necks.

Local control, survival, and late toxicities of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by simultaneous modulated accelerated radiotherapy combined with cisplatin concurrent chemotherapy: long-term results of a phase 2 study.

Background: The aim of this phase 2 study was to determine the long-term local control, survival, and late toxicities among patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with the simultaneous modulated accelerated radiation therapy (SMART) boost technique and concurrent chemotherapy.

Methods: Eighty-one patients with pathologically diagnosed locally advanced NPC were enrolled in this study. IMRT was delivered with the SMART boost technique at prescribed doses of 68 grays (Gy)/30 fraction to the nasopharynx gross target volume.

A prospective, randomized, multi-center trial to investigate Actovegin in prevention and treatment of acute oral mucositis caused by chemoradiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: A multi-center prospective randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Actovegin in the prevention and treatment of chemoradiotherapy-induced acute oral mucositis.

Methods And Materials: Between February 2006 and May 2007, 156 evaluable patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were randomized to Group 1 (n=53) for prevention, Group 2 (n=51) for treatment, and Group 3 (n=52) for control. All patients received concomitant chemoradiotherapy ± induction chemotherapy.

CT-guided needle biopsy through mandibular area for the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the parapharyngeal space.

Background And Objective: The primary submucous type of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) or the recurrent NPC in the parapharyngeal space is difficult to be diagnosed histologically by conventional biopsy because of the obstruction of the surrounding structures. This study was performed to evaluate the needle biopsy approach through the madibular area into the parapharyngeal space under the guidance of computed tomography (CT) for NPC.

Methods: Between July 6, 2005 and October 23, 2009, a total of 6 patients were enrolled into the study.

Studies on pentoxifylline and tocopherol combination for radiation-induced heart disease in rats.

Purpose: To investigate whether the application of pentoxifylline (PTX) and tocopherol l (Vit. E) could modify the development of radiation-induced heart disease and downregulate the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1mRNA in rats.

Methods And Materials: A total of 120 Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into four groups: control group, irradiated group, experimental group 1, and experiment group 2.

[Phase II clinical trial of sodium glyci-didazole (CM-Na) combined with concurrent radiochemotherapy for advanced esophageal carcinoma].

Background & Objective: Although concurrent radiochemotherapy is popularly accepted as a standard treatment for advanced esophageal carcinoma, there is still great room to improve the clinical efficacy. This phase II clinical trial was to further verify the efficacy of sodium glyci-didazole (CM-Na), as a valid sensitizer, combined with concurrent radiochemotherapy on advanced esophageal carcinoma, and observe adverse events.

Methods: A total of 37 patients with esophageal carcinoma received radiotherapy at a dose of 54-60 Gy to the gross tumor volume (GTV) and a course of PF regimen [continuous intravenous drip of cisplatin 20 mg x (m(2) x d) g(-1) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 500 mg x (m(2) x d) g(-1) on Days 1-5] every 3 weeks.

[Correlation of TGF-beta1 mRNA expression to irradiation-induced heart damage in rats].

Background & Objective: Radiation-induced heart damage is one of the prognostic factors of the patients who had received radiation to the mediastinum. This study was to investigate the correlation of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA expression to the radiation response of the heart in rats, in order to provide references for further study on irradiation-induced heart damage.

Methods: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups: the 30 rats in irradiation group were irradiated with 20 Gy on the heart; the 30 rats in control group received no irradiation.

[Changes of hypoxia in primary lesion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma during the treatment course and the clinical value thereof].

Objective: To investigate the hypoxia status in the primary lesion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) during the treatment and the clinical value thereof.

Methods: Sixty-two patients with untreated NPC were examined by 99m Tc-4, 9-diaza-3, 3, 10, 10-tetramethy ldodecan-2, 11-dione dioxime (99 Tcm-HL91) SPECT imaging and CT-simulation (CT-Sim) scan before the treatment, in the mid-treatment (after receiving about 40 Gy) and at the end of treatment respectively. (1) All hypoxia images obtained at the 3 time pints were analyzed by visual analysis and semi-quantitative analysis, the radioactivity ratio of the high density region in the nasopharyngeal lesion to the normal nasopharyngeal tissue (T+/N) was calculated with the technique of region of interesting (ROI).

Defining internal target volume (ITV) for hepatocellular carcinoma using four-dimensional CT.

Background And Purpose: To define individualized internal target volume (ITV) for hepatocellular carcinoma using four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT).

Materials And Methods: Gross tumor volumes (GTVs) and clinical target volumes (CTVs) were contoured on all 10 respiratory phases of 4DCT scans in 10 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The 3D and 4D treatment plans were performed for each patient using two different planning target volumes (PTVs): (1) PTV(3D) was derived from a single CTV plus conventional margins; (2) PTV(4D) was derived from ITV(4D), which encompassed all 10 CTVs plus setup margins (SMs).

[The values of MRI, CT, and PET-CT in detecting retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Background & Objective: Three-dimensional conformal and intensity-modulated radiotherapy is the direction of developing radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The accuracy of target area outlines is especially important. This study was to explore the clinical diagnostic values of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and 18-F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)-CT in detecting retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis of NPC, and to provide references to the plan of radiotherapy.

[Effect of hypoxic radiosensitizer sodium glycididazole on long-term result of radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effect of sodium glycididazole (CMNa) as a hypoxic radiosensitizer on the radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: Between May 1999 and May 2002, 211 patients with pathologically confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma were randomized into group-A treated by radiotherapy plus CMNa or group-B by radiotherapy alone. The staging was determined according to 92' Fuzhou staging systerm.

[Prospective study on long-term efficacy of external plus intracavitary radiotherapy on stage I-II nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Background & Objective: The dose distribution of brachytherapy is different from that of external radiotherapy. Combining these 2 modalities can enhance the conform degree of dose distribution. This study was to evaluate long-term efficacy of external plus intracavitary irradiation on stage I-II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

[Design planning target volumes (PTVs) in intensity-modulated radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Background & Objective: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) may help to diminish radiation-induced normal tissue damage and improve quality of life of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. However, highly conformal treatment techniques commonly establish steep dose gradients between tumor and normal tissues, therefore, daily setup variations can significantly compromise the ultimate precision of idealized IMRT delivery. This study was to investigate the setup accuracy of thermoplastic masks used for immobilizing NPC patients treated by simultaneous integrated boost IMRT, and to determine adequate margins to account for those uncertainties.

[Radiation-induced temporomandibular joint damage in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after intensity-modulated radiotherapy].

Background & Objective: Radiation-induced temporomandibular joint damage is a kind of common complication after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Trimus is the main symptom of this damage, and severely affects the quality of life of the patients. This study was to evaluate radiation-induced temporomandibular joint damage in NPC patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and analyze its affecting factors.

[Internal target volume definition using four-dimensional CT and dosimetric evaluation for hepatocellular carcinoma].

Background & Objective: Accurate definition of target volume is difficult in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT) for liver tumors because of the wide moving extent of tumors with respiration. This study was to define individualized internal target volume (ITV) using four-dimensional computed tomography (4D-CT), and compare planning target volumes (PTVs) and dose distribution of 3D planning with 4D planning for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Seven primary HCC patients received 4D-CT scanning.

[Effect of concurrent chemoradiotherapy on serum vascular endothelial growth factor in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients--a report of 43 cases].

Background & Objective: The prognosis of esophageal cancer is not only affected by TNM stage but also by the level of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (S-VEGF). This study was to investigate the effect of concurrent chemoradiotherapy on S-VEGF in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and to explore the correlation of S-VEGF to the prognosis of ESCC.

Methods: Serum samples were obtained from ESCC patients, treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy in Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University from Dec.

[Initial outcome of induction chemotherapy with weekly paclitaxel followed by three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and concurrent weekly paclitaxel for stage III non-small cell lung cancer].

Background & Objective: The efficacy of radiotherapy alone on locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poor. Although the combined modality of chemoradiotherapy and dose-escalation of radiotherapy have been the main trends, the optimal modality still remains unknown. This study was to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of induction chemotherapy (ICT) followed by three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT) and concurrent weekly paclitaxel on unresectable NSCLC.

Quality of life of nasopharyngeal carcinoma survivors in Mainland China.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) survivors. 192 NPC survivors treated in 1999 and 2000 were enrolled in this study. Median follow up was 3.

[Treatment outcome and prognosis of 112 patients with nasal and nasopharyngeal peripheral T cell lymphomas].

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of nasal and nasopharyngeal peripheral T cell lymphomas (PTCL) patients.

Methods: One hundred and twelve patients with pathologically confirmed nasal and nasopharyngeal PTCL were included, among which 39 were CD56(+) NK/T cell lymphomas. The median pre-treatment disease course was 4 months.

[Clinical value of barium swallow in observing esophageal tumor regression during radiotherapy].

Background & Objective: Barium swallow is widely used to observe the treatment response of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and as a routine examination for long-term follow-up in China because of its convenience and inexpensiveness. This study was to observe esophageal tumor regression by barium swallow during radiotherapy, analyze the correlations of tumor regression speed to short-term response and long-term survival, and evaluate the clinical value of barium swallow during radiotherapy for ESCC.

Methods: Clinical data from 94 patients with ESCC, treated with radiotherapy (39 patients) or chemoradiotherapy (55 patients) from Jan.

[Clinical features and prognosis of nasal type NK/T cell lymphoma].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features, treatment modalities and the prognosis of nasal type NK/T cell lymphoma.

Methods: The data of 39 such patients treated from June 2000 to December 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty three patients were treated by combined chemoradiotherapy, basing on anthracycline-containing CHOP or similar regimens (median 5 cycles).

[Evaluation of CT, MRI and PET-CT in detecting retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Background & Objective: At present, the detection of retropharyngeal lymph node (RLN) metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) mainly depends on imaging, but the diagnosis criteria are controversial. Recently, the 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography ((18)FDG-PET-CT) has been widely applied in diagnosing cancer. This study was to evaluate CT, MRI, and (18)FDG-PET-CT in detecting RLN metastasis of NPC, and explore the imaging diagnosis criteria.

[Quality of life of 192 disease-freely survival nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after radiotherapy].

Background & Objective: With the elevation of survival rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients after treatment, their quality of life (QOL) is more and more emphasized. This study was designed to evaluate the QOL of disease-freely survival NPC patients after treatment, and to investigate the factors correlated with their QOL.

Methods: From Jul.