The impact of hyperfractionated radiotherapy regimen in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

The prognosis for patients with lung cancer is poor with an average of 5-year overall survival rate of only 10-15 % taking all clinical stages together. The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of the radiotherapy regimen on survival. Clinical data were collected from all the Swedish Oncology Departments for 1,287 patients with a diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subjected to curatively intended irradiation (≥50 Gy) during the years 1990 to 2000.

Swedish Lung Cancer Radiation Study Group: predictive value of age at diagnosis for radiotherapy response in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of age at diagnosis on prognosis in patients treated with curatively intended radiotherapy for NSCLC.

Material And Methods: This is a joint effort among all the Swedish Oncology Departments that includes all identified patients with a diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer that have been subjected to curatively intended irradiation (≥50 Gy) treated during 1990 to 2000. Included patients had a histopathological/cytological diagnosis date as well as a death date or a last follow-up date.

Relation between smoking history and gene expression profiles in lung adenocarcinomas.

Background: Lung cancer is the worldwide leading cause of death from cancer. Tobacco usage is the major pathogenic factor, but all lung cancers are not attributable to smoking. Specifically, lung cancer in never-smokers has been suggested to represent a distinct disease entity compared to lung cancer arising in smokers due to differences in etiology, natural history and response to specific treatment regimes.

Swedish lung cancer radiation study group: the prognostic value of anaemia, thrombocytosis and leukocytosis at time of diagnosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

There is a need to improve the prognostic and predictive indicators in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At present, the main focus is on genetic predictive markers while the prognostic value of the standard blood variables related to haematopoiesis has been subjected to relatively limited attention. To study the prognostic potential of haemoglobin (Hgb), platelet (Plt) and white blood cell (WBC) levels at time of diagnosis in NSCLC patients, 835 NSCLC patients, stage I-IV, who received radiotherapy with curative intention (>50 Gy), were included in the study.

The value of induction chemotherapy for survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with radiotherapy.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to retrospectively investigate the impact of induction chemotherapy on treatment outcome in patients treated with curatively intended radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with a diagnosed NSCLC that have been subjected to curatively intended irradiation (≥50 Gy) and treated in an oncology department in Sweden during the years 1990-2000 were included in the study. Operated patients and patients having received concomitant chemotherapy were excluded.

Prognostic factors in lung cancer in a defined geographical area over two decades with a special emphasis on gender.

Introduction: Many studies over recent decades report an increasing incidence of lung cancer in female patients. Female gender is often reported as a good prognostic factor.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate prognostic factors with a special emphasis on gender.

Swedish lung cancer radiation study group: predictive value of histology for radiotherapy response in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential predictive value of histology in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with curatively intended radiotherapy. In a collaborative effort among all the Swedish Oncology Departments, clinical data were collected for 1146 patients with a diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer subjected to curatively intended irradiation (⩾50 Gy) during the years 1990 to 2000. The included patients were identified based on a manual search of all medical and radiation charts at the oncology departments from which the individual patient data were collected.

A novel treatment approach for paediatric Gorham-Stout syndrome with chylothorax.

Aim: To expand the treatment options in paediatric Gorham-Stout syndrome (GSS) when conventional therapy is ineffective.

Method: Two children with biopsy confirmed GSS, a rare disorder with progressive lymphangiomatosis, were treated with a combination of interferon-α-2b, low anticoagulant, low molecular weight heparin, radiotherapy and surgery.

Results: The combined therapy resolved the symptoms in the acute phase, and both patients have since been free of symptoms for >2 years.

Multicentre phase II trial of paclitaxel and carboplatin with concurrent radiotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Aim: To evaluate weekly induction chemotherapy followed by weekly concomitant chemoradiotherapy in a multicentre phase II study of patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; stage wet IIIB excluded).

Patients And Methods: Eligible patients received three weekly cycles of paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC2 followed by six weekly cycles of paclitaxel 60 mg/m2 and carboplatin AUC2 in combination with thoracic radiotherapy (2 Gy per fraction and day to a total dose of 60 Gy).

Results: Sixty-four patients (40 males and 24 females) with a median age of 63 years (range, 43-79 years) entered the study.

NTCP modelling and pulmonary function tests evaluation for the prediction of radiation induced pneumonitis in non-small-cell lung cancer radiotherapy.

This work aims to evaluate the predictive strength of the relative seriality, parallel and Lyman-Kutcher-Burman (LKB) normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models regarding the incidence of radiation pneumonitis (RP), in a group of patients following lung cancer radiotherapy and also to examine their correlation with pulmonary function tests (PFTs). The study was based on 47 patients who received radiation therapy for stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. For each patient, lung dose volume histograms (DVHs) and the clinical treatment outcome were available.

Intraoperative radiotherapy for patients with carcinoma of the pancreas.

Background/aims: Local recurrence is one of the most common sites of failure after resection of exocrine pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) involves delivery of high doses of irradiation to the pancreas in patients with locally advanced disease, and to the surgical bed following pancreatic resection while uninvolved and dose-limiting tissues are displaced. Here we report our current experience with IORT in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Extended operation with or without intraoperative (IORT) and external (EBRT) radiotherapy for gallbladder carcinoma.

Background/aims: Gallbladder carcinoma is a rare disease with dismal prognosis. However, lately improved survival has been reported after extended operation including liver resection and lymphadenectomy in addition to cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate such a surgical strategy with and without adjuvant intra- and postoperative radiotherapy (IORT/EBRT).