Unresectable esophageal cancer treated with multiple chemotherapies in combination with chemoradiotherapy: A case report.

Background: Definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) using cisplatin plus 5fluorouracil (CF) with radiation is considered the standard treatment for unresectable locally advanced T4 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Recently, induction chemotherapy has received attention as an effective treatment strategy.

Case Summary: We report a successful case of a 59-year-old female with unresectable locally advanced T4 ESCC treated by two additional courses of chemotherapy with CF after induction chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil (DCF) followed by dCRT.

Clinical characteristics of brain metastases from lung cancer according to histological type: Pretreatment evaluation and survival following whole-brain radiotherapy.

The histological type of lung cancer in patients with brain metastases may affect response to treatment and survival. We evaluated the clinical characteristics of brain metastases from lung cancer according to histological type in 70 consecutive patients with brain metastases from histologically confirmed lung cancer, who had been previously treated with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Histological type was divided into three categories: adenocarcinoma, small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and other non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Adjuvant radiotherapy after prostatectomy for prostate cancer in Japan: a multi-institutional survey study of the JROSG.

In Japan, the use of adjuvant radiotherapy after prostatectomy for prostate cancer has not increased compared with the use of salvage radiotherapy. We retrospectively evaluated the outcome of adjuvant radiotherapy together with prognostic factors of outcome in Japan. Between 2005 and 2007, a total of 87 patients were referred for adjuvant radiotherapy in 23 institutions [median age: 64 years (54-77 years), median initial prostate-specific antigen: 11.

Definitive chemoradiotherapy of limited-disease small cell lung cancer: Retrospective analysis of new predictive factors affecting treatment results.

The aim of this study was to evaluate potential predictive factors in the treatment of limited-disease small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC). A total of 33 patients with LD-SCLC who underwent definitive chemoradiotherapy at our institute between April 1996 and May 2007 were enrolled in our retrospective study. The relationship between a range of potential predictive factors and the initial response, time to progression and pattern of failure was analyzed.

Re-irradiation for metastatic brain tumors with whole-brain radiotherapy.

Objective: To determine whether second whole-brain irradiation is beneficial for patients previously treated with whole-brain irradiation.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was done for 31 patients with brain metastases who had undergone re-irradiation. Initial whole-brain irradiation was performed with 30 Gy/10 fractions for 87% of these patients.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with docetaxel for T2 laryngeal carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with docetaxel (DOC) for T2 laryngeal carcinoma.

Method: Twelve patients with T2 laryngeal cancer received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (60-70Gy) with weekly DOC (10 mg/m2) (CCRT group). The clinical files of the patients were retrospectively reviewed and survival rates and laryngeal preservation rates were analyzed compared with the group treated with conventional radiation therapy alone (RT group).

Efficient preparation of cationized gelatin for gene transduction.

We previously reported gene therapy using cationized gelatin microspheres of φ20-32 μm, prepared from pig skin, as a transducing agent, but although the gelatin offered various advantages, its yield was extremely low (only 0.1%). In this study, we markedly improved the yield of φ20-32 μm cationized gelatin microspheres and prepared a newly less than φ20 μm cationized gelatin.

Prediction of tumor control by tumor regression at 40 Gy/4 weeks of external beam irradiation for oropharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: To predict tumor control on the basis of tumor regression at 40 Gy/4 weeks of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for oropharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: From 1990 to 1997, 55 patients (9 Stage I+II, 15 Stage III, and 31 Stage IV) with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx were treated with curative EBRT (median dose, 66 Gy). Tumor response at 4 weeks was compared with loco-regional control.

Prognostic factors of reirradiation for recurrent head and neck cancer.

We analyzed outcomes and prognostic factors to assess the value of reirradiation for recurrent head and neck cancer. Forty-four patients with recurrent squamous-cell carcinoma had undergone external beam reirradiation with cumulative dosing of more than 80 Gy. Six and 38 cases exhibited recurrent stage III and stage IV cancers, respectively.

Complications following re-irradiation for head and neck cancer.

Purpose: Re-irradiation may induce serious complications because of overdosage to previously irradiated areas. A few reports do exist that describe the incidence and factors related to late complications. In the present study we analyze complications following re-irradiation for head and neck cancers.