• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.328-333
• /
• 2002

Purpose : To analyze the treatment results of concurrent chemoradiation with oral 5-FU plus Gemcitabine or Paclitaxel for unresectable pancreatic cancer. Materials & Methods : The patients, who were diagnosed by imaging modalities or by explo-laparotomy, were treated with concurrent chemoradiation. Radiotherapy was delivered to primary tumor and regional lymph nodes, and the total dose was 45 Gy. Patients received Gemcitabine $1,000\;mg/m^2$ or Paclitaxel $50\;mg/m^2$ weekly and oral 5-FU daily The total number of cycles of chemotherapy ranged from 1 to 39 (median, 11 cycles). The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 36 months, Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results : Fifty-four patients between Jan. 1999 to Nov. 2001 were included in this study. Forty-two patients who completed the planned treatment were included in this analysis. The patients' age ranged from 37 to 73 years (median, 50 years) and the male to female ratio was 30:12. Treatment was interrupted for 12 patients due to: disease progression for 6 $(50\%)$, poor performance status for 4 $(33.3\%)$, intercurrent disease for 1 $(8.3\%)$, and refusal for 1 $(8.3\%)$. Response evaluation was possible for 40 patients. One patient gained complete remission and 24 patients gained partial remission, hence the response rate was $59\%$. The survival rates were $46.7\%\;and\;17.0\%$ at 1 year and 2 years, respectively with a median survival time of 12 months. Patients treated with Paclitaxel showed superior outcomes compared to those patients treated with Gemcitabine, in terms of both response rate and survival rate although this difference was not statistically significant. Grade III or IV hematologic toxicity was shown in 8 patients $(19\%)$, while grade III or IV non-hematologic toxicity was shown in 5 patients $(12\%)$. Conclusion : Concurrent chemoradiation with oral 5-FU and Gemcitabine or Paclitaxel improves both the response rate and survival rate in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. A prospective study should be investigated in order to improve both the patient selection and the treatment outcome as well as to reduce the toxicity.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.251-256
• /
• 2000

Purpose : To evaluate efficacy and complication of stereotactic radiosurgery using stereotactic body frame. Methods and Materials :From December 1997 to June 1999, 11 patients with primary and metastatic tumors were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery using stereotactic body frame(Precision TherapyTu). Three patients were treated with primary hepatoma and seven with metastatic tumor from liver, lung, breast, trachea and one with arteriovenous malformation on neck. We used vacuum pillow for immobilization and made skin marker on sternum and tibia area with chest marker and leg marker. Diaphragm control was used for reducing movement by respiration. CT-simulation and treatment planning were peformed. Set-up error was checked by CT-Simulator before each treatment. Dose were calculated on the 80$\~$90$\%$ isodose of isocenter dose and given consecutive 3 fractions for total dose of 30 Gy (10 Gy/fraction). Results :Median follow-up was 12 months. One patient (9$\%$) showed complete response and four Patients (36$\%$) showed partial response and others showed stable disease. Planning target volumes (PTV) ranged from 3 to 111 cc (mean 18.4 n). Set-up error was within 5 mm in all directions (X, Y, Z axis). There was no complication in all patients. Conclusion :In Primary and metastatic tumors, stereotactic body frame is very safe, accurate and effective treatment modality.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.265-270
• /
• 2004

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of postoperative radiation therapy in cervical cancer patients and define the prognostic factors to affect survival rates. Materials and Methods: Eighty one patients with cervical cancer who were treated with postoperative radiation therapy following surgery at our institution between May 1992 and April 2000 were retrospectivelv analyzed. Forty two patients had stage IB disease, 17 had stage IIA disease, and remaining 22 had stage IIB disease, respectively. Histological examination revealed 76 squamous cell carcinoma and 5 adenocarclnoma. Sixty one patients were noted to have stromal invasion greater than 8 mm and 20 patients were noted to have stromal invasion 7 mm or less. Sixteen patients had parametrial invasion and 65 patients did not. Positive vaginal resection margin was documented in only eight patients and positive lymphovascular invasion was in twelve patients. All of the patients were treated with external beam radiation therapy alone. Majority of the patients were treated with 4 field brick technique to encompass whole pelvis. Total of 5,500 cGy was delivered to the primary surgical tumor bed. Minimum follow up period was four years. Results: Actuarial disease free survival rates for entire group of the patients were 95% and 89% at 2 and 5 years, respectively Five year disease free survival rates for patients with stage IB, IIA, and IIB disease were 97%, 87% and 70%, respectivelv. Local recurrences were documented in 5 patients. Cumulative local failure rate at 3 years was 6% Five year disease free survival rates for patients with stromal invasion greater than 8 mm and 7 mm or less were 88% and 92%, respectively (p>0.05). Five year disease free survival rate for patients with parametrial invasion was significantly lower than those with no invasion (72% vs 92%, p<0.05). Also there was significantly lower survival in patients with positive vaginal resection margin, compared with patients with negative resection margin (64% vs 94%, p<0.05). However, lymphovascular invasion was not a statistically significant prognostic factor Parametrial invasion and positive surgical resection margins were noted to be significant prognostic factors. Conclusions: Postoperative radiation therapy appears to be beneficial in controlling local disease in cervical cancer patients with high pathologic risk factors. Parametrial invasion and positive resection margins were noted to be significant prognostic factors to affect survival and more effective treatment should be investigated in these patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.275-282
• /
• 1998

Purpose : The effect of hyperfractionated radiotherapy on locally advanced non-small lung cancer was studied by a retrospective analysis. Materials & Methods : We analyzed sixty one patients of biopsy-confirmed, IIIA and IIIB non-small cell lung cancer. Using the ECOG performance scale, all the patients were scored less than 2. They were treated by curative hyperfractionated radiotherapy alone from Oct. 1992 to Oct. 1995 at the Department of Radiation Oncology. All the patients received 120cGy b.i.d with more than 6 hours interval between each fraction. The total dose of radiation was reached up to 6400-7080 cGy with a mean dose of 6934 cGy. The results were analyzed retrospectively. Results : The overall survival rate was 53 1$\%$ in 1 year, 9.9$\%$ in 2 years with a median survival time (MST) of 13.9 months. The progression free survival (PFS) rate was 37.0$\%$ in 1 year, 8.9$\%$ in 2 years. Twenty two Patients were classified as complete responders to this treatment and their MST was 19.5 months When this was compared with that of partial responders (MST: 11 7months), it was statistically significant (p=0.0003). Twenty nine patients of stage IIIA showed a better overall survival rate (1yr 63.3$\%$, 2yr 16.8$\%$) than IIIB patients (1yr 43.3$\%$, 2yr 3.6$\%$), which was also statistically significant (p=0.003). Patients with adenocarcinoma showed a better survival rate (1yr 64.3$\%$, 2yr 21.4$\%$) than that of squamous cell counterpart (1yr 49.4$\%$, 2yr 7.4$\%$), although this was not significant statistically (p=0.61). Two patients developed fatal radiation-induced pneumonia right after the completion of the treatment which progressed rapidly and they all died within 2 months. One patient developed radiation-induced fibrosis after 13 months. He refused further treatment and died soon after the development of fibrosis. Conclusion : Among locally advanced NSCLC, hyperfractionated radiotherapy was effective on stage IIIA patients by increasing MST with acceptable toxicities. Acute radiation-induced pneumonia should be carefully monitored and must be avoided during or after this treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.155-160
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Many authors have been introduced field in field technique and 3-D conformal radiotherapy that increased the tumor dose as well as decreased the dose of abutting critical organ. These technique have multiple beam direction and small beam segments even below 10 MU(monitor unit)for each field. we have confirmed the influence of low MU on dose output and beam stability. Materials and Methods : To study the dose output, the dose for each field was always 90MU, but it divided into different segment size: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15 segments, 90, 45, 30, 18, 9, 6 MU the measurements were carried out for X-ray energy 4 MV, 6 MV, 10 MV of three LINAC(Varian 600C, 2100C, 2100C, 2100C/D), in addition each measurement was randomly repeated three times for each energy. To study the field symmetry and flatness, X-omat V films were irradiated. After being developed, films were scanned and analyzed using densitometer. Results : Influence of low MU on dose is slightly more increase output about $1.2{\sim}2.9%$ in cGy/mu than 90MU, but may not changed beam quality(flatness or symmetry), Output stability depends on dose rate(PRF)rather than beam energy, field size. Conclusion : Presented result are under the limits(out put<3%, flatness<${\pm}3%$, symmetry<2%). The 3 accelerators are safe to use and to perform conformal radiotherapy treatments in small segments, small MU around 10MU. but Even if the result presented here under the limits, continuous adjustments and periodic QA should be done for use of small MU

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.278-284
• /
• 1999

This study deals with the biological changes in mice after ${\gamma}-irradiated$. Four weeks old BALA/c mice were irradiated with 6.5Gy of ${\gamma}-ray$ on the fifth day after oral administration of radioprotectants such as ascorbic acid, tocopherol and cysteine. Control group was irradiated with 6.5Gy without pre-administration of radioprotectors. Blood cells and sperm cells were counted and body, testis and spleen were weighed 3 days after irradiation. And also liver antioxidant activity and range of spleen immune cells were measured. Differences in most biological parameters were not clearly distinguished between experimental groups. However, the relative spleen weight, the relative testis weight and the population size of spleen immune cells such as T helper cells, B cells and macrophages measured by means of FACS showed significant difference between irradiated and radioprotectant administered group. It is concluded that the relative spleen weight, the relative testis weight and the population size of spleen immune cells are easy and useful parameters for assessing the effect of radioprotective substances and for quantifying biological damage of radiation, as well.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.83-86
• /
• 1973

The protective effects of acetylbenzoylaconine, 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide hydrobromide, $\beta$-mercaptoethylamine HCI, and L-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid were studied on the white male mice, aged 5-6 weeks. The toxicity test of acetylbenzoylaconine revealed that the LD$_{50}$ was 2.5 mg/kg of body weight. After the administration of test substances, mice were irradiated with whole body dose of 800 rad by the Co-60 source. Observing the number of surviving mice for 30 days, the survival coefficients for the test groups were calculated and with these the protective coefficients against radiation injury, PCR, were also calculated. The PCR values are 2.24, 2.95, 2.78, and 1.23 for acetylbenzoylaconine, 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide hydrobromiide, $\beta$-mercaptoethylamine HCI, and L-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid respectively. These values reveal that the acetylbenzoylaconine has protective potency against radiation injury on white male mice.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.633-639
• /
• 2003

We investigated the effect of green tea and its fractions of alcohol and polysaccharide on jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells of mice irradiated with high and low dose of gamma-irradiation. Jejunal crypts were protected by pretreatment of green tea (i.p.: 50 mg/kg of body weight, at 12 and 36 hours before irradiation., p.o.: 1.25% water extract, for 7days before irradiation, p<0.01) and alcohol and polysaccharide fractions showed no significant modifying effects. Green tea and its fractions administration before irradiation (i.p. at 12 and 36hours before irradiation) resulted in an increase of the formation of endogenous spleen colony (p<0.05). The frequency of radiation-induced apoptosis in intestinal crypt cells was also reduced by pretreatment of green tea (i.p. at 12 and 36 hours before irradiation, p<0.05., p.o. for 7days before irradiation, p<0.001) and its fractions (p<0.001). These results indicated that green tea might be a useful radioprotector, especially since it is a relatively nontoxic natural product. Further studies are needed to characterize better the promotion nature of green tea and its components.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.179-184
• /
• 2004

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of ginseng saponins (panaxadiol, ginsenoside $Rb_1$, $Rb_2$, Rc, Rd) on jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells of mice irradiated with gamma-ray. ICR mice were given each saponin (i.p. 50 mg/kg of body weight) at 24 hours before irradiation. The radioprotective effects of saponins were compared with the irradiation control respectively. The jejunal crypts were protected by pretreatment with ginsenoside Rc (p<0.05) and Rd (p<0.05). The spleen colony was increased by pretreatment with panaxadiol (p<0.05) and ginsenoside Rd (p<0.05). And the frequency of radiation induced apoptosis was significantly reduced by pretreatment with panaxadiol (p<0.05), ginsenoside Rb2 (p<0.05), Rc (p<0.05) and Rd (p<0.01). These results suggest that ginsenoside Rc, Rd might have a major radioprotective effect.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.670-674
• /
• 2006

This experimental study was carried out to investigate the immunostimulating effect of Acanthopanax, as Oriental rhizomata herbs, on jejunal survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells and lipid peroxidation in the liver of mice following Gamma-ray irradiation. The subject of this study includes 72 mice which were divided into each 7 groups. Acanthopanax experiment groups were Acanthopanax. Gamma-ray(lOGy), Acanthopanax. Gamma-ray(3Gy), Acanthopnax. Gamma-ray(1Gy), Gamma-ray control(1OGy), Gamma-ray control(3Gy), Gamma-ray control(1Gy), Normal groups. The results of this study were as follows : Treatment with Acanthopanax showed significantly increased(p<0.05) on the cell death apoptosis in crypt, intestine crypts survival of intestine in mice following low-dose(1Gy) Gamma-ray radiation. And that significantly increased(p<0.05) on jejunal crypt survival and reduced(p<0.05) on lipid peroxidation in mice following high-dose(1OGy) Gamma-ray radiation. The above results suggest that Acathopanax were immunostimulating effectively reduced Gamma-ray irradiation.