• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.21-28
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• 2015

서론: 국소 진행성 두경부암 환자에서 선행 항암요법 후 동시 항암화학방사선요법은 원격 전이를 줄이고, 국소병변을 줄여 방사선 치료의 효과를 높이거나, 기관의 기능을 보존할 목적으로 시도된다. 선행 항암요법의 약제로 는 docetaxel, cisplatin, fluorouracil (DPF) 삼제요법이 가장 효과적인 것으로 알려져 있다. 선행 항암요법 후 동시 항암화학방사선요법과 표준치료인 동시화학방사선요법을 비교한 3상 연구들이 모두 선행 항암요법이 더 낫다는 결과를 보여 주지 못하였지만, 이 연구들은 충분한 환자를 모집하지 못하고 조기 종료된 불완전한 연구라는 한계가 있었다. 이에 저자들은 DPF 선행 항암요법 후 동시 화학방사선요법과 표준치료인 동시 화학방사선요법을 비교하는 메타분석을 시행하였다. 대상 및 방법: 체계적 문헌고찰을 통해 국소진행성 두경부암 환자를 대상으로 시행된 DPF 선행 항암요법 후 동시화학방사선요법과 현재 표준치료인 동시화학방사선요법을 비교한 5개의 3상 연구 결과를 분석하였다. 대상환자는 862 명이었고, 분석 결과 DPF 선행 항암요법 후 동시화학방사선요법은 표준치료와 비교하였을 때 반응률, 2년 및 3년 생존율, 2년 및 3년 무진행 생존율, 점막염 및 빈혈 발생 빈도에서 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었다. 하지만, 완전관해율과 3~4도의 백혈구감소증 및 혈소판 감소증의 빈도는 선행 항암요법 시행군에서 더 높았다. 결론: 국소진행성 두경부암의 치료에서 DPF 선행 항암요법 후 동시 항암화학방사선요법을 시행하는 것은 표준치료인 항암화학방사선요법에 비해 생존율 개선을 보이지 못하였다. 선행항암치료를 추가하는 것이 특정 환자군에서 효과가 있을지에 대해서는 추가적인 연구가 필요하다.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.93-96
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• 2013

원격 전이된 비인두암 환자에서 주요한 치료 방법은 고식적 항암화학치료에 국한되어왔다. 그러나 적극적인 항암화학치료로 비인두암 환자 중 많은 환자에서 치료 반응을 보이며, 치료 반응을 보인 환자군에서는 국소 제어가 중요한 문제가 된다. 본 저자들은 원격 전이 된 환자 1예를 보고하고자 한다. 환자는 큰 크기의 다발성 전이가 있었으나 항암화학요법으로 관해 상태를 보였다. 이후 공고화 항암화학방사선요법을 추가하였고 현재 30개월 간 무병상태이다. 원격전이된 비인두암에서 공고화 항암화학방사선 요법의 역할에 대하여 문헌 고찰을 통해 논의하고자 한다.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.17-20
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• 2015

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive tumor and only 10-20% patients are considered candidates for curative resection at diagnosis. While surgery remains the only chance for cure, prognosis is poor even after surgery due to high rate of recurrence. A complementary chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a multimodal approach has been attempted to improved prognosis after surgery. Since adjuvant chemotherapy has yielded an only modest outcome improvement, various neoadjuvant approaches with chemotherapy, chemoradiation, or chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation have been attempted. In this article, current knowledge of the various neoadjuvant approaches for pancreatic cancer will be reviewed and the role of the neoadjuvant strategies will be discussed.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.133-139
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was designed to analyze the outcome and toxicity of thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) and chemotherapy for patients who suffer with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively studied 35 patients with LS-SCLC. TRT was administered once daily (1.8 to 2 Gy per fraction) and it was directed to the primary tumor for a total 50 to 66 Gy in 6 to 7 weeks. The patients received four cycles of etoposide plus cisplatin. TRT was begun on day 1 of the first cycle of chemotherapy in the concurrent arm and after the fourth cycle in the sequential arm. Results: The median progression-free survival time was 16.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.0 to 24.1 months) for the sequential arm, and 26.3 months (95% CI, 16.6 to 35.9 months) for the concurrent arm. The 2-year progression-free survival rate was 16.0 percent for the sequential arm and 50.0 percent for the concurrent arm (p=0.0950 by log-rank test). Leukopenia was more severe and more frequent in the concurrent arm than in the sequential arm. However, severe esophagitis was infrequent in both arms. The radiotherapy was interrupted more frequently in the concurrent arm than in the sequential arm due to hematologic toxicities (p=0.001). Conclusion: This study suggests that concurrent TRT with etoposide plus cisplatin is more effective for the treatment of LS-SCLC than sequential TRT. However, there is a significant increase in the risk of toxicities, and radiotherapy was frequently interrupted in the concurrent arm due to hematologic toxicities.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.64-70
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• 2009

Purpose: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer. However, the introduction of gemcitabine and the recognition of a benefit in patients with advanced disease stimulated the design of trials that compare chemotherapy alone to concurrent chemoradiation. Therefore, we evaluated role of CCRT for locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer. Materials and Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of treatment results for patients with locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer between January 2000 and January 2008. The radiation was delivered to the primary tumor and regional lymph nodes with a 1~2 cm margin at a total dose of 36.0~59.4 Gy (median: 54 Gy). The chemotherapeutic agent delivered with the radiation was 5-FU (500 mg/$m^2$). The patients who underwent chemotherapy alone received gemcitabine (1,000 mg/$m^2$) alone or gemcitabine with 5-FU. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 38 months. The survival and prognostic factors were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test, respectively. Results: Thirty-four patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy, whereas 21 patients received chemotherapy alone. The median survival time was 12 months for CCRT patients, compared to 11 months for chemotherapy alone patients (p=0.453). The median progression-free survival was 8 months for CCRT patients, compared to 5 months for chemotherapy alone patients (p=0.242). The overall response included 9 partial responses for CCRT and 1 partial response for chemotherapy alone. In total, 26% of patients from the CCRT group experienced grade 3~4 bowel toxicity. In contract, no grade 3~4 bowel toxicity was observed in the chemotherapy alone group. The significant prognostic factors of overall survival were lymph node status, high CA19-9, and tumor location. Conclusion: The response rate and progression-free survival were more favorable in the CCRT group, when compared with the chemotherapy alone group. Therefore, radiation therapy seems to be an effective tool for local tumor control.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2008

In gastric cancer, the only potentially curative treatment is surgery that attempts to achieve curative (R0) resection. However, despite the use of curative resection, a recurrence develops in a high percentage of patients, especially in cases of serosa and/or lymph node involvement. As a strategy to improve the survival of the patients with resectable advanced gastric cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been evaluated in several phase II trials and a few phase III trials. The results of these trials have confirmed the feasibility and safety of this approach with no apparent increase in surgical complications. Recently, the findings of a large phase III randomized trial (MAGIC trial) have indicated that compared to the use of surgery alone, perioperative chemotherapy, using both a neoadjuvant and adjuvant strategy, decreased the number of T and N stage cancers and improved survival. The results of another recent phase III trial (FNLCC 94012/FFCD 9703) also showed that compared to the use of surgery alone, perioperative chemotherapy improved the R0 resection rate and survival. In both trials, the improved outcomes may be attributed to the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy because of poor compliance with adjuvant chemotherapy. These results cannot be directly translated to clinical practice in Korea due to differences in surgical techniques and outcomes. However, the findings of a few small phase II and III trials performed in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer in Korea have also suggested that neoadjuvant chemotherapy would result in the improvement of the R0 resection rate and down-staging of the disease. More effective chemotherapy regimens are needed in future large randomized trials to determine the subset of patients that will benefit from neoadjuvant chemotherapy and to determine the extent of benefit.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the changes of oral diet intake during the admission period and identify the factors related with nutritional status in discharging of leukemia patients. This is a retrospective cross sectional study on 46 leukemia patients receiving chemotherapy at the Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital from July to September 2009. The patients' charts were surveyed on the general characteristics and factors relating chemotherapy. The calorie count method was used to investigate diet intake during admission period. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify possible confounding factors. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean age was $42.8\;{\pm}\;14.6$ years and the average length of stay was $30.4\;{\pm}\;7.0$ days. The incidence of malnourished patients was 60.9% in discharging. There was a significant difference in chemotherapy sessions and chemotherapy period between well-nourished and malnourished patients. The average energy intake was 1,525.9 kcal in well-nourished patients and 1,143 kcal in malnourished patients, which was significant different. From repeated measures ANOVA test, the changes of oral intake during admission period were significant by groups. In addition, there were significant differences in oral intake according to each period between well-nourished and malnourished patients. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, both the ratio of total oral energy intake to recommended energy intake and chemotherapy sessions were significantly associated with nutritional status in discharging. The results of this study could be used to establish a protocol of nutritional management for leukemia patients receiving chemotherapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2001

Purpose : To assess the tolerance, complete response rate, bladder preservation rate and survival rate in patients with muscle-invading bladder cancer treated with selective bladder preservation protocol. Method and Materials : From October 1990 to June 1998, twenty six patients with muscle-invading bladder cancer (clinical stage T2-4, N0-3, M0) were enrolled for the treatment protocol of bladder preservation. They were treated with maximal TURBT (transurethral resection of bladder tumor) and 2 cycles of MCV chemotherapy (methotrexate, crisplatin, and vinblastine) followed by $39.6\~45\;Gy$ pelvic irradiation with concomitant cisplatin. After complete urologic evaluation (biopsy or cytology), the patients who achieved complete response were planed for bladder preservation treatment and treated with consolidation cisplatin and radiotherapy (19.8 Gy). The patients who had incomplete response were planed to immediate radical cystectomy. If they refused radical cystectomy, they were treated either with TURBT followed by MCV or cisplatin chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The median follow-up duration is 49.5 months. Results : The Patients with stage T2-3a and T3b-4a underwent complete removal of tumor or gross tumor removal by TURBT, respectively. Twenty one out of 26 patients $(81\%)$ successfully completed the protocol of the planned chemo-radiotherapy. Seven patients had documented complete response. Six of them were treated with additional consolidation cisplatin and radiotherapy. One patient was treated with 2 cycles of MCV chemotherapy due to refusal of chemo-radiotherapy. Five of 7 complete responders had functioning tumor-free bladder. Fourteen patients of incomplete responders were further treated with one of the followings : radical cystectomy (1 patient), or TURBT and 2 cycles of MCV chemotherapy (3 patients), or cisplatin and radiotherapy (10 patients). Thirteen patients of them were not treated with planned radical cystectomy due to patients' refusal (9 patients) or underlying medical problems (4 patients). Among twenty one patients, 12 patients $(58\%)$ were alive with their preserved bladder, 8 patients died with the disease, 1 patient died of intercurrent disease. The 5 years actuarial survival rates according to CR and PR after MCV chemotherapy and cisplatin chemoradiotherapy were $80\%\;and\;14\%$, respectively (u=0.001). Conclusion : In selected patients with muscle-invading bladder cancer, the bladder preservation could be achieved by MCV chemotherapy and cisplatin chemo-radiotherapy. All patients tolerated well this bladder preservation protoco. The availability of complete TURBT and the responsibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy were important predictors for bladder preservation and survival. The patients who had not achieved complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy should be immediate radical cystectomy. A randomized prospective trial might be essential to determine more accurate indications between cystectomy or bladder preservation.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2008

Surgery is the only curative modality for the treatment of gastric cancer. There has been no drastic improvement in the treatment of gastric cancer with chemotherapy. Clinical trials have attempted to demonstrate the benefit of the preoperative chemotherapy for gastric cancer. The benefit of the use of preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy has been demonstrated for other solid cancers such as breast cancer, esophageal cancer and rectal cancer. Despite the rationale of the use of preoperative chemotherapy for patients with gastric cancer, the evidence of positive results with the use of preoperative chemotherapy has not been clear. Recently the British Medical Research Council Adjuvant Gastric Cancer Infusional Chemotherapy (MAGIC) study demonstrated the survival benefit of preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy. However, this study had several problems with the use of a heterogeneous population of patients, the method of surgery and the use of perioperative chemotherapy. Further studies with new drugs are warranted to determine the role of pre-operative chemotherapy for patients with gastric cancer.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.28-31
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• 2014

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive cancer with poor prognosis. Although, gemcitabine is the current standard regimen as first-line chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer, effective regimens of second-line chemotherapy after gemcitabine failure have not been established yet. We report a case of gemcitabine refractory pancreatic cancer treated with second-line chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX regimen. A 57-year-old-woman visited our hospital for pancreatic body mass detected by computed tomography (CT). The patient underwent distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy and the pathologic results after surgery demonstrated adenocarcinoma. Follow-up was performed after surgery and CT and positron emission tomography (PET) 4 months after surgery revealed multiple hepatic metastases. The patient underwent first-line chemotherapy with gemcitabine and erlotinib for recurred pancreatic cancer. However, CT after 7 cycles of the chemotherapy showed the progression of multiple hepatic metastases and switch to second-line chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX was initiated. CT after 16 cycles of the FOLFIRINOX showed the complete remission of multiple hepatic metastases. The patient was admitted for infective endocarditis with septic pneumonia 17 months after the initiation of FOLFIRINOX. However, the patients died from the progression of septic embolism and acute respiratory distress syndrome.