• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.281-290
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• 1996

Purpose : Chest irradiation leads to a significant cardiac injury in a number of patients. To prevent, or to reduce the risk of radiation-induced cardiac injury, pentoxifylline(PTX), a haemorrheologic agent that improves the blood flow through small blood capillaries has been employed. Materials and Methods : One hundred and eighty ICR mice were divided into three study groups: control, radiation alone, and radiation-pentoxifylline. Each group was subdivided into 12 subgroups: 1 3, 6 and 10 days and 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks by observation Period after irradiation. The total 15Gy of radiation was delivered in a single fraction through anterior mediastinal port. Pentoxifylline was injected subcutaneously daily 50mg/kg to the back of the mice from the first day of irradiation throughout the observation period. The mice of each group after a certain observation period were sacrificed and sectioned for histopathologic examination of the heart. Result : The findings of acute radiation-induced carditis i.e., heterophilic infiltration and vacuolization and ballooning of endothelial cells were observed upto 6 weeks and reduced sharply afterwards. The late radiation effects including pericarditis with mononuclear cell infiltration, pericardial fibrosis, endothelial cell changes, myocardial degeneration and fibrosis present from 4 weeks onwards after irradiation but with various degree of severity. The overall process of pathologic changes of radiation-pentoxifylline group was similar to those of radiation alone group but the duration of acute stage was relatively short and the severity of late cardiac toxicity was much lesser compared with those of radiation alone group. Conclusion : Pentoxifylline can effectively reduce the late radiation-induced cardiac injury and reslve the acute effects relatively rapidly.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.409-423
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• 1998

Purpose : This retrospective study was tried to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients, patterns of failure, survival rates, prognostic factors affecting survival, and treatment related toxicities when non-small cell lung cancer patients was treated by definitive radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy. Materials and Methods : We evaluated the treatment results of 70 patients who were treated by definitive radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Ewha Womans University Hospital, between March 1982 and April 1996. The number of patients of each stage was 2 in stage I, 6 in stage II, 30 in stage III-A, 29 in stage III-B, 3 in stage IV. Radiation therapy was administered by 6 MV linear accelerator and daily dose was 1.8-2.0 Gy and total radiation dose was ranged from 50.4 Gy to 72.0 Gy with median dose 59.4 Gy. Thirty four patients was treated with combined therapy with neoadjuvant or concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and most of them were administered with the multi-drug combined chemotherapy including etoposide and cisplatin. The survival rate was calculated with the Kaplan-Meier methods. Results : The overall 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year survival rates were 63$\%$, 29$\%$, and 26$\%$, respectively. The median survival time of all patients was 17 months. The disease-free survival rate for 1-year and 2-year were 23$\%$ and 16$\%$, respectively. The overall 1-year survival rates according to the stage was 100$\%$ for stage I, 80$\%$ for stage II, 61$\%$ for stage III, and 50$\%$ for stage IV. The overall 1-year 2-year, and 3-year survival rates for stage III patients only were 61$\%$, 23$\%$, and 20$\%$, respectively. The median survival time of stage III patients only was 15 months. The complete response rates by radiation therapy was 10$\%$ and partial response rate was 50$\%$. Thirty patients (43$\%$) among 70 patients assessed local control at initial 3 months follow-up duration. Twenty four (80$\%$) of these 30 Patients was possible to evaluate the pattern of failure after achievement of local control. And then, treatment failure occured in 14 patients (58$\%$): local relapse in 6 patients (43$\%$), distant metastasis in 6 patients (43$\%$) and local relapse with distant metastasis in 2 patients (14$\%$). Therefore, 10 patients (23$\%$) were controlled of disease of primary site with or without distant metastases. Twenty three patients (46$\%$) among 50 patients who were possible to follow-up had distant metastasis. The overall 1-year survival rate according to the treatment modalities was 59$\%$ in radiotherapy alone and 66$\%$ in chemoirradiation group. The overall 1-year survival rates for stage III patients only was 51$\%$ in radiotherapy alone and 68$\%$ in chemoirradiation group which was significant different. The significant prognostic factors affecting survival rate were the stage and the achievement of local control for all patients at univariate- analysis. Use of neoadjuvant or concurrent chemotherapy, use of chemotherapy and the achievement of local control for stage III patients only were also prognostic factors. The stage, pretreatment performance status, use of neoadjuvant or concurrent chemotherapy, total radiation dose and the achievement of local control were significant at multivariate analysis. The treatment-related toxicities were esophagitis, radiation pneunonitis, hematologic toxicity and dermatitis, which were spontaneously improved, but 2 patients were died with radiation pneumonitis. Conclusion : The conventional radiation therapy was not sufficient therapy for achievement of long-term survival in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Therefore, aggressive treatment including the addition of appropriate chemotherapeutic drug to decrease distant metastasis and preoperative radiotherapy combined with surgery, hyperfractionation radiotherapy or 3-D conformal radiation therapy for increase local control are needed.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 1988

Thirty-five patients with locally advanced gastric carcinoma were treated with combined modalities of external radiation therapy (RT) and 5-FU based chemotherapy at the Division of Radiation Therapy, Department of Radiology, Kangnam 51. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College from May 1983 to May 1987. The purpose of this retrospective study is for the evaluation of the palliative response to RT. There were 25 men and 10 women. The age ranged from 38 to 80 years (median: 56 years). The pathologic classification showed $14(40\%)$ poorly differentiated, $12 (34\%)$ moderately differentiated, $3(9\%)$ well differentiated adenocarcinomas, 2 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 1 signet ring cell and 3 not specified ones. The time intervals from the initial surgicopathologic diagnosis to the starting day of RT was within 1 year for $18 (51\%)$, 1 to 2 years for $8 (23\%)$ and 2 to 3 years for $5 (14\%)$, respectively. The major symptoms to be treated were pain in $30 (80\%)$, mass for $29 (83\%)$, obstruction for $11 (31\%)$ and jaundice for $9 (20\%)$ patients. The response rate (patient number of positive response/total patient number) according to treated radiation doses were observed as follows; $14/16(88\%)$ for $40\~50Gy,\;8/10(80\%)$ for over $50Gy,6/8 (75\%)\;for\;30\~40Gy\;and\;8/10(53\%)\;for\;20\~30 Gy$ in decreasing order. The over ail survival was 3.0 months and that of 5FU+RT, FAM+RT and RT alone groups were 4.6 months, 3.7 months and 2.5 months respectively. Complications induced by RT were nausea and vomiting in $16(46\%)$, diarrhea in $7(20\%)$, leukopenia in $6(17\%)$ and anemia and intercurrent pneumonia in each $3(9\%)$ patients in decreasing order.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 1998

Purpose : To evaluate the results of the treatment of locally advanced but resectable rectal cancers and to analyze prognostic factors. especially with the emphasis on the treatment time factor. Materials and Methods : There were 71 patients with rectal cancer who had been treated by curative surgical procedure and postoperative radiotherapy from August 1989 to December 1993. The minimum follow up period was 24 months and the median follow-up was 35 months Radiation therapy had been given by 6 MV linear accelerator by parallel opposing or four-box portals. Whole pelvis was treated up to 5040 cGy in most cases. Systemic chemotherapy had been given in 94$\%$ of the patients, mostly with 5-FU/ACNU regimen. Assessment for the overall and disease-free survival rates were done by life-table method and prognostic factors by Log-Rank tests. Results : Five-year overall survival, disease-free survival were 58.8$\%$ and 57$\%$, respectively. Two-year local control rate was 76.6$\%$. Stage according to Modified Astler-Coller (MAC) system, over 4 positive lymph nodes, over 6weeks interval between definitive surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy and over 7 days of interruption during radiotherapy period were statistically significant, or borderline significant prognostic factors. Conclusion : The treatment results of patients with rectal cancers are comparable to those of other large institutes. The treatment results for the patients with bowel wall penetration and/or positive regional lymph nodes were still discouraging for their high local recurrence rate for the patients with MAC 'c' stage diseases and high distant metastases rate even for the patients with node-negative diseases. Maybe more effective regimen of chemotherapy would be needed with proper route and schedule. To maximize postoperative adjuvant treatment. radiotherapy should be started at least within 6 weeks after surgery and preferably as soon as wound healing is completed. Interruption of treatment during radiotherapy course affects disease-free survival badly, especially if exceeds 7 days. So, the total treatment period trout definitive surgery to the completion of radiotherapy should be kept as minimal as possiable.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.115-127
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• 1973

Leaf discoloration of IR667 lines (tropical) and leading locals (temperate) in fields was classified according to the probable causes and nutritional disorder due to soil reduction in 1972 was investigated. 1. The causes of leaf discoloration in IR667 were low air temperature, soil reduction, seed born, insect bite, nitrogen depression, overdose pesticide, strong wind, early senescence and unknown one. 2. Leaf discoloration due to soil reduction which has been called Sageumbyeong by famers, was caused by the heavy application of $Ca(OH)_2$, compost and poor drainage followed by Zn and K deficiency and Fe toxicity. 3. About 30 days after transplanting deficiency concentration of K and Zn in leaf blade appears to be less than 2.0% and 20ppm respectively, and greater than 200ppm, 500ppm, and 1.0% respectively for toxicity or excess of Fe, Mn and Ca. and in the shoot 2.4% for K, 30ppm for Zn and 800ppm for Fe. The value of K/Ca should be greaterthan 2.0 for health. 4. When plants were damaged by soil reduction the contents of N, P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Na in shoot were increased and those of K, Zn, Si were decreased. 5. IR667 lines show in shoot higher content of N, P, Ca, Mg, Si, Na, and lower content K, Zn, Fe, Mn and lower root activity than local leading varietles in either healthy or disieased case, indicating IR667 lines are likely more suseptible to soil reduction damage. 6. Normal soil was less than 6.5 of pH and greater than -50 mv of Eh, but pH of problem soil was ranged from 6.7 to 7.4 and Eh from -100 to -190. 7. The root activity (${\alpha}$-naphthylamine oxidation) decreased at early stage of soil redudtion damage, then increased with severity and at the end it decreased again, but IR667 lines showed always lower root activity than local ones.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2001

Purpose : Granulocyle-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been widely used to treat neutropenia caused by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The efficacy of recombinant human hematopoietic growth factors in improving oral mucositis after chemotherapy or radiotherapy has been recently demonstrated in some clinical studies. This study was designed to determine whether G-CSF can modify the radiation injury of the intestinal mucosa in mice. Materials and Methods : One hundred and five BALB/c mice weighing 20 grams were divided into nine subgroups including G-CSF alone group $(I:10\;{\mu}g/kg\;or\;II:100\;{\mu}g/kg)$, radiation alone group (7.5 or 12 Gy on the whole body), combination group with G-CSF and radiation (G-CSF I or II plus 7.5 Gy, G-CSF I or II plus 12 Gy), and control group. Radiation was administered with a 6 MV linear accelerator (Mevatron Siemens) with a dose rate of 3 Gy/min on day 0. G-CSF was injected subcutaneously for 3 days, once a day, from day -2 to day 0. Each group was sacrificed on the day 1, day 3, and day 7. The mucosal changes of jejunum were evaluated microscopically by crypt count per circumference, villi length, and histologic damage grading. Results : In both G-CSF I and II groups, crypt counts, villi length, and histologic damage scores were not significantly different from those of the control one (p>0.05). The 7.5 Gy and 12 Gy radiation alone groups showed significantly lower crypt counts and higher histologic damage scores compared with those of control one (p<0.05). The groups exposed to 7.5 Gy radiation plus G-CSF I or II showed significantly higher crypt counts and lower histologic damage scores on the day 3, and lower histologic damage scores on the day 7 compared with those of the 7.5 Gy radiation alone one (p<0.05). The 12 Gy radiation plus G-CSF I or II group did not show significant difference in crypt counts and histologic damage scores compared with those of the 12 Gy radiation alone one (p>0,05). Most of the mice in 12 Gy radiation with or without G-CSF group showed intestinal death within 5 days. Conclusion : These results suggest that G-CSF may protect the jejunal mucosa from the acute radiation damage following within the tolerable ranges of whole body irradiation in mice.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 1996

Purpose : To evaluate the role of combination therapy of external radio-therapy and chemotherapy in the management of advanced esophageal cancer as a primary treatment compared with radiation therapy alone. Materials and Methods : A retrospective review of evaluable 55 esophageal cancer patients referred to the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Paik Hospital for the external radiotherapy between Jul, 1983 and Dec. 1994 was undertaken. Combined therapy patients (A group) were 30 and radiation alone patients (B group) were 25. Median age was 60 years old in A group (ranges : 42-81) and 65 years old in B group (ranges : 50-81). The male patients were 53. The fifty patients had squamous cell carcinomas. Radiation doses of 2520-6480c0y were delivered over a period of 4-7weeks, using 4MV LINAC. Chemotherapy was administered in bolus injection before, after, or during the course of external radiotherapy. The local control rate and patterns of failure according to both treatment modalities and 1, 2 year survival rates according to prognostic factors (stage, tumor length, radiation dose etc.) were analysed. Resuts : Median follow up Period was 7 months (range : 2-73 months). Median survival was 7.5 months (20 days-29 months) in A group and 5 months (20 days-73 months) in B group. The 1, 2 YSRs were $26.7\%$, $8.9\%$ in A group, $12.7\%$, $4.3\%$ in B group (p>0.05), respectively. The 1, 2 YSRs according to stage(II/III), tumor length (5cm more or less). radiation dose (5000cGymore or less) of A and B group were analyzed and the differences of survival rates of both treatments were not statistically significant. But among group B, patients who received 5000cGy or more showed significant survival benefits (p<0.05). The treatment response rates of A and B group were $43.8\%$. $25.0\%$, respectively. Complete response rate of $25.0\%$ in A and $8.3\%$ in B were achieved. The local failure and distant metastsis were $52.4\%$. $23.8\%$ in A group, $64.3\%$, $14.3\%$ in 8 group, respectively. The combination therapy revealed more frequent leukopenia and nausea/vomiting than radiation alone group, but degree of side effects was only mild to moderate. Conclusion : The combined external radiotherapy and chemotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer appears to improve the response rate, local control rate and survival rate, but the improvement was not statistically significant. The side effects of combined modalities were mild to moderate without significant morbidity. Therefore it may be worthwhile to continue the present combined external radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the management of advanced esophageal cancer to confirm our result.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.7 s.252
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• pp.489-495
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• 2005

In the surgical treatment of aortic dissection, aortic arch replacement under total circulatory arrest is often performed after careful inspection to determine the severity of disease progression. Under circulatory arrest, antegrade or retrograde cerebral perfusion is required for brain protection. Recently, antegrade cerebral perfusion has been used more, because of the limitation of retrograde cerebral perfusion. This study is to compare these two methods especially in the respect to neurological complications. Material and Method: Forty patients with aortic dissection involving aortic arch from May 2000 to May 2004 were enrolled in this study, and the methods of operation, clinical recovery, and neurological complications were retrospectively reviewed. Result: In the ACP (antegrade cerebral perfusion) group, axillary artery cannulation was performed in 10 out of 15 cases. In the RCP (retrograde cerebral perfusion) group, femoral artery Cannulation was performed in 24 out of 25 cases. The average esophageal and rectal temperature under total circulatory arrest was $17.2^{\circ}C\;and\;22.8^{\circ}C$ in the group A, and $16.0^{\circ}C\;and\;19.7^{\circ}C$ in the group B, respectively. Higher temperature in the ACP group may have brought the shorter operation and cardiopulmonary bypass time. However, the length of period for postoperative clinical recovery and admission duration did not show any statistically significant differences. Eleven out of the total 15 cases in the ACP group and thirteen out of the total 25 cases in the RCP group showed neurological complication but did not show statistically significant difference. In each group, there were 5 cases with permanent neurological complications. All 5 cases in the ACP group showed some improvements that enabled routine exercise. However all 5 cases in RCP group did not show significant improvements. Conclusion: The Antegrade, cerebral perfusion, which maintains orthordromic circulation, brings moderate degree of hypothermia and, therefore, shortens the operation time and cardiopulmonary bypass time. We concluded that Antegrade cerebral perfusion is safe and can be used widely under total circulatory arrest.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.275-286
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• 2001

Purpose : To setup procedures of quality assurance (OA) for implementing intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) clinically, report OA procedures peformed for one patient with prostate cancer. Materials and methods : $P^3IMRT$ (ADAC) and linear accelerator (Siemens) with multileaf collimator are used to implement IMRT. At first, the positional accuracy, reproducibility of MLC, and leaf transmission factor were evaluated. RTP commissioning was peformed again to consider small field effect. After RTP recommissioning, a test plan of a C-shaped PTV was made using 9 intensity modulated beams, and the calculated isocenter dose was compared with the measured one in solid water phantom. As a patient-specific IMRT QA, one patient with prostate cancer was planned using 6 beams of total 74 segmented fields. The same beams were used to recalculate dose in a solid water phantom. Dose of these beams were measured with a 0.015 cc micro-ionization chamber, a diode detector, films, and an array detector and compared with calculated one. Results : The positioning accuracy of MLC was about 1 mm, and the reproducibility was around 0.5 mm. For leaf transmission factor for 10 MV photon beams, interleaf leakage was measured $1.9\%$ and midleaf leakage $0.9\%$ relative to $10\times\;cm^2$ open filed. Penumbra measured with film, diode detector, microionization chamber, and conventional 0.125 cc chamber showed that $80\~20\%$ penumbra width measured with a 0.125 cc chamber was 2 mm larger than that of film, which means a 0.125 cc ionization chamber was unacceptable for measuring small field such like 0.5 cm beamlet. After RTP recommissioning, the discrepancy between the measured and calculated dose profile for a small field of $1\times1\;cm^2$ size was less than $2\%$. The isocenter dose of the test plan of C-shaped PTV was measured two times with micro-ionization chamber in solid phantom showed that the errors upto $12\%$ for individual beam, but total dose delivered were agreed with the calculated within $2\%$. The transverse dose distribution measured with EC-L film was agreed with the calculated one in general. The isocenter dose for the patient measured in solid phantom was agreed within $1.5\%$. On-axis dose profiles of each individual beam at the position of the central leaf measured with film and array detector were found that at out-of-the-field region, the calculated dose underestimates about $2\%$, at inside-the-field the measured one was agreed within $3\%$, except some position. Conclusion : It is necessary more tight quality control of MLC for IMRT relative to conventional large field treatment and to develop QA procedures to check intensity pattern more efficiently. At the conclusion, we did setup an appropriate QA procedures for IMRT by a series of verifications including the measurement of absolute dose at the isocenter with a micro-ionization chamber, film dosimetry for verifying intensity pattern, and another measurement with an array detector for comparing off-axis dose profile.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2006

Purpose: Post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMR) is known to decrease loco-regional recurrence. Adequate skin and dermal dose are achieved by adding bolus. The more difficult clinical issue is determining the necessary number of bolus treatment, given the limits of normal skin tolerance. The aim of this study is to evaluate the necessary number of bolus treatment after PMR in patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Four female breast cancer patients were included in the study. The median age was 53 years(range, $38{\sim}74$), tumor were left sided in 2 patients and right sided in 2patients. All patients were treated with postoperative radiotherapy after MRM. Radiotherapy was delivered to the chest wall (C.W) and supraclavicular lymph nodes (SCL) using 4 MV X-ray. The total dose was 50 Gy, in 2 Gy fractions (with 5 times a week). CT was peformed for treatment planning, treatment planning was peformed using $ADAC-Pinnacles^3$ (Phillips, USA) for all patients without and with bolus. Bolus treatment plans were generated using image tool (0.5 cm of thickness and 6 cm of width). Dose distribution was analyzed and the increased skin dose rate in the build-up region was computed and the skin dose using TLD-100 chips (Harshaw, USA) was measured. Results: No significant difference was found in dose distribution without and with bolus; C.W coverage was $95{\sim}100%$ of the prescribed dose in both. But, there was remarkable difference in the skin dose to the scar. The skin dose to the scar without and with bolus were $100{\sim}105%\;and\;50{\sim}75%$. The increased skin dose rates in the build-up region for Pt. 1, Pt. 2. Pt. 3 and Pt. 4 were 23.3%, 35.6%, 34.9%, and 41.7%. The results of measured skin dose using TLD-100 chips in the cases without and with bolus were 209.3 cGy and 161.1 cGy, 200 cGy and 150.2 cGy, 211.4 cGy and 160.5 cGy, 198.6 cGy and 155.5 cGy for Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, and Pt. 4. Conclusion: It was concludes through this analysis that the adequate number of bolus treatments is 50-60% of the treatment program. Further, clinical trial is needed to evaluate the benefit and toxicity associated with the use of bolus in PMR.