• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.72-80
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• 2005

Background: Nasopharyngeal cancer is a rare disease with a relatively poor prognosis because it tends to be diagnosed at an advanced stage. The aim of this study was to establish the clinical characteristics of nasopharyngeal cancer. Materials and Methods: The medical records of 54 patients with nasopharyngeal cancer from January 1993 to December 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. Forty one cases were male (75.9%) and thirteen were female (24.1%). The average age was of 46.9 (range 16 to 78 years) years. The majority of patients (79.6%) were diagnosed in the advanced stage. The most common complaints were a neck mass (55.5%) and the WHO type III (53.7%) was the most frequent histological type. Results: The cumulative survival rate for a 5-year period was 46.5% and the T stage, N stage, pathologic type, and clinical stage were not significantly related to the survival rate. Sixteen of 54 (31.5%) cases presented with a distant metastasis of the bone, lung, brain, spine, and liver, and six cases (11.1%) presented with a locoregional recurrence. Conclusion: TNM staging is not appropriate for predicting survival rate of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Therefore, a newer staging system, which includes new factors, is needed to predict the prognosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6419-6425
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• 2013

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is a treatment modality whereby chemotherapy is used as the initial treatment of HNSCC in patients presenting with advanced cancer that cannot be treated by other means. It leads to shrinkage of tumours to an operable size without significant compromise to essential oro-facial organs of the patients. The molecular mechanisms behind shrinkage due to NACT is not well elucidated. Materials and Methods: Eleven pairs of primary HNSCCs and adjacent normal epithelium, before and after chemotherapy were screened for cell proliferation and apoptosis. This was followed by immunohistochemical analysis of some cell cycle (LIMD1, RBSP3, CDC25A, CCND1, cMYC, RB, pRB), DNA repair (MLH1, p53) and apoptosis (BAX, BCL2) associated proteins in the same set of samples. Results: Significant decrease in proliferation index and increase in apoptotic index was observed in post-therapy tumors compared to pre-therapy. Increase in the RB/pRB ratio, along with higher expression of RBSP3 and LIMD1 and lower expression of cMYC were observed in post-therapy tumours, while CCND1 and CDC25A remained unchanged. While MLH1 remained unchanged, p53 showed higher expression in post-therapy tumors, indicating inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Increase in the BAX/BCL2 ratio was observed in post-therapy tumours, indicating up-regulation of apoptosis in response to therapy. Conclusions: Thus, modulation of the G1/S cell cycle regulatory proteins and apoptosis associated proteins might play an important role in tumour shrinkage due to NACT.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3477-3482
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• 2016

Background: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, and exact causes remain unknown. The role of CYP450 1A1 (CYP1A1) in cancer initiation and progression has been investigated. The aim of this work was to analyze, for the first time, CYP1A1 gene expression and its relationship with several clinicopathological factors in Mexican patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Materials and Methods: Real-time PCR analysis was conducted on 32 sets of thyroid tumors and benign pathologies. Expression levels were tested for correlations with clinical and pathological data. All statistical analysis were performed using GraphPad Prism version 3.0 software. Results: We found that female gender was associated with thyroid cancer risk (P<0.05). A positive relationship was identified between CYP1A1 mRNA levels and the presence of chronic disease, alcohol use, tumor size, metastasis and an advanced clinical stage (P<0.05). Conclusions: The results suggest that CYP1A1 gene expression could be used as a marker for thyroid cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.4993-4998
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• 2013

Background: A retrospective analysis of all cancer patients attending the radiotherapy outpatient department (OPD) of a single unit during the period of January 2005 till December 2006 was conducted to know the geographical distribution and incidence of the most common cancers, their stage of presentation, treatment compliance among the patients and follow-up. Materials and Methods: A total of 4,484 patients were registered in the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University during the period of January 2005-December 2006; of which 1,975 registered in an individual unit were included for the retrospective analysis. Results: Most of the patients hailed from the various districts of UP and Bihar. Females outnumbered males with a ratio of 1.33:1. Females mostly belonged to the age group of 40-59 years; whilst males were a decade older. Major cancer sites in females were cervix and breast followed by head and neck. Leading cancer sites in males were head and neck, brain, bone, soft tissue and lung. Most of the cases presented in advanced stage of disease (74%). Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histopathology (56%). A significant proportion of patients defaulted after undergoing preliminary investigations (16%). Only 53.9% of females and 58.5% of males took treatment out of which 68% and 63% completed the prescribed treatment. Compliance with follow-up was poor. Conclusions: The outcome of this study will significantly help us to define region specific strategies needed for cancer management in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.70-81
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the dosimetric difference between intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in head and neck cancer (HNC). The study primarily focuses on low-dose spillage evaluation between these two techniques. Methods: This retrospective study involved 45 patients with HNC. The treatment plans were generated using the IMRT and VMAT techniques for all patients. Dosimetric comparisons were performed in terms of target coverage, organ-at-risk (OAR) sparing, and various parameters, including conformity index, uniformity index, homogeneity index, conformation number, low-dose volumes, and normal tissue integral dose (NTID). Results: No significant (P>0.05) difference in planning target volume coverage (D_95%) was observed between IMRT and VMAT plans for supraglottic larynx, hard palate, and tongue cancers. A decrease in dose volumes ranging from 1 Gy to 30 Gy was observed for VMAT plans compared with those for IMRT plans, except for V_1Gy and V_30Gy for supraglottic larynx cancer and V_1Gy for tongue cancer. Moreover, decreases (P<0.05) in NTID were observed for VMAT plans compared with that for IMRT plans in supraglottic larynx (4.50%), hard palate (12.80%), and tongue (7.76%) cancers. In contrast, a slight increase in monitor units for VMAT compared with those for IMRT in supraglottic larynx (0.46%), hard palate (2.54%), and tongue (7.56%) cancers. Conclusions: For advanced-stage HNC, both IMRT and VMAT offer satisfactory clinical plans. VMAT offers a conformal and homogeneous dose distribution with comparable OAR sparing and higher dose falloff outside the target volume than IMRT, which provides an edge to reduce the risk of secondary malignancies for HNC over IMRT.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.212-216
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• 1996

Four cases of sphenoid sinus carcinoma have been observed for last 10 years and we reviewed English literatures about sphenoid sinus carcinoma. The sphenoid sinus carcinoma is rare and the diagnosis is difficult. In the early stage, the non-specific deep constant headache is the only symptom but if the sinus wall is penetrated, the neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms and signs may appear. The extension of lesion is identified by radiologic imaging and the diagnosis requires direct biopsy. In case of deep constant headache combined with neuro-ophthalmologic symptoms and signs the sphenoid sinus carcinoma should be considered. Our small data reveals that the radiation treatment offers a possibility of relatively good outcome, although most of the cases are advanced already on initial diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.98-101
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• 1993

Surgery has been known to be traditional treatment modality for the malignant salivary gland tumor, the tumors being considered as radioresistant. However, reviews of the literature have shown a high recurrence rate, especially in advanced and/or high grade tumors. The retrospective data suggests that conservative surgery with adjunctive radiation therapy is justified in view of the enhanced locoregional control. In inoperable and recurrent tumor, definitive radiotherapy can achieve $30{\sim}40%$ of average 5 year survival rate, but in early stage, local control and survival rate could be raised more than 80%. This results shown to be aggressive radiotherapy can replace surgical management for the selected cases of small sized tumor. Neutron therapy is another option for curative treatment of malignant salivary gland tumors.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.207-212
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• 1990

To determine the correlation between the response to induction chemotherapy and subsequent radiotherapy we analyzed the clinical records of 60 patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the head and neck retrospectively who had completed a full course ($2\~3$ cycle) of induction chemotherapy and curative radiotherapy in Korea Cancer Center Hospital between 1986 and 1989. Chemotherapy was administeredd with CDDP+Bleomycin (BP) in 20, CDDP+5-FU (FP) in 37, and hybrid of BP and FP in three patients. Radiotherapy was giver conventionally with a dose of 65 to 75 Gy or more over seven to eight weeks according to the size of lesion. Response rates following induction chemotherapy were $80\%$ for the tumors and $879\%$ for the nodes whereas complete reponse rates were $12\%\;and\;13\%$, respectively. Six months after radiotherapy $67\%$ of the tumors and $77\%$ of the nodes achieved a complete response. Among the 48 tumor responders and the 31 nodal responders to chemotherapy,39 ($81\%$) and 28 ($90\%$), respectively, achieved complete response after radiotherapy. Thus, whether or not the tumor and node respond to induction chemotherapy was predictive of the response to subsequent radiotherapy (p<0.0005 in tumor, p<0.0001 in node). By reanalyzing according to disease subsets (i.e. primary site, T-stage, N-stage) this relationship was not observed at T1-T2 disease (p>0.3). Therefore the tumor or node's response to induction chemotherapy is a predictor for subsequent radiotherapy except in T1-T2 tumors, and complete response to radiotherapy can be expected despite the failure of induction chemotherapy in $T_1-T_2$ tumors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4133-4136
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• 2012

Aim: To report the results of radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy in the patients with oral cancer. Methods: Over the 2003-2009 periods, a total number of 69 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity that refused surgery or had unresectable tumor were enrolled in this study. A total dose of 60 to 70 Gy (2 Gy per day) was given to the primary tumor and clinically positive nodes. In the patients with locoregionally advanced disease (57 patients with $T_3$, $T_4$ lesions and/ or $N^+$) induction chemotherapy following by concomitant chemoradiation was used. Induction chemotherapy consisted of 3 cycles of Cisplatin and 5-Flourouracil with or without Docetaxel. Weekly cisplatin was used in concomitant protocol. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate overall survival. Log-rank test and Cox regression model were used for comparison purposes. Results: Median follow-up was 32 months. The mean age of the patients was 59.2 years. The overall response rate after induction chemotherapy was 68.4%. Actuarial overall survival rates after 2 and 3 years were 38% and 26%, respectively. Clinical stage emerged as the only independent predictor of survival. Conclusion: Outcome of the patients with oral cancer is poor. Presenting with an advanced stage lesion contributed to this result. The role of chemotherapy in advanced cases remains to be defined.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.196-200
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• 2005

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and predictive factors of contralateral occult lymph node metastasis in oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas to form a rational basis for elective contralateral neck management. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 66 N0-2 oral cavity cancer patients undergoing elective neck dissection for contralateral clinically negative necks from 1991 to 2003. Results: Clinically negative but pathologically positive contralateral lymph nodes occurred in 11%(7 of 66) . Of the 11 cases with a clinically ipsilateral node positive neck, contralateral occult lymph node metastases developed in 36%(4 of 10, in contrast with 5%(3/55) in the cases with clinically ipsilateral node negative necks(p<0.05). Based on the clinical staging of the tumor, 8%(3 of 37) of the cases showed lymph node metastases in T2 tumors, 25%(2 of 8) in T3, and 18%(2 of 11) in T4. None of the T1 tumors(10 cases) had pathologically positive lymph nodes. The rate of contralateral occult neck metastasis was significantly higher in advanced stage cases and those crossing the midline, compared to early stage or unilateral lesions(p<0.05). Patients with no evidence of contralateral nodal cancer had significantly improved disease-specific survival over patients with any pathologically positive nodes(5-year disease-specific survival rate was 79% vs. 43%, p<0.05). Conclusion: The risk of contralateral occult neck involvement in the oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas above the T3 stage or those crossing the midline with unilateral metastases was high. Therefore, we advocate an elective contralateral neck treatment with surgery or radiotherapy in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma patients with ipsilateral node metastases or tumors that are greater than stage T3 or crossing the midline.