Five-year update on a randomized factorial study on concurrent and adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(s): To update the results of a randomized factorial trial studying the role of concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) and adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) for advanced nasopharygngeal carcinoma (NPC) …published_or_final_versio

Inverse planning in three-dimensional conformal and intensity-modulated radiotherapy of mid-thoracic oesophageal cancer

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the use of inverse planning in three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) of oesophageal cancer patients and to evaluate its dosimetric results by comparing them with forward planning of 3DCRT and inverse planning of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). For each of the 15 oesophageal cancer patients in this study, the forward 3DCRT, inverse 3DCRT and inverse IMRT plans were produced using the FOCUS treatment planning system. The dosimetric results and the planner's time associated with each of the treatment plans were recorded for comparison. The inverse 3DCRT plans showed similar dosimetric results to the forward plans in the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OARs). However, they were inferior to that of the IMRT plans in terms of tumour control probability and target dose conformity. Furthermore, the inverse 3DCRT plans were less effective in reducing the percentage lung volume receiving a dose below 25 Gy when compared with the IMRT plans. The inverse 3DCRT plans delivered a similar heart dose as in the forward plans, but higher dose than the IMRT plans. The inverse 3DCRT plans significantly reduced the operator's time by 2.5 fold relative to the forward plans. In conclusion, inverse planning for 3DCRT is a reasonable alternative to the forward planning for oesophageal cancer patients with reduction of the operator's time. However, IMRT has the better potential to allow further dose escalation and improvement of tumour control. © 2004 The British Institute of Radiology.link_to_OA_fulltex

含柴胡的草藥對人類淋巴細胞的影響

Bupleurum-containing compounds, such as KY88 Liver Livo are thought to have immunomodulatory effects. This study investigated the effects of KY88 Liver Livo on the mitogenic induction of lymphocytes in vitro. Fifteen healthy human adult volunteers, aged between 20 and 50 years, provided peripheral blood samples from which lymphocytes were obtained by Ficoll-Hypaque centrifugation. The separated lymphocytes were stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin and KY88 Liver Livo in varying concentrations for 72 hours, with greater cluster and colony formation evident compared with lymphocytes in a control preparation. KY88 Liver Livo was also found to induce the secretion of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in a dose-dependent fashion. These preliminary in vitro studies suggest that KY88 Liver Livo may have potential clinical value in the treatment of chronic viral infection and in the management of immunocompromised patients.published_or_final_versio

Study of chromosomal abnormalities in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by comparative genomic hybridization

published_or_final_versio

A starting point in the evaluation of the outcome of care: an example using cancer registry information

Many health services worldwide are paying increasing attention to the evaluation of care. However, most studies in the past have concentrated on structure and process instead of outcome. The objective of this paper is to show how a fairly simple technique can provide a possible feedback loop to a health service system. A study on patients with lung cancer in East Anglia, UK is used as an example. Using information which was more or less routinely collected in cancer registration, the study showed that there was no significant difference between the survival of patients seen in the eight districts in East Anglia. Adjustment by the use proportional hazard modelling for prognostic factors including age, sex, histological type, stage and whether active treatment was given did not alter the outcome. This finding was slightly unexpected in view of the presumed (yet not documented) variation in enthusiasm and expertise among the districts. Such a result should be seen as a starting point for studies designed to examine the effects of the level of care provided and resource use on the length and quality of survival. While the methodology requires refinement and substantial local difficulties may arise, development of similar researches on the outcome of care should be encouraged in Hong Kong.published_or_final_versio

Characterization of a complex chromosome rearrangement involving 6q in a melanoma cell line: isolation of a candidate tumor suppressor gene interrupted by the breakpoint at 6q16

published_or_final_versio

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials after irradiation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma - Report on two cases with myelopathy of the brainstem

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) were recorded in two patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) irradiated and 14 and three years ago respectively and compared with 15 healthy controls. The patients had features of post-irradiation myelopathy of the brainstem with reduced gag reflex, unilateral vocal cord paralysis and fasciculation of the tongue. The first patient had a blind left eye. The second patient had quadriparesis. All ears revealed post-irradiation otitis media changes and mixed deafness. BAEP was not recognizable in the left ear of the first patient and was normal in the left ear of the second patient. Simultaneous electrochochleogram and BAEP were recorded from the right ear of the first case. The wave I-V latency interval were prolonged in both right ears. In the absence of local recurrence and brain secondaries, these BAEP changes are attributed to the post-irradiation myelopathy of brainstem.published_or_final_versio

Early changes of auditory brain stem evoked response after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma - A prospective study

A prospective study of the effect of radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma on hearing was carried out on 49 patients who had pure tone, impedance audiometry and auditory brain stem evoked response (ABR) recordings before, immediately, three, six and 12 months after radiotherapy. Fourteen patients complained of intermittent tinnitus after radiotherapy. We found that 11 initially normal ears of nine patients developed a middle ear effusion, three to six months after radiotherapy. There was mixed sensorineural and conductive hearing impairment after radiotherapy. Persistent impairment of ABR was detected immediately after completion of radiotherapy. The waves I-III and I-V interpeak latency intervals were significantly prolonged one year after radiotherapy. The study shows that radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma impairs hearing by acting on the middle ear, the cochlea and the brain stem auditory pathway.published_or_final_versio

Identification of a minimal overlapping amplified region at 19q13.1-q13.2 in four ovarian cancer cell lines

Program no. 361postprin

Loss of tyrosine aminotransferase may contribute to the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Program no. 509postprin