Câncer do Endométrio: Tratamento Adjuvante Pélvico apenas com Radioterapia Externa após Cirurgia sem Linfadenectomia

A incidência mediana de câncer endometrial no Brasil é de 6 casos novos/cem mil mulheres/ ano. A radioterapia tem sido usada como tratamento adjuvante pré ou pós cirurgia, com ou sem braquiterapia. Há consenso de que os casos estadiados como II e III pela FIGO recebam irradiação pélvica, com ou sem braquiterapia. Entretanto, 75% dos casos são estádios I. Por isso há subgrupos prognósticos que dependem da profundidade de invasão do miométrio e do grau histológico do tumor. Tumores em estádio I com invasão profunda do miométrio e/ou alto grau têm também sido tratados com irradiação. A adição de braquiterapia vaginal após a radioterapia externa resulta em melhor controle de falha pélvica? Esta é uma pergunta não resolvida. Desde 1990 temos feito apenas radioterapia externa nos casos de câncer do endométrio que têm indicação de irradiação adjuvante, sem braquiterapia. A cirurgia básica destes casos têm sido histerectomia abdominal total + salpingo-ooforectomia bilateral sem dissecção de rotina dos linfonodos pélvicos. Foram revistas retrospectivamente 61 destes casos tratados no nosso serviço, com 4 campos pélvicos. Cobalto, dose total entre 45Gy-50,4Gy em 25 a 28 frações. Seguimento mediano de 33 meses mostrou um único caso de falha em vagina, 6/61 casos de pacientes que morreram e apenas um caso de complicação intestinal moderada. Estes resultados se assemelham com outros da literatura que não usam a braquiterapia de rotina após a irradiação externa na pelve

Prevenção de câncer cérvico-uterino. Perfil das mulheres com câncer Invasor

De novembro de 1989 a novembro de 1990, 120 casos de câncer invasor de colo de útero foram encaminhados para o Departamento de Radioterapia do Hospital Municipal Dr. Mário Gatti/Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas. Devido ao fato de a maioria das pacientes ter sido diagnosticada em fases avançadas, realizamos uma pesquisa com o objetivo de avaliar as circunstâncias que as levaram a desenvolver câncer invasor do colo do útero. Cento e cinco mulheres foram entrevistadas para análise de suas características e perfil quanto ao exame de Papanicolau. Cinquenta e sete pacientes (54,3%) nunca haviam feito o exame, 35 (33,3%) o faziam de maneira irregular, ou seja, em intervalos acima de 3 anos e 13 (12,4%.) o faziam regularmente. Oitenta e seis mulheres (82%,) já tinham ouvido falar do exame e 76 (72%>) sabiam onde podería ser realizado. Entre as 86 mulheres que já tinham ouvido falar do exame, 38 (44%) nunca o fizeram. A pesquisa revela que a maioria das pacientes estava informada a respeito do exame, porém não conscientizada da importância do mesmo. O baixo nível de educação em saúde da população estudada possivelmente foi o principal problema envolvido na prevenção do câncer de colo uterino

Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) in the postoperative treatment of an adenocarcinoma of the endometrium complicated by a pelvic kidney

BACKGROUND: Pelvic Radiotherapy (RT) as a postoperative treatment for endometrial cancer improves local regional control. Brachytherapy also improves vaginal control. Both treatments imply significant side effects that a fine RT technique can help avoiding. Intensity Modulated RT (IMRT) enables the treatment of the target volume while protecting normal tissue. It therefore reduces the incidence and severity of side effects. CASE: We report on a 50 year-old patient with a serous-papiliferous adenocarcinoma of the uterus who was submitted to surgical treatment without lymph node sampling followed by Brachytherapy, and Chemotherapy. The patient had a pelvic kidney, and was therefore treated with IMRT. So far, the patient has been free from relapse and with normal kidney function. CONCLUSION: IMRT is a valid technique to prevent the kidney from radiation damage

Whole brain radiation therapy in management of brain metastasis: results and prognostic factors

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prognostic factors associated with overall survival in patients with brain metastasis treated with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and estimate the potential improvement in survival for patients with brain metastases, stratified by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1996 to December 2000, 270 medical records of patients with diagnosis of brain metastasis, who received WBRT in the Hospital do Cancer Sao Paulo A.C. Camargo in the period, were analyzed. The surgery followed by WBRT was used in 15% of patients and 85 % of others patients were submitted at WBRT alone; in this cohort 134 patients (50%) received the fractionation schedule of 30 Gy in 10 fractions. The most common primary tumor type was breast (33%) followed by lung (29%), and solitary brain metastasis was present in 38.1% of patients. The prognostic factors evaluated for overall survival were: gender, age, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), number of lesions, localization of lesions, primary tumor site, surgery, chemotherapy, absence extracranial disease, RPA class and radiation doses and fractionation. RESULTS: The OS in 1, 2 and 3 years was 25, 1%, 10, 4% e 4, 3% respectively, and the median survival time was 4.6 months. The median survival time in months according to RPA class after WBRT was: 6.2 class I, 4.2 class II and 3.0 class III (p < 0.0001). In univariate analysis, the significant prognostic factors associated with better survival were: KPS higher than 70 (p < 0.0001), neurosurgery (p < 0.0001) and solitary brain metastasis (p = 0.009). In multivariate analysis, KPS higher than 70 (p < 0.001) and neurosurgery (p = 0.001) maintained positively associated with the survival. CONCLUSION: In this series, the patients with higher perform status, RPA class I, and treated with surgery followed by whole brain radiotherapy had better survival. This data suggest that patients with cancer and a single metastasis to the brain may be treated effectively with surgical resection plus radiotherapy. The different radiotherapy doses and fractionation schedules did not altered survival

Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in the treatment of fixed and semi-fixed rectal tumors. Analysis of results and prognostic factors

PURPOSE: To report the retrospective analysis of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with neodjuvant radiochemotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From January 1994 to December 2003, 101 patients with fixed (25%) or semi-fixed (75%) rectal adenocarcinoma were treated by preoperative radiotherapy with a dose of 45Gy at the whole pelvis and 50.4Gy at primary tumor, concomitant to four weekly chemotherapies with 5-Fluorouracil (425 mg/m(2)) and Leucovorin (20 mg/m(2)). In 71 patients (70.3%) the primary tumor was located up to 6 cm from the anal verge and in 30 (29.7%) from 6.5 cm to 10 cm. Age, gender, tumor fixation, tumor distance from the anal verge, clinical response, surgical technique, and postoperative TNM stage were the prognostic factors analyzed for overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and local control (LC) at five years. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 38 months (range, 2–141). Complete response was observed in eight patients (7.9%), partial in 54 (53.4%) and absence in 39 (38.7%). OS, DFS and LC were 52.6%, 53.8%, and 75.9%, respectively. Distant metastasis occurred in 40 (39.6%) patients, local recurrence in 20 (19.8%) and both in 16 (15.8%). Patients with fixed tumors had lower OS (17% Vs 65.6%; p < 0.001), DFS (31.2% Vs 60.9%; p = 0.005), and LC (58% Vs 82%; p = 0.004). Patients with tumors more than 6 cm above the anal verge had better LC (93% Vs 69%; p = 0.04). The postoperative TNM stage was a significant factor for DFS (I:64.1%, II:69.6%, III:35.2%, IV:11.1%; p < 0.001) and for LC (I:75.7%, II: 92.9%, III:54.1%, IV:100%; p = 0.005). Patients with positive lymph nodes had worse OS (37.9% Vs 70.4%, p = 0.006), DFS (32% Vs 72.7%, p < 0.001) and LC (56.2% Vs 93.4%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the neoadjuvant treatment employed was effective for local control. Fixation of the lesion and lymph nodes metastasis were the main adverse prognostic factors. Distant failures were frequent, supporting the need of new drugs for adjuvant chemotherapy

Salvage radiotherapy for biochemical relapse after complete PSA response following radical prostatectomy: outcome and prognostic factors for patients who have never received hormonal therapy

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the results of salvage conformal radiation therapy (3DC-EBRT) for patients submitted to radical prostatectomy (RP) who have achieved complete PSA response and who have never been treated with hormonal therapy (HT). To present the results of biochemical control, a period free from hormonal therapy and factors related to its prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: from August 2002 to December 2004, 43 prostate cancer patients submitted to RP presented biochemical failure after achieving a PSA < 0.2 ng/ml. They have never received HT and were submitted to salvage 3DC-EBRT. Median age was 62 years, median preoperative PSA was 8.8 ng/ml, median Gleason Score was 7. Any PSA rise above 0.2 was defined as biochemical failure after surgery. Median 3DC-EBRT dose was 70 Gy, biochemical failure after EBRT was defined as 3 consecutive rises in PSA or a single rise enough to trigger HT. RESULTS: 3-year biochemical non-evidence of disease (BNED) was 71%. PSA doubling time lower than 4 months (p = 0.01) and time from recurrence to salvage EBRT (p = 0.04) were associated with worse chance of biochemical control. Biochemical control of 76% was achieved when RT had been introduced with a PSA lower than 1 ng/ml vs. 48% with a PSA higher than 1 (p = 0.19). Late toxicity was acceptable. CONCLUSION: 70% of biochemical control in 3 years can be achieved with salvage radiotherapy in selected patients. The importance of PSADT was confirmed in this study and radiotherapy should be started as early as possible. Longer follow up is necessary, but it is possible to conclude that a long interval free from hormonal therapy was achieved with low rate of toxicity avoiding or at least delaying several important adverse effects related to hormonal treatment

Preoperative external beam radiotherapy and reduced dose brachytherapy for carcinoma of the cervix: survival and pathological response

PURPOSE: To evaluate the pathologic response of cervical carcinoma to external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and high dose rate brachytherapy (HDRB) and outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1992 and 2001, 67 patients with cervical carcinoma were submitted to preoperative radiotherapy. Sixty-five patients were stage IIb. Preoperative treatment included 45 Gy EBRT and 12 Gy HDRB. Patients were submitted to surgery after a mean time of 82 days. Lymphadenectomy was performed in 81% of patients. Eleven patients with residual cervix residual disease on pathological specimen were submitted to 2 additional insertions of HDRB. RESULTS: median follow up was 72 months. Five-year cause specific survival was 75%, overall survival 65%, local control 95%. Complete pelvic pathological response was seen in 40%. Surgery performed later than 80 days was associated with pathological response. Pelvic nodal involvement was found in 12%. Complete pelvic pathological response and negative lymphnodes were associated with better outcome (p = .03 and p = .005). Late grade 3 and 4 urinary and intestinal adverse effects were seen in 12 and 2% of patients. CONCLUSION: Time allowed between RT and surgery correlated with pathological response. Pelvic pathological response was associated with improved outcome. Postoperative additional HDRB did not improve therapeutic results. Treatment was well tolerated

Estudo longitudinal da densidade mineral óssea em cães jovens da raça Golden Retriever: Correlações com idade e peso corpóreo

Radiographic Optical Densitometry is an analitic method to meansure bone mineral content. This technique was performed by right tíbia simple radiograph conjugated with an aluminium stepwedge in 5 Golden Retriever dogs. Monthly, all the dogs were radiographed from 3-mouths until 9-mouths old. Radiographs were digitalized and analyzed by an image processing software (ImageLab, Softium), which compares the aluminium grey scale tonalities with a bone region analyzed obtaining with this the value of bone mineral density in aluminium milimeters (mmAl). The epifisary region possess higher bone mineral density (BMD) followed for the metafisary and diafisary regions, respectively, during the experimental period and followed by the behavior of the corporeal weight. There was a trend of increase of the bone mineral density. The proximal metafisary region of tíbia, in growth dogs, demonstrated to be the best region of selection to evaluate the bone mineral density since it is place studied with less correlation with the corporeal weight, and for be enable to anothers factors influences in the regulacion of BMD, like some disease who promote osteopenia, producing a earlier diagnosis.A Densitometria Óptica Radiográfica é um método de análise para quantificação da matéria mineral óssea, sendo, neste estudo, realizado com radiografias simples da tíbia direita ao lado de escala de alumínio. Foram utilizados 5 cães da raça Golden Retriever, que foram radiografados mensalmente, dos 3 aos 9 meses de idade. Estas radiografias foram digitalizadas e analisadas por meio de um software de análise de imagens (ImageLab, Softium®) que compara as tonalidades de cinza da escala com região óssea analisada, obtendo-se valores em milímetros de alumínio (mmAl). O estudo revelou que a região epifisária possui maior densidade mineral óssea (DMO), seguida pela região metafisária e diafisária, respectivamente, ao longo do período experimental, e seguiram o comportamento do peso corpóreo. Houve uma tendência de aumento da DMO nas três regiões avaliadas. A região metafisária proximal de tíbia demonstrou ser a região de eleição para a leitura da DMO em cães em crescimento por ser o local estudado com menor correlação com o peso corpóreo, possibilitando uma maior influência de outros fatores na regulação da DMO, como alguma alteração que promova osteopenia, gerando um diagnóstico mais precoce

Ototoxicity evaluation in medulloblastoma patients treated with involved field boost using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): a retrospective review

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Ototoxicity is a known side effect of combined radiation therapy and cisplatin chemotherapy for the treatment of medulloblastoma. The delivery of an involved field boost by intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) may reduce the dose to the inner ear when compared with conventional radiotherapy. The dose of cisplatin may also affect the risk of ototoxicity. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the impact of involved field boost using IMRT and cisplatin dose on the rate of ototoxicity.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud Data from 41 medulloblastoma patients treated with IMRT were collected. Overall and disease-free survival rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method Hearing function was graded according to toxicity criteria of Pediatric Oncology Group (POG). Doses to inner ear and total cisplatin dose were correlated with hearing function by univariate and multivariate data analysis.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud After a mean follow-up of 44 months (range: 14 to 72 months), 37 patients remained alive, with two recurrences, both in spine with CSF involvement, resulting in a disease free-survival and overall survival of 85.2% and 90.2%, respectively.\ud Seven patients (17%) experienced POG Grade 3 or 4 toxicity. Cisplatin dose was a significant factor for hearing loss in univariate analysis (p < 0.03). In multivariate analysis, median dose to inner ear was significantly associated with hearing loss (p < 0.01). POG grade 3 and 4 toxicity were uncommon with median doses to the inner ear bellow 42 Gy (p < 0.05) and total cisplatin dose of less than 375 mg/m2 (p < 0.01).\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud IMRT leads to a low rate of severe ototoxicity. Median radiation dose to auditory apparatus should be kept below 42 Gy. Cisplatin doses should not exceed 375 mg/m2.This study was supported by Instituto Israelita de Responsabilidade Social\ud (IIRS) of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (HIAE)