BoKyong Kim

Is It Safe to Use a Kidney From an Expanded Criteria Donor

BACKGROUND The use of expanded criteria donor (ECD) kidneys has been encouraged to enlarge the donor pools due to the shortage of donors. However, a major concern with ECD kidneys is poor long-term graft survival. The objective of this study was to determine whether ECD kidneys had a negative impact on graft survival. METHODS We analyzed all deceased donor renal transplantations at our center from September 1995 to December 2009. RESULTS ECD donors show characteristics, such as comparatively older age, a history of hypertension and diabetes, the use of norepinephrine, high serum creatinine levels and deceased donor scores, and decreased albumin levels and estimated glomerular filtration rates. However, the occurrence of delayed graft function and primary nonfunction among ECD grafts was comparable to those of standard criteria donor (SCD) grafts. Graft survival was not significantly different between the two groups. Only serum creatinine levels at 3, 6, and 9 months after transplantation were lower in the ECD than the SCD group. Multivariate analysis identified longer hospital stay after transplantation, delayed graft function, and acute rejection episodes as independent predictors of poor graft survival. CONCLUSION Graft survival of ECD kidney was comparable to that of SCD kidneys. We observed that donor factors prior to procurement were not risk factors for graft failure.

Kidney Donation after Cardiac Death in Korea

Organ donation after cardiac death (DCD) has been suggested due to the shortage of allografts in Korea. We investigated the outcomes of 446 deceased donor kidney transplant recipients in our center between September 1, 1995, and December 31, 2009. Twenty-four (5.4%) of those patients received DCD kidney grafts. The DCD group had a long intensive care unit stay, frequent inotropics use (such as norepinephrine and dopamine), low mean blood pressure and estimated glomerular filtration rate, and high serum creatinine and deceased donor scores compared to the standard criteria donor (SCD) group and the expanded criteria donor (ECD) group. Mean true warm ischemic time of the DCD group was 59.7 minutes based on asystole time. The DCD group had a long hospital stay after transplantation, but there was no statistically significant difference in delayed graft function and primary nonfunction. Serum creatinine levels at 3 months after transplantation in the ECD and DCD group were significantly higher than the SCD group (P < .001) but lower in the DCD group than in the ECD group at 6 months and 9 months (P < .001 and P = .004) posttransplantation. There were no statistically significant differences in serum creatinine levels or in the graft survival rates between groups at 12 months (P = .160 and P = .737). The use of DCD attracted Korean surgeons because DCD allografts are equivalent to a heart-beating donor. Donors who die during the evaluation of brain death should not be abandoned for procurement, and we need to try to harvest allografts after cardiac death (type 4 DCD) to expand donor pools.

Hypofractionated Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy Alone for Centrally Located cT1-3N0 Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose: We retrospectively analyzed the treatment outcomes and toxicities by hypofractionated three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (RT) alone in the patients with centrally located cT1-3N0 non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Sixty patients with centrally located cT1-3N0 NSCLC received definitive RT alone at 3.0 Gy per fraction for either medical comorbidity or refusal of surgery, between January 2001 and December 2010. The central tumor was defined as being within 2 cm around the proximal bronchial tree. The median total dose was 60 (39–60) Gy. Results: The local control (LC), overall survival (OS), and cause-specific survival rates at 2 and 5 years were 57.9%, 59.6%, 61.7%, and 50.1%, 33.5%, and 40.5%, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that high cT stage (p = 0.007) and histology with NSCLC-not otherwise specified (p = 0.008) were the significantly unfavorable prognostic factors for OS, and that high cT stage (p = 0.031) and poor performance state (p = 0.007) were for LC. The LC rate at 2 years was 100% for cT1 tumor, 56.5% for cT2 tumor, and 28.6% for cT3 tumor, respectively. No patients experienced grade 3 or higher esophagitis, and three experienced grade 3 or higher pneumonitis. Conclusion: Hypofractionated RT regimen for centrally located cT1-3N0 NSCLC proved safe with minimal toxicity, and, based on the excellent clinical outcomes in cT1 tumors, might serve as an alternative option for the patients who might not tolerate stereotactic body radiation therapy. As the clinical outcomes in cT2-3 tumors were still unsatisfactory, further dose intensifying regimen coupled with the use of concurrent systemic chemotherapy might be warranted.

Effect of Radiation Therapy Techniques on Outcome in N3-positive IIIB Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

Purpose This study was conducted to evaluate clinical outcomes following definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for patients with N3-positive stage IIIB (N3-IIIB) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with a focus on radiation therapy (RT) techniques. Materials and Methods From May 2010 to November 2012, 77 patients with N3-IIIB NSCLC received definitive CCRT (median, 66 Gy). RT techniques were selected individually based on estimated lung toxicity, with 3-dimensional conformal RT (3D-CRT) and intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) delivered to 48 (62.3%) and 29 (37.7%) patients, respectively. Weekly docetaxel/paclitaxel plus cisplatin (67, 87.0%) was the most common concurrent chemotherapy regimen. Results The median age and clinical target volume (CTV) were 60 years and 288.0 cm3, respectively. Patients receiving IMRT had greater disease extent in terms of supraclavicular lymph node (SCN) involvement and CTV ≥ 300 cm3. The median follow-up time was 21.7 months. Fortyfive patients (58.4%) experienced disease progression, most frequently distant metastasis (39, 50.6%). In-field locoregional control, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) rates at 2 years were 87.9%, 38.7%, and 75.2%, respectively. Although locoregional control was similar between RT techniques, patients receiving IMRT had worse PFS and OS, and SCN metastases from the lower lobe primary tumor and CTV ≥ 300 cm3were associated with worse OS. The incidence and severity of toxicities did not differ significantly between RT techniques. Conclusion IMRT could lead to similar locoregional control and toxicity, while encompassing a greater disease extent than 3D-CRT. The decision to apply IMRT should be made carefully after considering oncologic outcomes associated with greater disease extent and cost.

High-dose Thoracic Radiation Therapy at 3.0 Gy/Fraction in Inoperable Stage I/II Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVE High-dose thoracic radiation therapy (HDTRT) alone has been an alternative to surgery in stage I/II non-small cell lung cancer patients with medical co-morbidities and/or poor performance status. Here, we report on the outcome and safety of HDTRT at 3.0 Gy per fraction for reduced treatment duration. METHODS HDTRT alone at 3.0 Gy per fraction was given to 35 patients (22 at stage I and 13 at stage II). The median age was 73 years old and 14 patients had ECOG performance above 2. The median radiation dose to the primary lesion was 60 (54-66) Gy over 27 (23-38) days, and the dose to the mediastinum was individualized. RESULTS After the median follow-up of 24 (3-72) months, local in-field progression developed in 11 patients (31.4%) and distant metastases in 14 (40.0%). The median survival period and the 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for all patients were 24.0 (95% CI: 13.57-34.43) months, 31.4 and 11.2%. Intercurrent deaths were observed in 11 patients. Treatment-related acute and subacute morbidities were observed in 20 patients (57.1%); however, there was neither treatment interruption nor long-term morbidity. CONCLUSIONS On the basis of the above observations, we achieved treatment outcomes comparable with those of conventional protracted fractionation schedules at considerably shorter duration and lower cost by HDTRT at 3.0 Gy per fraction.

Tissue expander placement and adjuvant radiotherapy after surgical resection of retroperitoneal liposarcoma offers improved local control.

AbstractGiven that retroperitoneal liposarcoma (LPS) is extremely difficult to completely resect, and has a relatively high rate of recurrence, radiotherapy (RT) is the treatment of choice after surgical resection. However, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient radiation field because of the close proximity of surrounding organs. We introduce the use of tissue expanders (TEs) after LPS resection in an attempt to secure a sufficient radiation field and to improve recurrence-free survival.This study is a retrospective review of 53 patients who underwent surgical resection of LPS at Samsung Medical Center between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2012, and had no residual tumor detected 2 months postoperatively. The median follow-up period was 38.9 months.Patients were divided into 3 groups. Those in group 1 (n = 17) had TE inserted and received postoperative RT. The patients in group 2 (n = 9) did not have TE inserted and received postoperative RT. Finally, those in group 3 (n = 27) did not receive postoperative RT. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the risk factors associated with recurrence-free survival within 3 years. Younger age, history of LPS treatment, and RT after TE insertion (group 1 vs group 2 or 3) were significantly favorable factors influencing 3-year recurrence-free survival.TE insertion after LPS resection is associated with increased 3-year recurrence-free survival, most likely because it allows effective delivery of postoperative RT.

Fibrotic airway stenosis following radiotherapy in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma

Radiotherapy is usually administered to the central airway in patients with unresectable adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). The purpose of this study was to describe the outcomes of endobronchial intervention in patients with airway stenosis following radiotherapy for ACC. Moreover, we investigated the incidence and contributing factors for airway stenosis following radiotherapy for ACC.

Port site metastasis after robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy for uterine cervical cancer: A case report and literature review

OBJECTIVE The incidence of port site metastasis after robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery for cervical cancer is not well known. According to recent studies of gynecological malignancies, the reported incidence is low and comparable to the results of conventional laparoscopic surgery. Here, we report the case of a patient who suffered port site metastasis after robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy for stage IB1 uterine cervical cancer. CASE REPORT The current case is, as we know, only the third episode of port site metastasis after robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery for cervical cancer documented in the medical literature. Following diagnosis of the port site metastasis, the patient was treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and experienced a remarkable early response. We reviewed the patients medical chart and imaging studies, and searched the Medline database to evaluate the incidence, prognosis and treatment outcomes of such cases of port site metastasis in uterine cervical cancer patients. CONCLUSION CRT resulted in a rapid decrease in tumor size and relief of abdominal pain in our patient. CRT might be considered as a salvage or palliative modality in patients with port site metastasis and/or locoregional recurrence.

Kidneys from deceased donors with oliguria are feasible for kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND Since kidneys from deceased donors with oliguria have not been widely used, compared their outcomes with those in recipients of kidneys without oliguria at the time of organ procurement. METHODS We reviewed the deceased donors and kidney recipients between January 1999 and December 2009, all of whom were defined as standard criteria donors (SCD). RESULTS The group included 26 recipients whose terminal serum creatinine level (P < .001), estimated glomerular filtration rates (P < .001), and deceased donor scores (P < .001) were higher than those of the control group. Delayed graft function (P = .044) occurred more often among recipients with donor kidneys with oliguria than those without oliguria, and their hospitalization period was longer (P = .012). The serum creatinine levels in both groups were comparable posttransplantation; there was no significant difference in graft survivals. CONCLUSION Deceased donors with oliguria at organ procurement appeared to be poor predictors of outcomes in the early posttransplantation period. Kidneys from deceased donors with oliguria should not be discarded for transplantation. The present study suggested that it is acceptable to use kidneys from selected deceased donors with oliguria.

Definitive Bimodality Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Patients with Inoperable N2-positive Stage IIIA Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose This study was conducted to evaluate the treatment outcomes following definitive bimodality concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with inoperable N2-positive stage IIIA (N2-IIIA) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods From May 1997 to December 2012, 65 out of 633 patients with N2-IIIA NSCLC received bimodality therapy. The treatment modality was selected during/after neoadjuvant CCRT in 21 patients or primarily at diagnosis in 44 through a multidisciplinary consensus meeting. The median age was 65 years (range, 36 to 76 years). Sixty patients (92.3%) had clinically evident N2 disease, while 22 (33.8%) had multi-station N2 involvement. The median radiation therapy dose was 66 Gy in 33 fractions, while the dose was elevated to 72 Gy in 13 patients who had a treatment break due to delayed decision regarding resectability. The most frequent chemotherapy regimen was weekly paclitaxel or docetaxel plus cisplatin or carboplatin (54, 83.1%). Results During the median follow-up of 18.8 months (range, 1.6 to 173.1 months), 34 patients (52.3%) experienced disease progression, with distant metastasis being the most common first treatment failure pattern (23, 34.8%). The median and 2-year rates of progression-free survival were 18.8 months and 45.9%, respectively. The median and 2-year rates of overall survival were 28.6 months and 50.1%, respectively. Conclusion Definitive bimodality therapy in patients with N2-IIIA NSCLC demonstrated favorable outcomes, while trimodality therapy could be considered for candidates for less than pneumonectomy.