Ke Hu

Patterns of lymph node metastasis in locally advanced cervical cancer.

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate patterns and locations of lymph node metastasis in locally advanced cervical cancers.A total of 244 consecutive patients with stage IIb cervical cancer were retrospectively evaluated. Contrast-enhanced CT scans were used for lymph node grading. Lymph nodes with the shortest axis (>1 cm) were categorized as positive and those between 0.5 and 1 cm were categorized as suspicious. All lymph nodes (LNs) were also classified by their anatomic locations.Nine hundred thirty-one LNs (136 positive and 795 suspicious) were identified. Sixty-three (25.8%) patients had positive LNs, and 153 (62.7%) patients had only suspicious LNs. The metastatic pattern was predictable traveling from level 1 (external iliac, internal iliac, obturator, and mesorectum groups) through level 2 (common iliac and presacral groups) to level 3 (para-aortic groups). In most groups, LNs were located within 1.0 cm of main blood vessels. Our novel findings were: presacral LNs metastases were rare (2/244, 0.82%); the left common iliac group (LCI) had significantly more enlarged nodes than the right common iliac group (P = 0.00); the LCI and left down-para-aortic group were further away from blood vessels than expected (1.2 cm and 1.4 cm, respectively); no additional margin was needed in anterolateral direction for external iliac groups.The lymph node metastatic patterns are relatively predicable. Different expansions from vessels should be used to include LNs for different groups. Presacral nodes metastases are rare, and further study is warranted to see whether this region can be excluded from nodal CTV.

Hypofractionated electron-beam radiation therapy for keloids: retrospective study of 568 cases with 834 lesions

We aimed to analyze the outcomes of hypofractionated high-energy electron beam radiotherapy for the treatment of keloids. From February 1998 to January 2012, 568 patients with a total of 834 keloids underwent radiotherapy: 826 lesions with postoperative radiotherapy, and 36 with skin-grafting. Lesion size was >5 cm in 335 keloids. An electron-beam of 6 or 7 MeV was used, with a total dose of 18 Gy (two fractions with a 1-week interval) covering the lesion with a 1-cm margin. The time between surgery and radiotherapy was 24–48 h. Skin-grafted patients underwent radiotherapy 10–15 days after the operation. The median follow-up was 40 months (range: 12–160 months). The local control rate was 88.25% (736/834). The relapse rate was 9.59% (80/834), and the time to relapse was 6–28 months (median: 12 months). Univariate analyses showed that gender, age, keloid size, keloid site, skin grafting, and operation-to-irradiation interval influenced the local control rate. Multivariate analysis showed that the relapse rate was correlated with gender (P = 0.048), age (P < 0.01), operation-to-irradiation interval (P < 0.01), keloid site (P < 0.01), surgical method (P = 0.04) and keloid size (P < 0.02). Adverse effects were observed in 9.83% (82/834). No radiation-induced cancers were observed. Hypofractionated high-energy electron beam radiotherapy for keloids yielded excellent outcomes, especially in cases without skin grafting. Early postoperative radiotherapy with limited hypofractionation could be a good choice for keloid treatment.

Nomogram for predicting para-aortic lymph node metastases in patients with cervical cancer

PurposeSome patients with cervical cancer may benefit from prophylactic extended-field radiotherapy (EFRT). However, the indications for prophylactic EFRT were unclear. In this study, we constructed a nomogram to predict para-aortic lymph node (PALN) metastases in cervical cancer.MethodsBetween January 2011 and June 2017, 1903 patients with stage IA–IVA cervical cancer received definitive radiotherapy. Patients who were diagnosed during 2011–2015 were assigned to a model development cohort (n = 1193) and others were assigned to a validation cohort (n = 710). Possible predictors were analysed using logistic regression models with model development cohort. A nomogram based on this work was constructed and validated.ResultsA total of 130 patients (6.8%) suffered from PALN metastases, with 81 patients (6.8%) in the model development cohort and 49 patients (6.9%) in the validation group. Multivariate analysis of the model development cohort demonstrated that histology, tumour size, bilateral pelvic lymph node (PLN) metastases, common iliac lymph node metastases and PLN convergence or muscle involvement were significant predictive factors of PALN metastases. The nomogram including these five factors showed good predictive accuracy (concordance index 0.916, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.881–0.952) in the model development cohort. In the validation cohort, the nomogram showed good discrimination (concordance index 0.949, 95% CI 0.911–0.988) and the predicted probability was close to the actual observed outcome.ConclusionWe have developed a robust tool that is able to predict PALN metastases in patients with cervical cancer. The nomogram could help physicians to decide whether prophylactic EFRT should be performed for patients with cervical cancer patients.

Efficacy and toxicity of image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy combined with dose-escalated brachytherapy for stage IIB cervical cancer

Considering internal organ motion and tumor regression, it is controversial to use intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in definitive radiotherapy for cervical cancer. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of IMRT combined with dose-escalated intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) for cervical cancer. In total, 373 consecutive FIGO-stage-IIB cervical cancer patients treated with IMRT combined with ICBT and concurrent chemotherapy were included in this study. A dose of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions was delivered to the pelvis for IMRT. Weekly cone-beam computed tomography or daily megavoltage computed tomography was used for image guiding. For ICBT, 30–36 Gy in five to seven fractions were prescribed to point A. All patients received concurrent chemotherapy. The median follow-up duration was 32.5 months (range, 3.1–119.8 months). The three-year overall survival, disease-free survival and local control rates were 87.5%, 82.2% and 92.5%, respectively. Sixty patients (16.1%) experienced treatment failure, including 23 patients (6.2%) with pelvic relapse. The incidences of ≥grade 3 chronic gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicity were 2.7% and 2.4%, respectively. These findings indicate that image-guided IMRT combined with dose-escalated ICBT results in good survival with acceptable toxicity in stage IIB cervical cancer patients.

Image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy in definitive radiotherapy for 1433 patients with cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE Image guidance should be used for patients with cervical cancer treated with definitive intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). In this study, we provided a pattern of image guidance and verified it in a large population. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed patients with stages IB1-IVA cervical cancer treated with IMRT combined with high-dose brachytherapy and concurrent chemotherapy in our institute from January 2005 to December 2015. A dose of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions was prescribed to the planning target volume with fixed-field IMRT, volumetric modulated arc therapy, or helical tomotherapy. Daily megavoltage computed tomography (CT) or weekly cone-beam CT (CBCT)/CT-on-rail were used for image guidance. Considering tumor regression during treatment, a second CT simulation and IMRT planning after 20 fractions of IMRT was performed. RESULTS A total of 1433 patients were included in this study. Four hundred thirteen patients (28.8%) had regional lymph node metastases. A total of 1261 patients (88.0%) received concurrent chemotherapy. The median follow-up was 32.2 months (range, 1.9-124.9 months). The 3-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and local control (LC) rates were 83.0%, 75.0%, and 87.4%, respectively. The 3-year DFS rates for patients with stages IB1, IB2, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, and IVA disease were 90.2%, 87.6%, 84.0%, 76.7%, 61.6%, 59.8%, and 25.9%. The incidence rates of grade 3 or greater chronic gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities were 2.3% and 1.3%. CONCLUSION This pattern of image guidance was rational for patients with cervical cancer treated with IMRT. The survival rates were high, and the toxicities were acceptable.