Meric Sengoz

Medulloblastoma in adults: Treatment results and prognostic factors

PURPOSE To investigate the treatment outcome and prognostic factors of adult medulloblastoma patients who received postoperative craniospinal irradiation (RT). METHODS AND MATERIALS Between 1983 and 2000, 30 adult patients (17 men and 13 women, age >or=16 years, median 27, range 16-45) underwent postoperative RT. The median duration of symptoms was 2 months (range 1-9). The tumor location was lateral in 16 (53%). A desmoplastic variant was seen in 12 (40%). Tumor resection was complete in 20 (67%) and incomplete in 10 (33%). All patients received craniospinal RT. The median dose to the whole brain was 40 Gy (range 36-51), to the posterior fossa 54 Gy (range 49-56), and to the spinal axis 36 Gy (range 24-40). The median interval between surgery and the start of RT was 31 days (range 12-69), and the median duration of RT was 45 days (range 34-89). Ten patients (33%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. The median follow-up was 51 months (range 5-215). RESULTS The 5- and 8-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 65% and 51% and 63% and 50%, respectively. Twelve patients (40%) developed relapse, with a median follow-up of 51 months. The posterior fossa was the most common site of relapse (6 patients). The median time to relapse was 26 months (range 4-78). Fifty percent of the relapses occurred after 2 years, 17% after 5 years. In univariate analysis, M stage and the interval between surgery and the start of RT were significant prognostic factors for disease-free survival. At 5 years, 70% of M0 patients were estimated to be disease-free, but none of the 3 M3 patients reached 5 years without recurrence (p = 0.0002). The 5-year disease-free survival rate for the patients whose interval between surgery and the start of RT was <3 weeks, between 3 and 6 weeks, and >6 weeks was 0%, 85%, and 75%, respectively (p = 0.002). The 5-year posterior fossa control rate for patients who received >or=54 Gy or <54 Gy to the posterior fossa was 91% and 33%, respectively (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION The survival results for medulloblastomas in adults compare favorably with those in children. However, late relapses, lateral tumor location, and desmoplastic histologic features are more frequent in adults. Spinal seeding at presentation is a poor prognostic factor for disease-free survival. A minimal dose of 54 Gy to the posterior fossa is essential for adequate tumor control. The interval between surgery and the start of RT, which was found to be a significant prognostic factor, is an interesting issue that requires further study.

Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma: multimodality treatment results.

Aims and Background Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma is a distinct entity that can occur in many sites, and it is pathologically similar to small-cell lung cancer. We report the results of a retrospective study of a multimodality treatment of 16 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of extrapulmonary small-cell carcinoma. Methods Primary tumor site was prostate in 2, gallbladder in 2, uterine cervix in 2, liver in 2, endometrium in 1, epididymis in 1, colon in 1, larynx in 1, breast in 1, and unknown primary tumor in 3 patients. Patients’ ages ranged from 19 to 79 years (median, 62). Nine patients had limited and 7 had extensive disease. Histologically, 14 were pure extrapulmonary small-cell carcinoma and 2 were mixed with squamous-cell carcinoma. Results Curative surgery was attempted in 8 patients. Seven patients received local-regional adjuvant radiotherapy. All patients, except the one with a breast primary, were treated with chemotherapy (mostly platinum-based regimens). Overall survival for all patients was 41% and 11% at 2 and 5 years, respectively (median survival, 14 months). Median survival for patients with limited disease was 25 months compared to 12 months for patients with extensive disease (P = 0.05). Conclusions Treatment results for extrapulmonary small-cell carcinoma are comparable to those of small-cell carcinomas of the lung. Extent of disease is a significant prognostic factor for survival.

Small Cell (Neuroendocrine) Carcinoma of the Prostate: Etiology, Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Therapeutic Implications¯ : A Retrospective Study of 30 Patients From the Rare Cancer Network

Within the framework of the Rare Cancer Network Study, we examined 30 patients suffering from small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer, either in an early/localized or an advanced/metastatic stage. Patients were treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy, with or without pelvic radiotherapy. Two patients with early disease achieved complete remission for a duration of 19 and 22 months. Three patients with advanced disease achieved complete remission for 6, 7, and 54 months, respectively. Twenty-five patients succumbed to massive local and/or distant failure. No patient presented with brain metastases as the initial site of relapse. Small cell neuroendocrine prostate carcinoma is a very aggressive disease with a poor prognosis, even in its localized form. Despite initial response, the common cisplatin-based chemotherapy plus radiotherapy failed to improve outcome markedly. Improvement will come from understanding the biology of the disease and integrating new targeted therapies into the treatment of this rare and aggressive tumor.

PSA bouncing after external beam radiation for prostate cancer with or without hormonal treatment.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to find out the frequency of PSA bouncing and the factors effecting PSA bounce after external beam radiation treatment (EBRT) with or without hormonal treatment (HT) for prostate cancer and to identify any possible relationship with biochemical control. METHODS Between March 1997 and November 2000, 72 consecutive patients with clinically localised prostate cancer were treated by EBRT with or without HT. All patients had a pretreatment PSA level, at least six post-treatment PSA levels and minimum two years of follow-up. Median follow-up for all patients was 51 months (range 25-69 months). Median radiation dose given to the center of the prostate was 70Gy (range 63-74Gy). Fifty-nine patients (82%) received adjuvant HT with median duration of six months. PSA bounce was defined as a minimal rise of 0.4ng/ml over six months (monthly rise > or =0.07 ng/ml), followed by any decrease. Biochemical failure was defined in accordance with the ASTRO consensus guidelines. RESULTS Seventeen patients (24%) experienced at least one PSA bounce. PSA bounces were more frequent in patients with T1-2 stage, pretreatment PSA <10 ng/ml, small field irradiation, radiation dose < or =70 Gy, PSA nadir > or =0.2 ng/ml and without HT. PSA bounce occurred in 54% of patients treated by EBRT only, and 17% of patients treated by EBRT and HT. Logistic regression model for multivariate analysis revealed the radiation field size as the only independent predictive factor for PSA bounce. Five-year biochemical control rates were 82% for non-bouncers and 88% for bouncers (p=0.5). CONCLUSIONS PSA bouncing occurs in approximately a quarter of patients treated with EBRT with or without HT. It is associated with pretreatment and treatment characteristics, but we did not observe any relationship with biochemical failure.

Critical appraisal of RapidArc radiosurgery with flattening filter free photon beams for benign brain lesions in comparison to GammaKnife: a treatment planning study.

BackgroundTo evaluate the role of RapidArc (RA) for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) of benign brain lesions in comparison to GammaKnife (GK) based technique.MethodsTwelve patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS, n = 6) or cavernous sinus meningioma (CSM, n = 6) were planned for both SRS using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) by RA. 104 MV flattening filter free photon beams with a maximum dose rate of 2400 MU/min were selected. Data were compared against plans optimised for GK. A single dose of 12.5 Gy was prescribed. The primary objective was to assess treatment plan quality. Secondary aim was to appraise treatment efficiency.ResultsFor VS, comparing best GK vs. RA plans, homogeneity was 51.7 ± 3.5 vs. 6.4 ± 1.5%; Paddick conformity Index (PCI) resulted 0.81 ± 0.03 vs. 0.84 ± 0.04. Gradient index (PGI) was 2.7 ± 0.2 vs. 3.8 ± 0.6. Mean target dose was 17.1 ± 0.9 vs. 12.9 ± 0.1 Gy. For the brain stem, D1cm3 was 5.1 ± 2.0 Gy vs 4.8 ± 1.6 Gy. For the ipsilateral cochlea, D0.1cm3 was 1.7 ± 1.0 Gy vs. 1.8 ± 0.5 Gy. For CSM, homogeneity was 52.3 ± 2.4 vs. 12.4 ± 0.6; PCI: 0.86 ± 0.05 vs. 0.88 ± 0.05; PGI: 2.6 ± 0.1 vs. 3.8 ± 0.5; D1cm3 to brain stem was 5.4 ± 2.8 Gy vs. 5.2 ± 2.8 Gy; D0.1cm3 to ipsi-lateral optic nerve was 4.2 ± 2.1 vs. 2.1 ± 1.5 Gy; D0.1cm3 to optic chiasm was 5.9 ± 3.1 vs. 4.5 ± 2.1 Gy. Treatment time was 53.7 ± 5.8 (64.9 ± 24.3) minutes for GK and 4.8 ± 1.3 (5.0 ± 0.7) minutes for RA for schwannomas (meningiomas).ConclusionsSRS with RA and FFF beams revealed to be adequate and comparable to GK in terms of target coverage, homogeneity, organs at risk sparing with some gain in terms of treatment efficiency.

Patient satisfaction in the outpatients' chemotherapy unit of Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey: a staff survey

BackgroundWe conducted a survey to find out how patients feel about the care they receive in the outpatient chemotherapy unit of Marmara University Hospital.MethodsThe American College of Physicians Patient Satisfaction survey translated into Turkish was used. A meeting was held with all involved staff, before conducting the survey, to review the purpose and determine the process. The study was conducted with 100 random patients.ResultsConsistent with cancer frequency, most patients had either lung, colorectal or breast cancer. Their insurance was government sponsored in close to 90%. The educational levels were above Turkish median but consistent with the area the hospital is serving. They were coming to the unit on average 8.5 months. The responses were not influenced by the surveyed diagnosis, age, sex or educational status (p > 0,05). Particularly health care teams attention, trust and courtesy came forward as strong points. The weaknesses noted as difficulties in booking an outpatient doctor visit appointment because the phone line was busy or the secretary was not courteous, the excessive amount of time and effort it required to get laboratory and radiology results.ConclusionThe health care system is basically a service based industry and customer satisfaction is at utmost importance just as in other service-oriented sectors. We hope this study will shed light in that area and Turkish health care providers will pay closer attention to how their patients feel about the services that they are getting.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with low dose weekly gemcitabine in stage III non-small cell lung cancer

BackgroundCombined chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the treatment of choice for stage III NSCLC. Gemcitabine (G) is a novel deoxycitidine analogue that has been proven to be a potent radiosensitizer. Twenty-two consecutive patients were treated with concurrent CRT to demonstrate the tolerability and efficacy of low dose G given weekly as radiosensitizer in stage III NSCLC.MethodsPatients with KPS ≥70, adequate bone marrow reserve, with no prior radiotherapy (RT) and surgery were included. Eighteen patients had received prior induction chemotherapy (CT). G (75 mg/m2/week) was infused over 1 hour for 6 weeks. Thoracic RT was given two hours later over 6 weeks at 1.8 Gy/day fractions (total dose of 61.2 Gy). Pulmonary toxicity was evaluated with computed tomography scans in 6 weeks.ResultsMedian age was 60 years (range, 48–75), median follow-up was 15 months (range, 2–40). Sixty-eight percent of patients were male and median KPS score was 90. Conformal 3D-RT planning was used in 64% of patients. G was given for a median of 5 weeks (range 1–9). Twelve patients (54.6%) received all planned CT. G was stopped because of intolerance in 6 and death in 2 patients. Seven patients (31.8%) had radiation pneumonitis. Twenty patients were evaluated for overall response, 1 patient (4.5%) had clinical CR, 81.8% had PR while 9.5% had SD. Median overall survival (OS) was 14 ± 5 months (95% CI 3–25). One- and 2-year OS rates were 55% and 38%. Sixteen patients died of disease-related events (6 with progression of primary tumor, 8 due to metastatic disease), 2 patients died of other causes. One- and 2-year progression-free survival and local control rates were 56%, 27% and 79%, 51%, respectively.ConclusionG might be used as radiosensitizer for patients with stage III NSCLC who could not receive full doses CT with concurrent RT.

GAMMA KNIFE RADIOSURGERY FOR ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATIONS: CLINICAL SERIES OF 199 PATIENTS.

AIM Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are pathological connections between arteries and veins without capillaries. Stereotactic radiosurgery (RS) is a proven and accepted treatment method for cerebral AVMs. Our objective was to analyze the factors influencing the clinical outcome in patients suffering from AVMs. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 199 patients who were treated with Gamma-Knife RS for intracranial AVMs between 13 October 2005 and 31 October 2010. There were 89 male, 110 female patients with a median age of 32 years (range, 3-74 years). Obliteration was assessed with MRI angiography and DSA imaging. RESULTS Complete obliteration rate after RS was 71 % (141 out of 199), including second RS treatments. In terms of obliteration rates, there was no significant difference between patients younger and older than 21 years old (p=0.669). After RS, 3 patients died due to intracranial hemorrhage and 1 died of heart disease. Death from AVM was determined as 1.5 %. Intracranial hemorrhage was observed in 7 (3.5 %) patients post-RS. CONCLUSION Obliteration was found to be associated with Spetzler-Martin Grade, Pollock-Flickinger Grade, AVM volume, RS dose, bleeding history before RS and no previous embolization before RS. Gamma knife RS is an effective treatment method for the treatment of AVMs both for pediatric and adult patients. It provides high obliteration and low mortality rates.

Gamma knife radiosurgery for hemorrhagic brainstem cavernomas

AIM To assess treatment results of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for hemorrhagic brainstem cavernous malformations (BSCMs). MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective review of patients with hemorrhagic BSCMs, who were treated at the Acıbadem Kozyatagi Hospital GKRS unit from May 2007 to October 2015 was performed. RESULTS In total, 82 patients were identified. All patients had experienced at least one hemorrhagic event (range 1-3), and all of them presented with radiological evidence of hemorrhage. The median target volume was 0.3 ml, and the median marginal radiation dose was 12 Gy. The mean durations before and after surgery were 25.5 (range 1-204) months, and 50.3 (range 13-113) months, respectively. Pre-treatment hemorrhage rates were calculated from the date of first hemorrhage to the date of radiosurgery. There were 97 bleeds over 174.4 patient-years during the observation period, with an annual hemorrhage rate of 55.7%. If the first bleed is excluded, the annual hemorrhage rate was 8.6%. Only three patients demonstrated re-bleeding, which occurred at 3, 12 and 79 months after radiosurgery. Over a total follow up time of 344 patient-years the annual re-bleeding rate was therefore 0.87%, indicating that the risk of BSCM hemorrhage was significantly decreased by radiosurgery. CONCLUSION GKRS was a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic low volume BSCMs when a low marginal dose is used. A randomized controlled trial is needed that compares GKRS to observation if we want to establish the true efficacy of this treatment.

Integration of arterial spin labeling into stereotactic radiosurgery planning of cerebral arteriovenous malformations

To test whether the combined use of 4D arterial spin labeling angiography (4D ASL) and contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (4D CE‐MRA) can work as a prospective alternative to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for the delineation of the arteriovenous malformation (AVM) nidus in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) planning.