Vimol Sukthomya

High-dose-rate afterloading brachytherapy in carcinoma of the cervix : An experience of 1992 patients

PURPOSE To report the results of radiation therapy in carcinoma of the cervix treated by external irradiation and high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS This is a retrospective analysis of 2,063 patients with histologically proven carcinoma of the cervix treated by external irradiation and HDR intracavitary brachytherapy between March 1985-December 1991. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival and disease-free survival analysis. Late complications in the bowel and bladder were calculated actuarially. RESULTS There were 71 patients who did not complete the course of irradiation so only 1992 patients were retrospectively analyzed for survival. There were 2 patients (0.1%) in Stage IA, 211 (10.2%) Stage IB, 225 (10.9%) in Stage IIA, 902 (43. 7%) in Stage IIB, 14 (0.7%) in Stage IIIA, 675 (32.7%) in Stage IIIB, 16 (0.8%) in Stage IVA, and 16 (0.8%) in Stage IVB. The median follow-up time was 96 months. The actuarial 5-year disease-free survival rate was 79.5%, 70.0%, 59.4%, 46.1%, 32.3%, 7.8%, and 23.1% for Stage IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IVA, and IVB respectively. The actuarial 5-year disease-free survival rate for Stage IB(1) and IB(2) squamous cell carcinoma was 88.7% and 67.0%. The actuarial 5-year overall survival rate was 86.3%, 81.1%, 73.0%, 50.3%, 47.8%, 7.8%, and 30.8% for Stage IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, IVA, and IVB respectively. Pattern of failure revealed 20.8% local recurrence, 18. 7% distant metastases, and 4% in both. The late complication rate Grade 3 and 4 (RTOG) for bowel and bladder combined was 7.0% with 1. 9% Grade 4. CONCLUSION HDR brachytherapy used in this series produced pelvic control and survival rates comparable to other LDR series.

Phase II clinical study of irinotecan and cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of irinotecan plus cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer. METHODS Chemotherapy-naive patients with metastatic or recurrent disease and at least one measurable tumor site received irinotecan (60 mg/m(2) IV infusion over 90 min) on Days 1, 8, and 15, followed by cisplatin (60 mg/m(2) IV over 90 min) on Day 1, every 28 days for a maximum of six cycles. RESULTS Thirty patients were included in the response and toxicity analysis. The median age was 45 years (34-65). Nineteen patients had metastatic disease, 6 presented with locally recurrent disease, and 5 presented with locally recurrent plus metastatic disease. Seven patients were stage IVB at diagnosis. There were 2 complete and 18 partial responses and overall response rate was 66.7% (95% confidence interval: 47-85%). Stable disease was observed in 2 patients (6.7%) and progression in 8 (26.7%). Median time to relapse was 13.4 months, with a median survival time of 16.9 months. One-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 26.7 and 65.1%, respectively. Dose-limiting toxicity was observed in 4 patients (13.3%) with grade 3 renal toxicity. Nine patients (30%) developed grade 3 neutropenia, and only grade 1-2 acute and late diarrhea were observed in 20 and 40%, respectively. A patient developed pancolitis after the sixth cycle. There were no chemotherapy-related deaths. CONCLUSION The combination of irinotecan and cisplatin is a clinically active regimen for metastatic and/or recurrent cervical cancer with acceptable tolerability.

Capecitabine and weekly paclitaxel as first-line therapy in Thai patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Aim:  The combination of a taxane and capecitabine offers synergistic antitumor activity. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and tolerability of a paclitaxel and capecitabine combination in Thai patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) not previously treated for metastatic disease.