International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics
Volume 72, Issue 3 , Page A12, 1 November 2008

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Infusional 5-Fluorouracil and ZD1839 (Gefitinib-Iressa) in Combination With Preoperative Radiotherapy in Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Phase I and II Trial (1839IL/0092)Page 644 

V. Valentini, A. De Paoli, M. A. Gambacorta, G. Mantini, C. Ratto, F. M. Vecchio, B. Barbaro, R. Innocente, C. Rossi, G. Boz, M. C. Barba, A. Frattegiani, M. Lupattelli, and G. B. Doglietto

The advent of anti–epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) drugs that can further slow or halt disease progression has been an important stride in cancer treatment. In this study, the authors examined the combination of chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil) and the anti-EGFR drug gefitinib (250 and 500 mg/day) with preoperative radiotherapy in 41 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Grade 3+ toxicity occurred in 41% of patients, and 61.5% required a reduction in their gefitinib dose. The pathologic complete response rate was 30.3%, which is comparable to rates for other new drugs used in combination with preoperative radiotherapy. The authors recommend continued study of gefitinib at 250 mg/day.

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Utility of Positron Emission Tomography Compared With Mediastinoscopy for Delineating Involved Lymph Nodes in Stage III Lung Cancer: Insights for Radiotherapy Planning From a Surgical CohortPage 702 

G. M. M. Videtic, T. W. Rice, S. Murthy, J. H. Suh, J. P. Saxton, D. J. Adelstein, and T. M. Mekhail

Although mediastinoscopy is the gold standard for assessing lymph nodes in stage III non–small-cell lung cancer, positron emission tomography (PET) scans are being used increasingly to define the primary tumor and the mediastinal lymph nodes. However, the reliability of PET in assessing these nodes has not been well validated. These authors retrospectively compared the PET and mediastinoscopy findings in 122 patients and found that PET showed a sensitivity of 61% and positive predictive value of 94%. Their findings suggest that PET is not a reliable tool for the staging of mediastinal nodes, but they believe further study of its use is required before its use is abandoned.

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Determinants of Change in Prostate-Specific Antigen Over Time and Its Association With Recurrence After External Beam Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer in Five Large CohortsPage 782 

C. Proust-Lima, J. M. G. Taylor, S. G. Williams, D. P. Ankerst, N. Liu, L. L. Kestin, K. Bae, and H. M. Sandler

These authors studied the relationship between prognostic factors, postradiation prostate-specific antigen (PSA) dynamics, and clinical failure after prostate cancer radiation therapy using a specially developed linear mixed model. The model enabled the effect of prognostic factors on PSA patterns and clinical recurrence to be considered separately, and provides an efficient framework for consideration of prognostic factors. The study cohort consisted of 4,247 men with 40,324 PSA measurements treated with external beam radiation therapy. Higher doses of radiation were associated with a lower long-term PSA risk but not with recurrence. Conversely, increased age at diagnosis was not associated with long-term PSA rise but was associated with decreased risk of recurrence.

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Multivariate Analysis of Para-Aortic Lymph Node Recurrence After Definitive Radiotherapy for Stage IB-IVA Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Uterine CervixPage 834 

E.-Y. Huang, C.-J. Wang, H.-C. Chen, F.-M. Fang, Y.-J. Huang, C.-Y. Wang, and H. C. Hsu

Despite good local control in patients with cervical cancer after pelvic irradiation, there is still a risk of disease recurrence in para-aortic lymph nodes (PALNs). These authors assessed pretreatment risk factors for recurrence of disease in the PALNs after pelvic radiotherapy in 758 patients with cervical cancer. A raised squamous cell carcinoma antigen level, advanced parametrial involvement, and pelvic lymphadenopathy were all associated with disease recurrence in PALNs. The authors recommend that patients with these factors be more rigorously followed up after radiotherapy.

PII: S0360-3016(08)03385-3

doi:10.1016/S0360-3016(08)03385-3

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics
Volume 72, Issue 3 , Page A12, 1 November 2008

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