D Rades1, S Lang, S E Schild, W Alberti. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. rades.dirk@gmx.net
Abstract
AIMS: To evaluate the prognostic value of haemoglobin levels during radio-chemotherapy for overall survival, metastases-free survival (MFS) and locoregional control in patients with locally advanced oesophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Age, gender, performance status, tumour location, tumour length, histology, histologic grading, T-stage, N-stage, UICC-stage and weekly haemoglobin levels during concurrent radio-chemotherapy were retrospectively investigated and related to outcome in 108 patients, who received radio-chemotherapy for stage II/III oesophageal cancer. Radio-chemotherapy consisted of 59.4-60 Gy irradiation, two to four courses of cisplatin (75 mg/m2 on day 1) and 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2 on days 1-5). Haemoglobin levels during radio-chemotherapy were compared among the following three groups: patients with over 60% of haemoglobin levels less than 12 g/dl; patients with over 60% of haemoglobin levels at 12-14 g/dl; and patients with over 60% of haemoglobin levels greater than 14 g/dl. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, haemoglobin levels of 12-14 g/dl and greater than 14 g/dl during concurrent radio-chemotherapy provided better outcomes than haemoglobin levels less than 12 g/dl. The 2-year overall survival rates were 34%, 35% and 16%, respectively (P = 0.002). The 2-year MFS survival rates were 23%, 46% and 21%, respectively (P = 0.06). The 2-year locoregional control rates were 44%, 58% and 19%, respectively (P < 0.001). ECOG performance status (1 better than 2-3) was significantly associated with overall survival (P = 0.013), tumour length (<7 cm better than > or = 7 cm) with overall survival (P = 0.002) and MFS (P = 0.002), N-stage (N0 better than N1) with overall survival (P = 0.004) and MFS (P < 0.001), and UICC-stage (stage II better than III) with overall survival (P = 0.025) and MFS (P = 0.010). On multivariate analysis, haemoglobin levels during radio-chemotherapy maintained significance for overall survival (P = 0.002) and locoregional control (P < 0.001), tumour length for overall survival (P = 0.002) and MFS (P = 0.008), and N-stage for MFS (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Haemoglobin during radiotherapy and concurrent radio-chemotherapy is an independent prognostic factor in oesophageal cancer treatment. To improve outcome, it seems important to maintain the haemoglobin at 12-14 g/dl.
AIMS: To evaluate the prognostic value of haemoglobin levels during radio-chemotherapy for overall survival, metastases-free survival (MFS) and locoregional control in patients with locally advanced oesophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Age, gender, performance status, tumour location, tumour length, histology, histologic grading, T-stage, N-stage, UICC-stage and weekly haemoglobin levels during concurrent radio-chemotherapy were retrospectively investigated and related to outcome in 108 patients, who received radio-chemotherapy for stage II/III oesophageal cancer. Radio-chemotherapy consisted of 59.4-60 Gy irradiation, two to four courses of cisplatin (75 mg/m2 on day 1) and 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2 on days 1-5). Haemoglobin levels during radio-chemotherapy were compared among the following three groups: patients with over 60% of haemoglobin levels less than 12 g/dl; patients with over 60% of haemoglobin levels at 12-14 g/dl; and patients with over 60% of haemoglobin levels greater than 14 g/dl. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, haemoglobin levels of 12-14 g/dl and greater than 14 g/dl during concurrent radio-chemotherapy provided better outcomes than haemoglobin levels less than 12 g/dl. The 2-year overall survival rates were 34%, 35% and 16%, respectively (P = 0.002). The 2-year MFS survival rates were 23%, 46% and 21%, respectively (P = 0.06). The 2-year locoregional control rates were 44%, 58% and 19%, respectively (P < 0.001). ECOG performance status (1 better than 2-3) was significantly associated with overall survival (P = 0.013), tumour length (<7 cm better than > or = 7 cm) with overall survival (P = 0.002) and MFS (P = 0.002), N-stage (N0 better than N1) with overall survival (P = 0.004) and MFS (P < 0.001), and UICC-stage (stage II better than III) with overall survival (P = 0.025) and MFS (P = 0.010). On multivariate analysis, haemoglobin levels during radio-chemotherapy maintained significance for overall survival (P = 0.002) and locoregional control (P < 0.001), tumour length for overall survival (P = 0.002) and MFS (P = 0.008), and N-stage for MFS (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Haemoglobin during radiotherapy and concurrent radio-chemotherapy is an independent prognostic factor in oesophageal cancer treatment. To improve outcome, it seems important to maintain the haemoglobin at 12-14 g/dl.
Authors: Hee Chul Park; Nora A Janjan; Tito R Mendoza; Edward H Lin; Saroj Vadhan-Raj; Mandeep Hundal; Yiqun Zhang; Marc E Delclos; Christopher H Crane; Prajnan Das; Xin Shelley Wang; Charles S Cleeland; Sunil Krishnan Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 2009-02-21 Impact factor: 7.038