Association between Time to Local Tumor Control and Treatment Outcomes Following Repeated Loco-Regional Treatment Session in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A RETROSPECTIVE, Single-Center Study

Background: Whether the number of loco-regional treatment sessions and the time required to obtain local tumor control (LTC) affects the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial. This study aimed to determine whether a longer time to LTC is a significant and independent predictor of poor treatment outcomes. Methods: In this retrospective study, we analyzed data of 139 treatment-naive patients with HCC who were not eligible for a treatment other than transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) at baseline. The outcome analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan–Meier method, while the overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were the primary study endpoints. Results: Overall, LTC was achieved in 82 (59%) of patients, including 67 (81%) patients who achieved LTC following TACE sessions alone and 15 (19%) subjects required additional ablation session. The median OS did not differ significantly between groups that needed 2, 3, or >3 locoregional treatment sessions to achieve LTC (p = 0.37). Longer time to LTC (in weeks) was significantly associated with shorter OS in univariate analysis (p = 0.04), but not in an adjusted model (p = 0.14). Both univariate and adjusted analyses showed that longer time to reach LTC was significantly associated with shorter PFS (adjusted HR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.001–1.09, p = 0.048). Conclusions: These findings show that the longer time to LTC is not an independent predictor of OS, but suggest that PFS may be significantly shorter in patients with longer time to LTC.

Impact of loco-regional treatment including radiotherapy in patients presenting with metastatic breast cancer

Background: The impact of loco-regional treatment (LRT) with radiotherapy (RT) in patients presenting with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has not been widely studied. The aim of this study was to review the treatment outcomes of LRT including RT in patients with MBC. Materials and methods: Patients who presented with MBC were included in this retrospective study. Analysis was undertaken to determine the difference in local disease control, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) with systemic treatment alone, surgery alone, surgery plus RT and RT alone with long-rank test. Multivariate analysis was done, using the cox regression for factors affecting PFS and OS. Results: From 2007 to 2014, data of 257 patients with MBC were collected. Totally, 185 patients received LRT and 72 did not. LRT was surgery plus RT, surgery only and RT only in 113, 47 and 25 patients, respectively. Cytotoxic chemotherapy and hormone therapy were received by 205 and 166 patients, respectively. Median follow-up was 36 months (6–120 months). PFS and OS at 3 years with and without LRT were 31% versus 6% (p < 0·001) and 41% versus 17% (p < 0·001), respectively. PFS at 3 years with surgery plus RT, RT alone and surgery was 40, 33 and 6%, respectively. OS at 3 years with surgery plus RT, RT alone and surgery was 50, 38 and 17%, respectively. Patients without LRT had worse PFS and OS, 6 and 17%, respectively. RT had significant impact on PFS and OS along with chemotherapy and hormone treatment. Conclusion: In patients with MBC, improved local control, PFS and OS were achieved with loco-regional RT. Loco-regional RT along with chemotherapy and hormones were significant factors for PFS and OS irrespective of surgery.