1. Is postmastectomy radiotherapy really needed in breast cancer patients with many positive axillary lymph nodes?Tanja Marinko, Karmen Stanič, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) improves survival by eliminating potential occult lesions in the chest wall and lymphatic drainage area. Meta-analysis has shown that PMRT reduces mortality and local recurrence of patients with node positive breast cancer (but there is no specific data about the effectiveness of PMRT in a subgroup of patients with a high number of positive axillary lymph nodes (PALN). The aim of the study was to analyse the impact of the number of PALN on local and distant metastasis occurrence, overall survival (OS) and distant metastases free survival (DMFS) in patients treated with PMRT. Patients and methods. We reviewed medical records of 129 consecutive breast cancer patients with PALN, treated at Institute of Oncology Ljubljana with PMRT between January 2003 and December 2004. We grouped patients according to the number of PALN as follows: Group 1 (less than 15 PALN) and Group 2 with more than 15 PALN. All patients received adjuvant systemic therapy according to the clinical guidelines. We analysed number of locoregional (LR) recurrences, distant metastasis, overall survival, progression free survival (PFS) and DMFS. Results. After the median follow-up time of 11.5 years, the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of PALN showed significantly shorter OS (p = 0.006), shorter PFS (p = 0.002) and shorter DMFS (p < 0.001) in the group of > 15 PALN. Only one LR was found in the group of patients with more than 15 PALN. In multivariate analysis more than 15 PALN and treatment with anthracycline chemotherapy statistically significantly influenced OS and DMFS. For PFS presence of more than 15 PALN were the only independent factor of shorter survival. Conclusions. Patients with more than 15 PALN have shorter DMFS, PFS and OS as compared to patients with less than 15 PALN, though they receive the same LR treatment. More studies with higher number of patients included are needed to further evaluate our findings.
Keywords: radiotherapy, postmastectomy, axillary limph nodes, breast cancer
Published in DiRROS: 10.06.2024; Views: 27; Downloads: 21
 Full text (300,04 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
2. Long-term survival of locally advanced stage III non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy and perspectives for the treatment with immunotherapyMartina Vrankar, Karmen Stanič, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Standard treatment for patients with inoperable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Five-year overall survival rates range between 15 and 25%, while long term survival data are rarely reported. Patients and methods A total of 102 patients with stage III NSCLC treated between September 2005 and November 2010 with induction chemotherapy and CCRT were included in this long term survival analysis. All patients were tested for PD-L1 status and expression of PD-L1 was correlated with overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) and toxicities. Results The median OS of all patients was 24.8 months (95% CI 18.7 to 31.0) with 10 year-survival rate of 11.2%. The median OS of patients with PD-L1 expression was 12.1 months (95% CI 0.1 to 26.2), while in patients with negative or unknown PD-L1 status was significantly longer, 25.2 months (95% CI 18.9 to 31.6), p = 0.005. The median PFS of all patients was 16.4 months (95% CI 13.0 to 19.9). PFS of patients with PD-L1 expression was 10.1 months (95% CI 0.1 to 20.4) and in patients with negative or unknown PD-L1 status was 17.9 months (95% CI 14.2 to 21.7), p = 0.003. Conclusions 10-year overall survival of stage III NSCLC patients after CCRT is 11.2%. PFS and OS differ with regard to PD-L1 status and are significantly shorter for patients with PD-L1 expression. New treatment with check-point inhibitors combined with RT therefore seems reasonable strategy to improve these results.
Keywords: NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer, locally advanced, immunotherapy, chemoradiotherapy
Published in DiRROS: 10.06.2024; Views: 33; Downloads: 24
Full text (500,20 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
3. Intercalated chemotherapy and erlotinib for advanced NSCLC : high proportion of complete remissions and prolonged progression-free survival among patients with EGFR activating mutationsMatjaž Zwitter, Karmen Stanič, Mirjana Rajer, Izidor Kern, Martina Vrankar, Natalija Edelbaher, Viljem Kovač, 2014, original scientific article Abstract: Background. Pharmaco-dynamic separation of cytotoxic and targeted drugs might avoid their mutual antagonistic effect in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and methods. Eligible patients were treatment-naive with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC. In addition, inclusion was limited to never-smokers or light smokers or, after 2010, to patients with activating epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. Treatment started with 3-weekly cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin on days 1, 2 and 4 and erlotinib on days 5 to 15. After 4 to 6 cycles, patients continued with erlotinib maintenance. Results. Fifty-three patients were recruited into the trial: 24 prior to 2010 (of whom 9 were later found to be positive for EGFR mutations), and 29 EGFR mutation-positive patients recruited later. Unfavourable prognostic factors included stage IV disease (51 patients - 96%), performance status 2%3 (11 patients - 21%) and brain metastases (15 patients - 28%). Grade 4 toxicity included 2 cases of neutropenia and 4 thrombo-embolic events. The 15 EGFR negative patients had 33% objective response rate, median progression-free survival (PFS) 6.0 months and median survival 7.6 months. Among 38 EGFR positive patients, complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) were seen in 16 (42.1%) and 17 (44.7%) cases, respectively. PET-CT scanning was performed in 30 patients and confirmed CR and PR in 16 (53.3%) and 9 (30.0%) cases, respectively. Median PFS for EGFR mutated patients was 21.2 months and median survival was 32.5 months. Conclusions. While patients with EGFR negative tumors do not benefit from addition of erlotinib, the intercalated schedule appears most promising for those with EGFR activating mutations.
Keywords: non-small cell lung cancer, EGFR activating mutations, gemicitabine, erlotinib
Published in DiRROS: 11.04.2024; Views: 201; Downloads: 51
Full text (590,54 KB) |
4. Brain metastases in lung adenocarcinoma : impact of EGFR mutation status on incidence and survivalKarmen Stanič, Matjaž Zwitter, Nina Turnšek, Izidor Kern, Aleksander Sadikov, Tanja Čufer, 2014, original scientific article Abstract: The brain represents a frequent progression site in lung adenocarcinoma. This study was designed to analyse the association between the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status and the frequency of brain metastases (BM) and survival in routine clinical practice. Patients and methods. We retrospectively analysed the medical records of 629 patients with adenocarcinoma in Slovenia who were tested for EGFR mutations in order to analyse the cumulative incidence of BM, the time from the diagnosis to the development of BM (TDBM), the time from BM to death (TTD) and the median survival. Results. Out of 629 patients, 168 (27%) had BM, 90 patients already at the time of diagnosis. Additional 78 patients developed BM after a median interval of 14.3 months; 25.8 months in EGFR positive and 11.8 months in EGFR negative patients, respectively (p = 0.002). EGFR mutations were present in 47 (28%) patients with BM. The curves for cumulative incidence of BM in EGFR positive and negative patients demonstrate a trend for a higher incidence of BM in EGFR mutant patients at diagnosis (19% vs. 13%, p = 0.078), but no difference later during the course of the disease. The patients with BM at diagnosis had a statistically longer TTD (7.3 months) than patients who developed BM later (3.1 months). The TTD in EGFR positive patients with BM at diagnosis was longer than in EGFR negative patients (12.6 vs. 6.8, p = 0.005), while there was no impact of EGFR status on the TTD of patients who developed BM later. Conclusions. Except for a non-significant increase of frequency of BM at diagnosis in EGFR positive patients, EGFR status had no influence upon the cumulative incidence of BM. EGFR positive patients had a longer time to CNS progression. While EGFR positive patients with BM at diagnosis had a longer survival, EGFR status had no influence on TTD in patients who developed BM later during the course of disease.
Keywords: brain metastases, lung adenocarcinoma, EGFR mutations
Published in DiRROS: 11.04.2024; Views: 302; Downloads: 49
Full text (685,08 KB) |
5. |
6. Priporočila za obravnavo bolnikov s pljučnim rakomMartina Vrankar, Nina Boc, Izidor Kern, Aleš Rozman, Karmen Stanič, Tomaž Štupnik, Mojca Unk, Maja Ebert Moltara, Vesna Zadnik, Katja Adamič, Jernej Benedik, Marko Bitenc, Jasna But-Hadžić, Anton Crnjac, Marina Čakš, Dominik Časar, Eva Ćirić, Tanja Čufer, Ana Demšar, Rok Devjak, Goran Gačevski, Marta Globočnik Kukovica, Kristina Gornik-Kramberger, Maja Ivanetič Pantar, Marija Ivanović, Urška Janžič, Staša Jelerčič, Veronika Kloboves-Prevodnik, Mile Kovačević, Luka Ležaič, Mateja Marc-Malovrh, Katja Mohorčič, Loredana Mrak, Igor Požek, Nina Turnšek, Bogdan Vidmar, Dušanka Vidovič, Gregor Vlačić, Ana Lina Vodušek, Rok Zbačnik, Ivana Žagar, 2023, professional article Abstract: Leta 2019 so bila objavljena Priporočila za obravnavo bolnikov s pljučnim rakom, ki so v slovenski prostor vnesla prepotrebno poenotenje diagnostike in zdravljenja z namenom izboljšanja preživetja bolnikov s pljučnim rakom. Posodobitev Priporočil tri leta po izidu izvirnika prinaša največ novosti v poglavju o sistemskem zdravljenju bolnikov s pljučnim rakom. To kaže na izjemen napredek na področju razumevanja onkogeneze in biologije pljučnega raka ter s tem razvoja novih zdravil. Breme pljučnega raka ostaja veliko, saj je pljučni rak pri nas in v svetu še vedno najpogostejši vzrok smrti zaradi raka. Za vsako peto smrt zaradi raka je odgovoren pljučni rak. Skoraj tretjina bolnikov s pljučnim rakom ne prejme specifičnega onkološkega zdravljenja, bodisi zaradi slabega stanja zmogljivosti, spremljajočih bolezni ali obsega bolezni. Polovica bolnikov ima ob diagnozi razsejano bolezen, zaradi česar izboljšanje preživetja z malimi koraki sledi napredku v zdravljenju bolnikov s pljučnim rakom. Ti podatki nas opominjajo, da se bomo morali za velike premike v obravnavi bolnikov s pljučnim rakom lotiti drugačnih pristopov. Kot najbolj obetavno se ponuja zgodnje odkrivanje bolezni, ko so možnosti ozdravitve pljučnega raka najboljše. Zapisana Priporočila so usmeritev za obravnavo bolnikov s pljučnim rakom. Le s sodobnim multidisciplinarnim pristopom obravnave lahko bolniku ponudimo zdravljenje, ki mu omogoča najboljši izhod prognostično neugodne bolezni.
Keywords: pljučni rak, priporočila
Published in DiRROS: 27.07.2023; Views: 506; Downloads: 181
Full text (708,18 KB)
This document has many files! More... |
7. Zdravljenje bolnikov v zgodnjem stadiju bolezni : stereotaktično obsevanjeKarmen Stanič, 2023, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: Stereotaktično obsevanje je natančno obsevanje, pri katerem je doza vsakega posameznega
obsevanja in skupna doza zelo visoka, skupno število pa ne presega osem obsevanj. Doza in
število frakcij sta odvisna od lege in velikosti tumorja. Na ta način obsevamo inoperabilne
bolnike z zgodnjim pljučnim rakom ali tiste, ki operacijo odklonijo. SBRT tehnika omogoča
le obsevanje tumorjev, ki so med obsevanjem vidni, ne obsevamo pa ultra-centralno ležečih
tumorjev in tistih, ki vraščajo v mediastinalne strukture. V Sloveniji obsevamo s SBRT tehniko
od leta 2016. Raziskave kažejo, da lokalne kontrole po 5 letih znašajo preko 90 %, celokupna
preživetja pa so po petih letih nekoliko slabša kot za bolnike, ki so operabilni.
Keywords: pljučni rak, onkološko zdravljenje, bolniki
Published in DiRROS: 12.05.2023; Views: 350; Downloads: 77
Full text (97,53 KB) |
8. |
9. Oligometastatski rakIvica Ratoša, Karmen Stanič, Tanja Ovčariček, Ajra Šečerov Ermenc, Janka Čarman, Blaž Grošelj, Staša Jelerčič, Peter Korošec, Manja Šešek, Marko Kokalj, Gaber Plavc, Miha Oražem, Helena Barbara Zobec Logar, 2022, review article Abstract: Oligometastatska bolezen (OMB) predstavlja vmesno stanje med lokalno napredovalo boleznijo in obsežnejšo metastatsko boleznijo. Zaenkrat ne poznamo specifičnih biomarkerjev, ki bi nam pomagali opredeliti bolnike z majhnim bremenom bolezni, zato diagnoza OMB temelji na slikovni diagnostiki. V zadnjih letih narašča zanimanje za optimizacijo zdravljenja OMB predvsem zaradi obetavnih rezultatov dodatka lokalnega k obstoječemu sistemskemu zdravljenju. S takšnim načinom zdravljenja se je prvič pokazala možnost doseganja dolgotrajnih zazdravitev ali redko celo ozdravitev teh bolnikov. Razlikovanje posameznih vrst OMB in njihovo enotno poimenovanje je pomembno zlasti v kliničnih raziskavah, saj nam omogoča medsebojno primerjavo rezultatov različnih raziskav.
Keywords: klasifikacija, oligometastatska bolezen, sistemsko zdravljenje, onkologija
Published in DiRROS: 06.12.2022; Views: 604; Downloads: 160
Full text (246,61 KB) |
10. Priporočila za obravnavo bolnikov s pljučnim rakomMartina Vrankar, Nina Boc, Izidor Kern, Aleš Rozman, Karmen Stanič, Tomaž Štupnik, Mojca Unk, Maja Ebert Moltara, Vesna Zadnik, Katja Adamič, Jernej Benedik, Marko Bitenc, Jasna But-Hadžić, Anton Crnjac, Eva Ćirić, Tanja Čufer, Goran Gačevski, Marta Globočnik Kukovica, Kristina Gornik-Kramberger, Maja Ivanetič Pantar, Staša Jelerčič, Veronika Kloboves-Prevodnik, Mile Kovačević, Luka Ležaič, Mateja Marc-Malovrh, Katja Mohorčič, Bogdan Vidmar, Dušanka Vidovič, Gregor Vlačić, Ana Lina Vodušek, Rok Zbačnik, Ivana Žagar, 2022, not set Keywords: elektronske knjige
Published in DiRROS: 24.11.2022; Views: 790; Downloads: 248
Full text (3,01 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
