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e17039 Background: The need to combine cure with preservation of laryngeal functions is the challenge in laryngeal cancer treatment. We conducted a randomized phase II study with platinum induction...

e19520 Background: The role of FDG-PET for staging and response assessment in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is still evolving. We report our experience with the intent of evaluate prognostic role of 18FDG-PET in terms of long term complete remission (CR). Methods: We retrospectively analysed 65 consecutive pts affected by newly diagnosed HL. Median age was 36 yrs. Histology included 50 classical and 10 lymphocyte predominance HL. According to Hasenclever index, 58 out of 65 pts were considered at low risk, 5 at intermediate and 2 at high risk. 30/65 pts showed good prognosis (defined as IA-IIA, < 3 nodal sites, ERS < 50) and received 4 cycles of VBM followed by involved field (IF) radiotherapy (RT); the remaining 35 pts received hybrid ChlVPP/ABVVP for 6 cycles followed by IF RT in case of bulky disease. All patients underwent 18FDG-PET scans at diagnosis, after the fourth cycle in the VBM group, after the third cycle in the ChlVPP/ABVVP (interim 18FDG-PET), at the end of treatment in all patients. Fisher exact test was used to compare percentages between groups. Results: CR was recorded in 60 (92%) pts. Interim 18FDG-PET was negative in 52 out of 65 pts (80%), all in CR at the end of treatment. Eight out of 13 pts with positive interim 18FDG-PET obtained a CR at the end of treatment (100% versus 62%, Fisher exact text p18FDG-PET was negative in 5 of them, positive in 1 case. Two deaths occurred, one among pts with negative and one with positive interim 18FDG-PET. After a median follow-up of 30 months, 3-year freedom from treatment failure was 83% and 62% in pts with negative and positive interim 18FDG-PET, respectively (Log-rank test p18FDG-PET demonstrate a predictive role regarding the achievement of CR and treatment failure, at least as relevant as Hasenclever index, but failed to predict clinical result in 12 (18%) pts. Its role in defining the best therapeutical approach in HL pts must be further investigated in randomized clinical trials. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

e17015 Background: Reliable assessment of the response to IC is required to stratify further treatments, as responders are considered the best candidates for organ preservation strategies. We evaluated the role of CTp for pre-therapy assessment and IC monitoring in patients with SCC of the head and neck. Methods: From November 2004, 28 consecutive patients with locally advanced SCC of the head and neck were enrolled, undergoing CTp and volumetric CT before and after IC with cisplatin, administered at a dose of 100 mg/m2 iv, on day 1, and 5-fluorouracil, administered at a dose of 1,000 mg/m2 ci from day 1 to day 5, q3wks for 2 or 3 cycles. Perfusion parameters were calculated for tumor: blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT) and capillary permeability-surface (PS). The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to test for differences in the pre-therapy perfusion parameters between the different tumor grades, as well as between responders and nonresponders to IC. The post-therapy perfusion parameters were compared with the pre-therapy ones by the Wilcoxon signed rank test and percent changes in perfusion parameters were correlated with percent changes in tumor volume calculated by volumetric CT after IC by the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: Pre-therapy BF was significantly higher in G3 tumors, compared to G1 and G2 (p = 0.01) and G2 tumors (p = 0.03), and pre-therapy BV significantly higher in responders than in nonresponders (p = 0.01). Of the 20 patients who underwent post-therapy CTp, the 17 responders had significant reduction of BF (p = 0.003) and BV (p = 0.014) and increase of MTT (p = 0.04) in the post-therapy CTp, whereas the 3 non responders no significant changes in perfusion parameters. In the 17 responders, percent reduction in BF and BV showed correlation (Spearman R = 0.71, p = 0.0013 and R = 0.82, p = 0.00005, respectively) with percent reduction in tumor volume after IC. Conclusions: In our cohort of patients with SCC of the head and neck, CTp showed potential for pre-therapy assessment, as well as for IC monitoring; further studies are required to confirm our preliminary results. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

7531 Background: One limit to the diffusion of lung cancer CT screening is the fear of serious or lethal postoperative complications (3% postoperative mortality after standard lobectomy in USA) in ...

7566 Background: Screening detected lung cancers are correlated with good prognosis however most of the reported cases were detected at baseline screening and little is known about the evolution of pulmonary nodules at annual screening. We report the results of the first and second year of a single centre screening trial focusing the attention on the evolution of pulmonary nodules. Methods: The Cosmos trial started in October 2004 and enrolled 5,202 asymptomatic persons at high risk for lung cancer in one year. Between October 2005 and October 2006, the participants of the study, have been recalled to undergo the annual low dose CT. New lesions were treated according to the baseline diagnostic work up protocol. Previously detected lesions grown at annual screening were investigated with repeated low dose CT and/or Pet scan. Surgical biopsy was scheduled in case of Pet positive or growing nodules. Stable lesions were sent to one year follow up. Results: 4,745 out of 5,202 underwent the annual screening (compliance 92%). Recall rate was 10.7% at baseline and 4% at annual screening. Rate of malignant disease was 1.03% at baseline and 0.7% at annual screening. Patients with stage I disease were 68% at baseline and 76% at annual screening. Of the 32 lung cancers diagnosed at annual screening 8 were new nodules, 1 nodules was stable and 23 nodules progressed from the previous year. Among these, 9 nodules were lower than 5 mm at baseline (out of 2,190 subjects = 0.4%) and 14 were larger than 5 mm (out of 560 subjects =2.5%). Conclusions: Screening low dose spiral CT is an effective tool for the early detection of lung cancer. At first annual screening malignancy rate decreased from 1% to 0.7% and stage distribution was more favourable. However the high rate of delayed diagnosis (2.5%) in cases of nodules larger than 5 mm at baseline CT may require a revision of our proposed diagnostic work up protocol to further anticipate detection of these cases. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

17547 Background: Systemic CT in BALT lymphoma is the accepted therapy for those pts where surgery isn’t radical or possible. There is not a standard systemic treatment for this uncommon lymphoma however its indolent behavior and the relative asymptomatic outcome, allows on systemic therapy delay and may justify the use of less toxic CT agents. Methods: Here we reported our experience on 19 pts (10 men and 9 women) with biopsy-proven BALT lymphoma, median age was 61 yrs; 8 pts presented a symptomatic disease at diagnosis. 15 pts had a localized pulmonary disease (stage IE); 4 pts had stage IVE disease for peripheral blood and bone marrow involvement (3 pts) and gastric involvement (1 pt). Of 16 pts valuable for response, 3 pts received radical surgery (1 wedge resection and 2 lobectomy) as definitive treatment and 13 pts received systemic treatment (Chl containing regimen in 6, Rituximab ± Chl in 6; CVP regimen in 1) because of symptomatic disease or relapse after major surgery. Results: 6/13 pts achieved CR: 5/6 are still alive and disease free: 1 pt in CR died for other causes. 3 pts in asymptomatic PR don’t need further therapy while the additional 4 pts in PR need subsequent treatment because of symptomatic progression after a median TTP of 40 months. With a median follow up of 39 months, the OS and RFS observed are 85% and 63% respectively. Hematology and non-hematology toxicity was in general mild: transient G3 neutropenia occurred in only two pts; no pt discontinued the treatment because of treatment-related toxicity and no toxic death was recorded. Conclusions: Our analysis seem to confirm that surgery could be considered as unique treatment only for minority of pts with BALT lymphoma. Systemic chemotherapy with Chl containing regimen may achieve a clinical control of disease with about 50% of CR as well as other reported with more aggressive CT regimen. A larger retrospective analysis on pathological figure and clinical outcome is planned on behalf of IELSG. No significant financial relationships to disclose.