Prognostic factors in adult soft tissue sarcoma treated with surgery combined with radiotherapy: a retrospective single-center study on 164 patients.

The aim of the present study is to assess the disease profile, outcome and prognostic factors in patients treated with surgery combined with radiotherapy (RT), with or without chemotherapy (CXT), for soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) in a multidisciplinary setting. One hundred and sixty-four patients with STS treated between 1980 and 2010 at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois were enrolled in this retrospective study. Seventy-six percent of patients underwent postoperative RT with (24%), or without (52%) CXT, 15% preoperative RT with (5%), or without (10%) CXT, surgery alone (7%), or RT alone (2%) with or without CXT.

Pure seminoma: a review and update.

Pure seminoma is a rare pathology of the young adult, often discovered in the early stages. Its prognosis is generally excellent and many therapeutic options are available, especially in stage I tumors. High cure rates can be achieved in several ways: standard treatment with radiotherapy is challenged by surveillance and chemotherapy.

Sequential or concomitant chemotherapy in limited stage small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Chemotherapy (CT) combined with radiation therapy (RT) is the standard treatment for limited disease small-cell lung cancer (LDSCLC). Many questions including RT dose, fractionation, and sequence of RT/CT administration remain controversial. In this paper, we retrospectively assessed the outcome of patients with LDSCLC treated with radiation of at least 50 Gy.

Radiation Therapy For The Solitary Plasmacytoma.

Plasma-cell neoplasms are classically categorized into four groups as: multiple myeloma (MM), plasma-cell leukemias, solitary plasmacytomas (SP) of the bone (SPB), and extramedullary plasmacytomas (EMP). These tumors may be described as localized or diffuse in presentation. Localized plasma-cell neoplasms are rare, and include SP of the skeletal system, accounting for 2-5% of all plasma-cell neoplasms, and EMP of soft tissue, accounting for approximately 3% of all such neoplasms.

Outcome and prognostic factors in olfactory neuroblastoma: a rare cancer network study.

Purpose: To assess the outcome in patients with olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB).

Methods And Materials: Seventy-seven patients treated for nonmetastatic ONB between 1971 and 2004 were included. According to Kadish classification, there were 11 patients with Stage A, 29 with Stage B, and 37 with Stage C.

Physical considerations on discrepancies in target volume delineation.

Background And Purpose: To compare the delineations and interpretations of target volumes by physicians in different radio-oncology centers.

Materials And Methods: Eleven Swiss radio-oncology centers delineated volumes according to ICRU 50 recommendations for one prostate and one head and neck case. In order to evaluate the consistency of the volume delineations, the following parameters were determined: 1) the target volumes (GTV, CTV and manually expanded PTV) and their extensions in the three main axes and 2) the correlation of the volume delineated by each pair of centers using the ratio of the intersection to the union (called proximity index).

Feasibility and efficacy of accelerated weekly concomitant boost postoperative radiation therapy combined with concomitant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess feasibility and efficacy of weekly concomitant boost accelerated postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) with concomitant chemotherapy (CT) in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer (LAHNC).

Methods And Materials: Conformal or intensity-modulated 66-Gy RT was performed in 5.5 weeks in 40 patients.

Decrease in hemoglobin levels following surgery influences the outcome in head and neck cancer patients treated with accelerated postoperative radiotherapy.

Aim: To assess the influence of hemoglobin (Hb) levels in locally advanced head and neck cancer (LAHNC) patients treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT).

Material And Methods: Pre- and postoperative Hb levels were collected in 79 patients treated with surgery followed by accelerated PORT for LAHNC. Median follow-up was 52 months (range 12-95 months).

The role of COX-2 in rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy is one of the principal modalities of rectal cancer treatment, and the ability to predict radio resistance could potentially improve survival through a targeted treatment approach. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) may protect against damage by irradiation that would justify the use of COX-2 inhibitors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential role of COX-2 in tumor response and outcome of patients with rectal cancer treated preoperatively with radiotherapy.

Patterns of failure and outcome in patients with carcinoma of the anal margin.

Background: To evaluate the outcome of patients with carcinoma of anal margin in terms of recurrence, survival, and radiation toxicity.

Methods: A series of 45 consecutive patients, with anal margin carcinoma treated between 1983 and 2006 with curative intent at two institutions, was retrospectively analyzed. A surgical excision (close or positive surgical margin in 22 out of 29 patients) was realized before radiotherapy (RT).

[Radio-chemotherapy in head and neck cancer (EGFR+)].

Squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck are neoplasic diseases for which locoregional control remains very important, given its particular pattern of failure. Treatment of early stage disease involves surgery or radiation therapy. Locally advanced disease is treated either with concurrent chemoradiotherapy or surgery followed by radio-chemotherapy, according to each center's expertise.

Treatment of penile carcinoma: to cut or not to cut?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the outcome in patients with penile cancer.

Methods And Materials: A total of 60 patients with penile carcinoma were included. Of the patients, 45 (n = 27) underwent surgery, and 51 underwent definitive (n = 29) or postoperative (n = 22) radiotherapy (RT).

The reasons for discrepancies in target volume delineation : a SASRO study on head-and-neck and prostate cancers.

Purpose: To understand the reasons for differences in the delineation of target volumes between physicians.

Material And Methods: 18 Swiss radiooncology centers were invited to delineate volumes for one prostate and one head-and-neck case. In addition, a questionnaire was sent to evaluate the differences in the volume definition (GTV [gross tumor volume], CTV [clinical target volume], PTV [planning target volume]), the various estimated margins, and the nodes at risk.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in head and neck cancer: its role and treatment implications.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a member of the ErbB family of receptors. Its stimulation by endogenous ligands, EGF or transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) results in activation of intracellular tyrosine kinase, therefore, cell cycle progression. High levels of EGFR expression are correlated with poor prognosis and resistance to radiation therapy in a variety of cancers, mostly in squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Prognostic factors in solitary plasmacytoma of the bone: a multicenter Rare Cancer Network study.

Background: Solitary plasmacytoma (SP) of the bone is a rare plasma-cell neoplasm. There are no conclusive data in the literature on the optimal radiation therapy (RT) dose in SP. Therefore, in this large retrospective study, we wanted to assess the outcome, prognostic factors, and the optimal RT dose in patients with SP.

Radiotherapy in the treatment of mucosal melanoma of the upper aerodigestive tract: analysis of 74 cases. A Rare Cancer Network study.

Purpose: To retrospectively analyze a series of mucosal melanoma of the upper aerodigestive tract to determine the prognostic factors and contribute to understanding the role of radiotherapy in the therapeutic strategy.

Methods And Materials: Seventy-four patients were analyzed. The most frequent locations were nasal and oral, in 31 patients (41.

Feasibility and efficacy of subcutaneous amifostine therapy in patients with head and neck cancer treated with curative accelerated concomitant-boost radiation therapy.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and efficacy of subcutaneous amifostine therapy in patients with head and neck cancer treated with curative accelerated radiotherapy (RT).

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

[Biochemical failure after curative treatment for localized prostate cancer].

Biochemical failure after curative treatment for localized prostate cancer is frequent. The diagnosis of biochemical failure is clear when PSA levels rise after radical prostatectomy, but may be more difficult after external beam radiation therapy. The main difficulty once biochemical failure is diagnosed is to distinguish between local and distant failure, given the low sensitivity of standard work-up exams.

CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte apoptosis can predict radiation-induced late toxicity: a prospective study in 399 patients.

Purpose: Predicting late effects in patients treated with radiation therapy by assessing in vitro radiation-induced CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte apoptosis can be useful in individualizing treatment.

Experimental Design: In a prospective study, 399 curatively irradiated patients were tested using a rapid assay where fresh blood samples were in vitro irradiated with 8 Gy X-rays. Lymphocytes were collected and prepared for flow cytometric analysis.

Outcomes and patterns of failure in solitary plasmacytoma: a multicenter Rare Cancer Network study of 258 patients.

Purpose: To assess the outcomes and patterns of failure in solitary plasmacytoma (SP).

Methods And Materials: The data from 258 patients with bone (n = 206) or extramedullary (n = 52) SP without evidence of multiple myeloma (MM) were collected. A histopathologic diagnosis was obtained for all patients.

Radiation recall: a well recognized but neglected phenomenon.

Introduction: Radiation recall is an inflammatory skin reaction at a previously irradiated field subsequent to the administration of a variety of pharmacologic agents. Although skin has been the major site of radiation recall toxicity, instances involving other organ have been reported.

Materials And Methods: Data for this review were identified by searches of Medline and Cancerlit.

[PET contribution in oncology].

Initial workup in oncology relies on histology and extensive staging of disease. Assessment of treatment response is also of paramount importance. Functional imaging with PET provides substantially more information than conventional radiology based on anatomic structures.

[Anemia in head and neck cancers].

Anemia is very common in head and neck cancer patients, and seems to be correlated with intratumoral hypoxia. Anemia is one of the main prognostic factors of locoregional recurrence and, in some studies, of poor survival. Blood transfusions and human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) are the two main methods used in clinical practice to correct hemoglobin level during curative treatment.