Race Does Not Affect Survival in Patients With Prostate Cancer Treated With Radiation Therapy.

Background/aim: Recent evidence has shown that African American men with prostate cancer may have more radiosensitive disease with greater overall survival (OS) with radiotherapy compared to Caucasian men. We compared OS in African American and Caucasian men receiving radiotherapy utilizing the National Cancer Database.

Patients And Methods: African American or Caucasian men with N0M0 prostate adenocarcinoma diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 were selected and grouped into favorable and unfavorable risk based on clinical T-stage, clinical Gleason score, and prostate-specific antigen.

Radical Prostatectomy Without Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection Is Widely Practiced in High-Risk Patients Despite Poorer Survival.

Purpose: Radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is the standard of care for unfavorable risk prostate cancer. We investigated dissection practice patterns and their impact on overall survival using a large national database.

Patients And Methods: Men with prostate adenocarcinoma diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 were identified from the National Cancer Data Base.

The Value of Total Lymph Nodes Examined and Number of Positive Lymph Nodes in Determining the Role of Adjuvant Radiation in Pancreatic Cancer Patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the survival benefits by adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) in pancreatic cancer patients with different total lymph nodes examined (TNE), number of positive lymph nodes (NPN), and lymph nodes ratio (LNR).

Methods: National Cancer Database was queried for nonmetastatic pancreatic cancer patients from 2004 to 2015. Cox models were utilized.

Challenging AJCC 8 Staging for Soft Tissue Sarcoma Using the NCDB.

Purpose: To determine whether the new American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8 grouping of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) with nodal disease (N1M0) and metastatic disease (M1) as stage IV correctly represents the prognosis of these previously separate patient groups, using the National Cancer Database.

Methods And Materials: Adults with STS identified in the 2004 to 2014 National Cancer Database, classified by the World Health Organization 2013 system into 10 histologic subgroups, were grouped according to AJCC 8 staging and analyzed according to demographic characteristics, histology, primary site, disease extent, and adjuvant treatment. Primary retroperitoneal sites, "other/unusual" histologic subgroups, and those with delays in therapy (>180 days from diagnosis) were excluded.

Brachytherapy improves outcomes in young men (≤60 years) with prostate cancer: A SEER analysis.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to compare prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) in young men with clinically localized prostate cancer treated by either external beam radiation (EBRT) alone or brachytherapy with or without external beam radiation.

Methods And Materials: Utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database, 15,505 patients ≤60 years of age diagnosed with prostate cancer between 2004 and 2009 and treated with radiation therapy alone were identified. Incidence of PCSM was determined for both groups and compared using competing risk models.

Rectal melanoma: epidemiology, prognosis, and role of adjuvant radiation therapy.

Purpose: Rectal melanoma (RM) is a lethal malignancy which is not well understood. While cases are rising, data concerning effective management are limited. The present paper sought to elucidate the epidemiology and prognosis of RM, while also analyzing the role of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT).

Molecular biodiversity of Red Sea demosponges.

Sponges are important constituents of coral reef ecosystems, including those around the Arabian Peninsula. Despite their importance, our knowledge on demosponge diversity in this area is insufficient to recognize, for example, faunal changes caused by anthropogenic disturbances. We here report the first assessment of demosponge molecular biodiversity from Arabia, with focus on the Saudi Arabian Red Sea, based on mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal molecular markers gathered in the framework of the Sponge Barcoding Project.

The Anatomical Biological Value on Pretreatment (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography Predicts Response and Survival in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer.

(18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has become increasingly relevant in the staging of head and neck cancers, but its prognostic value is controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate different PET/CT parameters for their ability to predict response to therapy and survival in patients treated for head and neck cancer. A total of 28 consecutive patients with a variety of newly diagnosed head and neck cancers underwent PET/CT scanning at our institution before initiating definitive radiation therapy.

A predictive model to guide management of the overlap region between target volume and organs at risk in prostate cancer volumetric modulated arc therapy.

Purpose: The goal of this study is to determine whether the magnitude of overlap between planning target volume (PTV) and rectum (Rectumoverlap) or PTV and bladder (Bladderoverlap) in prostate cancer volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is predictive of the dose-volume relationships achieved after optimization, and to identify predictive equations and cutoff values using these overlap volumes beyond which the Quantitative Analyses of Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic (QUANTEC) dose-volume constraints are unlikely to be met.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-seven patients with prostate cancer underwent VMAT planning using identical optimization conditions and normalization. The PTV (for the 50.

Comparison study of intensity modulated arc therapy using single or multiple arcs to intensity modulated radiation therapy for high-risk prostate cancer.

Purpose: Intensity modulated arc therapy (IMAT) is a form of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) that delivers dose in single or multiple arcs. We compared IMRT plans versus single-arc field (1ARC) and multi-arc fields (3ARC) IMAT plans in high-risk prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen patients were studied.

Case series analysis of post-brachytherapy prostate edema and its relevance to post-implant dosimetry. Post-implant prostate edema and dosimetry.

Purpose: We evaluated the post-operative pattern of prostate volume (PV) changes following prostate brachytherapy (PB) and analyzed variables which affect swelling.

Material And Methods: Twenty-nine patients treated with brachytherapy (14) or combined brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy modality (15) underwent pre- and post-implant computed tomography (CT). Prostate volume measurements were done on post-operative days 1, 9, 30, and 60.

The role of PET/CT in decreasing inter-observer variability in treatment planning and evaluation of response for cervical cancer.

We have previously introduced anatomic biologic contouring (ABC) with PET/CT, using a distinct "halo" to unify contouring methods in treatment planning for lung and head and neck cancers. The objective of this study is to assess the utility of PET/CT in planning and treatment response for cervical cancer. Forty-two patients with stages II-IIIB cervix cancer were planned for irradiation using PET/CT.

Acupuncture for the alleviation of hot flashes in men treated with androgen ablation therapy.

Purpose: Hot flashes are common side effect due to androgen ablation therapy (AAT). The utility of acupuncture for hot flashes in men has not been thoroughly studied. We prospectively studied the effect of acupuncture in men with hot flashes.

Percutaneous tumor curettage and interstitial delivery of samarium-153 coupled with kyphoplasty for treatment of vertebral metastases.

Object: The object of this study was to investigate the use of a minimally invasive technique for treating metastatic tumors of the vertebral body, aimed at relieving pain, preventing further tumor growth, and minimizing the adverse effects of systemic use of samarium-153 ((153)Sm).

Methods: The procedure is performed in the same fashion as a kyphoplasty, using a unilateral extrapedicular approach under local anesthesia/mild general sedation, with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. The tumor is accessed as in a standard kyphoplasty.

Phase I trial of vertebral intracavitary cement and samarium (VICS): novel technique for treatment of painful vertebral metastasis.

Purpose: Kyphoplasty is an effective procedure to alleviate pain in vertebral metastases. However, it has no proven anticancer activity. Samarium-153-ethylene diamine tetramethylene phosphonate ((153)Sm-EDTMP) is used for palliative treatment of bone metastases.

The contribution of integrated PET/CT to the evolving definition of treatment volumes in radiation treatment planning in lung cancer.

Purpose: Positron emission tomography (PET) with the glucose analog [18F]fluro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) has been accepted as a valuable tool for the staging of lung cancer, but the use of PET/CT in radiation treatment planning is still not yet clearly defined. By the use of (PET/computed tomography (CT) images in treatment planning, we were able to define a new gross treatment volume using anatomic biologic contour (ABC), delineated directly on PET/CT images. We prospectively addressed three issues in this study: (1) How to contour treatment volumes on PET/CT images, (2) Assessment of the degree of correlation between CT-based gross tumor volume/planning target volume (GTV/PTV) (GTV-CT and PTV-CT) and the corresponding PET/CT-based ABC treatment volumes (GTV-ABC and PTV-ABC), (3) Magnitude of interobserver (radiation oncologist planner) variability in the delineation of ABC treatment volumes (using our contouring method).

Elevated liver enzymes following open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for morbid obesity - does timing of liver retraction affect the rise in the levels of transaminases?

Background: Liver retraction in open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) for morbid obesity may cause an elevation in liver transaminase levels postoperatively. This study attempts to ascertain whether timing of placement of the liver retractor would have any effect on the degree of derangement of the liver function tests.

Methods: 12 patients undergoing open RYGBP were prospectively randomized into 2 groups.