Radiotherapy for benign diseases in Turkey: a patterns of care survey of the Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology (TROD 05-002).

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the patterns of radiotherapy (RT) care in cases of benign diseases in Turkey.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was sent to all radiation oncology (RO) departments in Turkey. The number of patients treated for benign disease between 2015 and 2020 was requested.

Optimal use of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) in medical nutrition therapy: ONS consensus report from KEPAN.

Medical nutrition therapy is one of the core components of the patient management, although its implication is still limited in daily practice globally. Clinicians are in need of guidance that will ease the application of medical nutrition therapy. The first treatment choice in medical nutrition therapy is the use of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) after or concomitant with dietary interventions.

Evaluation of Nutritional Status and Anxiety Levels in Patients Applying to the Radiation Oncology Outpatient Clinic during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology Group Study (TROD 12:02).

Cancer patients often face malnutrition, which negatively affects their response to cancer treatment. This study aims to analyze the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on nutritional status and anxiety in cancer patients with different types and stages of cancer. This is a cross-sectional cohort study that includes 1,252 patients with varying cancer types from 17 radiation oncology centers.

Effects of palliative radiotherapy and bisphosphonate usage on bone turnover marker levels in cancer patients with osteolytic bone metastases.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the bone turnover marker levels according to bisphosphonate usage and radiotherapy (RT) in cancer patients with metastases in osteolytic pattern.

Patients And Methods: A total of 52 patients (13 males, 39 females; median age: 52 years; range, 37 to 78 years) treated with RT for osteolytic bone metastases between April 2005 and April 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), amino-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX-I), amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP), osteocalcin (OC), deoxypyridinoline (DPD), pyridinoline (PYD), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, calcium (Ca), phosphate (P), magnesium (Mg), and 24-h urine Ca levels were measured in blood and urine before the initiation of RT, six weeks and six months after RT.

Submandibular gland cancers: prognostic factors and survival analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate prognosis and prognostic factors affecting oncological outcome.

Methods: Records of the subjects managed for a submandibular gland cancer (SGC) between January 1997 and June 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Survival outcomes were analyzed.

Results of Chordoma Patients Treated by Different Approaches in a Single Institution.

Aim: To discuss the optimal and recent treatment options based on clinical review of 16 chordoma patients.

Material And Methods: Data of the patients diagnosed and treated between 1999 and 2017 in Gazi University School of Medicine has been collected through patients’ files and the electronic database of hospital records. Statistical analysis was applied to evaluate the correlation between the progression free survival and treatment modalities.

Failure of Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Organ Preservation in Laryngeal Cancer: Survival Outcomes and Recurrence Patterns.

Although definitive chemoradiation (CRT) has been used for locally advanced laryngeal cancer for more than 2 decades, studies focusing on CRT failures in advanced laryngeal cancer are scarce. In this study, we aimed to determine the failure patterns and the survival outcomes in the patients who had recurrence after concurrent CRT for laryngeal cancer. Clinical records of the patients who had definitive concurrent CRT for laryngeal cancer between 2001 and 2014 at a tertiary referral center were reviewed.

Primary Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Prostate: A Rare Case Report.

Primary prostatic signet ring cell carcinoma is a rare form of cancer with a poor prognosis, which is generally treated with a traditional prostate adenocarcinoma therapy. This case report presents a 70-year-old diagnosed with primary prostatic signet ring cell carcinoma, treated with a combination of radiotherapy and hormone therapy and a 16 month survival without an evidence of the disease at follow up.

The evaluation of the feasibility of carotid sparing intensity modulated radiation therapy technique for comprehensive breast irradiation.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of carotid sparing intensity modulated radiation therapy (CS-IMRT) to minimize the radiation dose to carotid arteries for comprehensive irradiation of breast cancer patients who have risk factors for atherosclerosis. The dose distribution of CS-IMRT technique and the conventional irradiation technique were also compared.

Patients And Methods: Ten patients who were previously treated with comprehensive three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) were selected.

Comparison of three different concurrent chemoradiation regimens for treatment of laryngeal cancer.

During last decades, laryngeal organ preservation strategies have emerged. The data about the oncological outcomes mainly come from multi-institutional prospective studies. In this study, we aimed to determine the oncological outcomes of different organ preservation regimens applied in routine practice.

Prognostic significance of expression of CD133 and Ki-67 in gastric cancer.

CD133 is one of the most important stem cell markers in solid cancers and Ki-67 is a marker that reflects cell proliferation. The relationships between the expression of CD133 and Ki-67 and prognosis in gastric carcinoma are unknown and need exploring. We examined 50 gastric cancer patients retrospectively in the Radiation Oncology Department of the Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University.

Role of vascular endothelial growth factor in clinically localized prostate cancer treated with radiation therapy.

Background: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (Anti-VEGF) agents are a promising approach to increase the efficacy of treatment for treatment-resistant prostate cancer.

Aims: To correlate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and outcome following radiation therapy in the treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study.

Practice patterns for oropharyngeal cancer in radiation oncology centers of Turkey.

Aims And Background: The aim of the study was to review the current clinical practices of radiation oncologists involved in the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer.

Methods And Study Design: The daily practices of radiation oncology centers for patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer in 2010 were evaluated by a two-part questionnaire that separately assessed the information of the participating center and the charts of the treated patients.

Results: A total of 22 centers participated in the study, and 105 oropharyngeal cancer patients reported for our review.

Comparison of hematologic toxicity between 3DCRT and IMRT planning in cervical cancer patients after concurrent chemoradiotherapy: a national multi-center study.

Purpose: To compare the incidence and severity of acute and chronic hematologic toxicity (HT) in patients treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for curative treatment of cervical cancer and to ascertain the dosimetric parameters of two techniques associated with acute and chronic HT.

Materials And Methods: A total of 127 patients with cervical cancer receiving concomitant pelvic radiotherapy (RT) and cisplatin were evaluated. Pelvic bone marrow (BM) was contoured for each patient and divided into five sub-regions: lumbosacrum (LS), ilium (IL), lower pelvis (LP), pelvis (P), and whole pelvis (WP).

Effects of β-glucan on colon anastomotic healing in rats given preoperative irradiation.

Background: Radiation therapy is an essential therapeutic modality in the management of a wide variety of tumors. We aimed to investigate the short-term effects of pelvic irradiation on the healing of colon anastomoses and to determine the potential protective effects of β-glucan in this situation.

Material And Methods: Sixty Wistar albino rats were randomized into three experimental groups: a control group (n = 20), an irradiation (IR) group (n = 20), and an irradiation+β-glucan (IR+β-glucan) group (n = 20).

An individualised treatment algorithm for tumour stage 1 glottic squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To report and discuss the outcome of a treatment algorithm for patients with tumour stage 1 glottic squamous cell carcinoma.

Method: A retrospective outcome analysis study was performed using data from a tertiary referral centre.

Results: Sixty-nine patients were treated with radiotherapy and 26 with surgery, in accordance with the treatment algorithm.

The effects of Pycnogenol(®) on colon anastomotic healing in rats given preoperative irradiation.

Pycnogenol(®) has excellent radical scavenging properties and enhances the production of antioxidative enzymes which contributes to the anti-inflammatory effect of the extract. Irradiation delivered to the abdominal region, typically results in severe damage to the intestinal mucosa. The effects of ionizing radiation are mediated by the formation of free radicals through radiolysis.

18F-FDG PET/CT findings of radiotherapy-related myocardial changes in patients with thoracic malignancies.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate myocardial findings of F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) after thoracic radiotherapy.

Methods: F-Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT examination was performed in 38 patients at least 4 months after radiotherapy. Patients with known cardiac diseases, high cardiovascular risk factors, or diabetes mellitus were excluded.

Lymph node ratio assessment of brain metastasis in early breast cancer cases.

Background: Ten to 30% of early breast cancer (EBC) patients develop brain metastasis (BM) during their follow-up. In this study, we aimed to evaluate importance of the lymph node ratio (LNR) in development of BM in EBC cases.

Materials And Methods: Ninety patients whom had axillary metastases in lymph nodes at their initial diagnosis and developed BM during 5-year follow-up were detected in 950 EBC patients.

Hypoxia-related molecules HIF-1α, CA9, and osteopontin : predictors of survival in patients with high-grade glioma.

Purpose: A high expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF)-1α, carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9), and osteopontin appears to be a strong prognostic indicator in many malignancies; however, their role is unclear in high-grade gliomas.

Patients And Methods: HIF-1α, CA9, and osteopontin levels in tissue specimens of 92 patients with high-grade glioma were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

Results: Patients with a high expression of cytoplasmic and nuclear HIF-1α, CA9, and osteopontin had significantly shorter overall survival.

Long term experience in high grade glial tumors with temozolomide.

Purpose: Temozolomide is used concurrently with radiotherapy (RT) and as consolidation therapy in high grade gliomas (HGGs). In the present study we present our experience of long-term efficacy and toxicity of temozolomide in HGGs.

Methods: After surgery, temozolomide was administered at 75 mg/m(2) daily concurrently with RT, followed by 6 courses of consolidation therapy (150-200 mg/m(2) for 5 days every 28 days).

High expression of nuclear survivin and Aurora B predicts poor overall survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer.

Background And Purpose: Survivin is one of the apoptosis inhibitor proteins. Together with Aurora B, it also plays a role in regulating several aspects of mitosis. High expression of these markers is correlated with malignant behavior of various cancers and resistance to therapy.

Radiotherapy applications of patients with malignant mesothelioma: A single center experience.

Background: In the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma, radiotherapy has been used for the purpose of prophylaxis to reduce the incidence of recurrence at surgical insertion sites or palliate the symptoms.

Aim: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the techniques and effectiveness of radiotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Materials And Methods: Forty-four (18 female, 26 male) patients diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma were retrospectively evaluated.

Cetuximab concomitant with second-line radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced recurrent squamous cell head and neck cancer.

We presented 9 recurrent head and neck carcinoma patients. Priorly all of them had received radiochemotherapy. We used cetuximab and irradiation concomitantly.