Modern induction chemotherapy before chemoradiation for bulky locally-advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer improves survival.

Background: We seek to investigate whether carboplatin-based induction chemotherapy before modern day concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) improves survival in patients with bulky, locally advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: This analysis included 105 patients with Stage II and III NSCLC treated with definitive CCRT from 2003 to 2013. All patients underwent definitive treatment with weekly platinum-based doublet chemotherapy delivered concurrently with 60-66 Gy of thoracic radiotherapy.

Impact of metformin use on survival in locally-advanced, inoperable non-small cell lung cancer treated with definitive chemoradiation.

Background: We investigated survival outcomes in diabetic patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with concurrent metformin and definitive chemoradiation.

Methods: This single-institution, retrospective cohort study included 166 patients with NSCLC who were treated definitively with chemoradiation between 1999 and 2013. Of 40 patients who had type II diabetes, 20 (50%) were on metformin, and 20 (50%) were not on metformin.

Cranial irradiation in adults diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia presenting with hyperleukocytosis and neurologic dysfunction.

This study describes our institution's experience using whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) to treat patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) presenting with hyperleukocytosis. After approval by the institutional review board, we identified patients with AML and hyperleukocytosis using hospital records. The primary endpoints in the study included alleviation of neurological symptoms (or prevention if prophylactic RT was used), overall survival, development of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and ≥ grade 3 toxicities using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.

Improvement in interobserver accuracy in delineation of the lumpectomy cavity using fiducial markers.

Purpose: To determine, whether the presence of gold fiducial markers would improve the inter- and intraphysician accuracy in the delineation of the surgical cavity compared with a matched group of patients who did not receive gold fiducial markers in the setting of accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI).

Methods And Materials: Planning CT images of 22 lumpectomy cavities were reviewed in a cohort of 22 patients; 11 patients received four to six gold fiducial markers placed at the time of surgery. Three physicians categorized the seroma cavity according to cavity visualization score criteria and delineated each of the 22 seroma cavities and the clinical target volume.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy for orbital lymphoma.

Purpose: Orbital manifestations of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) are rare and accounts for only 1% of all cases of NHL. There have been no reports of treating orbital lymphoma using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Materials And Methods: Four patients were treated at our institution for orbital lymphoma using IMRT.

Cord Compression due to Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in an Adolescent with Known Beta Thalassemia Major.

We describe a 16 year-old male with β thalassemia major and gait disturbances that had not been given blood transfusions due to a severe childhood transfusion reaction. Thoracic spine MRI demonstrated hematopoietic marrow throughout the spine and epidural masses causing cord compression consistent with extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH). After treatment with steroids, radiotherapy and monitored blood transfusions, the patient demonstrated significant improvement of his paraspinal lesions and near complete resolution of his neurological symptoms.

A pilot study of allogeneic cellular therapy for patients with advanced hematologic malignancies.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation provides curative therapy for some patients with advanced hematologic malignancies. Disease response after allogeneic transplant is, at least in part, mediated by donor immune cells. In this report we describe a cellular therapy using haploidentical peripheral blood stem cells administered after very low dose total body irradiation (TBI) (100cGy).