Polyethylene glycol hydrogel rectal spacer implantation in patients with prostate cancer undergoing combination high-dose-rate brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy.

Purpose: To present rectal toxicity rates in patients administered a polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel rectal spacer in conjunction with combination high-dose-rate brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy.

Methods And Materials: Between February 2010 and April 2015, 326 prostate carcinoma patients underwent combination high-dose-rate brachytherapy of 16 Gy (average dose 15.5 Gy; standard deviation [SD] = 1.

Preliminary Results in 173 Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Post-Lumpectomy MammoSite Single-Lumen Brachytherapy or Multi-Catheter Brachytherapy.

The objective of this study was to report our single-institution results with MammoSite and multi-catheter brachytherapy. Between February 2003 and January 2009, 173 women with unifocal pathological Tis, T1, or T2 (up to 30 mm), N0 or N1 carcinomas of the breast were treated with post-lumpectomy brachytherapy to 34 Gy in 10 fractions over 5-10 days. We treated 137 patients with MammoSite single-lumen balloon brachytherapy, and 36 patients with multi-catheter brachytherapy.

Results with accelerated partial breast irradiation in terms of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human growth factor receptor 2 status.

Purpose: To report our results with accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) in terms of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2/neu) status.

Methods And Materials: Between February 2003 and June 2009, 209 women with early-stage breast carcinomas were treated with APBI using multicatheter, MammoSite, or Contura brachytherapy to 34 Gy in 10 fractions twice daily over 5-7 days. Three patient groups were defined by receptor status: Group 1: ER or PR (+) and HER-2/neu (-) (n = 180), Group 2: ER and PR (-) and HER-2/neu (+) (n = 10), and Group 3: ER, PR, and HER-2/neu (-) (triple negative breast cancer, n = 19).

Cross-linked hyaluronan gel improves the quality of life of prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that cross-linked hyaluronan gel (Hylaform) does not affect the quality of life (QOL) of prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Methods And Materials: Thirty-five patients with early stage prostate cancer underwent high-dose-rate brachytherapy to 2200 cGy and intensity modulated radiation therapy to 5040 cGy on a prospective study. Thirty patients received a single transperineal injection of 9-mL Hylaform between the prostate and rectum under transrectal ultrasound guidance immediately before the start of radiotherapy.

Cross-linked hyaluronan gel reduces the acute rectal toxicity of radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

Purpose: To prospectively analyze whether cross-linked hyaluronan gel reduces the mean rectal dose and acute rectal toxicity of radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

Methods And Materials: Between September 2008 and March 2009, we transperitoneally injected 9 mL of cross-linked hyaluronan gel (Hylaform; Genzyme Corporation, Cambridge, MA) into the anterior perirectal fat of 10 early-stage prostate cancer patients to increase the separation between the prostate and rectum by 8 to 18 mm at the start of radiotherapy. Patients then underwent high-dose rate brachytherapy to 2,200 cGy followed by intensity-modulated radiation therapy to 5,040 cGy.

Preliminary results with accelerated partial breast irradiation in high-risk breast cancer patients.

Purpose: To analyze prognostic factors in adequately staged breast cancer patients who were treated with accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI).

Methods And Materials: Axillary staging was required for invasive carcinomas. Between February 2003 and June 2009, 204 women with early stage breast carcinomas were treated with APBI using multicatheter, MammoSite, or Contura brachytherapy to 34 Gy in 10 fractions 2 times per day.

Preliminary results in prostate cancer patients treated with high-dose-rate brachytherapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) vs. IMRT alone.

Purpose: To analyze results with high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) vs. IMRT alone for prostate cancer.

Methods And Materials: Between October 2003 and August 2008, 284 patients with early stage prostate cancer underwent HDR brachytherapy to 2200cGy and IMRT to 5040cGy (n=240) or IMRT alone to 7920-8100cGy (n=44).

A Contura catheter offers dosimetric advantages over a MammoSite catheter that increase the applicability of accelerated partial breast irradiation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a Contura catheter (SenoRx, Inc, Aliso Viejo, CA) can increase the applicability of accelerated partial breast irradiation.

Methods And Materials: One hundred eighty-two women with early stage breast carcinomas were treated with postlumpectomy brachytherapy using a Contura multilumen catheter (n=45) or a MammoSite single-lumen catheter (Cytyc Corp, Marlborough, MA) (n=137). Hypothetical MammoSite catheter treatment plans were created for the Contura patients.

A prospective study of intrafraction prostate motion in the prone vs. supine position.

Purpose: To prospectively analyze prostate intrafraction motion in the prone vs. supine position and to assess patient satisfaction with these two positions.

Methods And Materials: Fifteen prostate cancer patients underwent implantation of five fiducial gold seeds in their prostate for localization.