RBE-based dose planning, and calculation of TCP and NTCP with gold nanoparticles for intermediate photon energy in pancreatic cancer.

This study simulated the potential of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) to improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy in pancreatic cancer cases. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of GNPs on tumor control probability (TCP) and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) in pancreatic cancer cases undergoing radiation therapy. The work aimed to compare treatment plans generated with a novel 2.

Pan-Canadian Analysis of Practice Patterns in Small Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix: Insights from a Multidisciplinary Survey.

Small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (SCNECC) is a rare cancer with poor prognosis, with limited data to guide its treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate practice patterns in the management of SCNECC. A 23-question online survey on management of SCNECC was disseminated to Canadian gynecologic oncologists (GO), radiation oncologists (RO) and medical oncologists (MO).

Enhancing Nutrition Support for Esophageal Cancer Patients: Understanding Factors Influencing Feeding Tube Utilization.

We sought to identify factors that can predict esophageal cancer (EC) patients at high risk of requiring feeding tube insertion. A retrospective cohort review was conducted, including all patients diagnosed with EC at our cancer center from 2013 to 2018. Multivariate logistic regression was performed comparing the group that required a reactive feeding tube insertion to those who did not require any feeding tube insertion to identify risk factors.

Clinical Validation of Human Papilloma Virus Circulating Tumor DNA for Early Detection of Residual Disease After Chemoradiation in Cervical Cancer.

Purpose: Most cervical cancers are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), and HPV circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may identify patients at highest risk of relapse. Our pilot study using digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) showed that detectable HPV ctDNA at the end of chemoradiation (CRT) is associated with inferior progression-free survival (PFS) and that a next-generation sequencing approach (HPV-seq) may outperform dPCR. We aimed to prospectively validate HPV ctDNA as a tool for early detection of residual disease.

Optimizing surface mould brachytherapy for treatment of nasal basal cell carcinoma using customized applicators.

Purpose: Surface mould brachytherapy (SMBT) is ideal in treating superficial skin cancer over the curved surface of the nasal ala. We describe the process of initiating and optimizing SMBT treatment at our institution including clinical workflow, generation of three dimensional (3D) printed custom applicators, and clinical outcomes.

Methods And Materials: Planning CT scans were used to acquire images for delineating target volumes.

High dose rate brachytherapy in the management of anal cancer: A review.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review evaluating the impact of high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy (BT) on the clinical outcomes and toxicities of patients with anal cancer.

Methods And Materials: A search of Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was performed using search terms: "anal", "anal canal", "squamous", "adenocarcinoma", "cancer", "neoplasm", in combination with "brachytherapy", "high dose rate brachytherapy" or "HDR brachytherapy". Additional studies were identified after scanning references.

A systematic review of intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy in the management of malignant biliary tract obstruction and cholangiocarcinoma.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review evaluating the impact of high dose rate (HDR) intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) in the management of malignant biliary obstruction and cholangiocarcinoma with specific focus on stent patency, clinical outcomes and toxicities.

Methods And Materials: A review of published articles was conducted using Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases using the search terms "bile duct carcinoma" or "cholangiocarcinoma" or "bile duct neoplasms" in combination with "brachytherapy" or "high dose rate brachytherapy" or "HDR brachytherapy". Studies published in English and reporting outcomes of ≥10 patients were included in the review.

Changing Landscape of Radiation Therapy for Advanced Cervical Cancer With a Focus on Interstitial Brachytherapy: A Canadian Practice Patterns Survey.

Purpose: To document the evolution of radical radiation therapy and interstitial brachytherapy (ISBT) utilization practice patterns across Canada, including use of imaging, technical details, and usage of anesthesia/analgesia, and to compare advanced (AC) versus nonadvanced (nAC) brachytherapy (BT) center practices.

Methods And Materials: All Canadian centers with BT services were identified. One gynecology radiation oncologist per center was sent a 64-item questionnaire regarding the center's practice for patients with cervical cancer.

Acute and late complications and toxicities of skin brachytherapy.

Skin cancer is the most prevalent malignancy, and its incidence is rising. Surgery is the primary treatment, however, morbidity of surgical resection in certain parts of the body warrant alternate treatment options such as radiation therapy. Complex topology of the skin can pose a challenge for treatment with photon and electron external beam radiotherapy techniques.

Substantial lymphovascular space invasion predicts worse outcomes in early-stage endometrioid endometrial cancer.

Introduction: Substantial as opposed to focal or no lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) is proposed as an independent adverse prognostic factor in patients with early-stage endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC). We reviewed outcomes of patients treated with adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy (VB) alone in a single institution, stratified by LVSI extent.

Methods And Materials: Retrospective review identified Stage I-II EEC patients receiving VB alone from 2010 to 2017.

Salvage surgery for locally recurrent anal cancer after intensity modulated radiation therapy with concurrent chemotherapy.

Introduction: Chemoradiation (CRT) with intensity modulated radiation treatment (IMRT) has become the standard for anal cancer. In patients who fail this treatment modality, salvage surgery with abdominal perineal resection can result in long term cancer control. We aimed to evaluate a single centre's experience of salvage surgery for local recurrence since the introduction of IMRT.

Exposure to radiation and medical oncology training: A survey of Canadian urology residents and fellows.

Introduction: Residency experiences and teaching in oncology among urology residents are variable across Canada. We sought to identify how radiation and medical oncology concepts, as they pertain to genitourinary malignancies, are taught to urology residents.

Methods: A total of 190 trainees enrolled in Canadian urology residency training programs were invited to participate in the study from January 2016 to June 2016.

Endoluminal high-dose-rate brachytherapy for locally recurrent or persistent esophageal cancer.

Purpose: Management of locally recurrent or persistent esophageal cancer (EC) after standard chemoradiation is challenging. This study updates our experience of treating medically inoperable EC patients with endoluminal high-dose-rate brachytherapy (EHDRBT) including the patients treated with a novel multiballoon channel centering esophageal applicator.

Methods And Materials: Thirty-three consecutive patients with early-stage primary (n = 7), posttreatment persistent (n = 7), and recurrent (n = 19) EC treated with EHDRBT at our institution were included.

Placement of an absorbable rectal hydrogel spacer in patients undergoing low-dose-rate brachytherapy with palladium-103.

Purpose: Rates of rectal toxicity after low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy for prostate cancer are dependent on rectal dose, which is associated with rectal distance from prostate and implanted seeds. Placement of a hydrogel spacer between the prostate and rectum has proven to reduce the volume of the rectum exposed to higher radiation dose levels in the setting of external beam radiotherapy. We present our findings with placing a rectal hydrogel spacer in patients following LDR brachytherapy, and we further assess the impact of this placement on dosimetry and acute rectal toxicity.

Volumetric-modulated arc therapy versus intensity-modulated radiotherapy for large volume retroperitoneal sarcomas: A comparative analysis of dosimetric and treatment delivery parameters.

Purpose: To compare dosimetric and treatment delivery parameter differences between volumetric-modulated arc radiotherapy (VMAT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for large volume retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS).

Materials And Methods: Both VMAT and IMRT planning were performed on CT datasets of 10 patients with RPS who had been previously treated with preoperative radiotherapy. Plans were optimized to deliver ≥95% dose to the PTV and were evaluated for conformity and homogeneity.

Intraoperative implantation of a mesh of directional palladium sources (CivaSheet): Dosimetry verification, clinical commissioning, dose specification, and preliminary experience.

Purpose: To present the clinical commissioning of a novel Pd directional brachytherapy device (CivaSheet) for intraoperative radiation therapy.

Methods And Materials: Clinical commissioning for the CivaSheet consisted of establishing: (1) source strength calibration capabilities, (2) experimental verification of TG-43 dosimetry parameters, (3) treatment planning system validation, and (4) departmental practice for dose specification and source ordering. Experimental verification was performed in water with radiochromic film calibrated with a 37 kVp X-ray beam.

Real-time intraoperative evaluation of implant quality and dose correction during prostate brachytherapy consistently improves target coverage using a novel image fusion and optimization program.

Purpose: Our purpose was to describe the process and outcome of performing postimplantation dosimetric assessment and intraoperative dose correction during prostate brachytherapy using a novel image fusion-based treatment-planning program.

Methods And Materials: Twenty-six consecutive patients underwent intraoperative real-time corrections of their dose distributions at the end of their permanent seed interstitial procedures. After intraoperatively planned seeds were implanted and while the patient remained in the lithotomy position, a cone beam computed tomography scan was obtained to assess adequacy of the prescription dose coverage.

Cervical cancer brachytherapy in Canada: A focus on interstitial brachytherapy utilization.

Purpose: Brachytherapy (BT) techniques for cervical cancer in Canada have changed over the last decade, with evolution to high-dose-rate and image-guided BT. However, there are currently no national data on the use of interstitial BT (IBT). The purpose of this study was to document IBT utilization in Canadian centers, as well as update details of cervical cancer BT practices.

Secondary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Following High-Dose Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: Report of Two Cases.

Patients treated with radiation have an increased risk of developing second cancers, of which carcinomas, sarcomas, and hematological malignancies have most commonly been reported. Neuroendocrine carcinomas (NEC) are rarely reported in patients previously treated with radiation. Two patients, who had successfully undergone chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancers at our institution, developed secondary NEC within the radiation field more than five years after the treatment.

Copper-topotecan complexation mediates drug accumulation into liposomes.

These studies describe the role of transition metal ions in the liposomal encapsulation of topotecan. Liposomes (1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) and cholesterol (CH) (55:45, mole ratio)) were prepared with manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) or cobalt (Co) ion gradients (metal inside). Subsequently, topotecan was added to the liposome exterior (final drug-to-lipid ratio (mol/mol) of 0.

Testing assumptions about solute concentration dependence in liquid crystal NMR.

The NMR spectra of four solutes, used as probes of liquid crystal orientational order, were analyzed. For each solute, samples were prepared at different solute concentrations, and the concentration dependence was used to extrapolate zero-concentration properties. The mean-field (Maier-Saupe) model when applied to solutes neglects solute-solute interactions and assumes all solutes in a mixed-solute sample see the same average environment.