The effects of human amnion membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells conditioned medium on ionizing radiation-induced premature ovarian failure and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related apoptosis mechanism.

Objectives: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is defined as the cessation of menstrual periods for at least 4-6 months before the age of 40 years, accompanied by FSH values measuring over 40 IU/L for a month. Radiation therapy, one of the cancer treatment methods, is known to accelerate ovarian aging by reducing and eliminating the number of primordial follicles in the ovarian follicle pool. Ionizing radiation has been reported to cause POF.

Human Amnion Membrane-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Conditioned Medium Can Ameliorate X-Irradiation-Induced Testicular Injury by Reducing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Apoptosis.

Today, infertility affects 15% of couples and half of this rate is due to reproductive problems in men. Radiation-induced damage to the testicles causes sterility depending on the dose. Radiation causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and ER stress induces apoptosis.

Instruments for determining clinically relevant fatigue in breast cancer patients during radiotherapy.

Background: This study aimed to determine radiotherapy (RT)-related changes in cancer-related fatigue (CRF), using Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 (MFI-20), and fatigue-intensity rating (FIR) instruments at three different timepoints and to identify the optimal thresholds of MFI-20 scores which would correlate with moderate-to-severe fatigue warranting an intervention in breast cancer patients treated with RT.

Methods: Eighty-eight breast cancer patients treated with surgery followed by RT were included in the study. CRF was assessed with both FIR and MFI-20 tools at three different timepoints: within the week prior to RT (pre-RT), last week of RT, and 6 weeks after RT completion (post-RT).

The protective role of jervine against radiation-induced gastrointestinal toxicity.

In this study, we investigated whether jervine (J) could prevent gastrointestinal (GI) side effects of abdominopelvic radiotherapy (RT) in Wistar-Albino female rats. Rats were divided into five groups: control (C), J only (J), J administered at 5 mg/kg/days for 7 days, RT only (RT), J before RT (J + RT), J administered for seven days before RT, J both before and after RT (J + RT + J), and J administered for 7 days before RT and after RT for 3 days. The weights of rats were measured on the 1st, 7th, and 10th days of the study.

Definitive external-beam radiotherapy versus radical prostatectomy in clinically localized high-risk prostate cancer: a retrospective study.

Background: Optimal treatment of high-risk prostate cancer remains controversial. We aimed to compare treatment outcomes of prostate cancer patients treated with definitive external-beam radiotherapy (ExRT) or radical prostatectomy (RP).

Methods: The records of 120 high-risk clinical stage T2b-T4 N0 M0 prostate cancer patients treated with definitive ExRT or RP were reviewed.

Lycopene in the Prevention of Radiation-Induced Esophagitis.

We aimed to research whether lycopene (L) could prevent radiation-induced acute esophageal toxicity in Wistar albino rats. 60 rats were placed in five groups as follows: control, L, radiotherapy (RT), L before RT (L + RT), and L before and after RT (L + RT + L). 6 mg/kg bw/day L was administered 7 days in the L group, 7 days before RT in the L + RT group, and 7 days before and after in the L + RT + L group.

The Impact of Axillary Lymph Node Surgery on Breast Skin Thickening During and After Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer.

Purpose: This prospective study was conducted to determine predictors of epidermal thickening during and after whole-breast radiation therapy (XRT) using objective measurements acquired with ultrasound.

Methods And Materials: After breast-conserving surgery, 70 women received a definitive course of whole-breast XRT (50 Gy plus boost). Prior to XRT, at week 6 of XRT, and 6 weeks after XRT, patients underwent objective ultrasound measurements of epidermal thickness over the lumpectomy cavity and all 4 quadrants of the treated breast.

FDG PET uptake as a predictor of pain response in palliative radiation therapy in patients with bone metastasis.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) maximum standardized uptake value (SUV(max)) and pain response to radiation therapy (RT) in patients with bone metastasis.

Materials And Methods: Institutional ethical board approval for the study was obtained, with informed consent, for this prospective study. Thirty-one patients with metastatic bone pain who underwent FDG PET/computed tomography before RT were included.

Breast reconstruction and post-mastectomy radiation practice.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to explore the perspectives and practice of radiation oncologists who treat breast cancer patients who have had breast reconstruction.

Methods: In 2010, an original electronic survey was sent to all physician members of the American Society of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Research Institute-Breast Cancer Studies Group in the United Kingdom, Thai Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Swiss Society of Radiation Oncology, and Turkish Radiation Oncology Society. We identified factors associated with radiation oncologists who treat breast cancer patients with reconstruction performed prior to radiation and obtained information regarding radiation management of the breast reconstruction.

Treatment adherence and outcome in women with inflammatory breast cancer: does race matter?

Background: The authors compared treatment adherence rates and outcome in Caucasian and African American patients with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).

Methods: The records of 55 (25 Caucasian and 30 African American) IBC patients treated with curative intent from 1995 to 2009 were reviewed. All patients received neoadjuvant doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and/or taxane-based chemotherapy, and mastectomy with or without radiotherapy.

Reliability of quantitative ultrasonic assessment of normal-tissue toxicity in breast cancer radiotherapy.

Purpose: We have recently reported that ultrasound imaging, together with ultrasound tissue characterization (UTC), can provide quantitative assessment of radiation-induced normal-tissue toxicity. This study's purpose is to evaluate the reliability of our quantitative ultrasound technology in assessing acute and late normal-tissue toxicity in breast cancer radiotherapy.

Method And Materials: Our ultrasound technique analyzes radiofrequency echo signals and provides quantitative measures of dermal, hypodermal, and glandular tissue toxicities.

Soy isoflavones in conjunction with radiation therapy in patients with prostate cancer.

Soy isoflavones sensitize prostate cancer cells to radiation therapy by inhibiting cell survival pathways activated by radiation. At the same time, soy isoflavones have significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, which may help prevent the side effects of radiation. Therefore, we hypothesized that soy isoflavones could be useful when given in conjunction with curative radiation therapy in patients with localized prostate cancer.

Reduction of irradiated small bowel volume with Trendelenburg position in gynecologic pelvic radiotherapy.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Trendelenburg position in comparison to prone position on small bowel volume and treatment dose in gynecologic pelvic external beam radiotherapy using three-dimensional conformal treatment plans. Eight patients with gynecologic cancers, treated with definitive or postoperative pelvic radiotherapy were investigated. Pelvic computerized tomography (CT) scans for treatment planning were performed in prone and 25 degree Trendelenburg positions for each patient.

Lycopene in the prevention of gastrointestinal toxicity of radiotherapy.

We conducted a study to investigate if lycopene could reduce gastrointestinal toxicity of abdominal and pelvic radiation in Wistar albino rats. Animals received either a control diet (Group 1), lycopene-supplemented diet (Group 2), control diet and radiation (Group 3), and lycopene-supplemented diet plus radiation (Group 4). In Groups 2 and 4, the rats received 5 mg/kg/day lycopene for 10 days.

Optimisation techniques in vaginal cuff brachytherapy.

The aim of this study was to explore whether an in-house dosimetry protocol and optimisation method are able to produce a homogeneous dose distribution in the target volume, and how often optimisation is required in vaginal cuff brachytherapy. Treatment planning was carried out for 109 fractions in 33 patients who underwent high dose rate iridium-192 (Ir(192)) brachytherapy using Fletcher ovoids. Dose prescription and normalisation were performed to catheter-oriented lateral dose points (dps) within a range of 90-110% of the prescribed dose.

Evaluation of skin dose associated with different frequencies of bolus applications in post-mastectomy three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy.

Background: The study aimed to calculate chest-wall skin dose associated with different frequencies of bolus applications in post-mastectomy three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and to provide detailed information in the selection of an appropriate bolus regimen in this clinical setting.

Methods: CT-Simulation scans of 22 post-mastectomy patients were used. Chest wall for clinical target volume (CTV) and a volume including 2-mm surface thickness of the chest wall for skin structures were delineated.

A dosimetric comparison of different treatment plans of palliative spinal bone irradiation: analysis of dose coverage with respect to ICRU 50 Report.

Background: This study aimed to analyze three-dimensional (3D) dosimetric data of conventional two-dimensional (2D) palliative spinal bone irradiation using different reference points and treatment plans with respect to the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) Report 50.

Methods: Forty-five simulation CT scans of 39 patients previously treated for thoraco-lumbar spinal bone metastases were used. Three different treatment plans were created: (1) single posterior field plans using the ICRU reference points (ICRUrps); (2) single posterior field plans using the International Bone Metastasis Consensus Working Party reference points (IBMCrps); (3) two opposed anterior-posterior (AP-PA) field plans using the ICRUrps.

Dosimetric comparison of conventional helmet-field whole-brain irradiation with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy: dose homogeneity and retro-orbital area coverage.

The aim of this study was to compare the dosimetric data from conventional two-dimensional (2D) helmet-field whole-brain irradiation (WBI) with those from three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), and to investigate the potential benefits of 3D-CRT as regards both dose coverage of the brain and retro-orbital (RO) area and ocular lens protection. Simulation CT scans of 30 patients were used. In 3D-CRT planning, the brain, optic nerves, ocular lenses and RO areas were contoured.

Lycopene in cancer prevention and treatment.

Dietary intake of lycopene is inversely associated with the risk of many cancers. Preclinical studies show that lycopene has potent in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects, suggesting potential preventive and therapeutic roles for the compound. However, clinical trials with lycopene have only recently been started, and available clinical data preclude firm conclusions with regard to its use in cancer prevention and treatment.