Symptom Burden and Dietary Changes Among Older Adults with Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Malnutrition has a direct impact on both the toxicities of cancer therapy and the overall survival of oncological patients. However, its prevalence amongst vulnerable groups such as older patients (age ≥ 65 years) is often underestimated. Screening tools recognizing patients at risk are well established, yet they do not take into account that cancer therapy may lead to changes in dietary habits or that therapy's side effects may negatively influence nutritional status.

Hemostatic radiotherapy in clinically significant tumor-related bleeding: excellent palliative results in a retrospective analysis of 77 patients.

Background: Significant bleeding of tumor sites is a dreaded complication in oncological diseases and often results in clinical emergencies. Besides basic local and interventional procedures, an urgent radiotherapeutic approach can either achieve a bleeding reduction or a bleeding stop in a vast majority of patients. In spite of being used regularly in clinical practice, data reporting results to this therapy approach is still scarce.

Symptom relief, prognostic factors, and outcome in patients receiving urgent radiation therapy for superior vena cava syndrome : A single-center retrospective analysis of 21 years' practice.

Purpose: Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) often results from external vessel compression due to tumor growth. Urgent symptom-guided radiotherapy (RT) remains a major treatment approach in histologically proven, rapidly progressive disease. Despite several publications, recent data concerning symptom relief and oncological outcome as well as potential confounders in treatment response are still scarce.

Patterns of Pretreatment Diagnostic Assessment in Patients Treated with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Special Characteristics in the COVID Pandemic and Influence on Outcomes.

The pandemic raised a discussion about the postponement of medical interventions for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We analyzed the characteristics of pretreatment diagnostic assessment in the pandemic and the influence of diagnostic assessment on outcomes. A total of 96 patients with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for NSCLC were included.

Identification of Risk Loci for Radiotoxicity in Prostate Cancer by Comprehensive Genotyping of and .

Genetic variability in transforming growth factor beta pathway () was suggested to affect adverse events of radiotherapy. We investigated comprehensive variability in (gene coding for TGFβ1 ligand) and (TGFβ receptor-1) in relation to radiotoxicity. Prostate cancer patients treated with primary radiotherapy ( = 240) were surveyed for acute and late toxicity.

Evaluation of Prognosticators and Treatment-Related Side Effects in Patients Irradiated Postoperatively for Endometrial Cancer.

Numerous clinical trials sought to improve outcomes in endometrial cancer patients with multimodal treatment strategies. We tested the hypothesis that specific histopathological and clinical parameters are prognosticators for outcomes at our Gynecological Cancer Center. A total of 203 patients (median age, 69.

The impact of rectal/bladder filling and applicator positioning on in vivo rectal dosimetry in vaginal cuff brachytherapy using an enhanced therapy setting.

Purpose: The impact of rectal filling and bladder volume on in vivo rectal dosimetry (IVD) in vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VCBT) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare rectal doses from IVD with those calculated from treatment planning and to identify influencing factors.

Materials And Methods: We collected data of 80 VCBT sessions, four for each of 20 patients.

Comparison of non-myeloablative and reduced-intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantation in older patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains the only curative treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) patients. The introduction of reduced intensity (RIC) and non-myeloablative (NMA) conditioning enabled HSCT in older or comorbid individuals representing the majority of patients. Studies comparing RIC and NMA conditioning are limited.

In vivo dosimetry with alanine/electron spin resonance dosimetry to evaluate the urethra dose during high-dose-rate brachytherapy.

Purpose: To determine the dose of the urethra during Ir-192 high-dose-rate brachytherapy in 15 patients, a new detector form developed for in vivo measurements was used as described by Anton et al. 2009.

Methods And Materials: The detector consists of alanine powder with paraffin as binder which was filled in a shrinkable tube for measurements.

Gold marker displacement due to needle insertion during HDR-brachytherapy for treatment of prostate cancer: a prospective cone beam computed tomography and kilovoltage on-board imaging (kV-OBI) study.

Purpose: To evaluate gold marker displacement due to needle insertion during HDR-brachytherapy for therapy of prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: 18 patients entered into this prospective evaluation. Three gold markers were implanted into the prostate during the first HDR-brachytherapy procedure after the irradiation was administered.

A putatively functional haplotype in the gene encoding transforming growth factor beta-1 as a potential biomarker for radiosensitivity.

Purpose: To determine whether genetic variability in TGFB1 is related to circulating transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) plasma concentrations after radiotherapy and to radiosensitivity of lymphoid cells.

Patients And Methods: Transforming growth factor-β1 plasma concentrations (n=79) were measured in patients 1 year after radiotherapy and chromosomal aberrations (n=71) ex vivo before therapy start. Furthermore, TGF-β1 secretion and apoptosis were measured in isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 55 healthy volunteers.

Analysis of chemokine and chemokine receptor expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) cell lines.

The purpose of this work was to analyze chemokine and chemokine receptor expression in untreated and in irradiated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) tumor cell lines, aiming at the establishment of assays to test for the relevance of chemokine and chemokine receptor expression in the response of SCCHN to radiotherapy and radiochemotherapy. Five low passage and 10 established SCCHN lines, as well as two normal cell lines, were irradiated at 2 Gy or sham-irradiated, and harvested between 1 and 48 h after treatment. For chemokines with CC and CXC structural motifs and their receptors, transcript levels of target and reference genes were quantified relatively by real-time PCR.

High-grade acute organ toxicity as a positive prognostic factor in primary radiochemotherapy for anal carcinoma.

Purpose: To test for a possible correlation between high-grade acute organ toxicity during primary radiochemotherapy and treatment outcome for patients with anal carcinoma.

Methods And Materials: From 1991 to 2009, 72 patients with anal carcinoma were treated at our department (10 patients had stage I, 28 patients had stage II, 11 patients had stage IIIA, and 13 patients had stage IIIB cancer [Union Internationale Contre le Cancer criteria]). All patients received normofractionated (1.

Effect of tumour-cell-derived or recombinant keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) on proliferation and radioresponse of human epithelial tumour cells (HNSCC) and normal keratinocytes in vitro.

Purpose of this work was to test the effect of tumour-cell-derived keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) or recombinant KGF (palifermin) on cell proliferation and radiation response of human HNSCC cells and normal keratinocytes in vitro. Four tumour cell cultures derived from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, primary keratinocytes, and immortalized keratinocytes were analysed. Fibroblasts, the natural source of KGF protein, served as controls.

Spontaneous and radiation-induced chromosomal instability and persistence of chromosome aberrations after radiotherapy in lymphocytes from prostate cancer patients.

The aim of the study was to compare the spontaneous and ex vivo radiation-induced chromosomal damage in lymphocytes of untreated prostate cancer patients and age-matched healthy donors, and to evaluate the chromosomal damage, induced by radiotherapy, and its persistence. Blood samples from 102 prostate cancer patients were obtained before radiotherapy to investigate the excess acentric fragments and dicentric chromosomes. In addition, in a subgroup of ten patients, simple exchanges in chromosomes 2 and 4 were evaluated by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), before the onset of therapy, in the middle and at the end of therapy, and 1 year later.

Effect of a prostaglandin--given rectally for prevention of radiation-induced acute proctitis--on late rectal toxicity. Results of a phase III randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

Background And Purpose: To assess the late effect of a prostaglandin, given rectally during irradiation, on late rectal toxicity. In the acute treatment setting no significant differences in reducing the incidence of acute proctitis symptoms in patients receiving misoprostol, however, significantly more rectal bleeding had been reported.

Patients And Methods: A total of 100 patients who had undergone radiotherapy for prostate cancer had been entered into this phase III randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study with misoprostol or placebo suppositories.

Effect of irradiation on gene expression of rat liver adhesion molecules: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Background And Purpose: Migration of leukocytes into tissue is a key element of innate and adaptive immunity. An animal study showed that liver irradiation, in spite of induction of chemokine gene expression, does not lead to recruitment of leukocytes into the parenchyma. The aim of this study was to analyze gene expression of adhesion molecules, which mediate leukocyte recruitment into organs, in irradiated rat liver in vivo and rat hepatocytes in vitro.

Simultaneous nitrification/denitrification in a biofilm airlift suspension (BAS) reactor with biodegradable carrier material.

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in one reactor has been realized with different methods in the past. The usage of biodegradable biocompounds as biofilm carriers is new. The biocompounds were designed out of two polymers having different degradability.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in adults: treatment results after long-term follow-up with special reference to adjuvant interferon-beta in undifferentiated carcinomas.

Purpose: Nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) are radiosensitive, and radiotherapy is the standard curative treatment. Furthermore, it has been shown that combined radiochemotherapy improves prognosis in locally advanced stages. Further encouraging results have been obtained with adjuvant interferon-beta after primary radio(chemo)therapy in childhood undifferentiated NPC.

CCR2+Ly-6Chi monocytes are crucial for the effector phase of autoimmunity in the central nervous system.

The chemokine receptor CCR2 plays a vital role for the induction of autoimmunity in the central nervous system. However, it remains unclear how the pathogenic response is mediated by CCR2-bearing cells. By combining bone marrow chimerism with gene targeting we detected a mild disease-modulating role of CCR2 during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a model for central nervous system autoimmunity, on radio-resistant cells that was independent from targeted CCR2 expression on endothelia.

The impact of prostate volume changes during external-beam irradiation in consequence of HDR brachytherapy in prostate cancer treatment.

Purpose: To evaluate prostate volume changes during external-beam irradiation in consequence of high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy in prostate cancer treatment.

Patients And Methods: 20 patients who underwent radiotherapy for prostate cancer were included in this prospective evaluation. All patients had a computed tomography (CT) scan for planning of the external-beam irradiation and additional scans after each HDR brachytherapy.

Faecal calprotectin and lactoferrin values during irradiation of prostate cancer correlate with chronic radiation proctitis: results of a prospective study.

Objective: Acute proctitis and chronic radiation proctitis are relevant complications of pelvic radiation. The purpose of this study was to investigate two markers of gut inflammation during and after irradiation for prostate cancer to evaluate a correlation between acute and chronic proctitis.

Material And Methods: Two patient groups were analysed.

Organ function and quality of life after transoral laser microsurgery and adjuvant radiotherapy for locally advanced laryngeal cancer.

Background And Purpose: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and adjuvant radiotherapy are an established therapy regimen for locally advanced laryngeal cancer at our institution. Aim of the present study was to assess value of quality of life (QoL) data with special regard to organ function under consideration of treatment efficacy in patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer treated with larynx-preserving TLM and adjuvant radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: From 1994 to 2006, 39 patients (ten UICC stage III, 29 UICC stage IVA/B) with locally advanced laryngeal carcinomas were treated with TLM and adjuvant radiotherapy.

Toxicity of daily low dose cisplatin in radiochemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate toxicity of radiochemotherapy schedule using daily-low-dose-cisplatin in radiochemotherapy of locally-advanced head-and-neck-cancer (HNSCC).

Methods And Patients: From October 2003 to October 2006, 50 patients with HNSCC (stage III/IVA/IVB) were treated. In 32 patients, surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy(64 Gy), in 18 patients definitive radiotherapy(70 Gy) was performed.