Risk-adapted targeted intraoperative radiotherapy versus whole-breast radiotherapy for breast cancer: 5-year results for local control and overall survival from the TARGIT-A randomised trial.

Background: The TARGIT-A trial compared risk-adapted radiotherapy using single-dose targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT) versus fractionated external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for breast cancer. We report 5-year results for local recurrence and the first analysis of overall survival.

Methods: TARGIT-A was a randomised, non-inferiority trial.

Saliva collection methods for DNA biomarker analysis in oral cancer patients.

Patients with head and neck cancers are predisposed to local recurrence and second primaries because of the phenomenon of field cancerisation, and clinical detection of recurrence remains challenging. DNA biomarkers in saliva may prove to be an adjunct to current diagnostic methods, but irradiation of the primary site often leads to xerostomia. We assessed 3 methods of collecting saliva for their ability to generate DNA of sufficient quantity and quality to use in biomarker assays.

Targeted intraoperative radiotherapy versus whole breast radiotherapy for breast cancer (TARGIT-A trial): an international, prospective, randomised, non-inferiority phase 3 trial.

Background: After breast-conserving surgery, 90% of local recurrences occur within the index quadrant despite the presence of multicentric cancers elsewhere in the breast. Thus, restriction of radiation therapy to the tumour bed during surgery might be adequate for selected patients. We compared targeted intraoperative radiotherapy with the conventional policy of whole breast external beam radiotherapy.

Comparison of 1- and 2-knot, 4-strand, double-modified kessler tendon repairs in a porcine model.

Purpose: To compare 1- and 2-knot, 4-strand, double-modified Kessler tendon repairs. It was our hypothesis that a 1-knot technique using an unbraided suture material would be stronger if it is possible for some movement to occur between strands on loading, redistributing forces such that the load is equally shared.

Methods: Fifty-six porcine flexor tendons were allocated to either a 1- or 2-knot, 4-strand, double-modified Kessler repair, and tested by incremental cyclical loading in vitro.