Prophylactic gastrostomy tube during chemoradiation for head and neck cancer decreases weight loss but increases rate of tube use beyond six months.

Importance: The role of prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients treated with chemoradiation remains controversial and varies by center.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of prophylactic PEG tube placement in patients undergoing chemoradiation for HNC PEG tube use for more than 6 months and weight loss.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This single-institution retrospective study included 502 patients with head and neck cancer.

Association of low adherence to weekly cisplatin with outcomes in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline recommends consideration of weekly cisplatin as an alternative option for patients with head and neck cancer undergoing definitive chemoradiation. However, in a recent phase III trial (ConCERT), 20% of patients treated with weekly cisplatin could not receive a total of 200 mg/m, and the association of low adherence to weekly cisplatin and cancer control outcomes remains unclear. To fill this knowledge gap, we performed an observational cohort study of patients with head and neck cancer undergoing definitive chemoradiation with weekly cisplatin.

Association of Insomnia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Worse Oral Mucositis and Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy.

Background: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing radiation therapy (RT) often experience sleep disturbances that may contribute to oral mucositis (OM) and quality of life (QOL).

Methods: Patients with HNC treated with RT at a single institution were examined. Sleep questionnaires were given on the first day of RT to assess for insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Differences between Survival Rates and Patterns of Failure of Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Who Received Single-Fraction Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy.

We investigated the survival and patterns of failure in adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with single-fraction stereotactic body radiation therapy (SF-SBRT) of 27-34 Gray. A single-institution retrospective review of patients with biopsy-proven early stage ADC or SCC undergoing definitive SF-SBRT between September 2008 and February 2023 was performed. The primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).

Bevacizumab and gamma knife radiosurgery for first-recurrence glioblastoma.

Introduction: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common central nervous system malignancy in adults. Despite decades of developments in surgical management, radiation treatment, chemotherapy, and tumor treating field therapy, GBM remains an ultimately fatal disease. There is currently no definitive standard of care for patients with recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM) following failure of initial management.

Long-Term Survival and Failure Outcomes of Single-Fraction Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Early Stage NSCLC.

Introduction: This study aims to report our 13-year institutional experience with single-fraction stereotactic body radiation therapy (SF-SBRT) for early stage NSCLC.

Methods: A single-institutional retrospective review of patients with biopsy-proven peripheral cT1-2N0M0 NSCLC undergoing definitive SF-SBRT between September 2008 and May 2022 was performed. All patients were treated to 27 Gy with heterogeneity corrections or 30 Gy without.

Association of Body Mass Index With Outcomes Among Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Treated With Chemoradiotherapy.

Importance: Combined modality therapy, such as chemoradiotherapy, often results in significant morbidity among patients with head and neck cancer. Although the role of body mass index (BMI) varies based on cancer subtypes, its association with treatment response, tumor recurrence, and survival outcomes among patients with head and neck cancer remains unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the role of BMI in treatment response, tumor recurrence, and survival outcomes among patients with head and neck cancer undergoing chemoradiotherapy.

Prophylactic High-Dose Gabapentin Reduces Opiate Use during Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: The role of prophylactic high-dose gabapentin for the management of oral mucositis during radiation therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains controversial.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on primary HNSCC patients treated at our institution. Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the patients' baseline characteristics.

Association of progesterone receptor status with 21-gene recurrence score and survival among patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

Background: Progesterone receptor (PR)-negative tumors have been shown to have worse prognosis and were underrepresented in recent trials on patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. The role of PR-negative status in the context of 21-gene recurrence score (RS) and nodal staging remains unclear.

Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for women diagnosed between 2010 and 2017 with ER-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, pT1-3N0-1a breast cancer.

Comparison of Survival Outcomes of Single- and Five-Fraction Schedules of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Early-Stage Central or Peripheral NSCLC.

Background: The treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) frequently involves different fractionation schemes for peripheral and central tumors due to concerns with toxicity. We performed an observational cohort study to determine survival outcomes for patients with peripheral and central NSCLC treated with SBRT.

Methods: A single-institutional database of patients with early-stage NSCLC treated with SBRT from September 2008 to December 2018 was evaluated.

Association of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio with survival in peripheral early-stage non-small cell lung cancer after stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Background: The role of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a predictor for survival in single fraction SBRT-treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients remains unclear. We performed an observational cohort study to determine the role of pretreatment NLR in predicting survival of early-stage NSCLC patients after single fraction SBRT.

Methods: A single-institution database of peripheral early-stage NSCLC patients treated with SBRT from February 2007 to May 2022 was queried.

Association of Neighborhood-Level Household Income With 21-Gene Recurrence Score and Survival Among Patients With Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer.

Importance: While low income has been associated with a higher incidence of triple-negative breast cancer, its association with 21-gene recurrence score (RS) among patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer remains unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the association of household income with RS and overall survival (OS) among patients with ER-positive breast cancer.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study used data from the National Cancer Database.

Efficacy of Prophylactic High-Dose Gabapentin and Venlafaxine on Reducing Oral Mucositis Pain Among Patients Treated With Chemoradiation for Head and Neck Cancer: A Single-Institution, Phase 2, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Given the paucity of level 1 evidence, the optimal regimen to control oral mucositis pain remains unclear. Although national guidelines allow consideration of prophylactic gabapentin, prior trials showed improved pain control with venlafaxine among patients with diabetic neuropathy. We sought to investigate the role of prophylactic high-dose gabapentin with venlafaxine to reduce oral mucositis pain among patients with head and neck cancer.

Brachial Plexopathy After Single-Fraction Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Apical Lung Tumors.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of brachial plexus injury (BPI) after single-fraction stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to apical lung tumors.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed of all patients treated with single-fraction lung SBRT at our institution from 2007 to 2022. Apical tumors were identified as those with an epicenter located above the arch of the aorta.

Quality of Life After Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy or Surgery for Early-Stage NSCLC: A Systematic Review.

Quality of life (QOL) is a key consideration for patients with early-stage NSCLC choosing between treatment options. Currently, it is not well established whether stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) or surgery offers superior QOL in early-stage NSCLC. The objective of this systematic review is to summarize the prospective literature on QOL in patients with early-stage NSCLC after treatment with SBRT or surgery.

Association of survival with stereotactic body radiation therapy following induction chemotherapy for unresected locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Background: Induction chemotherapy (iC) followed by concurrent chemoradiation has been shown to improve overall survival (OS) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). However, the survival benefit of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) versus conventionally fractionated radiation therapy (CFRT) following iC remains unclear.

Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for primary stage III, cT4N0-1M0 LAPC (2004-2015).

Adjuvant chemotherapy versus observation following neoadjuvant therapy and surgery for resectable stage I-II pancreatic cancer.

Background: Neoadjuvant therapy (NT), either with systemic treatment alone or in combination with radiation, is often utilized in the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma to increase the likelihood of margin-negative resection. Following NT and resection, additional adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) can be considered for select patients and has been shown to improve overall survival (OS). This National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) analysis was performed to evaluate the outcomes of AC versus observation for resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with NT.

Association of Gabapentin Use With Pain Control and Feeding Tube Placement Among Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Chemoradiotherapy.

This comparative-effectiveness study uses data from 2 clinical trials to evaluate whether the use of gabapentin for pain management is associated with less opioid use and feeding tube placement among adult patients with head and neck cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy.