Bilateral kidney preservation by volumetric-modulated arc therapy (RapidArc) compared to conventional radiation therapy (3D-CRT) in pancreatic and bile duct malignancies.

Background: To compare volumetric-modulated arc therapy plans with conventional radiation therapy (3D-CRT) plans in pancreatic and bile duct cancers, especially for bilateral kidney preservation.

Methods: A dosimetric analysis was performed in 21 patients who had undergone radiotherapy for pancreatic or bile duct carcinoma at our institution. We compared 4-field 3D-CRT and 2 arcs RapidArc (RA) plans.

Adjuvant early breast cancer systemic therapies according to daily used technologies.

Prognosis of early breast cancer patients is significantly improved with the use of adjuvant therapies. Various guidelines have been proposed to select patients who will derive the most benefit from such treatments. However, classifications have limited usefulness in subsets of patients such as those with node negative breast cancer.

[Rectal cancer: The radiation basis of radiotherapy, target volume].

Since the implementation of preoperative chemoradiotherapy and mesorectal excision, the 5-year rates of locoregional failures in T3-T4 N0-N1 M0 rectal cancer fell from 25-30% thirty years ago to 5-8% nowadays. A critical analysis of the locoregional failures sites and mechanisms, as well as the identification of nodal extension, helps the radiation oncologist to optimize the radiotherapy target definition. The upper limit of the clinical target volume is usually set at the top of the third sacral vertebra.

[Debate: Pro intraoperative radiation therapy in breast cancer].

The use of intraoperative radiation therapy in breast cancer patients started about 20 years ago. Several retrospective and prospective studies have been published. Intraoperative radiation therapy was initially given as a boost to the tumour bed, followed by whole-breast irradiation.

[The future of breast cancer radiotherapy: From one size fits all to taylor-made treatment].

Various subgroups of breast tumours have been identified during the last 10 years according to the risk of local relapse. Prognostic factors for local relapse are age, surgical margins, tumour size, Her2 expression and hormonal receptors status. For tumours with a high risk of local relapse, an increased in boost dose or the addition of new drugs (trastuzumab, antiangiogenics, PARP inhibitors) could be considered.

Eight years of IMRT quality assurance with ionization chambers and film dosimetry: experience of the Montpellier Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Background: To present the results of quality assurance (QA) in IMRT of film dosimetry and ionization chambers measurements with an eight year follow-up.

Methods: All treatment plans were validated under the linear accelerator by absolute and relative measures obtained with ionization chambers (IC) and with XomatV and EDR2 films (Kodak).

Results: The average difference between IC measured and computed dose at isocenter with the gantry angle of 0° was 0.

Breathing adapted radiotherapy: a 4D gating software for lung cancer.

Purpose: Physiological respiratory motion of tumors growing in the lung can be corrected with respiratory gating when treated with radiotherapy (RT). The optimal respiratory phase for beam-on may be assessed with a respiratory phase optimizer (RPO), a 4D image processing software developed with this purpose.

Methods And Materials: Fourteen patients with lung cancer were included in the study.

[Interest of blood markers in predicting radiation-induced toxicity].

The oncologic outcome and the total dose are highly correlated with the treatment by ionizing radiation. The dose increase (total or per fraction) may provoke late-side effects that are potentially irreversible. The radiation-induced CD8 lymphocyte apoptotic value and the molecular modifications within the lymphocyte are capable of predicting the level of risk of developing late-side effects after curative intent radiotherapy.

Anal canal cancer: management of inguinal nodes and benefit of prophylactic inguinal irradiation (CORS-03 Study).

Purpose: To evaluate the benefit of prophylactic inguinal irradiation (PII) in anal canal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC).

Methods And Materials: This retrospective study analyzed the outcome of 208 patients presenting with ASCC treated between 2000 and 2004 in four cancer centers of the south of France.

Results: The population study included 35 T1, 86 T2, 59 T3, 20 T4, and 8 T stage unknown patients.

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Australian rice varieties and promoter analysis of major pollen allergen gene, Ory s 1.

A simple protocol for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Australian rice using mature embryos is described. Transgenic plants of two commercial genotypes of Australian rice, Amaroo and Millin, were produced. Transgenic plants were obtained by applying selection pressure to callus and to the regenerated shoots.

Growth of breast cancer recurrences assessed by consecutive MRI.

Background: Women with a personal history of breast cancer have a high risk of developing an ipsi- or contralateral recurrence. We aimed to compare the growth rate of primary breast cancer and recurrences in women who had undergone prior breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Three hundred and sixty-two women were diagnosed with breast cancer and had undergone breast MRI at the time of diagnosis in our institution (2005 - 2009).

[Prostate cancer 2010. Therapeutic innovations].

During the annual congress of the SFRO, a symposium, on "Therapeutic innovations", described some of the burning questions in the treatment of prostate cancer. What is the best technique to perform radiation dose escalation, brachytherapy or Intensity modulated radiotherapy? Rational has been highlighted for both techniques, but without a prospective comparative trial, no definitive answer could be given today. The role of neo-adjuvant hormonal treatment, before surgery or radiotherapy is still discussed, particularly in the area of LH-RH antagonists which have a rapid and profound anti-hormonal effect.

[Value of positron emission tomography and computer tomography (PET/CT) for urologic malignancies].

Positron emission tomography is a functional imaging technique that allows the detection of the regional metabolic rate, and is often coupled with other morphological imaging technique such as computed tomography. The rationale for its use is based on the clearly demonstrated fact that functional changes in tumor processes happen before morphological changes. Its introduction to the clinical practice added a new dimension in conventional imaging techniques.

Prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in patients with advanced head and neck tumors treated by combined chemoradiotherapy.

Context: Few studies have evaluated outcomes of combined chemoradiotherapy for Stage III-IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in terms of the use of nutritional support by means of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG).

Objectives: To compare nutritional status and treatment interruption because of acute toxicity in patients with advanced head and neck tumors who were treated by combined chemoradiotherapy and received or did not receive prophylactic PEG tubes.

Methods: This was a retrospective study that evaluated data obtained from a cancer center in Montpellier, France.

[What's new in the treatment of seminomas?].

Pure testicular seminoma is a rare disease with an excellent prognosis. Its management is controversial. In stage I disease, several treatment options are considered.

Time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) to analyze the disruption of EGFR/HER2 dimers: a new method to evaluate the efficiency of targeted therapy using monoclonal antibodies.

In oncology, simultaneous inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2 by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is an efficient therapeutic strategy but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we describe a time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) method to quantify EGFR/HER2 heterodimers on cell surface to shed some light on the mechanism of such therapies. First, we tested this antibody-based TR-FRET assay in NIH/3T3 cell lines that express EGFR and/or HER2 and in various tumor cell lines.

[Paranasal sinus carcinoma].

Cancers of the paranasal sinuses are rare tumors, with treatment based on a multidisciplinary approach. Surgery and radiation therapy, possibly associated with chemotherapy are used to obtain 5 years specific survival rate of 60-70 %. Advances in radiotherapy, including the use of imaging for 3D conformal approach require precise knowledge of the radioanatomy for this type of tumor to determine the different volumes of interest.

[Postoperative radiotherapy for prostate cancer].

More than one third of patients with localized prostate cancer at diagnosis who receive radical prostatectomy have histologically extraprostatic disease. Three randomized trials have demonstrated a significant benefit of postoperative radiotherapy for these patients in terms of biochemical progression-free survival, overall survival or metastasis-free survival in function of each study, at the cost of moderate acute and late toxicity. The technical developments of recent years have enabled the evolution of a three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, with better adaptation of the dose distribution to the shape of target volumes to preserve organs at risk while delivering the required dose volume target.

[Prostate cancer].

Radiation therapy is now widely accepted as an efficacious treatment of localized prostate cancer. The technical developments of recent years have enabled the evolution of a three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, offering a better adaptation of the dose distribution, and leading therefore to preserve organs at risk. In addition, the required dose delivered to the target volume permit physician to increase the total dose if necessary.

Plan comparison of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (RapidArc) and conventional intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in anal canal cancer.

Background: To compare volumetric-modulated arc therapy (RapidArc) plans with conventional intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans in anal canal cancers.

Methods: Ten patients with anal canal carcinoma previously treated with IMRT in our institution were selected for this study. For each patient, three plans were generated with the planning CT scan: one using a fixed beam IMRT, and two plans using the RapidArc technique: a single (RA1) and a double (RA2) modulated arc therapy.

Identifying patients at risk for late radiation-induced toxicity.

The impact of curative radiotherapy depends mainly on the total dose delivered in the targeted volume. Nevertheless, the dose delivered to the surrounding healthy tissues may reduce the therapeutic ratio of many treatments. Two different side effects (acute and late) can occur during and after radiotherapy.

Feasibility study of volumetric modulated arc therapy for the treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas.

Background: Radiotherapy for retroperitoneal sarcomas remains controversial and a technical challenge considering the threshold of contiguous critical organs tolerance. We performed consecutive RapidArc dosimetric plans in preoperative or postoperative setting.

Methods: A dosimetric study was carried out from six preoperative (group A) and four postoperative (group B) CT-scans, performed in 7 patients.

Adjuvant gemcitabine alone versus gemcitabine-based chemoradiotherapy after curative resection for pancreatic cancer: a randomized EORTC-40013-22012/FFCD-9203/GERCOR phase II study.

Purpose: The role of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in resectable pancreatic cancer is still debated. This randomized phase II intergroup study explores the feasibility and tolerability of a gemcitabine-based CRT regimen after R0 resection of pancreatic head cancer.

Patients And Methods: Within 8 weeks after surgery, patients were randomly assigned to receive either four cycles of gemcitabine (control arm) or gemcitabine for two cycles followed by weekly gemcitabine with concurrent radiation (50.

Neoadjuvant docetaxel-based chemoradiation for resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas: New neoadjuvant regimen was safe and provided an interesting pathologic response.

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of a new neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) docetaxel-based regimen in patients with resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head or body.

Patients And Methods: 34 patients with histologically-confirmed resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma were included in this prospective two-center phase II study. Radiotherapy was delivered at the dose of 45 Gy in 25 fractions of 1.