ctDNA responds to neoadjuvant treatment in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Background: Liquid biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure investigating tumor mutations.

Methods: In our retrospective study, we investigated whether molecular therapy monitoring of patients receiving neoadjuvant radio(chemo)therapy on a daily routine is possible in 17 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Six patients received short-course radiotherapy (5 × 5 Gy) with subsequent surgery, six patients were treated according RAPIDO protocol with short-course radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy (FOLFOX4) and subsequent surgery and five patients received conventional neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy with 5-FU followed by surgery.

Impact of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT on radiation treatment planning of prostate cancer patients.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the impact of Ga-PSMA PET/CT on radiation treatment (RT) planning in prostate cancer patients with salvage (sRT) or definitive (dRT) radiotherapy.

Methods: 38 patients (27 sRT, median PSA 0.79 ng/ml (range 0.

Radiosensitizing Effects of Irinotecan versus Oxaliplatin Alone and in Combination with 5-Fluorouracil on Human Colorectal Cancer Cells.

To date, oxaliplatin and irinotecan are used in combination with 5-flourouracil (5-FU) for metastatic colorectal cancer. In this study it was tested whether oxaliplatin and irinotecan and their combinations with 5-FU have an enhanced effect when treated simultaneously with ionizing radiation. In addition, it should be compared whether one combination therapy is more effective than the other.

Effects of Microbeam Irradiation on Rodent Esophageal Smooth Muscle Contraction.

Background: High-dose-rate radiotherapy has shown promising results with respect to normal tissue preservation. We developed an ex vivo model to study the physiological effects of experimental radiotherapy in the rodent esophageal smooth muscle.

Methods: We assessed the physiological parameters of the esophageal function in ex vivo preparations of the proximal, middle, and distal segments in the organ bath.

Distinct Effects of Stereotactically Injected Human Cerebrospinal Fluid Containing Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Antibodies into the Hippocampus of Rats on the Development of Spontaneous Epileptic Activity.

: The conversion of glutamic acid into γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is catalyzed by the glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). Antibodies against this enzyme have been described in neurological disorders, but the pathophysiological role of these antibodies is still poorly understood. We hypothesized that anti-GAD autoantibodies could diminish the GABA content in the slice and facilitate epileptic activity.