Short-course Radiotherapy for Airway Stenting in Malignant Airway Obstruction: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Malignant airway obstruction (MAO) secondary to tumor growth occurs in nearly a third of patients with lung cancer and portends a very poor prognosis if untreated. Treatment options include bronchoscopic intervention with tumor debulking, stent placement, endobronchial brachytherapy, or palliative radiotherapy.

Case Report: This is a report of a 74-year-old woman with a medical history of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma, hospitalized for dyspnea, hemoptysis, and chest pain with a radiographic finding of MAO on chest X-ray and computed tomography.

Prostate Cancer Treatment-Related Toxicity: Comparison between 3D-Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT) and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) Techniques.

Objective: This paper illustrates the results of a mono-institutional registry trial, aimed to test whether gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity rates were lower in localized prostate cancer patients treated with image-guided volumetric modulated arc therapy (IG-VMAT) compared to those treated with IG-3D conformal radiation therapy (IG-3DCRT). Materials and Methods: Histologically proven prostate cancer patients with organ-confined disease, treated between October 2008 and September 2014 with moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy, were reviewed. Fiducial markers were placed in the prostate gland by transrectal ultrasound guide.

Variability in axillary lymph node delineation for breast cancer radiotherapy in presence of guidelines on a multi-institutional platform.

Aim: To quantify the variability between radiation oncologists (ROs) when outlining axillary nodes in breast cancer.

Material And Methods: For each participating center, three ROs with different levels of expertise, i.e.

Randomized phase III PITCAP trial and meta-analysis of induction chemotherapy followed by thoracic irradiation with or without concurrent taxane-based chemotherapy in locally advanced NSCLC.

Background: Chemo-radiotherapy is standard of care in the treatment of unresectable stage III NSCLC. We aimed at assessing whether the addition of concurrent taxane-chemotherapy to thoracic irradiation following chemotherapy was able to improve treatment outcome.

Material And Methods: In PITCAP trial, patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC were randomized to receive 2 cycles of platinum-paclitaxel followed by 60-61.

Impact of intraoperative radiotherapy on cosmetic outcome and complications after oncoplastic breast surgery.

Breast cancer is one of the most common tumors in the population worldwide. Conservative breast surgery (CBS) is one of the preferred surgical options, because both the oncologic and esthetic needs of the patient can be addressed. CBS surgical outcomes tend to be more effective with reduced chances of disease recurrence when radiotherapy (RT) treatment is considered as an adjunct treatment, either applied during surgery (IORT) and/or after (EBRT).

Feasibility of concervative breast surgery and intraoperative radiation therapy for early breast cancer: a single-center, open, non-randomized, prospective pilot study.

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) consists of an accelerated, single-dose, partial breast irradiation, performed immediately after breast conservative surgery. In the present study, we report the results of our feasibility protocol study using IORT between 2005 and 2009. We analyzed the data from a single-center, open, non-randomized, prospective pilot study including patients who underwent breast conservative surgery for invasive breast cancer between January 2005 and December 2009 at our Clinic of Surgery.

Erectile dysfunction after prostate three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy. Correlation with the dose to the penile bulb.

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction is associated with all the common treatment options for prostate cancer. The aim of this research was to evaluate the relationship between erectile function and radiation dose to the penile bulb (PB) and other proximal penile structures in men receiving conformal radiotherapy (CRT) without hormonal therapy (HT) for prostate cancer, whose sexual function was known before treatment.

Patients And Methods: The study included 19 patients treated with 3D-CRT for localized prostate cancer at our department, who were self-reported to be potent before treatment, had not received HT, and had complete follow-up data available.

Adopting integrated care pathways in non-small-cell lung cancer: from theory to practice.

Introduction: Integrated care pathways (ICPs) have been proposed as effective strategies for quality improvement. To date, limited data are available that detail the methodology to design an optimal care pathway for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The main aim of this study was to assess the quality of health care delivered to lung cancer patients referred to a hub university hospital.

Prognostic stratification of stage IIIA pN2 non-small cell lung cancer by hierarchical clustering analysis of tissue microarray immunostaining data: an Alpe Adria Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary Group study (ATOM 014).

Introduction: Stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with ipsilateral mediastinal lymph node metastases (N2) is a heterogeneous disease with differing prognoses. In this study, we retrospectively investigated the prognostic value of the expression of 10 molecular markers in 87 patients with stage IIIA pN2 NSCLC treated with radical surgery.

Methods: Primary tumor tissue microarrays (TMAs) were constructed and sections used for immunohistochemical analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor, ErbB-2, c-kit, cyclooxygenase-2, survivin, bcl-2, cyclin D1, cyclin B1, metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9.

Phase II study of irinotecan and docetaxel in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer: an Alpe-Adria Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary group study (ATOM 007).

This study was designed to evaluate the activity and tolerability of irinotecan and docetaxel in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Eligibility included recurrent or progressive NSCLC, previous chemotherapy, age > or = 18 years, ECOG PS < or = 2. Treatment consisted of irinotecan (160 mg/m2 i.

Tumor measurements on computed tomographic images of non-small cell lung cancer were similar among cancer professionals from different specialties.

Objective: In this study, we addressed the influence of the observer's background and experience on the accuracy of imaging-based tumor measurements. The consistency of measures with Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) vs. WHO criteria is also reported.

Sequential chemotherapy with paclitaxel plus cisplatin, followed by vinorelbine, followed by gemcitabine in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: an Alpe-Adria Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary group study (ATOM 001).

Aim of this study was to determine the activity and toxicity of a sequential chemotherapy regimen in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Fifty-one previously untreated stage IIIB/IV NSCLC patients were enrolled to receive two cycles of cisplatin plus paclitaxel (80/175 mg/m(2) every 21 days), followed by two cycles of vinorelbine (30 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 every 21 days), followed by two cycles of gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days). Forty-one patients (82%) completed the planned six cycles.

An afterloading technique suitable for carcinomas of the oral cavity.

The authors describe an afterloading brachytherapy to treat oral cavity carcinomas. Catheters for arterial/venous catheterization are inserted percutaneously in the target volume. The internal needles are then removed and replaced with iridium wires inside tubes to form wire loops.

[Influence of radiotherapy on lymphocyte subpopulations].

The authors investigated the effects of radiation therapy on the immune system by studying lymphocyte subsets and other parameters in 32 patients undergoing radiation therapy for solid cancer. With monoclonal antibody techniques, we studied both T- and B-lymphocytes; cell suspensions were analyzed by means of a Facs Spectrum III Ortho (Ortho-Diagnostic) unit. The first control was performed right after the beginning of radiotherapy, when the dose to the patients was 50 Gy or higher.

[Role of accelerated electrons in the therapy of advanced-stage skin epithelioma advanced stage: analysis of 31 cases].

Electron beam therapy is the superior modality of treatment for advanced skin cancer or in specific anatomical situations. The authors report the results for the electron beam therapy of 31 patients with advanced skin carcinoma. There were 15 squamous cell carcinomas, 11 basal cell carcinomas and 5 mixed, basosquamous cell carcinomas.

[The treatment of cancer of the anal area with radiotherapy. An analysis of the authors' personal experience].

The treatment of anal canal carcinoma is very difficult and great care must be taken in planning therapy because this type of cancer is potentially curable. From 1982 through 1989 we treated 16 patients with carcinoma of the anal canal. All patients were evaluable for toxicity and 14/16 for response after treatment.

[Oral bacteriotherapy with Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus in cirrhotic patients].

Thirty-five patients with alcohol cirrhosis were treated for several months (average 4 months) with Infloran (6 capsules daily). Thirty cirrhotics were treated for the same length of time with lactulose and diuretics. Infloran-treated patients showed reduced ammonium levels, improvement of mental status and psychological performance.

Effectiveness and toxicity of "BELD" polychemotherapy in advanced malignant melanoma.

From January 1985 to December 1987, 17 patients with advanced malignant melanoma were treated with the polychemotherapy regimen BELD (bleomycin, 15 mg subcutaneously on day 1 and 4, vindesine 3 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 and 5, CCNU 80 mg/m2 orally on day 1 and DTIC 200 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 through 5) proposed as effective (CR + PR 45%) and tolerable. All patients were evaluable for toxicity and 14/17 also for response after 2 BELD cycles (total n. of cycles was 54).