Vitamin D deficiency and graft-versus-host disease in hematopoietic stem cell transplant population.

Vitamins are the organic compounds that have long been known to play a significant role in our body by functioning as hormones and antioxidants. Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, is the main regulator of calcium hemostasis in our body. At the same time, it is also known to show its potential effects on the immune system by modulating the differentiation, activation, and proliferation of T and B lymphocytes.

Multi-Institutional Experience of Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Therapy for Stage I Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: For inoperable stage I (T1-T2N0) small cell lung cancer (SCLC), national guidelines recommend chemotherapy with or without conventionally fractionated radiation therapy. The present multi-institutional cohort study investigated the role of stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) for this population.

Methods And Materials: The clinical and treatment characteristics, toxicities, outcomes, and patterns of failure were assessed in patients with histologically confirmed stage T1-T2N0M0 SCLC.

The KRAS-Variant and Cetuximab Response in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: There is a significant need to find biomarkers of response to radiotherapy and cetuximab in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and biomarkers that predict altered immunity, thereby enabling personalized treatment.

Objectives: To examine whether the Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS)-variant, a germline mutation in a microRNA-binding site in KRAS, is a predictive biomarker of cetuximab response and altered immunity in the setting of radiotherapy and cisplatin treatment and to evaluate the interaction of the KRAS-variant with p16 status and blood-based transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1).

Design, Setting, And Participants: A total of 891 patients with advanced HNSCC from a phase 3 trial of cisplatin plus radiotherapy with or without cetuximab (NRG Oncology RTOG 0522) were included in this study, and 413 patients with available samples were genotyped for the KRAS-variant.

Quality of Life and Performance Status From a Substudy Conducted Within a Prospective Phase 3 Randomized Trial of Concurrent Accelerated Radiation Plus Cisplatin With or Without Cetuximab for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Carcinoma: NRG Oncology Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 0522.

Purpose: To analyze the quality of life (QOL) and performance status (PS) (secondary outcome) in patients with stage III to IV head and neck cancer (HNC) enrolled on a prospective randomized phase 3 trial comparing radiation-cisplatin without cetuximab (CIS) or with cetuximab (CET/CIS). The QOL hypothesis proposed a between-arm difference in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck (FACT-HN) total score of ≥10% of the instrument range from baseline to 1 year.

Methods And Materials: Patients who gave consent to the QOL/PS study completed the FACT-HN, Performance Status Scale for HNC (PSS-HN), and EuroQol (EQ-5D) at baseline through to 5 years.

Changes in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Tumor Location Secondary to Gastric Distension, Implications in the Context of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy.

Objective: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) facilitates highly conformal dose distributions to a targe tumor volume. Accurate tumor localization is extremely important, and lung tumors pose a unique challenge due to respiratory motion. Patients are required to fast before PET/CT but not before CT simulation and daily treatment, introducing potential variability from gastric distension.

Late Effects of Radiation Therapy in Pediatric Cancer Survivors.

The overall survival rates of many pediatric cancers continue to improve with each decade due to new advances in therapy. As this trend continues, the focus and importance of minimizing acute and long-term toxicity associated with treatment is paramount. While significant research regarding many of the late responses of normal tissues associated with radiation exposure has been established, future endeavors must be directed toward the identification of therapy related factors including radiation total dose, dose rate, exposure, and target treatment volumes.

Acupuncture-Like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Versus Pilocarpine in Treating Radiation-Induced Xerostomia: Results of RTOG 0537 Phase 3 Study.

Purpose And Objectives: This report presents the analysis of the RTOG 0537 multicenter randomized study that compared acupuncture-like transcutaneous stimulation (ALTENS) with pilocarpine (PC) for relieving radiation-induced xerostomia.

Methods And Materials: Eligible patients were randomized to twice-weekly 20-minute ALTENS sessions for 24 sessions during 12 weeks or PC (5 mg 3 times daily for 12 weeks). The primary endpoint was the change in the University of Michigan Xerostomia-Related Quality of Life Scale (XeQOLS) scores from baseline to 9 months from randomization (MFR).

Feasibility and implementation of a literature information management system for human papillomavirus in head and neck cancers with imaging.

This work examines the feasibility and implementation of information service-orientated architecture (ISOA) on an emergent literature domain of human papillomavirus, head and neck cancer, and imaging. From this work, we examine the impact of cancer informatics and generate a full set of summarizing clinical pearls. Additionally, we describe how such an ISOA creates potential benefits in informatics education, enhancing utility for creating enduring digital content in this clinical domain.

Dosimetric and radiobiologic comparison of 3D conformal, IMRT, VMAT and proton therapy for the treatment of early-stage glottic cancer.

Background: This study aims to compare dosimetrically and radiobiologically 3D conformal, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), RapidArc (RA) volumetric modulated arc therapy and proton therapy techniques for early-stage glottic cancer.

Methods: Ten patients were retrospectively selected. Photon treatment planning was performed using Eclipse External Beam Planning, and proton planning was performed using CMS Xio.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for the treatment of unicentric Castlemans disease: a case report and review of the use of radiotherapy in the literature.

Background: Surgical resection is considered standard therapy for cases of resectable unicentric Castleman's disease (UCD). Unresectable cases of UCD do not have a consensus regarding the optimal treatment approach, but have utilized steroids, observation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Here we discuss a patient presentation of UCD treated with an advanced radiotherapy technique, IMRT.

Use of stereotactic body radiation therapy for medically inoperable multiple primary lung cancer.

Introduction: To review outcomes of medically inoperable patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for multiple primary lung cancer (MPLC).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 10 patients (21 lesions) treated with SBRT for synchronous (seven), metachronous (one) or synchronous/metachronous lung cancers. All patients were male, medically inoperable and had a median age of 66 years.

Using an advanced radiation therapy technique for T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the face.

Background: Patients with locally advanced skin cancer often present an uncommon and unique treatment challenge. Surgical resection and reconstruction with an acceptable cosmetic outcome is difficult for larger lesions with deep infiltration into subcutaneous tissues. Radiation therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment modality for advanced non-melanoma skin cancers, with cure rates ranging 50-100%.

The role of radiotherapy for T4 non-melanoma skin carcinoma.

Introduction: To review outcomes of patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) for T4 non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of 21 patients who received RT for T4 NMSC from 2004 to 2010. Outcomes of treatment efficacy, RT technique and patient morbidity were analysed.

Linear accelerator based intracranial and extracranial stereotactic radiation therapy at the University of Oklahoma.

Purpose: Review our institutional outcomes with linear accelerator based stereotactic radiation therapy at the University of Oklahoma.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients treated in our department with linear accelerator based stereotactic radiation therapy since we implemented this modality in 2008. Thirty-seven patients have been treated with a mean follow-up of 8.

The efficacy of radiotherapy in the treatment of orbital pseudotumor.

Purpose: To review institutional outcomes for patients treated with external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for orbital pseudotumor.

Methods And Materials: This is a single-institution retrospective review of 20 orbits in 16 patients diagnosed with orbital pseudotumor that received EBRT at the University of Oklahoma, Department of Radiation Oncology. Treated patients had a median follow-up of 16.

The efficacy of radiation therapy in the treatment of Graves' orbitopathy.

Purpose: To review our institutional outcomes of patients treated with radiation therapy (RT) for Graves' orbitopathy (GO), assess the role of orbital reirradiation, and identify prognostic factors of complete response (CR).

Methods And Materials: This is a retrospective review of 211 patients who presented with a diagnosis of GO and received RT between January 2000-2010. RT dose was 20 Gy in 10 fractions.

Radiotherapy in treatment of carcinoma of the parotid gland, an approach for the medically or technically inoperable patient.

Introduction: Initial surgical resection is considered the standard of care for patients diagnosed with tumours involving the salivary glands. We reviewed our institutional outcomes of patients treated with initial radiation therapy (RT) for diagnosed carcinoma of the parotid gland.

Methods: This review examined seventeen patients that received RT as initial therapy for tumours involving the parotid gland.

Quantitative evaluation of increase in surface dose by immobilization thermoplastic masks and superficial dosimetry using Gafchromic EBT film and Monte Carlo calculations.

Purpose: To investigate the increase in surface dose under immobilization thermoplastic masks by measurements and calculation in the build-up region using Gafchromic films and Monte Carlo simulation.

Materials And Methods: Surface doses were measured underneath three thermoplastic masks in open fields using 6 and 18 MV photon beams. These masks are used to immobilize patients for head and neck (H&N), pelvis and thoracic treatment.