Natural Language Processing for Radiation Oncology: Personalizing Treatment Pathways.

Natural language processing (NLP), a technology that translates human language into machine-readable data, is revolutionizing numerous sectors, including cancer care. This review outlines the evolution of NLP and its potential for crafting personalized treatment pathways for cancer patients. Leveraging NLP's ability to transform unstructured medical data into structured learnable formats, researchers can tap into the potential of big data for clinical and research applications.

Precision based approach to tailoring radiotherapy in the multidisciplinary management of pediatric central nervous system tumors.

Modern day survivorship from childhood malignancies is estimated to be over 80%. However, central nervous system tumors remain the leading cause of cancer mortality in children and is the most common solid tumor in this population. Improved survivorship is, in part, a result of improved multidisciplinary care, often with a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and systemic therapy.

Outcomes of salvage high dose-rate brachytherapy with or without pelvic external beam radiotherapy in patients with palpable local recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the outcomes and toxicities in patients with palpable local recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy (RP), who were treated with salvage high dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) with or without pelvic external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).

Methods: This retrospective review included patients with palpable local recurrence of prostate cancer after RP who underwent salvage HDR-BT at a single institution between 2002 and 2020. HDR-BT regimens included 950 cGy x 2 (N = 4) or 1500 cGy x 1 (N = 2) combined with EBRT; or monotherapy with 950 cGy x 4 (N = 1) or 800 cGy x 2 (N = 1).

The role of adjuvant radiation therapy in older patients with node-positive vulvar cancer: A national cancer database analysis.

Objective: We sought to evaluate whether the survival benefit of adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with node-positive vulvar cancer is maintained in older patients, who comprise a large subgroup of patients with vulvar cancer.

Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for patients aged 65 years or older, who were diagnosed with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma from 2004 to 2017 and underwent surgery with confirmed node-positive disease. Statistical analysis was performed with propensity-score matching, chi-square test, log-rank test, Kaplan-Meier, and multivariable Cox proportional regression.

Resection with intraoperative cesium-131 brachytherapy as salvage therapy for recurrent brain tumors.

Objective: The authors' objective was to examine the safety and efficacy of salvage intracranial cesium-131 brachytherapy in combination with resection of recurrent brain tumors.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective chart review of consecutive patients treated with intraoperative intracranial cesium-131 brachytherapy at a single institution. Permanent suture-stranded cesium-131 seeds were implanted in the resection cavity after maximal safe tumor resection.

Safety of accelerated hypofractionated whole pelvis radiation therapy prior to high dose rate brachytherapy or stereotactic body radiation therapy prostate boost.

Background: To evaluate acute and late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities and patient reported urinary and sexual function following accelerated, hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy to the prostate, seminal vesicles and pelvic lymph nodes and high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) prostate boost.

Methods: Patients at a single institution with NCCN intermediate- and high-risk localized prostate cancer with logistical barriers to completing five weeks of whole pelvic radiotherapy (WPRT) were retrospectively reviewed for toxicity following accelerated, hypofractionated WPRT (41.25 Gy in 15 fractions of 2.

Role of Ki-67, MRE11, and PD-L1 as Predictive Biomarkers for Recurrence Pattern in Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer.

Background/aim: Muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is an aggressive disease with high rates of local recurrence following radical cystectomy (RC). Currently, there are no clinically validated biomarkers to predict local only recurrence (LOR) and guide adjuvant treatment decisions. This pilot study evaluated the role of Ki-67, MRE11 and PD-L1 as predictive biomarkers for recurrence patterns in patients undergoing RC for MIBC.

Effects of soap-water wash on human epidermal penetration.

Skin decontamination is a primary interventional method used to decrease dermal absorption of hazardous contaminants, including chemical warfare agents, pesticides and industrial pollutants. Soap and water wash, the most common and readily available decontamination system, may enhance percutaneous absorption through the "wash-in effect." To understand better the effect of soap-water wash on percutaneous penetration, and provide insight to improving skin decontamination methods, in vitro human epidermal penetration rates of four C(14) -labeled model chemicals (hydroquinone, clonidine, benzoic acid and paraoxon) were assayed using flow-through diffusion cells.

Discontinued dermatological drugs in 2014.

Introduction: Dermatology is a relatively small field concerned with conditions of the hair, skin, nails and their related diseases; yet there is considerable active research and development within the field. Pharmaceutical companies seek more effective treatments through various therapeutic classes and delivery routes. However, 28 drugs have been discontinued for the treatment of dermatologic diseases in 2014.

Recent knowledge: Concepts of dermal absorption in relation to skin decontamination.

Skin decontamination is an important step mitigating percutaneous absorption through the stratum corneum (SC), which is also a highly complex process. Thus, understanding diffusion mechanisms and measuring dermal absorption rates are critical to protect humans from toxic exposures. Here, highly varied literature is placed in a biological and clinical perspective in regards to decontamination.

Effect of massage on percutaneous penetration and skin decontamination: man and animal.

Context: At least 15 factors of percutaneous penetration exist that should be considered when investigating dermal absorption profiles of chemicals. Rubbing is one variable that has been understudied, but may play an important role in understanding overall exposure rates, chemical toxicity, dermal absorption and skin's barrier abilities.

Objective: This reviews current data related to the role of massage in enhancing percutaneous penetration and skin decontamination as well as highlights the need for further investigation of its role.