IROCA-TES: Improving Quality in Radiation Oncology through Clinical Audits - Training and Education for Standardization.

Background: Clinical audits are an important tool to objectively assess clinical protocols, procedures, and processes and to detect deviations from good clinical practice. The main aim of this project is to determine adherence to a core set of consensus- based quality indicators and then to compare the institutions in order to identify best practices.

Materials And Methods: We conduct a multicentre, international clinical audit of six comprehensive cancer centres in Poland, Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, and Romania as a part of the project, known as IROCATES (Improving Quality in Radiation Oncology through Clinical Audits - Training and Education for Standardization).

The shifting landscape of genetic alterations separating endometriosis and ovarian endometrioid carcinoma.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and is associated with a prior diagnosis of endometriosis in several cases. Our aim was to correlate genetic and methylation profile of ovarian endometrioid ovarian cancer and endometriosis patients. We evaluated the genetic profile of 50 ovarian endometriosis and 20 ovarian endometrioid carcinoma samples using next generation sequencing technology.

Partnering bevacizumab with irinotecan as first line-therapy of metastatic colorectal cancer improves progression free survival-A retrospective analysis.

Colorectal cancer remains one of the most frequent malignancies (third place at both genders) worldwide in the last decade, owing to significant changes in modern dietary habits. Approximately half of the patients develop metastases during the course of their disease. The available therapeutic armamentarium is constantly evolving, raising questions regarding the best approach for improving survival.

Doubling the Dose of Bevacizumab Beyond Progression in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer-the Experience of a Tertiary Cancer Center.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in Europe, with an annual increase in incidence ranging between 0.4 and 3.6% in various countries.

Treatment beyond progression in metastatic colorectal cancer: to double or not to double the dose of bevacizumab?

Purpose: Bevacizumab or cetuximab represent the standard treatment in association with classical chemotherapy in confirmed metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Bevacizumab could be continued after the first disease progression with an overall survival (OS) advantage, compared to chemotherapy alone, but the optimal dose remains a debatable issue.

Methods: In a retrospective analysis of mCRC patients treated with bevacizumab, we selected patients with administration beyond progression, and stratified them according to the dose received- same dose bevacizumab (SDB) as first-line chemotherapy or double dose bevacizumab (DDB).

Exosomal miRNAs in colorectal cancer: the carriers of useful news.

Purpose: In this review, we focused on presenting an up-to-date overview of exosomal miRNAs as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and their therapeutically perspectives in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the PUBMED database through February 2019 to identify all studies concerning the role of miRNAs and exosomes in CRC.

Results: Among the 77 studies identified, 43 articles were relevant for the collaboration of miRNAs and exosomes as therapeutic and diagnostic opportunities in CRC.

Role of Key Micronutrients from Nutrigenetic and Nutrigenomic Perspectives in Cancer Prevention.

Regarding cancer as a genetic multi-factorial disease, a number of aspects need to be investigated and analyzed in terms of cancer's predisposition, development and prognosis. One of these multi-dimensional factors, which has gained increased attention in the oncological field due to its unelucidated role in risk assessment for cancer, is diet. Moreover, as studies advance, a clearer connection between diet and the molecular alteration of patients is becoming identifiable and quantifiable, thereby replacing the old general view associating specific phenotypical changes with the differential intake of nutrients.

The Relevance of Mass Spectrometry Analysis for Personalized Medicine through Its Successful Application in Cancer "Omics".

Mass spectrometry (MS) is an essential analytical technology on which the emerging omics domains; such as genomics; transcriptomics; proteomics and metabolomics; are based. This quantifiable technique allows for the identification of thousands of proteins from cell culture; bodily fluids or tissue using either global or targeted strategies; or detection of biologically active metabolites in ultra amounts. The routine performance of MS technology in the oncological field provides a better understanding of human diseases in terms of pathophysiology; prevention; diagnosis and treatment; as well as development of new biomarkers; drugs targets and therapies.

The Function of Non-Coding RNAs in Lung Cancer Tumorigenesis.

Lung cancer is the most prevalent and deadliest cancer worldwide. A significant part of lung cancer studies is dedicated to the expression alterations of non-coding RNAs. The non-coding RNAs are transcripts that cannot be translated into proteins.

Incidence trends and survival of skin melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma in Cluj County, Romania.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence trends of cutaneous melanoma (CM) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Cluj County, from 1998 to 2011, and the 5-year net survival between 2006 and 2010. Data on all cases of CM and SCC between 1998 and 2011 were obtained from Cluj Cancer Registry. Incidence rates were age standardized by the direct method Age Standardized Incidence Rate (ASIR), using the world standard population.

Local experience in cervical cancer imaging: Comparison in tumour assessment between TRUS and MRI.

Objective: The aim of study was to analyze the accuracy of TRUS (transrectal ultrasound) vs. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and clinical gynecological examination estimation in the evaluation of tumor dimensions.

Methods: The patients inclusion criterion included primarily pathologically squamous cell carcinoma, but excluded were patients who had not undergone BT (brachytherapy) and treated with palliative intent.

Randomized phase 3 trial comparing 2 cisplatin dose schedules in 326 patients with locally advanced squamous cell cervical carcinoma: long-term follow-up.

Objective: The evaluation of 5-year results obtained through 2 radiochemotherapy (RCT) regimens: cisplatin (CDDP), 20 mg/m × 5 days every 21 days; and CDDP, 40 mg/m per week in locally advanced cervical carcinoma.

Methods/materials: In this single-institution prospective randomized phase 3 study, 326 patients with stage IIB to IIIB squamous cell cervical carcinoma treated from March 2003 to March 2005 were included. One hundred sixty patients (49%) had stage IIB cervical carcinoma, 103 patients (31.

Radiotherapy versus concurrent 5-day cisplatin and radiotherapy in locally advanced cervical carcinoma. Long-term results of a phase III randomized trial.

Purpose: To prove the superiority of concurrent radiochemotherapy (RTCT) over radiotherapy (RT) alone in locally advanced cervical carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: In this randomized monocentric phase III study, 566 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix were included: 284 in arm A (RT) and 282 in arm B (concurrent RTCT with cisplatin 20 mg/m(2) x 5 days). 238 patients (42%) were in stage IIB, 209 (37%) in stage IIIA, and 119 (21%) in stage IIIB.

Quality of life and treatment related toxicity in 335 patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma treated by two chemoradiation regimens.

Purpose: Concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CT/RT) is the gold standard for advanced cervical carcinoma, but with frequent debates over treatment schedules and toxicity. This study compared 2 concomitant CT/RT regimens in terms of quality of life (QoL) and acute toxicity.

Patients And Methods: Between March 2003 and March 2005, 335 patients with stage IIB-IIIB cervical carcinoma were evaluated in a randomized single-center phase III trial at the Oncology Institute Cluj-Napoca.

Clinical results of medium dose rate brachytherapy combined with external beam radiotherapy in the treatment of advanced cervical carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the overall and disease-free survival of patients with advanced cervical carcinoma (FIGO stages IIB-IIIB) treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and medium dose rate brachytherapy (MDR-BT) plus/minus surgery.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and seven patients received preoperative RT (group A) and 154 were treated with definitive RT (group B); 73 patients in both groups also received cisplatin as radiosensitizer. EBRT delivered as preoperative reached a total dose of 44-46 Gy/pelvis, whereas the definitive RT reached a total dose of 62-64 Gy with standard fractionation.