Surface mould brachytherapy in oral and oropharyngeal cancers.

Introduction: There are insufficient data on surface mold brachytherapy (SMB) in treating oral cancers. We reviewed our institutional experience to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of this treatment modality.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all the patients treated between 1989 and 2018 with high-dose-rate iridium-192 SMB for oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas at our institution.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of adrenal gland metastases in oligometastatic and oligoprogressive disease.

Background: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as a form of noninvasive treatment that is becoming increasingly used to manage cancers with adrenal gland metastases. There is a paucity of data on safety and efficacy of this modality. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of adrenal gland SBRT in oligometastatic and oligoprogressive disease.

Prognostic factors and selection criteria in the retreatment of head and neck cancers.

Objectives: To determine predictors of treatment selection, outcome, and survival, we examined a cohort of previously irradiated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 100 patients at our institution who were treated for recurrent or second primary (RSP) HNSCC, focusing on subgroups receiving reirradiation (ReRT) alone and those undergoing surgical salvage (SS) with or without post-operative reirradiation therapy (POReRT). Logistic regression modeling was performed to identify factors predictive of retreatment modality.

Prognostic Value of p16 Status on the Development of a Complete Response in Involved Oropharynx Cancer Neck Nodes After Cisplatin-Based Chemoradiation: A Secondary Analysis of NRG Oncology RTOG 0129.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between p16 status and the regional response of patients with node-positive oropharynx cancer treated on NRG Oncology RTOG 0129.

Methods And Materials: Patients with N1-N3 oropharynx cancer and known p16 status who underwent treatment on RTOG 0129 were analyzed. Pathologic complete response (pCR) rates in patients treated with a postchemoradiation neck dissection (with p16-positive or p16-negative cancer) were compared by Fisher exact test.

Prognostic significance of HPV status in postoperative squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: There are limited data on the prognostic significance of human papillomavirus (HPV) status in relation to traditional risk factors for head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in the postoperative setting.

Objective: To clarify the impact of HPV status on the risk for HNSCC in the postoperative setting.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated an institutional cohort of 128 patients with HNSCC patients who had been treated with definitive surgery with or without adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Human papillomavirus E7 serology and association with p16 immunohistochemistry in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer is associated with improved survival and treatment response as compared to HPV-negative cancers. P16 overexpression is widely accepted as a surrogate marker for HPV positivity.

Methods: A total of 92 serum samples from 75 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients were examined for HPV16 and 18 E7 antibodies by ELISA.

Institutional clinical trial accrual volume and survival of patients with head and neck cancer.

Purpose: National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) receive treatment at centers with expertise, but whether provider experience affects survival is unknown.

Patients And Methods: The effect of institutional experience on overall survival (OS) in patients with stage III or IV HNC was investigated within a randomized trial of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG 0129), which compared cisplatin concurrent with standard versus accelerated fractionation radiotherapy. As a surrogate for experience, institutions were classified as historically low- (HLACs) or high-accruing centers (HHACs) based on accrual to 21 RTOG HNC trials (1997 to 2002).

Impact of transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation on dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer treated with definitive chemoradiation.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation (TNMES) therapy in maintaining swallowing function during chemoradiation for locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Methods: We retrospectively compared 43 consecutive patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer treated with TNMES (treatment group) to 55 control patients. Validated swallowing scale scores were assigned.

BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis in pediatric cancer patients receiving high-dose cyclophosphamide.

Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a known complication of oxazophosphorine chemotherapy. BK virus (BKV) has been commonly found to be associated with hematuria in stem cell transplant patients; however, it has rarely been reported after cyclophosphamide chemotherapy alone. The authors present 3 cases of BK viruria with HC in nontransplant pediatric oncology patients.

The relationship of radiation pneumonitis to treated lung volume in breast conservation therapy.

Breast conservation therapy has become a common modality for therapy of early stage breast cancer. Most studies of primary lung irradiation correlate the risk of pneumonitis with the volume of lung treated. It is proposed that the lung volume treated during tangential radiation of the intact breast may be calculated from a measurement of the central lung distance.

Hodgkin's lymphoma in adults--clinical features.

One hundred (100) patients were treated in the Department of Radiation Oncology, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, from 1980-1994. All patients were evaluated and staged according to the accepted guidelines at the treatment times. All patients were followed on a strict follow-up schedule for the outcome of treatment including late effects.

Pediatric Hodgkin's disease.

Thirty-two patients were treated in this Department from 1981-1992. The median age was 14 years (range 4 years to 17 years). There are 6 patients (19%) below the age of 10 years, 16 patients (50%) between 11 years to 15 years, and 10 patients (31%) above 16 years.