Survival analysis after stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for early stage non-small cell lung cancer: a single-institution cohort study.

Background: Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) is the standard treatment for medically inoperable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (ES-NSCLC), but which patients benefit from stereotactic radiotherapy is unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze prognostic factors for early mortality.

Methods: From August 2010 to 2022, 617 patients with medically inoperable, peripheral or central ES-NSCLC were treated with SABR at our institution.

Targeting genotoxic and proteotoxic stress-response pathways in human prostate cancer by clinically available PARP inhibitors, vorinostat and disulfiram.

Background: Castration-resistant prostate cancer (PCa) represents a serious health challenge. Based on mechanistically-supported rationale we explored new therapeutic options based on clinically available drugs with anticancer effects, including inhibitors of PARP1 enzyme (PARPi), and histone deacetylases (vorinostat), respectively, and disulfiram (DSF, known as alcohol-abuse drug Antabuse) and its copper-chelating metabolite CuET that inhibit protein turnover.

Methods: Drugs and their combination with ionizing radiation (IR) were tested in various cytotoxicity assays in three human PCa cell lines including radio-resistant stem-cell like derived cells.

Risks and protective factors for triple negative breast cancer with a focus on micronutrients and infections.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer (BC) with a poor prognosis. Second, patients cannot benefit from targeted therapy, except for those with BRCA1/2 mutations, for whom poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition therapy using olaparib has recently been approved. As global priorities continue to be epidemiological analysis of BC risk factors and early diagnosis, this review focuses on the risks and protective factors associated with TNBC.

[Radiotherapy of Lung Tumours in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis].

Background: This article is a joint statement of the Czech Pneumological and Physiological Society and the Czech Society for Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, and reviews current opinions on radiotherapy in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In general, radiotherapy of lung tumours is associated with risk of radiation pneumonitis (RP); moreover, IPF may be complicated by acute exacerbations (AE-IPF). Both complications may immediately threaten patients lives.

[Multimodal Therapy of Recurrent Malignant Schwannoma].

Background: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor schwannoma (MPNST), also known as malignant schwannoma, is a very rare tumor accounting for only 2% of all sarcomas. The prognosis is relatively poor, with a 5-year survival rate of 46-69%. The treatment of MPNST has not been standardized yet.

Radiotherapy management of brain metastases using conventional linear accelerator.

Background And Aims: As treatments for primary cancers continue to improve life expectancy, unfortunately, brain metastases also appear to be constantly increasing and life expectancy for patients with brain metastases is low. Longer survival and improved quality of life may be achieved using localised radiological and surgical approaches in addition to low dose corticosteroids. Stereotactic brain radiotherapy is one rapidly evolving localized radiation treatment.

Treatment of brain metastases of renal cell cancer with combined hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy and whole brain radiotherapy with hippocampal sparing.

Renal cell cancer patients with brain metastatic disease generally have poor prognosis. Treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy, targeted therapy or best supportive care with respect to disease burden, patient preference and performance status. In the present case report the radiotherapy technique combining whole brain radiotherapy with hippocampal sparing (hippocampal avoidance whole brain radiotherapy HA-WBRT) and hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) of the brain metastases is performed in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Prognostic Significance of Serum and Urinary Neopterin Concentrations in Patients with Rectal Carcinoma Treated with Chemoradiation.

Aim: To analyze the prognostic significance of serum and urinary neopterin concentrations in patients with rectal adenocarcinoma treated with (chemo)radiation.

Patients And Methods: Urinary and serum neopterin and peripheral blood cell count were determined in 49 patients with rectal carcinoma before the start of (chemo)radiation.

Results: Neopterin concentrations exhibited a significant inverse correlation with hemoglobin and positive correlation with leukocyte count, platelet count and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio.

Citrulline as a biomarker of gastrointestinal toxicity in patients with rectal carcinoma treated with chemoradiation.

Background: Gastrointestinal toxicity is the principal toxicity of chemoradiation in the treatment of rectal carcinoma. The assessment of this toxicity still relies mostly on the symptoms reported by the patient.

Methods: Plasma citrulline, serum neopterin and urinary neopterin were followed weekly in 49 patients with rectal carcinoma during chemoradiation.

BCL2 is an independent predictor of outcome in basal-like triple-negative breast cancers treated with adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

Neither targeted therapies nor predictors for chemotherapy sensitivity are available for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Our study included 187 patients with TNBC, 164 of whom were treated with anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Eleven molecular biomarkers were analyzed.

Predictive parameters for internal mammary node drainage in patients with early breast cancer.

Introduction: Breast cancer treatment currently represents one of the biggest challenges in clinical oncology. The gold standard for axillary lymph node management is to perform sentinel node biopsy to avoid axillary dissection and its sequelae. The detection of radiocolloid flow outside the axillary nodes is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

[Continuing progress in withdrawal of axillary dissection in early stage breast cancer].

For a long period of time, axillary dissection represented a standard approach for axillary node management in the case of sentinel node biopsy positivity during early stage breast cancer treatment. In recent years, there has been a trend to highlight the morbidity of such an axillary procedure considering longterm survival of early stage breast cancer patients. Two big trials, AMAROS and Z0011, were initiated to answer the question whether axillary dissection should be performed in the case of positivity of axillary sentinel node considering the fact that more than 70% of these patients will have no metastasis found during the axillary dissection and such a procedure only increases the morbidity of the surgery.

Significance of using DICOM communication standard in quality assurance in radiation oncology - an institutional experience.

Purpose: The purpose of this article was to highlight the importance of data management systems in radiotherapy.

Methods: We performed a database search to review the errors or potential errors in radiotherapy planning and delivery which could be prevented in case of using the DICOM communication system.

Results: We registered the following rates of errors: 1) Errors caused by manual rewriting of treatment plan 30%; 2) Errors caused by wrong assignment of the verification system 15%; 3) Errors during the manual rewriting of treatment data to the verification system 15%; 4) Patient identification 5%; 5) Field verification 15% 6) Wedge orientation 10%.

[Patient with atypical neurocytoma - case report].

Background: Neurocytoma represents a rare tumor of the central nervous system usually slowly growing and generally with good prognosis after surgical resection with or without adjuvant radiotherapy.

Case: A 25-year- old woman presented with sudden fainting. During the initial workup, brain CT was completed with finding of tumor inside the third ventricle spreading into both lateral ventricles.

Internal mammary node management in breast cancer. A review.

Background: Internal mammary nodes visualized during sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer, remain an unresolved management issue. Further, both internal mammary node (IMN) radiotherapy and biopsy have attendant risks and hence should be used with caution. The purpose of this review is to highlight the available data and evidence.

[Breast cancer adjuvant radiotherapy using active breathing control-moderate inspiration breath-hold - a case report].

Background: Chest movements during the breathing cycle represent a significant problem during radiotherapy of target volumes in the chest. There are several methods how to solve this problem.

Case: We have used Active breathing control-moderate inspiration breath-hold device in the case of adjuvant treatment of breast cancer.

Abagovomab as maintenance therapy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer: a phase III trial of the AGO OVAR, COGI, GINECO, and GEICO--the MIMOSA study.

Purpose: To determine whether abagovomab maintenance therapy prolongs recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with ovarian cancer in first clinical remission.

Patients And Methods: Patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage III to IV ovarian cancer in complete clinical remission after primary surgery and platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy were randomly assigned at a ratio of 2:1 in a phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Abagovomab 2 mg or placebo was administered as 1-mL suspension once every 2 weeks for 6 weeks (induction phase) and then once every 4 weeks (maintenance phase) until recurrence or up to 21 months after random assignment of the last patient.

Metastases of esophageal carcinoma to skeletal muscle: single center experience.

Metastases of esophageal carcinoma to the skeletal muscle are rare, but the incidence may be increasing because of better diagnosis resulting from widespread use of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). A cohort of 205 patients with esophageal carcinoma treated at our center who had PET/CT between 2006 and 2010 was retrospectively evaluated for the presence of skeletal muscle metastases. Four patients had skeletal muscle metastases of esophageal carcinoma, including two patients with squamous cell carcinoma.

High lapatinib plasma levels in breast cancer patients: risk or benefit?

Aims And Background: Lapatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting epidermal growth factor receptors 1 (EGFR/HER1) and 2 (HER2) used in the treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine lapatinib plasma levels in breast cancer patients treated with lapatinib plus capecitabine.

Patients And Methods: We assessed lapatinib plasma levels in blood samples from 21 breast cancer patients treated with lapatinib plus capecitabine using the standard regimen in an expanded access program.

The significance of portal vein embolization in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases.

Unlabelled: The first aim of the present paper was to evaluate hypertrophy of liver parenchyma after portal vein embolization in patients after systemic chemotherapy for colorectal carcinoma metastases and planned extensive liver resections. The second aim was to study whether hypertrophy of the liver parenchyma remnant after could influence the postoperative course large liver resections in long-term chemotherapy within complex therapy of colorectal carcinoma.The prospective study comprised of 43 patients with colorectal hepatic metastases in whom liver resections of 4-5 segments were planned (Table 1).

Cationic liposomal paclitaxel plus gemcitabine or gemcitabine alone in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a randomized controlled phase II trial.

Background: Paclitaxel embedded in cationic liposomes (EndoTAG™-1; ET) is an innovative agent targeting tumor endothelial cells. This randomized controlled phase II trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of ET in combination with gemcitabine (GEM) in advanced pancreatic cancer (PDAC).

Patients And Methods: Chemotherapy-naive patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease were randomly assigned to receive weekly GEM 1000 mg/m(2) or GEM plus twice-weekly ET 11, 22 or 44 mg/m(2) for 7 weeks.

Combination therapy of lapatinib and Capecitabine for ErbB2-positive metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer: results from the Lapatinib Expanded Access Program (LEAP) in Central and Eastern Europe.

Background: The Lapatinib Expanded Access Program (LEAP) was initiated in 45 countries to provide lapatinib in combination with capecitabine to patients with ErbB2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer already treated with anthracyclines, taxanes and trastuzumab. We report the results from 12 Central and Eastern European countries.

Patients And Methods: By 30 September 2008, 293 patients were enrolled.

Lapatinib in breast cancer - the predictive significance of HER1 (EGFR), HER2, PTEN and PIK3CA genes and lapatinib plasma level assessment.

Background: Breast cancer treatment trends are currently based on tailored therapies using tumor and patient biomarkers. Lapatinib is the first dual inhibitor of HER1 (EGFR, ErbB1) and HER2 (ErbB2, Neu) tyrosine kinases to be used in clinical practice. However, only HER2 is currently used for therapy indications and new predictors for the treatment with lapatinib are sought.

Repeated chemosensitivity testing in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) is a highly chemosensitive tumor, but most patients with advanced EOC initially responding to first-line chemotherapy will eventually relapse. Chemosensitivity testing may offer an opportunity for the optimal selection of chemotherapeutic agents for individual patients. In the present retrospective analysis we have examined the changes in chemosensitivity profiles during the course of the disease.

The radiosensitising effect of olomoucine derived synthetic cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors.

Bohemine and roscovitine are the most important representatives of the group of compounds structurally derived from olomoucine. Biologically they function as inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), the key regulators of cell cycle, which is often disrupted in cancer cells resulting in uncontrollable proliferation. Bohemine and roscovitine have demonstrated their cytostatic and cytotoxic in vitro and also in vivo effects.