A Survey of the Turkish Oncology Group (TOG): Are the Oncologists Trained for Decision Making on Geriatric Cancer Patients?

Introduction: Most newly diagnosed cancers occur in older adults, and it is important to understand a patient's underlying health status when making treatment decisions. Therefore, clinicians need enhanced competencies and skills to effectively care for this population. However, most clinicians receive minimal to no training in geriatrics.

Comparison of two different respiratory monitoring systems with 4D-CT images for target volume definition in patients undergoing para-aortic nodal irradiation.

Objective: Today, respiratory movement can be monitored and recorded with different methods during a simulation on a four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography (CT) device to be used in radiotherapy planning. A synchronized respiratory monitoring system (RPM) with an externally equipped device is one of these methods. Another method is to create 4D images of the patient's breathing phases without the need for extra equipment, with an anatomy-based software program integrated into the CT device.

Who would be the winner? A prognostic nomogram for predicting the benefit of postoperative radiotherapy ± chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer: TROD-02-01 study.

Objectives: We aimed to develop a basic, easily applicable nomogram to improve the survival prediction of the patients with stage II/III gastric cancer (GC) and to select the best candidate for postoperative radiotherapy (RT).

Methods: In this multicentric trial, we retrospectively evaluated the data of 1597 patients with stage II/III GC after curative gastrectomy followed by postoperative RT ± chemotherapy (CT). Patients were divided into a training set (n = 1307) and an external validation set (n = 290).

Increased skin reactions with hydroxychloroquine during breast radiotherapy.

With the advances in radiation technology, skin reaction due to postoperative radiotherapy (RT) in breast cancer patients is generally mild and tolerable. However, certain drugs may increase the radiation effect. In literature, only few cases of adverse reactions in the radiation field have been reported with the use of Chloroquine.

Revisiting the Radical Radiotherapy-Radiochemotherapy Results in Anal Canal Cancers: (TROD Gastrointestinal Group Study 02-005).

Background And Aim: This study aimed to determine treatment outcomes and factors affecting prognosis in patients diagnosed with anal canal cancer who received radical radiotherapy (RT) or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy (CT-RT) in radiation oncology centers in Turkey and compare the results with literature.

Material And Method: The study included 193 patients with anal canal cancer reported between 1995 and 2019, of which 162 had complete data. The study was conducted in 11 radiation oncology centers, and a joint database was shared among them.

Multi-institutional analysis of cervical esophageal carcinoma patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy: TROD 01-005 study.

The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic factors and treatment outcomes of cervical esophageal carcinoma (CEC) patients who underwent definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The clinical data of 175 biopsy-confirmed CEC patients treated with definitive CRT between April 2005 and September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The prognostic factors predicting overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) were assessed in uni- and multivariable analyses.

Evaluation of Depression, Anxiety, and Sexual Function in Rectal Cancer Patients Before and After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy.

Objective: The association of treatment-related side effects and tumor characteristics with sexual function, depression, and anxiety were investigated in patients with locally advanced rectum cancer (LARC) receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Material And Methods: Thirty-two patients who received neoadjuvant CRT with LARC were included. The Arizona Sexual Experiences (ASEX) Scale was used to determine the sexual function status whereas the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to evaluate the depression and anxiety status of the patient, respectively.

Evaluation of interfractional organ motion during neoadjuvant radiotherapy for rectal cancer patients.

Objective: To investigate interfractional motion of the mesorectum and bladder and to assess dosimetric changes using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) during neoadjuvant radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer patients.

Methods: Twenty-one patients who underwent volumetric arc therapy with CBCT imaging protocol were retrieved. The mesorectum and bladder were delineated on every CBCT image, and treatment plans were recalculated for all CBCTs.

Oncological outcomes for encapsulated papillary carcinoma of the breast: Multicentric study of Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology breast cancer study group (TROD 06-014 study).

Background: Encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) is a rare malignant papillary breast cancer accounting for approximately .5%-2% of all breast tumors. The aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate clinicopathologic features of EPC in addition to oncological outcomes and radiotherapy (RT) details.

Recurrence patterns of pancreatic cancer treated with adjuvant intensity modulated radiotherapy.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the recurrence patterns in pancreatic cancer patients treated with adjuvant intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and to correlate the sites of locoregional recurrence with radiotherapy target volumes.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-eight patients who had undergone resection and adjuvant chemoradiation for pancreatic cancer were evaluated. Radiotherapy (RT) was started after 1-3 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy (CHT).

Evaluation of Nutritional Status and Anxiety Levels in Patients Applying to the Radiation Oncology Outpatient Clinic during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology Group Study (TROD 12:02).

Cancer patients often face malnutrition, which negatively affects their response to cancer treatment. This study aims to analyze the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on nutritional status and anxiety in cancer patients with different types and stages of cancer. This is a cross-sectional cohort study that includes 1,252 patients with varying cancer types from 17 radiation oncology centers.

Management of IMRT in a gastric cancer patient with pacemaker: A case report and review of the literature.

Due to the prolongation of a lifetime, more cancer patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices are treated by radiotherapy. However, radiation may cause permanent or temporary malfunctions on these devices, and new-generation devices are more sensitive to radiation. Besides, radiotherapy techniques and image guidance methods that may cause different interactions with the functions of the devices have been changed significantly recently.

Prognostic Role of Peripheral Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) in Patients with Rectal Cancer Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: To investigate the predictive and prognostic role of pretreatment hematological parameters for tumor response and outcomes in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients undergoing surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT).

Methods: From 2010 to 2016, 53 patients with LARC who underwent surgery following nCRT were analyzed. All hematological parameters were obtained from the initial blood tests performed before nCRT.

Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: Evaluation of Triggered Adaptive Replanning in Routine Practice.

Purpose And Objective: A proportion of patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) require treatment re-planning. The aim of this retrospective study is to analyze the patients who required re-planning and to identify factors, which may predict need for re-planning.

Materials And Methods: A single center evaluation of all patients receiving radical or adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy (CRT) for HNSCC between January and December 2016 was undertaken.

Comparison of kV Orthogonal Radiographs and kV-Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Image-Guided Radiotherapy Methods With and Without Implanted Fiducials in Prostate Cancer.

Introduction The aim of this study is to investigate the performance of kilovoltage (kV) cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-based adjustments with respect to kV-orthogonal fiducial marker-based matching in a group of patients with prostate cancer.  Methods Twenty prostate cancer patients were evaluated retrospectively: 10 with implanted fiducial markers and 10 without. Daily orthogonal kV imaging was recorded prior to radiation delivery.

LONG-TERM RESULTS OF EXTREMITY SOFT TISSUE SARCOMAS LIMB-SPARING SURGERY AND RADIOTHERAPY.

Objective: To assess the prognostic factors and results of limb sparing surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in patients with non-metastatic soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the extremities.

Methods: Between 1980-2007, 114 extremity-located STS treated with PORT were analyzed retrospectively. Tumors were mostly localized in the lower extremities (71,9%).

Local recurrence outcomes after breast conserving surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast and a comparison with ECOG E5194 study.

Purpose: Turkish Radiation Oncology Study Group investigated local recurrence rates and prognostic factors in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast treated with breast conservative surgery (BCS) followed by radiotherapy (RT) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Study E5194 were compared with the original study.

Patients And Methods: Totally 252 patients were evaluated retrospectively. Prognostic factors that might influence local control (age, nuclear grade, comedo necrosis, surgical margins, tumor size, hormone receptor status) were compared.

Comparison of changes in renal function with dosimetric parameters in gastric cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: Our objective was to analyze kidney damage using glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and dynamic renal scintigraphy (DRS) compared with dose volume histogram (DVH) parameters in gastric cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two gastric cancer patients treated with postoperative chemoradiotherapy were retrospectively evaluated. Student's t test was used to compare pre- and posttreatment GFR and creatinine values.

The Role of Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Primary or Recurrent Desmoid Tumors and Long-Term Results.

Background: Desmoid tumors are uncommon and benign mesenchymal neoplasms. The optimal treatment of patients with desmoid tumors is still controversial. Surgery is the primary treatment for locally invasive or recurrent desmoid tumors.

[Acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma of larynx as an uncommon variant of squamous cell carcinoma].

Acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma is an uncommon variant of squamous cell carcinoma. Acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma occurs in the sun-exposed areas of the skin and lip. It is rarely observed in the respiratory and digestive tract and may present more aggressively.

Long-term treatment results in soft tissue sarcomas of the thoracic wall treated with pre-or-postoperative radiotherapy--a single institution experience.

Objective: To evaluate the long term results among patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the thoracic wall.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six patients who were treated with pre-or postoperative radiotherapy between December 1980-December 2007, with a diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma of the thoracic wall were retrospectively evaluated.

Results: The median age was 44 years (14-85 years) and 15 of them were male.

Does rectum and bladder dose vary during the course of image-guided radiotherapy in the postprostatectomy setting?

Aims And Background: To assess the variations in actual doses delivered to the rectum and bladder in the course of postprostatectomy radiotherapy using kilovoltage-cone-beam computed tomography datasets acquired during image-guided radiotherapy.

Methods And Study Design: Twenty consecutive patients treated with intensity-modulated or intensity-modulated arc therapy to the prostate bed were retrospectively evaluated. Both the planning tomography and kilovoltage-cone-beam computed tomography were acquired with an empty rectum and a half-full bladder.

Non-metastatic Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors of bone in adolescents and adults: prognostic factors and clinical outcome-single institution results.

Aims And Background: There is limited data regarding outcomes of Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors in adolescents and adults compared with the same tumors in childhood. The aim of the study was to analyze prognostic factors and treatment results in a cohort of adolescents and adults with non-metastatic skeletal Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors.

Methods And Study Design: From 1992-2008, 90 adolescents and adults with Ewing's sarcoma family of tumors of the bone were referred to our institution.

Neoadjuvant treatment with preoperative radiotherapy for extremity soft tissue sarcomas: long-term results from a single institution in Turkey.

Background: To assess the long term clinical outcome of preoperative radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy followed by limb sparing surgery in patients with non-metastatic soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the extremities.

Materials And Methods: Sixty patients with locally advanced STS were retrospectively analyzed. The median tumor diameter was 12 cm.