Cost analysis of erythropoietin versus blood transfusions for cervical cancer patients receiving chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions or erythropoietin (EPO) can be used to evade the detrimental effects of anemia during radiotherapy, but the economic consequences of selecting either intervention are not well defined. The RBC transfusion needs during chemoradiotherapy for cervix cancer were quantified to allow comparison of RBC transfusion costs with the projected cost of EPO in this setting.

Methods And Materials: For patients receiving pelvic radiotherapy, weekly cisplatin, and brachytherapy, the RBC units transfused during treatment were tallied.

Long-term local control and survival after concomitant boost accelerated radiotherapy for locally advanced cervix cancer.

Between 1989 and 1994, a prospective clinical trial tested the safety and efficacy of concomitant boost accelerated superfractionated (CBASF) radiotherapy for patients with locally advanced cervix cancer. CBASF radiotherapy included 45 Gy/25 fractions to the pelvis and a 14.4 Gy/9 fraction concomitant boost to the primary tumor, followed by brachytherapy for a total point A dose of 85 Gy to 90 Gy.

Gynecologic brachytherapy: digital fluoroscopy for placement verification and treatment planning.

The authors evaluated the feasibility of using digital fluoroscopic images for device placement verification and dosimetric planning for gynecologic brachytherapy. Adequate images were obtained rapidly, and the limited pincushion distortion on digital fluoroscopic images produced negligible variations in brachytherapy dose calculations compared with those calculated with standard radiographs. Intraoperative digital fluoroscopy can facilitate both placement verification and dosimetric planning for gynecologic brachytherapy.

Recurrent cervical carcinoma: typical and atypical manifestations.

After treatment of cervical carcinoma, recurrent disease may be observed in multiple sites at imaging. Both typical and atypical manifestations of recurrent disease occur. Typical manifestations of recurrent cervical carcinoma involve the pelvis and lymph nodes.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) induces invasion of endometrial carcinoma cell lines in vitro.

Objectives: The overall goal of this study was to investigate the role of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/Met pathway in the pathophysiology of invasive endometrial carcinoma. Our objectives were (1) to examine expression of HGF and Met in surgical endometrial carcinoma specimens and endometrial carcinoma cell lines, and (2) to determine if HGF would stimulate invasion of endometrial carcinoma cell lines in vitro.

Methods: Using RT-PCR and Western immunoblotting, endometrial carcinoma specimens and the endometrial carcinoma cell lines KLE, HEC-1A, HEC-1B, and RL-95 were examined for expression of HGF and Met.