Intra-operative Radiation Therapy versus Whole Breast External Beam Radiotherapy: A Comparison of Patient-Reported Outcomes.

Introduction: This project sought to compare patient-reported outcomes between patients who received intra-operative radiation therapy (IORT) and those who qualified for IORT but received whole-breast external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) following breast-conserving surgery (BCS).

Methods: Three scales from the BREAST-Q Breast Cancer BCT Module Version 2.0 questionnaire were used to collect patient-reported outcomes regarding post-operative physical well-being of the chest, post-operative satisfaction with breast cosmesis, and post-operative adverse effects of radiation.

Does the FIGO 2009 endometrial cancer staging system more accurately correlate with clinical outcome in different histologies? Revised staging, endometrial cancer, histology.

Objective: In 2009, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system was revised for endometrial cancers. Different histologies were examined in a large population database. The FIGO 1988 and 2009 staging systems were compared for stage at presentation, differences in patient populations, and disease-specific survival (DSS).

Clinical versus pathologic staging for prostate adenocarcinoma: how do they correlate?

Objectives: We assessed the ability of 3 clinical factors-stage, D'Amico risk stratification, and Roach formula-estimated nodal risk-to predict the pathologic outcomes in a modern cohort of prostate cancer patients.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program for 2004 and 2005. Men with adenocarcinoma of the prostate who had complete staging information were included.

Does the revised International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging system for endometrial cancer lead to increased discrimination in patient outcomes?

Background: Recent changes were made to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system for endometrial cancer. The objective of this study was to compare survival outcomes for patients who were staged according to the 1988 FIGO staging system versus the 2009 FIGO staging system.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program for the years 1998 to 2006.

Curative radiation therapy for pancreatic malignancies.

Surgery is generally considered as the only curative therapy for pancreatic cancer; however, even with optimal surgery, long-term cure is achieved in very few patients, thus highlighting the need for adjuvant therapies. Radiation therapy, usually in combination with chemotherapy, plays a role in the setting of unresectable, nonmetastatic pancreatic cancer. Its role in the adjuvant setting remains controversial and as yet undefined.