Secondary Tracheoesophageal Puncture After Laryngectomy Increases Complications With Shunt and Voice Prosthesis.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the demographics, clinical features, management, and prognostic indicators of tracheoesophageal puncture complications in patients undergoing placement of voice prosthesis following cancer treatment.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of cases from a tertiary referral center diagnosed between 1996 and 2015.

Analysis of the immune status from peripheral whole blood with a single-tube multicolor flow cytometry assay.

Supplementation of standard cancer therapies (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery) with immunotherapies has revolutionized cancer treatment. In order to include recent improvements of multimodal therapies into clinical routine, knowledge about the immune status, the immune dynamics and the detailed composition and activation of patient's immune system is required. The here presented single-tube multicolor flow cytometry assay allows the discrimination of 20 clinically relevant immune cell subsets and their activation status in peripheral whole blood.

Immune biological rationales for the design of combined radio- and immunotherapies.

Cancer immunotherapies are promising treatments for many forms of cancer. Nevertheless, the response rates to, e.g.

On PTV definition for glioblastoma based on fiber tracking of diffusion tensor imaging data.

Radiotherapy (RT) is commonly applied for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Following the planning target volume (PTV) definition procedure standardized in guidelines, a 20% risk of missing non-local recurrences is present. Purpose of this study was to evaluate whether diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based fiber tracking may be beneficial for PTV definition taking into account the prediction of distant recurrences.

Is in vivo and ex vivo irradiation equally reliable for individual Radiosensitivity testing by three colour fluorescence in situ hybridization?

Background: Individual radiosensitivity is influencing the outcome of radiation therapy. A general ex vivo testing is very work-intensive. It is of interest to see if a significant prediction concerning the sensitivity can be made by in vivo irradiation during radiation treatment.

Classification of three prognostically different groups of head and neck cancer patients based on their metabolic response to induction chemotherapy (IC-1).

Objectives: There exist no uniform decision criteria for conservative organ preservation treatments in head and neck cancer patients. Even with F-FDG-PET/CT after induction chemotherapy patient selection is challenging. This study correlated metabolic tumor response with treatment types and recurrence patterns.

Performance of Makerless Tracking for Gimbaled Dynamic Tumor Tracking.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this work is to report the workflow and the accuracy of the new markerless dynamic tumor tracking (MLDTT) method of the Vero 4DRT system introduced with ExacTrac 3.6.1.

Quantitative, Multi-institutional Evaluation of MR Thermometry Accuracy for Deep-Pelvic MR-Hyperthermia Systems Operating in Multi-vendor MR-systems Using a New Anthropomorphic Phantom.

Clinical outcome of hyperthermia depends on the achieved target temperature, therefore target conformal heating is essential. Currently, invasive temperature probe measurements are the gold standard for temperature monitoring, however, they only provide limited sparse data. In contrast, magnetic resonance thermometry (MRT) provides unique capabilities to non-invasively measure the 3D-temperature.

Consensus in determining the resectability of locally progressed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma - results of the Conko-007 multicenter trial.

Background: One critical step in the therapy of patients with localized pancreatic cancer is the determination of local resectability. The decision between primary surgery versus upfront local or systemic cancer therapy seems especially to differ between pancreatic cancer centers. In our cohort study, we analyzed the independent judgement of resectability of five experienced high volume pancreatic surgeons in 200 consecutive patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Method for a motion model based automated 4D dose calculation.

The Vero system can treat intra-fractionally moving tumors with gimbaled dynamic tumor tracking (DTT) by rotating the treatment beam so that it follows the motion of the tumor. However, the changes in the beam geometry and the constant breathing motion of the patient influence the dose applied to the patient. This study aims to perform a full 4D dose reconstruction for thirteen patients treated with DTT at the Vero system at the Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and investigates the temporal resolution required to perform an accurate 4D dose reconstruction.

Cetuximab, fluorouracil and cisplatin with or without docetaxel for patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (CeFCiD): an open-label phase II randomised trial (AIO/IAG-KHT trial 1108).

Background: The combination of cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cetuximab (PFC) is the reference first-line treatment for recurrent/metastatic (R/M) squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We analysed whether treatment intensification by the addition of docetaxel to PFC improved efficacy in R/M SCCHN.

Methods: A total of 180 patients with R/M SCCHN (1:1) were assigned to receive either cisplatin (40 mg/m), docetaxel (40 mg/m) and 5-FU (2000 mg/m) at days 1 and 8 and cetuximab (400/250 mg/m) at days 1, 8 and 15 (DPFC) or standard cisplatin (100 mg/m) at day 1, 5-FU (1000 mg/m) at days 1-4 and cetuximab (400/250 mg/m) at days 1, 8 and 15 (PFC).

Noncurated Data Lead to Misinterpretation of Treatment Outcomes in Patients With Prostate Cancer After Salvage or Palliative Radiotherapy.

Purpose: Clinical data warehouses (cDWHs) and cancer registry databases have enabled researchers to conduct clinical analytics with structured electronic health record data. However, these secondary electronic health record sources are often limited in scope because they do not capture the clinical information needed to understand complex clinical questions. Thus, we evaluated the effect of additional curation of data.

Paragangliomas of the Head and Neck: Local Control and Functional Outcome Following Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy.

Objectives: To investigate local control and functional outcome following state-of-the-art fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) for paragangliomas of the head and neck.

Methods: In total, 40 consecutive patients with paragangliomas of the head and neck received conventionally FSRT from 2003 to 2016 at the Department of Radiation Oncology of the University Hospital Erlangen. Local control, toxicities, and functional outcome were examined during follow-up.

Single-cycle induction chemotherapy before chemoradiotherapy or surgery in functionally inoperable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: 10-year results.

Introduction: The response to induction chemotherapy (IC) predicts local control after conservative treatment of laryngeal, meso- and hypopharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and can thus help to avoid surgery. Single-cycle induction chemotherapy may help to maintain a low local recurrence rate while keeping the overall toxicity manageable. However, long-term data on single-cycle IC response by tumor location is lacking.

Tumor Cell-Based Vaccine Generated With High Hydrostatic Pressure Synergizes With Radiotherapy by Generating a Favorable Anti-tumor Immune Microenvironment.

Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines pulsed with high hydrostatic pressure (HHP)-inactivated tumor cells have been demonstrated to be a promising immunotherapy for solid tumors. We focused on sole injection of tumor cells that were inactivated by HHP and their combination with local radiotherapy (RTx) for induction of anti-tumor immune responses. HHP-treatment of tumor cells resulted in pre-dominantly necrotic cells with degraded DNA.

CD8+ and Regulatory T cells Differentiate Tumor Immune Phenotypes and Predict Survival in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: The tumor immune status "inflamed", "immune excluded", and "desert" might serve as a predictive parameter. We studied these three cancer immune phenotypes while using a simple immunohistochemical algorithm.

Methods: Pre-treatment tissue samples of 280 patients with locally advanced HNSCC treated with radiochemotherapy were analyzed.

Is adaptive treatment planning in multi-catheter interstitial breast brachytherapy necessary?

Purpose: For 55 patients treated with interstitial multi-catheter breast brachytherapy the need for adaptive treatment planning was assessed.

Methods And Materials: For all patients a treatment planning computed tomography (CT) and a follow-up CT were acquired and used for the retrospective evaluation. Keeping dwell time and dwell positions constant, the treatment plan assessed directly after catheter implantation was compared to the situation 48 h after implantation.

Error detection using an electromagnetic tracking system in multi-catheter breast interstitial brachytherapy.

The hybrid treatment delivery system (HTDS) has been proposed as a possible option for a quality assurance in the multi-catheter interstitial brachytherapy for breast cancer patients. The system, which consists out of a prototype afterloader with an integrated electromagnetic tracking (EMT) sensor and an EMT system, allows the automatic measurement of implanted catheters. To test the feasibility of the system for error detection, possible treatment planning errors and treatment delivery errors were simulated.

Estimation of inter-fractional variations in interstitial multi-catheter breast brachytherapy using a hybrid treatment delivery system.

Purpose: Irradiation of the tumor bed using interstitial multi-catheter brachytherapy is one of the treatment options for breast cancer patients. In order to ensure the planned dose delivery an advanced quality intervention method using an electromagnetic tracking (EMT) system is presented. The system is used to assess inter-fractional variations within the framework of a patient study.

Low-Dose Irradiation Differentially Impacts Macrophage Phenotype in Dependence of Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes and Radiation Dose.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease whose main hallmark is inflammation and destruction of the joints. Two cell types within the synovium that play an important role in RA are fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and macrophages. The latter innate immune cells show a high plasticity in their phenotype and are central in inflammatory processes.

Radiotherapy after skin-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction in intermediate-risk breast cancer : Indication and technical considerations.

Background: Skin-sparing (SSME) and nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSME) were developed to improve the cosmetic results for breast cancer (BC) patients, both allowing for immediate breast reconstruction. Recommendations for post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) are primarily derived from trials where patients were treated by standard mastectomies. Due to their more conservative character, SSME and especially NSME potentially leave more glandular tissue at risk for subclinical disease.

Non-professional phagocytosis: a general feature of normal tissue cells.

Non-professional phagocytosis by cancer cells has been described for decades. Recently, non-professional phagocytosis by normal tissue cells has been reported, which prompted us to take a closer look at this phenomenon. Non-professional phagocytosis was studied by staining cultured cells with live-cell staining dyes or by staining paraffin-embedded tissues by immunohistochemistry.

Outcome and management of rare high-grade "salivary" adenocarcinoma: the important role of adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy.

Purpose: To determine survival and management strategies for high-grade adenocarcinoma of salivary glands (ASG).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of cases diagnosed between 1998 and 2015 from our single tertiary referral center was performed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with survival.

Heart-sparing radiotherapy techniques in breast cancer patients: a recommendation of the breast cancer expert panel of the German society of radiation oncology (DEGRO).

Purpose: The aim of this review was to analyze the respective efficacy of various heart-sparing radiotherapy techniques.

Material And Methods: Heart-sparing can be performed in three different ways in breast cancer radiotherapy: by seeking to keep the heart out of treated volumes (i.e.