Clinical feasibility of combining intraoperative electron radiation therapy with minimally invasive surgery: a potential for electron-FLASH clinical development.

Background: Local cancer therapy by combining real-time surgical exploration and resection with delivery of a single dose of high-energy electron irradiation entails a very precise and effective local therapeutic approach. Integrating the benefits from minimally invasive surgical techniques with the very precise delivery of intraoperative electron irradiation results in an efficient combined modality therapy.

Methods: Patients with locally advanced disease, who are candidates for laparoscopic and/or thoracoscopic surgery, received an integrated multimodal management.

Mechanisms of regenerative preconditioning in pigs with subtotal hepatectomies.

Background: Portal vein occlusion shortly before extended hepatic resections has hepatoprotective properties, but its molecular effects have not been elucidated. We characterized the impact of regenerative preconditioning by portal vein embolization (PVE) on hepatic energy metabolism and cytokine expression.

Materials And Methods: About 90% hepatectomies were performed in normal pigs (Control) and in pigs that underwent a PVE 24 h before the surgery (n = 10/group).

"Small-for-Flow" Syndrome: Concept Evolution.

Background: The "Small-for-Size" syndrome is defined as a liver failure after a liver transplant with a reduced graft or after a major hepatectomy. The later coined "Small-for-Flow" syndrome describes the same situation in liver resections but based on hemodynamic intraoperative parameters (portal pressure > 20 mmHg and/or portal flow > 250 ml/min/100 g). This focuses on the damage caused by the portal hyperafflux related to the volume of the remnant.

Comprehensive Characterization of a Porcine Model of The "Small-for-Flow" Syndrome.

Introduction: The term "Small-for-Flow" reflects the pathogenetic relevance of hepatic hemodynamics for the "Small-For-Size" syndrome and posthepatectomy liver failure. We aimed to characterize a large-animal model for studying the "Small-for-Flow" syndrome.

Methods: We performed subtotal (90%) hepatectomies in 10 female MiniPigs using a simplified transection technique with a tourniquet.

Role of intraoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of sacral chordoma.

Background Context: Sacral chordoma is a rare entity with high local recurrence rates when complete resection is not achieved. To date, there are no series available in literature combining surgery and intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT).

Purpose: The objective of this study was to report the experience of our center in the management of sacral chordoma combining radical resection with both external radiotherapy and IORT.

Preconditioning by portal vein embolization modulates hepatic hemodynamics and improves liver function in pigs with extended hepatectomy.

Background: Portal vein embolization is performed weeks before extended hepatic resections to increase the future liver remnant and prevent posthepatectomy liver failure. Portal vein embolization performed closer to the operation also could be protective, but worsening of portal hyper-perfusion is a major concern. We determined the hepatic hemodynamic effects of a portal vein embolization performed 24 hours prior to hepatic operation.

Intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy with or without external-beam radiotherapy in the management of paraaortic lymph-node oligometastases from gynecological malignancies.

Purpose: To analyze long-term outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with paraaortic lymph-node oligometastases (LNO) from gynecological malignancies treated in a multimodal protocol.

Methods: Patients with a histological diagnosis of LNO gynecological cancer [uterine cervix (n = 14, 40 %), endometrial (n = 18, 51 %), ovarian (n = 3, 9 %)] who underwent surgery with radical intent and intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), median dose 12.5 Gy) were considered eligible for participation in this study.

Single-Institution Multidisciplinary Management of Locoregional Oligo-Recurrent Pelvic Malignancies: Long-Term Outcome Analysis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze long-term outcomes and prognostic factors associated with survival in patients with locoregional oligo-recurrent (LROR) pelvic malignancies treated in a multimodal protocol.

Methods: Patients with an histologic diagnosis of LROR pelvic cancer (rectal 50 %, gynecological 50 %) with absence of distant metastases, undergoing surgery with radical intent and intraoperative radiotherapy (median dose 12.5 Gy) were considered eligible for participation in this study.

Role of radiotherapy in the chemotherapy-containing multidisciplinary management of patients with resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Background: To analyze prognostic factors associated with long-term outcomes in patients with resected pancreatic cancer treated with chemotherapy (CT) and surgery with or without external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).

Patients And Methods: From January 1995 to December 2012, 95 patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and locoregional disease [clinical stage IB-IIA (n = 45; 47%), IIB-IIIC (n = 50; 53%)] were treated with curative resection [R0 (n = 52; 55%), R1 (n = 43, 45%)] and CT with (n = 60; 63%) or without (n = 35; 37%) EBRT (45-50.4 Gy).

How to expand the safe limits in hepatic resections?

The size of the remnant liver after an extended hepatectomy is currently the main limiting factor for performing curative hepatic surgery in patients with tumors and liver metastasis. The current guidelines for extended hepatectomies require that the future remnant liver volume needs to be higher than 20% of the original liver in healthy organs, of 30% in livers with steatosis or exposed to chemotherapy, and of 40% in patients with cirrhosis in order to prevent the "small-for-size" syndrome, characterized by the development of liver dysfunction with ascites, coagulopathy and cholestasis. Observations from the use of small liver grafts in liver transplantation and an increased surgical experience has improved our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the development of liver dysfunction after extended hepatectomies.

Prognostic value of external beam radiation therapy in patients treated with surgical resection and intraoperative electron beam radiation therapy for locally recurrent soft tissue sarcoma: a multicentric long-term outcome analysis.

Background: A joint analysis of data from centers involved in the Spanish Cooperative Initiative for Intraoperative Electron Radiotherapy was performed to investigate long-term outcomes of locally recurrent soft tissue sarcoma (LR-STS) patients treated with a multidisciplinary approach.

Methods And Materials: Patients with a histologic diagnosis of LR-STS (extremity, 43%; trunk wall, 24%; retroperitoneum, 33%) and no distant metastases who underwent radical surgery and intraoperative electron radiation therapy (IOERT; median dose, 12.5 Gy) were considered eligible for participation in this study.

External-beam radiation therapy after surgical resection and intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy for oligorecurrent gynecological cancer. Long-term outcome.

Purpose: The goal of the present study was to analyze prognostic factors in patients treated with external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT), surgical resection and intraoperative electron-beam radiotherapy (IOERT) for oligorecurrent gynecological cancer (ORGC).

Patients And Methods: From January 1995 to December 2012, 61 patients with ORGC [uterine cervix (52 %), endometrial (30 %), ovarian (15 %), vagina (3 %)] underwent IOERT (12.5 Gy, range 10-15 Gy), and surgical resection to the pelvic (57 %) and paraaortic (43 %) recurrence tumor bed.

Preoperative chemoradiation with or without induction oxaliplatin plus 5-fluorouracil in locally advanced rectal cancer. Long-term outcome analysis.

Background And Purpose: It has been previously reported that a short FOLFOX-4 induction significantly improves pathologic complete response in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients treated with preoperative chemoradiation (CRT). In a larger and updated patient series, we analyzed FOLFOX-4 efficacy in terms of sphincter preservation and long-term outcomes.

Patients And Methods: From January 1995 to December 2010, 335 LARC patients were treated with preoperative chemoradiation (4500-5040 cGy).

Chemoradiation for resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma with or without intraoperative radiation therapy boost: Long-term outcomes.

Background/objectives: To analyze prognostic factors associated with long-term outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer treated with chemoradiation therapy (CRT) and surgery with or without intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy (IOERT).

Patients And Methods: From January 1995 to December 2012, 60 patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and locoregional disease (clinical stage IB [n = 13; 22%], IIA [n = 16; 27%], IIB [n = 22; 36%], IIIC [n = 9; 15%]) were treated with CRT (45-50.4 Gy before surgery [n = 19; 32%] and after surgery [n = 41; 68%]) and curative resection (R0 [n = 34; 57%], R1 [n = 26, 43%]).

Intraoperative radiotherapy with electrons: fundamentals, results, and innovation.

Rationale And Objectives: To analyse the programme activity and clinical innovation and/or technology developed over a period of 17 years with regard to the introduction and the use of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) as a therapeutic component in a medical-surgical multidisciplinary cancer hospital.

Material And Methods: To standardise and record this procedure, the Radiation Oncology service has an institutional programme and protocols that must be completed by the different specialists involved. For 17 years, IORT procedures were recorded on a specific database that includes 23 variables with information recorded on institutional protocols.

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma: upfront therapy, at first recurrence, or later?

Aim: Cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS+HIPEC) has been proposed as treatment for advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). No consensus exists on when to administer CRS+HIPEC during the natural history of the disease, namely, as upfront therapy, at first recurrence, or at second or subsequent recurrence.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed a series of patients with advanced EOC collected prospectively in an institution with a peritoneal malignant disease treatment program.

Intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy and extended surgical resection for gynecological pelvic recurrent malignancies with and without external beam radiation therapy: long-term outcomes.

Objective: To analyze prognostic factors in patients treated with intraoperative electrons containing resective surgical rescue of locally recurrent gynecological cancer (LRGC).

Methods: From January 1995 to December 2012, 35 patients with LRGC [uterine cervix (57%), endometrial (20%), ovarian (17%), vagina (6%)] underwent extended [multiorgan (54%), bone (9%), soft tissue (54%), vascular (14%)] surgery and intraoperative electron-beam radiation therapy [IOERT (10-15 Gy)] to the pelvic recurrence tumor bed. Sixteen (46%) patients also received external beam radiation therapy [EBRT (30.

"Small-for-flow" syndrome: shifting the "size" paradigm.

The "small-for-size" syndrome and "post-hepatectomy liver failure" refers to the development of liver failure (hyperbilirubinemia, coagulopathy, encephalopathy and refractory ascites) resulting from the reduction of liver mass beyond a certain threshold. This complication is associated with a high mortality and is a major concern in liver transplantation involving reduced liver grafts from deceased and living donors as well as in hepatic surgeries involving extended resections of liver mass. The limiting threshold for liver resection or transplantation is currently predicted based on the mass of the remnant liver (or donor graft) in relation to the body weight of the patient, with a ratio above 0.

Postchemoradiation resected locally advanced esophageal and gastroesophageal junction carcinoma: long-term outcome with or without intraoperative radiotherapy.

Background: To report feasibility, tolerance, anatomical topography of locoregional recurrence (LRR), and long-term outcome for esophageal and esophagogastric (EG) cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiation (CRT) and surgery with or without a radiation boost of intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy (IOERT).

Methods: From January 1995 to December 2010, 53 patients with primary esophageal (n = 26; 44 %) or EG carcinoma (n = 30; 56 %), and disease confined to locoregional area [clinical stage: IIb (n = 30; 57 %), IIIa (n = 14; 26 %), IIIb (n = 6; 11 %), IIIc (n = 3; 6 %)], were treated with preoperative CRT, curative (R0) resection with an extended (two-field) lymph node dissection in all cases. Thirty-seven patients also received a preanastomotic reconstruction IOERT boost (applicator diameter size 6-9 cm, dose 10-15 Gy, beam energy 6-15 MeV) over the tumor bed in the mediastinum and upper abdominal lymph node area.