De-intensification of postoperative radiotherapy in head and neck cancer irrespective of human papillomavirus status-results of a prospective multicenter phase II trial (DIREKHT Trial).

Background: Current standard treatment concepts in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are based on former studies using 2D and 3D treatment plans. However, modern radiation techniques allow for a more precise and individual dose application. Therefore, in a clearly defined patient population, de-intensified risk-adapted radiation is investigated.

Immunogenicity Parameters of Cancer Patients Receiving the mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 While Obtaining Radiotherapy: A Longitudinal Cohort Evaluation.

Background: Cancer patients are highly prone to infectious diseases. While undergoing antineoplastic treatment, the risk of severe symptoms upon infection increases, necessitating efficient protective measures, such as vaccination. For patients receiving radiotherapy, there is no specific information about humoral immunity.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination willingness and humoral vaccination response in radiation oncology patients.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection has been and, in some parts, still is a threat to oncologic patients, making it crucial to understand perception of vaccination and immunologic responses in this vulnerable patient segment. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in relation to malignant disease characteristics and therapies have so far not been studied consecutively in larger oncologic patient populations. This study captures SARS-CoV-2 vaccination willingness and humoral immune response in a large consecutive oncologic patient collective at the beginning of 2021.

Acute and long-term toxicity in primary hypofractionated external photon radiation therapy in patients with localized prostate cancer.

Background: Compelling evidence exists for the iso-effectiveness and safety of moderate hypofractionated radiotherapy (Hypo-RT) schedules [1, 2]. However, international guidelines are not congruent regarding recommendation of ultrahypofractionated radiotherapy (UHF-RT) to all risk groups.

Methods: The current review gives an overview of clinically relevant toxicity extracted from major randomized controlled trials (RCT) trials comparing conventional to hypofractionated regimes in the primary setting of external photon radiation.

Chromosomal radiosensitivity in oncological and non-oncological patients with rheumatoid arthritis and connective tissue diseases.

Background: The risk of developing late radiotoxicity after radiotherapy in patients with high chromosomal radiosensitivity after radiotherapy could potentially be higher compared to the risk in patients with average radiosensitivity. In case of extremely high radiosensitivity, dose reduction may be appropriate. Some rheumatic diseases (RhD), including connective tissue diseases (CTDs) appear to be associated with higher radiosensitivity.

Evaluation of novel 3D-printed and conventional thermoplastic stereotactic high-precision patient fixation masks for radiotherapy.

Purpose: For stereotactic radiation therapy of intracranial malignancies, a patient's head needs to be immobilized with high accuracy. Fixation devices such as invasive stereotactic head frames or non-invasive thermoplastic mask systems are often used. However, especially stereotactic high-precision masks often cause discomfort for patients due to a long manufacturing time during which the patient is required to lie still and because the face is covered, including the mouth, nose, eyes, and ears.

Influence of Gender on Radiosensitivity during Radiochemotherapy of Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Gender is increasingly recognized as an important factor in medicine, although it has long been neglected in medical research in many areas. We have studied the influence of gender in advanced rectal cancer with a special focus on radiosensitivity. For this purpose, we studied a cohort of 495 men (84.

Additional Value of 2-[F]FDG PET/CT Comparing to MRI in Treatment Approach of Anal Cancer Patients.

Accurate staging and treatment planning are imperative for precise management in Anal Cancer (ACa) patients. We aimed to evaluate the additive and prognostic value of pre-treatment 2-[F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (2-[F]FDG PET/CT) in the staging and management of ACa compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This retrospective study was conducted on 54 patients.

Localised multiple sclerosis-like disease after irradiation of the cervicothoracic spinal cord.

Background: Radiation has been discussed as a potential causative factor for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). However, it is unresolved whether radiation increases the aggressiveness of the immune system or whether it alters the nervous tissue to become vulnerable to a pre-existing autoimmune attackdisposition. We report a patient with an MS-like disease confined to the irradiated part of his central nervous system (CNS).

Diagnostic Performance of [F]Fluorocholine and [Ga]Ga-PSMA PET/CT in Prostate Cancer: A Comparative Study.

The current study endeavored to closely compare the detection rate of 68-Gallium labelled prostate-specific membrane antigen ([Ga]Ga-PSMA) versus [F]Fluorocholine in men with prostate cancer (PC), to investigate the benefits and pitfalls of each modality in the setting of various patient characteristics. We retrospectively analyzed 29 biopsy-proven PC patients in two categories, staging and restaging, who underwent both scans within a maximum of 30 days of each other. Variables including patient demographics, prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, Gleason score, clinical course, and following treatments were recorded.

Impact of contemporary therapy- concepts on surgical morbidity in breast cancer patients: A retrospective single center analysis of 829 patients.

Introduction: Morbidity after breast cancer surgery remains low with revision surgery below 5%. This retrospective monocentric study investigates whether new methods like neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT), oncoplastic surgery (OPS) or intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) affect overall morbidity. In addition, we sought to determine a possible effect of morbidity on oncologic outcome.

Altered fractionation short-course radiotherapy for stage II-III rectal cancer: a retrospective study.

Purpose: To report the long-term outcomes of neoadjuvant altered fractionation short-course radiotherapy in 271 consecutive patients with stage II-III rectal cancer.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective single institution study with median follow-up of 101 months (8.4 years).

Multiphasic Ga-PSMA PET/CT in the Detection of Early Recurrence in Prostate Cancer Patients with a PSA Level of Less Than 1 ng/mL: A Prospective Study of 135 Patients.

The main objective of this prospective study was to determine the impact of multiphasic acquisition of Ga-PSMA PET/CT in the detection of recurrent prostate cancer in the early stage of biochemical recurrence with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of less than 1 ng/mL. Also, Ga-PSMA PET/CT positivity was correlated with clinical parameters for the assessment of predictive markers. A prospective monocentric study was conducted on 135 prostate cancer patients with biochemical recurrence and a PSA level of less than 1 ng/mL.

Endocrine therapy with or without whole breast irradiation in low-risk breast cancer patients after breast-conserving surgery: 10-year results of the Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group 8A trial.

Purpose: To investigate long-term results of patients with hormonal receptor-positive breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and consecutive endocrine therapy (ET) with or without whole breast irradiation (WBI).

Methods And Materials: Within the 8 A trial of the Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group, a total of 869 patients received ET after BCS which was randomly followed by WBI (n = 439, group 1) or observation (n = 430, group 2). WBI was applied up to a mean total dosage of 50 Gy (+/- 10 Gy boost) in conventional fractionation.

Quality of life in patients with limited (1-3) brain metastases undergoing stereotactic or whole brain radiotherapy : A prospective study of the DEGRO QoL working group.

Purpose: Published results of quality of life (QoL) studies mostly concern whole brain radiotherapy for limited or multiple brain metastases. This prospective multicentre study was designed to compare the QoL of patients with limited (1-3) brain metastases treated with either whole brain (WBRT) or stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT).

Methods: From 01/2007-03/2011, 90 limited brain metastases patients who were previously untreated (n = 77) or had undergone primary surgery (n = 13) were recruited at 14 centres in Germany and Austria.

Definitive, intensity modulated tomotherapy with a simultaneous integrated boost for prostate cancer patients - Long term data on toxicity and biochemical control.

Aim: To report long-term data regarding biochemical control and late toxicity of simultaneous integrated boost intensity modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) with tomotherapy in patients with localized prostate cancer.

Background: Dose escalation improves cancer control after curative intended radiation therapy (RT) to patients with localized prostate cancer, without increasing toxicity, if IMRT is used.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we evaluated long-term toxicity and biochemical control of the first 40 patients with intermediate risk prostate cancer receiving SIB-IMRT.

Re-irradiation of recurrent glioblastoma as part of a sequential multimodality treatment concept.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate survival outcomes in well-performing, mainly, young patients receiving a sequence of all available therapeutic options for relapsed glioblastoma, including re-irradiation.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 27 patients irradiated twice for glioblastoma between 2008 and 2016. In the first line, all had surgical treatment of the tumor followed by radiotherapy with a total dose of 60 Gy and temozolomide.

Risk Factors for Local Relapse and Inferior Disease-free Survival After Breast-conserving Management of Breast Cancer: Recursive Partitioning Analysis of 2161 Patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze risk factors for ipsilateral in-breast relapse and inferior disease-free survival (DFS) after standard adjuvant whole-breast radiotherapy (± boost and systemic treatment) as part of a multimodal breast-conserving approach.

Patients And Methods: Decision trees were built through recursive partitioning analysis (RPA). The median follow-up for all 2161 patients was 114 months (9.

Feasibility of radiotherapy in nonagenarian patients: a retrospective study.

Purpose: Specific information about radiation therapy in nonagenarians is limited. In order to shed more light on the feasibility of radiotherapy in this challenging subgroup, a retrospective study was performed.

Methods: The data of 93 consecutive patients receiving irradiation treatment at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Ordensklinikum Linz Barmherzige Schwestern between June 2005 and December 2016 were analyzed.

Prognostic and predictive factors in patients with brain metastases from solid tumors: A review of published nomograms.

Objective: To review published nomograms that predict endpoints such as overall survival (OS) or risk of intracranial relapse in patients with brain metastases from solid tumors.

Methods: The methods and results of nomogram studies identified by a systematic search were extracted and compared, stratified by endpoint predicted by the respective nomograms. In particular, validation strategies (external/internal), concordance indices (cut-off 0.

Optimal time-point for Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT imaging in assessment of prostate cancer: feasibility of sterile cold-kit tracer preparation?

Purpose: In this prospective study, we evaluated the optimal time-point for Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT acquisition in the assessment of prostate cancer. We also examined, for the first time the feasibility of tracer production using a PSMA-11 sterile cold-kit in the clinical workflow of PET/CT centres.

Methods: Fifty prostate cancer patients (25 staging, 25 biochemical recurrence) were enrolled in this study.

ÖGRO survey on radiotherapy capacity in Austria : Status quo and estimation of future demands.

Background: A comprehensive evaluation of the current national and regional radiotherapy capacity in Austria with an estimation of demands for 2020 and 2030 was performed by the Austrian Society for Radiation Oncology, Radiobiology and Medical Radiophysics (ÖGRO).

Materials And Methods: All Austrian centers provided data on the number of megavoltage (MV) units, treatment series, fractions, percentage of retreatments and complex treatment techniques as well as the daily operating hours for the year 2014. In addition, waiting times until the beginning of radiotherapy were prospectively recorded over the first quarter of 2015.

Effects of definitive and salvage radiotherapy on the distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations in prostate cancer patients.

Background: Radiotherapy (RT) is an established treatment for patients with primary and recurrent prostate cancer. Herein, the effects of definitive and salvage RT on the composition of lymphocyte subpopulations were investigated in patients with prostate cancer to study potential immune effects.

Patients And Methods: A total of 33 prostate cancer patients were treated with definitive (n = 10) or salvage RT (n = 23) after biochemical relapse.