DNA Methyltransferase Gene Polymorphisms for Prediction of Radiation-Induced Skin Fibrosis after Treatment of Breast Cancer: A Multifactorial Genetic Approach.

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the role of four polymorphic variants of DNA methyltransferase genes as risk factors for radiation-induced fibrosis in breast cancer patients. We also assessed their ability to improve prediction accuracy when combined with mitochondrial haplogroup H, which we previously found to be independently associated with a lower hazard of radiation-induced fibrosis.

Materials And Methods: rs2228611, rs1550117, rs7581217, and rs2424908 were genotyped by real-time polymerase chain reaction in 286 Italian breast cancer patients who received radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery.

Hypofractionated radiation therapy for breast cancer: long-term results in a series of 85 patients.

Purpose: Whole-breast irradiation after conservative surgery is the standard treatment for early breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to report the late toxicity, cosmetic result, and disease control in a group of patients treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) comparing results with retrospective data of a control group who underwent conventional RT.

Methods: From 2006 to 2008, 85 patients were treated with hypofractionated schedule to dose of 45 Gy, 2.

Technical guidelines for head and neck cancer IMRT on behalf of the Italian association of radiation oncology - head and neck working group.

Performing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) on head and neck cancer patients (HNCPs) requires robust training and experience. Thus, in 2011, the Head and Neck Cancer Working Group (HNCWG) of the Italian Association of Radiation Oncology (AIRO) organized a study group with the aim to run a literature review to outline clinical practice recommendations, to suggest technical solutions and to advise target volumes and doses selection for head and neck cancer IMRT. The main purpose was therefore to standardize the technical approach of radiation oncologists in this context.

Prone versus supine position for adjuvant breast radiotherapy: a prospective study in patients with pendulous breasts.

Purpose: To analyze dosimetric parameters of patients receiving adjuvant breast radiotherapy (RT) in the prone versus supine position.

Methods And Materials: Forty-one out of 55 patients with pendulous breasts and candidates for adjuvant RT were enrolled in the study after informed consent. They underwent computed tomography (CT)-simulation in both prone and supine position.

Common variants of eNOS and XRCC1 genes may predict acute skin toxicity in breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of functional polymorphisms in genes related to DNA repair mechanisms (XRCC1, TP53, MSH2, MSH3, XPD), oxidative stress response (GSTP1, GSTA1, eNOS, SOD2) and fibroblast proliferation (TGFβ1) on the risk of acute skin toxicity in breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.

Material And Methods: Skin toxicity was scored according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group criteria in 286 breast cancer patients who received radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery. Genotyping was conducted by PCR-RFLP analysis and real-time PCR allelic discrimination assay on genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood.

Concomitant chemo-radiotherapy for unresectable oesophageal cancer: A mono-institutional study on 40 patients.

Background/aim: To analyse clinical response, overall (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) and toxicity in patients with unresectable oesophageal cancer treated by concomitant chemo-radiotherapy (CRT).

Materials And Methods: Forty patients with stage IIa-IVa biopsy proven oesophageal carcinoma were treated with CRT. All patients were studied with endoscopy and CT and judged unresectable after multidisciplinary discussion.

Variation in gynecological oncology follow-up practice: attributable to cancer centers or to patient characteristics? A Piedmont Regional Oncology Network Study.

Aims And Background: Although guidelines recommend minimalist follow-up, there is wide variability in gynecological oncology practice. The aims of this study were to describe between-center differences in the follow-up of endometrial, ovarian, and uterine cervical cancer; to identify the determinants of test prescription; to estimate the related costs; and to assess the weight of center habits and patient characteristics as sources of unexplained variability.

Methods And Study Design: The medical records of patients treated between August 2004 and July 2005 for gynecological malignancies and followed up for the detection of recurrent disease were retrospectively collected from 29 centers of the Piedmont Oncology Network.

Common variants of GSTP1, GSTA1, and TGFβ1 are associated with the risk of radiation-induced fibrosis in breast cancer patients.

Purpose: To provide new insights into the genetic basis of normal tissue radiosensitivity, we evaluated the association between eight polymorphic variants located in six genes related to DNA repair mechanisms, oxidative stress, and fibroblast proliferation (XRCC1 Arg399Gln, XRCC1 Arg194Trp, TP53 Arg72Pro, GSTP1 Ile105Val, GSTA1 C-69T, eNOS G894T, TGFβ1 C-509T, and TGFβ1 T869C) and the risk of subcutaneous fibrosis in a retrospective series of patients who received radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery.

Methods And Materials: Subcutaneous fibrosis was scored according to the Late Effects of Normal Tissue--Subjective Objective Management Analytical scale in 257 breast cancer patients who underwent surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy. Genotyping was conducted by polymerase chain reaction--restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis on genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood.

Detection of setup uncertainties with 3D surface registration system for conformal radiotherapy of breast cancer.

Aim: To investigate the clinical application of a technique for patient set-up verification in breast cancer radiotherapy based on a 3D surface image registration system.

Background: Accurate and reproducible patient set-up is a prerequisite to correctly deliver fractionated radiotherapy. Various approaches are available to verify and correct patient setup for 3D image acquisition in a radiation treatment room.

Hypofractionated radiotherapy after conservative surgery for breast cancer: analysis of acute and late toxicity.

Background: A variety of hypofractionated radiotherapy schedules has been proposed after breast conserving surgery in the attempt to shorten the overall treatment time. The aim of the present study is to assess acute and late toxicity of using daily fractionation of 2.25 Gy to a total dose of 45 Gy to the whole breast in a mono-institutional series.

FDG-PET/CT imaging for staging and radiotherapy treatment planning of head and neck carcinoma.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) has a potential improvement for staging and radiation treatment planning of various tumor sites. We analyzed the use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET/computed tomography (CT) images for staging and target volume delineation of patients with head and neck carcinoma candidates for radiotherapy.

Methods: Twenty-two patients candidates for primary radiotherapy, who did not receive any curative surgery, underwent both CT and PET/CT simulation.

Prevention of malignant seeding at drain sites after invasive procedures (surgery and/or thoracoscopy) by hypofractionated radiotherapy in patients with pleural mesothelioma.

Introduction: Literature data show that mesothelioma cells can implant along the surgical pathway of invasive procedures such as thoracotomy and thoracoscopy. We investigated the use of hypofractionated radiotherapy for preventing such malignant seeding.

Material And Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma were included in the present retrospective study.

Delineation of target volume for radiotherapy of high-grade gliomas by 99m Tc-MIBI SPECT and MRI fusion.

Background And Purpose: Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are traditionally used for treatment planning of high-grade glioma. 99m Tc-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (MIBI) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) showed high sensitivity and specificity in literature series. In the present study, it was investigated how the information provided by 99m Tc-MIBI SPECT and MRI fusion could affect target delineation for radiotherapy of high-grade glioma.

Pulmonary changes after radiotherapy for conservative treatment of breast cancer: a prospective study.

Purpose: Radiotherapy (RT) after conservative surgery for breast cancer involves part of the pulmonary parenchyma with a potential detrimental effect of reducing the normal functional reserve. Such an effect deserves to be studied in depth, considering the given long life expectancy of these women. We prospectively analyzed high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) with correlation with dosimetric data from RT.

Role of radiotherapy in the treatment of cervical lymph node metastases from an unknown primary site: retrospective analysis of 113 patients.

Purpose: The management of patients with cervical lymph-node metastases from unknown primary site (UPS) remains a matter of discussion. This study aimed to analyze the results and prognostic factors in a series of patients treated with radiotherapy.

Methods And Materials: Data from 113 patients who presented with cervical lymph nodes metastases from UPS treated from 1980 to 2004 were reviewed.

Voice quality after treatment for T1a glottic carcinoma--radiotherapy versus laser cordectomy.

The purpose of this study was to assess the anatomic and functional outcomes and compare the voice quality in patients affected by T1a glottic carcinoma treated with curative intent with radiotherapy or laser cordectomy. Fifty-seven cases were analysed: 27 after curative radiotherapy and 30 after laser cordectomy. All patients were studied with videolaryngostroboscopy, voice analysis by narrow spectrogram, and vocal parameters (Jitter, Shimmer, noise/harmonic ratio, and diplophonia).