Advancing Cancer Research Capability in Peru Through the Integration of Registries With Biobanks.

This article highlights Peru's experience in establishing a national tumor bank network, serving as a model for low- and middle-income countries. Launched in 2005 at the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases, efforts accelerated under the 2021 National Cancer Act, which formalized the National Tumor Bank and its integration with the National Oncology Network. This initiative connects tumor banks across regional cancer institutes, enabling systematic biological sample collection, particularly from underrepresented populations, such as those with high Amerindian ancestry.

Current availability of radiotherapy devices in Peru and artificial intelligence-based analysis for constructing a nationwide implementation plan.

Purpose: We provide for the first time a comprehensive situational diagnosis and propose an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted nationwide plan of implementation, attending the most urgent needs.

Methods: Baseline information was collected from open-source databases of the Peruvian Government. Data on cancer incidence from the Health Authorities and GLOBOCAN were collected and compared.

Prostate-specific antigen kinetics after stereotactic body radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer: A scoping review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is emerging as a valuable treatment modality for localized prostate cancer, with promising biochemical progression-free survival rates. Longitudinal assessment of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the mainstay of follow-up after treatment. PSA kinetics and dynamics are well-established in the context of brachytherapy and conventionally fractionated radiotherapy, yet little is known in the context of prostate SBRT.

Community-Led Action Research in Oncology: Pandemic-Appropriate Radiotherapy Innovations Evaluated (CLARO PARTE) for Latin America and the Caribbean Countries.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify, evaluate, and rank suitable safety innovations developed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) radiation oncology centers.

Methods: We conducted a multimodal participatory engagement collaboration with the Latin-American and Caribbean Society of Medical Oncology. The study consisted of four phases.

[New Radiation Therapy Concepts in Non-Metastatic Lung Cancer].

Radiotherapy plays a critical role in the management of non-metastatic lung cancer, offering curative potential and symptom relief. It serves as a primary treatment modality or adjuvant therapy post-surgery, enhancing local control and survival rates. Modern techniques like Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) enable precise tumor targeting, minimizing damage to healthy tissue and reducing treatment duration.

Incidence of hippocampal and perihippocampal brain metastases and impact on hippocampal-avoiding radiotherapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Purpose: In patients requiring prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) or whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for brain metastases (BMs), hippocampal avoidance (HA) has been shown to preserve neurocognitive function and quality of life. Here, we aim to estimate the incidence of hippocampal and perihippocampal BMs and the subsequent risk of local undertreatment in patients undergoing hippocampal sparing radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus were searched with the terms "Hippocampus", "Brain Neoplasms", and related terms.

Artificial Intelligence-Based Autosegmentation: Advantages in Delineation, Absorbed Dose-Distribution, and Logistics.

Purpose: The study's purpose was to compare the performance of artificial intelligence (AI) in auto-contouring compared with a human practitioner in terms of precision, differences in dose distribution, and time consumption.

Methods And Materials: Datasets of previously irradiated patients in 3 different segments (head and neck, breast, and prostate cancer) were retrospectively collected. An experienced radiation oncologist (MD) performed organs-at-risk (OARs) and standard clinical target volume delineations as baseline structures for comparison.

Multicentric Assessment of Safety and Efficacy of Combinatorial Adjuvant Brain Metastasis Treatment by Intraoperative Radiation Therapy and Immunotherapy.

Purpose: After surgical resection of brain metastases (BMs), intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) provides a promising alternative to adjuvant external beam radiation therapy by enabling superior organ-at-risk preservation, reduction of in-hospital times, and timely admission to subsequent systemic treatments, which increasingly comprise novel targeted immunotherapeutic approaches. We sought to assess the safety and efficacy of IORT in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and other targeted therapies (TTs).

Methods And Materials: In a multicentric approach incorporating individual patient data from 6 international IORT centers, all patients with BMs undergoing IORT were retrospectively assessed for combinatorial treatment with ICIs/TTs and evaluated for toxicity and cumulative rates, including wound dehiscence, radiation necrosis, leptomeningeal spread, local control, distant brain progression (DBP), and estimated overall survival.

Pharmaceutical management of acute radiation dermatitis in the German speaking radiation oncology community.

Background: Radiation dermatitis (RD) remains the most common side effect in radiation therapy (RT) with various pharmaceutical options available for prevention and treatment. We sought to determine pharmaceutical management patterns of radiation dermatitis among radiation oncology professionals.

Methods: We conducted a survey on RD among the German-speaking community of radiation oncologists inquiring for their opinion on preventive and therapeutic pharmaceutical approaches for acute RD.

Non-invasive physical plasma for preventing radiation dermatitis in breast cancer: Results from an intrapatient-randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Background And Purpose: To investigate the effect of topical non-invasive physical plasma (NIPP), a volatile mix generated out of ambient air, on prevention of acute radiation dermatitis (RD) during and after whole-breast irradiation (WBI).

Materials And Methods: Lateral and medial breast halves were randomised within each patient to receive either 120 s of NIPP or sham treatment daily during WBI. Standard skin care with urea lotion was applied to the whole breast.

Do Barrier Films Impact Long-Term Skin Toxicity following Whole-Breast Irradiation? Objective Follow-Up of Two Randomised Trials.

Hydrofilm, a polyurethane-based barrier film, can be used to prevent acute radiation dermatitis (RD) in adjuvant whole-breast irradiation (WBI) for breast cancer. This cost-effective prophylactic measure is currently being recommended to a growing number of patients, yet long-term safety data and its impact on late radiation-induced skin toxicity such as pigmentation changes and fibrosis have not been investigated. We objectively evaluated patients who were previously enrolled in either of two intrapatient-randomised (lateral versus medial breast halve) controlled trials on the use of Hydrofilm for RD prevention (DRKS00029665; registered on 19 July 2022).

Safety and efficacy of helical tomotherapy following lung-sparing surgery in locally advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Purpose: To assess the value of radiation therapy (RT) with helical tomotherapy (HT) in the management of locally advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) receiving no or lung-sparing surgery.

Methods: Consecutive MPM cases not undergoing extrapleural pneumonectomy and receiving intensity-modulated (IM) HT were retrospectively evaluated for local control, distant control, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Impact of age, systemic treatment, RT dose, and recurrence patterns was analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.

Intraoperative or postoperative stereotactic radiotherapy for brain metastases: time to systemic treatment onset and other patient-relevant outcomes.

Purpose: Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) has become a viable treatment option for resectable brain metastases (BMs). As data on local control and radiation necrosis rates are maturing, we focus on meaningful secondary endpoints such as time to next treatment (TTNT), duration of postoperative corticosteroid treatment, and in-hospital time.

Methods: Patients prospectively recruited within an IORT study registry between November 2020 and June 2023 were compared with consecutive patients receiving adjuvant stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) of the resection cavity within the same time frame.

Optimized Conformal Total Body Irradiation with VMAT Using a Linear-Accelerator-Based Radiosurgery Treatment System in Comparison to the Golden Standard Helical TomoTherapy.

Modern irradiation techniques for optimized conformal TBI can be realized by Helical Tomotherapy (HT) or Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), depending on the availability of suitable specialized equipment. In this dosimetric planning study, we compared both modalities and addressed the question of whether VMAT with small field sizes is also suitable as a backup in case of HT equipment malfunctions. For this purpose, we retrospectively used planning computed tomography (CT) data from 10 patients treated with HT with a total dose of 8 Gy (n = 5) or 12 Gy (n = 5) for treatment planning for VMAT with a small field size (36 × 22 cm).

Opportunities and Alternatives of Modern Radiation Oncology and Surgery for the Management of Resectable Brain Metastases.

Postsurgical radiotherapy (RT) has been early proven to prevent local tumor recurrence, initially performed with whole brain RT (WBRT). Subsequent to disadvantageous cognitive sequalae for the patient and the broad distribution of modern linear accelerators, focal irradiation of the tumor has omitted WBRT in most cases. In many studies, the effectiveness of local RT of the resection cavity, either as single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or hypo-fractionated stereotactic RT (hFSRT), has been demonstrated to be effective and safe.

Outcome assessment of intraoperative radiotherapy for brain metastases: results of a prospective observational study with comparative matched-pair analysis.

Purpose: Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is an emerging alternative to adjuvant stereotactic external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) following resection of brain metastases (BM). Advantages of IORT include an instant prevention of tumor regrowth, optimized dose-sparing of adjacent healthy brain tissue and immediate completion of BM treatment, allowing an earlier admission to subsequent systemic treatments. However, prospective outcome data are limited.

Barrier films for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Purpose: Radiation dermatitis (RD) is the most common side effect of adjuvant whole-breast or chest wall irradiation, majorly impacting quality of life in numerous patients. The use of barrier films (polyurethane dressings such as Hydrofilm® and Mepitel® film remaining on the skin for the duration of the radiation treatment) has been investigated as a prophylactic measure in several prospective trials. Here, we critically appraise the available evidence behind preventive barrier film application in the context of breast cancer treatment.

Objective, Clinician- and Patient-Reported Evaluation of Late Toxicity Following Adjuvant Radiation for Early Breast Cancer: Long-Term Follow-Up Results of a Randomised Series.

This study aimed to differentially assess the frequency and severity of late radiation-induced toxicity following adjuvant whole-breast irradiation for early breast cancer with conventional fractionation (CF) and moderate hypofractionation (mHF). Patients recruited in a previous randomised controlled trial comparing acute toxicity between CF and mHF without disease recurrence were included in a post hoc analysis. Spectrophotometric and ultrasonographic examinations were performed for an objective evaluation and subsequent comparison of long-term skin toxicity.

Risk assessment, surveillance, and nonpharmaceutical prevention of acute radiation dermatitis: results of a multicentric survey among the German-speaking radiation oncology community.

Purpose: Radiation dermatitis (RD) represents one of the most frequent side effects in radiotherapy (RT). Despite technical progress, mild and moderate RD still affects major subsets of patients and identification and management of patients with a high risk of severe RD is essential. We sought to characterize surveillance and nonpharmaceutical preventive management of RD in German-speaking hospitals and private centers.

Long-term characterization of MRI-morphologic alterations after active motion-compensated liver SBRT: a multi-institutional pooled analysis.

Background: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is an effective therapeutic approach in patients with liver metastases. However, long-term changes in hepatic normal tissue have to be taken into account in multimodal treatment regimes. Magnetic-resonance-imaging (MRI) based morphologic liver alterations (MMA) after liver SBRT have been analyzed longitudinally.

Perioperative therapy with FLOT4 significantly increases survival in patients with gastroesophageal and gastric cancer in a large real-world cohort.

In 2019, the FLOT4 protocol was established as the new standard for perioperative therapy in patients with locally advanced gastroesophageal and gastric cancer. Whether this protocol is beneficial in a real-world setting remains a question with limited answers to date. In our study, a large cohort of unselected patients treated with FLOT4 was analyzed and compared to protocols based on 5-FU/platinum derivative.

Whole body irradiation with intensity-modulated helical tomotherapy prior to haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: analysis of organs at risk by dose and its effect on blood kinetics.

Background: Intensity-modulated helical tomotherapy (HT) is a promising technique in preparation for bone marrow transplantation. Nevertheless, radiation-sensitive organs can be substantially compromised due to suboptimal delivery techniques of total body irradiation (TBI). To reduce the potential burden of radiation toxicity to organs at risk (OAR), high-quality coverage and homogeneity are essential.