Impact of quality assurance rounds in a Canadian radiation therapy department.

Purpose: Quality assurance (QA) programs aim to identify inconsistencies that may compromise patient care. Radiation treatment planning is a well-documented source of variation in radiation oncology, leading many organizations to recommend the implementation of QA rounds in which radiation therapy plans are peer reviewed. This study evaluates the outcome of QA rounds that have been conducted by a radiation therapy department since 2004.

Primary sarcoma of the mediastinum: a report of 16 cases referred to the British Columbia Cancer Agency.

Background: Sarcoma arising in the mediastinum is a rare entity. This study evaluates treatment and survival in a cohort of patients with primary mediastinal sarcoma.

Methods: Between 1990 and 2006, 16 patients were referred to the British Columbia Cancer Agency with histologically confirmed sarcoma of mediastinal origin.

Treatment and outcomes in adult patients with primary cardiac sarcoma: the British Columbia Cancer Agency experience.

Background: To evaluate treatment and survival in a cohort of patients referred to a Canadian institution with newly diagnosed primary cardiac sarcoma.

Methods: Between 1990 and 2006, 16 patients were referred to the British Columbia Cancer Agency with pathologically confirmed sarcoma of cardiac origin. Retrospective chart review was performed to document patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics.

Examining time intervals between diagnosis and treatment in the management of patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer.

Objective: To examine time intervals between diagnosis and treatment of limited stage small cell lung cancer (L-SCLC) and to evaluate its effect on clinical outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Data on 166 patients with L-SCLC referred to a regional cancer center between January 1991 and December 1999 were analyzed. The time intervals studied were defined as: interval A, first abnormal chest x-ray to pathologic diagnosis: interval B, diagnosis to first oncology consultation; interval C, oncology consultation to first day of thoracic radiotherapy (RT); interval D, oncology consultation to first day of chemotherapy; and interval E, first day of chemo to first day of RT.

Endoscopic response predicts for survival and organ preservation after primary chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Purpose: To determine the role of endoscopic surveillance in predicting organ preservation and survival after primary chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for esophageal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-six consecutive patients with nonmetastatic esophageal cancer were treated with primary CRT between May 1993 and April 1999 with curative intent and subsequent surveillance with endoscopy and CT scans. Patients with residual disease on endoscopy and/or CT 6 weeks after CRT were considered for immediate esophagectomy.

Dynamics and mechanics of the microtubule plus end.

An important function of microtubules is to move cellular structures such as chromosomes, mitotic spindles and other organelles around inside cells. This is achieved by attaching the ends of microtubules to cellular structures; as the microtubules grow and shrink, the structures are pushed or pulled around the cell. How do the ends of microtubules couple to cellular structures, and how does this coupling regulate the stability and distribution of the microtubules? It is now clear that there are at least three properties of a microtubule end: it has alternate structures; it has a biochemical transition defined by GTP hydrolysis; and it forms a distinct target for the binding of specific proteins.

Do age and comorbidity impact treatment allocation and outcomes in limited stage small-cell lung cancer? a community-based population analysis.

Purpose: The effects of age and comorbidity on treatment and outcomes for patients with limited stage small-cell lung cancer (L-SCLC) are unclear. This study analyzes relapse and survival in a community-based population with L-SCLC according to age and comorbidity.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 174 patients with L-SCLC referred to the British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver Island Centre, between January 1991 and December 1999.