Association Between Thyroid Radiation Dose and Hypothyroidism in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy for Regional Nodal Irradiation.

Background/aim: To investigate the association between the thyroid dysfunction and thyroid radiation dose in regional nodal irradiation (RNI) using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed medical data of 67 patients with breast cancer who underwent curative surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy, including RNI using VMAT, between 2018 and 2021. All patients had normal thyroid functional test results, including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T3, and free-T4.

Patterns of locoregional recurrences and suggestion of the clinical target volume in resected perihilar extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the patterns of locoregional recurrence (LRR) in patients with perihilar extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (PEHC) treated with radical resection and to suggest the optimal target volume for elective nodal irradiation.

Methods: Medical records of PEHC patients who underwent radical resection between January 2000 and September 2021 at five institutions were reviewed. Patients who were confirmed with LRR in the follow-up imaging study were included.

Clinical Benefit of Bevacizumab and Irinotecan (BEV+IRI) in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Glioblastoma (r/rGBM) and its Potential Predictors.

Background/aim: Bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy constitutes an important salvage treatment for recurrent/refractory glioblastoma(r/rGBM).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively collected the data of r/rGBM patients treated with the combination of bevacizumab and irinotecan (BEV+IRI) as their salvage treatment from July 2013 and December 2021 in Konkuk Medical Center of Korea. Patients with available results from molecular diagnostic tests were eligible, and markers of interest were examined including the presence of MGMT methylation, IDH1/2 mutation, or 1p/19q co-deletion.

Variation in clinical target volume delineation in postoperative radiotherapy for biliary tract cancer.

We aimed to evaluate the inter-clinician variability in the clinical target volume (CTV) for postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for biliary tract cancer (BTC) including extrahepatic bile duct cancer (EBDC) and gallbladder cancer (GBC). Nine experienced radiation oncologists delineated PORT CTVs for distal EBDC (pT2N1), proximal EBDC (pT2bN1) and GBC (pT2bN1) patients. The expectation maximization algorithm for Simultaneous Truth and Performance Level Estimation (STAPLE) was used to quantify expert agreements.

Prognostic impact of neutrophilia and lymphopenia on survival in anal cancer treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy: a retrospective multicenter study.

Purpose: This study evaluated the prognostic value of leukocyte, lymphocyte, and neutrophil counts in anal cancer patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).

Methods: Multi-institutional retrospective data review included 148 non-metastatic anal cancer patients treated with definitive CCRT with 5-fluorouracil plus mitomycin C between the year 2001 and 2019. The median radiation dose to the primary tumor was 54 Gy with a median pelvic dose of 45 Gy.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio After Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy Predicts Survival in Patients With Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio represent systemic immune-inflammatory responses. We evaluated the association between immune-inflammatory cell ratios and prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients who underwent definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (dCCRT).

Patients And Methods: Medical records of 68 ESCC patients in three institutions who underwent dCCRT between 2006 and 2017 were reviewed.

Interobserver variability in clinical target volume delineation in anal squamous cell carcinoma.

We evaluated the inter-physician variability in the target contouring of the radiotherapy for anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC). Clinical target volume (CTV) of three patients diagnosed with ASCC was delineated by seven experienced radiation oncologists from multi-institution. These patients were staged as pT1N1a, cT2N0, and cT4N1a, respectively, according to 8 edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system.

The predictive value of serum myeloma protein in solitary plasmacytoma.

Purpose: To identify the clinical usefulness of serum M protein and to establish a rationale for regular follow-up with serum protein electrophoresis in solitary plasmacytoma.

Materials And Methods: Sixty-nine patients with solitary plasmacytoma and solitary plasmacytoma with minimal marrow involvement according to the International Myeloma Working Group criteria were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: At a median follow-up of 6.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Dose Escalation in Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: To validate the effect of treatment intensification on survival in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients undergoing definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (dCCRT).

Patients And Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 73 ESCC patients who underwent dCCRT between 2006 and 2017 in 3 institutions.

Results: The median follow-up time was 13.

Post-operative radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy for anal squamous cell carcinoma incidentally discovered after local excision: a propensity score matched analysis of retrospective multicenter study.

Objective: To evaluate the results of post-operative radiation therapy (RT) for anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) incidentally detected after excision, and compare these outcomes with those of definitive RT without excision for exploring the possibility of treatment de-intensification.

Methods And Materials: A total of 25 patients with T1-2N0-1 ASCC who underwent RT following incidental tumor resection were selected from multicenter retrospective database. And, we selected one-to-one matched 25 patients receiving definitive RT from the same database using propensity score matching method, and the outcomes were compared.

Patterns of Care After Surgery for Elderly Patients With Malignant Brain Tumors: Data from the National Health Insurance Service in South Korea.

Background/aim: To analyze patterns of care and overall survival for elderly patients with malignant brain tumors.

Materials And Methods: The database from the National Health Insurance Service was searched January 2008-December 2016. A total of 1,607 patients aged 65-year-old or more with malignant brain tumors who underwent surgery or biopsy were extracted.

Radiation Therapy for Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Aim: To analyze the treatment outcomes, patterns of failures and prognostic factors for patients with anal cancer treated with radiotherapy (RT).

Materials And Methods: Between January 2000 and December 2015, 83 patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma were treated with definitive RT. The median RT dose applied to the primary carcinoma site was 55 (range=45-64) Gy.

Disulfiram, a Re-positioned Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitor, Enhances Radiosensitivity of Human Glioblastoma Cells In Vitro.

Purpose: Glioblastoma, the most common brain tumor in adults, has poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of disulfiram (DSF), an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor, on in vitro radiosensitivity of glioblastoma cells with different methylation status of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter and the underlying mechanism of such effect.

Materials And Methods: Five human glioblastoma cells (U138MG, T98G, U251MG, U87MG, and U373MG) and one normal human astrocyte (NHA) cell were cultured and treated with DSF or 6MV X-rays (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 Gy).

Role of radiation therapy in primary central nervous system lymphoma : KROG 14-20 Collaborative Study of Brain and Lymphoma Committee.

We analyzed patterns of care and outcomes for patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) in this multi-institutional retrospective study. Between January 2000 and December 2011, 220 patients with PCNSL received radiotherapy (RT). Among these patients, 26 patients received RT alone; 179 patients were treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy; the rest of the patients (N = 15) initially underwent chemotherapy alone, then received RT as a salvage treatment.

Malignant tracheal necrosis and fistula formation following palliative chemoradiotherapy: a case report.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is an essential treatment strategy for inoperable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although supportive care has improved, unexpected complications due to the disease or treatment can occur. Tracheomediastinal fistulas are very rare but can be a serious problem.

Change in carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level as a prognostic marker of overall survival in locally advanced pancreatic cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: To investigate the significance of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels for survival in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).

Methods/patients: We retrospectively reviewed data from 97 LAPC patients treated with CCRT between 2000 and 2013. CA19-9 levels (initial and post-CCRT) and their changes [{(post-CCRT CA19-9 level - initial CA19-9 level)/(initial CA19-9 level)} × 100] were analyzed for overall survival.

Outcome Analysis of Chemoradiation in Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer Focusing on Treatment Sequencing Strategy.

Aim: To analyze the outcomes of patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer after chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), focusing on sequencing strategy.

Patients And Methods: Data of 144 patients treated from January 1989 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into the scheduled group (N=27), salvage group (N=37) and upfront group (N=80) per CCRT and chemotherapy sequence.

Effect of Time Interval between Breast-Conserving Surgery and Radiation Therapy on Outcomes of Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Adjuvant Doxorubicin/Cyclophosphamide Followed by Taxane.

Purpose: This study evaluated the effect of surgery-radiotherapy interval (SRI) on outcomes in patients treated with adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and adjuvant four cycles of doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by four cycles of taxane.

Materials And Methods: From 1999 to 2007, 397 eligible patients were diagnosed. The effect of SRI on outcomes was analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model, and a maximal chi-square method was used to identify optimal cut-off value of SRI for each outcome.

Outcome analysis of salvage radiotherapy for occult cervical cancer found after simple hysterectomy.

Objective: The objective was to analyze the outcomes of the patients, who received salvage radiotherapy for incidentally discovered cervical cancer following simple hysterectomy, and to identify the influence of intracavitary radiotherapy on treatment outcomes.

Methods: Data from 117 patients with occult cervical cancer who underwent simple hysterectomy followed by salvage radiotherapy from September 1979 to November 2010 were collected. All the patients received external beam radiotherapy with (n = 45) or without (n = 72) intracavitary radiotherapy.

Molecular biomarkers in extrahepatic bile duct cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy for gross residual disease after surgery.

Purpose: To analyze the outcomes of chemoradiotherapy for extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) cancer patients who underwent R2 resection or bypass surgery and to identify prognostic factors affecting clinical outcomes, especially in terms of molecular biomarkers.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of 21 patients with EHBD cancer who underwent R2 resection or bypass surgery followed by chemoradiotherapy from May 2001 to June 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. All surgical specimens were re-evaluated by immunohistochemical staining using phosphorylated protein kinase B (pAKT), CD24, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), survivin, and β-catenin antibodies.

Intensity-modulated fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy with reduced margin for high grade gliomas: dosimetric analysis of sparing optic nerve & chiasm.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential advantage of intensity modulation fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (IM-FSRT) for sparing the optic nerve and chiasm in the management of anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) or glioblastoma (GBM). Clinical data of 16 patients with high grade gliomas were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had tumors close to the optic chiam that prohibited the full dose radiation therapy.

Salvage radiotherapy for lymph node recurrence after radical surgery in cervical cancer.

Objective: This study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of patients treated with salvage radiotherapy for the treatment of isolated lymph node recurrence of cervical cancer.

Methods: Between 1990 and 2009, 22 cervical cancer patients with lymph node recurrence who had previously undergone radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection were treated with salvage radiotherapy with (n=18) or without (n=4) chemotherapy. Of the 22 patients, 10 had supraclavicular lymph node recurrence, 9 had para-aortic lymph node, and 3 had inguinal lymph node.