Target movement according to cervical lymph node level in head and neck cancer and its clinical significance.

Purpose: To evaluate set-up error for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients according to each neck lymph node (LN) level. And clinical factors affecting set-up error were analyzed.

Materials And Methods: Reference points (RP1, RP2, RP3, and RP4) representing neck LN levels I to IV were designated.

Sarcopenia using pectoralis muscle area and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) are independent prognostic factors in patients for nonmetastatic breast cancer.

Sarcopenia is defined as loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. This can lead to adverse clinical outcomes in patients with advanced cancer. The lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), a converted inflammatory response, is associated with poor prognosis in patients with malignancies.

Mebendazole Increases Anticancer Activity of Radiotherapy in Radiotherapy-Resistant Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Enhancing Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide and ranks first in terms of both prevalence and cancer-related mortality in women. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anticancer effect of mebendazole (MBZ) and radiotherapy (RT) concomitant use in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action. Breast cancer mouse models and several types of breast cancer cells, including TNBC-derived RT-resistant (RT-R) MDA-MB-231 cells, were treated with MBZ and/or RT.

Comprehensive Analysis of Set-Up Gain of 6-Dimensional Cone-Beam CT Correction Method in Radiotherapy for Head and Neck and Brain Tumors.

This study quantitatively analyzed the gain of the six-dimensional (6D) cone-beam CT (CBCT) correction method compared with the conventional set-up method in 60 patients who underwent radiation treatment of head and neck and brain tumors. The correction gain of CBCT was calculated for the translational and rotational motion components separately and in combination to evaluate the individual and overall effects of these motion components. Using a statistical simulation mimicking the actual set-up correction process, the effective gain of periodic CBCT correction during the entire treatment fraction was analyzed by target size and CBCT correction period under two different correction scenarios: translation alone and full 6D corrections.

Abscopal Effect of Radiotherapy Enhanced with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors of Triple Negative Breast Cancer in 4T1 Mammary Carcinoma Model.

Local radiotherapy (RT) is important to manage metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Although RT primarily reduces cancer cells locally, this control can be enhanced by triggering the immune system via immunotherapy. RT and immunotherapy may lead to an improved systemic effect, known as the abscopal effect.

Anticancer Effect of Benzimidazole Derivatives, Especially Mebendazole, on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) and Radiotherapy-Resistant TNBC In Vivo and In Vitro.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anticancer effect of benzimidazole derivatives on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and investigate its underlying mechanism of action. Several types of cancer and normal breast cells including MDA-MB-231, radiotherapy-resistant (RT-R) MDA-MB-231, and allograft mice were treated with six benzimidazole derivatives including mebendazole (MBZ). Cells were analyzed for viability, colony formation, scratch wound healing, Matrigel invasion, cell cycle, tubulin polymerization, and protein expression by using Western blotting.

Synergistic Tumoricidal Effects of Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Radiotherapy on Human Breast Cancer Cells via HMGB1.

Purpose: Radiotherapy (RT) is one of main strategies of cancer treatment. However, some cancer cells are resistant to radiation-induced cell death, including apoptosis. Therefore, alternative approaches targeting different anti-tumor mechanisms such as cell senescence are required.

Effectiveness of stereotactic body radiotherapy for portal vein tumor thrombosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and underlying chronic liver disease.

Aim: Stereotactic-body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a treatment option for portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we report on our experience of treating PVTT using SBRT in patients with concomitant underlying chronic liver disease.

Methods: This study included 24 patients.

Tumor Control and Overall Survival after Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Pulmonary Oligometastases from Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: In pulmonary oligometastases from colorectal cancer (POM-CRC), the primarily recommended local therapy is metastasectomy. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is another local therapy modality that is considered as an alternative option in patients who cannot undergo surgery. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to demonstrate the effects of SBRT on POM-CRC by integrating the relevant studies.

Role of radiotherapy in the management of malignant airway obstruction.

Background: A significant proportion of lung cancer patients suffer from malignant airway obstruction (MAO). Palliative external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is often used to control the symptoms caused by MAO. In this study, we report the effect of palliative EBRT on lung cancer with MAO and analyze the factors that influence it.

The usefulness of stereotactic radiosurgery for recursive partitioning analysis class II/III lung cancer patients with brain metastases in the modern treatment era.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is considered the initial treatment for lung cancer patients with small-sized and limited number of brain metastases. The objective of this study was to assess clinical outcomes of SRS treatment using CyberKnife (CK) for recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class II/III patients with 1 to 3 brain metastases from lung cancer and identify which patients in the high RPA class could benefit from SRS.A total of 48 lung cancer patients who received CK-based SRS for their metastatic brain lesions from 2010 to 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.

Comparison of stereotactic body radiotherapy versus metastasectomy outcomes in patients with pulmonary metastases.

Background: We compared the treatment outcomes of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and metastasectomy in patients with pulmonary metastases.

Methods: Twenty-one patients received SBRT (total radiation doses 60 Gy in 3 fractions or 48 Gy in 4 fractions) and 30 underwent metastasectomy, most (93.3%) with wedge resection.

Patterns of failure after resection of extrahepatic bile duct cancer: implications for adjuvant radiotherapy indication and treatment volumes.

Background: The role of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) and setting proper RT target volumes have not been clearly demonstrated for extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) cancer, due to the rarity of the disease and the lack of randomized trials. This study was conducted to evaluate the indication and treatment volume for adjuvant RT in EHBD cancer patients by identifying the prognostic factors for loco-regional (LR) failure, and analyze the patterns of LR failure.

Methods: Ninety-three patients with EHBD cancer, who underwent resection without adjuvant RT, at 2 medical centers, between 2001 and 2016, were analyzed retrospectively.

Who Really Benefits from 3D-Based Planning of Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer?

Background: Although intracavitary radiotherapy (ICR) is essential for the radiation therapy of cervical cancer, few institutions in Korea perform 3-dimensional (3D)-based ICR. To identify patients who would benefit from 3D-based ICR, dosimetric parameters for tumor targets and organs at risk (OARs) were compared between 2-dimensional (2D)- and 3D-based ICR.

Methods: Twenty patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who underwent external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) following 3D-based ICR were retrospectively evaluated.

Analysis of Motion-dependent Clinical Outcome of Tumor Tracking Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer.

Background: To analyze clinical outcome of CyberKnife (CK) tumor-tracking stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for prostate cancer (Pca) according to the magnitude of intra-fractional prostate motion.

Methods: Medical records and daily treatment logs for 71 patients who received CK tumor-tracking SBRT were retrospectively analyzed. Statistical relationships between prostate motion and various outcome results, including local recurrence (LR), biochemical failure (BF), and treatment-related toxicity, were investigated in order to evaluate motion-dependent efficacy of tumor-tracking SBRT for Pca.

Defining the Optimal Time of Adaptive Replanning in Prostate Cancer Patients with Weight Change during Volumetric Arc Radiotherapy: A Dosimetric and Mathematical Analysis Using the Gamma Index.

We evaluated the changes in the dose distribution of radiation during volumetric arc radiotherapy (VMAT), to determine the right time for adaptive replanning in prostate cancer patients with progressive weight (WT) changes. Five prostate cancer patients treated with VMAT were selected for dosimetric analysis. On the original computed tomography images, nine artificial body contours were created to reflect progressive WT changes.

MRI-based radiotherapy planning method using rigid image registration technique combined with outer body correction scheme: a feasibility study.

An alternative pseudo CT generation method for magnetic resonance image (MRI)-based radiotherapy planning was investigated in the work. A pseudo CT was initially generated using the rigid image registration between the planning MRI and previously acquired diagnostic CT scan. The pseudo CT generated was then refined to have the same morphology with that of the referenced planning image scan by applying the outer body correction scheme.

Application of the new 8th TNM staging system for non-small cell lung cancer: treated with curative concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Background: The eighth tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) staging system (8-TNM) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was newly released in 2015. This system had limitation because most patients included in the analysis were treated with surgery. Therefore, it might be difficult to reflect prognosis of patients treated with curative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).

Comparing the clinical outcomes in stereotactic body radiotherapy for lung tumors between Ray-Tracing and Monte-Carlo algorithms.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes between the groups using Ray-Tracing (RAT) and Monte-Carlo (MC) calculation algorithms for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) of lung tumors.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-five patients received SBRT with CyberKnife for 47 primary or metastatic lung tumors. RAT was used for 22 targets in 12 patients, and MC for 25 targets in 23 patients.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Low- to Intermediate-risk Prostate Adenocarcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for low- to intermediate-risk prostate adenocarcinoma. Thirty-nine patients were retrospectively reviewed. The SBRT was delivered using the CyberKnife with the fiducial tracking method combined with In-tempo imaging.

Effect of early chemoradiotherapy in patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: We evaluated the effect of early chemoradiotherapy on the treatment of patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC).

Materials And Methods: Between January 2006 and December 2011, thirty-one patients with histologically proven LS-SCLC who were treated with two cycles of chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. The chemotherapy regimen was composed of etoposide and cisplatin.

Estimation of optimal margin for intrafraction movements during frameless brain radiosurgery.

Purpose: To examine the dosimetric effect of intrafraction movements occurred during image-guided frameless brain radiosurgery and to derive the optimal margin recipe to compensate the movement.

Methods: The patients' movements during image-guided radiosurgeries were measured using skull-tracking method incorporated in the CyberKnife system. The dosimetric changes with the movements were computed using the six different dynamic-arc treatment plans based on the dose-grid analysis method.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy for elderly patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Combined chemoradiotherapy is standard management for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC), but standard treatment for elderly patients with LA-NSCLC has not been confirmed yet. We evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for elderly patients with LA-NSCLC.

Materials And Methods: Among patients older than 65 years with LA-NSCLC, 36 patients, who underwent CCRT were retrospectively analyzed.