Phase I trial of hypofractionated chemoradiotherapy in the palliative management of esophageal and gastro-esophageal cancer.

Background: Many patients with incurable esophageal cancer (ECa) present with dysphagia as their predominant symptom. Currently there is no consensus on how best to initially manage this scenario with multiple therapeutic options available. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of using hypofractionated radiotherapy given over a progressively shorter timeframe with concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel in the management of patients with ECa and dysphagia.

Challenges in the Management of Childhood Intracranial Germ Cell Tumors in Middle-Income Countries: A 20-Year Retrospective Review From a Single Tertiary Center in Malaysia.

Background: A higher incidence of pediatric intracranial germ cell tumors (iGCTs) in Asian countries compared with Western countries has been reported. In Malaysia, the literature regarding pediatric iGCTs have been nonexistent. The aim of this study was to review the management, survival, and long-term outcomes of pediatric iGCTs at a single tertiary center in Malaysia.

Conduct of neuro-oncology multidisciplinary team meetings and closing the "gaps" in the clinical management of childhood central nervous system tumors in a middle-income country.

Purpose: Multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) are essential in the clinical management of pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Evaluations of the impact of MDTMs on childhood CNS tumors and clinicians' perspectives on their effectiveness are scarce.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of pediatric patients (aged <18 years) with CNS tumors diagnosed and treated in the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Division at the University Malaya Medical Center from 2008 to 2019.

Medical physics aspects of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy practice in Malaysia.

Purpose: Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) has changed the practice of radiotherapy since its implementation in the 1990s. The purpose of this study is to review current practice of IMRT in Malaysia.

Methods: A survey on medical physics aspects of IMRT is conducted on radiotherapy departments across Malaysia to assess the usage, experience and QA in IMRT, which is done for the first time in this country.

National survey on image-guided radiotherapy practice in New Zealand.

Introduction: This survey aimed to assess the use of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) within New Zealand (NZ) and evaluate the quality of IGRT delivery.

Method: All nine centres in NZ were invited to participate in an online survey in November 2015. Questions were asked on type of IGRT technologies available, IGRT use by tumour site and frequency of imaging.

Infections after fiducial marker implantation for prostate radiotherapy: are we underestimating the risks?

Background: The use of gold fiducial markers (FM) for prostate image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) is standard practice. Published literature suggests low rates of serious infection following this procedure of 0-1.3%, but this may be an underestimate.

Circulating tumor cell detection in high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer.

Purpose: The detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) provides important prognostic information in men with metastatic prostate cancer. We aim to determine the rate of detection of CTCs in patients with high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer using the CellSearch® method.

Method: Samples of peripheral blood (7.

Extracranial oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma: current management and future directions.

The term 'oligometastases' was formulated to describe an intermediate state between widespread metastases and locally confined disease. The standard of care in metastatic renal cell carcinoma is systemic therapy; however, in patients with solitary or limited metastases, aggressive local therapies may potentially prolong survival. The literature suggests a survival benefit with surgical metastasectomy, with a reported 5-year survival as high as 45% in those who achieve complete resection.

Concordance between thoracic multidisciplinary meeting recommendations for radiation therapy and actual treatment for lung cancer.

Introduction: There is limited evidence whether decisions of Thoracic Multidisciplinary Meetings (TMDMs) are reflected in the treatment lung cancer patients actually receive. Aims were to determine concordance between TMDM recommendations for radiotherapy (RT) and actual RT administered and to compare cases that received RT that were referred or not referred from TMDMs.

Method: A retrospective review of demographic and clinical data for all lung cancer cases within the Auckland-Northland region referred for RT from TMDMs (January-June 2009) and all cases that received RT but were not referred from TMDMs (January-August 2009).