Prospective evaluation of quality of life effects in patients undergoing palliative radiotherapy for brain metastases.

Background: Recently published results of quality of life (QoL) studies indicated different outcomes of palliative radiotherapy for brain metastases. This prospective multi-center QoL study of patients with brain metastases was designed to investigate which QoL domains improve or worsen after palliative radiotherapy and which might provide prognostic information.

Methods: From 01/2007-01/2009, n=151 patients with previously untreated brain metastases were recruited at 14 centers in Germany and Austria.

Radiochemotherapy with temozolomide for patients with glioblastoma. Prognostic factors and long-term outcome of unselected patients from a single institution.

Background: The objective of this retrospective analysis was to assess long-term outcome and prognostic factors of unselected patients treated for glioblastoma (GB) at a single center with surgery, standard radiotherapy (RT), and concomitant temozolomide (TMZ). From 1999-2005, the institutional protocol included surgery and RT with TMZ. From 2005 on, adjuvant TMZ was routinely added.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C for anal carcinoma: are there differences between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy?

Purpose: To report treatment compliance, toxicity and clinical outcome of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for anal carcinoma in HIV-negative vs. HIV-positive patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Material And Methods: Between 1997 and 2008, 25 HIV-positive and 45 HIV-negative patients received CRT (50.

Postoperative radiotherapy and concomitant temozolomide for elderly patients with glioblastoma.

Background: The addition of temozolomide (TMZ) to radiotherapy (RT) improves survival of patients with glioblastoma (GB) when compared to postoperative RT alone in patients up to 65 years of age. In older patients, RT alone has remained the standard of care because there is concern that radiochemotherapy causes excess toxicity and is less efficacious in this population, but no randomized trials have been reported. We retrospectively assessed feasibility, toxicity and outcome in elderly patients treated at a single institution with RT and concomitant TMZ.

Long-term renal toxicity in children following fractionated total-body irradiation (TBI) before allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT).

Purpose: To retrospectively assess the incidence and time course of renal dysfunction in children (< or = 16 years) following total- body irradiation (TBI) before allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT).

Patients And Methods: Between 1986 and 2003, 92 children (median age, 11 years; range, 3-16 years) underwent TBI before allogeneic SCT. 43 of them had a minimum follow-up of 12 months (median, 51 months; range, 12-186 months) and were included into this analysis.

Complete remission of a lymphoma-associated chylothorax by radiotherapy of the celiac trunk and thoracic duct.

Background: A chylothorax is a rare complication of mostly advanced malignant lymphomas. A case of a refractory chylothorax unresponsive to chemotherapy and successfully treated with radiotherapy is reported.

Case Report: A 45-year-old woman with recurrent stage IV low-grade follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and a progressive chylothorax is described.