The Role of Radiation in All Stages of Nodular Lymphocytic Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Background: The goal of this study was to assess the survival differences seen in early-stage and advanced-stage nodular lymphocytic predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) based on treatment modality.

Patients And Methods: The National Cancer Database was queried to identify patients diagnosed with NLPHL between 2004 and 2012. Overall survival (OS) was determined using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.

Risk of Death from Prostate Cancer with and without Definitive Local Therapy when Gleason Pattern 5 is Present: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Analysis.

Purpose The purpose is to evaluate the patterns of care and comparative effectiveness for cause-specific and overall survival of definitive local treatments versus conservatively managed men with a primary or secondary Gleason pattern of 5. Methods and materials Patients diagnosed from 2004 to 2012 with a primary or secondary Gleason pattern of 5 N0M0 prostate cancer were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to estimate the survival.

Outcomes and complications of radiation therapy in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.

Background: The outcomes, complications, and rates of secondary malignancies from radiation therapy (RT) are not known for patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

Methods: We queried the Hereditary Gastrointestinal Cancer Registry (HGCR) for patients with FAP who received RT. Outcomes assessed included acute and late treatment toxicity and secondary malignancies.

Anaplastic meningioma: an analysis of the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2012.

OBJECTIVE Anaplastic meningiomas represent 1%-2% of meningioma diagnoses and portend a poor prognosis. Limited information is available on practice patterns and optimal management. The purpose of this study was to define treatment patterns and outcomes by treatment modality using a large national cancer registry.

Patterns of care and outcomes in gliosarcoma: an analysis of the National Cancer Database.

OBJECTIVE The authors compared presenting characteristics and survival for patients with gliosarcoma (GS) and glioblastoma (GBM). Additionally, they performed a survival analysis for patients who underwent GS treatments with the hypothesis that trimodality therapy (surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy) would be superior to nontrimodality therapy (surgery alone or surgery followed by chemotherapy or radiation). METHODS Adults diagnosed with GS and GBM between the years 2004 and 2013 were queried from the National Cancer Database.

Is radiation indicated for young women with early stage, node-negative breast cancer after mastectomy? A multi-institution, retrospective review.

The role of post-mastectomy radiation for women with node negative, early stage disease is not well-defined. The purpose of this study is to more clearly define a subset of women who are ≤40 years of age with T1-T2, node negative breast cancer who may benefit from post-mastectomy radiation. Using tumor registries at two institutions, we identified 219 women ≤40 years of age with T1-T2, node negative breast cancer treated with mastectomy.

Outcomes and utilization of postmastectomy radiotherapy for T3N0 breast cancers.

Background: The role of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) for women with pT3N0M0 breast cancer is controversial. We sought to determine the benefit of PMRT in this cohort using the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

Methods: We analyzed women with pT3N0M0 breast cancer who received mastectomy with or without PMRT between 2004 and 2012.

Post-mastectomy Radiotherapy for pT3N0 Breast Cancers: A Retrospective, Multi-Institution Review.

The role of post-mastectomy radiotherapy for pT3N0 breast cancers remains undefined. The purpose of this study was to report institutional outcomes for women with pT3N0 breast cancers treated with and without post-mastectomy radiotherapy. We collected data from two large tumor registries on pT3N0 breast cancers diagnosed between 1985 and 2014.

Patterns of Care in Proton Radiation Therapy for Pediatric Central Nervous System Malignancies.

Purpose: Proton beam therapy (PBT) potentially allows for improved sparing of normal tissues, hopefully leading to decreased late side effects in children. Using a national registry, we sought to perform a patterns-of-care analysis for children receiving PBT for primary malignancies of the central nervous system (CNS).

Methods And Materials: Using the National Cancer Data Base, we identified pediatric patients with primary CNS malignancies that were diagnosed between 2004 and 2012.

Comparison of external beam radiation and brachytherapy to external beam radiation alone for unresectable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHC) is a rare malignancy with a relatively poor prognosis. There are no randomized, prospective data to help define the optimal method of radiation delivery for unresectable EHC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefit of adding brachytherapy to external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for unresectable EHC.

Impact on survival with adjuvant radiotherapy for clear cell, mucinous, and endometriod ovarian cancer: the SEER experience from 2004 to 2011.

Objective: Evaluate the impact of radiotherapy on cause specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) for stage (I-III) clear cell, mucinous, and endometriod ovarian cancer.

Methods: We analyzed incidence, survival, and treatments from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program from 2004 to 2011 for clear cell, mucinous, and endometriod histologies of the ovary for stages (I-III). We examined CSS and OS for all three histologies combined and each histology with relation to the use of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT).

Increased prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with migraine and interictal photophobia.

Background: Most patients with migraine report photophobia associated with headache; a subset report interictal photophobia. These patients are light sensitive even during headache-free periods. The objective of this case-control study was to assess the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in migraine patients with and without interictal photophobia.

In the Modern Treatment Era, Is Breast Conservation Equivalent to Mastectomy in Women Younger Than 40 Years of Age? A Multi-Institution Study.

Purpose: Mastectomy is often recommended for women ≤40 years of age with breast cancer, as young women were under-represented in the landmark trials comparing breast conservation therapy (BCT) to mastectomy. We hypothesized that, in the modern treatment era, BCT and mastectomy result in equivalent local control rates in young women.

Methods And Materials: Breast cancer cases arising between 1975 and 2013 in women ≤40 years old were collected from the tumor registries of 2 large healthcare systems in Utah.

Increased risk of death due to heart disease after radiotherapy for esophageal cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of heart disease related death (HDRD) following radiation therapy (RT) for esophageal cancer (EC).

Methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, two cohorts of patients with EC were created: (I) patients who received RT with their initial therapy; and (II) those who did not. Heart disease specific survival (HDSS) was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methods.

Long-term life expectancy for children with ependymoma and medulloblastoma.

Objectives: There is a paucity of long-term follow-up data for children with intracranial ependymoma (IE) and medulloblastoma (MB). What happens to these children 20, 30, or 40 years after diagnosis? Do they have potential for a normal lifespan? The purpose of this study was to ascertain the long-term survival potential in children with MB or IE who have survived 5 years from diagnosis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the SEER Program.

Survival analysis of endometrial cancer patients with cervical stromal involvement.

Objective: Stage II endometrial cancer is relatively uncommon. There is no consensus for appropriate adjuvant therapy in endometrial cancer patients with cervical stromal involvement (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] stage II). This study investigates how adjuvant treatments and tumor characteristics influence overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in stage II patients in order to establish better treatment guidelines.

Survival Analysis of Cancer Patients With FIGO Stage IIIA Endometrial Cancer.

Objective: Endometrial cancer patients with positive serosa and/or adnexae (FIGO stage IIIA) have a variable prognosis and are at a significant risk for recurrence. We investigated how tumor characteristics and adjuvant treatments influence the overall survival (OS) and recurrence patterns in these patients and patients with positive cytology alone (previously classified as stage IIIA before 2009).

Materials And Methods: This multi-institution retrospective study reviewed 55 patients with positive serosa and/or adnexae and 18 patients with positive cytology only, surgically staged from 1990 to 2010.

Determination of cytokine protein levels in oral secretions in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck malignancies.

Background: Cytokines may be elevated in tumor and normal tissues following irradiation. Cytokine expression in these tissues may predict for toxicity or tumor control. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the feasibility of measuring local salivary cytokine levels using buccal sponges in patients receiving chemo-radiation for head and neck malignancies.

Orf parapoxvirus infection from a cat scratch.

A 53-year-old woman presented with an enlarging, tender, ulcerated nodule on her dorsal hand after being scratched by a stray kitten. Histology was consistent with orf parapoxvirus infection. The lesion resolved without scarring after several weeks of treatment with imiquimod 5 percent cream.

Central leptin signaling is required to normalize myocardial fatty acid oxidation rates in caloric-restricted ob/ob mice.

Objective: ob/ob and db/db mice manifest myocardial hypertrophy, insulin resistance, altered substrate utilization, mitochondrial dysfunction, and lipid accumulation. This study was designed to determine the contribution of central and peripheral leptin signaling to myocardial metabolism and function in ob/ob and db/db mice in the absence of diabetes and morbid obesity.

Research Design And Methods: Male ob/ob mice (aged 4 weeks) were caloric restricted by pairfeeding to a leptin-treated ob/ob group.