Strategy of radiation therapy for bone metastases and MSCC in breast cancer patients.

Bone metastasis is a common event in advanced cancers such as prostate, breast, lung, and renal cancers. Radiation therapy has been widely used for bone metastasis. However, it remains a challenging therapy because no radiation therapeutic guidelines, including radiation dose, radiation field, and fractionation, for patients with bone metastasis have been established.

A web-based remote radiation treatment planning system using the remote desktop function of a computer operating system: a preliminary report.

We developed a web-based, remote radiation treatment planning system which allowed staff at an affiliated hospital to obtain support from a fully staffed central institution. Network security was based on a firewall and a virtual private network (VPN). Client computers were installed at a cancer centre, at a university hospital and at a staff home.

Value of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography before radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: does the standardized uptake value predict treatment outcome?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine if the standardized uptake value (SUV) of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for head and neck cancer can predict the outcome of radiotherapy and if the SUV is correlated with histological grade, mitosis, and apoptosis.

Materials And Methods: The study included 45 head and neck cancer patients who underwent FDG-PET scanning before radiotherapy. The maximum SUV (SUVmax) of their primary lesions were measured.

Surgical complications of salvage total laryngectomy following concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Background: Surgical complication rates of total laryngectomy vary according to the preoperative treatments performed and patient factors. Wound complications after salvage laryngectomy following concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) were analyzed.

Methods: Eighty-six patients who had undergone total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer at Hokkaido University Hospital, Japan, between 1990 and 2006 were divided into three groups according to preoperative treatments received: group I (n = 35) without radiotherapy (RT) or CCRT, group II (n = 17) RT alone, and group III (n = 34) low-dose CCRT.

Speed and amplitude of lung tumor motion precisely detected in four-dimensional setup and in real-time tumor-tracking radiotherapy.

Background: To reduce the uncertainty of registration for lung tumors, we have developed a four-dimensional (4D) setup system using a real-time tumor-tracking radiotherapy system.

Methods And Materials: During treatment planning and daily setup in the treatment room, the trajectory of the internal fiducial marker was recorded for 1 to 2 min at the rate of 30 times per second by the real-time tumor-tracking radiotherapy system. To maximize gating efficiency, the patient's position on the treatment couch was adjusted using the 4D setup system with fine on-line remote control of the treatment couch.

Hypofractionated radiotherapy boost for dose escalation as a treatment option for high-grade spinal cord astrocytic tumor.

Purpose: To retrospectively analyze the outcome of post-operative radiotherapy for spinal cord glioma with the emphasis on the hypofractionated radiotherapy boost for dose escalation as a treatment option for high-grade spinal cord astrocytic tumors.

Materials And Methods: Forty-one patients with spinal cord glioma received post-operative radiotherapy between 1979 and 2003. The median age was 34 years (range, 10-66 years).

The effect of tumor location and respiratory function on tumor movement estimated by real-time tracking radiotherapy (RTRT) system.

Purpose: The effects of tumor location and pulmonary function on the motion of fiducial markers near lung tumors were evaluated to deduce simple guidelines for determining the internal margin in radiotherapy without fiducial markers.

Methods And Materials: Pooled data collected by a real-time tumor-tracking radiotherapy system on 42 markers in 39 patients were analyzed. The pulmonary functions of all patients were assessed before radiotherapy.

Management of vestibular schwannoma by fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy and associated cerebrospinal fluid malabsorption.

Object: The goal of this study was to investigate outcomes in patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS) who were treated with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT).

Methods: One hundred one patients with VS were treated with fractionated SRT at a radiation level of 40 to 50 Gy administered in 20 to 25 fractions over a 5- to 6-week period. The median tumor size in these patients was 19 mm (range 3-40 mm), and 27 tumors were larger than 25 mm.

A prospective, randomized trial comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy with radiotherapy alone in patients with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: A prospective, randomized study was performed to determine the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy over radiotherapy alone in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: From January 1991 to December 1998, 80 patients were enrolled in this study. Patients with locoregional carcinoma of the nasopharynx were randomized to receive two courses of chemotherapy, consisting of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (CDDP-5FU), that were administered before radiation therapy (CT arm) or radiotherapy alone.