To determine the pathological response rates and toxicity and in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with concurrent capecitabine and dose escalated intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) Patients with stage II or III adenocarcinoma of the rectum were treated with preoperative concurrent capecitabine and IMRT. Dose of capecitabine was 825mg/m, 5 days a week for 5 weeks. IMRT was used to deliver a dose of 45Gy in 25 fractions (1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The purpose of this clinical review was to summate the published data for the long-term outcomes of reirradiation with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
Methods: We searched biomedical literature databases for eligible studies published from January 2005 to September 2016. Outcomes of interests were 5-year local failure-free survival, distant failure-free survival, overall survival (OS), and toxicities.
Background: The specific role of 18F-flurodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in staging of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains to be validated. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess the accuracy of staging FDG-PET/CT for newly diagnosed NPC.
Methods: We searched various biomedical databases and conference proceedings for relevant studies.
J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol
October 2012
Background: Epidemiologic studies have reported an inverse association between sun exposure and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but these have been almost exclusively conducted in Western populations residing in temperate locations. We evaluated the association between personal outdoor sun exposure and risk of malignant lymphomas in Singapore.
Methods: A hospital-based case-control study of 541 incident cases of lymphoid neoplasms and 830 controls were recruited during 2004-2008.
Background: The characteristics of cervical lymphatic metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are not completely understood. As such, radiotherapy to the entire lymphatic of the neck bilaterally has been empirically practiced even in early stage disease, although not supported by clinical evidence. We studied the pattern and probability of nodal metastasis through a meta-analysis of published evidences, with an aim to establish an evidence-based guideline for selecting and delineation of clinical target volume of neck lymphatics for conformation radiation for NPC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSkin doses have been an important factor in the dose prescription for breast radiotherapy. Recent advances in radiotherapy treatment techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and new treatment schemes such as hypofractionated breast therapy have made the precise determination of the surface dose necessary. Detailed information of the dose at various depths of the skin is also critical in designing new treatment strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: To determine the usefulness of ultrasonography in the assessment of post radiotherapy skin changes in postmastectomy breast cancer patients.
Methods: Patients treated for postmastectomy radiotherapy in National University Hospital (NUH) and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Singapore between January 2004- December 2005 was recruited retrospectively. Ultrasound scan was performed on these Asian patients who had been treated to a total dose of 46-50 Gy with 1 cm bolus placed on the skin.
Asia Pac J Clin Oncol
December 2010
Aim: To describe the prevalence, expectations and factors associated with the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Asian radiotherapy patients.
Methods: Overall 65 consecutive patients in an Asian oncology department were surveyed from December 2004 to January 2005, using a modified and translated instrument capturing information on patients' characteristics, CAM use, treatment refusal and satisfaction.
Results: Some basic characteristics were: 86% Chinese; median age 56 years (range: 31-87 years); 57% women; cancer types - breast 42%, lung 20%, nasopharyngeal 11%.
J Contemp Brachytherapy
March 2010
Endometrial cancer is one of the gynaecological cancers that carries good overall prognosis because it is often detected at early stages of disease. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics replaced clinical staging with surgical staging in 1988 and updated the system in 2009. Controversies remain regarding the recommended screening protocol for women with a high risk of endometrial cancer, the role and benefit of retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection, the necessity of ovarian resection, the benefit and type of adjuvant radiation therapy, and the safety of hormone-replacement therapy after treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with conventionally fractionated radiotherapy results in suboptimal outcome. This report aims to document the outcome of Stage II NPC patients treated with external beam radiotherapy delivered using an accelerated concomitant boost (C-Boost) schedule. Forty-seven 1997 AJCC Stage II NPC patients were enrolled and analyzed in this prospective phase II clinical trial.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys
February 2007
Purpose: To review the outcome of palliative radiotherapy (RT) alone in patients with symptomatic locally advanced or recurrent gastric cancer.
Methods And Materials: Patients with symptomatic locally advanced or recurrent gastric cancer who were managed palliatively with RT at The Cancer Institute, Singapore were retrospectively reviewed. Study end points included symptom response, median survival, and treatment toxicity (retrospectively scored using the Common Toxicity Criteria v3.
Purpose: There has been little radiation oncologist (RO)-specific research in continuing medical education (CME) or quality improvement (QI) program efficacy. Our aim was to evaluate a CME/QI program for changes in RO behavior, performance, and adherence to department protocols/studies over the first 12 months of the program.
Methods And Materials: The CME/QI program combined chart audit with feedback (C-AWF), simulation review AWF (SR-AWF), reminder checklists, and targeted CME tutorials.
Background: Meta-analyses demonstrate audit with feedback (AWF) is effective continuing medical education (CME). However, efficacy varies between specialties, with little published radiation oncologist (RO)-specific evidence. We evaluated an AWF CME intervention for ROs determining efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and participant satisfaction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The external audit of oncologist clinical practice is increasingly important because of the incorporation of audits into national maintenance of certification (MOC) programs. However, there are few reports of external audits of oncology practice or decision making. Our institution (The Cancer Institute, Singapore) was asked to externally audit an oncology department in a developing Asian nation, providing a unique opportunity to explore the feasibility of such a process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: 32P BioSilicon is a new, implantable, radiological medical device that comprises particles of highly pure silicon encapsulating 32phosphorus (32P) for the treatment of unresectable solid tumors. Prior to administration, the device particles are suspended in a formulant which provides an even suspension of the intended dose for implantation. The primary objective of this animal trial study was to investigate the effects of intratumoral injection of 32)P BioSilicon on human hepatocellular (HepG2) and pancreatic carcinoma (2119) xenografts implanted in nude mice (BALB/c).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This study reviews the outcome of patients with nasal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma treated at the Therapeutic Radiology Department, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, from 1997 to 2003.
Methods: Twenty-one consecutive patients treated with radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy, were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: The median age was 44 years (range, 27-86 years).
Purpose: The Intergroup 00-99 Trial for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) showed a benefit of adding chemotherapy to radiotherapy. However, there were controversies regarding the applicability of the results to patients in endemic regions. This study aims to confirm the findings of the 00-99 Trial and its applicability to patients with endemic NPC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Combined-modality treatment is considered standard of care in the treatment of stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was designed to assess the efficacy and tolerability of induction paclitaxel/carboplatin followed by concurrent thoracic radiotherapy and weekly paclitaxel.
Materials And Methods: Patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC were treated prospectively with two cycles of paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) and carboplatin (area under the curve of 6) followed by radiotherapy (60-66 Gy) concurrent with 6 weekly doses of paclitaxel (60 mg/m2).
We studied the clinicopathologic features of 42 cases of nasal-type extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma in Singapore and compared our findings with other series reported in the Asian and Western populations. A panel of immunohistochemical stains, which included CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56, T-cell intracellular Antigen-1 and granzyme B, and in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA (EBER) were performed. Polymerase chain reaction for T-cell receptor-gamma gene rearrangement using both gel and capillary electrophoresis were evaluated to determine the proportion of tumors which are of true T-cell lineage.
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