Palliative thoracic radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer: 2018 Update of an American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Evidence-Based Guideline.

Purpose: To revise the recommendation on the use of concurrent chemotherapy (CC) with palliative thoracic external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) made in the original 2011 American Society for Radiation Oncology guideline on palliative thoracic radiation for lung cancer.

Methods And Materials: Based on a systematic PubMed search showing new evidence for this key question, the task force felt an update was merited. Guideline recommendations were created using a predefined consensus-building methodology supported by American Society for Radiation Oncology-approved tools for grading evidence quality and recommendation strength.

Lung metastases treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy: the RSSearch® patient Registry's experience.

Objectives: To report overall survival and local control for patients identified in the RSSearch® Patient Registry with metastatic cancer to the lung treated with SBRT.

Methods: Seven hundred two patients were identified with lung metastases in the RSSearch® Registry. Of these patients, 577 patients had SBRT dose and fractionation information available.

Patterns of failure after stereotactic body radiation therapy or lobar resection for clinical stage I non-small-cell lung cancer.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare patterns of failure between lobar resection (lobectomy or pneumonectomy) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for patients with clinical stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: From January 2004 to January 2008, 338 patients underwent definitive treatment for pathologically confirmed clinical stage I NSCLC with lobar resection (n = 260) or SBRT (n = 78). Most surgical patients underwent lobectomy (n = 237).

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for the treatment of early-stage minimally invasive adenocarcinoma or adenocarcnioma in situ (formerly bronchioloalveolar carcinoma): a patterns of failure analysis.

Introduction: Ongoing prospective trials exploring stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) often exclude minimally invasive adenocarcinoma or adenocarcnioma in situ, formerly bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), due to concerns for accurate target delineation on CT. We performed a patterns of failure analysis to compare outcomes between BAC and other NSCLC subtypes.

Methods: One hundred twenty patients with early stage NSCLC were treated with SBRT from 2004-2009.

Thyroid carcinoma uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose in patients with elevated serum thyroglobulin and negative 131I scintigraphy.

Purpose: To determine if FDG-PET results can predict for outcome in thyroid cancer patients with elevated Tg and negative I-131 imaging.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 76 patients who had elevated serum Tg and negative (131)I scintigraphy and who underwent FDG-PET. After FDG-PET, patients underwent neck dissection or radiation.

Radioactive iodine therapy decreases recurrence in thyroid papillary microcarcinoma.

Background. The most appropriate therapy for papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) is controversial. Methods.

Dosimetric predictors of chest wall pain after lung stereotactic body radiotherapy.

Purpose: To identify risk factors for the development of chest wall (CW) pain after thoracic stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).

Methods And Materials: A registry of patients with lung lesions treated with lung SBRT was explored to identify patients treated with 54 Gy in three fractions or 50 Gy in five fractions. One hundred and forty-six lesions in 140 patients were identified; complete electronic treatment plans were available on 86 CWs.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy in the treatment of multiple primary lung cancers.

Background And Purpose: Patients with multiple primary lung cancers (MPLC) present a therapeutic dilemma, particularly when they are at high risk for surgical resection. We evaluated the role of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the treatment of MPLC.

Materials And Methods: A prospective thoracic SBRT registry was explored for patients with either synchronous or metachronous MPLC treated with SBRT for one or both of their tumors.

Combined PET/CT image characteristics for radiotherapy tumor response in lung cancer.

Background And Purpose: Prediction of local failure in radiotherapy patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a challenging task. Recent evidence suggests that FDG-PET images can be used to predict outcomes. We investigate an alternative multimodality image-feature approach for predicting post-radiotherapy tumor progression in NSCLC.

Oligodendrogliomas in children.

Oligodendrogliomas are rare central nervous system (CNS) tumors in children. The purpose of this study was to identify prognostic factors for progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in pediatric patients with oligodendrogliomas. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data on 37 pediatric patients with oligodendroglial tumors treated at Washington University.

Dose-response for stereotactic body radiotherapy in early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of three lung stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) regimens in a large institutional cohort.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2009, 130 patients underwent definitive lung cancer SBRT to a single lesion at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology. We delivered 18 Gy × 3 fractions for peripheral tumors (n = 111) and either 9 Gy × 5 fractions (n = 8) or 10 Gy × 5 fractions (n = 11) for tumors that were central or near critical structures.

Management of cervical nodal metastasis detected on I-131 scintigraphy after initial surgery of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma whose posttherapy imaging demonstrated I-131 uptake in cervical lymph nodes.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 95 patients who underwent surgery for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma had evidence of persistent cervical lymph node metastasis on posttherapy I-131 scintigraphy. These patients were evaluated by subsequent I-131 scintigraphy, and treated with additional I-131 therapy or surgical excision of cervical lymph nodes as clinically indicated.

Fiducial placement for stereotactic radiation by using EUS: feasibility when using a marker compatible with a standard 22-gauge needle.

Background: Stereotactic radiation by using fiducial markers permits higher doses of radiation while reducing the exposure of uninvolved, adjacent structures. EUS has been used to deploy fiducials, although a 19-gauge needle has traditionally been required.

Objective: To report a new technique and the feasibility of deploying a fiducial compatible with a 22-gauge needle under EUS guidance.

Radiotherapy for extramedullary plasmacytoma of the head and neck.

Purpose: To define the effectiveness of radiotherapy in the treatment of patients with extramedullary plasmacytoma of the head and neck (EMPHN).

Methods And Materials: We searched the Mayo Clinic Rochester Department of Radiation Oncology electronic Tumor Registry and identified 18 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of solitary EMPHN. Sixteen patients were treated with radiotherapy at initial diagnosis and 2 received salvage radiotherapy for local failure after surgery.

Zinc induces ERK-dependent cell death through a specific Ras isoform.

The effect of Zn on p53-independent cell death was examined in IIC9 embryonic fibroblasts. Despite the fact that these cells are p53-minus, Zn-mediated death occurs via an apoptotic mechanism. Death is facilitated by the presence of the Zn ionophore, pyrithione, indicating that intracellular Zn initiates the death response.