Indications for chemoradiotherapy in older patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer in Japan: a questionnaire survey in the JCOG head and neck cancer study group.

Introduction: Chemoradiation therapy (CRT) with concurrent high-dose cisplatin (CDDP) is one of the standard treatment options for locally advanced head and neck cancer. Since the indications specific to the older population have not been reported, we conducted a multicenter survey on the indications.

Methods: In April and May 2023, a questionnaire survey was emailed to all institutions belonging to the JCOG-HNCSG, consisting of 37 institutions.

Trends in single-fraction palliative radiotherapy across the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a nationwide claims study.

This study aimed to evaluate the recent trends in single-fraction conventional radiotherapy (CRT) as palliative treatment in Japan, using data from the National Database published by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. Data from fiscal year (FY) 2014 to FY2022, specifically related to the utilization of single-fraction CRT, were analyzed. Multi-fraction CRT, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and brachytherapy were excluded.

A position and wave spectra dataset of Marginal Ice Zone dynamics collected around Svalbard in 2022 and 2023.

Sea ice is a key element of the global Earth system, with a major impact on global climate and regional weather. Unfortunately, accurate sea ice modeling is challenging due to the diversity and complexity of underlying physics happening there, and a relative lack of ground truth observations. This is especially true for the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ), which is the area where sea ice is affected by incoming ocean waves.

Quality of Life Report Associated With Pain Response and Patient Classification System for Palliative Radiation Therapy: A Prospective Observational Study.

Purpose: A novel classification system has been proposed to stratify patients undergoing palliative radiation therapy based on their pain response and time to progression. This study used prospective observational data to quantify quality of life (QoL) changes associated with pain response and the classification system.

Methods And Materials: Between August 2021 and September 2022, 366 painful lesions with a numerical rating scale of 2 or more from the 261 eligible patients underwent palliative radiation therapy.

Photochromism in the periodic nanospace of zeolite LTA by the transfer of photoexcited electrons of adsorbed Na atoms.

Cationic sodium (Na) clusters incorporated into a dehydrated Na-form LTA (Na-LTA) zeolite by the adsorption of Na atoms exhibit diamagnetism regardless of their adsorption amount. These clusters preferentially form in β-cages under the condition of dilute adsorption. In this study, photochromism was observed on the dilute Na-adsorbed Na-LTA, which showed a color change from yellow-green to dark blue-green at room temperature.

Risk Stratification by Combination of Heart and Lung Dose in Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer after Radiotherapy.

Despite advancements in treatment for patients with unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC), overall survival (OS) remains poor. The specific effects of varying heart and lung doses on OS in LA-NSCLC patients have not been thoroughly investigated, especially their combined impact on survival. This study aimed to examine the impact on OS of both individual and combined heart and lung doses in patients with LA-NSCLC treated with radiotherapy over a three-year follow-up period.

Effect of acute kidney injury and overall survival in patients with postoperative head and neck cancer who received chemoradiotherapy with cisplatin: A supplementary analysis of the phase II/III trial of JCOG1008.

Background: In a randomized phase II/III trial (JCOG1008), weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m) was non-inferior to 3-weekly cisplatin (100 mg/m) for postoperative high-risk head and neck cancer. We investigated how acute kidney injury (AKI), a major dose-limiting toxicity effect of cisplatin, affects overall survival (OS).

Methods: We analyzed 251 patients from JCOG1008 receiving chemoradiotherapy.

Development of an external system for monitoring the couch speed in radiotherapy using continuous bed movement.

Purpose: Total body irradiation before bone marrow transplantation for hematological malignancies using Radixact, a high-precision radiotherapy machine, can potentially reduce side effects and the risk of secondary malignancies. However, stable control of couch speed is critical, and direct assessment methods outlined in quality assurance guidelines are lacking. This study aims to develop a real-time couch speed verification system for the Radixact.

A cross-national investigation of CT, MRI, PET, mammography, and radiation therapy resources and utilization.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the domestic and international landscape of imaging diagnostics and treatments, focusing on Japan, to provide current insights for policymaking, clinical practice enhancement, and international collaboration.

Methods: Data from 1996 to 2021 were collected from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare database for medical device counts of CT, MRI, PET, mammography, and radiotherapy. The National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan was utilized for examination numbers.

Survival Outcome Superiority of Total Pharyngolaryngectomy Compared with Chemoradiotherapy for T4aM0 Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Nationwide Database Study of Japan.

Background: The purpose of this study is to elucidate whether total pharyngolaryngectomy (TPL) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) provides a better prognostic outcome in patients with T4aM0 hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HPSCC) using a nationwide database.

Methods: All data were obtained from the Head and Neck Cancer Registry of Japan, and information from patients who were newly diagnosed with T4aM0 HPSCC between 2011 and 2015 was extracted. The primary endpoint was disease-specific survival (DSS), and the secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS).

Frequency of and risk factors associated with local recurrence after spinal stereotactic body radiation therapy without surgery.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors associated with local recurrence after spinal stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), focusing on patient movement during treatment and tumor characteristics.

Methods: A total of 48 patients who underwent spinal SBRT alone without surgery from August 2017 to October 2022 were evaluated. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with local recurrence, including patient movement and tumor characteristics such as soft tissue involvement and tumor volume.

Risk prediction model for cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury in patients with head and neck cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy: A re-analysis of a phase II/III JCOG1008 trial.

Objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) represents a major toxicity associated with cisplatin. We developed a risk prediction model for cisplatin-induced AKI in patients with postoperative high-risk head and neck cancer who received chemoradiotherapy during a randomized phase II/III trial, JCOG1008.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred and fifty-one patients received radiotherapy with weekly cisplatin at 40 mg/m (weekly arm) or 3-weekly cisplatin at 100 mg/m (3-weekly arm).

Impact of concurrent antibody-drug conjugates and radiotherapy on symptomatic radiation necrosis in breast cancer patients with brain metastases: a multicenter retrospective study.

Aim: We aimed to investigate the impact of concurrent antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) and radiotherapy on symptomatic radiation necrosis (SRN) in breast cancer patients with brain metastases (BM).

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study uses four institutional data. Eligibility criteria were histologically proven breast cancer, diagnosed BM with gadolinium-enhanced MRI, a Karnofsky performance status of 60 or higher, and radiotherapy for all BM lesions between 2017 and 2022.

A Japanese multi-institutional phase II study of moderate hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy with image-guided technique for prostate cancer.

Background: The aim of this multi-institutional phase II study was to confirm the safety and the potential efficacy of moderately hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with prostate-based image-guidance for Japanese patients.

Methods: Patients with low- or intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer were eligible. Patients with a part of high risk (having only one of the following factors, cT3a, 20 < PSA ≤ 30, or GS = 8 or 9) were also included.

Trends and distribution of external radiation therapy facilities in Japan based on Survey of Medical Institutions from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

This study aimed to explore the distribution of external radiation therapy (RT) facilities, the status of related device installations and the adoption of high-precision RT using Survey of Medical Institutions from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan. Analysis, categorized by the hospital size and prefecture, provides specific insights into the trends in treatment facility healthcare capabilities. Data on the number of RT facilities, high-precision RT facilities, RT devices and treatment planning systems (TPS) categorized by the number of beds and prefecture from 1996 to 2020 were analyzed.

Classification of Patients With Painful Tumors to Predict Response to Palliative Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors affecting pain response to develop a patient classification system for palliative radiation therapy (RT).

Methods And Materials: Our prospective observational study (UMIN000044984) provided data on patients who received palliative RT for painful tumors. The eligibility criteria were having a numerical rating scale (NRS) score of 2 or more before treatment and receiving palliative RT between August 2021 and September 2022.

Safety and Efficacy of Gemcitabine Plus Cisplatin Against Recurrent/Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study.

Background/aim: Although gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) prolongs survival in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC) compared with fluorouracil plus cisplatin, no study has evaluated the efficacy and safety of GC in nonendemic regions, including Japan, yet. Therefore, we assessed the safety and efficacy of GC in Japanese patients with R/M NPC.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with R/M NPC who received GC treatment at the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital from January 2017 to March 2020.

Re-irradiation spine stereotactic body radiotherapy following high-dose conventional radiotherapy for metastatic epidural spinal cord compression: a retrospective study.

Purpose:  We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of re-irradiation stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in patients with metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) following high-dose conventional radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods:  Twenty-one patients met the following eligibility criteria: with an irradiation history of 50 Gy equivalent dose in 2-Gy fractions (EQD2) or more, diagnosed MESCC in the cervical or thoracic spines, and treated with re-irradiation SBRT of 24 Gy in 2 fractions between April 2018 and March 2023. Prior treatment was radiotherapy alone, not including surgery.

Palliative radiotherapy for painful non-bone lesions in patients with advanced cancer: a single center retrospective study.

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of palliative radiotherapy for painful non-bone lesions in patients with advanced cancer.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled patients with painful non-bone lesions who underwent conventional palliative radiotherapy between September 2018 and September 2022. The treatment targets included primary tumor lesions, lymph node metastases, non-bone hematogenous metastases, and other lesions.

Iridium Catalyst Immobilized on Crosslinked Polyethyleneimine for Continuous Hydrogen Production Using Formic Acid.

Invited for this month's cover is provided by researchers from National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan. The image shows the flow type continuous hydrogen production from formic acid and power generation by fuel cell achieved by the iridium catalyst immobilized on crosslinked polyethylene imine. The Research Article itself is available at 10.

Changing trends in gamma knife surgery to linear accelerator brain stereotactic radiotherapy in Japan: a survey based on the nationwide claims database.

Purpose: This study evaluated the trends in the platform for stereotactic radiotherapy to the brain (SRT), utilizing the open data of the National Database published by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare.

Materials And Methods: This study analyzed data from FY2014 to FY2021. The practices included in the study were gamma knife surgery (GKS) and SRT with a linear accelerator (LINAC).