Acute toxicity and quality of life in high risk prostate cancer patients: Updated results of randomized hypofractionation trial.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to perform the final analysis of acute toxicity and quality of life data obtained from 221 consecutive patients who suffered from intermediate-to-high risk prostate cancer.

Methods: In this trial, 221 patients were randomized to receive either hypofractionated (63 Gy in 20 fractions, 4 fractions/week) or conventionally fractionated (76 Gy in 38 fractions, 5 fractions/week) radiotherapy to the prostate and seminal vesicles. Elective pelvic lymph node irradiation with 46 Gy in 23 fractions sequentially and 44 Gy in 20 fractions simultaneously was also applied.

Second primary malignancies after high-dose-rate Co photon or Cf neutron brachytherapy in conjunction with external-beam radiotherapy for endometrial cancer.

Purpose: Second primary malignancies (SPMs) may occur in organs after radiotherapy (RT). This study aimed to determine the rate and distribution of SPMs for photon- or neutron-emitting radiotherapy sources for patients treated for primary endometrial cancer.

Methods And Materials: The cohort comprised 426 patients with 5334 patient-years of observation.

Californium versus cobalt brachytherapy combined with external-beam radiotherapy for IIB stage cervical cancer: long-term experience of a single institute.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to observe and compare long-term curative effects and complications of FIGO stage IIB cervical cancer patients (n = 232) treated with high-dose-rate (HDR) californium ((252)Cf) neutron or cobalt ((60)Co) photon intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) combined with external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT).

Material And Methods: The EBRT dose to the small pelvis was 50 Gy in both groups. The brachytherapy component of (252)Cf or (60)Co was added in the 3(rd) week of EBRT, 5 fractions were performed once per week resulting in a total ICBT dose of 40 Gy/Gyeq (point A).

Second primary malignancies after radiotherapy including HDR (252)Cf brachytherapy for cervical cancer.

Purpose: Second primary malignancies (SPMs) are among the most serious late adverse effects after radiotherapy experienced over time by the increasing population of cancer survivors worldwide. The study aim was to determine the rate and distribution of SPMs for neutron- and photon-emitting brachytherapy (BT) sources for patients treated for cervical cancer.

Methods And Materials: The cohort comprised 662 patients with invasive cervical cancer (Stages IIB and IIIB) and contributed 5,224 patient-years (PY) of observation.

The significance of reduced glutathione and glutathione S-transferase during chemoradiotherapy of locally advanced cervical cancer.

Background And Objective: To determine changes in reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) during neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiation for patients with stage IIB-IIIB cervical cancer, and to evaluate their significance to the efficacy of the treatment.

Materials And Methods: According to the prospective phase II study protocol, 36 patients with stage IIB-IIIB cervical cancer were enrolled. A short course of intensive weekly neoadjuvant cisplatin and gemcitabine chemotherapy followed by concurrent weekly cisplatin and gemcitabine-based chemoradiation was administered.

Endometrial cancer and microsatellite instability status.

Unlabelled: Microsatellite instability (MSI) is an important factor in the development of various cancers as an identifier of a defective DNA mismatch repair system. The objective of our study was to define the association between microsatellite instability status and traditional clinicopathologic characteristics of endometrioid type adenocarcinoma.

Material And Methods: MSI status of endometrial cancer was examined by employing the Promega MSI Analysis System.

Significance of MMP-9 expression and MMP-9 polymorphism in prostate cancer.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the expression of the MMP-9 gene and -1562 C/T polymorphism in MMP-9 gene promoter in relation to clinicopathological parameters in predicting the clinical outcome of prostate cancer patients.

Methods: A total of 82 patients with histopathologically diagnosed prostate cancer were enrolled in the study. MMP-9 gene expression was assessed by reverse transcription-PCR method.

A randomized hypofractionation dose escalation trial for high risk prostate cancer patients: interim analysis of acute toxicity and quality of life in 124 patients.

Background: The α/β ratio for prostate cancer is postulated being in the range of 0.8 to 2.2 Gy, giving rise to the hypothesis that there may be a therapeutic advantage to hypofractionation.

Treatment of hemorrhagic radiation-induced proctopathy with a 4% formalin application under perianal anesthetic infiltration.

Aim: To evaluate the results of hemorrhagic radiation proctopathy treatment with a 4% formalin application.

Methods: A prospective study was performed. Over a three-year period, 38 patients underwent 4% formalin application under perianal anesthetic infiltration for hemorrhagic radiation proctopathy.

Second malignancies following conventional or combined ²⁵²Cf neutron brachytherapy with external beam radiotherapy for breast cancer.

We retrospectively evaluated the risk of second malignancies among 832 patients with inner or central breast cancer treated with conventional external beam schedule (CRT group), or neutron brachytherapy using Californium-252 (²⁵²Cf) sources and hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy (HRTC group), between 1987 and 1996 at the Institute of Oncology, Vilnius University. Patients were observed until the occurrences of death or development of a second malignancy, or until 31 December 2009, whichever was earlier. Median follow-up time was 10.

[Microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity in cancer].

Literature review on genetic alterations (microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity) in different types of cancer is presented. Microsatellite instability and loss of heterozigosity are significant processes in carcinogenesis. The evaluation of microsatellite instability in cancer patients might be of clinical importance as a prognostic and predictive factor.

[Prevalence of human papillomavirus types in cervical intraepithelial lesions].

Background: Since the implementation of the cervical cancer screening program in Lithuania in 2004, cervical cancer incidence rates have stabilized during a 4-year period: in 2006 and 2007, 508 and 485 new cases, respectively, were diagnosed. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the main risk factors for cervical cancer and development of intraepithelial lesions. However, not only HPV, but also HPV type, is a very important factor for malignant transformation.

Human papillomavirus infection in pregnant women.

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. It has been established that about 70% of the sexually active population are exposed to this infection. The HPV prevalence rate among pregnant women ranges from 5.

[Outcomes of long-term combined treatment in follicular thyroid carcinoma].

Unlabelled: The aim was to analyze the impact of combined treatment (thyroidectomy + radioactive iodine treatment + hormonotherapy with thyroxine) on the outcomes of patients with follicular thyroid carcinoma.

Material And Methods: This retrospective study included 448 patients with follicular carcinoma (394 females, 54 males, mean age of 48 years (95% CI, 46-50 years) who were treated at the Institute of Oncology, Vilnius University, from 1982 to 2006. All the patients underwent thyroidectomy.

A randomized trial comparing hypofractionated and conventionally fractionated three-dimensional external-beam radiotherapy for localized prostate adenocarcinoma : a report on acute toxicity.

Purpose: To compare acute gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity between patient groups with localized prostate adenocarcinoma, treated with conventionally fractionated (CFRT) and hypofractionated (HFRT) three-dimensional conformal external-beam radiotherapy (3D-CRT).

Patients And Methods: 91 patients were enrolled into a randomized study with a minimum follow-up of 3 months. 44 men in the CFRT arm were irradiated with 74 Gy in 37 fractions at 2 Gy per fraction for 7.

[Treatment results of Hodgkin's lymphoma].

During last decades, there are strengthening attitudes to optimize the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma considering prognostic groups and risk factors. Based on the data of Vilnius University Clinics, a retrospective study was carried out, and treatment methods and outcomes of the patients treated during 1999-2004 were analyzed. Medical histories of 114 patients younger than 60 years were reviewed.

A randomized trial comparing hypofractionated and conventionally fractionated three-dimensional conformal external-beam radiotherapy for localized prostate adenocarcinoma: a report on the first-year biochemical response.

Objective: This paper describes the first-year biochemical (prostate-specific antigen [PSA]) response of 91 irradiated patients enrolled in a single-institution randomized trial comparing hypofractionated (HFRT) and conventionally fractionated (CFRT) external beam radiotherapy.

Material And Methods: Forty-four patients in the CFRT treatment arm were irradiated with 74 Gy in 37 fractions (2 Gy per fraction), and 47 in the HFRT arm were treated with 57 Gy, given in 13 fractions of 3 Gy plus 4 fractions of 4.5 Gy.

The risk of cancer among Lithuanian medical radiation workers in 1978-2004.

Objectives: To describe the cohort of Lithuanian medical radiation workers and to estimate the risk of cancer during 1978-2004.

Methods: Analysis of cancer risk evaluation was done using the retrospective cohort method, an indirect standardization. The observed numbers of cancer cases were obtained from the National Cancer Registry.

Analysis of cardiac and pulmonary complication probabilities after radiation therapy for patients with early-stage breast cancer.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiobiological implications of clinical use of respiratory-gated techniques for postoperative radiation therapy of early-stage left-sided breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery.

Material And Methods: Radiation therapy treatment plans of 80 patients with early-stage breast cancer (stage I-II), receiving whole breast irradiation after breast-conserving therapy, were analyzed. The control group consisting of 47 patients received standard radiation therapy, and the respiratory-gated group consisting of 33 patients received deep inspiration-gated radiation therapy.

Occupational exposure of medical radiation workers in Lithuania, 1950-2003.

This study presents the summary of historical exposures, measurement practice and evolution of the recording of the individual doses of medical radiation workers during 1950-2003 in Lithuania. The aim of this study is to present occupational exposure of medical radiation workers in Lithuania since the earliest appearance period. Data from publications have been used for the earliest two periods prior to 1969; data from the archives of the largest hospitals, for the period 1970-1990 and data from Lithuanian Subdivision of Individual Dosimetry of Radiation Protection Center, for the period 1991-2003.

Access to information supporting availability of medicines for patients suffering from rare diseases looking for possible treatments: the EuOrphan Service.

Currently in Europe, approximately 30 million people suffer from rare diseases, and a major problem is that many patients do not have access to quality healthcare for their disorders. Moreover, there is also a lack of quality information and a networking system aimed at supporting interaction among patients, clinicians, researchers, pharmaceutical industries, and governmental bodies. The purpose of this article is to inform physicians, public health care professionals, and other health care providers about EuOrphan service, the aim of which is to ensure easier access to quality information on rare diseases and their treatment.

[Importance of dosimetric factors predicting radiation toxicity in lung cancer treatment].

Objective: To evaluate prognostic importance of dosimetric parameters (V20, V30 and V40) in the incidence of lung radiation toxicity caused by external-beam radiation therapy in patients with lung cancer.

Material And Methods: A total of 82 patients with lung cancer were analyzed prospectively. They were treated in the Oncology Institute of Vilnius University from 2002 to 2005.

Human papillomavirus and p53 polymorphism in Lithuanian cervical cancer patients.

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer for women in Lithuania. One of the important cervical cancer risk factors is human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Recent literature has considered p53 allelic polymorphism to be a putative predisposing factor for cervical carcinoma development.

[A preliminary safety study of hypofractionated radiotherapy for local prostate cancer].

Institute of Oncology of Vilnius University has initiated a randomized clinical trial with the aim to evaluate the effectiveness and toxicity of conventional fractionated (37 fractions, 2.0 Gy per fraction, a total dose of 74 Gy) and hypofractionated (13 fractions, 3.0 Gy per fraction, and 4 fractions at 4.

[Development of research at the Institute of Oncology of Vilnius University].

Today the Institute of Oncology of Vilnius University continues the scientific activities of the former Lithuanian cancer research institutions. The main mission of the Institute is to perform fundamental and applied research in the field of oncology. In addition, the Institute helps Vilnius University to train oncology specialists and researchers as well as provides health care services.