Adjuvant Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy With a Pedicled Flap Reconstruction in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Implications on Target Delineation.

Objectives: To address controversies regarding target volume delineation for adjuvant intensity-modulated radiation therapy for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma with pedicled flap reconstruction and elective nodal irradiation (ENI).

Materials And Methods: During target volume delineation, the primary tumor bed was the pre-surgical gross tumor volume with an additional isotropic margin of 5-10 mm. Additionally, the flap and body tissue junction were given a margin of 5-10 mm (if not already given).

Second primary cancers: Incidence and outcomes from a population of patients accrued in six prospective controlled trials at a tertiary cancer institute.

Background: The aim of this study was to document the incidence, spectrum and outcomes of Second Primary Malignancy (SPM) in a prospectively followed-up population of Head and Neck Squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) patients accrued in six prospective trials and treated with definitive radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Patients were prospectively followed up over time and data on SPM collected after IRB approval after establishing the diagnosis of SPM based on clinical criteria. Descriptive statistics to determine clinic demographic characteristics and spectrum of SPM encountered, time to event outcomes (SPM-DFS - Disease-free survival after diagnosis of second primary, SPM-OS - Overall survival after diagnosis of second primary) and univariate analysis of factors of likely prognostic significance were performed.

Validation testing of OUTPATSAT-35RT questionnaire to assess satisfaction in patients on outpatient radiotherapy in a large Indian cohort.

Background: This study reports the psychometric properties of OUTPASAT-35RT questionnaire from a large Indian cancer cohort treated with ambulatory radiotherapy (RT) at a tertiary-care comprehensive cancer center.

Materials And Methods: Adults with a pathologically proven diagnosis of cancer undergoing fractionated RT (≥10 fractions) with the ability to read and understand English, Hindi, or Marathi were accrued after written informed consent. Patients were administered a language-appropriate version of OUTPATSAT-35RT along with European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) generic quality-of-life questionnaire (QLQ-C30) at conclusion of RT (±3 days).

Exploring the use of Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) in Maxillofacial Reconstructions.

Background: Virtual surgical planning (VSG), also known as computer-assisted reconstruction, has started to become the norm for more complex patients in many centers in recent times.

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the VSG in maxillofacial reconstruction surgery.

Methods And Materials: This study included 20 patients who underwent surgery for maxillofacial reconstruction.

Ten-year follow-up of outcomes, patterns of care, and psychosocial burden in adolescent and young adult patients with bone sarcomas from a large cohort in a low-income and middle-income country.

Background: The care of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with bone sarcomas involves unique challenges. The objectives of this study were to identify challenges and evaluate long-term outcomes of these patients from India who received treatment with novel protocols.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included AYA patients (aged 15-39 years) with osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma (ES), who were treated uniformly at the authors' institute using unique protocols (OGS-12 and EFT-2001) from 2011 to 2021 and from 2013 to 2018, respectively.

Structural Quality Indicators in Radiation Oncology: Insights and Implications.

Aims: Over the past two decades, significant progress has been made in the development of quality indicators (QIs) within the field of radiotherapy (RT). However, most of the literature has predominantly focused on process and outcome-related QIs, with limited attention given to structural QIs. This review aims to address this gap by providing insights into structural QIs in RT and examining the complexities and considerations involved in establishing universal standards for these indicators across RT facilities globally.

Assessment of endpoint definitions in recurrent and metastatic mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma trials: Head and Neck Cancer International Group consensus recommendations.

Transparent and precise endpoint definitions are a crucial aspect of clinical trial conduct and reporting, and are used to communicate the benefit of an intervention. Previous studies have identified inconsistencies in endpoint definitions across oncological clinical trials. Here, the Head and Neck Cancer International Group assessed endpoint definitions from phase 3 trials or trials considered practice-changing for patients with recurrent or metastatic mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, published between 2008 and 2021.

Accuracy of contrast-enhanced CT in liver neoplasms in children under 2 years age.

Background: Multiple differentials exist for pediatric liver tumors under 2 years. Accurate imaging diagnosis may obviate the need for tissue sampling in most cases.

Objective: To evaluate the imaging features and diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in liver tumors in children under 2 years.

Evaluation of Metronomic Therapy as a Low-Cost, Sustainable, Standard-of-Care Option in Desmoid Fibromatosis: Real-World Data From a Tertiary Care Center in India.

Purpose: Desmoid fibromatosis (DF) is a locally aggressive tumor with low mortality but significant morbidity. There is a lack of standard of care, and existing therapies are associated with significant barriers including access, cost, and toxicities. This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of the metronomic therapy (MT) in DF in a large, homogenous cohort from India.

An artificial neural network based approach for predicting the proton beam spot dosimetric characteristics of a pencil beam scanning technique.

Utilising Machine Learning (ML) models to predict dosimetric parameters in pencil beam scanning proton therapy presents a promising and practical approach. The study developed Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models to predict proton beam spot size and relative positional errors using 9000 proton spot data. The irradiation log files as input variables and corresponding scintillation detector measurements as the label values.

Neem leaf glycoprotein binding to Dectin-1 receptors on dendritic cell induces type-1 immunity through CARD9 mediated intracellular signal to NFκB.

Background: A water-soluble ingredient of mature leaves of the tropical mahogany 'Neem' (Azadirachta indica), was identified as glycoprotein, thus being named as 'Neem Leaf Glycoprotein' (NLGP). This non-toxic leaf-component regressed cancerous murine tumors (melanoma, carcinoma, sarcoma) recurrently in different experimental circumstances by boosting prime antitumor immune attributes. Such antitumor immunomodulation, aid cytotoxic T cell (T)-based annihilation of tumor cells.

Long-term clinical outcomes of combined modality therapy for advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma in the PET era: A retrospective study.

Background Objectives: The role of consolidation radiation therapy (CRT) after complete metabolic response to chemotherapy in advanced-stage (stage III and IV) Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is controversial. This study was undertaken to assess the clinical outcomes in terms of event free survival, local failure free survival and overall survival in individuals with advanced HL treated with chemotherapy and CRT.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted to study the long-term clinical outcomes in individuals diagnosed with HL and treated with chemotherapy and CRT from 2012 to 2016 at a tertiary cancer care hospital in India.

Multicenter evaluation of left ventricular assist device implantation with or without ECMO bridge in cardiogenic shock.

Background: The efficacy of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to left ventricular assist device (LVAD) remains unclear, and recipients of the more contemporary HeartMate 3 (HM3) LVAD are not well represented in previous studies. We therefore undertook a multicenter, retrospective study of this population.

Methods And Results: INTERMACS 1 LVAD recipients from five U.

Minimally invasive techniques for sinus floor elevation using dental implants among Indians.

It is of interest to compare conventional lateral window technique, trans-alveolar technique with minimally invasive technique like modified trephine technique and antral membrane balloon elevation technique for sinus floor elevation in placement of dental implants. The current study included 140 participants (191 dental implants) who had maxillary posterior edentulous regions and had low sinuses and insufficient alveolar ridges but had chosen an implant-retained prosthesis. The minimally invasive techniques of sinus augmentation can be suitable alternative to conventional traumatic techniques due to low incidence of pain, gingival swelling.

MR imaging-based risk stratification scoring system to predict clinical outcomes in carotid body tumors.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the role of pretherapy MRI in predicting outcomes in carotid body tumors and propose a grading system for high- and low-risk characteristics.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective observational study of 44 patients with 51 lesions was carried out from year 2005 to 2020. MR images were reviewed for characteristics of carotid body tumor, and a score was given that was correlated with intra- and postoperative findings.

Phase 3 RCT comparing docetaxel-platinum with docetaxel-platinum-5FU as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in borderline resectable oral cancer.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) with TPF (docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5FU) is one of the treatment options in very locally advanced oral cancer with a survival advantage over PF (cisplatin and 5FU). TP (docetaxel and cisplatin) has shown promising results with a lower rate of adverse events but has never been compared to TPF.

Methods: In this phase 3 randomized superiority study, adult patients with borderline resectable locally advanced oral cancers were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to either TP or TPF.

Volumetric and geometric changes in the parotid glands and target volume during image-guided radiotherapy for locally advanced oropharyngeal cancers.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the volumetric and geometric changes in the parotid glands and target volume during image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) for locally advanced oropharyngeal cancers.

Materials And Methods: Twenty patients receiving radiotherapy using IGRT at a dose of 70 Gy/35 fractions/7 weeks for locally advanced oropharyngeal cancers were accrued. Radiotherapy planning computed tomography (CT) scans were performed at pre-radiotherapy (RT), 20, 40, and 60 Gy for each patient.

CT-Based Screening for Pulmonary Metastases in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancers: Diagnostic Accuracy and Cost Comparison with PET-CECT.

This study's objective was to compare detection rates of radiograph, computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography-contrast-enhanced computed tomography (PET-CECT) for pulmonary metastasis/synchronous primary lung tumors in head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and its association with clinico-radio-pathological factors. Our retrospective study included 837 HNSCC patients from January 2012 to December 2017. Lung nodules were characterized on CT as benign, indeterminate, and metastatic.

ARCHERY: a prospective observational study of artificial intelligence-based radiotherapy treatment planning for cervical, head and neck and prostate cancer - study protocol.

Introduction: Fifty per cent of patients with cancer require radiotherapy during their disease course, however, only 10%-40% of patients in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) have access to it. A shortfall in specialised workforce has been identified as the most significant barrier to expanding radiotherapy capacity. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based software has been developed to automate both the delineation of anatomical target structures and the definition of the position, size and shape of the radiation beams.

Long-term outcomes of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy on borderline resectable oral cavity cancers: Real-world data of 3266 patients and implications for clinical practice.

Background: Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by response assessment is the standard treatment algorithm for locally advanced oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (OCSCC) in the Indian subcontinent. The 3-drug NACT regimen (Docetaxel-Cisplatin-5-FU) has shown improvement in overall survival over 2-drug regimen (Docetaxel-Cisplatin) in a phase-3 randomised study. We have analysed the 10-year outcomes with this treatment algorithm.

Correction: Identification of Plasmodium falciparum DNA Repair Protein Mre11 with an Evolutionarily Conserved Nuclease Function.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.