Stereotactic body radiation therapy for colorectal cancer liver metastases.

The management of colorectal cancer liver metastases requires a multidisciplinary approach, which may incorporate systemic therapy, surgery, or local ablative therapies. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a non-invasive highly conformal radiation technique that enables the delivery of large doses of radiation in a few fractions to well-defined targets using image-guidance and motion management. For selected patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases, stereotactic body radiation therapy can be delivered safely, with excellent long-term local control and overall survival.

Development and validation of an MR-driven dose-of-the-day procedure for online adaptive radiotherapy in upper gastrointestinal cancer patients.

To develop and validate a dose-of-the-day (DOTD) treatment plan verification procedure for liver and pancreas cancer patients treated with an magnetic resonance (MR)-Linac system.DOTD was implemented as an automated process that uses 3D datasets collected during treatment delivery. Particularly, the DOTD pipeline's input included the adapt-to-shape (ATS) plan-i.

Clinical Outcomes of 3 Versus 4 Fractions of Magnetic Resonance Image-Guided Brachytherapy in Cervical Cancer.

Purpose: Magnetic resonance image-guided brachytherapy is essential in the management of locally advanced cervical cancer. This study compares disease and toxicity outcomes in cervical cancer patients treated with 24 Gy/3 fractions (Fr) versus the conventional 28 Gy/4 Fr.

Methods And Materials: This retrospective study included 241 consecutive patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2018 stage IB to IVA cervical cancer treated with definitive chemoradiation between April 2014 and March 2021.

Utilization and Impact of a Radiation Nursing Clinic to Address Acute Care Needs for Patients with Gynecologic Cancers.

Background: The risk factors for acute care utilization in gynecologic oncology patients are poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors for the utilization of our centre's acute care radiation nursing clinic (RNC) by gynecologic oncology patients receiving radiotherapy (RT).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of gynecological cancer patients treated with RT at an academic cancer centre between 1 August 2021 and 31 January 2022.

Review of brachytherapy clinical trials: a cross-sectional analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov.

Introduction: Characterizing the landscape of clinical trials including brachytherapy can provide an overview of the current status and research trends which may guide further areas of investigation.

Method: We queried 449,849 clinical trials from the ClinicalTrials.gov registry using brachytherapy-related keywords from 1980 to 2023, yielding 245 multi-arm and 201 single-arm, brachytherapy trials.

Secretory Tissues and Volatile Components of Disc Florets in Several Wild L. Species.

Although flower pollinator interactions are known to be mediated by floral traits, not enough attention has been paid to the research of secretory tissues and volatile components of sunflower disc florets as potentially important parameters in breeding programs. (1) To our knowledge, this is the first integrated study aimed at better understanding the attractiveness of sunflower capitula to insects. In the study, we have made a very detailed comparative analysis of secretory tissues and the characterization of the volatile components (VOCs) of disc florets in 10 wild perennial species.

Clinical Validation of Human Papilloma Virus Circulating Tumor DNA for Early Detection of Residual Disease After Chemoradiation in Cervical Cancer.

Purpose: Most cervical cancers are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), and HPV circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may identify patients at highest risk of relapse. Our pilot study using digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) showed that detectable HPV ctDNA at the end of chemoradiation (CRT) is associated with inferior progression-free survival (PFS) and that a next-generation sequencing approach (HPV-seq) may outperform dPCR. We aimed to prospectively validate HPV ctDNA as a tool for early detection of residual disease.

The Feasibility of Quality Assurance in the TOPGEAR International Phase 3 Clinical Trial of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy for Gastric Cancer (an Intergroup Trial of the AGITG/TROG/NHMRC CTC/EORTC/CCTG).

Purpose: The TOPGEAR phase 3 trial hypothesized that adding preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CRT) to perioperative chemotherapy will improve survival in patients with gastric cancer. Owing to the complexity of gastric irradiation, a comprehensive radiation therapy quality assurance (RTQA) program was implemented. Our objective is to describe the RTQA methods and outcomes.

The room where it happens: addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in National Clinical Trials Network clinical trial leadership.

Many multicenter randomized clinical trials in oncology are conducted through the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), an organization consisting of 5 cooperative groups. These groups are made up of multidisciplinary investigators who work collaboratively to conduct trials that test novel therapies and establish best practice for cancer care. Unfortunately, disparities in clinical trial leadership are evident.

Molecular Epidemiology, Clinical Course, and Implementation of Specific Hygiene Measures in Hospitalised Patients with Infection in Brandenburg, Germany.

(1) Background: infections (CDI) have increased worldwide, and the disease is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections (HAI). This study aimed to evaluate the molecular epidemiology of , the clinical outcome, and the time of initiation of specific hygiene measures in patients with CDI in a large tertiary-care hospital in Brandenburg. (2) Methods: Faecal samples and data from hospitalised patients diagnosed with CDI were analysed from October 2016 to October 2017.

Comparing dosimetry of locally advanced cervical cancer patients treated with 3 versus 4 fractions of MRI-guided brachytherapy.

Purpose: To demonstrate the feasibility of treating cervical cancer patients with MRI-guided brachytherapy (MRgBT) using 24 Gy in 3 fractions (F) versus a standard, more resource-intensive regimen of 28 Gy in 4F, and its ability to meet EMBRACE II planning aims.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective review of 224 patients with FIGO Stage IB-IVA cervical cancer treated with 28 Gy/4F (n = 91) and 24 Gy/3F (n = 133) MRgBT between 2016-2021 was conducted. Multivariable linear regression models were fitted to compare dosimetric parameters between the two groups, adjusting for CTV and T stage.

Sexual dysfunction in female patients with anal cancer treated with curative intent: A systematic review of the literature.

Background And Purpose: Patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are treated with sphincter-preserving radiation therapy and concurrent chemotherapy, achieving excellent oncologic outcomes. Patients, however, may experience treatment-related morbidity including sexual dysfunction. The objective of this systematic review was to review the literature on sexual dysfunction in female patients treated for anal cancer and to identify knowledge gaps.

Evaluation of dosimetric predictors of toxicity after IMRT with concurrent chemotherapy for anal cancer.

Background: This study investigates the impact of dosimetric parameters on acute and late toxicity for patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated with image-guided intensity modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) and concurrent chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Patients were enrolled in an observational cohort study between 2008 and 2013 (median follow-up 3.4 years).

Demographics, pattern of practice and clinical outcomes in rectal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the baseline clinical features, treatment patterns and outcomes in rectal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Method: This is a retrospective study of patients with rectal SCC treated at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (Toronto, Canada) between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2020. Clinical factors associated with locoregional failure (LRF), distant metastases (DM), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), such as age, sex, HIV status, T-category, nodal status, grade and primary treatment, were investigated with univariate analysis (UVA).

Neoadjuvant Therapy in Esophageal Cancer.

Locally advanced esophageal cancer has a dismal prognosis. Surgery remains the cornerstone treatment with 5-year survival rates of approximately 12-39%. Rates of local failure and distant metastases are high following surgical resection of locally advanced tumors.

The Anatomical Basis of Heavy Metal Responses in Legumes and Their Impact on Plant-Rhizosphere Interactions.

Rapid industrialization, urbanization, and mine tailings runoff are the main sources of heavy metal contamination of agricultural land, which has become one of the major constraints to crop growth and productivity. Finding appropriate solutions to protect plants and agricultural land from heavy metal pollution/harmful effects is important for sustainable development. Phytoremediation and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are promising methods for this purpose, which both heavily rely on an appropriate understanding of the anatomical structure of plants.

Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy and Surgery for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Versus Definitive Chemoradiotherapy With Salvage Surgery as Needed: The Study Protocol for the Randomized Controlled NEEDS Trial.

Background: The globally dominant treatment with curative intent for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) with subsequent esophagectomy. This multimodal treatment leads to around 60% overall 5-year survival, yet with impaired post-surgical quality of life. Observational studies indicate that curatively intended chemoradiotherapy, so-called definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) followed by surveillance of the primary tumor site and regional lymph node stations and surgery only when needed to ensure local tumor control, may lead to similar survival as nCRT with surgery, but with considerably less impairment of quality of life.

Postoperative management of vulvar cancer.

The primary treatment for resectable vulvar cancer includes wide local excision of the primary tumor and surgical lymph node assessment. Following surgery, up to 40-50% of patients develop a local recurrence. Historically, the strongest predictor of local recurrence is a positive or close margin (defined as <8 mm), although recent studies question the importance of margin status.

MRI-Guided Online Adaptive Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy of Liver and Pancreas Tumors on an MR-Linac System.

Purpose: To describe a comprehensive workflow for MRI-guided online adaptive stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) specific to upper gastrointestinal cancer patients with abdominal compression on a 1.5T MR-Linac system. Additionally, we discuss the workflow's clinical feasibility and early experience in the case of 16 liver and pancreas patients.

Anal Adenocarcinoma: A Rare Entity in Need of Multidisciplinary Management.

Background: Anal adenocarcinoma is a rare clinical entity for which the optimal management is not defined.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the multidisciplinary management and outcomes of patients with anal adenocarcinoma.

Design: This is a retrospective cohort study.