HDR brachytherapy for the reirradiation of cervical and vaginal cancer: analysis of efficacy and dosage delivered to organs at risk.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of HDR brachytherapy (BT) for the reirradiation of cervical or vaginal cancer arising within a previously irradiated area with a special focus on dosage delivery to organs at risk.

Methods: Twenty consecutive patients with cervical (N = 19) or vaginal (N = 1) cancer were reirradiated with curative intent using BT with or without external beam irradiation and hyperthermia. The median biologically equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2), assuming α/β = 10, for reirradiation was 48.

HDR brachytherapy combined with interstitial hyperthermia in locally advanced cervical cancer patients initially treated with concomitant radiochemotherapy--a phase III study.

Background And Purpose: The aim of this randomised trial was to investigate whether hyperthermia (HT) combined with interstitial brachytherapy (ISBT) has any influence on local control (LC), disease-free survival (DFS), or acute and late side effects in patients with advanced cervical cancer.

Materials And Methods: After radiochemotherapy, consecutive patients with cervical cancer (FIGO stage II-III) were randomly assigned to two treatment groups, either ISBT alone or ISBT combined with interstitial hyperthermia (ISHT). A total of 205 patients were included in the statistical analysis.

Surgery combined with brachytherapy in patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas.

Purpose: The primary aim of this work was to analyze feasibility of combined treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas (RS): surgery (S) and intraoperative brachytherapy (IOBRT). The secondary aim was to analyze results and complications after this treatment.

Material And Methods: 84 patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas were qualified for combined treatment (S and IOBRT) between June 1998 and September 2006.

HDR brachytherapy as a solution in recurrences of locally advanced prostate cancer.

Purpose: The object of this study was to analyze the outcome of salvage HDR brachytherapy treatment after local failure, for patients with prostate specific antigen (PSA) failure without distant metastasis, after external beam radiation and HDR brachytherapy treatment, or after radical prostatectomy, with or without hormonal therapy.

Material And Methods: The group of 115 patients, without distant metastasis, after local failure and external beam radiation, followed by HDR brachytherapy treatment, or after radical prostatectomy, with hormonal therapy and without, have been enrolled to salvage HDR brachytherapy (SBR). All patients had minimum 3 months androgen deprivation therapy before salvage brachytherapy, which was continued until the next 9 months after SBR.

Combined therapy: surgery and intraoperative HDR brachytherapy for locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer. Practical experience of Brachytherapy Department in Warsaw.

Purpose: Patients with locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer have a dismal prognosis. The aim of proposed combined therapy - surgery and intraoperative brachytherapy, is to improve results of already applied methods and to define optimal group of patients for this treatment. We introduce practical experience of Brachytherapy Department in Cancer Centre - Institute in Warsaw.