Prophylactic gastrostomy tube during chemoradiation for head and neck cancer decreases weight loss but increases rate of tube use beyond six months.

Importance: The role of prophylactic percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients treated with chemoradiation remains controversial and varies by center.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of prophylactic PEG tube placement in patients undergoing chemoradiation for HNC PEG tube use for more than 6 months and weight loss.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This single-institution retrospective study included 502 patients with head and neck cancer.

Association of Insomnia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Worse Oral Mucositis and Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy.

Background: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing radiation therapy (RT) often experience sleep disturbances that may contribute to oral mucositis (OM) and quality of life (QOL).

Methods: Patients with HNC treated with RT at a single institution were examined. Sleep questionnaires were given on the first day of RT to assess for insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Long-Term Survival and Failure Outcomes of Single-Fraction Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Early Stage NSCLC.

Introduction: This study aims to report our 13-year institutional experience with single-fraction stereotactic body radiation therapy (SF-SBRT) for early stage NSCLC.

Methods: A single-institutional retrospective review of patients with biopsy-proven peripheral cT1-2N0M0 NSCLC undergoing definitive SF-SBRT between September 2008 and May 2022 was performed. All patients were treated to 27 Gy with heterogeneity corrections or 30 Gy without.

Prophylactic High-Dose Gabapentin Reduces Opiate Use during Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: The role of prophylactic high-dose gabapentin for the management of oral mucositis during radiation therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains controversial.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on primary HNSCC patients treated at our institution. Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the patients' baseline characteristics.

Comparison of Survival Outcomes of Single- and Five-Fraction Schedules of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Early-Stage Central or Peripheral NSCLC.

Background: The treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) frequently involves different fractionation schemes for peripheral and central tumors due to concerns with toxicity. We performed an observational cohort study to determine survival outcomes for patients with peripheral and central NSCLC treated with SBRT.

Methods: A single-institutional database of patients with early-stage NSCLC treated with SBRT from September 2008 to December 2018 was evaluated.

Association of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio with survival in peripheral early-stage non-small cell lung cancer after stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Background: The role of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a predictor for survival in single fraction SBRT-treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients remains unclear. We performed an observational cohort study to determine the role of pretreatment NLR in predicting survival of early-stage NSCLC patients after single fraction SBRT.

Methods: A single-institution database of peripheral early-stage NSCLC patients treated with SBRT from February 2007 to May 2022 was queried.

Brachial Plexopathy After Single-Fraction Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Apical Lung Tumors.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of brachial plexus injury (BPI) after single-fraction stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to apical lung tumors.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed of all patients treated with single-fraction lung SBRT at our institution from 2007 to 2022. Apical tumors were identified as those with an epicenter located above the arch of the aorta.

Quality of Life After Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy or Surgery for Early-Stage NSCLC: A Systematic Review.

Quality of life (QOL) is a key consideration for patients with early-stage NSCLC choosing between treatment options. Currently, it is not well established whether stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) or surgery offers superior QOL in early-stage NSCLC. The objective of this systematic review is to summarize the prospective literature on QOL in patients with early-stage NSCLC after treatment with SBRT or surgery.

Pan-Cancer Characterization of Intratumoral Autonomic Innervation in 32 Cancer Types in the Cancer Genome Atlas.

Over the past two decades, multiple studies have demonstrated the important role that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, the mechanisms by which this process occurs have only recently begun to be elucidated. Further, the extent of autonomic innervation in various cancer types and its effects on tumor molecular, immunological, and histopathological features, as well as on patient outcomes, are not yet fully characterized.

Systematic Review of Single-Fraction Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Early Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Lung Oligometastases: How to Stop Worrying and Love One and Done.

Adoption of single-fraction lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for patients with medically inoperable early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or oligometastatic lung disease, even during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, was limited despite encouraging phase II trial results. Barriers to using single-fraction SBRT may include lack of familiarity with the regimen and lack of clarity about the expected toxicity. To address these concerns, we performed a systematic review of prospective literature on single-fraction SBRT for definitive treatment of early stage and oligometastatic lung cancer.

Racial/Ethnic Differences and Trends in Pathologic Complete Response Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate nationwide trends in pathologic complete response (pCR) and its racial variations for breast cancer. The National Cancer Database was queried for women from 2010 to 2017 with non-metastatic breast cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The primary endpoints, pCR and overall survival, were evaluated using Cochran-Armitage test, logistic, and Cox regression multivariable analyses.

Association of radiation dose intensity with overall survival in patients with distant metastases.

Background: Patients with metastatic cancer referred to radiation oncology have diverse prognoses and there is significant interest in personalizing treatment. We hypothesized that patients selected for higher biologically equivalent doses have improved overall survival.

Methods: The study population consists of 355 consecutive adult patients with distant metastases treated by a single radiation oncologist from 2014 to 2018.

A Principal Component of Quality-of-Life Measures Is Associated with Survival: Validation in a Prospective Cohort of Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy.

The association between HRQOL metrics and survival has not been studied in early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing SBRT. The cohort was derived via a post-hoc analysis of a prospective randomized clinical trial examining definitive SBRT for peripheral, early-stage NSCLC with a single or multi-fraction regimen. Patients completed HRQOL questionnaires prior to and 3 months after treatment.

Evaluation of risk stratification using gene expression assays in patients with breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate the association of various gene expression assays with pathologic complete response (pCR) in the setting of neoadjuvant chemotherapy among patients with breast cancer METHODS: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for women diagnosed between 2010 and 2017 with stage I-III breast cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and either 21-gene recurrence score (RS) or 70-gene signature (GS). Logistic multivariable analysis (MVA) was performed to identify variables associated with pCR.

Results: A total of 3009 patients met our inclusion criteria.

Narrative review of the management of oral mucositis during chemoradiation for head and neck cancer.

Oral mucositis (OM) can be a significant problem for patients undergoing radiation or chemoradiation for head and neck cancer. In modern clinical trials, grade 3-4 OM can be seen in over 40% of patients and can cause a significant impact on their quality of life (QOL). Despite this fact, strategies for the prevention and treatment of OM vary widely, with options including both lifestyle modifications and pharmaceuticals.

A Dose-Response Relationship to Radiotherapy for Cutaneous Lesions of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease, afflicting approximately 4.6 and 1-2 per 1 million children and adults, respectively. While LCH can involve numerous organ systems such as the lung or bone, it is uncommon for the disease to be limited to the skin.

Role of Repeat PET/CT Imaging in Head and Neck Cancer Following Initial Incomplete PET/CT Response to Chemoradiation.

Despite waiting 13 weeks to perform a PET/CT scan after completion of chemoradiation for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), equivocal findings are often found that make assessing treatment response difficult. This retrospective study examines the utility of a repeat PET/CT scan in HNSCC patients following an incomplete response on initial post-treatment imaging. For this cohort of 350 patients, initial PET/CT was performed 13 weeks after completion of treatment.

Association of significant financial burden with survival for head and neck cancer patients treated with radiation therapy.

Objective: To assess the association between financial toxicity and survival in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC).

Materials And Methods: Using a single-institution database, we retrospectively reviewed HNC patients treated at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center treated with definitive or postoperative radiation therapy between 2013 and 2017. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests were used to analyze survival outcomes.

Concurrent Aspirin Use Is Associated with Improved Outcome in Rectal Cancer Patients Who Undergo Chemoradiation Therapy.

Background: The benefit of aspirin in rectal cancer during chemoradiation therapy (CRT) and the factors affecting its efficacy are not well characterized. We compared the outcomes of rectal patients undergoing neoadjuvant CRT based on aspirin use.

Methods: Patients undergoing CRT for rectal cancer from 2010 to 2018 were evaluated.

Prior Treatment for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Is Associated With Improved Survival in Patients who Undergo Definitive Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for a Subsequent Lung Malignancy: A Retrospective Multivariate and Matched Pair Analysis.

Background: Despite occurring commonly, the prognoses of second early-stage non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) are not well known.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of inoperable patients who underwent thoracic stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) from February 2007 to April 2019. Those with previous small cell lung cancers or SBRT treatments for tumors other than NSCLC were excluded.

Evaluation of Preoperative Chemotherapy or Radiation and Overall Survival in Patients With Nonmetastatic, Resectable Retroperitoneal Sarcoma.

This cohort study compares overall survival among patients with nonmetastatic, resectable retroperitoneal sarcoma treated with surgical treatment alone vs surgical treatment and chemotherapy or radiation.