Perceptions of healthcare professionals on the use of Mepitel Film for the prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer.

Introduction: Randomized clinical trials support Mepitel Film (MF) as a prophylactic treatment for radiation dermatitis (RD) in patients undergoing breast radiotherapy. Although several studies have canvassed the opinion of patients on using MF, no such studies have been done to investigate the perception of healthcare professionals (HCPs). The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the perceptions of HCPs on MF as a treatment option for RD.

Online Adaptive MRI-Guided Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Pancreatic and Other Intra-Abdominal Cancers.

A 1.5T MRI combined with a linear accelerator (Unity, Elekta; Stockholm, Sweden) is a device that shows promise in MRI-guided stereotactic body radiation treatment (SBRT). Previous studies utilized the manufacturer's pre-set MRI sequences (i.

The role of dermocosmetics in the management of cancer-related skin toxicities: international expert consensus.

Skin toxicities are very common in patients undergoing cancer treatment and have been found to occur with all types of cancer therapeutic interventions (cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy). Further, skin toxicities can lead to interruption or even discontinuation of anticancer treatment in some patients, translating to suboptimal outcomes. Dermocosmetics (or cosmeceuticals)-defined as skincare solutions incorporating dermatologically active ingredients (beyond vehicle effects) that directly improve symptoms of various skin conditions-are increasingly being used in cancer care to prevent and manage skin toxicities.

A target definition based on electroanatomic maps for stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation.

Purpose: Identifying the target region is critical for successfully treating ventricular tachycardia (VT) with single fraction stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation (STAR). We report the feasibility of target definition based on direct co-registration of electroanatomic maps (EAM) and radioablation planning images.

Materials And Methods: The EAM consists of 3D cardiac anatomy representation with electrical activity at endocardium and is acquired by a cardiac electrophysiologist (CEP) during electrophysiology study.

Topical corticosteroids for the prevention of severe radiation dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Radiation dermatitis (RD) is a frequently occurring adverse reaction during radiotherapy in cancer patients. While the use of topical corticosteroids (TCs) is common for the treatment of RD, its role in preventing severe reactions remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the evidence on the use of TCs as prophylaxis of RD.

Immunosuppressed Miniswine as a Model for Testing Cell Therapy Success: Experience With Implants of Human Salivary Stem/Progenitor Cell Constructs.

An urgent need exists to develop large animal models for preclinical testing of new cell therapies designed to replace lost or damaged tissues. Patients receiving irradiation for treatment of head and neck cancers frequently develop xerostomia/dry mouth, a condition that could one day be treated by cell therapy to repopulate functional saliva-producing cells. Using immunosuppression protocols developed for patients receiving whole face transplants, we successfully used immunosuppressed miniswine as a suitable host animal to evaluate the long-term stability, biocompatibility, and fate of matrix-modified hyaluronate (HA) hydrogel/bioscaffold materials containing encapsulated salivary human stem/progenitor cells (hS/PCs).

CERE-120 Prevents Irradiation-Induced Hypofunction and Restores Immune Homeostasis in Porcine Salivary Glands.

Salivary gland hypofunction causes significant morbidity and loss of quality of life for head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Preventing hypofunction is an unmet therapeutic need. We used an adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) vector expressing the human neurotrophic factor neurturin (CERE-120) to treat murine submandibular glands either pre- or post-irradiation (IR).

ASTRO Radiation Therapy Summary of the ASCO-ASTRO-SSO Guideline on Management of Hereditary Breast Cancer.

Purpose: To develop a summary of recommendations regarding locoregional management of patients with breast cancer and germline mutations in breast cancer susceptibility genes based on the American Society of Clinical Oncology/American Society for Radiation Oncology/Society of Surgical Oncology Guideline on Management of Hereditary Breast Cancer.

Methods: The American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society for Radiation Oncology, and Society of Surgical Oncology convened an expert panel to develop recommendations based on a systematic review of the literature and a formal consensus process. A total of 58 articles met the eligibility criteria and formed the evidentiary basis for the locoregional therapy recommendations.

Management of Hereditary Breast Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society for Radiation Oncology, and Society of Surgical Oncology Guideline.

Purpose: To develop recommendations for management of patients with breast cancer (BC) with germline mutations in BC susceptibility genes.

Methods: The American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society for Radiation Oncology, and Society of Surgical Oncology convened an Expert Panel to develop recommendations based on a systematic review of the literature and a formal consensus process.

Results: Fifty-eight articles met eligibility criteria and formed the evidentiary basis for the local therapy recommendations; six randomized controlled trials of systemic therapy met eligibility criteria.

Surveillance Mammography After Breast Conservation Therapy: Is Tomosynthesis Worth It?

Introduction: We investigated the downstream workup and costs associated with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) compared with 2-dimensional full field digital mammogram (FFDM) when employed as initial follow-up imaging in breast conservation therapy.

Methods: Between the years 2015 and 2017, 450 consecutive breast conservation therapy patients, ages 32 to 89, with a follow-up DBT (n=162) or FFDM (n=288) were retrospectively reviewed. The primary endpoints were further workup after follow-up mammogram and associated health care costs at 1 year.

Management trends and outcomes of breast angiosarcoma: Is breast conservation feasible?

We queried the National Cancer Database for nonmetastatic breast angiosarcoma, yielding 808 patients (202 de novo, 606 secondary). The median survival was 53.7 months.

Dose Effect in Adjuvant Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Resected Keloids.

Purpose: Surgical excision of keloids can result in an insidious cycle of tissue injury and repeat keloid formation unless combined with adjuvant therapy to halt this cycle. We present our results of postoperative radiation therapy for keloids with various dose regimens.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective review of 124 patients with 250 keloid lesions treated with postoperative radiation therapy was analyzed.

Short-Term Follow-Up Mammography in Breast Conservation Therapy Likely Leads to Unnecessary Downstream Workup: A Longitudinal Study.

Purpose: To analyze the effect of post-radiation therapy (XRT) mammographic timing and radiation technique in relation to additional downstream workup for 569 breast conservation therapy patients treated with adjuvant XRT after their initial surveillance mammogram (MMG).

Methods And Materials: From January 2011 to December 2014, 569 breast cancer patients treated with breast conservation surgery and adjuvant XRT with a follow-up MMG were reviewed. Patients were stratified by the time interval until their first post-XRT MMG, and by XRT technique-whole breast (472), accelerated partial breast (96), conventional fractionation (373), hypofractionation (94), surgical cavity boosts (407), or no boost (66).

Evaluation of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound fusion optimization for low-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy.

Purpose: Intraoperative planning with transrectal ultrasound (US) is used for accurate seed placement and optimal dosimetry in prostate brachytherapy. However, prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown superiority in delineation of prostate anatomy. Accordingly, MRI/US fusion may be useful for accurate intraoperative planning.

Local failure and acute radiodermatological toxicity in patients undergoing radiation therapy with and without postmastectomy chest wall bolus: Is bolus ever necessary?

Purpose: Postmastectomy chest wall radiation therapy has historically used bolus to increase dose at the skin surface. Despite the theoretical benefits of bolus, the clinical implications of locoregional tumor control, cosmesis, and the incidence of radiodermatitis are less well characterized. We hypothesized that treatment in the presence or absence of bolus results in equivalent chest wall recurrence rates, but its presence results in more severe acute dermatologic toxicity.

Safety Profile of Amnion-Derived Cellular Cytokine Solution (ACCS) Following Topical Skin Application in Patients Receiving Breast Radiotherapy.

Objective: To establish a safety profile for amnion-derived cellular cytokine solution following topical application in patients undergoing whole breast radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: Twenty female patients with early-stage breast cancer were enrolled in 2 separate cohorts of an institutional review board-approved phase I protocol. Cohort 1 consisted of 10 patients who received topical amnion-derived cellular cytokine solution to the breast immediately following the first 10 fractions of whole breast radiotherapy.

Madame Maria Sklodowska-Curie - brilliant scientist, humanitarian, humble hero: Poland's gift to the World.

In 1911, when the Nobel Foundation awarded its coveted Chemistry Prize to a 44 year old Polish born woman, it is likely they may not have expected the action ever duplicated in the more than 100 years that followed. In fact, it was the second Nobel Prize in the sciences awarded to Maria Sklodowska-Curie, whom the world would come to admire, know, and love as Madame Curie. In a time of science dominated by men, the diminutive in size but larger-than-life Curie would become the first women to be awarded the prize.

Long-term followup of breast preservation by re-excision and balloon brachytherapy after ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence.

Purpose: To report our long-term experience with balloon brachytherapy in retreatment of the breast after ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence.

Methods And Materials: Between March 2004 and June 2012, 18 patients previously treated with external beam radiotherapy were retreated using either the MammoSite (Hologic Corporation, Marlborough, MA), MammoSite ML (Hologic Corporation), or the Contura (Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc., Tempe, AZ) brachytherapy devices.

Long-term cosmesis and toxicity following 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy in the delivery of accelerated partial breast irradiation.

Purpose: To evaluate cosmesis and toxicity in early-stage breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant 3D-CRT who received accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI).

Methods And Materials: From November 2003 to June 2006, 60 breasts on 59 patients were treated with 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) APBI. Patients with stage 0, I, or II breast cancer were eligible if a <3-cm tumor was resected with negative surgical margins, and axillary evaluation documented 0-3 positive nodes.