Comparison of the micronucleus and chromosome aberration techniques for the documentation of cytogenetic damage in radiochemotherapy-treated patients with rectal cancer.

Purpose: The goal of the interdisciplinary Clinical Research Unit KFO179 (Biological Basis of Individual Tumor Response in Patients with Rectal Cancer) is to develop an individual Response and Toxicity Score for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. The aim of the present study was to find a reliable and sensitive method with easy scoring criteria and high numbers of cell counts in a short period of time in order to analyze DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Thus, the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay and the chromosome aberration technique (CAT) were tested.

High-grade acute organ toxicity during preoperative radiochemotherapy as positive predictor for complete histopathologic tumor regression in multimodal treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer.

Purpose: To test for a possible correlation between high-grade acute organ toxicity during preoperative radiochemotherapy and complete tumor regression after total mesorectal excision in multimodal treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer.

Patients And Methods: From 2001 to 2008, 120 patients were treated. Preoperative treatment consisted of normofractionated radiotherapy at a total dose of 50.

The impact of prostate volume changes during external-beam irradiation in consequence of HDR brachytherapy in prostate cancer treatment.

Purpose: To evaluate prostate volume changes during external-beam irradiation in consequence of high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy in prostate cancer treatment.

Patients And Methods: 20 patients who underwent radiotherapy for prostate cancer were included in this prospective evaluation. All patients had a computed tomography (CT) scan for planning of the external-beam irradiation and additional scans after each HDR brachytherapy.

The delineation of target volumes for radiotherapy of lung cancer patients.

Purpose: Differences in the delineation of the gross target volume (GTV) and planning target volume (PTV) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer are considerable. The focus of this work is on the analysis of observer-related reasons while controlling for other variables.

Methods: In three consecutive patients, eighteen physicians from fourteen different departments delineated the GTV and PTV in CT-slices using a detailed instruction for target delineation.