[Sleep Innovation].

Advances in sleep medicine have driven significant improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This disorder affects one billion people worldwide and traditionally, diagnosis is based on polysomnography (PSG), a laborious method that requires specialized personnel. However, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in sleep medicine has made it possible to automate the analysis of sleep phases and respiratory events with high accuracy.

Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy for Older Patients with Locally Advanced Non-Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Who Are Not Candidates for or Decline Surgery and Chemotherapy: A Practical Proposal by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group.

The standard of care for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is either surgery combined with chemotherapy pre- or postoperatively or concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, older and frail patients may not be candidates for surgery and chemotherapy due to the high mortality risk and are frequently referred to radiotherapy alone, which is better tolerated but carries a high risk of disease recurrence. Recently, immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) may induce a high response rate among cancer patients with positive programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression.

Use of social media in radiation oncology: multicenter data from the GOCO Group.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the usage patterns and profiles of social media (SM) platforms among Radiation Oncologists (RO) and Physicists in the scope of the Catalan-Occitan Oncology Group (GOCO).

Materials And Methods: From November 2022 to March 2023, a comprehensive survey was sent to Radiation Oncology professionals within the GOCO group, comprising 31 questions that covered demographics (4) and general inquiries (9), user behavior on social media (7), profile of SM activity (7), and participants' opinions (4) regarding professional use of SM. The survey reached professionals from 12 centers, encompassing 10 in Catalonia and 2 in French Occitania.

Surrogate endpoints in phase III randomized trials of advanced gastroesophageal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Overall survival (OS) is the most meaningful endpoint in clinical trials. However, owing to their limitations, surrogate endpoints are commonly used and validation studies are required to assess their reliability. Analysis of phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of advanced gastroesophageal cancer (AGC) with > 100 patients, correlation coefficients (r), and determination coefficients (R²) between OS and surrogates were evaluated through meta-analyses.

Immunotherapy and stereotactic body radiotherapy for older patients with non-metastatic renal cancer unfit for surgery or decline nephrectomy: practical proposal by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group.

The standard of care for non-metastatic renal cancer is surgical resection followed by adjuvant therapy for those at high risk for recurrences. However, for older patients, surgery may not be an option due to the high risk of complications which may result in death. In the past renal cancer was considered to be radio-resistant, and required a higher dose of radiation leading to excessive complications secondary to damage of the normal organs surrounding the cancer.

Management of high-risk and post-operative non-metastatic prostate cancer in Catalonia: an expert Delphi consensus.

Background: To reach a consensus on recommendations for the management of high-risk and post-operative non-metastatic prostate cancer by a group of Radiation Oncologists in Catalonia dedicated to prostate cancer.

Methods: A modified Delphi approach was employed to reach consensus on controversial topics in Radiation Oncology on high-risk non-metastatic (eight questions) and post-operative (eight questions) prostate cancer. An agreement of at least 75% was considered as consensus.

Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy for Older Cancer Patients during the COVID-19 Era: Proposed Paradigm by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group.

Background: Older cancer patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease may benefit from chemotherapy alone or combined with radiotherapy. However, chemotherapy is often omitted either because of physician bias or because of its underlying comorbidity, thus compromising their survival. The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is compounding this issue because of the fear of immunosuppression induced by chemotherapy on the elderly which makes them more vulnerable to the virus.

Whole-lung Low Dose Irradiation for SARS-Cov2 Induced Pneumonia in the Geriatric Population: An Old Effective Treatment for a New Disease? Recommendation of the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group.

A cytokine storm induced by SARS-Cov2 may produce pneumonitis which may be fatal for older patients with underlying lung disease. Hyper-elevation of Interleukin1 (IL-1), Tumor necrosis factor-1alfa (TNF-1 alfa), and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) produced by inflammatory macrophage M1 may damage the lung alveoli leading to severe pneumonitis, decreased oxygenation, and potential death despite artificial ventilation. Older patients may not be suitable candidates for pharmaceutical intervention targeting IL-1/6 blockade or artificial ventilation.

Older Cancer Patients during the COVID-19 Epidemic: Practice Proposal of the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group.

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is unprecedented as it reached all countries in the world within a record short period of time. Even though COVID-19 infection may be just severe in any adults, older adults (65-year-old or older) may experience a higher mortality rate. Among those affected, cancer patients may have a worse outcome compared to the general population because of their depressed immune status.

Bowel dysfunction in survivors of gynaecologic malignancies.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of bowel dysfunctions after treatment for gynaecological cancer and the impact on the quality of life.

Methods: We identified a cohort of 217 eligible women treated with radiotherapy (RT) with curative intention, alone or as combined treatment, for gynaecological malignancies at three institutions in Catalonia (Spain). Demographic, diagnosis and treatment modality were reviewed.

Radiation therapy for bone-only metastases in breast cancer patients: A GOCO survey of current clinical practice.

Introduction: The role of radiation therapy (RT) for patients with bone-only metastatic (BOM) breast cancer has not been investigated sufficiently. The aim of this survey was to evaluate current clinical practice in treating breast cancer patients with BOM in Radiation Therapy Departments in Catalonia and Occitania within the scope of the GOCO group.

Materials And Methods: An electronic questionnaire was completed by experienced radiation oncologists from fourteen RT centers.

Effect of radiotherapy on the expression of cardiovascular disease-related miRNA-146a, -155, -221 and -222 in blood of women with breast cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most important neoplasias among women. Many patients receive radiotherapy (RT), which involves radiation exposure of the thoracic zone, including the heart and blood vessels, leading to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as a long-term side effect. The severity of CVD-related pathologies leads research on assessing novel CVD biomarkers as diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic agents.

Challenges Facing Radiation Oncologists in The Management of Older Cancer Patients: Consensus of The International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group.

The management of older cancer patients remains difficult because of data paucity. Radiation oncologists need to identify potential issues which could affect treatment of those patients. A workshop was organized in Barcelona among international radiation oncologists with special interest in the management of older cancer patients on April 22, 2018.

Effect of radiotherapy on activity and concentration of serum paraoxonase-1 in breast cancer patients.

Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is an intra-cellular antioxidant enzyme found also in the circulation associated with high-density lipoproteins. The activity of this enzyme has been shown to be decreased in breast cancer (BC) patients. The aims of our study were to investigate the changes produced by radiotherapy (RT) on activity and concentration of serum PON1 in BC patients, and to evaluate the observed variations in relation to clinical and pathological characteristics of patients and tumors, and the response to treatment.

[Spanish version of the Satisfaction With Decision scale: cross-cultural adaptation, validity and reliability].

Objective: The aim of this study is to develop a Spanish version of the Satisfaction With Decision scale (SWDs) and analyse the psychometric properties of validity and reliability.

Design: An observational, descriptive study and validation of a tool to measure satisfaction with the decision.

Setting: Urology, Radiation oncology, and Medical oncology Departments of the Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Institut Català d'Oncologia and the Institut Oncològic del Vallès - Hospital General de Catalunya.

Are breast cancer patients treated with radiotherapy younger now than ten years ago?

Aim: The aim of the present study was to analyze the age of breast cancer patients managed with curative approach at the time of treatment with radiotherapy.

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequent neoplasm in women. Little is known with regard to the age of patients at diagnosis, and some authors have suggested that breast cancer is now affecting women who are younger than before.

A Decision Aid to Support Informed Choices for Patients Recently Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Decision aids provide balanced information about the benefits and risks of treatment options and improve the match between patient preferences and the treatment received.

Objective: To assess the impact of a decision aid regarding the treatment options for patients with localized prostate cancer.

Methods: A 2-arm randomized controlled trial was used to compare booklet patient decision aid (intervention group n = 61) with standard information for localized prostate cancer (control group n = 61).

An optimized posterior axillary boost technique in radiation therapy to supraclavicular and axillary lymph nodes: a comparative study.

To assess the advantages of an optimized posterior axillary (AX) boost technique for the irradiation of supraclavicular (SC) and AX lymph nodes. Five techniques for the treatment of SC and levels I, II, and III AX lymph nodes were evaluated for 10 patients selected at random: a direct anterior field (AP); an anterior to posterior parallel pair (AP-PA); an anterior field with a posterior axillary boost (PAB); an anterior field with an anterior axillary boost (AAB); and an optimized PAB technique (OptPAB). The target coverage, hot spots, irradiated volume, and dose to organs at risk were evaluated and a statistical analysis comparison was performed.

HIV-specific differences in outcome of squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal: a multicentric cohort study of HIV-positive patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Purpose: To define clinical outcome after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) of anal carcinoma in HIV-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Patients And Methods: A multicentric cohort comparison of 40 HIV-positive patients with HAART and 81 HIV-negative patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) or CRT was retrospectively performed. Local disease control (LC), relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), toxicity, and prognostic factors were investigated.

Lymph node retrieval in abdominoperineal surgical specimen is radiation time-dependent.

Background: A low yield of lymph nodes (LN) in abdominoperineal resection (APR) specimen has been associated with preoperative radiation therapy (XRT) in population-based studies, which may preclude adequate staging of anorectal carcinomas. We hypothesized that the number of LN retrieved in APR specimen was correlated with the dose and the timing of pelvic irradiation.

Patients And Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 102 patients who underwent APR in a single institution between 1980 and 2004.

Value of ezrin, maspin and nm23-H1 protein expressions in predicting outcome of patients with head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma treated with radical radiotherapy.

Background: Prognostic factors in predicting outcomes in patients with head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are limited to the clinical-pathological parameters, including lymph node metastasis, location, grade and stage of the disease.

Aim: To determine whether the expression of these proteins has a value in predicting patient outcome.

Methods: Ezrin, maspin and nm23-H1 immunohistochemistry in tissue samples of 120 patients with HNSCC were evaluated using the microarray technique.