Assessment of interfraction dose variation in pancreas SBRT using daily simulation MR images.

Pancreatic Cancer is associated with poor treatment outcomes compared to other cancers. High local control rates have been achieved by using hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) to treat pancreatic cancer. Challenges in delivering SBRT include close proximity of several organs at risk (OARs) and target volume inter and intra fraction positional variations.

The delivered dose assessment in pancreas SBRT with the target position determined using an in-house position monitoring system.

Purpose: This study assessed the delivered dose accuracy in pancreas SBRT by incorporating the real-time target position determined using an in-house position monitoring system.

Methods And Materials: An online image-based position monitoring system, SeedTracker, was developed to monitor radiopaque marker positions using monoscopic x-ray images, available from the Elekta XVI imaging system. This system was applied to patients receiving SBRT for pancreatic cancer on the MASTERPLAN Pilot trial (ACTRN 12617001642370).

Identifying the location of locoregional recurrences after definitive radiotherapy for head and neck cancer using metabolic parameters of baseline and mid-treatment 18F-FDG-PET scans.

Introduction: Tumour recurrences after treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are more likely to originate from regions of high-baseline FDG-PET uptake. Mid-treatment functional imaging can potentially predict for higher risk of tumour recurrence. The aim of this study is to correlate the location of locoregional tumour recurrence with baseline FDG-PET metabolic volumes and mid-treatment FDG-PET metabolic volumes in patients with HNSCC following definitive radiotherapy.

Correcting rotational error in rectal cancer radiation therapy: Can planning target volume margins be safely reduced?

Introduction: The magnitude and impact of rotational error is unclear in rectal cancer radiation therapy. This study evaluates rotational errors in rectal cancer patients, and investigates the feasibility of planning target volume (PTV) margin reduction to decrease organs at risk (OAR) irradiation.

Methods: In this study, 10 patients with rectal cancer were retrospectively selected.

γδ T Cells in Merkel Cell Carcinomas Have a Proinflammatory Profile Prognostic of Patient Survival.

Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) are immunogenic skin cancers associated with viral infection or UV mutagenesis. To study T-cell infiltrates in MCC, we analyzed 58 MCC lesions from 39 patients using multiplex-IHC/immunofluorescence (m-IHC/IF). CD4 or CD8 T cells comprised the majority of infiltrating T lymphocytes in most tumors.

The Gut Microbial Profile of Preclinical Crohn's Disease Is Similar to That of Healthy Controls.

Background And Aims: It is unclear whether microbial dysbiosis plays an etiologic role in Crohn's disease (CD) or is the result of protracted inflammation. Here, we test the hypothesis that dysbiosis predates clinical CD in asymptomatic first-degree relatives (FDRs) of CD patients: normal (FDR1), with borderline inflammation (FDR2), and with frank, very early inflammation (FDR3).

Methods: The gut microbial diversity was tested in ileocecal biopsies through next generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene in 10 healthy controls (HCs), 22 patients with active, untreated CD, and 25 FDRs (9 FDR1; 12 FDR2; 4 FDR3).

Comparison of four dimensional computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in abdominal radiotherapy planning.

Background And Purpose: Four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography (CT) is widely used in radiotherapy (RT) planning and remains the current standard for motion evaluation. We assess a 4D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence in terms of motion and image quality in a phantom, healthy volunteers and patients undergoing RT.

Materials And Methods: The 4D-MRI sequence is a prototype T1-weighted 3D gradient echo with radial acquisition with self-gating.

Recent Insights and Advances in the Management of Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and highly aggressive neuroendocrine malignancy with a propensity for recurrence and a poor prognosis. Incidence of MCC is on the rise and is known to increase with advanced age, immunosuppression, and UV exposure. Merkel cell polyomavirus is implicated in the pathogenesis of virus-positive MCC and accounts for 80% of MCCs in the northern hemisphere and 25% in southern latitudes.

Outcomes of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with parotid metastases.

Introduction: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (cHNSCC) metastatic to the parotid has a moderate risk of recurrence despite multimodality treatment. Immunosuppression is associated with lower rates of long-term cure. Our aim was to review outcomes of current management in a tertiary centre with a view to targeting future strategies.

p16-positive lymph node metastases from cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: No association with high-risk human papillomavirus or prognosis and implications for the workup of the unknown primary.

Background: The incidence of p16 overexpression and the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (cHNSCC) are unclear.

Methods: One hundred forty-three patients with cHNSCC lymph node metastases involving the parotid gland were evaluated for p16 expression by immunohistochemistry. The detection of 18 high-risk HPV subtypes was performed with HPV RNA in situ hybridization for a subset of 59 patients.

UV-Associated Mutations Underlie the Etiology of MCV-Negative Merkel Cell Carcinomas.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon, but highly malignant, cutaneous tumor. Merkel cell polyoma virus (MCV) has been implicated in a majority of MCC tumors; however, viral-negative tumors have been reported to be more prevalent in some geographic regions subject to high sun exposure. While the impact of MCV and viral T-antigens on MCC development has been extensively investigated, little is known about the etiology of viral-negative tumors.

Outcome analysis of 215 patients with parotid gland tumors: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: To identify prognostic factors in patients with parotid gland carcinomas who were treated at the Princess Margaret Hospital.

Methods: Clinical outcome of two hundred fifteen patients with malignancies of the parotid gland was evaluated over a 16-year period.

Results: Two-hundred-fifteen patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (n = 20), adenocarcinoma (n = 19), acinic cell carcinoma (n = 62), basal cell adenocarcinoma (n = 7), carcinoma-ex-pleomorphic adenoma (n = 18), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (n = 70) and salivary duct carcinoma (n = 19) have been included.

Salivary duct carcinoma: Treatment, outcomes, and patterns of failure.

Background: Salivary duct carcinoma is rare, with distinct morphology and behavior. We reviewed our institutional experience with salivary duct carcinoma, aiming to characterize clinical behavior and treatment outcomes.

Methods: All salivary duct carcinomas treated curatively between 1999 and 2010 were reviewed.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy using simultaneous-integrated boost for definitive treatment of locally advanced mucosal head and neck cancer: outcomes from a single-institution series.

Introduction: The study aims to report outcomes for patients treated using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with simultaneous-integrated boost and weekly cisplatin for American Joint Committee on Cancer stage III/IV mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs).

Methods: Records for 67 patients treated definitively with IMRT for HNSCC were reviewed. By including only those treated with weekly cisplatin, 45 patients were eligible for analysis.

Perineural invasion and spread in head and neck cancer.

Perineural involvement is a well-recognized clinicopathologic entity found in head and neck (H&N) cancers, including mucosal epithelial carcinomas and salivary gland malignancies. Perineural disease remains a diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic challenge for the multidisciplinary H&N oncology team. Nerves are important routes of tumor spread in H&N malignancies, yet the biology and prognostic implications of perineural tumor growth are not fully understood.