Assessing the Heterogeneity of Response of [Ga] Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT Lesions in Patients With Biochemical Recurrence of Prostate Cancer.

Introduction: Treatment of men with metastatic prostate cancer can be difficult due to the heterogeneity of response of lesions. [Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 (PSMA) PET/CT assists with monitoring and directing clinical intervention; however, the impact of response heterogeneity has yet to be related to outcome measures. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of quantitative imaging information on the value of PSMA PET/CT to assess patient outcomes in response evaluation.

Opportunities in Cancer Therapies: Deciphering the Role of Cancer Stem Cells in Tumour Repopulation.

Tumour repopulation during treatment is a well acknowledged yet still challenging aspect of cancer management. The latest research results show clear evidence towards the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are responsible for tumour repopulation, dissemination, and distant metastases in most solid cancers. Cancer stem cell quiescence and the loss of asymmetrical division are two powerful mechanisms behind repopulation.

Modelling the influence of radiosensitivity on development of second primary cancer in out-of-field organs following proton therapy for paediatric cranial cancer.

Objective: Radiobiological modelling the risks of second primary cancer (SPC) after proton therapy (PT) for childhood cranial cancer remains largely unknown. Organ-specific dose-response risk factors such as radiosensitivity require exploration. This study compared the influence of radiosensitivity data (slope of β) on children's lifetime attributable risks (LAR) of SPC development in out-of-field organs following cranial scattering and scanning PT.

Proton-to-photon comparative treatment planning guidelines for the Australian context.

Proton-to-photon comparative treatment planning is a current requirement of Australian Government funding for patients to receive proton beam therapy (PBT) overseas, and a future requirement for Medicare funding of PBT in Australia. Because of the fundamental differences in treatment plan creation and evaluation between PBT and conventional radiation therapy with x-rays (XRT), there is the potential for a lack of consistency in the process of comparing PBT and XRT treatment plans. This may have an impact on patient eligibility assessment for PBT.

Lifetime attributable risk of radiation induced second primary cancer from scattering and scanning proton therapy - A model for out-of-field organs of paediatric patients with cranial cancer.

Background And Purpose: Proton therapy (PT) can reduce side effects for paediatric cranial malignancies. Despite the high number of paediatric patients treated with PT, radiation induced risk factors for second primary cancer (SPC) in out-of-field organs are unknown. This study estimated lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of SPC as a function of age and sex for out-of-field organs following passive scattering and scanning beam PT in paediatric brain tumours.

Normal tissue complication probability modeling to guide individual treatment planning in pediatric cranial proton and photon radiotherapy.

Purpose: Proton therapy (PT) is broadly accepted as the gold standard of care for pediatric patients with cranial cancer. The superior dose distribution of PT compared to photon radiotherapy reduces normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for organs at risk. As NTCPs for pediatric organs are not well understood, clinics generally base radiation response on adult data.

Normal tissue tolerance amongst paediatric brain tumour patients- current evidence in proton radiotherapy.

Background: Proton radiotherapy (PT) is used increasingly for paediatric brain cancer patients. However, as demonstrated here, the knowledge on normal tissue dose constraints, to minimize side-effects, for this cohort is limited.

Methods: A search strategy was systematically conducted on MEDLINE® database.

Influence of Target Location, Size, and Patient Age on Normal Tissue Sparing- Proton and Photon Therapy in Paediatric Brain Tumour Patient-Specific Approach.

Background: Proton radiotherapy produces superior dose distributions compared to photon radiotherapy, reducing side effects. Differences between the two modalities are not fully quantified in paediatric patients for various intracranial tumour sites or age. Understanding these differences may help clinicians estimate the benefit and improve referral across available centres.

Clinical Limitations of Photon, Proton and Carbon Ion Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer.

Introduction: Despite improvements in radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgical procedures over the last 30 years, pancreatic cancer 5-year survival rate remains at 9%. Reduced stroma permeability and heterogeneous blood supply to the tumour prevent chemoradiation from making a meaningful impact on overall survival. Hypoxia-activated prodrugs are the latest strategy to reintroduce oxygenation to radioresistant cells harbouring in pancreatic cancer.

A Retrospective Dosimetric Study of Radiotherapy Patients with Left-Sided Breast Cancer; Patient Selection Criteria for Deep Inspiration Breath Hold Technique.

Background: Several studies have investigated cardiac dose reduction when utilizing the deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) technique in patients undergoing radiotherapy for left-sided breast cancer. This paper aims to recommend potential selection criteria based on a retrospective single institute study of free breathing (FB) and DIBH computed tomography (CT) simulation planning scans.

Methods: Dosimetric comparisons were performed retrospectively for 20 patients correlating the dose reduction and patient anatomical factors (anatomical variation of chest shape, chest wall separation, total lung volume (TLV) and others).