Impact of Artificial Intelligence-Based Autosegmentation of Organs at Risk in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Purpose: Radiation therapy (RT) processes require significant human resources and expertise, creating a barrier to rapid RT deployment in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Accurate segmentation of tumor targets and organs at risk (OARs) is crucial for optimal RT. This study assessed the impact of artificial intelligence (AI)-based autosegmentation of OARs in 2 LMICs.

Current and projected gaps in the availability of radiotherapy in the Asia-Pacific region: a country income-group analysis.

Background: Cancer incidence and mortality is increasing rapidly worldwide, with a higher cancer burden observed in the Asia-Pacific region than in other regions. To date, evidence-based modelling of radiotherapy demand has been based on stage data from high-income countries (HIC) that do not account for the later stage at presentation seen in many low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to estimate the current and projected demand and supply in megavoltage radiotherapy machines in the Asia-Pacific region, using a national income-group adjusted model.

Radiation Oncology Research in Asia: Current Status and a Peep Into the Future From the Federation of Asian Organizations for Radiation Oncology.

Purpose: This survey was conducted to assess the current research practices among the 14 members of the Federation of Asian Organizations for Radiation Oncology (FARO) committee, to inform measures for research capacity building in these nations.

Materials And Methods: A 19-item electronic survey was sent to two research committee members from the 14 representative national radiation oncology organizations (N = 28) that are a part of FARO.

Results: Thirteen of the 14 member organizations (93%) and 20 of 28 members (71.

Remote Global Radiation Oncology Education and Training: A Pathway to Increase Access to High-Quality Radiation Therapy Services in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Purpose: There is a vital need to train radiation therapy professionals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to develop sustainable cancer treatment capacity and infrastructure. LMICs have started to introduce intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), which is the standard of care in high-income countries, because of improved outcomes and reduced toxicities. This work reports the efficacy of a complementary asynchronous plus synchronous virtual-training approach on improving radiation therapy professions' self-confidence levels and evaluating participants' attitudes toward asynchronous and synchronous didactic hands-on learning in 3 LMICs.

Implementation of 3D conformal radiotherapy technology at the National Cancer Centre Mongolia: A successful Asia-Pacific collaborative initiative.

Introduction: Mongolia has a population of 3.3 million and is classified by the WHO as a lower middle-income country. Cancer is now a major public health issue and one of the leading causes of mortality.

ERK2-dependent reactivation of Akt mediates the limited response of tumor cells with constitutive K-RAS activity to PI3K inhibition.

K-RAS mutated (K-RASmut) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells are resistant to EGFR targeting strategies. We investigated the impact of K-RAS activity irrespective of mutational status in the EGFR-independent increase in clonogenic cell survival. An analysis of the K-RAS activity status revealed a constitutively high K-RAS activity in K-RASmut NSCLC cells and also in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells overexpressing wild-type K-RAS (K-RASwt).

K-RAS(V12) induces autocrine production of EGFR ligands and mediates radioresistance through EGFR-dependent Akt signaling and activation of DNA-PKcs.

Purpose: It is known that postirradiation survival of tumor cells presenting mutated K-RAS is mediated through autocrine activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In this study the molecular mechanism of radioresistance of cells overexpressing mutated K-RAS(V12) was investigated.

Methods And Materials: Head-and-neck cancer cells (FaDu) presenting wild-type K-RAS were transfected with empty vector or vector expressing mutated K-RAS(V12).

ErbB2 expression through heterodimerization with erbB1 is necessary for ionizing radiation- but not EGF-induced activation of Akt survival pathway.

Purpose: ErbB1-dependent Akt phosphorylation improves post-irradiation cellular survival. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of erbB2 as a heterodimerization partner of erbB1 in activation of Akt survival signaling after irradiation or EGF treatment.

Materials And Methods: Pattern of receptor dimerization and protein phosphorylation were investigated by Western and immunoblotting as well as immunoprecipitation techniques.