Current status of intensity-modulated radiation therapy for prostate cancer: History, clinical results and future directions.

External beam radiotherapy has changed dramatically over several decades with the improvement of computer hardware and software, and machinery developments. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy is the most sophisticated technique for all cancer treatment with radiation therapy, and is widely disseminated and available for daily use in many countries. Several retrospective and prospective studies have shown that intensity-modulated radiation therapy reduces the radiation dose in the organs at risk with diminished rates of acute and late toxicity, even with higher doses (>74 Gy).

Phase II study of oral S-1 and concurrent radiotherapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: S-1 is an oral fluoropyrimidine derivative that has demonstrated favorable antitumor activity in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of S-1 and concurrent radiotherapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Methods And Materials: Patients with histopathologically proven, unresectable, locally advanced pancreatic cancer were eligible.

[Contribution to survival rate improvement].

For patients with locally advanced HNSCC, where the outcome with conventional radiotherapy is poor, meta-analysis and collective data showed a high level of evidence of loco-regional control improvement by altered fractionated radiotherapy, chemo-radiotherapy with a concomitant approach. For these patients, much evidence indicates overall survival may be improved by concomitant chemo-radiotherapy or hyper-fractionated radiotherapy delivered with increased total dose. There was a significant survival benefit with altered fractionated radiotherapy, corresponding to an absolute benefit of 3.

Current status of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

External-beam radiation therapy has been one of the treatment options for prostate cancer. The dose response has been observed for a dose range of 64.8-81 Gy.

Treatment and prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal and middle ear: a multi-institutional retrospective review of 87 patients.

Purpose: To examine the relative roles of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy in the management of patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the external auditory canal and middle ear.

Methods And Materials: The records of 87 patients with histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma who were treated between 1984 and 2005 were reviewed. Fifty-three patients (61%) were treated with surgery and radiotherapy (S + RT group) and the remaining 34 patients with radiotherapy alone (RT group).

[3D-CRT and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)].

Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) conforms a high dose region closer to the target volume than does 2D radiation therapy. IMRT is the advanced form of 3D-CRT. With IMRT technique, using multiple intensity modulated beams, one can deliver a high dose of radiation to the target and a low dose to the surrounding normal structures.