Intensified Total Neoadjuvant Therapy in Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Long-term Results of a Prospective Phase II Study.

Aims: To analyze the long-term results of a prospective phase II trial testing intensified total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Materials And Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed LARC adenocarcinoma were enrolled. Intensified TNT consisted of targeted agent (bevacizumab or panitumumab/cetuximab) plus FOLFOXIRI (5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin and irinotecan) induction chemotherapy followed by intensified (oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil) chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgical resection.

Deglutition preservation after swallowing (SWOARs)-sparing IMRT in head and neck cancers: definitive results of a multicenter prospective study of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO).

Background: To investigate changes of objective instrumental measures and correlate with patient reported outcomes (PROs) of radiation-induced dysphagia (RID) after swallowing organs at risk (SWOARs)-sparing IMRT.

Methods: Patients (pts) underwent Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES), Videofluoroscopy (VFS) and M.D.

Silent metastasis in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer: a collection of two case reports.

Treatment monitoring in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer has become a hot topic in the androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) era. Patients without increase in their PSA level at the time of imaging progression are not a rare phenomenon. What is the best monitoring strategy in asymptomatic cases represents a salient question.

[Concurrent simultaneous integrated boost radiotherapy and cetuximab in head and neck squamous cell cancer patients: is it feasible in daily clinical practice?].

Introduction And Aim: Locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-Hnscc) is a true therapeutical challenge in the modern era and the scientific community is trying to face this challenge with new therapeutical strategies, including combinations of monoclonal antibodies and radiation therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical outcomes in LA-Hnscc patients unfit to receive platinum-based chemotherapy, treated with concurrent simultaneous integrated boost-intensity modulated radiotherapy (Sib-Imrt) + cetuximab (Ctx) in daily clinical practice.

Methods: LA-Hnscc patients not included in other prospective studies treated in 4 Italian radiotherapy units (2 Messina, 1 Rome, and 1 Lecce) using Sib-Imrt and Ctx were included in this study.

Skin metastases from prostate cancer successfully treated with radiation therapy.

Skin metastases from prostate cancer (PCa) are rare, cause considerable discomfort, and usually indicate advanced disease and a poor prognosis. To date, literature accounts for no more than 88 cases of skin metastasis from PCa, and radiation therapy (RT) is not considered a standard treatment option. Here, we have described a rare case of skin localization of castration-resistant metastatic PCa, which occurred in a 75-year-old male previously treated with RT for PCa, 11 years earlier.

Definitive weekly hypofractionated radiotherapy in surgery-ineligible older adults with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region.

This study intends to address the impact of weekly hypofractionated radiation therapy with curative intent for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region in the elderly population.

Surgery-ineligible elderly patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region gain clinical benefit from definitive weekly hypofractionated radiotherapy.

Background: To evaluate the role of definitive weekly hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) for the treatment of surgery-ineligible elderly patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck region (cHNSCC).

Methods: Eligible elderly patients (aged ≥75 years) with cHNSCC were included. Patients received definitive weekly hypofractionated RT, using megavoltage electrons, to a total dose of 56-64 Gy (8 Gy per fraction).

Quality of life changes over time and predictors in a large head and neck patients' cohort: secondary analysis from an Italian multi-center longitudinal, prospective, observational study-a study of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) head and neck working group.

Purpose: The present study examined the longitudinal trajectories, through hierarchical modeling, of quality of life among patients with head and neck cancer, specifically symptoms burden, during radiotherapy, and in the follow-up period (1, 3, 6, and 12 months after completion of radiotherapy), through the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory Head and Neck questionnaire, formed by three factors.

Upper-neck irradiation versus standard whole-neck irradiation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of upper-neck irradiation versus standard whole-neck irradiation in patients with N0-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods: We conducted a PRISMA guideline based systematic review and meta-analysis. Randomized clinical trials assessing upper-neck irradiation versus whole-neck irradiation with or without chemotherapy in non-metastatic N0-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were identified.

A Highly Versatile X-ray and Electron Beam Diamond Dosimeter for Radiation Therapy and Protection.

Radiotherapy is now recognized as a pillar in the fight against cancer. Two different types are currently used in clinical practice: (1) external beam radiotherapy, using high-energy X-rays or electron beams, both in the MeV-range, and (2) intraoperative radiotherapy, using low-energy X-rays (up to 50 keV) and MeV-range electron beams. Versatile detectors able to measure the radiation dose independently from the radiation nature and energy are therefore extremely appealing to medical physicists.

Simultaneously Integrated Boost Affects Survival in Locally Advanced p16-Negative Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is the standard of care for oropharyngeal cancer management. IMRT can be applied using either the sequential boost or simultaneous integrated boost (SIB-IMRT) techniques. The purpose of the study was to assess the efficacy of sequential boost technique or SIB-IMRT) in locally advanced p16-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

High-resolution anoscopy predictive modeling of anal canal cancer response after definitive chemoradiotherapy in COVID19 era.

Purpose: To develop a predictive index model, integrating both clinical and high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) features to further personalize the decision making process in anal canal carcinoma in COVID19 era.

Methods And Materials: We assess HRA parameters after definitive chemoradiotherapy in patients with anal canal malignant lesions.

Results: HRA features could be important to assess the effect of CRT and a risk stratification system should be introduced in clinical practice to better allocate therapeutic interventions.

AIRO GORTEC consensus on postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in low-intermediate risk early stages oral squamous cell cancers (OSCC).

Evidence on the efficacy of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in low-intermediate risk squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (OSCC) remains inconclusive. Members of a task force from two national radio-oncology Associations (AIRO and GORTEC) defined 14 clinically relevant questions to identify "gray areas" pertinent to the indication for PORT in this clinical setting. Consequently, a literature review was performed on the topic.

Survival Analysis Using the Covid-death Mean-imputation (CoDMI) Algorithm: A First Clinical Application in Radiation Oncology.

Background/aim: To report long-term survival results after trimodal approach for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) in the Covid-19 era. We herein illustrate a clinical application of Covid-death mean-imputation (CoDMI) algorithm in LARC patients with Covid-19 infection.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed 94 patients treated for primary LARC.

Safety and efficacy of combining afatinib and whole-brain radiation therapy in treating brain metastases from EGFR-mutated NSCLC: a case report and literature review.

Combining EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) to whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) has been shown to be more effective than EGFR-TKIs or WBRT alone in treating brain metastases (BMs) from EGFR-mutated Non Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). However, despite the combination results well tolerated, EGFR-TKIs are often discontinued before WBRT, to reduce the risk of possible side effects, potentially resulting in reduced treatment efficacy and possible progression of intra- and extra-cranial disease. Afatinib, an irreversible inhibitor of EGFR-TK, has been shown to radiosensitize NSCLC in pre-clinical models and, compared to the other EGFR-TKIs, more efficiently penetrates the blood-brain barrier.

Relationship between Salivary Amylase and Xerostomia in Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer: A Prospective Pilot Study.

Purpose: A single-institution prospective pilot study was conducted to the assess correlation between salivary amylase and xerostomia in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Methods And Materials: Serum saliva amylase, clinician-reported xerostomia (using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events), and patient-reported xerostomia (using 8-item self-reported xerostomia-specific questionnaire) were prospectively collected at baseline, during treatment and thereafter. Correlations between variables were assessed by correlation matrices.

Synchronous Anal Canal Cancer and Cervical Cancer: Report of a Case and Management Implication.

Background: This is the case report of a synchronous anal canal cancer and cervical cancer in a patient who underwent definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and radical surgery for anal canal and cervical carcinoma, respectively.

Case Report: A 55-year-old woman was diagnosed with cT4a cN1 Mx anal canal squamous cell carcinoma and stage IA2 cervical squamous cell carcinoma, based on biopsy and imaging. Definitive CRT consisted of radiotherapy (total dose of 59.

Hearing Loss After Cisplatin-based Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: A Prospective Single-institution Study.

Background/aim: A single-institution prospective study was conducted to evaluate hearing loss rate after intensity modulated radiotherapy with concomitant cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CRT) for locally advanced head and neck cancer and identify cochlear dosimetric parameters associated with hearing loss risk.

Patients And Methods: Hearing assessment, patients' characteristics, tumor-related variables, and cochlear quantitative dosimetric factors for adults with locally advanced head and neck cancer treated with CRT were prospectively collected. Each patient repeated audiometry at baseline (pre-CRT), 1 month after CRT, and then every 3 to 6 months.

Patient-Reported Outcomes After Swallowing (SWOARs)-Sparing IMRT in Head and Neck Cancers: Primary Results from a Prospective Study Endorsed by the Head and Neck Study Group (HNSG) of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO).

Objectives: To prospectively investigate changes in M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) scores in patients affected by naso- and oropharynx cancer after definitive radiochemotherapy (ChemoRT) using swallowing organs at risk (SWOARs)-sparing IMRT.

Intensified Total Neoadjuvant Therapy Intensified Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Background/aim: To compare clinical outcomes following intensified total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) and intensified neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Patients And Methods: Of the 79 patients with LARC admitted to our department, 51 received intensified neoadjuvant CRT (CRT group) and 28 received intensified TNT (TNT group). Intensified TNT was defined as multi-agent chemotherapy, including FOLFOXIRI regimen plus bevacizumab (mutated Ras-BRAF) or panitumumab/cetuximab (wild-type Ras-BRAF) followed by oxaliplatin-5-fluorouracil-based CRT and surgery.

Definitive weekly hypofractionated radiotherapy in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: response rates and outcomes in elderly patients unfit for surgery.

Introduction: The optimal definitive radiotherapy (RT) scheme in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) remains controversial, especially in elderly patients.

Methods: Data of elderly patients with cSCC lesion(s) treated with weekly hypofractionated RT (8 Gy per week per 7-8 weeks) were analyzed.

Results: Eighteen patients (median age 89 years) with 23 cSCC lesions have been identified including nine males (50%) and nine females (50%).

Prediction of Recurrence by Machine Learning in Salivary Gland Cancer Patients After Adjuvant (Chemo)Radiotherapy.

Background/aim: To investigate survival outcomes and recurrence patterns using machine learning in patients with salivary gland malignant tumor (SGMT) undergoing adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Patients And Methods: Consecutive SGMT patients were identified, and a data set included nine predictor variables and a dependent variable [disease-free survival (DFS) event] was standardized. The open-source R software was used.