Texture analysis as imaging biomarker of tumoral response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer patients studied with 3-T magnetic resonance.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether texture features of rectal cancer on T2-weighted (T2w) magnetic resonance images can predict tumoral response in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Materials And Methods: We prospectively enrolled 15 consecutive patients (6 women, 63.2 ± 13.

Number of mediastinal lymph nodes as a prognostic factor in PN2 non small cell lung cancer: a single centre experience and review of the literature.

Currently the most important prognostic factor in lung cancer is the stage. In the current lung TNM classification system, N category is defined exclusively by anatomic nodal location though, in other type of tumours, number of lymph nodes is confirmed to be a fundamental prognostic factor. Therefore we evaluated the number of mediastinal lymph nodes as a prognostic factor in locally advanced NSCLC after multimodality treatment, observing a significant effect of the number of lymph nodes in terms of OS (p<0.

Relationship of clinical and pathologic nodal staging in locally advanced breast cancer: current controversies in daily practice?

Systemic neo-adjuvant therapy plays a primary role in the management of locally advanced breast cancer. Without having any negative effect in overall survival, induction chemotherapy potentially assures a surgery approach in unresectable disease or a conservative treatment in technically resectable disease and acts on a well-vascularized tumor bed, without the modifications induced by surgery. A specific issue has a central function in the neo-adjuvant setting: lymph nodes status.

Neoadjuvant strategy as initial treatment in resectable pancreatic cancer: concrete evidence of benefit.

Pancreatoduodenectomy remains the recommended treatment in potentially curative strategies for pancreatic carcinoma. Due to high local failure rates even after complete resection, a multi-modality treatment approach is paramount in the management of resectable disease. Despite there being insufficient evidence to recommend a specific neoadjuvant strategy, several studies have tested the use of preoperative chemoradiotherapy in this sub-group of patients, achieving promising results.

Two different intensity-modulated radiotherapy strategies for patients with high-risk prostate cancer.

Aim: To compare toxicity profiles of two different intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) strategies in patients with high-risk prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: From May 2010 to September 2012, 43 patients with high-risk prostate cancer were treated with IMRT and concurrent hormone therapy; 23 patients were treated by conventional fractionation (IMRT/C) and 20 patients by simultaneous integrated boost (IMRT/SIB). Acute and late toxicities were compared for each group.

Management of persistent anal canal carcinoma after combined-modality therapy: a clinical review.

Anal canal carcinoma is a rare gastro-intestinal cancer. Radiochemotherapy is the recommended primary treatment for patients with non-metastatic carcinoma; surgery is generally reserved for persistent or recurrent disease. Follow-up and surveillance after primary treatment is paramount to classify patients in those with complete remission, persistent or progressive disease.

Multiple bone metastases from glioblastoma multiforme without local brain relapse: a case report and review of the literature.

Extracranial metastases from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are a very rare event, even if an increasing incidence has been documented. We report the case of a young woman with primary GBM who developed bone metastases without local brain relapse. Because of persistent headache and visual disturbances, in March 2011 the patient underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidencing a temporoparietal mass, which was surgically resected.

Helical tomotherapy: an innovative radiotherapy technique for the treatment of locally advanced oropharynx and inoperable oral cavity carcinoma.

Background: To report our initial clinical experience of helical tomotherapy (HT) in the treatment of locally advanced oropharynx and inoperable oral cavity cancer.

Methods: Between February 2008 and January 2011, 24 consecutive patients, 15 with oropharyngeal cancer and 9 with oral cavity cancer were treated with exclusive radiotherapy or concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) in 30 fractions scheme was prescribed to all patients, using Helical Tomotherapy.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance application in response prediction before, during, and after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy in primary rectal cancer carcinoma.

Introduction: Our interest was to monitor treatment response using ADC value to predict response of rectal tumour to preoperative radiochemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two patients were treated with long course of radiochemotherapy, followed by surgery. Patients were examined by diffusion-weighted imaging MRI at three-time points (prior, during, and after radiochemotherapy) and were classified as responders and nonresponders.

Neoadjuvant-intensified treatment for rectal cancer: time to change?

Aim: To investigate whether neoadjuvant-intensified radiochemotherapy improved overall and disease-free survival in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Methods: Between January 2007 and December 2011, 80 patients with histologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma were enrolled. Tumors were clinically classified as either T3 or T4 and by the N stage based on the presence or absence of positive regional lymph nodes.

Complete response and long-term survival in malignant pleural mesothelioma: case report.

Unlabelled: Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare tumour. A three-modal strategy, comprising of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy has been shown to be essential for appropriate management. Current literature evidences the importance of radiation therapy in the adjuvant setting for local control of the disease, as part of a multidisciplinary treatment, with increment of progression-free survival rate, but also of disease-free survival.

Chemoradiation as definitive treatment for primary squamous cell cancer of the rectum.

In this report, we present a case of advanced squamous cell cancer located in the rectum of a 78-year-old woman treated with chemoradiation with curative intent. The patient showed a complete clinical response to chemoradiation; multiple biopsies were performed at the site of the previous mass 5 mo after the end of treatment and histological examination showed no residual tumour in the specimens. Surgical intervention was avoided and the patient was free of disease 12 mo after the diagnosis of cancer.

Preoperative intensified radiochemotherapy for rectal cancer: experience of a single institution.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and the effectiveness of an intensified neoadjuvant protocol with the addition of weekly oxaliplatin in the preoperative strategy of rectal cancer treatment.

Patients And Methods: Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer received continous infusion 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) 200 mg/m(2)/day in combination with weekly oxaliplatin at a dose of 50 mg/m(2). Doses of radiotherapy were 45 Gy to the whole pelvis plus 5.

Comparison between intensified neoadjuvant treatment and standard preoperative chemoradiation for rectal cancer.

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to compare a neoadjuvant regimen containing oxaliplatin with standard preoperative treatment for rectal cancer.

Methods: From December 2006 to December 2007, 20 patients with rectal cancer were treated at our Institution with the weekly addition of oxaliplatin (50 mg/m(2)) to radiotherapy (50.4-54.

Irradiated fields spared Stevens-Johnson syndrome in a patient undergoing radiotherapy for bone metastases.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are two of the most severe, rare, and life-threatening adverse reactions to medications. Their incidence is approximately two patients per million population per year. Several cases have been reported in the literature in which SJS and TEN have occurred in patients with a neoplasm undergoing radiation therapy and who are taking an anticonvulsant.

Radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the conservative treatment of anal canal carcinoma.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility of conformal radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy in patients with anal canal carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: Between 1990 and 2006, 83 patients affected by anal canal carcinoma were treated at the Radiotherapy Department of "La Sapienza" University of Rome. In all patients, a daily dose of 1.

Carcinoma of the vulva: clinical results of exclusive and adjuvant radiotherapy.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the historical cohort of 61 patients with carcinoma of the vulva, treated with radiation therapy from 1986 to 1997.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-seven patients were submitted to radiation therapy alone and 34 received radiotherapy post limited surgery in early stages and post radical vulvectomy in advanced stages. The dose range varied from 59 to 63 Gy in post-operative patients and 65 Gy to 71 Gy in curative patients.

Radiotherapy in the treatment of stage III-IV hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of radiation therapy alone, employing standard fractionation, in stage III-IV hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Fourteen (38.9%) stage III and 22 (61.

TRUS staging and follow-up in patients with anal canal cancer.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to define the role of grey-scale transrectal ultrasound in the evaluation, staging and follow-up of patients with histologically diagnosed anal canal cancer.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-six patients underwent digital rectal examination, anoscopy, abdomino-pelvic CT, inguinal and transrectal ultrasound; Fifty-five received combined chemoradiotherapy, whereas 21 received only radiotherapy due to clinical contraindications to chemotherapy. Before and after treatment TNM and UT staging were compared.

Radiotherapy alone and chemoirradiation in recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.

Aim: To evaluate the role of radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of recurrent vulvar cancer, emphasising the prognostic factors and outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Twenty women with loco-regional recurrence of vulvar carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. Eleven patients were managed with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, seven out of these with concomitant radio-chemotherapy and four with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

Transrectal ultrasound color Doppler in the evaluation of recurrence of anal canal cancer.

Objective: aim was to obtain elements for a differential diagnosis between post-radiation fibrosis and residual tumor or local relapse in anal canal cancer through detection of presence/absence of intralesional blood flow. Transrectal ultrasound and color Doppler were compared.

Methods: 43 patients underwent transrectal ultrasound sonography and color Doppler before and after therapy to assess intralesional blood flow and flow pattern (spotty and linear signals).