Whole brain irradiation with hippocampal sparing and dose escalation on multiple brain metastases: a planning study on treatment concepts.

Purpose: To develop a new treatment planning strategy in patients with multiple brain metastases. The goal was to perform whole brain irradiation (WBI) with hippocampal sparing and dose escalation on multiple brain metastases. Two treatment concepts were investigated: simultaneously integrated boost (SIB) and WBI followed by stereotactic fractionated radiation therapy sequential concept (SC).

Glioblastoma research 2006-2010: pattern of citation and systematic review of highly cited articles.

High and continuously increasing research activity related to different aspects of pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of glioblastoma has been performed between 2006 and 2010. Different measures of impact, visibility and quality of published research are available, each with its own pros and cons. For this review, article citation rate was chosen.

Contribution of case reports to brain metastases research: systematic review and analysis of pattern of citation.

Research activity related to different aspects of prevention, prediction, diagnosis and treatment of brain metastases has increased during recent years. One of the major databases (Scopus) contains 942 scientific articles that were published during the 5-year time period 2006-2010. Of these, 195 (21%) reported on single patient cases and 12 (1%) were reports of 2 cases.

Non-small cell lung cancer histological subtype has prognostic impact in patients with brain metastases.

In patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer, the prognostic impact of primary tumour histology, a feature with increasing implications for choice of systemic therapy, is not well defined. Therefore, a multi-institutional analysis was performed: retrospective uni- and multivariate analyses in 209 patients treated with different approaches including surgery and radiosurgery. While squamous cell and large cell carcinoma patients had comparable survival, those with adenocarcinoma survived significantly longer.

Sami-speaking municipalities and a control group's access to somatic specialist health care (SHC): a retrospective study on general practitioners' referrals.

Objectives: The Sami people constitute the indigenous people in northern Norway. The objective of this study was to clarify whether they have a similar supply of somatic specialist health care (SHC) as others.

Methods: The referrals from general practitioners (GPs) in the primary health care (PHC) in the administration area of the Sami language law (8 municipalities) were matched with a control group of 11 municipalities.

Dose-escalated simultaneous integrated-boost treatment of prostate cancer patients via helical tomotherapy.

Purpose: The goal of this work was to assess the feasibility of moderately hypofractionated simultaneous integrated-boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) with helical tomotherapy in patients with localized prostate cancer regarding acute side effects and dose-volume histogram data (DVH data).

Methods: Acute side effects and DVH data were evaluated of the first 40 intermediate risk prostate cancer patients treated with a definitive daily image-guided SIB-IMRT protocol via helical tomotherapy in our department. The planning target volume including the prostate and the base of the seminal vesicles with safety margins was treated with 70 Gy in 35 fractions.

Adding cetuximab to stereotactic radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer might reduce local failure rates.

Encouraging results have been obtained with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, local control rates decrease in larger volume disease. Several studies have found a correlation between T stage or tumor volume and local progression-free survival.

A review of clinical trials of cetuximab combined with radiotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is challenging in many ways. One of the problems is disappointing local control rates in larger volume disease. Moreover, the likelihood of both nodal and distant spread increases with primary tumour (T-) stage.

A population-based study of the pattern of terminal care and hospital death in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a major cause of cancer-related death and utilization of health care resources worldwide. Significant costs are generated in the months before death, with hospitalization being a major cost driver. Moreover, hospital death causes physical and emotional distress.

Does overall treatment time impact on survival after whole-brain radiotherapy for brain metastases?

PURPOSE To evaluate whether reduced overall treatment time (OTT), i.e., administration of more than 5 fractions per week, or uncompensated treatment interruption resulting in increased OTT influences survival of patients treated with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for brain metastases.

Stereotactic radiotherapy of histologically proven inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer: patterns of failure.

Background And Purpose: To report patterns of failure of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in inoperable patients with histologically confirmed stage I NSCLC.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-two inoperable patients (median age: 75 years) with clinically staged, histologically proven T1 (n=31) or T2 (n=61), N0, M0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were included in this study. Treatment consisted of 3-5 fractions with 7-15 Gy per fraction prescribed to the 60% isodose.

Health consumption in Sami-speaking municipalities with regard to cancer and radiotherapy.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to document that the Sami people, constituting an ethnic minority in northern Norway, experience an equally available specialist health care service as the one offered to Norwegians in general. We aimed to use cancer and radiotherapy treatment as the instrument to clarify the situation.

Study Design: A retrospective registry-based study.

Atypical extensive extratemporal hyperpneumatization of the skull base including the cervical spine: case report and review of the literature.

Study Design: Case report and clinical discussion.

Objective: To describe a rare case of hyperpneumatization of the skull base including the cervical spine with the atlas bone.

Summary Of Background Data: Initial imaging studies of physically traumatized patients consist of conventional radiographs.

Comorbidity, use of common medications, and risk of early death in patients with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer.

In this paper, we analyze predictive factors for early death from comorbidity (defined as death within 3 years from diagnosis and unrelated to prostate cancer) in patients with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. Such information may guide individually tailored treatment or observation strategies, and help to avoid overtreatment. We retrospectively analyzed baseline parameters including information on comorbidity and medication use among 177 patients (median age at diagnosis 70 years).

Presentation, patterns of care, and survival in patients with brain metastases: what has changed in the last 20 years?

Background: It is largely unknown to what extent new oncologic treatment options have improved survival of patients with brain metastasis in recent decades. Therefore, a multi-institutional time-staggered analysis was performed.

Methods: Two cohorts of 103 patients each were analyzed, one treated between 2005 and 2009 and the other between 1983 and 1989, ie, approximately 20 years earlier.

Impact of common medications on serum total prostate-specific antigen levels and risk group assignment in patients with prostate cancer.

A recent study in men without prostate cancer suggested that extended use of common medications (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), thiazide diuretics and statins) may lower serum total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels by clinically relevant amounts. The present study evaluated the impact of these drugs in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. A retrospective analysis of 177 patients was performed.

An interindividual comparison of O-(2-[18F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (FET)- and L-[methyl-11C]methionine (MET)-PET in patients with brain gliomas and metastases.

Purpose: L-[methyl-(11)C]methionine (MET)-positron emission tomography (PET) has a high sensitivity and specificity for imaging of gliomas and metastatic brain tumors. The short half-life of (11)C (20 minutes) limits the use of MET-PET to institutions with onsite cyclotron. O-(2-[(18)F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (FET) is labeled with (18)F (half-life, 120 minutes) and could be used much more broadly.

Can current prognostic scores reliably guide treatment decisions in patients with brain metastases from malignant melanoma?

Purpose: We evaluated the performance of the new 4-tiered melanoma-specific graded prognostic assessment (GPA) score and the previously published general GPA score in patients with brain metastases from malignant melanoma managed with different approaches including best supportive care.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective analysis of 51 patients. Compared with the original analysis of the melanoma-specific GPA score, these patients were more representative of the general population of patients with brain metastases from this disease.

Outcome after conformal salvage radiotherapy in patients with rising prostate-specific antigen levels after radical prostatectomy.

Purpose: This study attempts to improve our understanding of the role of salvage radiotherapy (SRT) in patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) relapse after radical prostatectomy with regard to biochemical control, rate of distant metastasis, and survival.

Methods And Materials: We performed a retrospective analysis of 96 men treated with conformal prostate bed SRT (median, 64.8 Gy) at a single institution (median follow-up, 70 months).

Pathologic fracture and metastatic spinal cord compression in patients with prostate cancer and bone metastases.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors for and incidence as well as prognostic impact of pathologic fracture (PF) and metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) in patients with bone metastases (BM) from prostate cancer.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study including 61 consecutive patients seen at Nordland hospital's department of oncology between 2007 and 2009. The initial diagnosis of BM might have been made earlier.