Panniculitis does not predict clinical response in patients with advanced melanoma under targeted therapy.

Background: BRAF and MEK inhibitors have changed the landscape of treatment for advanced melanoma. Among their side effects, panniculitis has been hypothesized to be associated with better survival.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to explore the association between the occurrence of panniculitis during targeted therapy and outcome of metastatic melanoma.

[Prostate cancer in older men : Special features of the diagnostics and treatment].

Prostate cancer is the most frequent cancer in men. For localized prostate cancer, surgery and radiotherapy are the standard treatment, with active surveillance also used in low-risk cases. For advanced/metastatic disease, androgen deprivation treatment is carried out.

Hyaluronan synthase 3 is protective after cardiac ischemia-reperfusion by preserving the T cell response.

Dysregulated extracellular matrix (ECM) is a hallmark of adverse cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Previous work from our laboratory suggests that synthesis of the major ECM component hyaluronan (HA) may be beneficial for post-infarct healing. Here, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms of hyaluronan synthase 3 (HAS3) in cardiac healing after MI.

Two Decades of Brain Tumour Imaging with O-(2-[F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine PET: The Forschungszentrum Jülich Experience.

O-(2-[F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (FET) is a widely used amino acid tracer for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of brain tumours. This retrospective study and survey aimed to analyse our extensive database regarding the development of FET PET investigations, indications, and the referring physicians' rating concerning the role of FET PET in the clinical decision-making process. Between 2006 and 2019, we performed 6534 FET PET scans on 3928 different patients against a backdrop of growing demand for FET PET.

Oligometastasis in breast cancer-current status and treatment options from a radiation oncology perspective.

Evidence from a few small randomized trials and retrospective cohorts mostly including various tumor entities indicates a prolongation of disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) from local ablative therapies in oligometastatic disease (OMD). However, it is still unclear which patients benefit most from this approach. We give an overview of the several aspects of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in extracranial OMD in breast cancer from a radiation oncology perspective.

Long-Term Results of the TARGIT-A Trial: More Questions than Answers.

Background: During the last decade, partial breast irradiation (PBI) has gained traction as a relevant treatment option for patients with early-stage low-risk breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery. The TARGIT-A prospective randomized trial compared a "risk-adapted" intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) approach with 50-kv X-rays (INTRABEAM®) as the PBI followed by optional whole-breast irradiation (WBI) and conventional adjuvant WBI in terms of observed 5-year in-breast recurrence rates. Recently, long-term data were published.

Anxiety and depression in patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy: the role of intelligence, life history, and social support-preliminary results from a monocentric analysis.

Purpose: It is known that the diagnosis of breast cancer often causes anxiety and depression. Radiotherapy of the breast as an obligatory part of a breast-conserving treatment concept can markedly increase these psychological symptoms in many, but not all patients. In this clinical observational study, we aimed at identifying cognitive, health-related and social factors that may either enhance or reduce the emergence of anxiety and depression.

Moderate hypofractionation remains the standard of care for whole-breast radiotherapy in breast cancer: Considerations regarding FAST and FAST-Forward.

Moderate hypofractionation is the standard of care for adjuvant whole-breast radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer. Recently, 10-year results from the FAST and 5‑year results from the FAST-Forward trial evaluating adjuvant whole-breast radiotherapy in 5 fractions over 5 weeks or 1 week have been published. This article summarizes recent data for moderate hypofractionation and results from the FAST and FAST-Forward trial on ultra-hypofractionation.

[Panniculitis during BRAF inhibitor and/or MEK inhibitor therapy: A new case report and literature review].

Introduction: BRAF inhibitors±MEK inhibitors can cause panniculitis. Since the initial case described in 2012 by Zimmer et al., some sixty further cases have been reported.

Post-neoadjuvant treatment with capecitabine and trastuzumab emtansine in breast cancer patients-sequentially, or better simultaneously?

Purpose: Following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer, postoperative systemic therapy, also called post-neoadjuvant treatment, has been established in defined risk settings. We reviewed the evidence for sequencing of postoperative radiation and chemotherapy, with a focus on a capecitabine and trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1)-based regimen.

Methods: A systematic literature search using the PubMed/MEDLINE/Web of Science database was performed.

Commercially Available Gene Expression Assays as Predictive Tools for Adjuvant Radiotherapy? A Critical Review.

Background: Gene expression assays are increasingly used for decision-making regarding adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. There are some clinical situations in which there is also a need for better prognostic and predictive markers to better estimate the amount of benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy. The rising availability of gene expression analyses prompts the question whether their results can also be used to guide clinical decisions regarding adjuvant radiation.

DEGRO practical guideline for partial-breast irradiation.

Purpose: This consensus statement from the Breast Cancer Working Group of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) aims to define practical guidelines for accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI).

Methods: Recent recommendations for relevant aspects of APBI were summarized and a panel of experts reviewed all the relevant literature. Panel members of the DEGRO experts participated in a series of conferences, supplemented their clinical experience, performed a literature review, and formulated recommendations for implementing APBI in clinical routine, focusing on patient selection, target definition, and treatment technique.

Radiotherapy after skin-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction in intermediate-risk breast cancer : Indication and technical considerations.

Background: Skin-sparing (SSME) and nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSME) were developed to improve the cosmetic results for breast cancer (BC) patients, both allowing for immediate breast reconstruction. Recommendations for post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) are primarily derived from trials where patients were treated by standard mastectomies. Due to their more conservative character, SSME and especially NSME potentially leave more glandular tissue at risk for subclinical disease.

Heart-sparing radiotherapy techniques in breast cancer patients: a recommendation of the breast cancer expert panel of the German society of radiation oncology (DEGRO).

Purpose: The aim of this review was to analyze the respective efficacy of various heart-sparing radiotherapy techniques.

Material And Methods: Heart-sparing can be performed in three different ways in breast cancer radiotherapy: by seeking to keep the heart out of treated volumes (i.e.

Cardiac Hyaluronan Synthesis Is Critically Involved in the Cardiac Macrophage Response and Promotes Healing After Ischemia Reperfusion Injury.

Rationale: Immediate changes in the ECM (extracellular matrix) microenvironment occur after myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Objective: Aim of this study was to unravel the role of the early hyaluronan (HA)-rich ECM after I/R.

Methods And Results: Genetic deletion of Has2 and Has1 was used in a murine model of cardiac I/R.

Heart toxicity from breast cancer radiotherapy : Current findings, assessment, and prevention.

Background: Late cardiac toxicities caused by (particularly left-sided) breast radiotherapy (RT) are now recognized as rare but relevant sequelae, which has prompted research on risk structure identification and definition of threshold doses to heart subvolumes. The aim of the present review was to critically discuss the clinical evidence on late cardiac reactions based on dose-dependent outcome reports for mean heart doses as well as doses to cardiac substructures.

Methods: A literature review was performed to examine clinical evidence on radiation-induced heart toxicities.

Correlation of Dynamic O-(2-[F]Fluoroethyl)-L-Tyrosine Positron Emission Tomography, Conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Whole-Brain Histopathology in a Pretreated Glioblastoma: A Postmortem Study.

Objective: Amino acid positron emission tomography (PET) using O-(2-[F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (FET) provides important additional information on the extent of viable tumor tissue of glioblastoma compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Especially after radiochemotherapy, progression of contrast enhancement in MRI is equivocal and may represent either tumor progression or treatment-related changes. Here, the first case comparing postmortem whole-brain histology of a patient with pretreated glioblastoma with dynamic in vivo FET PET and MRI is presented.