Re-irradiation of recurrent glioblastoma using helical TomoTherapy with simultaneous integrated boost: preliminary considerations of treatment efficacy.

Although there is still no standard treatment for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (rGBM), re-irradiation could be a therapeutic option. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of re-irradiation using helical TomoTherapy (HT) with a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) technique in patients with rGBM. 24 patients with rGBM underwent HT-SIB.

Accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy plus chemotherapy for inoperable locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: final results of a prospective phase-II trial with a long-term follow-up.

Background: Concurrent chemotherapy and radiation using conventional fractionation is the standard treatment for inoperable, locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We tested accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy (AHR) and chemotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced NSCLC.

Methods: Eligible patients with locally advanced NSCLC were treated with induction chemotherapy (cisplatin and docetaxel), followed by AHR using tomotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy.

High dose irradiation after pleurectomy/decortication or biopsy for pleural mesothelioma treatment.

Purpose: The role played by radiation therapy after pleurectomy/decortication or surgical biopsy in malignant pleural mesothelioma is uncertain. We treated patients with accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy using helical tomotherapy and intensity-modulated arc therapy in an attempt to keep lung toxicity to a minimum. The present study reports the feasibility and toxicity of this approach.

3D tumor spheroid models for in vitro therapeutic screening: a systematic approach to enhance the biological relevance of data obtained.

The potential of a spheroid tumor model composed of cells in different proliferative and metabolic states for the development of new anticancer strategies has been amply demonstrated. However, there is little or no information in the literature on the problems of reproducibility of data originating from experiments using 3D models. Our analyses, carried out using a novel open source software capable of performing an automatic image analysis of 3D tumor colonies, showed that a number of morphology parameters affect the response of large spheroids to treatment.

Efficacy of different sequences of radio- and chemotherapy in experimental models of human melanoma.

Although combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy have become the standard of care in numerous tumors, the mechanisms of interaction are often still unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy of radiation treatment and cisplatin sequences and to investigate their mechanisms of interaction. Three melanoma cell lines were used to evaluate in vitro radiation-induced cytotoxicity before and after cisplatin treatment.

In vitro irradiation system for radiobiological experiments.

Background: Although two-dimensional (2-D) monolayer cell cultures provide important information on basic tumor biology and radiobiology, they are not representative of the complexity of three-dimensional (3-D) solid tumors. In particular, new models reproducing clinical conditions as closely as possible are needed for radiobiological studies to provide information that can be translated from bench to bedside.

Methods: We developed a novel system for the irradiation, under sterile conditions, of 3-D tumor spheroids, the in vitro model considered as a bridge between the complex architectural organization of in vivo tumors and the very simple one of in vitro monolayer cell cultures.

A modified hypoxia-based TCP model to investigate the clinical outcome of stereotactic hypofractionated regimes for early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Purpose: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has been applied to lung tumors at different stages and sizes with good local tumor control (LC) rates. The linear quadratic model (LQM), in its basic formulation, does not seem to be appropriate to describe the response to radiotherapy for clinical trials, based on a few fractions. Thus, the main aim of this work was to develop a model, which takes into account the hypoxic cells and their reoxygenation.

GEMOX plus tomotherapy for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Background/aims: The aim of this prospective phase II study was to evaluate the effect of neoadjuvant GEMOX plus helical tomotherapy on the resectability of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Methodology: Between November 2004 and July 2008, 33 enrolled patients received gemcitabine (GEM) 1000 mg/m2 on day 1, and oxaliplatin (OX) 100 mg/m2 on day 2, every two weeks for 3-4 cycles. This was followed by radiotherapy (25 Gy, 5 fractions), 15 days after completion of GEMOX.

Gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: analysis of 252 patients from a multicenter study.

Aims And Background: The stomach is the most common site of primary extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and no agreement has been reached so far on the best therapeutic approach. The main objects of this study were to report the long-term results and to evaluate the importance of some possible prognostic factors in a large series of patients. NHL was considered primary gastric if the main symptoms at presentation were those of gastric disease.

[Radiotherapy of the tonsillar region. Analysis of prognostic factors].

Introduction: We report our personal experience with the treatment of tonsillar cancers at the Otorhinolaryngology-Radiotherapy Department of Umberto I Hospital, Mestre, Italy. The results were analyzed by tumor site and stage, lymph node involvement, treatment type and patient age.

Material And Methods: January, 1987, through December, 1995, we treated a hundred and 25 patients with carcinoma of the tonsil and tonsillar region.

[Epistaxis in Rendu-Weber-Osler disease. The role of brachytherapy].

Rendu-Weber-Osler disease is a rare autosomic disorder. Its most common symptom is epistaxis with transitory periods of remission and of ingravescent exacerbation compromising normal daily activities and forcing the patient to give up his normal life-style for prolonged periods of time. Often it proves difficult to control the recurrent epistaxis and the treatments available today are not always totally satisfactory.

[Radiation treatment in the carcinoma of paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity].

The authors evaluate 32 patients affected by paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity carcinoma observed at Orl-Rt Department of Oncologic Center at Umberto l(zero) Hospital in Mestre (VE), Italy from 1985 to 1994. Among these: 16 maxillary sinus, 10 ethmoid and 6 nasal cavity carcinomas. Histologic diagnosis showed squamous cell carcinoma in 15 cases, adenocarcinoma in 8 cases, lymphoma in 2 cases, transitional cell carcinoma in 2 cases, undifferentiated carcinoma in 2 cases and adenoidocistic carcinoma in 3 cases.

[The polycentric multiple arc complanar technic, or telebrachytherapy. A 4-year experience (an innovative way for the local control of solid neoplasms)].

The coplanar polycentric multiple 180 degrees single arc and narrow beams technique (PMA) allows high radiation doses to be delivered to the target, with similar dose distribution to that of brachytherapy. Since 1990, more than 100 patients have been treated: 80 had NSCLC, 12 had epidermoid head and neck (oral cavity and oropharynx) cancers, 8 brain tumors, 4 esophageal cancers and, sporadically, other patients had many other kinds of tumors, e.g.

[The use of a single anterior oblique field in the treatment of T1aN0 vocal cord neoplasms. Results and comparison with other technics].

From 1985 through 1993, 113 patients affected with T1N0 glottic cancer were treated with irradiation alone at the Radiotherapy Department of Umberto I Hospital in Mestre, Italy. An anterior oblique beam of 12 MV X-rays (LINAC) or gamma-rays of a Cobalt unit were used. Dose distribution was always studied on CT scans and with a Theraplan V05-B, Theratronics.

[Brachytherapy of epistaxis in Rendu-Osler disease. Indications, technic, results].

Rendu-Osler disease is a clinical form characterized by skin, mucous and bowel teleangiectasias causing repeated bleeding, especially in the nasal region. Repeated epistaxis is controlled, however transiently, with electrocoagulation, laser therapy, embolization, mucous transplants and external radiotherapy or, more frequently, brachytherapy. The authors report on a Curietherapy technique based on the use of 192Iridium wires.

[Brachytherapy in choroid tumors].

Even though brachytherapy has been used for many years to treat choroidal tumors, it is not a widespread technique because it requires much organization and operators skills. The most common methods use 60Cobalt and 106Rutenium plaques, or custom-made plaques with 125Iodine loaded seeds. Another, less common, technique uses 192Iridium wires loaded on custom-made plaques.

[Carcinoma in situ of the breast: which treatment?].

From January 1984 to December 1992, twenty-eight patients affected with breast carcinoma in situ were treated with surgery (8 with radical mastectomy, 20 with quadrantectomy) at Umberto I Hospital in Mestre, Italy. The patients with multicentric lesions and treated with quadrantectomy received also radiation therapy. The dose was 50 Gy/25 fractions with 60Co and a boost of 10 Gy to the tumor bed.

[Palliative bronchial deobstruction with kinetic radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer].

The palliative treatment of lung atelectasis can significantly improve the quality of life in the patients who are unsuitable for cure. The authors present a new transcutaneous radiotherapy technique for treating this complication of lung cancer. After conventional and CT localization, a treatment is scheduled featuring a small (3-5 cm wide and 4-6 cm long) single 180 degrees arc beam giving 14 Gy to the 90% isodose line in two daily fractions.

[Results of conservative treatment of stage I-II carcinoma of the breast. Analysis of 311 patients].

From January 1984 through December 1990, 311 patients affected with breast cancer were treated with quadrantectomy plus lymphadenectomy and radiation therapy (QUART) at the Umberto I Hospital in Mestre, Italy. The patients with positive nodes (N+) were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (CMF) or hormonotherapy (Tamoxifen) according to pausal status. Most patients were in the 5th, 6th and 7th decades of life; 60.

[The prognostic factors for the radiation treatment of the cerebral metastases from breast carcinoma].

Complex mechanisms of various nature, not only physical, can influence the patterns of metastases. We compared the patients with recurrences to the brain as the only metastatic site from breast cancer with the patients relapsing in the brain and other organs. All cases were staged and treated following professional protocols.

ADL: an integrated database for filing and study of malignant lymphoma patients.

The filing of clinical data must comply with purposes of logical organization for comparisons and evaluations. ADL (Archives of Data on Lymphomas) is an application program of dBASE III plus (Ashton-Tate) for personal computers, especially suitable for filing and studying patients afflicted with malignant lymphoma. It is subdivided into four data files: general data (private data, stage, therapy); disease data (sites of disease by tests and body area); immunological data (lymphocyte subpopulations, globulin and immunoglobulin dosage, delayed hypersensitivity skin tests); lost patients (register of patients not seen for at least 1 year).

[Changes in lymphocyte subsets after radiotherapy].

Radiation therapy seems to induce depletion of lymphocytes, which are very important cells for immunity response. The lymphocyte phenotype was studied in 41 non-pretreated patients with normal immunological parameters who received postoperative radiation therapy for breast, mediastinal or pelvic cancer with at least 50 Gy/25 fractions. The functional immunological assessment was analyzed by Multiskin test (Merieux) too.

[Photon or electron irradiation of the internal breast lymph node chain. Experimental dosimetry and clinical implications].

The radiation therapy of internal mammary chain, according to many other authors, is indicated in patients with N + breast cancer or with inner quadrant disease. Since the direct field with gamma radiation seems to induce important adverse effects on myocardium, the authors were induced to check experimentally dose distributions of 12-15 MeV electron beams and compare the results to gamma photon dose distribution. Materials and dosimetric methods as well as experimental results are described.

[Postoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of breast tumors. Evaluation of a 5-year case series].

Between January 1981 and December 1985, 364 female patients underwent surgical treatment for breast cancer in Mestre General Hospital. The pathological stage of the disease was stage I in 60 patients, stage II in 215 patients, stage III A in 30 patients, stage III B in 44 patients and stage IV in 15 patients. The patients with T1-T2 N0 lesions located in the outer quadrants received no additional treatment after surgery, while the others received adjuvant therapy.