Can we obtain planning goals for conformal techniques in neoadjuvant and adjuvant radiochemotherapy for gastric cancer patients?

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare conformal radiotherapy techniques used in the treatment of gastric cancer patients. The study is dedicated to radiotherapy centres that have not introduced dynamic techniques in clinical practice.

Background: The implementation of multi-field technique can minimise the toxicity of treatment and improve dose distribution homogeneity in the target volume with simultaneous protection of organs at risk (OaRs).

Influence of interfraction motion on margins for radiotherapy of gastric cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate interfraction uncertainties using kilovoltage (kV) radiographs for patients with gastric cancer during chemoradiotherapy and to calculate the planning target volume (PTV) margins.

Methods: 1284 measurements of set-up errors were analysed for treated patients. The measurements of craniocaudal (axis y), laterolateral (axis x) and anteroposterior (axis z) shifts in kV radiographs were performed.

Radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy as a novel option for the treatment of locally advanced inoperable gastric adenocarcinoma: A phase II study.

This phase II trial aimed to evaluate the tolerance and efficacy of radical radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in patients with primarily inoperable gastric cancer. The analysis was based on 13 patients with primarily inoperable gastric cancer. A total of 6 (46.

Optimization of circulating cell-free DNA recovery for KRAS mutation and HPV detection in plasma.

Background: The precise analysis of tumour markers in blood such as circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) could have a significant impact in facilitating monitoring of patients after initial therapy. Although high levels of total cfDNA in plasma of cancer patients are consistently demonstrated, a low sensitivity of DNA alterations is reported.

Objective: The major question regards the recovery of tumour-specific cfDNA such as KRAS mutated DNA and cancer-associated type 16 of human papillomavirus (HPV16).

Identifying potential areas of infectivity on high-touch locations in the OR.

Personnel at an ambulatory surgery center in Franklin, Wisconsin, used the nationwide emphasis on minimizing health care-associated infections as the impetus to set up an investigation to determine the effectiveness of cleaning procedures for the OR and stationary OR equipment. During the course of one week, we examined areas that we considered to be high touch (ie, with the greatest frequency of multiple hand contacts) for effective cleaning and decontamination in one OR by using a commercial cleaning verification system commonly used in the food service industry and standard culture methods. As a result of this project, we determined that the cleaning and disinfection at our facility was effective.