Metabolic factors associated with the prognosis of oligometastatic patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy.

Over the past two decades, it has been established that cancer patients with oligometastases, i.e., only a few detectable metastases confined to one or a few organs, may benefit from an aggressive local treatment approach such as the application of high-precision stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).

Brooke-Spiegler syndrome: radiotherapy as the last resort?

Purpose: To describe the case of successful radiotherapeutic treatment of a woman suffering from Brooke-Spiegler syndrome who had multiple disfiguring cylindromas on the entire scalp and further tumors on the trunk.

Methods: After decades of treatment with conventional therapies including surgery and topically applied salicylic acid, the 73-year-old woman agreed to undergo radiotherapeutic treatment. She received 60 Gy to the scalp and 36 Gy to painful nodules in the lumbar spine region.

Impact of a ketogenic diet intervention during radiotherapy on body composition: V. Final results of the KETOCOMP study for head and neck cancer patients.

Purpose: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) are at risk of malnutrition, especially during radiochemotherapy. We aimed to study the impact of a ketogenic diet (KD) versus an unspecified standard diet (SD) on body composition and survival in HNC patients undergoing radio(chemo)therapy.

Methods: As part of a controlled clinical trial, non-metastasized HNC patients were enrolled into either a KD (N = 11) or an SD (N = 21) group between May 2015 and May 2021.

Accelerated hyper-versus normofractionated radiochemotherapy with temozolomide in patients with glioblastoma: a multicenter retrospective analysis.

Background And Purpose: The standard treatment of glioblastoma patients consists of surgery followed by normofractionated radiotherapy (NFRT) with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy. Whether accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) yields comparable results to NFRT in combination with temozolomide has only sparsely been investigated. The objective of this study was to compare NFRT with HFRT in a multicenter analysis.

Impact of a ketogenic diet intervention during radiotherapy on body composition: IV. Final results of the KETOCOMP study for rectal cancer patients.

Background & Aims: Obesity and low muscle mass are associated with worse outcomes of colorectal cancer patients. We conducted a controlled trial to study the impact of a ketogenic diet (KD) based on natural foods versus an unspecified standard diet (SD) on body composition in rectal cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Methods: Patients with non-metastasized rectal cancer were allocated to either the KD (N = 24) or the SD (N = 25) group during radiotherapy.

Ketogenic diets consumed during radio-chemotherapy have beneficial effects on quality of life and metabolic health in patients with rectal cancer.

Purpose: Interest in ketogenic diets (KDs) as complementary nutritional treatments for cancer patients is rising, although some skepticism about their safety exists. We, therefore, studied the effects of KDs on quality of life and blood parameters in rectal cancer patients undergoing radio-chemotherapy.

Methods: EORTC-QLQ30 questionnaire scores and different metabolic and hormonal blood parameters were obtained prior to, in the middle of and at the end of radiotherapy within the KETOCOMP study (ClinicalTrials.

A ketogenic diet consumed during radiotherapy improves several aspects of quality of life and metabolic health in women with breast cancer.

Background & Aims: Ketogenic diets (KDs) have been proposed as complementary nutritional treatments for cancer patients. Because it is important to gain knowledge about the safety of KDs adopted during cancer therapy, we studied the effects of KDs on quality of life and blood parameters in women with early-stage breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy.

Methods: A total of 29 patients consuming a KD were compared to 30 patients consuming their standard diet (SD) with respect to EORTC-QLQ30 questionnaire scores and different metabolic and hormonal blood parameters that were obtained prior to, in the middle of and at the end of radiotherapy.

Long-Term Results of Dose-Intensified Fractionated Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Painful Spinal Metastases.

Purpose: To report long-term outcome of fractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for painful spinal metastases.

Methods And Materials: This prospective, single-arm, multicenter phase 2 clinical trial enrolled 57 patients with 63 painful, unirradiated spinal metastases between March 2012 and July 2015. Patients were treated with 48.

Low Vitamin D Status in a Cancer Patient Population from Franconia, Germany.

Background: Vitamin D has been shown to be associated with reduced risk and severity of COVID-19 and exerts regulating effects on all hallmarks of cancer. The goal of this study was to analyze the vitamin D status of a cancer patient cohort from our clinic in the Franconian region, Germany.

Methods: 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were available for 116 patients included in prospective trials in our clinic.

Short-term effects of a Paleolithic lifestyle intervention in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: a pilot and feasibility study.

Evolutionary principles are rarely considered in clinical oncology. We here aimed to test the feasibility and effects of a dietary and physical activity intervention based on evolutionary considerations in an oncological setting. A total of 13 breast cancer patients referred to our clinic for curative radiotherapy were recruited for this pilot study.

Impact of a ketogenic diet intervention during radiotherapy on body composition: III-final results of the KETOCOMP study for breast cancer patients.

Background: Obesity and low muscle mass are associated with worse outcomes of breast cancer patients. We conducted a controlled trial to study the impact of a ketogenic diet (KD) based on natural foods versus an unspecified standard diet (SD) on body composition in breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

Methods: Patients with non-metastasized breast cancer were allocated to either the KD (N = 32) or the SD (N = 31) during radiotherapy.

Face masks in radiation oncology clinics: based on evidence or source of mistakes?

We here express our concern about a general decree to let patients wear face masks in radiation oncology clinics. We believe that potential risks associated with wearing masks, such as the risk of confounding patients, outweigh any benefits of such a policy for which evidence of protection from COVID-19 is generally weak. For asymptomatic patients, wearing masks in addition to hygiene standards will not provide additional protection of others and should be cautioned against.

Long-term results of multimodal peptide receptor radionuclide therapy and fractionated external beam radiotherapy for treatment of advanced symptomatic meningioma.

Background: The combination of somatostatin receptor-directed peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) in combination with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) might prove a feasible treatment option in patients with advanced meningioma.

Patients And Methods: From May 2010 to May 2011, 10 patients with unresectable meningioma (6 × WHO grade I, 2 × WHO grade II, 2 × WHO grading not available) were treated with one cycle of PRRT followed by EBRT. Long-term toxicity and efficacy were assessed according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.

Correlating Dose Variables with Local Tumor Control in Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Modeling Study on 1500 Individual Treatments.

Background: Large variation regarding prescription and dose inhomogeneity exists in stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. The aim of this modeling study was to identify which dose metric correlates best with local tumor control probability to make recommendations regarding SBRT prescription.

Methods And Materials: We combined 2 retrospective databases of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, yielding 1500 SBRT treatments for analysis.

Ketogenic diets in medical oncology: a systematic review with focus on clinical outcomes.

Preclinical data provide evidence for synergism between ketogenic diets (KDs) and other oncological therapies. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize data from clinical studies that have tested KDs along with other treatments used within medical oncology. The PubMed database was searched using the key words "ketogenic" AND ("cancer" OR "glioblastoma").

Risk factors for vertebral compression fracture after spine stereotactic body radiation therapy: Long-term results of a prospective phase 2 study.

Purpose: To identify frequency, clinical relevance and risk factors for vertebral compression fracture (VCF) after spine stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with long-term follow up (FU).

Methods: From 2012 to 2015, 61 lesions (56 patients) were treated within a prospective multicenter phase 2 study (NCT01594892) of SBRT for painful vertebral metastases. Post-SBRT VCF were identified.

Estimation of the α/β ratio of non-small cell lung cancer treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy.

Background: High-dose hypofractionated radiotherapy should theoretically result in a deviation from the typical linear-quadratic shape of the cell survival curve beyond a certain threshold dose, yet no evidence for this hypothesis has so far been found in clinical data of stereotactic body radiotherapy treatment (SBRT) for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A pragmatic explanation is a larger α/β ratio than the conventionally assumed 10 Gy. We here attempted an estimation of the α/β ratio for NSCLC treated with SBRT using individual patient data.

A ketogenic diet exerts beneficial effects on body composition of cancer patients during radiotherapy: An interim analysis of the KETOCOMP study.

Background And Aim: Ketogenic diets (KDs) have gained interest as a complementary treatment for cancer patients. Here we present first results of our ongoing KETOCOMP study (NCT02516501) concerning body composition changes among rectal, breast and head & neck cancer (HNC) patients who consumed a KD during curative radiotherapy (RT).

Experimental Procedure: Sixty-one patients eating a non-ketogenic diet were compared to 20 patients on a KD supplemented with 10 g essential amino acids on RT days.

A fatal case of Fournier's gangrene during neoadjuvant radiotherapy for rectal cancer.

Purpose: To report the development of an ultimately fatal occurrence of Fournier's gangrene in a rectal cancer patient undergoing neoadjuvant radiotherapy without chemotherapy.

Methods: A 53-year-old male patient with G2 cT3 cN1a cM0 stage IIIB adenocarcinoma of the lower rectum and several comorbidities including ulcerative colitis was treated with 56 Gy to the primary tumor in 28 fractions because he declined the recommended simultaneous chemotherapy. He was also enrolled in the ketogenic diet arm of our KETOCOMP study, so that prospective measurements of blood parameters, quality of life, and body composition were made.

Dose-intensified hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy for painful spinal metastases: Results of a phase 2 study.

Background: The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate dose-intensified hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in patients with painful spinal metastases in a multicenter, single-arm, phase 2 study.

Methods: Patients with 2 or fewer distinct, noncontiguous, painful, mechanically stable, unirradiated spinal metastases from a solid tumor with a Karnofsky performance status ≥ 60 were eligible. Patients with a long (Mizumoto score ≤ 4) or intermediate overall survival expectancy (Mizumoto score = 5-9) received 48.

Impact of a ketogenic diet intervention during radiotherapy on body composition: II. Protocol of a randomised phase I study (KETOCOMP).

Background: We have found that a ketogenic diet (KD) during the course of radiotherapy (RT) was feasible and led to a preservation or favorable changes of body composition. Based on these observations and theoretical considerations, we initiated a study to investigate the impact of a KD or a ketogenic breakfast intervention in patients undergoing RT.

Methods: All patients presenting for curative RT with age between 18 and 75, body mass index between 18 and 34 kg/m and a histologically confirmed cancer of the breast, colorectum or head and neck region are considered for inclusion.

Impact of a ketogenic diet intervention during radiotherapy on body composition: I. Initial clinical experience with six prospectively studied patients.

Background: Based on promising preclinical data, ketogenic diets (KDs) have been proposed as supplementary measures for cancer patients undergoing standard-of-care therapy. However, data is still scarce on the tolerability and effects of KDs on cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy (RT). Here we present six cases of patients who underwent RT and concurrently consumed a self-administered KD in our clinic within a busy community hospital setting.

O-(2-[(18)F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine uptake is an independent prognostic determinant in patients with glioma referred for radiation therapy.

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic value of O-(2-[(18)F]fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine positron emission tomography (FET-PET) uptake intensity in World Health Organisation (WHO) tumor grade II-IV gliomas.

Methods: We studied 28 patients with WHO tumor grade II-IV gliomas who were referred to our department for radiation therapy. We acquired a FET-PET in all patients, as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain consisting of at least T2-weighted imaging, flair and pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted imaging.