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.

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.

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.