Intraoperative radiotherapy with low-energy x-rays after neurosurgical resection of brain metastases-an Augsburg University Medical Center experience.

Purpose: External-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is the predominant method for localized brain radiotherapy (LBRT) after resection of brain metastases (BM). Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with 50-kV x‑rays is an alternative way to focally irradiate the resection cavity after BM surgery, with the option of shortening the overall treatment time and limiting normal tissue irradiation.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of all patients who underwent neurosurgical resection of BM and 50-kV x‑ray IORT between 2013 and 2020 at Augsburg University Medical Center.

The prognostic value of irradiated lung volumes on the prediction of intra-/ post-operative mortality in patients after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for esophageal cancer. A retrospective multicenter study.

Purpose: To assess the association between dosimetric factors of the lung and incidence of intra- and postoperative mortality among esophageal cancer (EC) patients treated with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (N-RCT) followed by surgery (S).

Methods And Materials: Inclusion criteria were: age < 85 years, no distant metastases at the time of diagnosis, no induction chemotherapy, conformal radiotherapy, total dose ≤ 50.4 Gy, and available dose volume histogram (DVH) data.

Stereotactic radiotherapy of histologically proven inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer: patterns of failure.

Background And Purpose: To report patterns of failure of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in inoperable patients with histologically confirmed stage I NSCLC.

Materials And Methods: Ninety-two inoperable patients (median age: 75 years) with clinically staged, histologically proven T1 (n=31) or T2 (n=61), N0, M0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were included in this study. Treatment consisted of 3-5 fractions with 7-15 Gy per fraction prescribed to the 60% isodose.

Late residual gamma-H2AX foci in murine spinal cord might facilitate development of response-modifying strategies: a research hypothesis.

The central nervous system (CNS) is among the critical late-responding normal tissues which influence radiation treatment planning and dose prescription. Both mouse and rat spinal cord are established radiobiological models. As late reactions in rodents develop many months after irradiation, long-term follow-up is necessary.

Oncostatin M-mediated regulation of KIT-ligand-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling maintains hematopoietic repopulating activity of Lin-CD34+CD133+ cord blood cells.

We investigated whether KIT signaling was sufficient to maintain human hematopoietic stem cells in culture or whether, as with murine stem cells, signaling through glycoprotein 130 (gp130) is additionally required. Sorted CD34(+)CD133(+)(CD33/CD38/CD71)(-) cells from human umbilical cord blood (UCB) were cultured in the presence of combinations of KIT-ligand (KL) and the gp130 stimulating molecule oncostatin M (OSM). We found that OSM increased KL-induced proliferation, which was accompanied by an expansion in numbers of mature progenitors colony-forming cells (CFC, CAFCw2).

Detrimental effects of an antibody directed against tumor necrosis factor alpha in experimental kidney irradiation.

Antibodies directed against tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha are clinically used for Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. TNF-alpha is also an important cytokine in radiotherapy because it mediates inflammatory responses in normal tissues. To study the influence of TNF-alpha inhibition on radiation toxicity, we used a well-established mouse model of kidney irradiation, where the portal also includes parts of the intestine.

Influence of different treatment techniques on radiation dose to the LAD coronary artery.

Background: The purpose of this proof-of-principle study was to test the ability of an intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) technique to reduce the radiation dose to the heart plus the left ventricle and a coronary artery. Radiation-induced heart disease might be a serious complication in long-term cancer survivors.

Methods: Planning CT scans from 6 female patients were available.

Evaluation of insulin-like growth factor-1 in a mouse model of long-term abdominal radiation toxicity.

The purpose of these experiments was to test whether a brief course of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) injection (escalating doses) concomitant to irradiation ameliorates radiation-induced kidney dysfunction and lethal bowel toxicity in a mouse model of unilateral high-dose irradiation of the kidney and adjacent bowel. The kidney function was assessed by means of repeated 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinate scans (every six weeks) during a maximum follow-up of 49 weeks. The experiments with single fractions of 12 Gy and 15 Gy revealed only minor differences in the severity of kidney dysfunction and no reduction in lethal bowel toxicity from IGF-1 treatment In the absence of any significant radioprotective effect, other strategies of response modification need to be developed.

Comparison of three different mediastinal radiotherapy techniques in female patients: Impact on heart sparing and dose to the breasts.

Background And Purpose: To study different radiotherapy techniques for female patients with mediastinal target volumes. Especially in highly curable diseases such as lymphoma, long-term survivors might develop late cardiac damage and radiation-induced second cancer.

Patients And Methods: Planning CT scans were obtained in eight cases.

Stereotactic hypofractionated radiotherapy in stage I (T1-2 N0 M0) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Stereotactic Radiotherapy has the potential to produce high local control rates with low risk of severe lung toxicity. From December 2000 to January 2006, 68 inoperable patients (median age 76 years) with stage I NSCLC received definitive hSRT. A mean total dose of 37.

Preclinical evaluation of erythropoietin administration in a model of radiation-induced kidney dysfunction.

Purpose: To test whether the clinically available growth factor erythropoietin (EPO) influences radiation-induced normal-tissue damage in a model of kidney dysfunction.

Methods: Animal experiments were conducted to test the role of EPO administration in a C3H mouse model of unilateral kidney irradiation with 6, 8, and 10 Gy and to assess the effects of 2 different dose levels of EPO. The kidney function was assessed before radiotherapy, as well as 19, 25, 31, and 37 weeks thereafter by means of (99m)Tc-dimercaptosuccinat scans (static scintigraphy).

Stereotactic hypofractionated radiation therapy for stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

We reviewed our initial institutional experience with the use of stereotactic hypofractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Thirty patients with inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer due to a severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or chronic heart disease (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2) were treated between December 2000 and October 2003 with SFRT in curative intent. Infiltration of locoregional lymph nodes and distant metastases were ruled out by computerized tomography (CT) scan of the brain, thorax, and abdomen, and by whole body FDG-positron emission tomography scan in all patients.