Dusquetide: Reduction in oral mucositis associated with enduring ancillary benefits in tumor resolution and decreased mortality in head and neck cancer patients.

Innate immunity is a key component in the pathogenesis of oral mucositis, a universal toxicity of chemoradiation therapy (CRT). Dusquetide, a novel Innate Defense Regulator, has demonstrated both nonclinical and clinical efficacy in ameliorating severe oral mucositis (SOM). Long term follow-up studies from the Phase 2 clinical study evaluating dusquetide as a treatment for SOM in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients receiving CRT have now been completed.

Dusquetide: A novel innate defense regulator demonstrating a significant and consistent reduction in the duration of oral mucositis in preclinical data and a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2a clinical study.

Dusquetide, a novel Innate Defense Regulator, modulates the innate immune system at a key convergence point in intracellular signaling pathways and has demonstrated activity in both reducing inflammation and increasing clearance of bacterial infection. Innate immunity has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of oral mucositis (OM), a universal toxicity of chemoradiation therapy (CRT). Testing the hypothesis that dusquetide can mitigate the development and duration of OM, preclinical studies have been completed and correlated with interim results from a Phase 2 clinical study in patients undergoing CRT for head and neck cancer.

American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2012 Workforce Study: the radiation oncologists' and residents' perspectives.

Purpose: The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) conducted the 2012 Radiation Oncology Workforce Survey to obtain an up-to-date picture of the workforce, assess its needs and concerns, and identify quality and safety improvement opportunities. The results pertaining to radiation oncologists (ROs) and residents (RORs) are presented here.

Methods: The ASTRO Workforce Subcommittee, in collaboration with allied radiation oncology professional societies, conducted a survey study in early 2012.

Low-lying rectal cancer with anal canal involvement: abdominoperineal or low anterior resection after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Background: Rectal cancer with anal involvement is typically treated with abdominoperineal resection (APR). However, patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with good clinical response and tumor regression from the anus present a controversial management dilemma. This is a report of patients treated with low anterior resection (LAR) versus APR.

Prognostic significance of bone or cartilage invasion of locally advanced head and neck cancers.

Purpose/objective(s): Locally advanced squamous cell cancers of the head and neck with bone and cartilage invasion (BCI) traditionally have been treated with resection followed up with radiotherapy or less commonly definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT). However, it is unclear whether bone or cartilage invasion confers a worse prognosis in comparison with each other.

Materials/methods: T4N0-3M0 squamous cell cancers of the head and neck patients underwent CRT or radical resection followed up with postoperative CRT.

Treatment outcomes of T4 locally advanced head and neck cancers with soft tissue invasion or bone and cartilage invasion.

Purpose/objective(s): T4 locally advanced squamous cell cancers of the head and neck (SCCHN) with bone and cartilage invasion (BCI) traditionally have been treated with resection followed up with chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Because the organ preservation trials, more patients with BCI, as well as those with soft tissue invasion (STI), have been treated with definitive CRT. This is a review of our experience.