Investigation of two linear accelerator head designs for treating brain metastases with hypofractionated volumetric-modulated arc radiotherapy.

Objective: To investigate brain radiation dose in complex cases arising from two stereotactic linear accelerator designs and to present a method for comparing brain dose to published data.

Methods: Two head designs were considered: Beam Modulator (BM) and Agility (AG). 12 patients treated on BM were replanned with AG.

Cellular characterization of ultrasound-stimulated microbubble radiation enhancement in a prostate cancer xenograft model.

Tumor radiation resistance poses a major obstacle in achieving an optimal outcome in radiation therapy. In the current study, we characterize a novel therapeutic approach that combines ultrasound-driven microbubbles with radiation to increase treatment responses in a prostate cancer xenograft model in mice. Tumor response to ultrasound-driven microbubbles and radiation was assessed 24 hours after treatment, which consisted of radiation treatments alone (2 Gy or 8 Gy) or ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles only, or a combination of radiation and ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles.

Ultrasound-mediated microbubble enhancement of radiation therapy studied using three-dimensional high-frequency power Doppler ultrasound.

Tumor responses to high-dose (>8 Gy) radiation therapy are tightly connected to endothelial cell death. In the study described here, we investigated whether ultrasound-activated microbubbles can locally enhance tumor response to radiation treatments of 2 and 8 Gy by mechanically perturbing the endothelial lining of tumors. We evaluated vascular changes resulting from combined microbubble and radiation treatments using high-frequency 3-D power Doppler ultrasound in a breast cancer xenograft model.

Quantitative ultrasound evaluation of tumor cell death response in locally advanced breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Purpose: Quantitative ultrasound techniques have been recently shown to be capable of detecting cell death through studies conducted on in vitro and in vivo models. This study investigates for the first time the potential of early detection of tumor cell death in response to clinical cancer therapy administration in patients using quantitative ultrasound spectroscopic methods.

Experimental Design: Patients (n = 24) with locally advanced breast cancer received neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatments.

Evaluation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in women with locally advanced breast cancer using ultrasound elastography.

Purpose: Ultrasound elastography is a new imaging technique that can be used to assess tissue stiffness. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of ultrasound elastography for monitoring treatment response of locally advanced breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy.

Methods: Fifteen women receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy had the affected breast scanned before, 1, 4, and 8 weeks following therapy initiation, and then before surgery.

Diffuse optical spectroscopy evaluation of treatment response in women with locally advanced breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of diffuse optical spectroscopy for monitoring of patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Fifteen women receiving treatment for LABC had the affected breast scanned before; 1 week, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after treatment initiation; and before surgery. Optical properties related to tissue microstructure and biochemical composition were obtained.