Single brain metastasis: radiosurgery alone compared with radiosurgery plus up-front whole-brain radiotherapy.

Background: Neurosurgical resection is considered the standard treatment for most patients with a single brain metastasis. However, radiosurgery (RS) is a reasonable alternative. It was demonstrated that whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in addition to RS improves local control of 1-3 brain metastases.

Prognostic factors (including HPV status) for irradiation of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Background And Purpose: The prognosis of patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is generally poor. However, prognostic factors can help optimize the care for the individual patient. This study investigated potential prognostic factors, including HPV status, for locoregional control (LRC), metastases-free survival (MFS), and survival (OS).

Prevalence of enamel fluorosis in 12-year-olds in two Swiss cantons.

The neighbouring cantons Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft had introduced different fluoridation schemes for caries prevention: Basel-Stadt provided drinking water fluoridated at 0.8-1 ppm F since 1962, while Basel-Landschaft introduced fluoridated domestic salt (250 ppm F since 1983). Representative samples of 12-year-old schoolchildren (6th-graders) were studied to evaluate the prevalence of (I) dental fluorosis (FOP) using the Thylstrup-Fejerskov (TF) index, (II) non fluoride-associated enamel opacities (non-FOP), and (III) hypoplasia of the incisors.

Comparison of radiochemotherapy alone to surgery plus radio(chemo)therapy for non-metastatic stage III/IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: A matched-pair analysis.

Background And Purpose: The standard treatment for non-metastatic stage III/IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck varies worldwide. This study compared the outcomes of radiochemotherapy alone to surgery followed by radio(chemo)therapy (radiotherapy plus/minus concurrent chemotherapy).

Patients And Methods: Data from 148 patients treated with radiochemotherapy alone were matched to 148 patients treated with surgery plus radio(chemo)therapy.

Single brain metastasis: whole-brain irradiation plus either radiosurgery or neurosurgical resection.

Background: The current study was conducted to compare neurosurgical resection (NR) followed by whole-brain irradiation (WBI) (NR + WBI) with WBI followed by radiosurgery (WBI + RS) in patients with a single brain metastasis.

Methods: The outcome of 41 patients treated with WBI + RS was retrospectively compared with 111 patients who received NR ;+ WBI with respect to local control of the treated metastasis and survival. Eleven additional potential prognostic factors were investigated, including WBI schedule, patient age, patient gender, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), primary tumor type, extracerebral metastases, recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class, interval between the first diagnosis of cancer to the treatment of brain metastasis, metastatic site, maximum diameter of the metastasis, and graded prognostic assessment (GPA) score.

Radiochemotherapy versus surgery plus radio(chemo)therapy for stage T3/T4 larynx and hypopharynx cancer - results of a matched-pair analysis.

The standard treatment for non-metastatic T3/T4 larynx and hypopharynx cancer varies. This study compared definitive radiochemotherapy to surgery followed by radio(chemo)therapy. Forty-four patients treated with radiochemotherapy were matched to 88 patients receiving surgery plus radio(chemo)therapy.

The prognostic impact of tumor cell expression of estrogen receptor-α, progesterone receptor, and androgen receptor in patients irradiated for nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Background: The current study was performed to investigate the potential impact of tumor cell expression of estrogen receptor-α (ER-α), progesterone receptor (PR), and androgen receptor (AR) on the outcomes of patients who received radiotherapy (RT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Tumor cell expression of ER-α, PR, and AR as well as 9 additional potential prognostic factors were retrospectively evaluated in 64 patients who underwent RT for AJCC stage II/III NSCLC. The endpoints investigated were locoregional control, metastases-free survival, and overall survival.

Shorter-course whole-brain radiotherapy for brain metastases in elderly patients.

Purpose: Many patients with brain metastases receive whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) alone. Using 10 × 3 Gy in 2 weeks is the standard regimen in most centers. Regarding the extraordinarily poor survival prognosis of elderly patients with multiple brain metastases, a shorter WBRT regimen would be preferable.

Image-guided radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a prospective trial of concomitant boost using indium-111-capromab pendetide (ProstaScint) imaging.

Purpose: To evaluate, in a prospective study, the use of (111)In-capromab pendetide (ProstaScint) scan to guide the delivery of a concomitant boost to intraprostatic region showing increased uptake while treating the entire gland with intensity-modulated radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer.

Methods And Materials: From September 2002 to November 2005, 71 patients were enrolled. Planning pelvic CT and (111)In-capromab pendetide scan images were coregistered.

Surgery followed by radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone for metastatic spinal cord compression from unfavorable tumors.

Purpose: Despite a previously published randomized trial, controversy exists regarding the benefit of adding surgery to radiotherapy for metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). It is thought that patients with MSCC from relatively radioresistant tumors or tumors associated with poor functional outcome after radiotherapy alone may benefit from surgery. This study focuses on these tumors.

A front-line window of opportunity phase 2 study of sorafenib in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer: North Central Cancer Treatment Group Study N0326.

Background: The current study was conducted to assess the efficacy and toxicity of sorafenib as front-line therapy in patients with stage IIIB (pleural effusion) or IV nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Patients received sorafenib 400 mg twice daily by mouth continuously, and were evaluated every 2 weeks during the first 8 weeks. Patients who manifested clinical progression during this period proceeded to receive standard of care.

Phase III comparison of prophylactic cranial irradiation versus observation in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: primary analysis of radiation therapy oncology group study RTOG 0214.

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine if prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) improves survival in locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with stage III NSCLC without disease progression after treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy were eligible. Participants were stratified by stage (IIIA v IIIB), histology (nonsquamous v squamous), and therapy (surgery v none) and were randomly assigned to PCI or observation.

Phase III trial of prophylactic cranial irradiation compared with observation in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: neurocognitive and quality-of-life analysis.

Purpose: There are scant data regarding the effects of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) on neurocognitive function (NCF) and quality of life (QOL). Radiation Therapy Oncology Group trial 0214 showed no overall survival (OS) benefit for PCI in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at 1 year. However, there was a significant decrease in brain metastases (BM).

Prognostic factors for outcomes after whole-brain irradiation of brain metastases from relatively radioresistant tumors: a retrospective analysis.

Background: This study investigated potential prognostic factors in patients treated with whole-brain irradiation (WBI) alone for brain metastases from relatively radioresistant tumors such as malignant melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and colorectal cancer. Additionally, a potential benefit from escalating the radiation dose was investigated.

Methods: Data from 220 patients were retrospectively analyzed for overall survival and local control.

Tumor response and progression-free survival as potential surrogate endpoints for overall survival in extensive stage small-cell lung cancer: findings on the basis of North Central Cancer Treatment Group trials.

Background: The authors investigated the putative surrogate endpoints of best response, complete response (CR), confirmed response, and progression-free survival (PFS) for associations with overall survival (OS), and as possible surrogate endpoints for OS.

Methods: Individual patient data from 870 untreated extensive stage small-cell lung cancer patients participating in 6 single-arm (274 patients) and 3 randomized trials (596 patients) were pooled. Patient-level associations between putative surrogate endpoints and OS were assessed by Cox models using landmark analyses.

Fibroblast growth factor 2--a predictor of outcome for patients irradiated for stage II-III non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: The prognostic value of the tumor cell expression of the fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear. The present study investigated the effect of tumor cell expression of FGF-2 on the outcome of 60 patients irradiated for Stage II-III NSCLC.

Methods And Materials: The effect of FGF-2 expression and 13 additional factors on locoregional control (LRC), metastasis-free survival (MFS), and overall survival (OS) were retrospectively evaluated.

[Comorbid depression mediates the association of childhood/adolescent maltreatment and fibromyalgia syndrome. A study with patients from different clinical settings].

Background: Emotional and physical abuse and neglect in childhood and adolescence [childhood maltreatments (CMs)] are considered to play a role in the etiology of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Whether the association between FMS and CMs can be explained by mediators has not been studied.

Methods: CMs of consecutive FMS patients from three different clinical settings were assessed by the German version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.

Radiolabeled cetuximab plus whole-brain irradiation (WBI) for the treatment of brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Background And Purpose: The addition of systemic drugs to whole-brain irradiation has not improved the survival of patients with multiple brain metastases, most likely because the agents did not readily cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Radiolabeling of cetuximab was performed to investigate whether this antibody crosses the BBB.

Case Report: A patient with multiple brain lesions from non-small cell lung cancer was investigated.

Mucosal immunization with Vibrio cholerae outer membrane vesicles provides maternal protection mediated by antilipopolysaccharide antibodies that inhibit bacterial motility.

Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of cholera, a severe diarrheal disease that remains endemic in many parts of the world and can cause outbreaks wherever sanitation and clean water systems break down. Prevention of disease could be achieved through improved sanitation and clean water provision supported by vaccination. V.

Correlation between polymorphisms of the reduced folate carrier gene (SLC19A1) and survival after pemetrexed-based therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: a North Central Cancer Treatment Group-based exploratory study.

Purpose: To correlate polymorphisms in genes involved in the transport, activation, and inactivation of pemetrexed with the outcome of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with pemetrexed.

Experimental Design: Data from a phase II NSCLC trial evaluating the optimal schedule of gemcitabine and pemetrexed were used. All patients with available DNA were genotyped for polymorphisms in FPGS, GGH, and SLC19A1 genes.

Prognostic impact of erythropoietin expression and erythropoietin receptor expression on locoregional control and survival of patients irradiated for stage II/III non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: Prognostic factors can guide the physician in selecting the optimal treatment for an individual patient. This study investigates the prognostic value of erythropoietin (EPO) and EPO receptor (EPO-R) expression of tumor cells for locoregional control and survival in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Methods And Materials: Fourteen factors were investigated in 62 patients irradiated for stage II/III NSCLC, as follows: age, gender, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), histology, grading, TNM/American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, surgery, chemotherapy, pack years (average number of packages of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked), smoking during radiotherapy, hemoglobin levels during radiotherapy, EPO expression, and EPO-R expression.

Scoring systems to estimate intracerebral control and survival rates of patients irradiated for brain metastases.

Purpose: To create and validate scoring systems for intracerebral control (IC) and overall survival (OS) of patients irradiated for brain metastases.

Methods And Materials: In this study, 1,797 patients were randomly assigned to the test (n = 1,198) or the validation group (n = 599). Two scoring systems were developed, one for IC and another for OS.

Comparison of four cisplatin-based radiochemotherapy regimens for nonmetastatic stage III/IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of four cisplatin-based radiochemotherapy regimens in 311 patients with Stage III/IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Methods And Materials: Concurrent chemotherapy consisted of three courses of cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) on Day 1 (Group A, n = 74), two courses of cisplatin 20 mg/m(2) on Days 1-5 plus 5-fluorouracil 1,000 mg/m(2) on Days 1-5 (Group B, n = 49), two courses of cisplatin 20 mg/m(2) on Days 1-5 plus 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m(2) on Days 1-5 (Group C, n = 102), or two courses of cisplatin 20 mg/m(2) on Days 1-5 (Group D, n = 86). The groups were retrospectively compared for toxicity and outcomes, and 11 additional factors were evaluated for outcomes.

Matched pair analysis comparing surgery followed by radiotherapy and radiotherapy alone for metastatic spinal cord compression.

Purpose: The appropriate treatment for MSCC is controversial. A small randomized trial showed that decompressive surgery followed by radiotherapy was superior to radiotherapy alone. That study was limited to highly selected patients.

Validation of a score predicting post-treatment ambulatory status after radiotherapy for metastatic spinal cord compression.

Purpose: A score predicting post-radiotherapy (RT) ambulatory status was developed based on 2,096 retrospectively evaluated metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) patients. This study aimed to validate the score in a prospective series.

Methods And Materials: The score included five factors associated with post-RT ambulatory status: tumor type, interval tumor diagnosis to MSCC, visceral metastases, pre-RT motor function, time developing motor deficits.