Comparing the 7th and 8th editions of the American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control TNM staging system for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated by definitive radiotherapy.

Background: We retrospectively compared the 7th and the 8th editions of The American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) TNM classification in the cohort of survival of the patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated by definitive radiotherapy.

Methods: We included in this study 403 patients with ESCC who underwent radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, at a total radiation dose of ≥ 50 Gy with curative intent from 2000 to 2016 at Kindai University Hospital, and who had no distant metastasis (excluding supraclavicular lymph node). The same patient data set was re-staged according to both the 7th and 8th editions of AJCC/UICC TNM classification.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Survival After Whole-brain Radiotherapy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Aim: This study aimed to identify prognostic factors for response to whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in patients with brain metastases (BMs) from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: This study retrospectively evaluated 100 patients who underwent WBRT for BMs from NSCLC between December 2012 and October 2017. Clinical factors were tested for associations with overall survival after WBRT.

Serum lactate dehydrogenase predicts survival in small-cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases that were treated with whole-brain radiotherapy.

This study aimed to identify factors that predict prognosis after radiotherapy for brain metastases (BMs) from small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). This study retrospectively evaluated 48 consecutive patients who underwent whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for BMs from SCLC between February 2008 and December 2017. WBRT was delivered at a median dose of 30 Gy (range: 30-40 Gy) in 10 fractions (range: 10-16 fractions).

Results of a nationwide survey on Japanese clinical practice in breast-conserving radiotherapy for breast cancer.

The Breast Cancer Group of the Japanese Radiation Oncology Study Group conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey on the clinical practice of postoperative radiotherapy for breast-conserving treatment for breast cancer. This questionnaire consisted of 18 questions pertaining to the annual number of treated patients, planning method, contouring structure, field design, dose-fractionated regimen, application of hypofractionated radiotherapy, boost irradiation, radiotherapy for synchronously bilateral breast cancer, and accelerated partial breast irradiation. The web-based questionnaire had responses from 293 Japanese hospitals.

Definitive chemoradiotherapy for anal canal cancer: single-center experience.

Background: Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is a standard treatment for anal canal cancer although many patients with anal canal cancer undergo surgery in Japan. The efficacy of CRT for anal canal cancer was evaluated retrospectively.

Methods: Medical charts of 13 patients with anal canal cancer treated by definitive CRT from October 2004 to May 2016 were reviewed.

Tumor Hypoxia Detected by F-fluoromisonidazole Positron Emission Tomography (FMISO PET) as a Prognostic Indicator of Radiotherapy (RT).

Background/aim: F-misonidazole positron emission tomography (FMISO PET)/computed tomography (CT) obtained before and during radiotherapy (RT) was analyzed as to whether it could predict clinical outcome.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-two patients were included. FMISO PET/ CT was performed twice before RT and at a dose of approximately 20 Gy/10 fractions.

Two-step Intensity-modulated Radiation Therapy for Oropharyngeal Cancer: Initial Clinical Experience and Validation of Clinical Staging.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical results of two-step intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for oropharyngeal cancer.

Patients And Methods: Eighty patients were treated with two-step IMRT between 2002 and 2014. Whole-neck radiotherapy (44.

[Clinical Efficacy of Cepharanthin(R)for Radiotherapy-Induced Leukopenia - A Nationwide, Multicenter, and Observational Study].

The clinical efficacy and safety of cepharanthin for the treatment of radiotherapy-induced leukopenia were reevaluated at multiple institutions.Clinical data of cancer patients aged over 20 years old, who received a total radiotherapy dose above 40 Gy, and who were treated with cepharanthin for more than 2 weeks between April 2007 and November 2012, were evaluated. Data from 65 patients(males: 31, females: 34)from 7 facilities were analyzed to assess efficacy and adverse events.

Clinical outcomes of IMRT planned with or without PET/CT simulation for patients with pharyngeal cancers.

Background: Clinical results of computed tomography (CT) simulations and [F]-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT simulations were compared retrospectively.

Materials And Methods: Between 2006 and 2011, [F]-FDG PET/CT simulation was performed on 68 consecutive patients with pharyngeal cancers (PET/CT group). As an historical control, conventional CT simulation was performed on 56 consecutive patients with pharyngeal cancer between 2000 and 2006 (CT group).

A prospective clinical trial of tumor hypoxia imaging with 18F-fluoromisonidazole positron emission tomography and computed tomography (F-MISO PET/CT) before and during radiation therapy.

To visualize intratumoral hypoxic areas and their reoxygenation before and during fractionated radiation therapy (RT), (18)F-fluoromisonidazole positron emission tomography and computed tomography (F-MISO PET/CT) were performed. A total of 10 patients, consisting of four with head and neck cancers, four with gastrointestinal cancers, one with lung cancer, and one with uterine cancer, were included. F-MISO PET/CT was performed twice, before RT and during fractionated RT of approximately 20 Gy/10 fractions, for eight of the 10 patients.

Randomized clinical trial of postoperative strontium-90 radiation therapy for pterygia: treatment using 30 Gy/3 fractions vs. 40 Gy/4 fractions.

Background And Purpose: Postoperative adjuvant treatment with strontium-90 radiation therapy (RT) is a proven technique for reducing the recurrence of pterygium. This randomized trial was conducted to evaluate whether a total dose of 40 Gy provides a better local control rate than a total dose of 30 Gy for surgically resected pterygia.

Patients And Methods: A single institutional randomized trial was conducted.

Definitive radiation therapy for moderately advanced laryngeal cancer: effects of accelerated hyperfractionation.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze the results of accelerated hyperfractionation for patients with moderately advanced (T2 and T3) laryngeal cancer.

Methods: Between 1998 and 2007, 9 supraglottic carcinomas (6 T2N0M0, 2 T2N2M0, 1 T3N0M0), 30 glottic carcinomas (25 T2N0M0, 5 T3N0M0), and 1 T2N0M0 subglottic carcinoma were treated with definitive radiotherapy using accelerated hyperfractionation without concurrent chemotherapy. The dose-fractionation for 35 patients was 72.

Radiation treatment planning using positron emission and computed tomography for lung and pharyngeal cancers: a multiple-threshold method for [(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxyglucose activity.

Purpose: Clinical applicability of a multiple-threshold method for [(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) activity in radiation treatment planning was evaluated.

Methods And Materials: A total of 32 patients who underwent positron emission and computed tomography (PET/CT) simulation were included; 18 patients had lung cancer, and 14 patients had pharyngeal cancer. For tumors of 5 cm, thresholds were defined as 2.

A two-step intensity-modulated radiation therapy method for nasopharyngeal cancer: the Kinki University experience.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical results of our adaptive radiation therapy scheme of a two-step intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) method for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) at Kinki University Hospital.

Methods: Between 2000 and 2007, 35 patients with Stage I-IVB NPC treated by IMRT were included. For all patients, treatment-planning computed tomography was done twice before and during IMRT to a total dose of 60-70 Gy/28-35 fractions (median 68 Gy).

Static and moving phantom studies for radiation treatment planning in a positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) system.

Objective: To determine an appropriate threshold value for delineation of the target in positron emission tomography (PET) and to investigate whether PET can delineate an internal target volume (ITV), a series of phantom studies were performed.

Methods: An ellipse phantom (background) was filled with 1028 Bq/ml of [(18)F] fluoro-2-deoxyglucose ((18)FDG), and six spheres of 10 mm, 13 mm, 17 mm, 22 mm, 28 mm, and 37 mm in diameter inside it were filled with (18)FDG activity to achieve source-to-background (S/B) ratios of 10, 15, and 20. In static phantom experiments, an appropriate threshold value was determined so that the size of PET delineation fits to an actual sphere.

Treatment outcomes and dose-volume histogram analysis of simultaneous integrated boost method for malignant gliomas using intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Background: The aim of this article is to report the treatment outcomes, toxicities, and dosimetric feasibility of our simultaneous-boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) protocol.

Methods: Thirteen patients with malignant gliomas treated between December 2000 and September 2004 were enrolled in this study. Two planning target volumes (PTVs) were defined in the present study.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer with malignant fistula.

Background: We reviewed clinical results of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in the treatment of patients with advanced esophageal cancer with fistulae that developed before or during CRT.

Methods And Materials: The study group included 16 patients with fistulous esophageal cancer treated by means of CRT between 1999 and 2006. Nine patients had fistulae before CRT, whereas 7 developed fistulae during CRT.

Analysis of interfractional set-up errors and intrafractional organ motions during IMRT for head and neck tumors to define an appropriate planning target volume (PTV)- and planning organs at risk volume (PRV)-margins.

Background And Purpose: To analyze the interfractional set-up errors and intrafractional organ motions and to define appropriate planning target volume (PTV)- and planning organs at risk volume (PRV)-margins in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for head and neck tumors.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-two patients with head and neck or brain tumors who were treated with IMRT were enrolled. The set-up errors were defined as the displacements of the coordinates of bony landmarks on the beam films from those on the simulation films.

Importance of the initial volume of parotid glands in xerostomia for patients with head and neck cancers treated with IMRT.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate predictors of xerostomia in patients with head and neck cancers treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Methods: Thirty-three patients with pharyngeal cancer were evaluated for xerostomia after having been treated with IMRT. All patients were treated with whole-neck irradiation of 46-50 Gy by IMRT, followed by boost IMRT to the high-risk clinical target volume to a total dose of 56-70 Gy in 28-35 fractions (median, 68 Gy).

Comparison of outcomes between overlapping structure-based and non-overlapping structure-based optimization for simultaneous integrated boost IMRT for malignant gliomas.

Background: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) can deliver different doses to two target volumes with high conformity. The purpose of the present study was to compare outcomes provided by two different optimization methods, overlapping structure-based and non-overlapping structure-based methods, for simultaneous integrated boost (SIB)-IMRT for malignant gliomas.

Methods: Treatment plans for three glioblastomas and one anaplastic astrocytoma were analyzed in the present study.

Erythropoietin/erythropoietin-receptor system as an angiogenic factor in chemically induced murine hepatic tumors.

Background: To clarify the role of erythropoietin (Epo) in hepatic tumor angiogenesis, expression of Epo and its receptor (Epo-R) and content of Epo were investigated in murine chemically induced hepatic tumors.

Methods: To induce hepatic tumors and cirrhosis, diaminobenzidine was administered to Wistar rats for 5 months. In total, 30 hepatic tumors of greater than 3 mm in diameter were induced in 12 rats.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with protracted infusion of 5-FU and cisplatin for postoperative recurrent or residual esophageal cancer.

Background: We carried out the present study to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CT-RT) for postoperative recurrent esophageal cancer, which are, at present, unclear.

Methods: Between 1998 and 2002, 16 patients with postoperative loco-regional recurrence of esophageal cancer, and two patients with incompletely resected esophageal cancer were treated with concurrent CT-RT. Patients received protracted infusion of 5-FU 250-300 mg/m(2) on days 1 to 14, 1 hour infusion of cisplatin 10 mg/body on days 1 to 5 and 8 to 12, and a concurrent radiotherapy (RT) dose of 30 Gy in 15 fractions over 3 weeks.

Phase I study of weekly docetaxel infusion and concurrent radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.

Objective: This study was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of weekly docetaxel in combination with concurrent radiotherapy for treating head and neck cancer.

Methods: Twelve patients with unresectable or postoperative head and neck cancers were enrolled in a dose-escalating phase I study. Eleven of the 12 patients were postoperative patients with intermediate or high pathological risk features.

Feasibility study of the simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) method for malignant gliomas using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Background: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) using the simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) method was designed for treating malignant gliomas. The purpose of this study was to investigate feasibility of this treatment.

Methods: Between December 2000 and November 2002, six patients with malignant gliomas were enrolled in this study.