Quality of life in early breast cancer patients after adjuvant accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) in randomized trial.

Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) represents a valid option for adjuvant therapy of selected early breast cancer (BC). This single-institution prospective randomized study compares the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between women treated with the highly conformal-external beam APBI technique and those with the more commonly used moderately hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (hypo-WBI). Eligible patients were women over 50 years with early BC (G1/2 DCIS ≤ 25 mm or G1/2 invasive non-lobular luminal-like HER2 negative carcinoma ≤ 20 mm) after breast-conserving surgery with negative margins.

Perioperative systemic therapy as a part of comprehensive multimodal treatment in esophageal and gastric cancer - new treatment guidelines.

Esophageal and gastric cancer are diseases with a serious prognosis. While the incidence of gastric cancer is decreasing, the incidence of the gastroesophageal junction and esophageal cancer is increasing. Men are affected more often than women.

Hippocampal subfield volumetric changes after radiotherapy for brain metastases.

Background: Changes in the hippocampus after brain metastases radiotherapy can significantly impact neurocognitive functions. Numerous studies document hippocampal atrophy correlating with the radiation dose. This study aims to elucidate volumetric changes in patients undergoing whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) or targeted stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) and to explore volumetric changes in the individual subregions of the hippocampus.

Challenges with hippocampal MR spectroscopy as a surrogate for pre-radiotherapy assessment of neurocognitive impairment in patients with brain metastasis.

Aim: Patients with multiple brain metastases (BM) benefit from hippocampal-avoiding whole brain radiotherapy (HA-WBRT), the challenging and less available form of WBRT. This study explores potential of pre-radiotherapy (pre-RT) hippocampal magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) measuring hippocampal neuronal density as an imaging surrogate and predictive tool for assessing neurocognitive functions (NCF).

Methods: 43 BM patients underwent pre-RT hippocampal MRS.

Toxicity of external beam accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) in adjuvant therapy of early-stage breast cancer: prospective randomized study.

Background: Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is an alternative breast-conserving therapy approach where radiation is delivered in less time compared to whole breast irradiation (WBI), resulting in improved patient convenience, less toxicity, and cost savings. This prospective randomized study compares the external beam APBI with commonly used moderate hypofractionated WBI in terms of feasibility, safety, tolerance, and cosmetic effects.

Methods: Early breast cancer patients after partial mastectomy were equally randomized into two arms- external APBI and moderate hypofractionated WBI.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) of Pancreatic Cancer-A Critical Review and Practical Consideration.

Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the developed world and is predicted to become the second by 2030. A cure may be achieved only with surgical resection of an early diagnosed disease. Surgery for more advanced disease is challenging and can be contraindicated for many reasons.

Evaporation rate from surfaces of various granular rocks: Comparison of measured and calculated values.

Knowledge of the evaporation rate from rock surfaces is critical for obtaining the water flux in the rock-atmosphere interphase, for understanding moisture distribution, and for quantification of damage from salt crystallization within the rock. Evaporation from rocks is a poorly understood, yet important process. We present a study on evaporation from 10 lithologies, including sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic granular rocks.

FMISO-Based Adaptive Radiotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy represents one of the most used strategies in the curative treatment of patients with head and neck (HNC) cancer. Locoregional failure is the predominant recurrence pattern. Tumor hypoxia belongs to the main cause of treatment failure.

PET/CT-tailored treatment of locally advanced oesophago-gastric junction adenocarcinoma: a report on the feasibility of the multicenter GastroPET study.

Background: Perioperative chemotherapy is a recommended treatment approach for localised oesophago-gastric junction adenocarcinoma, but not all patients respond to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Early identification of non-responders and treatment adaptation in the preoperative period could improve outcomes. GastroPET is a national, multicentre phase II trial evaluating a FDG-PET/CT-guided preoperative treatment strategy with the R0 resection rate as a primary endpoint.

Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy for Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma Modified by PET/CT: Results of Virtual Planning Study.

: The treatment of gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma consists of either perioperative chemotherapy or preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Radiotherapy (RT) in the neoadjuvant setting is associated with a higher probability of resections with negative margins (R0) and better tumor regression rate, which might be enhanced by incrementing RT dose with potential impact on treatment results. This virtual planning study demonstrates the feasibility of increasing the dose to GEJ tumor and involved nodes using PET/CT imaging.

Investigation of discordant sibling pairs from hereditary breast cancer families and analysis of a rare PMS1 variant.

Background: It is likely that additional genes for hereditary breast cancer can be identified using a discordant sib pair design. Using this design we identified individuals harboring a rare PMS1 c.605G>A variant previously predicted to result in loss of function.

Effect of Acupuncture in Pain Management of Head and Neck Cancer Radiotherapy: Prospective Randomized Unicentric Study.

This prospective randomized open-label trial aimed to evaluate the role of acupuncture in the treatment of pain related to curative and adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy of head and neck cancer. Patients in two arms (30 patients in each arm) underwent standard oncology therapy and standard supportive care with or without acupuncture. The stratification factors were the type of treatment and chemotherapy indication.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Lymph Node Oligometastases: Real-World Evidence From 90 Consecutive Patients.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of extracranial stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in the treatment of oligometastatic lymph node involvement in the mediastinum, retroperitoneum, or pelvis, in a consecutive group of patients from real clinical practice outside clinical trials.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 90 patients with a maximum of four oligometastases and various primary tumors (the most common being colorectal cancers). The endpoints were local control of treated metastases (LC), freedom from widespread dissemination (FFWD), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and freedom from systemic treatment (FFST).

Assessment of Stem Volume on Plots Using Terrestrial Laser Scanner: A Precision Forestry Application.

Timber volume is an important asset, not only as an ecological component, but also as a key source of present and future revenues, which requires precise estimates. We used the Trimble TX8 survey-grade terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) to create a detailed 3D point cloud for extracting total tree height and diameter at breast height (1.3 m; DBH).

Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Critical Review of Local Treatment Options Including Recommendations during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma represents an extremely challenging therapeutic situation. Given the vulnerability of the already pretreated neurological structures surrounding the nasopharynx, any potential salvage retreatment option bears a significant risk of severe complications that result in high treatment-related morbidity, quality of life deterioration, and even mortality. Yet, with careful patient selection, long-term survival may be achieved after local retreatment in a subgroup of patients with local or regional relapse of nasopharyngeal cancer.

Acupuncture in the treatment of acute toxicity during and after head and neck cancer radiotherapy: Interim analysis of randomized prospective open-label trial.

Aims: The aim of this investigator-initiated prospective randomized open-label single institutional trial is to evaluate the role of acupuncture in the treatment of acute skin and mucosal toxicity, xerostomia, and perception of taste, pain, and nausea related to curative and adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy of head and neck cancer. This paper reports pilot data of the first 30 enrolled patients.

Methods: Patients were randomized to undergo standard of care radiotherapy ± chemotherapy and support care defined by our institutional standard operating procedures alone or in the combination with acupuncture which was initiated with the first signs of any toxicity.

The tumor immune microenvironment and its implications for clinical outcome in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: We examined PD-L1 expression on tumor cells (TCs) and immune cells (ICs) and density of CD3 and CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and investigated their significance on clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcomes.

Methods: In a cohort of 65 patients treated by definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with curative intent, immunohistochemical analysis of PD-L1 expression on TCs and ICs, and TIL subtyping was performed on primary biopsy tumor tissues, followed by prognostic evaluation of these immune response-related parameters including classification into four tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) types. To evaluate HPV status, p16 immunohistochemistry was performed.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy of Lymph Node Oligometastases.

Background: The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of extracranial stereotactic radiotherapy for the treatment of oligometastatic lymph node involvement in the mediastinum, retroperitoneum, and pelvis in a consecutive group of patients from real clinical practice.

Material And Methods: Of a total of 50 patients treated between 2011 and 2017, 29 were men and 21 were women, and the mean age was 62 years (median 66 years, range 25-81 years). Patients were most often irradiated in five fractions; the dose was selected according to dose-volume histograms of organs-at-risk in proximity to the planning target volume.

Salivary microRNAs identified by small RNA sequencing as potential predictors of response to intensity-modulated radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients.

Purpose: Progress in radiation therapy of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) is logically linked to the development of molecular predictors that would help to enhance individually tailored treatment. MicroRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in tumors have repeatedly been tested to optimize the molecular diagnostics of HNSCC. In addition to tumor tissues, miRNAs are stably present in body fluids, including saliva, and can thus be collected non-invasively.

A microdestructive method using dye-coated-probe to visualize capillary, diffusion and evaporation zones in porous materials.

The vaporization plane, a narrow zone of subsurface evaporation often present in porous rocks, separates the region where water flows due to capillary forces from the dry zone where moisture moves in gas phase only. The knowledge of its depth and geometry is critical for estimating water flux in rock-atmosphere interphase, for understanding moisture distribution and for localization of damaging salt crystallization. Yet, an easy-to-use method applicable in the exterior has been missing.

Prognosis of HPV-Positive and -Negative Oropharyngeal Cancers Depends on the Treatment Modality.

Background: The association between human papilloma virus (HPV) and oropharyngeal carcinoma is a topical issue due mainly to the rapid increase in incidence over recent years. These tumors are etiopathogenetically, epidemiologically, and clinically different from other carcinomas at this location. They have a better prognosis in that they are more chemo-and radiosensitive.

Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy - Current Indications.

Background: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is used to treat localized tumor lesions and consists of applying high doses of radiation to a small number of fractions using specially equipped linear accelerators, modern immobilization devices, and imaging methods, which are considered special, advanced techniques in modern day radiotherapy. SBRT is a very well tolerated, non-invasive, short-term treatment that does not require hospitalization or any complicated preparation. Compared to standard radiotherapy techniques, SBRT allows, due to its precision, significantly higher doses to be applied to the target with less damage to surrounding healthy tissues.