Oxaliplatin-related dysphagia: Mixed-methods study.

Objectives: To evaluate participant-reported atypical dysphagia symptoms and their association with oxaliplatin treatment.

Methods: This observational study recruited 73 adults with solid tumours outside the head, neck or upper gastrointestinal tract. All had dysphagia, were in hospital or hospice and were treated by Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology or Palliative Care.

Individual Participant Data Network Meta-Analysis of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy or Chemoradiotherapy in Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction Carcinoma.

Purpose: The optimal neoadjuvant treatment for resectable carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus (TE) or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) remains a matter of debate. We performed an individual participant data (IPD) network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to study the effect of chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, with a focus on tumor location and histology subgroups.

Patients And Methods: All, published or unpublished, RCTs closed to accrual before December 31, 2015 and having compared at least two of the following strategies were eligible: upfront surgery (S), chemotherapy followed by surgery (CS), and chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery (CRS).

A strategy to reduce fraction number in peripheral lung stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: Hypo-fractionated lung Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) has often been avoided when tumours are close to the chest wall. Our strategic objective was the reduction of fraction number, while maintaining target biological effective dose coverage without increasing chest wall toxicity (CWT) predictors.

Materials And Methods: Twenty previously treated lung SABR patients were stratified into four cohorts according to distance from PTV to the chest wall, <1 cm, <0.

Efficacy and toxicity of primary re-irradiation for malignant spinal cord compression based on radiobiological modelling: a phase II clinical trial.

Background: The efficacy and safety of primary re-irradiation for MSCC are not known. Our aim was to establish the efficacy and safety of biologically effective dose-based re-irradiation.

Methods: Patients presenting with MSCC at a previously irradiated spine segment, and not proceeding with surgical decompression, were eligible.

Interobserver Variability of Gross Tumor Volume Delineation for Colorectal Liver Metastases Using Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interobserver variability in the contouring of the gross tumor volume (GTV) on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT) for colorectal liver metastases in the setting of SABR.

Methods And Materials: Three expert radiation oncologists contoured 10 GTV volumes on 3 MR imaging sequences and on the CT image data set. Three metrics were chosen to evaluate the interobserver variability: the conformity index, the DICE coefficient, and the maximum Hausdorff distance (HDmax).

Dysphagia in Solid Tumors Outside the Head, Neck or Upper GI Tract: Clinical Characteristics.

Context: Dysphagia is common in cancer, but underlying pathophysiology and manifestations within patients are unknown.

Objectives: To examine dysphagia characteristics in those with solid malignancies outside the head, neck and upper gastrointestinal tract.

Methods: Seventy-three individuals with dysphagia (46 male, 27 female, aged 37-91) were recruited from a parent trial conducted in two acute hospitals and one hospice.

Assessing the impact of predatory journals on policy and guidance documents: a cross-sectional study protocol.

Introduction: Many predatory journals fail to follow best publication practices. Studies assessing the impact of predatory journals have focused on how these articles are cited in reputable academic journals. However, it is possible that research from predatory journals is cited beyond the academic literature in policy documents and guidelines.

Individual patient data meta-analysis of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery versus upfront surgery for carcinoma of the oesophagus or the gastro-oesophageal junction.

Introduction: Which neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced thoracic oesophagus (TE) or gastro-oesophageal junction carcinoma is best remains an open question. Randomised controlled trials variously accrued patients with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, making strong conclusions hard to obtain. The primary objective of this individual participant data meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on overall survival (OS).

Radium-223 in combination with enzalutamide in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a multi-centre, phase II open-label study.

Background: Radium-223 and enzalutamide are approved agents for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Combining radium-223 and enzalutamide to improve outcomes is of clinical interest due to their differing modes of action and non-overlapping toxicity profiles.

Methods: This phase II study enrolled patients with mCRPC and bone metastases.

Late Toxicity and Long-Term Local Control in Patients With Ultra-Central Lung Tumours Treated by Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy-Based Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy With Homogenous Dose Prescription.

Aims: To report late toxicity and long-term outcomes of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)-based stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) in patients with ultra-central lung tumours.

Materials And Methods: This is a single-institution retrospective analysis of patients treated with SABR for ultra-central tumours between May 2008 and April 2016. Ultra-central location was defined as tumour (GTV) abutting or involving trachea, main or lobar bronchi.

Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Therapy for Large (≥5 cm) Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma.

Aims: Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) is a standard of care for medically inoperable early stage non-small cell lung carcinoma. Tumours greater than 5 cm have been excluded from randomised trials using SABR and, hence, it is not used as a standard for larger lung tumours. However, improvements in radiation therapy techniques and the success of SABR in treatment of early stage disease may allow safe delivery of ablative doses to larger tumours.

Non-inferiority randomised phase 3 trial comparing two radiation schedules (single vs. five fractions) in malignant spinal cord compression.

Background: The optimal EBRT schedule for MSCC is undetermined. Our aim was to determine whether a single fraction (SF) was non-inferior to five daily fractions (5Fx), for functional motor outcome.

Methods: Patients not proceeding with surgical decompression in this multicentre non-inferiority, Phase 3 trial were randomised to 10 Gy/SF or 20 Gy/5Fx.

Multiplex profiling identifies clinically relevant signalling proteins in an isogenic prostate cancer model of radioresistance.

The exact biological mechanism governing the radioresistant phenotype of prostate tumours at a high risk of recurrence despite the delivery of advanced radiotherapy protocols remains unclear. This study analysed the protein expression profiles of a previously generated isogenic 22Rv1 prostate cancer model of radioresistance using DigiWest multiplex protein profiling for a selection of 90 signalling proteins. Comparative analysis of the profiles identified a substantial change in the expression of 43 proteins.

Dosimetric impact of uncorrected systematic yaw rotation in VMAT for peripheral lung SABR.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the dosimetric impact of uncorrected yaw rotational error on both target coverage and OAR dose metrics in this patient population.

Background: Rotational set up errors can be difficult to correct in lung VMAT SABR treatments, and may lead to a change in planned dose distributions.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively applied systematic yaw rotational errors in 1° degree increments up to -5° and +5° degrees in 16 VMAT SABR plans.

Dysphagia Prevalence and Predictors in Cancers Outside the Head, Neck, and Upper Gastrointestinal Tract.

Context: Dysphagia is usually associated with malignancies of the head, neck, and upper gastrointestinal tract but also occurs in those with tumors outside anatomic swallow regions. It can lead to aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, reduced quality of life, and psychosocial distress. No studies have yet reliably described dysphagia prevalence in those with malignancies outside anatomic swallow regions.

Linac-Based Radiosurgery for Patients With Brain Oligometastases From a Breast Primary, in the Trastuzumab Era-Impact of Tumor Phenotype and Prescribed SRS Dose.

The role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the treatment of limited numbers of brain metastases in selected breast cancer patients is well-established. To analyse outcome from a single institutional experience with SRS, to identify any significant prognostic factors and to assess the influence of Her-2, estrogen receptor status, and prescribed dose on outcome. The medical records of 56 patients treated at in a single institution between 2009 and 2014 were reviewed.

ICORG 06-35: a prospective evaluation of PET-CT scan in patients with non-operable or non-resectable non-small cell lung cancer treated by radical 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy: a phase II study.

Background: Radiotherapy (RT) is a key treatment modality in the curative treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Incorrect definition of the gross, or clinical, target volume is a common source of error which can lead to a reduced probability of tumour control.

Objective: This was a pilot and a phase II study.

Treatment completion, treatment compliance and outcomes of old and very old patients treated by dose adapted stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for T1-T3N0M0 non-small cell lung cancer.

Aim: This is a retrospective single-institution review of the treatment completion and clinical outcomes of patients aged 75 and older, treated with stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) for T1-T3 N0 M0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: From April 2008 to September 2015, 200 patients, aged 75-93, received respiratory-managed, intensity-modulated-based SABR. Dose fractionation was risk-adapted and delivered in 2-3 weekly treatments.

A comparison of bladder volumes based on treatment planning CT and BladderScan® BVI 6100 ultrasound device in a prostate radiation therapy population.

Objective:: The aim of this study is to investigate if a handheld ultrasound device (BladderScan® BVI 6100) can accurately measure bladder volumes in prostate radiotherapy (RT) patients.

Methods:: A comparison was made of contoured bladder volumes based on treatment planning CT (TPCT) and BladderScan® BVI 6100 ultrasound device in a large prostate RT population. Three bladder volume (BV) measurements were taken using the bladder volume instrument (BVI) device on prostate RT patients immediately prior to TPCT (n = 190).

Cancer Trials Ireland (ICORG) 06-34: A multi-centre clinical trial using three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy to reduce the toxicity of palliative radiation for lung cancer.

Title: Cancer Trials Ireland (ICORG) 06-34: A multi-centre clinical trial using three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy to reduce the toxicity of palliative radiation for lung cancer. NCT01176487.

Background & Purpose: Trials of radiation therapy for the palliation of intra-thoracic symptoms from locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have concentrated on optimising fractionation and dose schedules.

(ICORG 05-03): prospective randomized non-inferiority phase III trial comparing two radiation schedules in malignant spinal cord compression (not proceeding with surgical decompression); the quality of life analysis.

Background: The optimal primary external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) radiation schedule for malignant epidural spinal cord compression (MSCC) remains to be determined. The ICORG 05-03 trial assessed if a 10 Gy single fraction radiation schedule was not inferior to one with 20 Gray (Gy) in five daily fractions, in terms of functional motor outcome, for the treatment of MSCC in patients not proceeding with surgical decompression. This article reports on two of the secondary endpoints, Quality of life (QoL), assessed according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) version 3.

Patients with colorectal lung oligometastases (L-OMD) treated by dose adapted SABR at diagnosis of oligometastatic disease have better outcomes than patients previously treated for their metastatic disease.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with OMD from a CRC primary, who underwent SABR either as first treatment at diagnosis of metachronous oligometastatic disease to lung or at progression in lung after prior treatments for metastatic disease.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 60 patients with 85 lung oligometastases treated by SABR at two institutions, between May 2009 and September 2014. Local control (LC), overall survival (OS), progression - free survival (PFS), and toxicity were evaluated.

A Phase II Toxicity End Point Trial (ICORG 99-09) of Accelerated Dose-escalated Hypofractionated Radiation in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Aims: The objective of this phase II clinical trial was to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of accelerated hypofractionated three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) in localised non-resectable/non-operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: Sixty patients with stage I-III NSCLC were enrolled in a prospective single-arm All Ireland Co-operative Oncology Research Group (ICORG 99-09) toxicity end point phase II trial. The protocol allocated patients between three radiation schedule dose levels (60, 66 or 72 Gy, in 20, 22 and 24 fractions, respectively, 3 Gy daily, five fractions per week) according to combined lung V (V ≤ 30%) with built-in early stopping toxicity rules.

Heterogeneity in high-risk prostate cancer treated with high-dose radiation therapy and androgen deprivation therapy.

Background: Our aim was to assess the heterogeneity of high-risk (HR) prostate cancer managed with high-dose external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

Methods: We identified 547 patients who were treated with modern EBRT from 1997 to 2013, of whom 98% received ADT. We analyzed biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS) and distant metastases-free survival (DMFS).

A randomized trial comparing bladder volume consistency during fractionated prostate radiation therapy.

Purpose: Organ motion is a contributory factor to the variation in location of the prostate and organs at risk during a course of fractionated prostate radiation therapy (RT). A prospective randomized controlled trial was designed with the primary endpoint to provide evidence-based bladder-filling instructions to achieve a consistent bladder volume (BV) and thus reduce the bladder-related organ motion. The secondary endpoints were to assess the incidence of acute and late genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity for patients and patients' satisfaction with the bladder-filling instructions.