Gamma knife radiosurgery for the treatment of uveal melanoma and uveal metastases.

Background: This study retrospectively analyzed outcomes for patients undergoing gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR) for uveal melanoma (UM) and intraocular metastases.

Methods: Patients who underwent GKR for UM or intraocular metastases between 1/1/1990 and 6/1/2015 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA, were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Eleven patients (11 eyes) had UM while seven patients (7 eyes) had intraocular metastases.

Prophylactic cranial irradiation in elderly patients with small cell lung cancer: findings from a North Central Cancer Treatment Group pooled analysis.

Objectives: To examine the efficacy of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in elderly patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) (≥70 years of age) from a pooled analysis of four prospective trials.

Materials & Methods: One hundred fifty-five patients with SCLC (limited stage, LSCLC, and extensive stage, ESCLC) participated in four phase II or III trials. Ninety-one patients received PCI (30 Gy/15 or 25 Gy/10) and 64 patients did not receive PCI.

Assessment of long-term rectal function in patients who received pelvic radiotherapy: a pooled North Central Cancer Treatment Group trial analysis, N09C1.

Purpose: Pelvic radiotherapy (PRT) is known to adversely affect bowel function (BF) and patient well-being. This study characterized long-term BF and evaluated quality of life (QOL) in patients receiving PRT.

Methods: Data from 252 patients were compiled from two North Central Cancer Treatment Group prospective studies, which included assessment of BF and QOL by the BF questionnaire (BFQ) and Uniscale QOL at baseline and 12 and 24 months after completion of radiotherapy.

Prognostic factors differ by tumor stage for small cell lung cancer: a pooled analysis of North Central Cancer Treatment Group trials.

Background: An analysis of 14 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) trials was performed to improve the current understanding of potential prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in groups of patients with limited-stage disease SCLC (LD-SCLC) and extensive-stage disease SCLC (ED-SCLC) separately.

Methods: Data on 688 patients with LD-SCLC and 910 patients with ED-SCLC were included. Clinical and laboratory factors were tested for their prognostic significance using Cox regression models that were stratified by protocol.

Results of a phase II study of high-dose thoracic radiation therapy with concurrent cisplatin and etoposide in limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (NCCTG 95-20-53).

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (L-SCLC) treated with cisplatin and etoposide (PE), early prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI), and high-dose twice-daily thoracic radiotherapy (bid RT).

Patients And Methods: A total of 76 assessable patients were treated on this phase II trial, which included six cycles of PE. PCI (25 Gy/10 fractions) was delivered during cycle 3 to responding patients.

Phase I North Central Cancer Treatment Group Trial-N9923 of escalating doses of twice-daily thoracic radiation therapy with amifostine and with alternating chemotherapy in limited stage small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: The primary goal was to identify the maximum tolerable dose (MTD) of thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) that can be given with chemotherapy and amifostine for patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LSCLC).

Methods And Materials: Treatment began with two cycles of topotecan (1 mg/m(2)) Days 1 to 5 and paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) Day 5 (every 3 weeks) given before and after TRT. The TRT began at 6 weeks.

Salvage radiotherapy for isolated prostate specific antigen increase after radical prostatectomy: evaluation of prognostic factors and creation of a prognostic scoring system.

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the results and prognostic factors associated with radiotherapy for a detectable serum prostate specific antigen level after radical prostatectomy.

Materials And Methods: From July 1987 through July 2003, 368 patients received radiotherapy for a detectable prostate specific antigen level (biochemical relapse) as the sole evidence of recurrence after radical prostatectomy for node negative prostate cancer. Estimated survival and relapse-free probabilities were obtained via Kaplan-Meier estimation.

Phase III double-blind study of glutamine versus placebo for the prevention of acute diarrhea in patients receiving pelvic radiation therapy.

Purpose: A phase III, randomized, double-blind study was conducted by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group to determine the efficacy and toxicity of oral glutamine for the prevention of acute diarrhea in patients receiving pelvic radiation therapy (RT).

Patients And Methods: All 129 patients enrolled from 14 institutions between February 1998 and October 1999 were eligible. Patients received 4 g of glutamine or placebo orally, twice a day, beginning with the first or second day of RT and continuing for 2 weeks after RT.