Circulating DNA in Rectal Cancer to Unravel the Prognostic Potential for Radiation Oncologist: A Meta-analysis.

Objectives: Liquid biopsy, with its noninvasive nature and ability to detect tumor-specific genetic alterations, emerges as an ideal biomarker for monitoring recurrences for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Completed studies have small sample sizes and different experimental methods. To consolidate and assess the collective evidence regarding the prognostic role of circulating DNA (ctDNA) detection in LARC patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT).

Outcomes of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Patients Treated with Total Neoadjuvant Treatment: A Meta-Anaysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background & Aims: Determining outcomes using the total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) in patients with local advanced rectal cancer is important for stratifying patients according to expected outcomes in future studies in the era of treatment combination. The present meta-analysis estimated the pathological complete response, disease-free survival, and overall survival probabilities of rectal cancer patients and identified predictors of outcomes.

Methods: Studies reporting pathological complete response rate and time-dependent outcomes (progression or death) after total neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) were identified in MEDLINE through January 2022.

A Systematic Review and a Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials' Control Groups in Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer (mHSPC).

Purpose Of Review: Determining the risk for progression or survival after standard androgen deprivation treatment (ADT) in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) is essential for stratifying patients according to expected outcomes in future studies of treatment combination. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to estimate the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) probabilities in the control group of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of different regimens of standard androgen deprivation treatment (ADT) in mHSPC and to identify possible predictors of outcomes.

Recent Findings: Studies reporting time-dependent outcomes (progression or death) after standard ADT treatment of mHSPC were searched in MEDLINE, CANCERLIT, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and the Cochrane Library from inception through June 2021.

Inflammatory Microenvironment in Early Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Exploring the Predictive Value of Radiomics.

Patient prognosis is a critical consideration in the treatment decision-making process. Conventionally, patient outcome is related to tumor characteristics, the cancer spread, and the patients' conditions. However, unexplained differences in survival time are often observed, even among patients with similar clinical and molecular tumor traits.

Beyond Abscopal Effect: A Meta-Analysis of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Radiotherapy in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) plus radiotherapy (RT) have been suggested as an emerging combination in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, little is known about the magnitude of its benefits and potential clinical predictors.

Objective: To assess the effects of this combination on the increase in overall and progression-free survival.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for liver oligometastases: predictive factors of local response by F-FDG-PET/CT.

Objective: To investigate metabolic parameters as predictive of local response after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for liver-oligometastases.

Methods: Inclusion criteria of the present retrospective study were: (a) liver oligometastases with controlled primary tumor; (b) absence of progressive disease ≥6 months; (c) metastases ≤ 3; (d) evaluation of SBRT-response by means of 18-fludeoxyglucose-PET/CT for at least two subsequent evaluations; (e) Karnofsky performance status >80; (f) life-expectancy >6 months. The following metabolic parameters were defined semi-quantitatively for each metastases: (1) standardized uptake value (SUVmax; (2) SUV-mean; (3) metabolic tumor volume (MTV), tumor volume with a SUV ≥3, threshold 40%; (4) total lesion glycolysis (TLG), i.

Linac-based stereotactic body radiation therapy for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer: risk-adapted dose prescription and image-guided delivery.

Background: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) represents a new treatment option for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). An accurate treatment planning with risk-adapted dose prescription with adherence to specific dose constraints for organs at risk (OARs) and the use of daily cone beam CT (CBCT) for image guidance could allow an effective and safe treatment delivery. Here, feasibility and efficacy of SBRT in LAPC treated in our cancer care center are reported.

Hippocampal dose during Linac-based stereotactic radiotherapy for brain metastases: An observational study.

Introduction: Aim of the present study is to evaluate homolateral and contralateral hippocampus (H-H, C-H, respectively) dose during Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy (FSRT) or Radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastases (BM).

Materials & Methods: Patients with BM<5, size≤30mm, KPS≥80 and a life expectancy>3months, were considered for SRS/FSRT (total dose 15-30Gy, 1-5 fractions). For each BM, a Flattening Filter Free (FFF) Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) plan was generated with one or two arcs.

Stereotactic ablative radiation therapy for brain metastases with volumetric modulated arc therapy and flattening filter free delivery: feasibility and early clinical results.

Aim: For selected patients with brain metastases (BMs), the role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SFRT) is well recognized. The recent introduction of flattening filter free (FFF) delivery during linac-based SRS or SFRT allows shorter beam-on-time, improving patients' comfort and facility workflow. Nevertheless, limited experiences evaluated the impact of FFF linac-based SRS and SFRT in BMs treatment.

Moderate Hypofractionated Postprostatectomy Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy With Daily Image Guidance (VMAT-IGRT): A Mono-institutional Report on Feasibility and Acute Toxicity.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute toxicity profiles of a moderate hypofractionated regimen with volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in patients with prostate cancer (PC) who underwent radical prostatectomy.

Material And Methods: From December 2012 to February 2016, 125 patients, previously having undergone radical prostatectomy, received adjuvant (64 patients) or salvage (61 patients) radiotherapy (RT) inside an institutional protocol of moderate hypofractionation schedule using the VMAT technique (Varian RapidArc, Palo Alto, CA). Eligible patients were < 85 years old, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 2, histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate without distant metastases, and pathologic stage pT2-4 N0-1, with at least 1 of the following risk factors: capsular perforation, positive surgical margins, seminal vesicle invasion, and/or postoperative prostate-specific antigen > 0.

Synchronous bilateral breast cancer irradiation: clinical and dosimetrical issues using volumetric modulated arc therapy and simultaneous integrated boost.

Objectives: The aim of the present retrospective analysis was to evaluate dosimetric parameters, feasibility and outcome for Synchronous Bilateral Breast Cancer (SBBC) patients treated with adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) by Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT).

Methods: From September 2011 to April 2016, 1100 Breast Cancer (BC) patients were referred to our institution to receive adjuvant breast RT, and those with SBBC were selected for the present analysis. A total of 16 patients were identified.

Stereotactic Ablative Radiation Therapy for Lung Oligometastases: Predictive Parameters of Early Response by FDG-PET/CT.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate fludeoxyglucose F 18 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) parameters as predictive of response after stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) for lung oligometastases.

Methods: The inclusion criteria of the current retrospective study were as follows: (1) lung oligometastases treated by SABR, (2) presence of FDG-PET/CT before and after SABR for at least two subsequent evaluations, (3) Karnofsky performance status higher than 80, and (4) life expectancy longer than 6 months. All patients were treated with a biologically equivalent dose of at least 100 Gy with an alpha/beta ratio of 10.

Simultaneous integrated bilateral breast and nodal irradiation with volumetric arc therapy: case report and literature review.

Aim: For simultaneous bilateral breast cancer (SBBC) treatment, conventional radiotherapy (RT) has a number of critical shortcomings. Thus, the usefulness of volumetric arc therapy (VMAT) for SBBC is undeniable.

Case Report: A 34-year-old woman with SBBC received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by breast-conserving surgery and bilateral lymph node dissection.

Three-dimensional conformal versus intensity modulated radiotherapy in breast cancer treatment: is necessary a medical reversal?

Objectives: Aim of the present study is to compare three-dimensional conformal RT (3D-CRT) and 4-fields intensity modulated radiation therapy (4f-IMRT) treatment plans, in terms of target dose coverage, integral dose and dose to Organs at risk (OARs) in early breast cancer (BC).

Methods: Twenty consecutive BC patients, after lumpectomy, were selected for the present analysis. A total dose of 50 Gy and a simultaneous dose of 60 Gy in 25 fractions was prescribed to Planning Target Volume of the whole breast (PTV) and of the surgical bed, respectively.