Fully automated volumetric modulated arc therapy planning for locally advanced rectal cancer: feasibility and efficiency.

Background: Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has emerged as a promising technique, but the planning process can be time-consuming and dependent on planner expertise. We aimed to develop a fully automated VMAT planning program for LARC and evaluate its feasibility and efficiency.

Methods: A total of 26 LARC patients who received VMAT treatment and the computed tomography (CT) scans were included in this study.

Dose-Volume and Radiobiological Model-Based Comparative Evaluation of the Gastrointestinal Toxicity Risk of Photon and Proton Irradiation Plans in Localized Pancreatic Cancer Without Distant Metastasis.

Radiobiological model-based studies of photon-modulated radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer have reported reduced gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity, although the risk is still high. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of 3D-passive scattering proton beam therapy (3D-PSPBT) in limiting GI organ at risk (OAR) toxicity in localized pancreatic cancer based on dosimetric data and the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) model. The data of 24 pancreatic cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed, and these patients were planned with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and 3D-PSPBT.

Radiobiological model-based approach to determine the potential of dose-escalated robust intensity-modulated proton radiotherapy in reducing gastrointestinal toxicity in the treatment of locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer of the head.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the potential of escalated dose radiation (EDR) robust intensity-modulated proton radiotherapy (ro-IMPT) in reducing GI toxicity risk in locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer (LAUPC) of the head in term of normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) predictive model.

Methods: For 9 patients, intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was compared with ro-IMPT. For all plans, the prescription dose was 59.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer in octogenarians and older: an alternative treatment.

Surgery is the standard modality for early-stage I-II non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Generally, patients who are >80 years old tend to have more comorbidities and inferior physical status than younger patients. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) may provide an alternative treatment for this group of patients.

Treatment patterns and outcomes change in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer in octogenarians and older: a SEER database analysis.

Background: Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in the world.

Aims: We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to investigate the changes in the incidence, treatment patterns, and outcomes of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in octogenarians and older from 1995 to 2015.

Methods: Using the SEER database, we identified patients ≥ 80 years stage I-IIa NSCLC diagnosed from 1995 to 2015.

Prospective evaluation of the setup errors and its impact on safety margin for cervical cancer pelvic conformal radiotherapy.

Aim: The primary objective was to assess set-up errors (SE) and secondary objective was to determine optimal safety margin (SM).

Background: To evaluate the SE and its impact on the SM utilizing electronic portal imaging (EPI) for pelvic conformal radiotherapy.

Material And Methods: 20 cervical cancer patients were enrolled in this prospective study.

Prospective evaluation of XRCC-1 Arg194Trp polymorphism as bio-predictor for clinical outcome in locally advanced laryngeal cancer undergoing cisplatin-based chemoradiation.

Background: To determine X-ray repair cross-complementing 1 gene (XRCC-1) Arg194Trp polymorphism as bio-predictor for clinical outcome in advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing cisplatin-based chemoradiation (CRT).

Methods: A total of 150 patients were enrolled in this prospective study. XRCC-1 Arg194Trp genotyping categorized patients as wild (C/C) and polymorphic (C/T or T/T).

Could excision repair cross-complementing group-1 mRNA expression from peripheral blood lymphocytes predict locoregional failure with cisplatin chemoradiation for locally advanced laryngeal cancer?

Aim: The association of excision repair cross-complementing 1 mRNA (ERCC-1 mRNA) expression with the outcome has been reported with immunohistochemistry (IHC) using tumor tissue in head and neck cancer. We evaluated ERCC-1 mRNA expression by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) as bio-predictor of locoregional failure (LRF) to chemoradiation (CRT) for locally advanced laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LALSCC).

Methods: A total of 107 male patients with LALSCC were enrolled in this prospective study.

Impact of Proton Beam Irradiation of an Anatomic Subsegment of the Liver for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: The objective of this research was to elucidate the impact on the prognosis, including the survival prognosis, resulting from proton beam irradiation of an anatomic subsegment of the liver (ASPT) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods And Materials: A total of 110 patients who received a diagnosis of HCC were analyzed in this retrospective study. Definitive proton beam therapy was delivered at a dose of 76 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) in 20 fractions between January 2008 and December 2015.