Is intensive training with a time interval between instruction and planning CT necessary for deep inspiration breath-hold radiotherapy in breast cancer?

Background: Breathing instruction and exercises and a time gap between training and planning CT scans (pCT) is recommended as part of deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) assisted radiotherapy (RT). However, this is associated with additional time expenditure.

Materials And Methods: In two of the authors' treatment centers (TC), patient training took place before the planning CT of DIBH-assisted therapy.

Patient-Relevant Costs for Organ Preservation versus Radical Resection in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) is an evolving treatment schedule for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), allowing for organ preservation in a relevant number of patients in the case of complete response. Patients who undergo this so-called "watch and wait" approach are likely to benefit regarding their quality of life (QoL), especially if definitive ostomy could be avoided. In this work, we performed the first cost-effectiveness analysis from the patient perspective to compare costs for TNT with radical resection after neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) in the German health care system.

Global Equity in Clinical Trials: An ASCO Policy Statement.

ASCO is a global professional society representing more than 50,000 physicians, other health care professionals, and advocates in over 100 countries specializing in cancer treatment, diagnosis, prevention, and advocacy. ASCO strives, through research, education, and promotion of the highest quality of patient care, to create a world where cancer is prevented or cured, and every survivor is healthy. In this pursuit, health equity remains the guiding institutional principle that applies to all its activities across the cancer care continuum.

Radiation Therapy Physics Quality Assurance and Management Practices in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Initial Pilot Survey in Six Countries and Validation Through a Site Visit.

Purpose: Our purpose was to assess physics quality assurance (QA) practices in less resourced radiation therapy (RT) centers to improve quality of care.

Methods And Materials: A preliminary study was conducted in 2020 of 13 select RT centers in 6 countries, and in 2021, our team conducted onsite visits to all the RT centers in Ghana, one of the countries from the initial survey. The RT centers included 1 private and 2 public institutions (denoted as Public-1 and Public-2).

Mapping of Radiation Oncology and Gynecologic Oncology Services Available to Treat the Growing Burden of Cervical Cancer in Africa.

Purpose: To meet the demand for cervical cancer care in Africa, access to surgical and radiation therapy services needs to be understood. We thus mapped the availability of gynecologic and radiation therapy equipment and staffing for treating cervical cancer.

Methods And Materials: We collected data on gynecologic and radiation oncology staffing, equipment, and infrastructure capacities across Africa.

Satisfaction with radiotherapy care among cancer patients treated in Germany-secondary analysis of a large multicenter study.

Purpose: Patient satisfaction with healthcare has been linked to clinical outcomes and regulatory agencies demand its regular assessment. Therefore, we aimed to investigate patient satisfaction with radiotherapy care and its determinants.

Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cross-sectional study.

Influence of demographic change on the demand for radiotherapy using forecasted predictions for prostate cancer in Germany.

Purpose: Demographic change will lead to an increase in age-associated cancers. The demand for primary treatment, especially oncologic therapies, is difficult to predict. This work is an attempt to project the demand for radiation therapy (RT) in 2030, taking into account demographic changes using prostate cancer (PC) as an example.

More Drugs Versus More Data: The Tug of War on Cancer in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Although current value frameworks and economic models have allowed us to better quantify the net benefit associated with cancer therapy, holistic cancer care must consider patient time, family and social values, and overall life expectancy. Training programs must include training in health services research, difficult conversations, and shared decision-making strategies that are developed in social and cultural frameworks for their settings.

Comparing biological and physical cost functions in VMAT planning for pediatric nasopharyngeal cancer.

Background: Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) is an option for the delivery of Radiotherapy treatment technique for pediatric nasopharyngeal cancer, VMAT is the most common treatment technique for pediatric nasopharyngeal cancer. The use of a combination of both biological and physical parameters in VMAT planning optimization may produce better target coverage and sparing of critical organs. This work was to compare Biological Cost Functions (BCFs) and Physical Cost Functions (PCFs) in the VMAT of pediatric nasopharyngeal cancer patients.

The impact of palliative radiotherapy on health-related quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer - Results of a multicenter prospective cohort study.

Purpose: Palliative radiotherapy for patients with head and neck cancer can be used to alleviate symptoms. Only a few studies have investigated its impact on patient-reported outcomes (PRO). Therefore, we conducted a prospective multicenter observational study.

Clinicopathological Characteristics, Treatment Patterns, and Outcomes in Patients with Laryngeal Cancer.

Background: Various factors can affect the survival of patients with laryngeal cancer (LC). In this retrospective study, we assessed clinicopathological features, their prognostic value, and treatment modalities for patients with confirmed squamous cell LC.

Methods: We collected patient data on demographics, clinicopathological characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes.

Psychosocial distress in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: a prospective national cohort of 1042 patients in Germany.

Purpose: Psychosocial distress is common among cancer patients in general, but those undergoing radiotherapy may face specific challenges. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence and risk factors for distress in a large national cohort.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cross-sectional study which surveyed cancer patients at the end of a course of radiotherapy using a patient-reported questionnaire.

Financial toxicity in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy in a universal health care system - A prospective multicenter study of 1075 patients.

Purpose: To establish and confirm prevalence as well as risk factors of financial toxicity in a large national cohort of cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy in a universal health care system.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study offering a patient-reported questionnaire to all eligible cancer patients treated with radiotherapy in 11 centers in Germany during 60 consecutive days. The four-point subjective financial distress question of the EORTC QLQ-C30 was used as a surrogate for financial toxicity.

MYL5 as a Novel Prognostic Marker is Associated with Immune Infiltrating in Breast Cancer: A Preliminary Study.

Background: Myosin light chain plays a vital regulatory function in a large-scale cellular physiological procedure, however, the role of myosin light chain 5 (MYL5) in breast cancer has not been reported. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effects of MYL5 on clinical prognosis and immune cell infiltration, and further explore the potential mechanism in breast cancer patients.

Methods: In this study, we first explored the expression pattern and prognostic value of MYL5 in breast cancer across multiple databases, including Oncomine, TCGA, GTEx, GEPIA2, PrognoScan, and Kaplan-Meier Plotter.

The predictive value of lymphocyte to monocyte ratio for overall survival in cholangiocarcinoma patients with hepatic resection.

Background: There is considerable heterogeneity in clinical behavior and survival outcomes in patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and the prognosis of CCA patients is poor. We proposed lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) as a novel prognostic element for CCA patients with hepatic resection in present study.

Methods: By retrospectively analyzing the clinical data of 145 CCA patients with hepatic resection, we determined the optimal LMR cutoff value according to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC).

Quantification of Lung Tumor Motion and Optimization of Treatment.

Background: Mobility of lung tumors is induced by respiration and causes inadequate dose coverage.

Objective: This study quantified lung tumor motion, velocity, and stability for small (≤5 cm) and large (>5 cm) tumors to adapt radiation therapy techniques for lung cancer patients.

Material And Methods: In this retrospective study, 70 patients with lung cancer were included that 50 and 20 patients had a small and large gross tumor volume (GTV).

Geographic Accessibility of Radiation Therapy Facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Purpose: Access to radiation therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains unacceptably low. Prior studies have focused on how many radiation therapy machines a country has but have not accounted for geographic accessibility, which is a known barrier to radiation therapy compliance. In this study, we describe accessibility measured as travel time by road to radiation therapy in SSA.

Significance of thyroid transcription factor 1 and Napsin A for prompting the status of mutations in lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Background: To evaluate the prompting value of thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) and Napsin A for the status of epidermal growth factor receptor () mutations in an independent cohort of lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs) when genetic testing is unavailable.

Methods: In this study, 976 untreated primary LUADs were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical and pathological data, including age, gender, smoking history, predictive values of TTF-1 and Napsin A, status, and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage were obtained through medical records available in Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital.

Evaluation of interleukins 37 and 38 and vitamin D status in the serum of women with Graves' disease.

Background: Graves' disease (GD) is an autoimmune thyroid disorder and recent studies have proposed a role for interleukin (IL)-37, IL-38, and vitamin D (VitD) in the pathophysiology of disease. Therefore, this study investigated the expression of IL-37, IL-38, and VitD in the serum of GD patients and correlations of their levels with some demographic and clinical characteristics.

Methods: Serum IL-37, IL-38, and VitD levels were evaluated in 90 women with GD and 93 control women using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.