Deciphering the Dilemma: Choosing the Optimal Total Neoadjuvant Treatment Strategy for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Rectal cancer management has evolved significantly, particularly with neoadjuvant treatment strategies. This narrative review examines the development and effectiveness of these therapies for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), highlighting the historical quest that led to current neoadjuvant alternatives. Initially, trials showed the benefits of adding radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT) to surgery, reducing local recurrence (LR).

Palbociclib in advanced stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer: real-world data from a Chilean multicentre registry.

Background: The addition of cyclin-dependent kinases inhibitors (CDKi) to endocrine therapy (ET) as the first- or second line treatment improves progression-free and overall survival (OS) in hormone receptor-positive, HER2 negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced stage breast cancer (ABC). Our study compared survival rates and prognostic factors in Chilean patients that used palbociclib as first or subsequent (≥second) lines of treatment in a real-world setting.

Methods: Our retrospective population-cohort study included HR+/HER2- ABC patients.

Moderately hypofractionated post-operative radiation therapy for breast cancer: preferences amongst radiation oncologists from countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Background: The safety and effectiveness of moderately hypofractionated post-operative radiation therapy for breast cancer were demonstrated by several trials. This study aimed to evaluate the current patterns of practice and prescription preference about moderately hypofractionated post-operative radiation therapy to assess possible aspects that affect the decision-making process regarding the use of fractionation in breast cancer patients in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). We also aimed to identify factors that can restrain the utilization of moderately hypofractionated post-operative radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Acute toxicity and quality of life in prostate cancer patients treated with definitive hypofractionated pelvic radiation therapy: a single-center report.

Background: The objective was to report acute toxicity and quality of life in prostate cancer patients treated with definitive hypofractionated pelvic radiation therapy.

Materials And Methods: Patients were designated candidates for hypofractionated pelvic radiation therapy if biopsy or imaging studies evidenced unfavorable intermediate-risk, high-risk or node-positive disease. Patients were treated using a regimen of 44 Gy to the nodal areas and simultaneous integrated boost of 60 Gy to the prostate in 20 fractions with CBCT-based imaging and volumetric arc therapy (VMAT).

Mutational Landscape and Actionable Target Rates on Advanced Stage Refractory Cancer Patients: A Multicenter Chilean Experience.

Major advances in sequencing technologies and targeted therapies have accelerated the incorporation of oncology into the era of precision medicine and "biomarker-driven" treatments. However, the impact of this approach on the everyday clinic has yet to be determined. Most precision oncology reports are based on developed countries and usually involve metastatic, hard-to-treat or incurable cancer patients.

Cross-Sectional International Survey to Determine the Educational Interests of Spanish-Speaking Latin American Radiation Oncologists.

Purpose: With the existing oncology disparities in Latin America, physician expertise has been cited as a possible contributor to inferior oncologic outcomes in some cancers. As two-dimensional radiotherapy rapidly evolved to intensity-modulated radiation therapy in Latin America, adequate contouring education is an actionable target to improving physician knowledge and clinical outcomes. Yet, topics of interest to Latin American radiation oncologists are underreported.

Efficacy and safety of Dentoxol® in the prevention of radiation-induced oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients (ESDOM): a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II trial.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Dentoxol mouthrinse in reducing the severity of oral mucositis (OM) secondary to radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase II clinical trial was conducted. Subjects were asked to use Dentoxol (n = 55) or control (n = 53) mouthrinse 5 times/day during RT.

[Scalp atypical fibroxanthoma. Report of one case].

Atypical Fibroxanthoma is an unusual dermal mesenchymal tumor. It especially affects older adults and occurs in areas of sun exposure. We report a 75 years old male with a history of sun exposure without using a hat presenting with a scalp nodule.

Radiation Therapy in Resectable Intrathoracic Sarcomas. A Rare Cancer Network Study.

Purpose: Intrathoracic sarcomas (ITS) are considered rare tumors and have a dismal prognosis. We investigated outcomes and risk factors for local control (LC), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) in patients with resected nonmetastatic ITS treated with or without adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) and/or chemotherapy.

Methods And Materials: Patients from the Rare Cancer Network database were studied.

Cosmesis after early stage breast cancer treatment with surgery and radiation therapy: experience of patients treated in a Chilean radiotherapy centre.

Aim: To analyse the overall cosmetic outcome according to patient self-assessment in relation to the fractionation received.

Materials And Methods: A questionnaire, drawn up on the basis of subjective rating scales of cosmesis and of acute and late toxicity RTOG/EORTC, EORTC QLQ-C30 (v3) and LENT SOMA, was applied to patients with early-stage breast cancer who received radiotherapy with tangential fields between June 2014 and July 2015. Self-perception of cosmesis, changes in the treated breast, pain and fractionation used (hypofractionation (HF) 42.

A 10-Year Experience with Mastectomy and Tissue Expander Placement to Facilitate Subsequent Radiation and Reconstruction.

Background: An integrated approach to skin sparing mastectomy with tissue expander placement followed by radiotherapy and delayed reconstruction was initiated in our institution in 2002. The purpose of this study was to assess the surgical outcomes of this strategy.

Methods: Between September 2002 and August 2013, a total of 384 reconstructions had a tissue expander placed at the time of mastectomy and subsequently underwent radiotherapy.

Adult prostatic sarcoma: A contemporary multicenter Rare Cancer Network study.

Introduction: Adult prostatic sarcoma (PS) is a rare disease. While surgery is considered the standard approach, the role of other therapies is not completely established. We report results of the largest multicentric contemporary cohort of PS patients.

[Recommendations for the management of pancreatic cancer type adenocarcinoma: A consensus statement reached during the 2015 Latin American Symposium on Gastroenterological Oncology].

Pancreatic cancer is a malignancy of great impact in developed countries and is having an increasing impact in Latin America. Incidence and mortality rates are similar for this cancer. This is an important reason to offer to the patients the best treatments available.

Postoperative radiotherapy in the management of keloids.

Background: The high recurrence rate following keloid resection has generated interest in adjuvant treatments for this disease.

Objective: This study assesses keloid recurrence when treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of resected keloids in patients referred to a Chilean radiation oncology centre between 2006 and 2013.